E Coosh EEWA: The wgy it is
Turn out to vote Vote
and, make your
decision count
By Selena Boise
Management Successor
So, what do you think about
the trib es’ situation? If you
h av en ’t thought
about it, then you
Spilyay
should. W ith the
Speaks
current election for
Tribal Council your
thoughts about the candidates
you choose are important.
I was talking with a relative
who votes in the Simnasho Dis
trict, and he said to me that they
hold a family meeting to discuss
possible representatives for
Tribal Council, and when they
decide who to vote for, they all
vote for that particular candi
date, or candidates.
I thought this was a very good
idea, because there are usually
young people who are first time
voters. Maybe these young vot
ers don’t know who to vote for
and with family support they will
have a good idea.
I usually read the statements,
and see who had a really good
message about their choice to
run for council representative.
Does their statem ent clearly
state what their intentions are
toward the tribal membership?
The important thing is to get
out and vote. Keep informed of
past, current and future issues
that will addressed by the coun
cil representatives that are about
be elected by you.
I hope that all representatives
elected w ill becom e trusted
leaders for our people. Good
luck to all nominees.
Birthday wishes...
I would like to wish a Happy
Birthday to A pril Scott, Ina Jim,
Tiffany Smith and D avid T.
Love, Jamie McKinley-Bailey.
I would like to wish a
first Happy Anniversary to
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Greene
on A pril 8, 2007. Jam ie
McKinley-Bailey.
Happy B irthday Grandma
(Shillie) from Laneda, W alt J
& Elaina.
H appy
B irth d a y
g ra n d m a ! We lo ve y o u .
T onya, L ean n a Ja c k so n ,
and George
Regarding letters
Thank you for writing
to the Spilyay Tymoo.
P lease, w hen w ritin g,
keep in mind that letters
should be o f no more
than 350 words.
Letters that are too
long will have to be cut.
Please submit only o.ne
letter per person per edi
tion.
Tribal Council elections are
near. The nominations from all
three districts are complete and
their names made public.
I want to wish each and ev
eryone all the Creator’s blessings
and guidance because the future
of the tribes will be at your guid
ing hands and hearts.
I would like our youth and
young adults to please consult
your families and elders regard
ing their choice of leaders, and
understand that your vote mat
ters.
In the past some Tribal Coun
cil members won by as little as
four votes, so please get out and
vote.
I would like to share my in
terest and continued vision of
our leadership and the tribes,
that we will continue to pursue
the expansion of the Gorge Ca
sino, provide a new direction of
the tribes’ economic develop
ment enterprises, and engage
and address the needs of the
tribal membership: Access to
employment, education, hous
ing, health, enrollment; and dem
onstrate ethics among our lead
ers in all areas of tribal govern
ment and tribal enterprises. Ad
ditionally, to organize concerned
groups to: volunteer, mentor,
and tutor our students and
young adults, to clearly demon
strate that we the community
invest in our youth, and com
municate they are the future.
I wish all the candidates a suc
cessful campaign. I have been
voting in tribal elections since I
was 15 years old, as stated in
the Constitution and by-laws, be
cause I had been married.
It is every eligible tribal
member’s right to vote. Get out
and vote. God Bless.
Urbana ‘Toto’ Ross
Memories
In 1972 European fur trad
ers first entered the Columbia
River Gorge. In their wake of
travel they brought small pox,
m easles, and other diseases,
causing death to m illions of
Natives in North and South
America. Locally they brought
the epidemics up on the Gorge
at that time and another small
pox wave later in 1829. Over
90 percent of the once power
ful and numerous Wasco Tribes
were killed off, entire villages
wiped out, including other river
tribes. The Wascos controlled
the best fishing spot of all, the
site called the Long Narrows
where they always caught the
brightest of all sacred Chinook
salmon.
