Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2004)
E Coosb EEWA: The wy it is wwty Dumber , aw In the , spirit of the holidays By Selena Boise Management Successor So, are you ready for the New Year? It seems as if the holidays had just started. But then when you think about it, the shiny ornaments and garland are up before Thanksgiv ing. This celebra tion is more of a holiday for me this year because I feel open to the spirit of Christ mas. Some years it comes and goes, and I somehow miss it. I hope everyone is enjoying this festive time of year with family and friends. Have you made contact with your friends who you haven't seen in a long time? I sent out e-mails to my friends who live across the country just to say hello and wish them well this season. I wish that I could see them again. I went away to boarding school for three years and now I have friends I met in Okla homa, Utah, and then college friends in Kansas. I enjoyed being at these places and meeting new people and making friends. But the down side is that they live across the states and I may never see them again. So I always reflect back to the times we had as friends in school, and I remember their faces, back in the times you didn't let anger, resentment or bad feelings get in the way of being happy. Sure, there were disagree ments, but we never let it last long, because we knew that our time at school together would end and we may never see each other again. So at Christmas, I try to re member times that I had with my friends because they were happy times. I hope everyone can let go of whatever regrets, bad feel ings, anger, jealousy or hatred may be inside, and remember friends, family, and loved ones who are important. I know that I have made ter rible mistakes and said things that I regret and now I am think ing that I should try to fix it. It may happen and then it might not, but it would be worth try ing. The New Year With the New Year in the near future, resolutions are about to be made or renewed. Usually if I fail at my resolu tions I just keep trying. I'm get ting there. Last year I vowed to get or ganized, and I can honestly say that it wasn't easy. I'm not quite there, but I am organized enough to make life easier. This year's resolution for me is to try and remember that life with family and friends is here now Do not live in the past or fret about what happened in the past. Do not worry about what will happen in the future. To live for today - I believe that if I could do this, then my life would be much better for me. I hope you make a resolution that will make you happy, and keep yourself on the straight and narrow path to success. Happy New Year to you all. Toe Ness Two secretaries were talking about their dates the previous Saturday. One said, "My date was terrible. Not only did he lie about the size of his yacht, but he made me do the rowing!" Yikes! Spilyay Speaks Great life In October 2003 the Con federated Tribes of Warm Springs lost a treasure, 102-year-old kuthla (grandmother), atwai (now in the spirit world) Nettie Shawaway. There is a confounding discontinuity of the cultural knowledge and ex perience she cultivated in com parison to the diluted efforts we are attempting to maintain and preserve in this millennium. Against all odds, she conducted her life in the fullest realm of our culture; She spoke the na tive Sahaptin language, ate only the native wildlifeorganic foods (over a dozen varieties of roots, huckleberries, deer, elk, bear, salmon and other native vegetables and fruits), and served as a mentor to gen erations of young girls and women in the kaatnam (longhouse) spirituality where she had a powerful "voice." She attributed her long life to her diet and spirituality. It is estimated that her mother Sk'wai ampt lived to 106 years of age. It is the inspiration and mystery of a remarkable matri arch that I approach life-long learning. During the span of Kuthla's lifetime, she heard the stories of the Indian wars, the treaty with the United States government, and she had firsthand experi ence of the federal boarding schools and the challenges of a new way of life on an Indian reservation. In comparison, my life-world involves the interac tion in a drastically different social world divided between modern and cultural traditional ways. , As I reflect on the strength and resiliency of our culture following the postcolonial assault on our traditional way of life, I am grateful for Kuthla's leader ship in the longhouse. On a per sonal note, I am grateful for the enrichment of traveling with Kuthla as my chaperone when I served as Miss Warm Springs, sewing and beadwork from her and her sisters atwai Sylvia Wallulatum and atwai Matilda Mitchell, and the gift of an In dian name for my son Victor Watlamet "Mixaiki." My trip to Wyoming for the Miss Indian America pageant is my favorite memory with her. I was driving and decided to stop at the Custer Battlefield and she was mad at me for stopping there. I was ay-ya-yaash and headstrong - I thought I knew everything at the age of 17. We walked around exploring the site and then Kuthla climbed over a fence. She was in her 80's at that time, but her spryness made her seem more like half her age. I watched her in curi osity and wonderment of what she was up to. She went directly to the General Custer monu ment and kicked it with her moccasined feet! I have the utmost love and respect for the faithful liveli- Birthday and Happy holidays to all our family and