E Coosh EEWA: The W3y it is
Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo December 12, 2002
Letters to the Editor
Thankful
As we come closer to the end
of the year 2002, 1 cannot for
get all the blessings we receive
from our tribes. I appreciate the
present Tribal Council for over
seeing our cultural and tradi
tional beliefs, and protecting
them. With the losses of two
daughters and a grandson, it re
minds me to be humbly grate
ful for our burial benefits ap
propriated from our tribal funds
by the Tribal Council.
Being a traditional person,
this allows me to carry on one
step further culturally.
In the wake of our financial
demise, our present Tribal
Council can still manage to rec
ognize our needs and appropri
ate a check to us in December.
How difficult it must have been.
Instead of aghastly saying, "Is
that all?", say "Thank you" and
use it wisely.
Neda Wesley
On violence
All my relations, friends and
strangers alike, I come to you
with a saddened heart.
Don't let these words fall on
deaf ears. I come to you to tell
you that domestic violence is not
right, and it can destroy a
person's life.
Domestic violence can de
stroy a person's peace of mind.
I know, because domestic vio
lence almost destroyed my life.
Domestic violence was a part
of my life. I am a survivor of
different kinds of abuse, just like
abusers come in different sizes
and colors.
Domestic violence can hap
pen anywhere, any time. Domes
tic violence can crush a person's
hope, and can destroy a person's
trust.
Housing
By Elton Greeley
In response to requests from
a couple of other Warm Springs
Housing Authority commission
ers (of which I am one) that I
do a rebuttal to the Spil-Yay
Tymoo article (Nov. 14, 2002
issue) regarding the "Housing
Summit" and conditions on the
Warm Springs Reservation, I
gladly submit the following:
First, I ask, where is that guy
the ladies here know as that
"Cute Lil' Tyke?" Yes, my ref
erence is to our past Editor-in-Chief
of Spil-Yay Tymoo, "Su
per Sid," or the "Terminator,"
or to some of us, the "Secret
Weapon!"
Yes, this immediate focus is
on Mr. Sidney Miller! When Mr.
Miller served as our tribal news
chief, he never knowingly let his
staff write articles for Spil-Yay
which were based on mis-judgments
andor rumor. I lis Spil-
Tribal hiring preference should be tribal law
An open letter to our
people:
I'm writing about a concern
that affects all tribal members,
the Tribal Member Preference
Policy. You recall on Nov. 12,
1992, the Tribal Council passed
Affirmative Action Resolution
No. 8363A, the Tribal Member
Preference Policy. The resolu
tion reads:
Article VII, section I, of the
Tribal Constitution provides "all
members of the Confederated
Tribes shall be accorded equal
opportunities in employment,
contracting, subcontracting and
the delivery of goods and ser
vices with the Tribe, its entities
and tribal enterprises."
Is our Tribal Member Pref
erence Policy working? Is it do
ing what was intended? My past
Abusers will always find a
way to control their victims.
So to protect my family all
these years I kept my silence,
but no more, I say no more.
I, being a victim and survi
vor, tell all who would heed my
words, seek help before it's too
late.
Because you are your own
worst enemy. It's not too late to
save yourself from you. Take
control of your own life.
Domestic violence, being
molested... not my fault, Not
my fault.
I am not materially wealthy.
I've no home to call my own.
All that I have to offer is my
love, my prayers, and my hope.
God bless all who heed my
words.
To all who choose not to lis
ten and have turned their backs
on me, I will continue to love
and pray for you as well.
Although I have forgiven my
abusers, it still yet torments me
to this day.
But with help I am getting
better. Seek help.
Soaring-Eagle.
An apology
I, Bruce A. Miller, would like
to apologize for my action on
Nov. 12, for being highly intoxi
cated at the Indian Head Gam
ing Center. Thank you for your
time. Sincerely,
Bruce A. Miller.
Get better
Dear Spilyay,
Hey Jugalar, I'm letting you
know you're in my thoughts and
heart. Be strong and get better.
