E Coosh EEWA: The W3y it is p4 wmi ah as. 2005
Hard time
at home
sometimes
By Selena T. Boise
MantigfmtHt Successor
I lave you ever had to deal
with person in your own home
that doesn't like you? Well, it's
not a fun thing to deal with. Are
you a step-parent with children
in your home that just moved
there?
It's not a bad thing to hap
pen if the children
Letters to the Editor
1 I r
are nice and spiiyay
friendly, and if they Speaks
don't know you
they arc curious and ask ques
tions and try to get to know you.
Hut if they've heard things
about you and they think they
know you, then they may have
made up their minds about you.
You should forget about a
friendly relationship if that hap
pens. There arc many stories that
I've heard about these things,
and I have some of my own,
but there comes a time when a
step-parent or foster parent
wants to just give up.
I know this family with a
young lady who moved into
their home, and she had every
thing her way, from where she
wanted to sit, what she wanted
to watch, to what rules she
wanted to follow and which ones
she didn't. She was still unhappy
in that home.
It was asked of her what
more could be done to make her
happy, and she said she wanted
nothing. There was relief, of
course, because when you think
about it, what more can you do?
She already had her space and
her freedom from both rules
and chores,
j Last year during the summer
months, this blended family was
having a good summer and
things went well. Everyone
thought, what a great break
through. There was talking and
laughing among the family and
it was peaceful without the glar
ing and pouting. It was a great
summer. Then one-day things
changed and everything went
back to the glaring, pouting and
talking back. Did someone fall
off the bed and wake up? No!
But if it was a dream, it was a
good dream because things
should be like that all the time.
Now what could turn this not-so-friendly
relationship into a
good one, and then take it away
one day? It is a puzzling ques
tion, and who would actually
know the answer?
I could go on and on about
stories I have heard but they
don't get better. The step-parents
keep their heads up and
continue their daily lives hoping
for some kind of breakthrough
in the home. Uncles, aunties,
and grandparents keep hoping
for a breakthrough in their lives
and those of the children they
take into their homes.
What makes things worst for
some is that extended family
becomes involved. I mean
there's this child, the same one
I mentioned before, who doesn't
have to do what is expected as
her part, and everyone does
things her way in an attempt to
make things go smoothly. But
this child turns around and says
that she's unhappy, and the evil
wicked stepmother is mean.
What more could this family
do to make things better for
her? I am sure that the step-parents
loves their spouse enough
to accept their children, or ex
tended family, loves their nieces,
nephews, or grandchildren
enough to take them into their
homes, but do the stepchildren
or foster child, hate these adults
enough to make their lives mis
erable? Does it get better for any
of these blended families?
Salmon return
I am a traditional salmon fish
erman and served the Warm
Springs Fish and Wildlife Com
mittee, and six years with Co
lumbia River Inter-Tribal Fish
Commission. I don't know why
the biologists forgot the drought
year of 2001. This was the year
of many thousands of salmon,
but very low water - low snow
packs. Bonneville Power Adminis
tration refused to release water
needed to help flush the smolts
out of the Columbia River sys
tem, thus the fish run was on its
own. If you think this year is
bad, wait 'til the next four-year
cycles of salmon runs occur.
The bulk of any salmon run
is made up of basically four-year
old adults. (The year) 2001 plus
four equals 2005.
These are facts. I was there
at many meetings with BPA,
Corp of Engineers, NOAA,
ODFW and WDFW. The tribes
wanted some water for the
smolts but lost out to the capi
tal of this issue.
People of the Northwest,
especially the fishing economy
sectors, need to be fully aware
of the decisions made that will
drastically effect your livelihoods
and welfare for years to come.
"Awees" - Terry Courtney
J'-
Half mast
April 19, 2005 Elliot Palmer
Post No. 4217, Warm Springs
Veterans of Foreign Wars, was
attacked, a day that will be re
membered in infamy.
This degrading, disrespectful,
shameful desecration act affects
all the people who are bonded
because a loved one served in
the Armed Forces of the United
States of America.
The men and women of
Warm Springs who chose the
warrior's path are revered, hon
ored and respected. They suf
fered as veterans, but when their
people's children vandalize
VFW property, the words are
hard to voice, for we the veter
ans are for the people, and we
could only try harder to pick
ourselves up from the ground
and go forth in life to serve our
people and families upon re
quest in honoring and recogniz
ing Warm Springs' veterans.
