SCA
OrColl
E
75
. S68
v.
31
no. 22
October
26,
2006
Spi lygy Tyrr
University of Oregon Library
Received on: 10-30-06
Spilyay tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
October 26, 2006
By Dave McMechan
S'pilyay Tymoo
The Tribal Council of the Confed­
erated Tribes by a majority vote has
endorsed Gov. Ted Kulongoski in the
upcoming election for Oregon gover­
nor. Kulongoski, Democrat, is facing
Ron Saxton, Republican, in the Nov. 7
election.
The endorsement appears to be a
first for the Tribal Council, said Louie
Pitt, director o f tribal G overnm ent
Affairs. In the past the Council has
written letters o f support to candidates,
and made financial contributions to
campaigns, but had not taken a formal
vote on a candidate’s endorsement.
The current race for Oregon gov­
ernor is o f great im portance to the
Confederated Tribes, and the situation
calls for extraordinarv action, said Pitt.
“It’s clear we have one candidate who
is for us, and one who we don’t know
much about,” he said.
The tribes’ plan to build the Bridge
o f the Gods casino at Cascade Locks
is a main reason why the governor’s
race is important to the Warm Springs
tribes.
The tribes have spent several years
working on the project, and have spent
a substantial amount o f money in pur­
suing the plan.
Kulongoski supports the proposal,
which also is favored by most people
in Hood River County and Cascade
Locks. Saxton opposes the plan. “We
have extraordinary circumstances, and
a clear choice of candidates,” said Pitt.
The Council endorsement came at
Pitt’s request, because the election could
determine the fate o f a key pending
project for the tribes. Kulongoski’s poli­
cies on other topics, such as Medicare
and social issues, are also factors in why
the tribes are endorsing his candidacy,
said Pitt.
Meanwhile, the Grand Ronde tribe,
which operates the largest casino in the
state, has run political ads against the
Bridge of the Gods; and during the
Primary election earlier this year the
G rand R o n de ran ads o p p o sin g
Kulongoski’s nomination.
Wreck
claims 2,
injures 1
A single-vehicle car accident
killed two tribal members and
injured another on Oct. 16.
W arren C lem ents, 43, and
Aaron Langley, 24, both of Warm
S p rin gs, died after th eir car
crashed at milepost 75 on High­
way 26.
The crash occurred at 8 p.m.
A third passenger, Leo Wash­
ington, was transported to Mt.
V iew H ospital after sustaining
injuries.
According to Lieutenant Stony
M iller with the W arm Springs
Police Department, Washington
was treated for a severely bro­
ken arm.
H is in ju rie s w ere not life
threatening, Miller added.
M iller said the men were re­
turning to Warm Springs after
traveling to Portland.
The car struck a guardrail af­
ter the driver drove onto the
shoulder and overcorrected.
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRTSTD
Voi. 31, No. 22
Warm Springs, OR 97761
50 cents
■«■■■■■■■I
Council
endorses
governor
P.O. Box 870
Warm Springs, OR 97761
mm
Tribal Council addresses issues raised in survey
By Maren Cohn
fo r the Spilyay Tymoo
Tribal Council met in a one-and-
a-half-day workshop session Oct. 12-
13 to discuss the recent membership
survey and how the Council and
tribal administration can do a better
job of improving life on the reser­
vation.
Participation was strong, with ten
Council members attending on the
first day and all 11 on the second.
Senior administrative officials also
attended, including the Secretary-
Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer,
C h ief Financial O fficer, and the
manager of Human Resources.
Council adopted two resolutions
dealing with economic strategy and
administrative reform during the work­
shop, and agreed to hold another ses­
sion in early N ovem ber to address
Council’s own governance practices.
The four-item agenda made for a
full day and a half. Presentation and
discussion of the opinion survey occu­
pied all of Thursday morning. Adam
Davis, of the opinion research firm
Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, presented
the results and fielded questions. Work­
shop facilitator Clint Jacks, a former
Oregon State extension director who
has long experience working with the
tribe, then asked Council members to
respond to what they had heard.
Council members generally agreed
with the survey results and recognized
their validity. They responded positively
to the membership’s views on vision,
priorities, and the need for a better
economy.
They also acknowledged, with some
discomfort, the people’s low opinion of
reservation government. Council mem­
bers frequently spoke to the effect that
“w e’ve known this for a long time.”
That said, the group also acknowledged
the survey’s usefulness in bringing the
By Leslie M itts
Spilyay Tymoo
By Nat Shaw
For the Spilyay Tymoo
Community members agree that
Je ff Sanders is an excellent citizen,
and now he’s getting even more rec­
ognition for his involvement.
Sanders received the 2006 “Com­
munity Champion Award” from the
Jefferson County Chamber of Com­
merce at the Chamber Awards Ban­
quet on Oct. 21.
Ken Smith and Delvis Heath pre­
sented the award to Sanders.
“This year’s recipient has really
earned the honor,” Smith said be­
fore announcing Sanders’ name.
Smith told the crowd about Sand­
ers’ longtime involvement with the
tribes and spoke of his work history.
While he first began working as a
gas station attendant, Sanders even­
tually moved on to work at the po­
lice department— where he later be­
came chief of police.
Leslie Mitts/Spilyay
Jeff Sanders was named the community champion of the year.
