Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2003)
Spilyay Ty moo, Warm Conservancy receives large grant The Confederated Tribes participates in the a non-profit organization promoting proper stewarasnip or ine uescnuies niver Dd&in By Shannon Keaveny 'Spilyay Tymoo ecently the Meyer Memorial Trust (MMT) awarded $170,587 over three (MMT) awarded I 1 years to the Deschutes Re 1 sources Conservancy (DRC), a non-profit organization spear headed by the Confederated Tribes in 1996. It is the largest sum of ' money MMT has granted at one time in Oregon. "The funds are instrumental ' in identifying partnerships out side the federal process that will continue to enhance our resto ration projects," said Jim Manion, DRC board chairman. ' ' The MMT support will allow ' ' the DRC to research new en - terprises and institutions needed necently the Meyer The Deschutes Wetlands Iruaa Memorial Trust tive and The Grass Bank Dem- Stories: tradition for adults and children (Continued from page 1) At times, they traveled clear ' to the Willamette River. ' From place to place, with grandparents in tow, children 'were entertained with fables 1 about coyote, monsters, salmon, chipmunks and more. In the proper time, legends were told -about mountain formations, 'landmarks and fresh water springs. Strong lessons were learned, such as "Don't laugh at other people," or "Listen to your grandmother." It was here, as a young tradi tional girl, Miller learned the art of telling a tale. "We traveled with our old pepple'ahd that's how we got our stories, says Miller. But grandparents don't travel with their families anymore and more effort must be made. "Storytelling is dying," Miller says, "because there aren't many elders who will go out and tell their stories anymore." As a grandmother, Miller ' found herself raising her own ' grandchildren. In her time off from work, like her grand ' mother, Miller repeated the sto ' ries she heard as child. Before long, word spread, ''and with her grandchildren 'grown up, she maintains a repu tation as local storyteller extraordinaire. 509-J officials waive salary increase By Shannon Keaveny Spilyay Tymoo At last Monday's 509-J School District board meeting, due to mounting finan cial constraints, administrators unexpectedly offered to waive salary increases for the next fis cal year. "The administrative group is proposing we take a zero per cent salary increase next year," said Sean Gallagher, Madras High School principal. The board, visibly touched by the offer, accepted the proposal. "We graciously thank you for your willingness to support us during these tough economic times," said board member Steve Earnest. The administrative group in cludes principals, vice principals, the superintendent, assistant su perintendent and other admin istrators in the 509-J district. Other important school news is that students started testing for the 2003 annual State Re port Card. Students will have the oppor- Springs, Oregon to fund watershed restoration, sucnasmtergovernmcnuucuop- The two specific projects the DRC plans to implement are onstration Project. First, the Deschutes Wedands Initiative will identify wetland protection and restoration pri orities in the Deschutes Basin. Afterwards, an evaluation will be made on how to carry out res toration efforts. The Grass Banks Demon stration Project will strive to improve, restore and protect grazing lands at reduced costs, while preserving the catde in dustry in Central Oregon. The objective is to make pri vate or public rangeland in good condition available to use by ranchers when their public land grazing allotments need to be Community events often in vite her to share the stories of her childhood with a new gen eration of wide-eyed children. "I was fortunate to have el ders to turn to for stories. A lot of the kids these days either don't have a grandma to teach them where they came from or just don't have a grandma that knows the stories," says Miller. A lot of stories are just about how it used to be, she says. A lesson about how easy they have it. A lesson teaching appreciation for what they have. "For instance, these kids have a lot more education opportu nities than I had," she says. Not just a fairytale ' Stories can be told all year long, but are mosdy they are told in idle times. Legends are to be told only in the winter. Repetition is the key to a learned storyteller. Families of all ages listen to the same sto ries for their whole lives. In their old age, they begin to tell what they have heard. "Adults listen so they can in turn tell the stories," said Miller. There are stories that are classics, with minor alterations between the tribes. Coyote sto ries are a