E Coosh EEWA; The way It is
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Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo March 7, 2002
Community growth
begins with respect
By Willie Fuentes, Chief Operations Officer
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Hello, recently I was asked to sub
mit to the Spilyay Tymoo an article
expressing my viewpoints on various
issues happening locally, regionally,
or nationally.
I want to make explicitly clear that
while these are my thoughts, they in
themselves are not more important
than any other community
member's thoughts or opinions.
My hope is that increased aware
ness of issues will result, and mean
ingful dialogue between members
would follow.
This is in the spirit of the legend
of "Toe Ness" or "YIKES," while
acknowledging I am not going to fill
that writer's massive footprints.
With that out of the way, I would
like to share my thoughts on a sub
ject, which is not often talked about
I find this subject to be as important
as the fiscal stability of the Tribes.
You're probably thinking what
that could be. While I admit, money
is a useful and somewhat necessary
thing to have in this day and age it is
not the most important thing, in my
mind.
The manner in which we as com
munity and tribal members treat
each other is the subject that I feel is
the backbone for any future growth
potential we may have as a tribal
community.
The history of 'bad blood goes
beyond what even our eldest mem
bers can recall. Why is it important?
Think of your own personal experi
ences or those of close relatives or
friends and the obstacles encountered
as one attempts to improve one's sta
tion in life.
I've often heard that we as a com
munity do not like anybody to suc
ceed, or we as a community like to
see others fail.
But what I'm talking about goes
deeper into our interpersonal rela
tionships with other fellow tribal or
Easter is just around the corner
I am so excited. Easter is only three
weeks away. The tomb is empty. The
Holy Spirit continues His mission.
You know I have heard of the many
paths to God. That all paths lead to
I lis love. That may be so, but with
Jesus Christ I do not have to walk a
path. God comes down my path and
we walk it together.
Spirituality is not a path up a
mountain to the presence of God.
The path called life is down valleys,
up mountains, beside clear waters. It
is the beginning of learning to live and
love in the presence of God today and
tomorrow. Because in time living in
the presence of God will be eternity.
Getting it right today is to experi
ence that place called Heaven. Get
excited. God loves you. The Lord will
Deadlines
The next Spilyay is
sue publishes March
21, with a March 15
deadline for letters and
stories.
Announcements
The Spilyay encourage! orga
nization and individuals to lend
notices of events that are of inter
est to the Warm Springs commu
nity. The preferred method of deliv
ery it via e-mail to
spilyaytymoowstribei.org.
You also may drop announce
In My Opinion
community members. So often, I
observe blood relatives, not necessar
ily my relatives, cross each other's
path and not nary a word or acknowl
edgment is given by either party.
What would happen if all of a sud
den we started talking to each other
at the most basic human level?
I realize that we all want immedi
ate resolution to bigger issues facing
the Tribes today, but I put forth that
we must do the small things well first
before we can effectively solve much
bigger and complex tribal issues.
Talking to someone, shaking
someone's hand, acknowledging
someone to let them know they are a
meaningful part of the tribal commu
nity are all so simple and cost noth
ing to express.
Too often, at community meet
ings, a person speaks out against an
other person or issue by forcibly as
serting what needs to be done in their
personal view.
Too often, there is not enough talk
ing about problem identification or
resolution, just a personal view left
out there for the wind to blow away.
Our elders, many of whom have
passed to the other side, knew the
value of consensus building through
talking about the pros and cons of
each side of a problem.
To get where I think we need to be
will require improving our commu
nications skills first as individual hu
man beings, then just maybe our
communications as a government or
community will surely follow. , '
So the next time you come across
a nephew, niece, grandchild, uncle,
aunt, grandparent or neighbor let
them know you know they are alive.
Call them good names and keep a
good heart That is all, for now.
Hello from Pastor Rick
help you discover how to love your
self. And how to love others, even the
ones you do not like.
Yep, that is the power of love.
Don't worry if you feel your prayers
are poor. Your Bible reading is slim.
Your worship shallow. Try. lining go,
and letting God is the Christian way
of Easter.
Yep, get excited, the tomb of Jesus
Christ is empty. The war for our souls
is over, we won. Act like a winner.
Hymns for the family of God. If
you have one of the Warm Springs
Presbyterian Church hymnals, we
need it We do not have enough for
worship. If you find one, drop it off
at the church.
Hug someone you love. Hug
someone you dislike. No alcohol or
tobacco for children. One day at a
time. Buckle up the kids and your
selves. Don't hit or beat on yourself.
Pay your bills before gambling, then
stay home. Read the Bible for its ef
fect on your heart. Pray to God to
the point of your hearing Him.
