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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2002)
E Coosb EEWA: The wy it is r Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo May 16, 2002 ber Letters to the Editor mem Rei to vote By Tina Aguilar and Selena Boise Hey Selena, are you going to be voting for the Referendum on gam ing set for Tuesday, May 21? It sounds like a lot of the people were pretty well informed at all the home-based meetings Rudy Clements and Uren Leonard were holding. Do you realize how much it costs for It's only our opinion the tribe to set up a vote? I get so upset when the Vital Statistics and other departments go through so much trouble (and money) to get this going then not enough voters turn out. Selena: Yes Tina, I will be there at the polls to vote yes or no. I know that it takes a lot to prepare the bal lot and print all the ballots for the voters to read and then cast their vote. It's not as simple as copying it in the copy machine. Since the print shop is not operating the printing expenses are paid to another print shop, so the cost could vary up or down. Tina: I was just talking to Madeline of Vital Statistics and she said there are 2, 230 voters eligible to vote. This referendum will need 743 voters to become valid. She also said that there were 615 absentee ballots sent out. When you look at the fig ures and add the cost of the "small" things, it all adds up. Each time a ref erendum is set for a vote, it takes money. I've heard talk about more bonus andor per capita, but when we don't get out to make a referen dum valid, that money comes out of some fund to cover all the costs. If that fund doesn't have the money then it has to be found from another fund. The adoption could have been, validated if enough people voted.' That would have eliminated the ex tra cost of another referendum. Madeline also told me it takes roughly $3,000 for each referendum. Now I'm not a mathematician but even I know that takes from the fund(s) that could be applied to a "bigger bonus". We aren't hurting anyone but ourselves when we don't vote. Selena: Yes, that is a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't get enough response. It seems the only reasons not to vote is that voters don't have time, or they forgot, or why bother. When the bonuses come out in the mail, you see a lot of people making the time to pick up their checks from the post office, and they don't forget the date set for bonus day. Seems as though these people could make the time to make their mark and be counted as a yes or no vote. There could be opinions about the casino heard all around and yet not enough people to make that opinion known with a yes or no vote. It would save money that would have to be spent on another election, if it turns out invalid due to lack of voters. Tina: I wonder what would draw them in. Remember last year they handed out those cool Pi-Umc-Sha cups. Maybe if they found some funds they could do something like that again. Hopefully, people would make it a point to vote one way or another because it is so important. Toe Ness A young brunette goes into the doctor's office and reports that her body hurts wherever she touches it. "Impossible," says the doctor. "Show me what you mean." So she takes her finger and pushes her elbow and screams in agony. Then she pushes her knee and screams, pushes her ankle and screams and so it goes on, everywhere she touches makes her scream. The doctor says, "You're not really a brunette, arc you?" "No, I'm actually a blonde," she replies. "I thought so," says the doctor. "Your finger is broken." Yikcsl Yes on casino Dear tribal friends and mem bers, I hate the thought of having to advocate for the building of a ca sino, because as a Christian I am enlightened to the evil that accom panies gambling. I am amazed at the gambler calling the drunks and drug fiends down, when they ask themselves the same question "how am I go ing to pay the light bill?" When I worked at the casino when it first opened in 1995, I watched people cash their pay checks on pay day and go home broke, asking that particular question. Some of them had kids. I used to wonder "what are your kids going to eat?" Also, I know of three fatal auto acci dents coming from the casino. The reason I am addressing the gaming issue is that I know we need the revenue the casino can bring us. I have been watching the tribes go into the red. It has been inevitable, because our tribal en rollment keeps growing; manage ment keeps adding on new pro grams that we don't need; the tim ber industry is hurting; and our rez trees keep getting smaller and smaller. When the tribes go into the red, the first to suffer is the lower staff. The brainstorm that management comes up with is to downsize our personnel staff. Lay off, in other words. As a result, nepotism and favoritism rear their ugly heads, and you get a job by who you know, rather than your skill level. What the tribes really need and continually ask