Museum and Power Enterprises
update Council on recent projects
By Leslie Mitts
Spilyay Tymoo
Tribal council heard reports from
the Warm Springs Power and Water
Enterprise and the Museum at Warm
Springs during a meeting on Oct. 10.
Jim M anion, m anager o f the
Power and Water Enterprise, spoke
to the council about several projects
currently underway and some that
are slated to begin in upcoming years.
He said they are working to de­
velop funding for patrol services on
the Pelton Dam reservoir as well as
compile a boating code.
In addition, Manion said, they are
looking at potential designs for the
R ound B u tte S e le c tiv e W ater
Withdrawl Project.
That project will work to control
the temperature of the reservoir and
to develop a method to pump fish
out of the Metolius River.
In addition, the water quality will
be improved, Manion said.
The fish will then be transported
to other sites in order to boost fish
populations.
Original plans for the project be­
gan ten years ago.
In order to complete the project,
a device w ill have to be installed
below 270 feet o f water—but that’s
not something that is impossible,
Manion said.
See TRIBAL COUNCIL on 11
Heath was
famous for
riding skill
Sanders
named top
citizen
See SANDERS on 10
m em bership’s views clearly into the
open. As one Council m em ber re­
marked, “The skeleton is out o f the
closet and now we have to talk about
it.”
Council members noted the need for
better communication and leadership,
and they agreed that changes would
have to start at the top. The group ex­
pressed a clear desire to get their own
house in order. In the words o f one,
“The question now is, are we strong
enough as leaders to make the changes
that are needed?”
To do so, workers will float the de­
vice above the projected location and
divers will secure it below the water.
“There are going to be some water
management issues that have to be co­
ordinated,” Manion said.
“It’s a significan t un d ertakin g,”
Manion told the council.
They expect the project to be com­
plete in 2009.
Manion also spoke to the council
about the current issues with the Sec­
tion 1813 of the 2005 Energy Act.
The act states that energy rights of
way must be identified— some of which
run through the Warm Springs reser­
vation.
“We’ve been arguing very strongly
that it’s not an issue in Indian Coun­
try,” Manion said.
Currently they are developing energy
supply plans and looking at the value
of easements on allotted lands.
For the future, Manion spoke to the
council about the possibility of a Wind
Energy Assessment Program, which
would use the wind as a source of en­
ergy for tribal land.
Before that’s possible, he added, it
would be necessary to examine envi­
ronmental constraints and market con­
ditions.
Manion also said that they are look­
ing into developing a Geothermal Power
Development using a volcanic area of
Mt. Jefferson.
“Everything that w e’ve been told
so far said there’s potential for geo­
thermal up there,” he said.
Representatives from the M u­
seum at Warm Springs spoke to the
council about upcoming plans for
the remainder of 2006.
Director Carol Leone said she’s
received inquiries from other tribes
who are looking to develop tribal
museums in the future.
This year they will be retooling
the Huckleberry Harvest to increase
the profit from it— including mov­
ing the event to a different time of
year.
Debbie Stacona, gift shop man­
ager, said this year they will be bring­
ing back the Starlight Festival.
The event will take place on Dec.
10 .
The Starlight Festival has not
taken place for almost five years she
said, and features a meal cooked for
com m unity m em ber by m useum
staff members.
Staff members will also be mak­
ing wreaths to sell and setting up a
Christmas bazaar.
An honor dinner will take place
so the museum staff members can
give awards to lifelong contributors
sometime in the future as well.
In order to cut costs, the museum
will be closing to the public on Mon­
days and Tuesday.
A former renowned thoroughbred
jockey and son o f the late W arm
Springs Chief Nathan Heath died in
Warm Springs Monday evening, Octo­
ber 16, 2006.
Martinez “Peanuts” Heath died of
natural caches. H eath was born in
Simnasho, on the Warm Springs Indian
Reservation, May 4, 1945.
Heath was nicknamed Peanuts be­
cause o f his size. As a youth he was
active in the Boy Scouts and was the
state marble shooting champion.
At the age o f 16 his prowess as a
jockey was being recognized around the
race tracks in the Northwest. Legend­
ary jockey Johnny Longden saw the
young Heath ride at Portland Mead­
ows as an apprentice and quickly took
him under his wing.
The Hall o f Fame jockey said, “He
has all the natural ability and it is up to
his own desire as to how far he will go
in racing.”
In 1963 Heath rode seven winners
in one day at Fresno, California. In
1966 he rode 105 winners.
In 1967 he rode Renewed Vigor to
victory in the Equipoise Mile in Chi­
cago. Heath was the regular rider on
Champion thoroughbred Nodouble.
In twenty-five years of riding, Heath
rode at major race tracks in the Bay
Area, Southern California, Chicago,
New York, Detroit, St. Louis, Florida,
New Orleans and the Northwest.
He was a force to be reckoned with
on the race track. His fellow jockeys
affectionately called him “Injun N um ­
ber Nine.”
Continued in HOWLAK TICHUM on 7
General Council
meeting Oct. 30
There w ill be a G eneral Council
m eeting on Monday, Oct. 30 at the
Agency Longhouse. The agenda item
is the 2007 tribal budget.
Everyone is welcome to join the
Council in the discussion of next year’s
budget. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and the
meeting starts at 7.
Daylight Savings Time ends on
Sunday, Oct. 29.
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