I lonor someone each day. Love your
self. Like yourself. See you in church.
Pastor Rick R. Ribelro
ments in printed or computer disk
format at the i;2jtj oKke, 1100
Wasco Street. Or lend them to
Spilyay Tymoo, P.O. Bos 870,
Warm Spring, OR 97761. Fat
number k 533-3339. Fieaie feel free
to call if you have itory ideas, ques
tions or comment!. The number
is 553-3274.
Important notice
regarding letters
- Beginning with the next edi
tion of the Spilyay, any letter
longer than 350 words may be
cut from the bottom up.
Letters that are longer than
350 words will appear in their
entirety only if there is room on
the editorial page.
The reason for this policy is
that everyone has the right to
submit a letter to the editor.
Letters that are exceedingly
long leave no room on the page
for the views of others.
In the future, priority will be
given to letters that are shorter
than 350 words. Letters longer
than 350 words may be cut start
ing with the last sentence.
Thank you very much for
writing to the Spilyay Tymoo.
A thank-you
To the Editor,
I would like to take this time to
say thank-you to the following
people.
My aunt Melinda and Uncle
Lester. My cuzz Richard and Kelly.
My In-laws Thelma and Janice.
We appreciate all your help and
being there for us.
To Nancy Collins, for taking the
time and standing by us. To my
daughters' friends who took the time
to help us out. To Jack and Mimi. It
was real kind of you, good to see you
both.
To the person who returned my
coin purse, I will remember your
honesty. Thank ypu. 4 -
Jessica Polk family
An apology
To the Warm Springs Police
Department:
I, Elmina Ching apologize for my
actions and for what I had done to
one of the Police cars. I didn't mean
to scratch the car or peel the logo on
the door. It'll never happen again.
Elmina Ching
Not giving up
Hey there natives, how is life on
the rez? Well as for me I'm doing
somewhat good. I'm sitting in the
hole aka (S.H.U.) I have been in the
hole for the passed 26 days now for
getting drunk and fighting.
So now I'll be getting sent to the
(USP). So I just want my family and
friends to know that I will be leaving
Sheridan F.C.I. real soon.
I'd like to take some time to say to
my family that now that I'll no longer
be here 111 still pray at sweat for you
all and to my twin girls. Daddy loves
you girls a lot and will miss you girls.
I know how much you girls wanted
to come visit daddy here at Sheridan
but not having the time and now that
daddy is getting sent out of the state
of Oregon I just want you girls to
know 111 still be there in your hearts.
If you girls are feeling down about
daddy being gone, just look to your
hearts and you will see me there!
Well it has been going on 3 years
now that I have been in lock down
and I'm still the same old native I was
when I was out there. I am not going
to give up and let the fed's run over
me. It is not what I'm about. I'm the
native that is going to stay real and
who I am. I will not let the fed's win
by giving up I keep in my heart I will
miss the visits with you. It was good
seeing family and friends.
1 would like to say one happy
birthday and she knows who she is,
my first real love happy 22 or 23"1.
I'm out and still keeping it native.
Thank you for your time all the na
tive of Warm Springs. As soon as I
get to the next place I'll send my ad
dress to the Coyote News for who
ever wants to write.
Francea T. Spino Jr.
Letters to the Editor
Support appreciated
To the editor,
I want to thank the people, friends
and family for being there in support
of our loss of our mother. Thank you
drummers, cooks and special thanks
to Margaret Boise, Mona Schuster and
Janice Gilbert Gunshows for dressing
her. Love you very much for what
you have done.
I don't remember everyone that
helped or donated but we appreciate
all that were there for your prayers
and support during her illness and the
funeral. It meant a great deal to each
of us to know she was loved by so
many.
If I didn't mention your name and
you know who you are, I am grateful
for what ever it was you done and
sorry for not acknowledging you.
I love my family and want them
to know I never have or will have a
bad problem or attitude when we
need each other, love each other and
have to be sad with anyone but have
family.
There was family left out on the
obituary so I asked if it could be run
again with the corrections.
Always a loving friend and relative,
Linda (George) Meanus
Getting on track
To Rhonda (R.J.),
Hey Sweetheart. Writing you this
short note to apologize for all of the
pain and suffering that I've caused you
during our relationship.
Once again, I let alcohol get the
best of my life. I thought that I could
handle one or two drinks. But, as an
alcoholic knows, one isn't enough
and, two is too many. Until I exceeded
my limitatipn both mentally and
physically', I "had a slight mental and
physical disorder due to my alcohol
intake.
I am sorry and ashamed of myself
for doing the things that I've said and
done during my alcoholic escapade
verbally, emotionally and physically.
