E Coosb EEWA: The way it is
Page 4- Spilyay Tymoo December 26, 2002
Letters to the Editor
Kitchen fire
My name is Anita Mendoza,
a tribal member, and I need to
say thank you to Social Service
and the Fire Department for
their immediate help when my
kitchen burned up.
When a traumatic event hap
pens to a person, it is extremely
terrifying. I was in shock, over
whelmed, and at times felt help
less. My first reaction was thank
God no one was hurt and the
main damage was detained in
the kitchen. Than after the fire
department left, we began clean
ing the mess up the best we
could. Soot is not easy to clean
and it was in every room and
on everything; clothes, furniture,
dishes, and all food not in cans
had to be thrown out.
As I stood in the middle of
my kitchen, I felt despair and
scared. No stove or even a mi
crowave to cook with and the
holidays were coming up. What
am I going to do for my kids
and grandbabies for Thanksgiv
ing? My granddaughter's birth
day was coming up too and I
was supposed to have cooked a
meal for her.
As always, when I feel alone
and don't know what to do, I
take it to my Savior and He
keeps me strong. I also give
thanks to my big family, because
not only do I need the strength
from my Savior, I also need
support that is tangible. For
Thanksgiving I took my
grandbabies to Warm Springs
and we had a wonderful time
with everyone.
That day I silently prayed and
said thank you Lord, for pro
viding me with such a loving
' family and please, keep them all
at peace with each other, because
we don't know when we might
lose someone.
Although my kitchen is dam
aged, no stove, eating out of
paper plates and plastic spoons,
I had much to be grateful for.
Christmas is just around the
corner and thanks to God and
all those who have helped, I now
have a stove (not new but it
works) and my kitchen is get
ting somewhat in order, we will
be able to enjoy Christmas at
home. Me... I will never forget
that awful day, but day by day
with Christ by my side, the ter
ror is subsiding
May you feel this season, the
joy that comes from within that
God, Creater, provides for all
of us. Thank You.
Anita Mendoza
(For those of you who are
curious, my immediate family is
Greely's and Kirk's, and all those
related).
Appreciated
Thank you Jim and Lawrence
for the wood you brought me.
It sure helped keep this
grandma warm. Also, a great big
thank you to the Santa Clauses
who left me bundles of kindling.
This senior sure appreciates your
kindness. Sorry I was not at
home.
Maxine McKinley
Great powwow
The Thanksgiving Mini Pow
wow had another successful
year, as we celebrated and gave
thanks to the TOM that filled
our stomachs and brought out
all the stretchy pants and reservation-sized
t-shirts for after the
meal. Aye!
But I would like to share with
the community that the powwow
brought a lot of good feelings
and laughter, as we had an in
tense game and contest of who
has the fastest hiny (musical
chairs) for the children and
adults. The undisputed Pine
Grove Champion was flown in
to challenge all hiny's.
We challenged the children
and adults in the sweep your dpi,
and clowned around with a
clown dance contest. All in all
the event brought the commu
nity together to share laughs and
have a good time.
We had a traditional type of
powwow in which we compen
sated each dancer, elders, and
drums to encourage them to re
turn for another night of pow-'
wow on Sunday.
We even had the 1975 Wide
Spot Queen show up to support
the powwow. Believe it or not
Better call Ripley's.
We offered contest dancing
in all categories that targeted
youth, in which we had an enor
mous amount of youth partici
pate and dance. On Friday
evening we had a lot of children
show up thinking there was a
dance that evening "We have In
dian Dancing tonight!" But the
kids did stay and had a good
time. Since Thanksgiving is such
a long weekend, it gave our
youth something to do and look
forward to instead of being an
idle weekend with nothing to do.
It was a great honor to share
these times with our community
and families that attended. We
had seven local drums show up
and without you we wouldn't
have been able to have our pow
wow. The list of drums in at
tendance were: Quartz Creek,
Eagle Thunder, N8IV Pride,
Spotted Eagle, Dry Creek, Wide
Spot and Pine Grove Jr's.