for is jobs, jobs, jobs. If the casino is the revenue resource needed to make us a profit, then so be it. Profit can help keep our existing jobs, and be used to create more jobs and be available to finance more rev enue building ventures. Build the casino away from the reservation. We can capitalize on the Robin Hood method, and steal from the rich (non-members) and give to the poor (our unem ployed). I still think we should put a casino at Bear Springs on the rez (an hour from Portland), but the Gorge has been in progress al ready, and the sooner built, the better. We need the Revenue, so when it comes time to vote... Please vote it in. R.T. Thompson Send word Friends and family of Rodney LcClaire I am trying to find out if my little brother is still alive and well and if they could at least send me word of his whereabouts and ad dress. I would like to write to him. Please, I love my brother and truly miss him. Yours truly, Tamara Henry Brother Rodney LcClaire It has been many years since I Candidate says, Thank you for the endorsement Dear Warm Springs Tribe, I want to thank you for your wonderful support of my candi dacy for Superintendent of Pub lic Instruction, the head post for our public schools. Since my first term in the Sen ate in 1997, I have been a cham pion for Oregon's Public Schools. I have also gained a diverse per spective on education in Oregon through my work as a journalist, reporting on our schools prior to serving in the Senate. I recognize and value the im portance of a strong education, and I will fight to see that all our children, in every community, have access to one. heard or saw you. I am hoping and praying your alright, and that you will send me word that your ok and in good health. If you would just send me an address to reach you. I love and miss you, wish I could give you a great big hug and tell you in person how much your missed. I love you so much. Love your sister, Tamera Henry An apology I was charged with C.A. for put ting two children in a closest and de nied doing this but sentenced by T.C. on April 19. So I offer my apology to the fami lies of A.C. and P.H. for all the stress that they have gone though. April 29, C.E.W. J's Prayer Temptations are knocking They're outside my door Lend me the strength To keep my feet on the floor. Don't let me surrender My life for a thrill Show me that friendship Doesn't come in a pill Chase away the people who will Hand me a line Help me remember that My body is mine. I don't want to inject And surrender my soul Don't what the prison That smoked in a bowl Don't let me jump 'cause They say I can fly. My lifes barely begun I'm not ready to die. Jessie. Polk . , ,, --f- . . . In memory Those we love' Remain within us, for love itself lives on. Cherished memories never fade, because one loved is gone. Those we love can never be more than a thought apart. For as long as there is memory, they live on in our hearts! Amen. I now have faith, I love the above poem I will forever and always re member my father Ab in my mind, heart. Nothing or no one will take thoughts of my father out of my heart, and mind.) I'm grateful I now have a head in jury. I don't drink alcohol no morel I am still alive for some special, un known reason. ' Evette Patt, 689 W. 13,h Avenue Apt. 11, Eugene, Oregon 97402 P.S. I laving memory with faith is just so awesome! A thank-you To the editor, We want to thank the teachers and staff of 509-J and the community of Warm Springs for attending the "Teacher Appreciation" at the Agency Longhouse on May 3, 2002. Susan Castillo I had a very productive meeting with the lenders of the Warm Springs Tribe, one that gave mc a chance to hear first-hand the struggles Warm 1 "3 I 1 The goal of the powwow was to share with district teachers and staff the Indian culture and traditions of the Warm Springs Reservation. We were very happy to see the large turn out of district teachers and staff for this event. Which we believe will foster better understanding and strengthen relationships between the District staff and Warm Springs community members. We also want to thank Dinah Merrifield, Rhonda Smith and Muriel Suppah for the meal they pre pared for this special event. Urbana Ross and Martha Winishut, Warm Springs Education Committee members Housing concerns Tribal Members: Overcrowding is becoming a big Issue on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Remember that all people use a certain amount of air to breathe in and to exhale. Mold is start ing to appear in a lot of homes and rental units in Warm Springs. As a concerned tribal member I urge the people to keep their homes clean to combat this problem. If we just take the time to clean our houses thor oughly and keep our yards clean this would not become a big issue. If you have a suspicious looking substance in your home or rental unit, report it to Fire and Safety. Do not let it fes ter in your home or it might prove hazardous to your health. I drafted this letter as a concerned