This ancient Native fishing
site is where the parents of
Lolita Greeley and her brothers
Elton, Melvin and Hamelton
used to travel. T heir father
fished, their mother dried fish,
kids mostly played, but a way
Spilyay T ym oo
("Coyote News, Est. 1976)
Publisher Emeritus: Sid Miller
Editor: Dave McMechan
Management Successor: Selena T. Boise
Reporter: Leslie Mitts
Advertising Manager: Sam Howard
Media Advisor: Bill Rhoades
Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Confeder
ated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Our offices are located in the white house at 1100 Wasco
Street.
Any written materials subm itted.to Spilyay Tymoo
should be addressed to:
Spilyay Tymoo, RO. Box 870, Warm Springs, OR
97761.
Phone: (541) 553-1644 or 553-3274.
FAX No. (541)553-3539.
E-Mail: spilyay@wstribes.org.
Annual Subscription rates: Within U.S.: $15.00.
o f life ended there in 1938
when the gates of the Bonneville
Dam closed, submerging the
Wascos’ ancestral Long Narrows
fishing site.
The G reeley/Scott fam ily
also fished upriver at another
great fishing site called Celilo
Falls, which was also flooded
over in 1957. The hearts of
many river people w ill never
mend as they drive past the once
fishing sites and remember a way
of life flooded by unsightly lakes,
so-called river “just compensa
tion” was promised but never
delivered.
The sacred area, which in
cludes the legendary Bridge of
the Gods, may be beyond com
pensation. The flooding tragedy
of 1938 should not be forgot
ten, it should be commemorated
as it was for over eleven thou
sand years— important for its
cultural significance to the Wasco
tribes an intertribal gathering
place for trading and as well as
being the greatest fishing site of
all.
Respectfully,
Tony Littleleaf
Celilo event
I went to Celilo, during the
memorial, in a number of roles.
Iwanted to see my family. Chief
H oward and M aggie Jim
adopted me many yeats ago, and
I was homesick for hugs, to see
the new babies, to talk to those
who have suffered recent losses,
and to try to understand the
enorm ity of the loss experi
enced when the River rose up
and swallowed the Falls. I also
wanted to see if my work as the
lawyer for much of the com
munity had resulted in any true
victories.
It is very difficult to explain
to non-Indiahs the magnitude of
the crime. I tell them to imag
ine their homes, their livelihood,
their spiritual center disappear
ing in minutes. I still can’t say
the right words to make them
understand.
I call it ethnocide. That is, the
desire of the invaders to wipe
out the race of the Columbia
River Indian peoples. It was no
less.
I also truly believe that had
it not been for the strength and
love of the residents of Celilo
Village, including my family liv
ing at Celilo and on the res, that
the current village would have
also disappeared a number of
years ago. I also recognize that
the residents were sometimes as
tough to deal with as a cactus. I
know that Howard rightfully
was suspicious of every plan that
came down the highway, to “im
prove” Celilo. I recall my sister
leaning into Antone Minthorn
(or at least into his mid-section,
as she was much shorter than
he), and warning him that if his
plans were no good, she would
unleash her lawyer-brother on
him. I tried hard to not laugh
while standing beside them!
This time, at the 50th anni
versary, everyone came together
and did a magnificent job. I was
am azed how m any people
showed up. There was even a
fellow from France sitting next
to me at the Sunday meal. But,
I still can’t figure out whether
the Corps of Engineers or the
BPA were there as honored
guests, or if they should be hon
ored. The Corps and the BPA
have caused massive destruction
to the tribes, the river, and to
the land. I felt it odd that the
Corps felt it had a right to give
awards to Indian people, as if
the Corps were handing out
candy to kids.
The feds were not there be
cause o f the purity o f their
hearts. Our courtroom victories
forced them to rebuild the vil
lage and the in-lieu sites. Their
Page 4
money does not flow voluntar
ily. We had to beat it out of
them in court, and in public
opinion. If you recall in 1982,
as part of Salmon-Scam, the
United States tried to wipe out
the in-lieu sites. We stopped them
from doing so.