I would like to thank the
Confederated Tribes for putting
up the monies to hold the pow
wow. And also thank you to the
Warm Springs Community
Wellness Center.
I would like to thank Captain
Moody and his family for all they
have contributed and done to
make this event a special one.
Carlos and Charmaine
Calica and Family
Apology
To the editor,
This is to inform the com
munity and Officer Springle for
my actions back here in July
2002. Again, sorry.
Sally Whiz
Big hearts
On November 26 I wit
nessed and heard two young la
dies and their grandmother tell
the three young men who mur
dered their only brothers that
they foregave them. I heard a
grandmother tell these men, she
forgave them. Now, I don't
know very many families that
could have done this. This fam
ily had every right to verbally
abuse these men. Sluggo said it
best, "I didn't expect to come
here and be forgiven today."
I couldn't stop telling my fam
ily this past Thanksgiving holi
days how much heart this fam
ily showed. Everyone of the
family members that were at
that sentencing hearing learned
and came out feeling different
that afternoon. I know I did.
I want to thank Carrol, Terri
and Margrett for letting me be
part of that day. My son, daugh
ter and myself will never forget
Nov. 26, 2002. Carrol, Terri and
Margrett, you three are remark
able. Anyone who knew my little
bro Mikie knew he had a big
heart Now you three carry his
heart with you and it shows. Your
friend,
Wendell H. Cook.
Our people
Warm Springs Rez, beautiful,
kind, tough, sharing people.
We have a strong Rez. Our
people and leaders are a good
people doing the best they can.
I admire and appreciate all of
you on our Rez, cause if you
wasn't for our people, you, all
our employees would have to
find another means to accom
modate your lifestyles.
The words I write are just
that, words. My hope is that what
I write might help our people.
We have a good tribal busi
ness sector but if we are to sur
vive in the 2000s, we must shift
out of low into high.
Do more with less, eliminate
the 0 based budget and reward
employees for saving tribal dol
lars instead of rewarding man
agers and others for spending
us into the poorhouse.
Thanks to Herb Graybael,
Chaz, Kanim, Roger, James and
our utilities department.
Thanks to Don Courtney and
the police department for keep
ing our citizens safe. Mark
Matthews, Jolene, Desi, legal aid
department. Mona Biaz, Marie,
Gwen, Sarah, Glenn, Victims
Assistance Department. Shan
non, Dave, Selena for having
the guts to address our crank
epidemic.
Thanks to Teeny, Buttons,
Emma, Myrtle, and all the
Council. Rudy Clements, I know
you are doing the best you can
for our people's future. Mary
Ann Meanus, Bernice Mitchell
for always being there, every
Sunday for Washut.
Danny Martinez and the
Fire Department, Austin
Greene and Austin Smith, plus
Andy too.
Lonnie's Small Business De
partment. Francis and Laura.
Thanks to all you guys. I know
1 1 forgot good workers that are""
concerned about the fiscal flood
of resources that are being sys
tematically funneled into other
communities.
Delford, Marita, Shonna,
Clarence, now this is how a busi
ness should be run.
Take lessons from Dot as
he seems to use only what is
necessary, and is fiscally smart.
This is how our tribe needs to
operate, like Buck, Susie and
their Deschutes Crossing. They
seem to run their business as
tutely. Any way I just want to ex
press some thanks.
No matter what I feel we're
blessed in Warm Springs, to
have what we have. We must
continue to defend what little
we have left.
Bobby Eagleheart
Good work
To Melinda Polk,
Keep up the good work, your
grades are excellent. Keep it
positive. You will always move
forward. Remember you're my
MVP not Franklins. Love, your
ma, Jessie Polk.
To Matt A., thank you for
taking us to see B.T.H. in Bend,
they took us back to '94. And
you know Bizzy can make his
own tune. From not your girl
friend, not your wife, but your
No. 1 friend, Jessie.