friends. With love from the del Nero kids, Cassandra, Wah'ske'siw and Trevin. Happy Holidays to Rheianna Wolfe and Joshua Warner. Mommy loves you. hood of our beloved Simnasho elders Kuthla Nettie and her sis ters, as well as my Kuthla Sadie, Tilla Tom, Pusha Herb Stwyer Sr. and Ulla Lucinda Heath Stwyer. I also have gratitude for those Miss Warm Springs am bassadors who are no longer with us, atwai Dorothy Pebbles George, Sally Rhoan, and Trudee Clements. Nai! Nak'ishayat (Aurolyn Stwycr-Watlamet) A thank you I wanted to take this time to thank my mother Lolita Greeley, my sister Maria Godines, and her husband Angel Godines, for their recent donation to the Simnasho Long House. They donated two long benches with blue padding and backs to Simnasho Long House. These benches came from a church in Bend that no longer needed them. It makes me feel good that my family thought of the long house and did that. My mom said she thought of elders who could sit on the benches in comfort and rest their back also. Olivia Kirk Wallulatum. In appreciation This thank you message may come a little late, but there are many caring people out there who deserve a big thanks. All those who helped our family through a very trying time prob ably don't realize how much each of you very kind people have helped us. Our mom was a very special person who took time to see that each one of her family mem bers were treated equally and fairly. , , . In our personal lives, school, sports, 4-H, whatever, we can truly say she was 100 percent supportive. She did her best to keep us humble, to respect and love your people, do the best you can and enjoy and feel proud of what you have done. She had a one of a kind very friendly smile. But she was one person who would let us know while we were growing up "the realities of life." Her work here on Earth was done. She com pleted her "circle of life" and our Creator has called her home. We will miss her, but her teachings will always remain with us. Her spirit will be with us the rest of our lives. Here is a list of people we want to thank. For each of you a tremendous thank you and a big hug for all of you. If we missed anyone please don't take it personal. Thank you to: Our cousins Janice Clements, Lucille Suppah, Shirley Sanders, Myra Johnson, Irene Towe, Wilson Wewajr. The parents of Deborah Mae Quinn who is Bob and Marilyn Gregory, our local doctors, Dr. Creelman, Dr. Rudd, Dr. Ohlman, Mountain View Hospital staff, the Hospice staff at Mountain View, our Washut drummers, Shaker people, Madras EMTs. And any holiday wishes. . . Wishing my daughter Jessica (Ms. Independent) a Happy Birthday for the 21s. I know it's been difficult for you to let Melinda go, but you've really done a wonderful job with both of my grandchildren, and I love you very much. Keep being strong-willed and support ive for Melinda and Kurtis, and they will continue to make us proud. And watch out for Lester's prunes! Happy birthday, Jessica. Love, Mom and your brothers in Taholah. Letters to the Editor people who donated their time and energy, food, money, dona tions, and it's very important to remember all who offered prayers. This is only a small part of the people we want to thank and all of you out there who weren't printed, thank you too. We wish and pray everyone will be care ful these holidays. God bless you all. From Tillman, Walt, Willy, Jack, Dob, Lowell. New attitude Dear friends and family of Warm Springs, I'm now sitting time for some trouble I've gotten myself into (drug related). I'm really miss ing my kids right now and well, just simple things. Cooking din ners, bathing the kids, getting ready for bed, going to the store, drinking pop or going for a walk. I hate what I've gotten my self into and what it's doing to the people I love. Although, ev erything happens for a reason. I now realize there's a lot I was taking for granted. Finding myself rethinking a lot about life. What I do with my free time, the kind of people I chose to call friends, and future goals. Please forgive me for what I've done. For all the children who look up to me, I'm sorry. I'm working on bettering myself and what's around me. Thanks for your time. Sincerely, Rose Brown-Antunez. Craft night The staff and students of Warm Springs Elementary School would like to thank the following businesses for their generous dollar donations, which enabled us to have our Third Annual Winter Family Craft Night: Warm Springs Forest Products Industries, DE Com posite, Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Casino and Lodge, Warm Springs Power Enterprises. We appreciate your generos ity in supporting our program, and most importantly, our stu dents. Sincerely, Dawn Smith, principal. Rodeo rider Well this letter is long over due. It's been two months since I represented your tribe at the Indian Nationals Final Rodeo in Saboba, Calif. I wanted to get this letter out sooner but work, family, the holidays and other business have kept me from getting this out in a timely fash ion. I'd like to start out by thank ing my parents Pete and Mar garet Bruised Head for always being there for me. Dad, I don't know if I'll ever be able to fill your shoes, you are my inspira tion champ. Mom, thank you for getting on me when I needed it. I love you both. Many thanks to my mother-in-law Frances Allen for all that she has done for us this year and A very Merry Christmas to my "Mom" Margie and "Dad" Joe Tuckta. Yes, you too sunshine. Jermayne, Keno and family, sis ter