But it is now good to work
with them, and I have to assume
their apologies were honestly de
livered. It was also good to see
the great work of CRITC and
Warm Springs and Umatilla and
Nez Perce and Yakama Tribes,
particularly since these forces
did little to help the fishermen
fight o ff Salm on-Scam . We
have achieved a coming-together
that is strong and righteous.
So, the future. Understand
that the politicians are helping
because they fear the strength
of casino money. Understand
that the new spapers, who
scapegoated treaty fishermen
for decades and who ignore the
day-to-day injustices, will prob
ably disappear from the scene
quite soon. Now the task is
make sure that the River People
are allowed to fish, are not ha
rassed by cops, and are lifted out
of poverty.
We have come a long way in
50 years. I hope to see you all at
the 100 year mark.
Jack Schwartz.
• (Schw artz,
nam ed
Shoshynsh, is a lawyer and pro
fessor of Indian law, based in
Los Angeles who represented
the river peoples in the salmon-
scam cases. He can be reached
at
e-m ail
address:
jackblacktrout@verizon.net.)
Not running
To my Numu relatives and
W arm Springs com m unity
friends:
As many o f you know by
now, I am not running for re-
election onto the Tribal Coun
cil. For those of you that know
me well, you understand my
convictions and integrity, and my
desire to do as the Creator
chooses for my life’s journey.
So, at this time, I feel I need
to let you know that this is not a
drastic let down in my life. My
life will go on and, in fact, some
exciting opportunities are al
ready presenting themselves to
me.
I thank our Creator for the
experience I have gained and
am looking forward to what
awaits me around the next turn.
For my Seekseequa Numu rela
tives, you that have lived here
on the reservation, learned and
respected the importance of the
teachings of our elder family
m embers, in your heart you
know what is right and wrong.
You have shared with me in the
past few weeks your sincere
concerns of my not being on the
ballot.
I thank all of your for your
phone calls and talks about con
sidering being a write-in candi
date. I am sorry to disappoint
you, as I will not be a write-in
candidate. Please respect my
wishes and do not waste a vote
by writing my name in.
If you are a true supporter
of me, then give me a call (325-
2872) and I will tell you my
thoughts about this election and
whom I have chosen to support.
This is a very important elec
tion for the Seekseequa District.
We have a candidate who is not
Numu on the ballot for our dis
trict. We have a lifetime leader
who refuses to recognize the
unwritten law of residency on
the reservation. We have a can
didate on the ballot who does
not live on the reservation. What
implication does all this bring for
the future direction of all people
of the reservation?
Because I will not be on tribal
council, I believe it enables me
Spilyay Tymoo March 29, 2007
to provide leadership in the com
munity to make changes that
will be what the people of this
reservation want. Yes, change
is coming. Let’s be in prayer, in
fellowship, and prepared for
what is coming down the line.
I want to also take this time
to thank all the rez people from
the other two districts for your
kind words and concerns regard
ing the process that took place
for our nominations. You words
of support and encouragement
have uplifted me in knowing
that the time I served on Tribal
Council meant something to you
and that you recognized assets
and contributions that have
hum bled me in your praise.
Like all things in life, I will ad
just to life’s new directions in a
positive way—after all, friends,
I am a Wewa.
My bloodline runs strong
and my family teachings have
given me a strength to overcome
life’s hardships. I will still be
around making my voice make
difference.
My final words are to all my
Christian and Washut friends.
Your prayers and songs over
the past six years have always
given me inspiration in knowing
that whatever challenges I faced
were placed in His hands, and
the honor and glory of my life
were and will continue to be His
will.
Please be in prayer for the
candidate of all districts. Thank
you for this time to convey my
thoughts. Carolyn E. Wewa,
Seekseequa District.
About Council
To the people:
Reading the Council minutes
of 12/06 the Tribal Council has
not heard one word the Indians
have said, for years1. With elec
tion time coming up, come of
the C o un cil w ere w o rryin g
about, “Why are the people mad
at us?” Then too, some of them
didn’t care. These Apples have
turned out elections into the
sam e lyin g, b ackstab b in g
crooked, dirty political elections
as their heroes, the White Man.