It hurts and is a sad time
when the children of Warm
Springs put the hurt to veterans.
Just a few, mind you, but those
very few are what's undermin
ing our tribal people's efforts of
a positive image as Native
Americans. Respectfully, the
Veterans of Warm Springs.
P.S. With the VFW Trailer
vandalized, it might affect fur
ther services on behalf of VFW
bling profits to a fund controlled
by an independent board.
What is the percent of gross
gambling profits that will be
given to that fund? Who chooses
the board members for that
fund? Will all members on the
independent board be from the
Warm Springs tribe only? If not,
who else will be allowed to be
on the board and why?
Out of that entity, the tribes
are allowed to keep two percent
of the fund for economic, so
cial and culmral programs. What
arc those programs?
Will the two percent the
tribes give to fund be taxed by
Oregon? Would Oregon be able
then to tax those programs as
well?
Agree to hire unionized labor
only to build the casino and thus
pave the way for al casino work
ers to be unionized.
What is the tribes' position on
unionization of workers? Will
tribal members working at the
Gorge casino be unionized?
Cascade Locks is part of the
Warm Springs homeland of the
Wasco Kigalrwalla Band. Will
unionization of tribal members
at Cascade Locks open the door
for the union on the reserva
tion? A percentage of annual gam
bling profits should be set aside
from the start to give to tribal
members. This should be con
sidered before paying back
loans, making renovations, etc.
Many of our elders who were
promised revenues from the
Kah-Nce-Ta Resort and Casino
have already died, never having
received cent one from its prof
its. That is wrong. The people
need the help now, not 20 years
from now. 'Suaikt, aka
Willard Tewee.
Bagley, Mackic Bcgay, Buck
wheat Scott, Jeff Brisbois, Sam
Kcntura, Debbie Big Back,
Strut Yo Stuff, Val Squiemphen,
Sammic O Rcilly, Eugene
Greene, Jr., Sena, and all the
participants and their parents
and last but not least all the spec
tators who came to cheer on the
kids.
Congratulations to all of the
teams:
17 and under: Blackhawks
(champions), Queets, Wash,
(second place), NW Warriors
(third), Mission, Rcz Express,
Klamath Lil Clan (fourth), Ti
gers, Lower Elwha.
12 and under: And 1, Tigers
(champions), Red Mt. Warriors
(fourth), WS Tribes, Simnasho
Vols (third place), Native Pride,
Hoop Aholics (second place),
White Swan Bailers (second).
9 and under: Blazin' Blazers
(second), Tigers (Champions),
Orange Express, Warm Springs
Ballerz, Muckleshoot.
We did have a raffle, unfor
tunately, the results are nowhere
to be found. Congratualtions to
all the winners and thank you
to those people that supported
us by buying the tickets.
Thank you all for your dedi
cation to this endeavor. All pro
ceeds from this tournament will
go towards tuition for Teri Jo
and Amanda Jo's Sports Ambas
sador Volleyball program trip to
Holland in July 2006.
With all of our heartfelt
thanks, Edison, Percy, Teri
Jo and Amanda Jo Yazzie
Gorge casino
How will the Gorge casino
compact annually benefit indi
vidual tribal members, like other
tribal casinos have been doing?
What percentage from Kah-Nee-Ta
High Desert Resort and
Casino have tribal members in
dividually received annually?
Where specifically did all the
Kah-Nee-Ta profits go in the
past?
Are the same individuals who
handle Kah-Nee-Ta profits go
ing to be handling the Gorge
casino profits?
According to the compact
the Gorge casino will:
Give 17 percent of gambling
profits to state programs; give
the state 175 acres of tribal land
at Hood River, give six percent
of gambling profits for endeav
ors in Cascade Locks; build a
$20 million freeway interchange;
turn over a share of gross gam-
Hoops tourney
There are a lot of good
people out there and we found
a bunch one recent weekend.
Our family decided that we
would put on a youth basketball
tournament because of our kids'
involvement and all of the trav
eling we've been doing to get
them to these tournaments. It
was a youth co-ed basketball
tournament with three age divi
sions: 9 and under, 12 and un
der and 17 and under. We felt it
turned out pretty well. If what
we are hearing is true, then a lot
of people were pleased that a
kids' tournament was held.