The season
It's the reason for the season.
I know it's starting to get
colder, colder for the winter sea
son then.
Well, other, than the weather,
I'd love for all the Warm Springs
tribal members to have a very
wonderful Thanksgiving with
your family and friends.
Give thanks for winter holi
days. That's the reason for the
season.
Evette Patt
Having faith
Greetings my people. I'd like
to take time to share my appre
ciation and concern from my
heart. My name is Billy Joe
Berry Sr. My Indian name is Ta
Tanka Shuka Wahkan (Buffalo
Horse).
Assiniboine from my father's
side, George Berry
SpeakThunder, Fort Belknap,
Montana. My mother is Nola
Queahpama, and my grandpar
ents are the late Nathan and
Lillie Heath.
First of all I'd like to thank
' all the peOple, who at one time
or another shared great words '
of wisdom and guidance in my
life. I'd also like to ask my
people, friends and family, the
community of Warm Springs
for your forgiveness for the
years of my life that I lived in
such disgrace. I am so thankful
that our God is so forgiving and
merciful.
Like many others in the com
munity, I came to a point in my
life where I felt a very strong
desire to search out my purpose
in life on this earth. I was so
tired of literally killing myself
with the slow death called alco
hol and drugs, which led to de
pression, then the near death of
the spirit. Friends, I'd like to
warn you to beware, your en
emy the devil prowls around like
a roaming lion looking for
someone to devour.
After experiencing many
ways and religions, I finally
found peace in my heart and
soul by simply having an inti
mate relationship with God,
having faith in His son Jesus
Christ, and learning to read and
understand the written law (the
Bible) and applying it in daily
living. I also thank God for the
special gift of praise and wor
ship that He's given our people
through the Seven Drum
Washut.
As an ordained minister, my
wife and I would like to invite
the many who are searching
for your destiny to the All
Nations Fellowship and Sup
port Group, "The Simnasho
Community Church," where
everybody is somebody, Jesus
is Lord and Natives can be
Natives.
Because of our respect and
participation for the Sunday
Service Washut, we meet at 3
p.m. at the old Simnasho School
for church service. With much
love and respect,
Pastor Billy Joe Berry Sr.
Wasco basket
Dear Spilyay Tymoo,
It was a thrill to see the ar
ticle about Pat Courtney Gold
and the Wasco basket (It takes
a while for the mail to bring us
Spilyay Tymoo, so my wife and
I saw it only yesterday.)
Almost 50 years ago I was at
Harvard and a number of times
went to look at the basket in the
Peabody Museum. It always
seemed lost there. Now Pat
Courtney Gold has brought it
back to life. Sincerely,
n Dell Hymes, Charlotsville,
Virginia., ' S '-vii' !o,v;
Reminder
regarding
letters
It is the policy of Spilyay
Tymoo to print Letters to the
Editor from any and all tribal
members. Because of space
limitations, letters should not
exceed 350 words.
Letters that are longer
than 350 words may be cut
starting with the last sentence
and progressing up until the
item is within the 350-word
limit
This policy is necessary in
order to ensure that room ex
ists in the newspaper for all
of the Letters to the Editor.
Housing Authority responds to summit article
(Editor's note: following is the
continuation of a guest editorial
that began in the previous edition
of Spilyay Tymoo. The article, by
Local Housing Authority Board
Chairperson Elton Greeley, is in re
sponse to a Spilyay article on hous-
Regarding modular (manu
factured) housing, the Spil-Yay
writer indicated that our Local
Housing Authority (LHA) board
is opposed to that type of dwell
ing structure. This is not neces
sarily true information. Some of
us (commissioners) feel that
many of the modular units are
a good product. Move-in time
into a modular housing unit
could take two to six weeks.
