Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2005)
F fnnsh FFWA: The VVY 1't iS 5Pily3y Tymoo August 18, 2005 Before deciding, it's important to have all the facts By Selena Boise Management successor So, what do you think of the tribes situation? Will there be a recall? I would think that before signing the petition that is going around, people should hear both sides of the issue. There arc always two sides to every story, and so far I have only heard one side. I lopcfully I will get Spilyay Speaks to hear both sides to this story before long, and be fore an actual outcome has been decided. It's hard to make comment about the issue until the points arc brought across and under stood. But I understand that the pe tition would recall the Tribal Council, the Secretary-Treasurer and the Chief Operations Of ficer, due to decisions made in Council chambers. Problem of drugs, alcohol In the meantime we as people of the reservation are faced with tragedy when our members are high on methamphctamines or drunk. While high or drunk, they do things that they normally would not da It brings out the worst in people, and it is very danger ous not only to themselves but to others as well. Then you have to say to your self, What this actually comes down to is the legal system, and what is it doing for us? You have a person going to court for possession or other charges surrounding possession, like being under the influence. They are in and out of court. They may be addicted, so they just keep going around and around. I know the tribes are aware of this problem, because I have seen meetings actually scheduled and task forces in place to tackle this problem. Alcoholism has been a prob lem for many years, and I have seen it as far back as I remem ber, and I remember the Fron tier. I believe that having all these problems with alcoholism and now methamphetamines needs to be a strong factor in these political decisions that are up in the air right now. Make a decision based on knowing all the facts first. Toe Ness A boy was watching his fa ther, a pastor, write a sermon. "How do you know what to say?" he asked. "Why, God tells me." "Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?" Thank you for writing to the Spilyay. Please keep in mind that letters can be no longer than 350 words in length, one submis sion per issue. Thank you. Spilyay Tymoo CCoyote News, Est. 1976) Publisher Emeritus: Sid Miller Editor Dave McMechan Management Successor Selena T. Boise Advertising Manager Sam Howard Reporter Brian Mortensen Media Advisor Bill Rhoades Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Confeder ated Tribes of Warm Springs. Spilyay Tymoo, P.O. Box 870, Warm Springs, OR 97761. Firefighters I would like to take time to express my sincere appreciation to our local I lot Shot Fire Crew, Fire and Safety and all other fire agencies that responded to the Wolfe Point fire on August 1, 2005. I would like for the firefighters that remained around my home as the fire was burning all around the structure to know that I have a great re spect for your commitment, al though I would never want any one hurt in a fire to protect my home. This is the third fire that has come very close to burning my home. Three members of my fam ily worked with the first "Ixcal Hot Shot Crew of Warm Springs," and a few of their co partners are still working the I lot Shot crew. I understand the long committed and laborious hours these people work to protect homes and lives. There were times my children would be gone all summer, traveling from fire to fire across the country. I would pray for their safe return home every time they would leave on another trip out of town. I know the extreme dan gers that come with fires. I un derstand the mothers, children and wives missing their family member for an extended period of time. Urbana Ross and Myrna Frank sat across from my home, watching the fire go direcdy to my home, and once the smoke cleared I could see my home still standing. I appreciate these two wonderful ladies that can demonstrate such compassion and understanding to other people beyond their job duties. I would like to carry an im portant message to people who intentionally set fires that endan ger other people's lives and prop erty, this is a careless and ne glectful act. Think! How much funds do the tribes lose every time we have incidents on the reservation lands? When the end of the year rolls around and people are ask ing how much payment will we receive, we forget what the tribes have been through the past year that could have been prevented: arson, theft, vandalism, property damages, police protection se curity and court costs. All these things are preventable. Most important, die people's lives are in danger and it could be our own relatives. Priscilla Frank- Fundraising We would like to thank all of you people who supported our fundraising efforts for Blaine to travel to Australia. It would have been really hard for us to ac complish our goal if it weren't for all of you caring people. If you stopped by and bought an Happy birthday and Happy fourth birth day to Perry. Love- Auntie Toodie, Uncle Carl and Clarissas. Au gust 10. H appj fourth birth day to our one and only son Perry Isadore aka Cowboy Ropin'. Love, Mom and Dad. August tO. 3 Indian taco, plate of spaghetti, Indian burger or a