Cena and family. Merry Christmas to my honey, Allan Warner. Love you. Thank you for standing by my side. Love you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Mom and Dad. And happy birthday, Mom. Love, Dare. continues to do. From babysitting to fundraising, her encouragement, she's as solid of support as I can get. Thank you Auntie Arlene Bryant for your raffle donations and fundraising, for loving my kids, for the positive words you encourage me with when I don't win. Thank you, Lyman Cauli flower, for allowing me to ride your horse to win the steer wres tling at the INFR, and Casey Green, for passing your seat to me in the calf roping. This year's accomplishments couldn't be possible without the support of my boss Glen Car penter and Leslie Cochrin Davis. Thanks to both of you. Also Steven Stewart and Ernie Scott for picking up the slack, thanks, guys. Thank you, Joann Smith and Bridgett Whipple, for the raffle items, and thank you, Joann, for your raffle sales. Verleen Tom (Holliday by now), congratulations and best wishes for your and your new husband, and thank you for ev erything you have done and continue to do. Winona Strong, you crazy lady, thank you, too. Thank you Warm Springs Forest Products Industries, Letters of apology To the Warm Springs Reservation I apologize for my ac tions that took place in Nov. 2004. 1 won't let this happen again. I know alcohol is affecting our people, and I now un derstand that we lose so many Natives due to driving while intoxicated. Again, I apologize. Stephanie Belgard. To the Warm Springs police officers and also my family and community, I am truly sorry for my bad behavior and wrongful attitude when I was under the influence of alco holic beverages on Halloween Eve. Bad spirits were partly to blame but I've been through court and was dealt with in a fair manner in the disposition. Thank you Judge W. Smith and prosecution for your professionalism on this matter, and I will try to make a positive out of this again. Thank you Judge Smith for your compassionate justice. Merry Christ- . mas and Happy New Year. Murray Kalama. I would like to apologize to all tribal members of the Con federated Tribes of Warm Springs for violating Warm Springs Tribal Code No. 350.210.20 section 2a. I have taken full responsibility for my actions when I was stopped on Oct. 24, 2004. 1 appreciate and am grateful for the rights tribal mem bers are so very privileged to enjoy. I realize that when we violate the tribal laws that have been put in place to protect us all, we put those rights at risk for all. I now regret violating the law and will take care to follow all tribal laws and regula tions in the future. Tommy Fuentes. The years I've been here were more welcome and the actions that occured here I've lived, were the problems had with my ex-wife. I am saying that I am sorry to her. Hope fully as the years go by we can get along again for our chil dren. Douglas Jones. To the people in the community of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, please accept my humble apologies for the crimeoffense of driving under the influence. On the evening of Nov. 5, 2004 on Tenino Road. I put my pas senger, myself and others out on the road that night in dan ger. There was no excuse for my willful misconduct. And to officer Whittenburg, sorry about my attitude. Once again, I'm sorry fpr my actions and I will see to it that this never happens again. Friends don't let friends drive drunk. Respect fully submitted, Damion C. Katchia. I would like to apologize for my actions on Aug. 7, 2004. I was driving a vehicle and had gotten stopped about 11:30 p.m., then charged with DUII. I didn't mean to put anyone in danger but by driving that way I did once again. I would like to apologize for my action. Since then I have made a choice to a better life. Thank you. Rachel Winishut. To the community of Warm Springs, I would like to apolo gize for my actions on Dec. 5. 1 was driving under the influ ence of alcohol. I had put a lot of people at risk that day. I am glad no serious things came of my choice. William Clements Sr. I Henry Yahtin would like to apologize for driving un der the influence of intoxicants and resisting arrest. I am sorry for those actions and will seek counseling and anger management. Thank you for writing to the Spilyay Tymoo. Letters may be mailed to: Spilyay Tymoo, P.O. Box 870, Warm Warm Springs Ventures, Rodney Smith Logging, DMJ Automotive, Pete Peterson Heavy Equipment Repair, The Chance Corp., the Blood Tribe of Standoff, Alberta Canada, and Kenny and Frances Allen for your financial support. I was proud to represent you. I'd also like to thank my beau tiful kids Ashton Summer (Ashy Poo), Hazen Lane (Jake), Jessie Alex (Cowgirl) who think I'm the best even if I get bucked off or if I miss a calf or steer. Thanks to my wife Sammy for all the sacrifices, for keep ing the horses in shape, for do ing all the book work, knowing what I did wrong, bluntly telling me, and helping me to improve, and for being my wife. I can't think of a better team. We whipped 'em again, Josey. And a big thank you to the Warm Springs community, all family and friends near and far, and to the Regulators (you know who you are). I can truly say there is hardly any greater feeling than living the dream. Last but not at all least, I thank God for all my bless ings. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Clint Bruised Head. Springs, OR 97761. Letters may be up to 350 words in length.