Proper set-up is extremely im
portant For our upcoming hous
ing project, we plan to give an
option to our Mutual Help
(home ownership) participants
as to the type of housing unit
they want
Problems can occur with any
type of construction. In previ
ous construction projects, some
of our "low-bidder" contractors
used materials and items which
only met minimum specs and
standards. Plus, some of our
recent maintenance contractors
could and should have done
much better quality work. There
has been continued need to have
work done and materials used
to be inspected by a certified
inspector. We have taken action
to correct this problem, how
ever, we need to hear from our
housing clients when problems
persist
Please note: The need for
maintenance can occur in any
and all types of housing An idiot
can kick in a door, punch holes
in the walls, break windows, ig
nore mopping up spilled liquids
andor leave water on the floor,
etc. Needless to say, other main
tenance problems can result
from normal wear and tear.
Question: I low long does it
take to build a house on the res
ervation? Actually, we don't
know. It will depend on the fund
ing source, who the construction
contractor is, and possible type
of contract - some cases, 90
days. Other cases, maybe two
years. The type of care taken will
determine the future value of
the home.
Housing applications
Comment in the Spilyay ar
ticle, "Some people have to wait
years before they get a house
here." This could easily be a true
statement - in some cases. All
applicants are advised when they
submit an application to I lous
ing that they must renew their
application at least every six
months, or they will be dropped
from the waiting list.
Not everyone does their re
newal, therefore, they then must
resubmit an application which
results in their application drop
ping to the bottom of the list.
Missed application renewals re
sult in prolonged waiting time.
Capable I lousing staff are avail
able and very willing to assist
anyone who feels that they need
help completing the housing ap
plication. Type of housing units admin
istered by our I lousing Depart
ment HUD Low Rent; Mutual
Help - for home ownership;
Tribal rentals; Tribal Mobile
Home Court.
( The HUD Low Rent units
and Mutual Help units are as
signed in accordance with need,
family composition and income.
Monthly rent for the low rent
units is the bare minimum -based
on income.
Mutual Help recipients, when
necessary, in cases of a tempo
rary income status change, pay
only an administrative cost ($75
to 125) per month. They do
not pay a down payment, and
they can gain home ownership
in 25 years, or less. Ceiling rents
(top maximum) apply in both
cases.
Tribal rentals are assigned in
accordance with need. Monthly
rent for tribal units is a set rate.
Evictions occur when tenants
outright neglect paying their rent.
Grounds for automatic eviction
include drug abuse andor drug
dealers.
Other comments
There is much, much more
which we can comment on re
garding our housing issues. Such
as, the extremely high tenant
accounts receivable program,
the need for additional funds for
maintenance items, need for
employment, alcohol and drug
abuse, elder abuse, youth gangs,
inadequate housing, unsightly
conditions, safety problems,
playgrounds, traffic violators,
recreation and convenience
needs, etc.
We are anxiously awaiting the
holding of another housing sum
mit, or perhaps some type of
public forum on housing. Our
thanks to Shawnclc Shaw, of the
Community Action Team. She
has volunteered to assist us with
our getting out more informa
tion to the community. It will be
a privilege to work with
Shawnclc.
We have not addressed all of
the points mentioned in the Spil
Yay article, so we ask that you
talk with us when you can, We
need to hear from you. You are
welcome to contact our Hous
ing Director, Chet Van Pelt, or
any of his staff for additional
information, or to voice a con
cern. Also, you can speak with any
of our LHA commissioners:
Elton Greeley, Chairperson;
Kirby I leath, Vice Chairperson;
Jack Quinn, Secretary-Treasurer;
Victor Moses; Edna
Gonzales; Randy Smith; Priscilla
Frank, commissioners.
Conclusion
Like in that old time West
ern movie Shane, in the closing
scenes when that kid, as the hero
was slowly riding his horse on a
mountain trail off into the sun
set, was sorrowfully and loudly
calling out, "Shane, Shane come
backl" We too must call our, "Sid,
Sid, come backl"
Thank you for your time and
patience in reading this long
winded and dissertation type
response. Sincerely,
Elton Greeley, Chairper
son, Warm Springs I lousing Authority.