common example. Then there are the memories. Memories may include a time when guardian spirits were 'Tfoe administrative group is proposing we take a zero percent salary increase next year." Sean Gallagher MHS Principal tunity to test three times this year. Results for last year were released to parents on Jan. 31. Based on the results, state schools are rated excellent, strong, satisfactory, low or un acceptable. District superintedent Phil Riley reviewed probable ratings for 2002. Warm Springs El ementary, along with Madras High, Metolius Elementary and Westside Elementary rated sat isfactory. In 2001, Warm Springs El ementary rated strong. Jefferson County Middle School dropped from a satis factory to low rating. Riley at tributed the middle school prob lem to low attendance. "Attendance at J CMS is un der 90 percent," he said. February Deschutes Resource "The funds are instru- gfafyfy partnerships outside the Federal process that mil continue to enhance our restoration projects. " Jim Manion DRC Chairman rested. In the last year, the DRC has worked with groups throughout the basin developing watershed restoration strategy. In 2004, after initial restora tion priorities are identified, fur ther research, also supported by the MMT grant, will con tinue. The DRC is a cooperative project initiated by the tribes and Environmental Defense. "Storytelling is dying because there aren't many elders who go out and tell their stories any more." Adeline Miller Storyteller strongly believed in, and often are reserved for adult circles. In one instance beliefs lost by the youth were discussed at a ;'' 'Warm Springs' Language De ' partment discussion witli elders. "The younger generation thinks these are fairytales, but in our generation these things really existed," said Miller at the discussion. At that same discussion, an elder man shared a story of the blue jay delivering news of his aunt's death. "One day we were sitting on a log in the woods," he said. "A blue jay landed and changed its tune." According to the man, the song was the sound of his aunt's Indian name. Upon return to his home, an inquiry discovered that the aunt had passed away at 3:30 p.m., Funds up for tribal higher education Last week US. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced the administration's fiscal year 2004 budget proposal will in clude a five percent increase for tribal colleges and universities. The amount will be raised to $19 million. The president has pushed for funding increases for these pro grams for the past two years. "President Bush recognizes the important role tribal colleges and universities play in Ameri can Indian communities, and that increased funds are neces sary to ensure educational qual ity and equality for all Ameri cans," said Paige. "These institutions will have the same access and opportuni ties as other institutions of higher education across the na tion," he added. In July 2002, Pres. Bush met with tribal college presidents at the White House. He signed an executive order establishing two programs that assist eligible in stitutions in self-sufficiency by improving academic quality. 6, 2003 Conservancy (DRC), Tribal members Jim Manion, Bobby Brunoe, and Jody Calica led the tribal effort. "The tribes realized the im portance of every faction in the Deschutes Basin. They realized the need for everyone to come together and work towards the same goal," said Manion. Working with the Deschutes Basin irrigators and other water interests, the DRC concentrates on cost-effective solutions to water problems. The board of directors not only includes tribal interests, but interests from all economic fac tions affecting the water quality of the Deschutes Basin. These include logging, farming, tour ism and more. The DRC's mission is to re store stream flow and improve water quality in the Deschutes Basin. the exact time of the blue jay visit. "I was told that if a bird talks to you, it's telling you that some one died," shared the man. Or the fisherman at Celilo Falls, some thought was epilep tic, and others knew his guard ian animal was the otter. The man, after enduring a fit on his scaffold, survived falling in Celilo numerous times. "That man always fell in the falls when a person was drown ing," said the man. After transforming into an otter, he'd take the drowning person's place, and save them from drowning, according to the man. The man's guardian spirit, the Otter, kept him from drown ing, he said. Back then everything was a spirit. You possessed whatever gift you were given. For every age, storytelling on the Warm Springs Reservation offers community camaraderie and living history embodied in oral tradition. Cultural reverence