Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2004)
Page 2 Spilygy Tyvnoo, Wgi-m Springs, Oregon Getting out the vote By Dave McMcchan Spilyiiy Tymoo There are about 2,200 tribal members on the reser vation who are eligible to vote in state and federal elections. But only about one-quarter of these potential voters, ages 18 and older, are actually regis tered to vote. So there is plenty of room for improvement, in terms of voter participation among tribal members of the Warm Springs Reservation. To help address this issue, Doris "Teeney" Miller and Fritz Miller have organized a group of volunteers who are encouraging tribal members to vote. "I've seen how tribes in other states are involved in elections," said Teeney Miller. "That's when I became inter ested." She wants to work on tribal member voter partici pation among all the tribes of Oregon, starting with the Con federated Tribes of Warm Springs. Some tribal members have been active in elections, "but we need to be more ac tive," said Miller. Teeney and Fritz Miller, who work at the Tribal Coun cil office, met recently with a group of six other women who have volunteered to en- FT : 7 r V? mm myfcr) ) wmvJ 'c vi Djvu MoMuu iii bpilyiiy courage tribal members to reg ister to vote. The group reviewed some of the excuses they might hear from people who are not registered to vote, and who are reluctant to register. One common excuse is, "I don't want to be on the jury duty list." A good response to this ex cuse is that the jury duty list is not taken from the voter regis tration rolls, but rather from the list of those in the county who have a driver's license. Another excuse is that vot ing "doesn't do any good." A good response to this ex cuse is that it is important to vote and have your voice heard. Also, change happens slowly, but it's still important. Another excuse is that a per son has no transportation and for this reason can't vote. The solution to this is to vote absentee. Also, there are volun teers who can provide transpor tation. Teeney Miller said that vol unteers will .even provide stamps for people to mail in their ballots. For the upcoming November presidential election, the last day to register is October 12. To register a person needs to fill out a short and simple form. The form asks for the voter's name, whether the person is a U.S. citi zen and over the age of 18. The form asks for the person's po litical party affiliation, including a choice of "not a member of a party." The form then needs to be signed, and mailed to the county clerk's office. Una Qatfa 4Rfs$ 1 h'Ai- 4 The volunteers helping to get out the Indian vote met last week for a strategy conference at Kah-Nee-Ta. The group includes Fritz Miller, Tedi Tanewasha, Lauraina Hintsala, Merci Miller, Arlita Rhoan, Martha Winishut, Charlotte Herkshan and Teeney Miller (from left). Above, the group has bumper stickers for those who are registered to vote. For the November election there will be ballot drop boxes at the administration building, and at Three Warriors Market. Ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on Nov. 2. As the deadline to register approaches, the volunteers will be encouraging tribal members to register. They will be talking with people at family gatherings and birthdays, powwows, meetings and other commu nity functions. Teeney Miller explained that the volunteers are not en couraging people to vote for any particular candidate or cause. Instead, the volunteers are just encouraging people to participate and be heard in the election. August 19, 2004 Back to school BBQ Sept. 2 In preparation for the begin ning of the new school year, there will be a barbecue and school supplies distribution on the Warm Springs Campus on Sept. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. This will be a great opportu nity for parents and students to meet with teachers and princi pals. The barbecue and supplies distribution will be held in front of the Community Counseling Center, between Warm Springs Elementary and the cafeteria. There will be drop boxes throughout the tribal organiza tion, to collect school supplies from tribal employees and de partments that wish to donate. Powwow for inmates Sept. 18 There will be a powwow at the Columbia River Correctional Institute in Portland on Sept. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. All visitors are to check in at the vehicle gate. Visitor check-in is at 12 noon. All visitors must have a back ground check before entering the facility. Contact Chaplain Len Blix for further information, (503) 280-6646, ext. 248. All food donations are to be prepared by vendors such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, pizza, etc. The food must be sealed by the vendors. Twenty-five years ago this week From the August 19, 1979 edition of the Spilyay Tymoo. The Confederated Tribes this week signed a $5.1 million con tract with Voest-Alpine Interna tional for the design, construc tion and delivery of a turbine and generator for the tribes' hydroelectric project at the Pelton re-regulating dam. The selection of a firm and finaliza tion of the contract is consid ered an important accomplish ment because of the time in volved in designing and build ing such specialized equipmenet. In other news: Livestock stepping through fences into the residential areas have also been wandering through large loopholes in the tribal range ordinance. Tribal Council made an attempt to plug those loopholes when they unanimously passed an amendent to Ordinance No. 33 this week. On recommendation from the Law and Order Com mittee, Council has made it easier to identify and prosecute livestock owners whose animals stray into the community areas. Elsewhere on the reservation: Superintendent James D. Cornett has announced the very high fire danger and a reminder that most roads on the Warm Springs Reservation excluding the McQuinn Strip have been closed to public travel. Fire dan ger this year requires the closure to protect Indian resources. Al ready this year there have been 50 fires on the reservation. And this: On the southern border of the reservation, near the Deschutes River Bridge, there is a mobile hamburger stand called the "Mini Inn." Its pres ence there is disturbing to some and a delicious addition to the community for others. Owned and operated by Jack Joyner of Prineville, Mini Inn boasts of oversized avocado burgers and mushroom burgers. Up until he added Indian tacos and fried bread, the burgers were his best sellers. Becaues the trailer is located next door to the Information CenterGift Shop, and right at the eastern entrance to the res ervation, some have suggested that Joyner move the hamburger stand to some other location. Elsewhere: The mill went into its annual shutdown as a caterpillar, and will emerge a butterfly. When workers return after Labor Day, Warm Springs Forest Products Industries will have new wings to test. The metamorphosis is less than pretty. The whole side of the sawmill is torn away, it's in sides spilling out into heaps of trash. The only bright spots in a scene of chaos are the colorful pieces of new equipment scat tered about the premises, poised for installation. Congressman Joseph McDade of Pennsylvania paid a welcome visit to Warm Springs this week with his wife and four chidren. McDade is the third ranking Republican on the pow erful House Appropriations Committee, and the senior mem ber of his party on the Interior Subcomittee, which funds activi ties of the BIA and IHS. Rep. McDade was visiting the Pacific Northwest for the first time in his 18 year career at the request of fellow committee member Bob Duncan of Oregon. Warm Springs Market; Indian Arts and Crafts Warm Springs, OR $7761 ($41) 55S-IS97 7 Tribal Member Appreciation Day Sunday, Aug. 29 at Kah-Nee-Ta Swimming, mini-golf, barbecue, poker walk, discount golf. Sponsored by Kah-Nee-Ta , c On line catalog PRINTING Tribal Business Girds Business Forms EnvelopesLetterheads Raffle Tickets graphics et promotions for Conventions, Workshops Sports Awards, Pow-wow, Golf Tourn. Child Awards, Giveaways, Gaming idp, pcrii, l-iitiib, triuyj, udyj, tU. Embroidery - screen printing) Hand-painted murals and designing Signage: Wood, plastic, metal, & vinyl Call 923 -6377 (Slum E3 Emimvimcr Owner 3240 Walsey Lane, Suite 3 P.O. Box 918 Warm Springs, OR 97761' 541.553.1460 D Credit problems! We finance most everyone! Hi tec Electronics available-auto lock system, CD players, stereo, T.V.'s DIO mmm 5lD Qcand (Opening Chinese Restaurant fundi dpedaid 11-3, tPiepaied puxfi dailij, JVeui owtwtd, Afeut management, dome in hi iw out Hours: 11:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday M 16 N.E;'A'. Street, Madras 541-475-6559