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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2006)
r- ' i E Coosh EEWA: The W3y it is ^4 family mourns an elder and special person By Selena Boise M anagement successor Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo April 27, 2006 Letters to the Editor Miss First Nations Hello, everyone. My name is Sisiley Scott. I am 17 years old and a junior at Madras High School. On April 16 at Seattle, I was crowned Miss First Na tions for the University of Washington Powwow. There were four girls competing for this title. We had to give a speech in front of the audience on our cul tural background, and our goals. Then we had to Owl Dance and tell why we picked our partner, which ing on. I am on track of was my cousin, Orin John graduating next year. Allen. My parents are Toba and I picked him because he Deborah Scott, and I live in is always there for me when Seekseequa. I have three sis I have to dance the Owl ters who support me always, Desiree Allen, Shelby and Dance. Then I had to sell tickets JoeAnn Scott, one brother, during the powwow, and last Israel Scott. I am enrolled of all I had to dance my Warm Springs/Wasco. I was so surprised when I style, which was Traditional. I make all of my own was the last girl called up for dresses and sew my own the crown of Miss First Na beadwork. I have one old tions. I will be representing buckskin dress that was my the University of Washington grandmother’s, made by her for the year 2006-07. I mother. wanted to share this with all One of my goals has been my family and friends here to complete a fully beaded in Warm Springs. dress that I am now work Health care Greetings WSCT: I have been on the Health & Welfare Committee for 1.5 years. It has been a very interesting experience. The information I’ve received is what I’d like to share. So in this letter I would like you to know that this is my opinion, and I am not speaking for the committee. Which ones of us have not been affected by ‘Priority One’? Priority One is the term used when many cannot get the medi cal services necessary. Another definition is ‘Life or Limb’. What that also means is that Managed Care will not pay for services unless it means your life or limb. I am not agreeable with that decision. It is frustrating when you go to see the Doc and they cannot ask for a MRI so the docs have to work around that and use only the services available. For example, if your shoulder has chronic pain, the docs cannot diagnose it properly and will likely give you pain pills and send you to physical therapy. I personally believe that if you take care of the small medical situation, you won’t be paying ten times as much when it reaches the life or limb priority. As far as I know, Man aged Care has made this decision. We have at least $1,000,000 in Managed Care, but it is to be saved for next year for the over flow of medical expenses. This is what that says to me. It tells IHS that we have extra dollars, so all our medical services must be met. We as tribal members know that is not true. We do not have a list of medical services denied, which is called a deferred list. To fne, that data would jus tify receiving more funds for Managed Care. Another half of the story is that much of our funds go to alcohol and drug related incidents. So to the Po lice Department, I hope you can use that as an incentive also in focusing on the alcohol and drug problems. If you are concerned about It is a sad season for all of Warm Springs, as we mourn the passing of our elder of the year, atwai Irene Towe. It was a sur prising turn of events for her fam ily as she is remem bered as the one who was full of life, and so active. She will be missed at many events throughout Warm Springs. She shared herself and her self-confidence was refresh ing to anyone who was feeling down. She brought out a smile from most people who greeted her at public gatherings. The one that keeps coming to my mind is the Honor Seniors Day event. She was the one who greeted all the elders and wel comed them to the day’s events. No one could ever replace such a greeting for such an event as this. It was a day of honor for her as well but she shared much of herself in the way she carried herself through out the day. As we made the memory cards I recalled many times I enemies. If you have extra time, saw her dancing the Wasco write me. I won’t be going any dances that she helped teach the It’s been the hardest three where soon. My sisters Sophie young children. There aren’t many elders months of my life. I miss you, and Krysten and my brother who can perform these dances Shanell. I’m sorry I had to go Jayce, take care of things for but she did with such life. You away for a while. I promise it me. I love you all. Jarrod Allen, could see her heart smile as she won’t happen again. I love you. No. 15101284, 777 Stanton performed for the Senior Citi Jazell, daddy misses you and Blvd., Ontario, OR 97914. zens at Honor Seniors Day. I your mom and I think about you remember it like it just hap every day. All my family, I apologize for making bad deci ji pened. Hello, I’m currently looking sions. I miss you and love you Coming together as a family brought a lot of joy to her be all. My friends, I