for nature and the "circle of life" is readily revealed with Miller's quick wit, easy laugh and wisdom, and when she pauses in front of her audience and says slyly, "Have you ever wondered how a chip munk got his stripe down his back?" r Story idea? CilISpilmTfMOi) 553-3274 J Round Dance Thursday evening Dinner at 7p.m. Simnasho Longhouse A $6,000 Memorial Drumming Contest, Jingle. Men's Traditional, Fancy and Grass, will be sponsored by the Greene family. More Teen categories. Junior categories. Tiny tots, information, (541) 553-1953. For more information, Mackie Begay, Hand Drum Contest, sponsored by Calvin general. E. Austin Greene, general. Jodi Orr, Queahpama and Bruce Jim family. More in- Queen candidates, 553-9230. Ina LaLibcrte, formation. 553-0422. Chicken DanceRound Bustle Special, sponsored by Mackie Begay. More informa tion, 553-9230. Dance categories: Men's and Women's V Golden Age, Women's Traditional, Fancy and I L" . T. o:-- A 2 L& . J From left, Victor Switzler, Jefferson County Middle School sixth grade class president; Kate Scheideman, eighth-grade class president; Andrew Saldan, middle school student body president and Mike Osborne, Warm Springs Elementary RE. teacher. Students raise money for lost items Student body representatives from Jefferson Country Middle School recendy hand-delivered a "check" to Mike Osborne, Physical Education teacher at Warm Springs Elementary. The check amounted to $2,010.54. In just one week middle school students and teachers raised $1,010.54 in pennies to donate to the elementary school. The middle school student body donated an additional $1,000. The funds are intended to replace P.E. equipment lost in the school's gymnasium fire, which took place Dec. 20. Osborne expressed his appreciation to the teachers and stu dents. He said funds would most likely be used to replace items such as soccer nets for goals, which were lost in the fire. The student body representatives present were Andrew Saldan, student body president; Kate Scheideman, eighth grade class presi dent; and tribal member Victor Switzler, sixth grade class presi dent. SMILE wins two first place titles The Warm Springs Science and Mathematical Investigative Learning Experience (SMILE) Club recendy earned two first place awards at an annual competition in Portland. The two Warm Springs Teams, the Silver Wolves and the Golden Eagles, received first place in the "Against All Odds" category. The "Against All Odds" category recognizes factors such as young age and first year contestants with awards. "Most of our team members are around ten," said Kevin Rodin, SMILE teacher at Warm Springs. This year's program focused on robotics and how they func tion in cities. Each team built and programmed a robot. In the competition, robots earned points by performing duties such as moving rocks, delivering food to stores, and picking fruit off trees. - SMILE is an after-school club, sponsored by Oregon State University.' ' eH For over a decade, SMILE has tried to nurture an interest in science and mathematics among Oregon's Native American, His panic, African American and other economically disadvantaged youth. Boys & Girls picks Youth of the Year Six outstanding boys and girls have been nominated to compete in a Youth of the Year contest at the Warm Springs Boys and Girls Club. Participants will be judged on their ability to speak in public and write essays. A panel will interview contestants. The winner movips on to the Central Oregon Regional Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year Contest. Teenagers chosen for this year are Terron McDonald, George Boise, Katie Allen, Diana Wolfe, Aaron Heath and Bruce Berry. In other news for the club Frank Smith, director of the Warm Springs Branch of the Boys Girls Club, anticipates starting storytelling on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. The Culture & Heritage De partment will provide storytellers. Also, various community members are offering use of their sweadodges for the club's participants. The club will also use the community sweatlodge at the HeHe Longhouse. Sweats will take place in the afternoons or evenings. In the spring the club plans to build a sweadodge near the Warm Springsi jail for use by the inmates. The Warm Springs Branch of the Boys and Girls Club is committed to incorporating traditional teachings into their program. Anyone wishing more information can call Frank Smith at 553-2284. The 2003 Lincoln's Birthday Powwow February 6 - 9 powwow. Page 3 mM , - J Queen candidates, 553-0422. Sandra Grccnc-Sampson, 553-6619. Vendorscon cession. No collect calls. All specials will be approved by the Pow wow Committee prior to the scheduled