It was a good learning expe
rience for all of us and we real
ized that there are a lot of other
people from other reservations
that want their kids involved in
this type of activity. We felt it
was a positive experience and
would like to continue doing this
for our kids, as well as all kids
of the reservation.
In this type of endeavor,
there are usually a lot of people
and businesses to thank for their
involvement. If not for them,
the tournament probably would
not have happened. They are
follows:
Warm Springs Forest Prod
ucts, Warm Springs Composite
Products, Warm Springs Power
Enterprise, Kah-Nee-Ta High
Desert Resort and Casino, Tom
cat Logging, DMJ Automotive,
Community Health Programs
(Yvonne Earl), Confederated
Tribes of Warm Springs, Rita
and Earl Squiemphen, Tray
Leonard, Monica Leonard,
Rhonda Atencio, Paul
Henderson, Deanna Johnson,
Katie Johnson, Leslie
Henderson, Mallory Smith,
Jacklyn Moody, Cece Brunoe,
Manual Greene, Treva Keams,
Geri Ben, Robin Smith, Twink
Leecy, Otis Iverson, Donnie
A thank you
The Red Mountain Warriors
would like to extend out a great ;
big thank you to all of those that
made our stay in Warm Springs
fun.
Thank you to Utilities for use
of the HcHe Longhouse, and
Herb for opening the doors for
us; Louella Squiemphen, Mor
ris and Sherry for your show
ers; Rita for breakfast, and ev
eryone else who had a part in
our stay.Uncle Earl for the Spon
soring our team.
The Red Mountain Warriors,
Teola Tom, LeRon Tom, Ashley
Tom, Naomi Tom, Justin Fettic,
Jaylen Sam, Mariah Cagle,
Tianna Smart, Terry and Shawna
Tom and Cleve Tom our man
ager. Our address for future tour
nament information: Red
Mountain Warriors, co
Shawna Tom, P.O. Box 12,
McDermitt, NV 89421.
Unfair policy
I would like to comment on
a policy of the Tribal Court re
garding inmates in the tribal jail
who apply for a funeral pass. I
think the blanket order policy
that requires that the pass re
quest must have a letter from
the immediate family support
ing the pass is unfair.
I was raised traditionally in
Warm Springs to pay my re
spects and to support the fam
ily of the Ut-Wi loved one. This
includes going to the longhouse
prayer services, dressing, fu
neral and burial.
Normally, this is not a prob
lem for most tribal community
members, but it can be very dif
ficult for a tribal member who
is serving time in the tribal jail.
I have seen at least three differ
ent cases where tribal members
were denied funeral passes by
the Tribal Court
The most recent instance was
where Davis Stwyer was granted
a pass two days after the burial
of Bernice Mitchell's daughter.
Dans wanted to show his re
spect, but he missed out on be
ing at the funeral. I have seen
the hurt in the eyes of those
inmates who were either denied
a funeral pass or got one granted
"too late."
The court's blanket order
requires that a funeral pass re
quest initiated by the incarcer
ated inmate must have a letter
from the Ut-Wi's immediate
family supporting the funeral
pass request. The immediate
family are always grieving the
loss of the loved one, and they
have a lot of decisions to make
like the timing and type of ser
vice, dressing and family deci
sions. The tribal judges should re
vise this blanket order rule, and
if they do not, then Tribal
Council should review the im
mediate family letter rule. Sin
cerely yours, Vernon Smith
Sr.
Eagles
To any and all the people of
whom this may be of concern,
especially those with animosities
towards me:
I am writing this letter in re
gards as to why andor whoever
had given die orders to have the
mirror images of the eagles
painted over in the Agency
Longhouse. I would like you, as
well as the community, to know
that I went through a long pro
cess in getting to be able to put
those up, just to have them be
erased due to ignorance. And
you know whom I am talking
to.
Now, how they came about
is, one day during taking steps
in changing myself and my
lifestyle, I felt a need to give
back to the community, for
many know of many of my
wrong choices in which I've par
taken in while growing up since
my young teen years here in
Warm Springs, to which I feel
that personally I will never be
able to compensate fully for my
wrongs but ask for forgiveness
as well as trust, for I've over
come many obstacles set forth
in my life and still have others
yet to face.