I will be swinging by, no grand
entries for me, I will be discreet.
To the rest of the circle, stay
warm and safe. Happy holidays.
Edge Kalama
Authority
Yay stories, coyote
tales and jokes were
naturally filled with
humor - and he made
Guest
Editorial
us laugh. Mr. Miller was and still
remains a gentleman of utmost
high integrity. He always saw to
it that news published under his
command was based on fact!
Infactual inaccuracies:
With the preceding comment
in mind, I regret to say, it was
with much dismay that I read
the article on the "Housing Sum
mit." The writer spoke to a
housing summit held on Oct.
31. I attended a housing sum
mit at Kah-Nee-Ta on Oct. 30,
2002. Maybe, just maybe, my
comments are from a different
conference, but I don't believe
so.
As chairperson of the Warm
Springs Housing Authority, I
was asked to do (which was a
experience tells me
the policy has no
My opinion
teeth. I say this be
cause I found that the policy is
discretionary. This means the
policy is open to supervisors,
enterprise managers, boards and
contractors for interpretation.
The policy can only be rec
ommended, it cannot be en
forced. Our personnel office
compliance officer can only rec
ommend the policy for hiring
tribal members.. Our Tribal
Court has no ordinance or
Tribal law to enforce tribal mem
ber preference.
Too many tribal members
have been ignored, passed over,
not hired or promoted because
the policy is open to discretion
and interpretation of the people
doing the hiring,
Court royalty
We would like to take some
of your reading time and say
thank you. It has been six
months since Elyse earned her
Junior Court Pi-Ume-Sha
crown. It is a bit down into the
year, but yet we would like to
thank all who have supported
her through purchasing a raffle
ticket.
Elyse worked very hard and
had sold probably 98 percent of
the tickets on her own (over
1,500 tickets.) She had attended
several powwows and danced
her little heart out, as well as
walked around from one person
to the next asking them to buy
raffle tickets.
We've met many people and
discovered more relatives. She
was set and determined to get
what she wanted, and that was
a "new" crown.
Elyse has become a strong
speaker, she learned how to
speak to the public and now
does very well.
She dances with a lot of
pride, holds her head up high to
show who and what she is rep
resenting. It took a lot of time
and patience for all of us, she is
learning everyday about danc
ing, powwows, the longhouse
and more.
Elyse is already looking for
ward to setting another goal for
2003. Elyse was asked what she
wanted to say to all of you, and
her response was, "To say thank
you very much, it is fun to do
this. I like my crown and I like
to dance with it on."
Our little girl is 6 years old,
in the first grade and is learning
so much and we are so proud
of her. All her goals are high and
she has accomplished each one
that she has set. Again, good job,
responds
great honor for me)
the welcome to the
summit delegates. In
attendance, there
were representatives from many
non-tribal agencies and pro
grams, as well as tribal staff. My
comments included information
about the Warm Springs Reser
vation, the Confederated Tribes,
and housing.
Obviously, we still have some
major, major problems to re
solve regarding local, safe, af
fordable housing, and we have
a long, difficult task to over
come to attain (my opinion) a
better way of life for our people.
We have good, hard-working
and qualified staff working for
the Housing Department. It is
true, I feel, that better results
could happen with additional
staff - especially in providing
maintenance. The LHA (Local
I lousing Authority) recently ap
What does this
mean to our tribal
member employ
ees who want to grow and ad
vance their careers? Or to our
young tribal members graduat
ing from college and vocational
training? The public schools and
colleges teach our young to chal
lenge their leaders and ask ques
tions. Arc we rewarding them
and giving them incentives for
their loyalty, accountability and
hard work?
The past Council and the
present Tribal Council have
made "jobs" their top budget
priority. Are we preparing and
making a place for our young
to fill these new jobs?
An important part missing
from our Tribal Member Pref
erence Policy is a definition of
Ashlynne Danzuka, Ada Polk,
Katrina Blackwolfe for the Jun
ior Court, and Deidra Johnson
and Iiya Davis for the Senior
Court. And a special thanks to
the Pi-Ume-Sha Committee for
all their hard work.