don’t know if for someone to start corre cause due to day to day life for I have much left but to Evil, K- sponding with. The person I’m us all, a family gathering let us Dogg and the rest of you, I’ll searching for can be anyone (fe relax and see each other with be waiting for a letter from you. male) who enjoys life and needs out the daily stresses of work My people, I’m sorry for dis a good listener. So if you feel honoring you. I’ll do my best you’re the same, please don’t and sometimes life. She was a wonderful cook when I get out to help my reser procrastinate. Alonzo Nolan, and the food she brought so vation, instead of being a bur No. 1098268, 2500 Westgate, such family gatherings will be den. I miss everyone even my Pendleton, OR 97801. missed by all her family. We will always remember her potato salad, one with onions, and one without onions. A family mourns this year, but remembrance will always be By George A guilar bia River people. When white (w w w . t h e o u t l a w s . c o m / there because who could forget Mythical stories the likes of men recorded the Native Ameri indians4.htm). a person who had so much life Kushiat’s story-telling father the following were told by Na can stories, some of them may within her? tive American river people, and have lost some of their glitter Yel-pum may have portrayed Not me. this story to the young people there are several versions of this and metaphorical meanings. “Long before recorded his in his time era in this manner: particular story. These stories were unwritten. Until modern tory began, Indian legend says Thank you for writing to Long ago quarrels and fierce times they were told only the the people of the Great River the Spilyay Tymoo. Please, generations by guardian spirit had much difficulty visiting fighting broke between the spirit that when writing, keep in mind friends and loved ones on the lived in the river and the evil spir that letters should be of no inspired story tellers. more than 350 words. Let opposite bank. In response to its that lived in the mountains above The Bridge of the Gods story ters that are too long will is shared by several tribes of the their pleas, the Great Spirit built it. In one o f their battles, the moun have to be cut. Please sub Pacific Northwest, specifically a bridge of stone that a gift of tain demons built a rock wall across mit only one letter per per the stream and tied to it the chief the Klickitat, Wishram, Wasco great magnitude. son per edition. “Modern scientists claim that o f the river spirits. Cascade, and all of the Colum- Tut the river spirit, strong in his about 1,000 years ago, the mountain on the Washington anger, broke the ropes. Then he side of the Columbia River, called upon all his powers and gath near what is now the small town ered together all the river spirits. Spilyay Tym oo of Cascade Locks, caved off, With their help he cut a hole and CCoyote News, Est. 1976) blocking the river. Prior to this then a long tunnel through the time it was believed there was a rocks. This made a broad stone arch Publisher Emeritus: Sid Miller huge lake locked in behind the over the river, a wide natural bridge Cascade Mountain range on the which people and their dogs could Editor: Dave McMechan eastern side of the present day cross. Management Successor: Selena T. Boise The Great Spirit, whose home prairies of Washington and Or Advertising Manager: Sam Howard egon and as far away as Idaho. is in the sky, called together the Staff Writer: Brian Mortensen The waters of the vast inland tribes living on both sides o f the Media Advisor: Bill Rhoades fresh water sea found a weak river. ‘We shall name this bridge Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Confeder spot, and rushed out, tearing o f the Tahmahnawus, ’ he told them. ated Tribes of Warm Springs. away more of the earth and ‘I t will be the bridge o f the spirits, Our offices are located in the white house at 1100 Wasco rocks until a great tunnel was buy yo u people also may use it. As Street. formed under the Cascade long as you are good and friendly Any written m aterials subm itted to Spilyay Tymoo Mountain Range. The Native and peaceful, the bridge will span should be addressed to: people were awed by the now the river. But i f yo u become selfish Spilyay Tymoo, P.O. Box 870, W arm Springs, OR beautiful bridge left by the wa and greedy, i f you quarrel and fight, 97761. ter. In grateful thanks to the it will be destroyed. Then the rocks Phone: (541) 553-1644 or 553-3274. Great Spirit for saving their w illfa ll into the water below. ’ FAX No. (541)553-3539. The people crossed over the Bridge bridge from total destruction, E-Mail: spilyaytymoo@ wstribes.org. the Natives gave it a new name o f the Gods, and they passed un Annual Subscription rates: Within U.S.: $15.00. ... The Bridge of the Gods.” derin their canoes. Then they would No vacation Please write an incident, treatment, etc., IHS does have a ‘complaint’ form. For issues, incidents to be ad dressed, this would be to the patients benefit. The person to call, or see while you at IHS is Michelle Gemelas at 553-1196. Alcohol and drug program We all know this program has to be addressed. Right now I would just like make the state ment that I am embarrassed