Since the day I put the eagles
up, and to this day, I've received
several compliments from
people all over.
To this day, some are still in
awe that I did this, and usually
ask how much I got paid. I tell
them nothing, for it was my way
of giving to the tribes for many
of the wrongs I have done and
that maybe one day when my
calling is called upon and I'm
departing that people will look
to those eagles and recall the
good in me, not the bad.
So, once again, I ask for for
giveness as well as trust, for
some of us do make changes
towards the better and are tired
of living a hurtful life.
A-ho! All my relations,
David K. Belgard Sr.
Letters of apology
I would like to apologize for my inappropriate actions on
Monday, March 7, 2005. 1 was under the influence of alcohol and
I made a wrong decision. 1 would also like to apologize to the
; tribal members, as well as to officer Sherwood. I realize now he
was only trying to protect our community. I will try to make better
decisions in the future. C.S. Scott. ' '
My apologies to the Warm Springs Reservation and also to my
family who still reside by my side regardless of my situation or
choices I make. As a man and human being, I was fully aware of
the consequences of my actions. So I accept what was given to me
as a judgment. My wrongful decisions were only out of survival
and I'm very remorseful for it. To the community of Warm Springs
I truly am sorry and hope for an understanding. I ask for no
forgiveness or mercy, only understanding. So as human beings we
all have to do what we do to eat and survive, although it may be an
easy way out. My apologies. Nathan Berry.
To officer John Dunden, I'm sorry for my actions on April 9,
and it will never happen again. I'm trying to be good and trying to
be sober. So I'm letting everybody know I'm so sorry. Ulysses
Jefferson.
I am writing this letter because of a wrong decision I made. I
got behind the wheel of an automobile intoxicated. Because of
this choice I got a DUII. I apologize to the Warm Springs com
munity and the courts for putting their lives in danger. Sincerely,
Mervin B. Govenor.
To the people of Warm Springs, I would like to take this time
to apologize for having a weapon and using it near a residential
area. I'm sorry to the people that live near the West Hills towers.
Now I hope you'll forgive me. Jerrod Kalama.
I'm sorry for what I have done drinking and driving. I could
have hurt myself and others. I'm glad I didn't and I'm willing to
do whatever it takes to get back on my feet and stay out of trouble.
I'm sorry that it hurt people to see drinking and driving, so I'm
going to save myself. Sorry. Delvis Heath Jr.
I would like to apologize to the Confederated Tribes and the
Tribal Court for littering on the road of Sunnyside Drive on the
night of March 8, 2005. 1 know I was doing wrong and I am very
sorry and would like to ask for forgiveness. It will not happen
again. Thank you. Floyd Chris Frank Jr.
On March 26, 2005 I was drinking and got arrested for liquor
violation. 1 pled guilty on April 13. The judge gave me six months
probation, counseling and community service. I'm sorry for what
happened that night. It won't happen again. Walsey Thomas.
I just want to say that I'm very sorry for being under the influ
ence of alcohol and drugs and I want to apologize to the Confed
erated Tribes of Warm Springs. I will not contribute to minors at
all any more and I will not get any more liquor violations, your
honor. Can you please accept my apology. Julia Stwyer.
To the Warm Springs community, I would like to take this
time to apologize to the community for my actions that occurred
on Feb. 12, 2005, that resulted in my arrest. I have taken steps to
assure this type of incident will not be repeated by me. Thank you
this time. Richard Walker.
To officer Nuke Perkins of the Warm Springs Police Depart
ment, I am apologizing for my actions on March 29, 2005. 1 was
very intoxicated and angry and I didn't mean to spit in your eye.
Vera Smith. To Jessica and John Finch and Levaughn Kirk of the
Confederated Tribes, I would like to sincerely apologize for my
actions on March 29, 2005. 1 was very intoxicated and should not
have brought my anger home to you. I am very sorry. I hope you
can forgive me and also, thank you for supporting me while I am
doing my time. Vera Smith.
I am writing this letter of apology to the community of Warm
Springs. I would like to apologize to the community and also to
the police officers for DUII. I know that what I was doing was
wrong and that I put everyone in danger. Now I am paying the
price for probation violation and DUII. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely and with respect, Michael Meanus. P.S. I got two
DUII'i in two weeks, so I'm sorry twice and wrong in doing so.
More apology letter on page 12
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