Doug and Lou Jackson,
JaimeRae and her entire
family.
Healthy garden
A Garden of Volunteer Ser
vice. First, plant three rows of
peas: patience, peace, 'play.
Next, plant three rows of
squash: squash criticism, squash
indifference, and squash low
self-esteem.
Then, plant four rows of let
tuce: lettuce support diversity,
lettuce have vision, lettuce have
compassion, and lettuce be great
mentoring.
Finish with four rows of tur
nips: turnip when needed, tur
nip with determination, turnip
with an open mind, and turnip
with an open heart.
Because of you, our world
is a better place. Thank you to
two special people who volun
teered to be SMART readers
for the SMART reading pro
gram at Warm Springs Elemen
tary School.
Thanks and deep apprecia
tion to Wendall Cook and
Shawnelle Shaw. The SMART
program would like to recognize
and spodight these special people
who take time from their busy
schedule to come read to stu
dents. You are appreciated
gready. Thank you.
We always need readers to
read to students, grades k-3. Do
you have one hour a week to
be a reader? If you can read,
we need your skill to help our
youngest citizens become better
to summit article
proved the hiring of more main
tenance personnel, and we are
hearing positive comments
from our tenants.
Pride & Responsibility
Housing staff and the LHA
are promoting proper upkeep in
our housing areas. Currently, a
beautification project is under
way for West Hills.
We need to do something
positive for the tribal mobile
home court. The Indian I Iealth
Service is willing to help with
removal of old car bodies. More
and more people have been
doing yard upkeep - but, the
cold weather has slowed us
down.
Dogs and those horses roam
ing in our community are a nui
sance problem. We need your
suggestions for a good solution.
We believe that most commu
nity residents will join in with
the basic cultural knowledge and
skills about our languages, his
tory and tribal government.
Nowhere in our tribal govern
ment or enterprises is a defini
tion of Warm Springs Confed
erated Tribes "cultural compe
tencies" required for our jobs.
I believe the Council who
passed Resolution No. 8363A
intended to create an advantage
and give tribal members credit
for their cultural skills when fill
ing our jobs. We need a clear
definition. This needs to be part
of each job description.
The Affirmative Action
Resolution No. 8363A states, the
Tribal Council believes it is most
appropriate to adopt a prefer
ence policy by resolution in or
der that it can be tested, evalu
ated and refined prior to adop
readers.
Please volunteer today. Con
tact SMART Reading Program
at the Warm Springs Elemen
tary School at 553-1128, on
Tuesday or Thursday, 8 a.m. till
3 p.m. We need readers between
these hours. For more informa
tion, call me.
Myrna Frank, SMART co
ordinator, 553-1128.
New start
To the Warm Springs Com
munity, COCC has been privi
leged to be actively associated
with, and accepted by the Con
federated Tribes of Warm
Springs for almost 25 years. As
recently as last month top lead
ers of both entities (the tribes
and COCC) reaffirmed how
highly they value and honor this
mutually beneficial partnership.
There will, however, be a
change in the personnel who
represent COCC here at Warm
Springs. Marilyn and John are
moving on to the next phase of
their already full (especially in
Marilyn's case) lives. They are
both retiring Dec. 31. There are
always regrets when decisions of
this sort are undertaken, but they
are inevitably offset by the pros
pects of the future and the
bright promises it holds.
Thus we will move on, tak
ing with us feelings of affection
for this community, its people,
and the genuine respect and ac
ceptance it has bestowed upon
us. Know, however, as we do,
that new COCC staff will be in
the Tribal Education Branch
office on Jan. 2, poised to make
their contribution to this endur
ing tribalcollege alliance. Sin
cerely Marilyn Hart and
John Hicks, Warm Springs
COCC Center.
spring clean-up activities.
The Housing Department
expects to be available to assist
with landscaping needs after
they get a backhoe and other
equipment.
