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Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo January 24, 2002
Guest Editorial Shaw shares news from Washington D.C.
Member says "Back
the tribal council"
Attention People!
Do you want a bonus this year? Do you want a bonus payment
for the years to come? Do you want more jobs to be here or funded
through our tribe? Do you want more assistance for your emer
gencies? Do you want your children to keep getting a Trust Fund?
Do you want to get elder Pension payments? All of these ques
tions you want to ask yourself, if you are over the age of 2 1. It's
important to back your Tribal Council representatives now; we
have waded in the puddle long enough.
We started out by "wading in the water" to test the gaming issue
out and see how we do. It is my opinion that we have waded long
enough; it is time to do business. Our Tribal Council persons need
to move forward and continue with the Gaming issues immedi
ately. We need to pursue the casino building immediately and not
wait. The longer we wait the longer we will be the way we are
sitting back and waiting for someone else to build along our river.
We have been here for generations. How long has any other
tribe been here? If it was not for the Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs, no other people would have been federally recognized, is
this not true?
You young people, you hold the key to everything on the reser
vation, you can make this decision for all the generations to come,
and this is your future and the future of your children. The people
between the ages of 2 1 to 40 years old hold the key to our future.
Please back your Tribal Council people now, we need to go for
ward, not backwards. Waiting for someone to move is like waiting ;
for time to stand still. If we don't move now it will be the end of
us.
If you are thinking of the natural resources, they have been
depleated a long time ago. The timber market is down and there is
no sign of change in the foreseeable future. We can no longer count
on timber as our major source of income.
We must think of our future and generations to come. We are
spending too much money on the casino we now have. We should
be saving our money to spend on a new casino in the Columbia
Gorge.
. Why are we waiting for a decision from the people to vote on
this? The Council has already had the permission to continue seek
ing more revenue for our people. Why do we have to vote on this
issue? We gave them the permission when we entered into the ca
sino business.
It should have been built at the Columbia Gorge in the first
place. We wouldn't be sitting here wondering if we were going to
have jobs or not. And if you are thinking about "more jobs for
tribal members" you can quit thinking about it. If the people wanted
to work at the casino or were able to work at the casino, it would
be 100 percent tribal members now. If you visit the casino now,
only 20 percent of the personnel are tribal members working there.
So one argument is "jobs" for tribal members. Don't even think of
this as an argument or reason not to make a decision? '' " : ; '
The "Indian I lead Casino" will always be here, so if the con
cern for jobs for tribal members, then this will assist in helping the
tribal members work here. (Kah-Nee-Ta has always been here and
always will be.)
The casino in the Columbia River Gorge will be a benefit - let
the people work for us and make us revenue (money).
People talk about the pxst, what our ancestors taught us, then
let us teach the generations to come, to teach our people how to
band together as one people. The casino's profits are now, major
ity is that of the tribal members, our own people are spending
their hard-earned monies at the casino. It has been this way since
the beginning or opening of the casino. Some tribal members spend
most or all of their earnings, so it would be a benefit to move the
casino to another location off the reservation, away from here.
"Fun" just doesn't come in
bigger packages than moving
to Washington, D.C, when
our country is at war. Add a
bit of anthrax to the mix and,
well, you see my point. Yeah,
it just doesn't get much better.
So off we headed in our van
not necessarily with visions of
grandeur, but with visions of
survival. The trip was a whirl
wind: 3,211 miles, 14 states,
322 dties and 16,032 telephone
poles. But you know what, we
made it to the Nation's Capi
tal; the home of George W,
anthrax spores and, of course,
Michael Jordan. All this to be
cause I was now the new Mark
O. Hatfield Fellow.
The Mark O. Hatfield Con
gressional Fellowship is really
a unique tribally funded pro
gram. The Confederated Tribes
of the Grand Ronde estab
lished the Fellowship as a liv
ing tribute to the Senator. The
Fellowship is meant to honor
Sen. Hatfield for his accom
plishments as Governor of
Oregon and United States
Senator on behalf of the Grand
Bodie Shaw
Ronde Tribe, Native Ameri
cans, Oregonians and all
Americans.
The Hatfield Fellowship
helps to ensure that Mark
Hatfield's legacy of integrity,
strength and effectiveness in
public service will endure.
