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