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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2006)
SCA OrColl E 7 S . S68 P.0. Box 870 Warm Springs, OR 97761 V. 33- no - 13 University of Oregon Library July 20, 2006 Spilyay tymoo Received on: 07-25-06 r i \oi MuiL/ C oyote News, est. 1976 July 20, 2006 Voi. 31, No. 15 Warm Springs, OR 97761 50 cents m Casino naming at Gorge Right of way study of importance to tribes The tribes unveiled a name and logo for the proposed casino in Cas cade Locks during a special cer emony June 14. The Bridge of the- Gods Colum bia River Resort Casino is the pro posed name, and refers to a Wasco legend. Tribal elder Susie Slockhish told the story to a group of children sit ting in a circle at her feet at the Marine Park Pavillion in Cascade Locks. The legend refers to the idea that an ancient stone bridge across the Columbia River was once created by the Great Spirit and then destroyed by his sons. Along with drumming and danc ing, the unveiling included an honor dance and a circle dance. The ceremony took place during Cascade Lock’s annual Sternwheeler Days Festival. The logo and name will represent the tribal casino in Cascade Locks from this point forward in advertis ing, publicity and other applications representing the facility. By Leslie Mitts Spilyay Tymoo It may seem simple to flip on a light switch, but that power doesn’t come as easy as it seems. A new study is examining the ways in which energy rights o f way can be developed and renewed across tribal lands. After the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Secretaries of Energy across the U.S. were instructed to conduct a study re garding the energy rights o f way on tribal land. The act declared that energy corri dors be determined on federal land in the western U.S.— corridors that can be used for electrical transmission lines and natural gas or hydrogen pipelines. Because several corridors w ould pass through tribal land, the study aims to find the best solution in do ing so. That study was to be released in A ugust 2006, but it has now been pushed back to September. Jim M anion, general m anager of Warm Springs Power and Water En Photo courtesy of Greg Leo terprises, said, “Warm Springs has been Gaming official Margie Tuckta speaks at Cascade Locks, where the casino logo was presented last week. engaged in this process for a number o f reasons.” According to Manion, “The tribes have right o f way easements for en ergy and want to follow how and what By Dave McMechan quickly in comparison to those from the outcome o f this study will do. The Spilyay Tymoo the HeHe-McQuinn blowdown settle study is aimed to describe how pro The tribes have started the budget ment, said Potter. cesses have been used in the past to How the trust lawsuit settlem ent establish right o f ways across all In process for 2007, with the initial goal bers,” she said. being to cut $1 million in expenses from m oney is even tually d istrib u ted — dian lands across the United States.” Part o f the stipulations o f the whether part may be used to subsidize the operating budget. In addition, M anion said, “There project allows the tribe to make the the tribal operations budget in 2007 — has been some movement in the indus The cut is smaller than the $1.9 mil decision to share materials with the lion that was required from the cur will determine how much if any is to try to tty to weaken the tribes sover OHS or not. If any materials are rent year’s budget. But the decisions as be cut for the 2007 budget, said Potter. eign right to manage lands pertaining given to the OHS the tribes are al The $1 million cut that is being dis to these easements. It is very impor to where to make the future reductions lowed to decide what it is. The project are still difficult, as much has already cussed at present is the best estimate, tant that we watch these issues and pro allows Johnson to work with volun said Potter. been cut over the past few years. tect the rights we have maintained in teers in order to take photographs The goal in developing the budget A decision that will determine the our treaties.” or record demonstrations via video for next year is to protect the reserve, extent of the reductions for 2007 will According to Jim Noteboom, a tribal or audio recordings. or rainy day fund, he said. be the distribution of the settlement attorney, it’s something that should con To prepare for the work involved, Some other issues that effect the money from the tribes’ trust lawsuit cern tribal members. Johnson attended several training budget situation include: a reduced tim against the federal government. workshops, including one on ethno “We don’t, o f course, know at this ber stumpage estimate by Forestry; and The tribes are expecting a settlement point what the report is going to say,” graphic fieldwork methodology in continuing needs of Kah-Nee-Ta for Noteboom said. “It will undoubtedly in the range of $20 million from the 2005. capital improvements