Each year, a Native American
from a federally-recognized
tribe from the Pacific North
west is selected to serve as a
member of the staff of one of
Oregon's Congressional del
egation. The Hatfield Fellow
serves as liaison between the
Congressional member and
Letter to the editor
Condolences sent
I would like to send my
deepest condolences to the
Picard family, the loss of your
family member is also a great
loss to me. Dubs was like a
brother to me, and will not be
forgotten. I was shocked later
on after I got the news, because
being in a maximum facility
penitentiary, death is like an
every other day thing. But
now that it hits close to home,
I share the families pain and
sorrow. I really wish that 'I
to family
could have been there for the
homeboyz funeral, but due the
extenuating circumstances, this
big homie couldn't be there.
Much Respect,
Taylor Arthur, Sr.
PS. holler at me sometime
German G.
My address:
Taylor Arthur 64177-065
United States Penitentiary
RO. Box 7000
Florence, CO 81226 .
northwest tribes on issues that
affect Native Americans and as
a resource for the entire Or
egon delegation. This year the
Fellowship is based in Con
gressman Earl Blumenauer's
office. The Congressman not
only represents the greater
Portland area, but his district
also includes portions of many
tribal ceded lands including
Warm Springs.
In addition, the Hatfield
Fellowship will put forth ca
pable, motivated individuals
who not only know their way
around Washington, D.C, but
are also familiar with the inner-workings
of our federal
government. Undoubtedly this
will and has produced long
term benefits for all tribes and
the Pacific Northwest. From
all indications, the past
Hatfield Fellows have done just
that. Kudos to Pete Wakeland,
Direlle Calica and Alyssa
Macy. I might gloat a bit by
mentioning that this is the
third year Warm Springs has
sent a representative to Wash
ington, D.C. In my mind, this
speaks volumes as to the types
of people Warm Springs can
produce.
The Hatfield Fellowship is
an excellent example of pro
moting aspiring tribal mem
bers looking for a stimulating
and nurturing environment,
promoting tribal involvement
in federal government, and best
of all, seeing the world from
an entirely unique perspective.
The unique perspective ex
tends to developing relation
ships with other Congressional
Fellows who come from en
tirely different backgrounds
but have similar interests. Rep
resentatives in this year's class
include sue medical doctors,
eight university professors and
international participants from
Korea, Indonesia, Mexico,
New Zealand, Sweden, Ger
many and Belgium.
However, the most enjoy
able aspect of this Fellowship
is having my family with me.
When I am not on Capitol
Hill, Heather, Maddy and
myself try to experience the
best of Washington, including
the monuments, museums and
of course the restaurants.
Before I end, I have to thank
a few folks who were instru
mental in my selection as the
Hatfield fellow. First and fore
most, a tremendous amount of
thanks goes out to Ken Smith
who supported and encour
aged me. Howie Arnett who
recommended me for the fel
lowship (maybe L & C is still
in the future). Finally, I thank
the late Jack Donaldson. Jack
was much more than a profes
sional colleague, he was really
a mentor during our short
lived relationship. Jack you are
truly missed by all.
If you are ever in the area,
please look me up. I look for
ward to seeing you ... well,
most of you anyway!
Bodie K. Shaw
Office of Congressman Earl
Blumenauer, 1406 Longworth
Building, Washington, D.C.
20505..
Bcxte.Shawmailhouse.gov
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Found at the Agency
Longhouse: A pair of
childrens moccasins by
the Utility Department
Janitorial Department.
Please come in to
identify.
THbal member urges involvement
To the Tribal Council:
Don't sit back and wait for something to happen, move for
ward, stop thinking about wading in the water, or getting your feet
wet. You have waded long enough, you got the experience and
knowledge now about gamingcasino.
You have been to many conferences pertaining to the casino
business; time is of the essence. We need to hire real consultants
who know the business, consultants that know what they are do
ing, not what they can (cam from us.
We voted you In to represent us, it is time to do your job, don't
sll back and wait for us to make a decision. We made that decision
when wi- first voted on it. That decision still is In effect; we are still
In the business.
I thank the people for their time and consideration to reading
these issues, but myour words go out to all the young people.
Think about the Issues around you. Think of your lifestyle; do
you want more provided to you and your family.
If you don't make a decision, then you can keep on wanting
whatever your dreams are. Make the dreams come true for you and
your family.
Thank you,
Bruce A Barbara Jim A Family
Editor's note
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length guidelines or contains libelous
or malicious statements.
This is for all my young
Native friends and relatives.
Get Involved. Experience.