As you know, I put myself in alco
hol counseling and soon I'll be going
to an alcohol treatment program to
get my life back on track and in or
der so that we will be able to carry
on our lives as a couple and, help each
other through our relationship.
I love you with not only the bot
tom of my heart but my whole physi
cal being. Love you forever,
TimfT.J.)
No bad feelings
On September 2, 2001, we were
passengers in a car that rear ended
Robert Sam. We failed to report our
name and address. We did not know
it was the law. So, I just want to say
I'm sorry to Robert Sam for this in
cident that happened and hope there
is no bad feeling loft between all par
ties. I do apologize.
Vanessa Gabriel & Cory Smith.
The Lord's mercy
Dear Christians,
I would like to apologize for my
indecent actions while I was under the
influence. All that time of sobriety
that the Urnl gave me, all went down
the drain when I backslidcd for a
weekend. 1 especially apologize to my
church family at the Full Gospel.
I know that we arc trying our best
to get our people saved from eternal
damnation, and that a bad report of
one of us makes people quick on the
draw with the word "hypocrite."
I hope none of your family think
we arc that. Thank God, our lord's
mercy endureth forever.
1 had quenched the Spirit for that
short time, and am paying for it, be
cause sin has built-in consequences
which arc impossible to escape. I am
saved yet, because the Lord didn't
some at an hour 1 didn't expect him,
and I confessed and repented of my
wrongdoing before the day of ac
countability.
As brothers and sisters in the Lord,
please forgive me and pray me
through this. Thank you, I also want
to thank you special people that stood
by my side and spoke up for me, such
as my boss and our staff, Bible study
teacher, counselors, family and rela
tives. It made me feel better knowing
that you all believed in me. Thanks.
RT Thompson
Carbusiness
To the editor,
Hi to all my relations on the rez.
I'm "down" in Sheridan, finishing up
a 15-month sentence on a federal beef
selling marijuana. I feel bad my wife,
Winona, and son have had to endure
this. It's been difficult, more so when
my sister, Eliza "Hotdawg" Greene,
passed away and I couldn't be there
for my family. I appreciate the sup
port we've had and I apologize to
those people I've disappointed.
As far as my car sales business goes,
I intend on starting back up in the
future. But you know, it's a shame our
tribes never game me the full support
and funding necessary to really make
this successful. I wanted to be the
dealer for our vehicle pool, which
budgets approximately $200,000 per
year for car purchases.
This would've been a good, hon
est way to make a living, provide for
my family, and branch out in the fu
ture, thus helping others succeed. In
stead, I was relegated to buying and
selling older, high-mileage used cars,
a very risky proposition.
I believe in myself and my capa
bilities. I had a workable business
plan, quantified it, squeezing out as
much risk as possible. Thanks to Vo
cational Rehabilitation, I completed
8 weeks on the job training in 1999,
with C.J. & X Auto Wholesale, Port
land, Auto Auction, and Oregon
DMV. Why haven't the tribes given
me the support they've shown oth
ers? Where are all these businesses
that were given grants and loans?
How much money (millions?) has
been invested in these businesses?
What procedures for accountability
are there? Does anyone care?
I also attained a phone dealership
license. But is it because of who I am
all I got was fish-eyed and shown the
door? Once the cell phone business
started, I planned on selling it to an
other tribal member with some mo
tivation and knowledge.
I'm aware all phone coverage is
spotty on the rez. Is American Tower
Corp. (ATC) still interested in plac
ing towers on the rez? It would be
good. If so, I suggest our tribes look
into ATC's profit potential and nego
tiate for a percentage of profits rather
than a yearly license fee.
I can go on and on, but I got some
people to thank. My customers, for
buying cards from us, thank you.
You've shown that this business is
needed and can work. My philoso
phy was no-pressure sales, let each car
sell itself, all prices negotiable, and
guaranteeing lowest prices. Thanks to
those of you who stopped by or called
to encourage us. Some of you spoke
up to our leaders on my behalf.
The following people wrote letters
of support to the judge: Mom, Neda
Wesley, my wife Winona, cousins,
Marclla Sam and Mina Shike Estimo,
also Dclford Johnson, Walt Quinn,
Nelson Zumont, Juanita Villa,
Lorena Wise, Trudy Thompson
Brunoc, and Rhonda and Mike
Greene. It was enough to help bring
my sentence down and I'm grateful
to these people.
Last but not least, thanki to my
mom and Aunt Liz, for loaning their
cars to my family to they can visit
A little more fat to chew on... How
about mail-in voting for our referen
dum elections? A work crew for in
mates? A weekly Spilyay Tymoo with
more in-depth news? Sincerely,
Roger T. Srwyer Sr.
(Ulttrt nntinm pigt 5)