about the apology letters sub mitted in the Spilyay. I’ve talked to a Counselor and he said it was part of the treatment. Here’s my point. This paper goes to Central Oregon and I’m sure many other places. The public must think we are all a bunch of drunks and drug users. That’s the message I’ve heard. When people speak of the Rez, they acknowledge we have this problem. Duh, so does everyone. However, there was concern about the negative im age the media has portrayed of Warm Springs, so the apology letters does not help that image. It is mandatory I understand that the letters be written. Please try sending the letters person ally to the people of concern. Regarding facing up to the problems publicly, isn’t that addressed in AA/NA meetings? Humiliation hasn’t worked in the past, so I would suggest ‘change’. After all, it is counsel ing services and that would in volve encouragement instead of a public flogging. Submitted by Dorothea Barney. Contribution A big shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Alvis Smith III, Vivian, Wahneeta and our Warm Springs Dental Clinic. It was good to see Wahneeta from our IHS Dental Clinic helping with this lil’ Springers basketball tour nament. .. Contributing part of their life to our Warm Springs children. Can’t beat theinefforts and attitudes. Thank you. Not very many people are willing to contribute their time. They all want money to be paid, eight to five it, then escape our glorified concentration camp, Rez, to the free world. Why doesn’t our sick, very sick Uncle Sammy give our people freedom! So we can create our own town, city, business commu nity. Good job, Third and Vivian and others. Bobby Eagleheart. Happy birthday wishes... Best birthday wishes to my nephew, Adrian Lance Coulter Jr. I send all my love. Your Auntie, Jeanette Thompson. I want to wish a happy 17th birthday to my fia n c é S hanell Kalama, from y o u r man Jarrod A llen. I love you , Shanell. Stay strong, I ’l l be back to hold y o u my arm s soon. L ove, J a rr o d Æ len. Happy 21 st birthday to Samuel Scott on A pril 23. From the family. Happy 18th birthday on April 26 to my baby sister Jeleah Sam. No matter what goes on in life, you know that I will always be your loving sister. I wish you the best in life. Love from Elsie. Happy birthday ante “OOAH”. Love you. Thanks for putting up with me all the time. Love from Clarance Vernon LeRoy Sam. Happy birthday to Ante Plum. Love from your two brats Clarance and Janthian. Hope to see you soon. Happy birthday to my Na-Na Tlum. Thanks fo r always being there when I need you. Love from Elsie. Happy anniversary April 26 to my Grandma, Grandpa, Eliza and Harvey Jim . Love from elsie and Clarance Sam. Timely history on the Bridge of the Gods Regarding letters pray to the Great Spirit fo r cour age and guidance as they paddled through the long dark tunnel. For many yea rs the Indians on both sides o f the river lived in peace and friendliness. They met together fo r fishing, hunting, huckleberry pick ing, camas digging, races, games, gambling, Indian trades, and the winter spirit dances. But in later generations bitter feeling grew up be tween the tribes, and warfare fo l lowed. A t last, quarrels over who owned the bridge turned into a bloody battle that lasted fo r days. Suddenly, in the middle o f the night, the earth began to shake and tremble. The mountain demons belched forth flam ing thunderbolts and great clouds o f smoke hid the sun. The hurled white hot rocks set forest firesfa r and near. They hurled hot stones and liquid rocks upon the water below. Great plumes o f white steam reached fo r the heav ens. Angrily the river spirit dashed the waves against the supports o f the bridge. The huge rocks began to shake and tremble. Then with a noise like the Thunderbird on the mountain, the Bridge o f the Gods fell. Rocks, earth, trees came tum bling into the angry, whirling wa ters o f the river. A nd all the Indians on the both sides o f the riverfelt tpe earth shake and heard the great crash. They had seen the flam es and the hot rocks thrown by the mountain demons. Runners were immediately sent out in all directions. ‘The Bridge o f the Gods had fa llen 1.’ they called out. ‘The Great Spirit has spoken. ’ Ref. Ella Clark. But in happy days to come, jubilation will reign supreme when the Native Cascade people return to the place where the Creator of all good placed them. Our chiefs and the white men have smoked the pipe of friend ship; and another Bridge of the Gods now spans the river where the Bridge of the Gods was in the days of our old people. Not as glorious as the natural God given bridge, but nevertheless it’s a bridge. And maybe, just maybe, there will again be games played like the Wacculcul, large swimming pools, being river people they were in all probability once the best swimmers of any culture of their time. There might even be wrestling arenas featuring championship Indian type wres tling, and big wigwams for the tourists who like Queen Sheba may come to visit our God given country. And maybe there will be a big place to show what the river people’s civilization was like many snows ago. (The excerpt abovE is from the seventh chapter of George Aguilar’s next book, titled The Shattered Civilisation.) \