I have been composing this
letter In my head for over a
year now; sorry about Its "In
dian time" arrival in the Spi
lyay. First off, getting involved,
In the Nov. 1 5 "25 years ago In
the Spilyay" section there Is a
small excerpt about how our
community here in Warm
Springs strongly supported
Jimmy Carter in the 1976
presidential clccuon and a large
number of those voters were in
the 18-to-2 1 age bracket. What
most of you don't know is that
anybody under 2 1 cannot par
ticipate in elections concerning
tribal affairs.
Wc cannot vote for whose
going to be on Tribal Council,
we can't vote for building
new elementary school In
Warm Springs and we can't
vote for where our new caslnc
is going to be built. I'm not
sure If thin something that our
Tribal Council is unaware of
or something they have unin
tentionally overlooked hut it
is WRONG.
The 2 1-year-old voting age
Li obsolete in die U.S.A. and it
should be In Warm Springs as
well. I am positive that our
community wants our youth
to get more Involved with pre
serving our people, land, etc.,
and I sec the first, far overdue,
step to he to lower the tribal
voting age to 18. If it Is not low
ered, It Is just saying that our
youth, Native youth, is infe
rior to American youth, plain
and clear. I have faith In this
Tribal Council.
I think they will do the
right thing. I once wrote an
editorial in the Madras High
School newspaper praising
Tribal Council on the fairly
recently passed referendum
concerning the withholding of
minor trust funds if the stu
dent doesn't graduate from
high school and maintain a
cumulative GPA of 2.0. 1 think
this was a good referendum,
but I also think that if Tribal
Council is going to expect
more from our youth, they
should in give more.
I don't see lowering die vot
ing age to 18 as a mipmsatk as
for the youth and their el
evated expectations; I see it as
necessary to ensure our exist
ence. Eighteen is a YT.RY influ
cntlal age In a person's life. My
senior year In high school I
had two government classes
and this is when I became up
set when to find out that I
couldn't participate in tribal
elections.
For one, I think It Is total
crap that we can't get enough
voters in the first place to pass
fora k mgotvnluc newek'mciv
tary school. I'm sure it took a
lot of Xt iple's time and nx mey
to hold two elections for this
referendum. If the 2 1 and out
crowd aren't going to partici
pate, then why prohibit (he 18
to 20 year olds to participate?
Experience. All you Native
High Scholars ... wc are SO
lucky. Our trilx Is w illing to
pay full tuition and hooks to
any ct llcge we can get accepted
to. I have met people who pay
for college through student
loans and will be paying for
these loans after they start
working for 10 to 15 years!
I have met other Native stu
dents from other tribes that
only get a TOTAL of 12,000
for their entire college educa
tion. Two thousand dollars
sounds like a lot, and it is on
the Rez, but when you're talk
ing tuition to college, like the
University of Arizona, it's a
partial year. Not even a full
year. I've been here for a par
tial semester. I have learned SO
much. So what if I'm a nerd
and I actually like going to
scImxiI, but I can guarantee that
even If you don't like high
school, you will love college.
College life is a very unique
experience and it Is something
that you don't want to miss out
on.
I was overwhelmed when I
first started college. There arc
ovcr35,(XX) students at the "IT
(University of Arizona). There
arc 3.000 people In all of Warm
Springs.
There are so many tilings to
do on eampus that you find
yourself Indecisive and over
whelmed. I can go on and on
about ever) thing that I've
done in the four months that
I've been here in Tucson, but I
won't. I want you to experi
ence It for yourself.
1 felt like I didn't belong
here, hut after I started getting
used to the lifestyle, 1 loved It.
Don't get me wrong at all,
Natives, I am a Rc. Girl at
heart and I can't wait to go
back to the Rez with my de
gree, but college life is one ex
perience that wc should all
have. Arizona Is far from home
and I get so homesick, but I
plan to live my whole life on
the Rez.
The four years I'm going to
be in college Isn't all that long
when you compare it to your
whole life (huh "B7).
Growing up on the Rez is
hard, that is for sure. The
world is a lot bigger than the
Rez, though. One thing that
makes me mad about some of
my peers is that I know they
can do so much better then
they are. I know they are
smarter than the things that
they do.
This Is particularly to my
cousins whom I've had prob
lems with in die past few years
(you should know who your
are).
I don't not like you or mean
to disrespect you In any way
but it just makes me sad and
mad because I know you can
do so much and be so much
better then you're doing, be
ing. I can do It, I know you can
too, and I know all the Warm
Springs Natives that are in col
lege right now know you can
as well.
Feel free to write to me
ANYONE. I LOVE getting
mail.
Relna L Fstlino
6200 N. Oracle 269
Tucson, AZ 8570-1
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