I wonder, just what was go
ing on in their heads during years
of General Council meetings.
How m any Indians w ent to
Council about being ripped off
or having their civil rights vio
lated by management and police?
These minutes make it sound
like people were just bawling
over nothing. When cornered to
do something, these leaders all
head for the hills or Las Vegas
to train.
Remember their campaign
ing, “Vote for me. I’m going to
straighten everything and every
body up, I’ll get our casino back
on the Reservation.”
When all these millions of
dollars began missing, I’ve only
heard one Councilman stand up
and challenge management to
account for it. T here’s never
been one peep out of any of
the rest about any of this money.
Most act like they’re scared of
these managers. But what I’ve
seen is when they don’t under
stand things they just start nod
ding and sign whatever is put in
front of them. Is this why they
created their Super Board? A
couple of them were the main
problem that people wanted to
see Council.
I remember when Council
kept management in line and
held them accountable for all
funds, which is the Council job.
At least they stuck together and
stopped other Council members
from crooked dealings behind
their backs. Now the only time
you see them out stru ttin g
around is when some are out
buying votes with committee
seats. It got sicken to me, seeing
people groveling, selling out oth
ers to prove their loyalty and
sucking up to the same people
they were criticizing the past few
years.
The most doofus excuse I’ve
heard from this Council regard
ing a Housing problem was “we
don’t want to get involved.” Isn’t
getting involved part of their job
description? If it weren’t for
Housing Commissioner Lyle
Rhoan Sr. pushing that famous
Super Board about the illegal
acts by Housing Director Pat
Prow, I would bet anybody that
he would have gotten away with
his crimes. Prow would be Man-
of-the-Year.
Another true example, Coun
cil did not like the Housing Com-
m issio n
findings
about
Housing’s problems. Manage
ment hired three companies to
audit Housing. They reported
the same problems with Hous
ing that we did. Those compa
nies got paid a total of $60,000;
the Indians got fired and libeled
by certain Council members.
Certain ones should be made
accountable to what happened
to the Tribes’ medical money. I
was told they are blaming the
Indians for using it all up. I
wanted to know how much was
spent on the “descendants”?
This management doesn’t care
what anybody finds out about
them. What I found out is a lot
of them didn’t have to prove
their line. I always wondered
how many of the descendents
were actually In-Laws.
We can blame management
for everything that is happening,
but the real blame is the people
putting in a weak Council.
Victor Moses.
Electing leaders
Following are questions that
you must ask yourself when you
cast your vote for Tribal Coun
cil leaders.
W hat is their m otive for
wanting to be on Tribal Coun
cil? What type of example have
they set for their children and
other family members? Have
they been honest and upright in
their present position as a leader
to their department and/or fam
ily? H ave they m ade true
amends for any past wrongdo
ing?
Our Reservation needs hon
est, upright and transparent lead
ers. What is transparent? To be
transparent you must have noth
ing hidden in your life. We must
have transparent leaders who
can and w ill make decisions
without having others manipu
late or control them.
Each person is an individual
and you m ust make an indi
vidual choice. Do not just vote
for someone because they are
your family or friend. Vote for
the person that you know can
and will be truthful and honest
as a Tribal Council leader. Vote
for the person that you know
will stand for what is right in all
situations and cannot be ma
nipulated with money, power
and prestige (reputation).
Prayer: Lord, guide the hearts
of our people as they vote and
appoint the next Tribal Council.
You, Lord, are the Almighty, the
all know ing and You know
everyone’s heart and motives.
We trust in You to place Your
vessels in leadership. In Jesus
Name, Amen! Thank you.
Sarah J. Frank.
Apology
I am sorry I broke tribal
law in Jan. ‘07 by being in
possession of NDDHD. I
apologize to my son and
my daughter, who were
directly impacted by my
actions. I will try my best
not to do it again. Josh
Sohappy.