citizen of Warm Springs. Jack Quinn, Warm Springs Hous ing Commissioner, phone, 553-2542 Regarding gaming To the editor, Remember people saying "this is the worst Tribal Council there ever was?" I remember people saying that in the 70's. If everybody will think back, that council called themselves the "chosen ones". Now they're all in these top management positions. The same are head of all "our" Sepa rate Money Making Enterprises. The same that has kept hiring more and more white people with degrees. Be cause they refuse to train or recognize Tribal Members who have degrees. The same that condones the firing of Indians, by their white cronies. It is Happy Pentacost on May 19 To fight the rise of beef, chicken, and fish being bought in America, the the pork industry came up with the "other white meat" ads. Well, in the Christian Church we have our other white meat. Christ mas (the birth of Christ) has been nearly taken over by Santa. Easter (the death and resur Hello from Pastor Rick rection of Christ) is muddied up with egg lay ing rabbits. But, now the celebration of Pentecost. Yes I said Pentecost (the gift of Christ) has not yet been turned into a national day of water balloon Springs children face in getting a qual ity education. I look forward to working together in the future to ensure that these children's needs arc met as we work to strengthen the school system. Our schools deserve a leader who will work in partnership with elected officials, parents, teachers and other community members. If wc care alxwt our economic fu ture and our overall quality of life, then creating a united focus to im prove schpols must be our highest priority. These are crucial times, a time when the children of Oregon need a strong, focused voice fighting on their behalf. I am running for Superintendent Letters reminder The Spilyay again would like to remind readers, please limit Letters to the Editor to 350 words or fewer. Letters that are longer than 350 words are cut starting with the last sentence. Also, individu als should, absent unusual cir cumstances, submit one letter per every couple of months. just to keep everything for them selves, by keeping all but a few in the dark? It's nepotism when they ap point someone to a top position, without a GED. If we are that bad off financially, how can the Gaming Enterprise take 20 million of our reserve fund. There hasn't even been a vote. Are they that confident or are they just going to do it anyway? Makes me pretty leery of how the votes are to be counted. If they wanted to enhance Ka-Nee-Ta why did the Gaming Board turn down a half million from a company that wanted to invest in entertainment a few months ago? People should be wondering, if the board and their cro nies want anyone except the chosen ones to really know their accounting methods. Since they won't account to the Tribal Members, just who and where are they from? They only seem to appear when they need a vote. We have relied on "these chosen ones" to make decisions for us. Re- member these "leaders" did not gray up like the trusted Indian who got The Reservation started decades ago, people who consulted and "listened" to those who elected them. Now, they only hear the greedy Apples, white lawyers & consultants, and adopted breeds. Their old slogan was, the casino will be Indian owned, Indian run for the Indian people which turned out to be BS. But, what did anyone ex pect from wannabe politicians who want to support and train more white people, when its proven they can't even run Kah-Nee-Ta as promised. Was it just to get a vote? I've heard of people getting away and leave the reservation to the gangs. Weren't these the same youngsters promised to prosper from Indian Head? Victor Moses, Tribal Member fights. You see, for we the body of Christ we believe in one God and His three ways of involvement with Cre ation. God as creator and leader (fa ther). God is living example of His plan for creation (Jesus the Christ). God as guide and mover in creation within our lives (Holy Spirit). Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The same one God for the purpose of fellowship with His creation, us. The Trinity is another great example of how much Love our creator has for us. And how far I Ie is willing to keep the relation ship going forward. Happy Pentecost May 19. Pastor Rick R. Ribciro 553-1237. of Public Instruction because I have a clear vision for our schools and the experience and commitment neces sary to make that vision a reality. This election presents a clear choice of who will advocate for and lead Oregon's public schools. We are at a crossroads and we must make the decision to stand behind our public school system and fight for the highest quality of educa tion for all our children. I have released position papers that you can download off our website at www.susancastillo.com, or if you would like to talk to me about the campaign, you can contact my Port land office at (503) 232-7223. Sincerely, Susan Castillo 4 i