raffle ticket, you are much appreciated. For all of you who donated items, and your time to help us out, you arc not forgotten. It takes money to make money and you are the ones who stepped for ward and donated items to help us get started. Some of you are the same people who also helped us in the kitchen. We just can't thank you enough. We also want to give thanks to all the individuals, local busi nesses and enterprises for your kind donations. Lastly, we thank all of you golfers and the two organizers of the golf scramble event. That was truly a good deed that came from your hearts. We want to wish each of you a blessing. You arc very special in our hearts. You all helped Blaine gather memories that will last a lifetime. With a wresding record of four and four while in Australia, he has returned home safely and is now preparing for the upcom ing football season. Thank you. Blaine, Anson, Destry, Atcitty, CR (Tonto and No). Thinking I have been kicking back in here thinking about all of my wrongs that I have done toward my family and my tribe. My life hasn't been all that easy and I know that there are other people out there with similar or worse backgrounds. Here's a part of my past that I'd like to share. For the last 20-odd years I've had an alcohol and drug addic tion. I'd get drunk and high, black out, do something stupid, then end up in the hoosegow. If I was lucky I would get out and say or lie to my family and my self about turning my life around. What I'd really do is go out and do some different stu pid things and end up a guest of the concrete inn (jail). You know after kicking back think ing about all of the lies that I told my family, friends or other tribal members, the only thing that I can do is say that I am sorry, but in my heart sorry ain't good enough, because in the past I was told if I was sorry I wouldn't have done it in the first place. I've read a few letters writ ten by incarcerated tribal mem bers who write about how they're going to turn their lives around and be clean and sober while they're incarcerated and when they get released, but they just end up right back in the same predicament that they were in to begin with. I know that there is quite a few people who have changed for the bet- Here's uishingyou a very happy birth day to my big brother Larson Kalama Sr. on August 15. This picture remind you of how cute you were? Lots of love from your HI' sis in the picture. I want to uish my husband Happy Anniversary (26years together - 25 years of marriage). Tina. K f Letters to the Editor ter, and I hope that I might be one of them. What I'm trying to say is that I want to change, but it's going to be a long haul. Just because someone snaps his fingers doesn't mean that I'm going to be instandy clean and sober. If I was going to say that, I would just be lying to myself, my family and my people. I'm not saying that I'm going to change or not. We'll just have to see about that after my vaca tion. From the thoughts of a tribal member. Respectfully, Johnson Heath Sr. No. 68697-065, Federal Detention Center, P.O. Box 6000, Sheridan, OR 97378. Time to pray I'm sitting here, having to grasp the reality of what our reservation has become. There was a time when we didn't have to lock our doors to our homes when we went out, a time we didn't have to fear to walk alone or for that matter to be afraid of leaving our home to shop for groceries, school clothes or Christmas presents. Now in this day, we have to make sure we don't open the door to "just anybody" or give a ride to some one who doesn't look right or doesn't fit our idea of how they should be dressed or how clean they are. The Bible tells us that God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (II Timo thy 1:7). We, who walk in the spirit of our Father, have the power to overcome everything that is thrown our way. Yes, diere are many tests and tribulations we have to endure because we chose the path to righteousness. This walk we've chosen isn't easy but we wouldn't be here if it weren't for Jesus. We could have been dead, or crippled up by wrecks or fights, or we could have hurt someone very badly while we were under the influ ence of alcohol andor drugs. We've buried many these past years, both male and fe male, but it seems that the deaths are becoming more and more frequent and getting younger and younger. If we were to die tonight, tomorrow, next week, will we be ready? You ask, ready for what? Ready to stand before our God when judgment day comes; ready to answer His questions of us, Why. Why did we choose not to listen when God talked to us through the preacher? Why did we not listen when we were told what alcohol and drugs would do to our families and to us? Why? Only you can answer, no one else will be there with you, not your mother, father, grand parents, siblings, only you. Are you ready to be told to join our other wishes. . . Happy first birthday to Clarissa Iyakitan. Love, Mom and Dad. August 26. Happy first birthday to Clarissa Iyakitan aka Princess Fiona. Love, Auntie Angela, Uncle Buster and Perry. Happy birthday to Kurtis Boise. From your son Tho mas, and Nicole in Alaska. Happy birthday, Sid Miller. From Selena, Tina and Dave. loved ones who are with the Ixrd or ready to join those that will be sent in the other direc tion to be tormented forever and ever? Our