and development have significant implications for Indian first phase of the trust lawsuit. She plans to document everything o f the Bridge o f the Gods casino. The tribes could receive the settle tribes.” from net making to food gathering Power Enterprises meanwhile has seen ment by the end o f the year or early and cradleboard construction — spe The results could potentially allow reduced power sales so far this year. next year, said Ray Potter, the tribes’ cifically the construction o f Paiute the government to force rights of way chief financial officer. Due to a differ Like last year, directors and manag cradleboards because it is an art that across tribal land. ers of the departments, led by Chief ence in the federal law that applies, the is quickly being lost, Johnson said. funds from settlement of the trust law Operations Officer Lauraina Hintsala, See STUDY on 11 See CULTURE on 11 suit are expected to be received fairly w ill w ork together on cost savings. Oregon Tribes Project seeks to preserve culture By Leslie Mitts Spilyay Tymoo Tribal culture is something that no one wants to lose. With the Oregon Tribes Project, that’s exactly what people are taking steps to avoid. The project collaborates all of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes with the Oregon Historical So ciety (OHS) Folklife Program in or der to document cultural materials. Myra Johnson, director o f the Culture and Heritage Department, has been working with the Oregon Tribes Project since it began. A ccording to Johnson, people w ere concerned at first that the project would spread the cultural knowledge to those who aren’t part of the culture. “We did not want to make infor mation available for non-tribal mem- Budget discussion beginning Plight of endangered paiche similar to that of salmon By L eslie M itts Spilyay Tymoo The paiche fish in Peru is in danger. W hat does that have to do with Warm Springs? Plenty— at least for Wilson Wewa. Wewa traveled to Pucallpa, Peru in April to act as a cultural liaison between indigenous groups and natural resource experts who are working together to preserve the fish. “I was recruited by the Indigenous Environmental Network to accompany their group down there to visit with a couple o f indigenous communities,” Wewa said. The group traveled to villages to meet with indigenous groups— people who are proud o f the work they’re doing to preserve the fish, Wewa said. It w asn’t your typical day of travel, however. Because of the lack o f roads, they had to travel by boat— something that he said was an adventure. “Even though the Uyacali River is probably 1,500 miles from the Atlan tic Ocean, it’s still about a mile and a half wide,” Wewa said. “That was amaz ing.” The paiche, Wewa said, is a fresh water fish that lives in the Uyacali River. “Because o f the increase in population in cities like Pucallpa, people are over fishing the Paiche fish,” Wewa ex plained. For that reason, natural resource experts are hoping to increase the paiche population. According to Wewa, “They’re helping the indigenous people, the Shipibo tribe, to help them manage their own resources.” In d ig en o u s gro u p s have even worked to develop hatcheries for the paiche in order to meet the demand for the fish. In Japan, Wewa said, the paiche is a delicacy. Photo courtesy of Wilson Wewa The Paiche fish. Other resources, like bananas, also saw the effect of population increase but are now being preserved through the use of orchards. The indigenous groups are able to benefit financially from the development, Wewa said— something that is necessary when a middle-class income brings in about $26 per month. Wewa said he felt privileged that he was “able to share the history and the use of salmon and talk about how our people work with federal and state gov ernments” “I felt really honored to have been recruited by others to accompany this delegation to South America,” Wewa said. “One of the interesting things about our trip was the majority o f our group did not speak Spanish, and so we had to use interpreters,” Wewa added. According to Wewa, “My little rec ollection o f high school Spanish was an asset to me.” During part o f the trip, the group met with students to give a presenta tion and discuss their ideas. Over 12 Peruvian tribes were represented at the university they visited. “It was really colorful because some of the students dressed in their native dress when they came to our presenta tion,” Wewa said. “It was a very worthwhile meeting with the young people,” he added. “The young people are trying to get a quality education in order to help their people survive economically.” ' From new types o f food and scen ery to the presence o f vulchers every where (“They’re like chickens,” he said), it was a few days that Wewa won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Though the Indigenous Environ mental Network is discussing another trip to Sonora, Mexico, Wewa said he isn’t sure if he’ll be able to attend.