Tenino Apartment tenants
are complaining about the locat
ing of the garbage cans at the
Tenino Apartments - We agree
that placing of the cans smack
dab in front of the apartments
just makes a sore thumb situa
tion stick out more which really
degrades the appearance. (It was
not our idea.)
(Note: This guest editorial, be
cause of space needs in the paper,
will continue in the next edition of
Spilyay Tymoo.
Also please note, the Spilyay in
its Housing Summit article of Nov.
14 by no means intended to offend
Housing Department employees or
the Housing Authority Board.)
tion in the form of an ordi
nance. Ten years have passed
since the policy was adopted. I
believe in order to make tribal
member preference work, it
must become tribal law. In its
present form the policy docs not
have the desired effect.
Tribal members arc not get
ting hiring preference the Tribal
Council or our people intended.
If jobs are a high priority, we
need a tribal law to support and
enforce tribnl member hiring
preference. Our people need
their elected leaders to review
the policy and make refine
ments. I recommend the Tribal
Council take action to make
tribal member hiring preference
an ordinance.
Necgth Pacwai, Wa-ticks-na-ckit.
Sal Sahme.
Appreciation
Love and appreciation to
those who shared our special day
December 15, 2001. When we
began our relationship, today,
into our future together, it is
wonderful we found each other
to share all that we have along
with our families.
Billy Joe, a niece blessing that
we had you announce our vows.
Ellen, Mom and Susie, the most
beautiful wedding song we have
ever heard. Matron of honor,
Jessie Lu and my escort Oscar
T. I am most thankful. Elyse
and Aprilrose, making the trail
of feathers. Ring bearers
JaimeRae and Niyallee.
To the wedding party Roy, ,
Dane, Dougie, Donny, Charles
and EZ Jackson, Johnny and
Tonto, having family to start our
new lives together it meant more
than words. Laurie, Sonia, Lori,
Angie and Irwina, from my
heart thank you for walking with
me to start my new life with
Doug. To Shirley and Cinda for
the beautiful ribbon shirts, Linda
Scott for the moccasins, Eulalia
for the beaded feather pins, and
Laurie for helping me sew the
dresses, having all of you take
time to make our wedding beau
tiful and memorable.
Thanks Wa-Wo-Kya for the
Round Dance and War Dance.
My Dad (s) Marvin Sr., Lloyd
and Rafael, Aunt Hilda and
Jeaneatte, Pebbles and Sam,
Winona S., Anita, Allee, Bernie,
Chico and Binky, Guy to be
there with us thanks a bunch and
for the beautiful gifts. (Don't
mean to leave anyone out, only
have limited space.)
Evelyn Gilbert thanks for
helping with the wonderful
meal.
Having this wedding cer
emony in our traditional way
brought happy tears, to see how
beautiful it was and have all of
us together to share it, will re
main in our hearts.
We love all of you and will
cherish this day for as long as
time can tell.
Doug and Lou Jackson.
Hello, from
Pastor Rick
On November 24 we be
gan in the Christian calendar
the season of Advent. Ad
vent means "the coming."
It is a time for Christians
around the world to reflect
on the idea of our God who
came in flesh as a baby born
to us all.
To think and pray of
what it means to believe in a
God who is in time and out
side of time. In our world
and other worlds. The cre
ator of all and still creating.
Why? You see this is not
Santa Claus stuff. Or
WalMart shopping issues.
This is about a God who
comes to us and presents
Himself as a large bowl full
of hope. And says to us,
"drink." We have so many
reasons not to be hopeful.
The price of food is go
ing up. We have medical
costs, and talk of war.
Crazy people doing crazy
bad things, etc.
Yet as we put on darker
and darker glasses in our
mind to look at life, a small
light continues to break
through.
A light of hope. A light
that says, "I lerc I am. I love
you. Love yourself as I love
you. Love others as I love
them and you."
See you in church.
Pastor Rick R.
Ribeiro.