tribe used to be the tribe, the ultimate trilw, and the triln; that was a leader to other tribes throughout Indian Country. Now our tribe isn't looked upon as a leader anymore. A very sad state it has become because of the drugs running rampant. Be cause our people have forgot ten the One who blessed us all these years. That would be God. We forgot to pray and give thanks for everything. We for got to teach our children about respect. We forgot to discipline our children when they needed it. Years ago, when people in the community would sec children doing wrong, they scolded them and it was okay, but today you scold a child, the parentsgrand parents get mad and give the impression to the child that it's okay to talk back to elders, or to shoplift or to do whatever they want to do because they don't have to listen to anyone, including the parentsgrandpar ents who are angry about them being reprimanded. What has our reservation become, a law less place where alcohol and drugs are freely flowing? Let's quit pointing fingers at each other and begin praying instead. Positive changes might not be overnight, even though it would be nice, but let's turn it over to God. Everything else has been tried. The families that are hurt ing over their loved ones need love, support and most of all, prayer. We can do this, let's be positive role models and part of the solution instead of the prob lem. If God can take two people such as Easton and I and use us for His Glory, He can do any thing. It's been since 1982 since we've given our hearts to the Lord, we've not gone back out to the world and we wouldn't change it now because we know Jesus is coming soon. We want to be ready. Will you be ready when that day comes? Love in Christ, Tina Aguilar. Proud parent This is being written so our friends, and the family that truly matter there, can acknowledge the pride I have for my child, Kati Ann Dawalt. Those of you who know her can appreciate the effort and dedication that she puts into her academics. At the spring awards assem bly, she was recognized with the following honors by staff and administration at Kelly Middle School here in Eugene, where she has studied Japanese for eight years in addition to the mandatory English courses re Who's the cutest baby in the world? Jayson Joe is! Happy first birth day. We love you very very much. Best wishes to you always and forever. Dad and Grandma. Happy birthday Jayson Joe, hugs and kisses. Mom and Derrek. Happy birthday Jayson. We love you so much. Auntie Missy, Blox, Judy and Jhalena Rose (only in America)! quired by the State of Oregon, and where she continues to ex cel in everything she endeavors. I laving a 4.0 GPG each semes ter, Kati received the Kelly Scholar Award in recognition of the academic year 2004-05, the Golden Pen Award for high achievement in the craft of writ ing, the Vocabulary Victors Award for high achievement and steadfast dedication in the study of seventh grade vocabulary, an Accelerated Math Champions Honor, the Positive Attitude Award, the Anansi Spider Award for creative thinking, and finally a Certificate of Achievement for die habit of mind-gathering data through all senses. I have noth ing less that admiration for her accomplishments. Kati also participated in ex tra curricular after-school pro grams, where, for example, she wrote and performed in a stu dent production with her peers. In addition, this young lady also found time to volunteer in the classrooms of Head Start of I-ane County at Whitcakcr Com munity School, where she gave developmcntally appropriate presentations of Japanese writ ing, song and dance, and shared her Native American heritage dirough a jingle dress exhibition dance. Currently, enrolled in the Oregon Festival of American Museum Song and Dance Camp, she is fortunate enough to be instructed by, and perform in Cole Porter Night and Day productions with world-renowned dancers and musicians. I am grateful that she has the opportunity to participate in this artistically enriching experience, thanks to the gracious endow- ment awarded to her by the fine patrons of this institution. My daughter recently at tended and completed (her sec ond in as many years) Konaway Nike Tillicum, a Native Ameri can college prep camp on the campus of Southern Oregon University due to her eligibility for academic scholarship. Kati has the opportunity to partici pate in Art Car events through out the Northwest this summer with our extended family of fel low artisans, and was recendy "without a shadow of a doubt, certified wacko" by the presti gious Wild Art Car Klub of Oregon... what a proud mo ment! In closing I would like to thank her favorite Tilla, Bobby Eagleheart, for honoring her with eagle feathers at Pi-Ume-Sha's Grand Entry, and Judy Kalama for the gift of hair wraps that same evening. Your support is important to her and she adores you. And, like you said, she's earned it. Sincerely, Hazel Smith, li'l Waguts. Happy first birthday Jayson Joe. Hugs and kisses to you. We love you. Grandpa Jack, Tina, Mavis, Traci, Trendell and the Covers Up Clan. Happy first birthday Jayson Joe and Thaiisa. Love, Uncle Anthony. Happy birthday Jayson Joe. Love you lots. Judy and Beth in Redmond (pizza, pizza, pizza). Happy birthday Dad. We love you very much. Jayson Joe and Mom. Happy 50th birthday, Vernon. From Cheryl and Dan.