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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2007)
I scft I O rCo11 Ventures requests study o f Bear Springs project B y M aren C ohn Warm Springs Ventures In its ongoing effort to inject' new life into the reservation economy, Warm Springs Ventures, is asking Tribal Council to fund further research into the feasibility and impact o f a resort development near Bear Springs. Coun cil was scheduled to hear the proposal on Wednesday o f this week (after the deadline for this publication) . Located in the McQuinn strip on the north edge of the reservation, about three miles south o f the Bear Springs campground, the resort would consist o f second homes built on about 2,400 acres of land leased from the tribes: The initial plan provides for 900 home sites, a large golf course, trails for walking, biking, and horseback riding, swimming pools, and scenic ponds within the golf course. When frilly built out, the project would have a value in excess o f $800 million. Performing the feasibility research would be the first o f several steps lead ing to the tribes’ ultimate approval or rejection of the resort. If Ventures gets the requested funding, it would report back to Council later this fall. Council would then decide whether to call à referendum asking the membership for approval, to proceed. Benefits of resort development The resort would be a “use and oc cupancy” project in which the general public is invited to use or occupy des ignated portions of the reservation for a fee. Use and occupancy projects can take different forms and are very common. Kah-Nee-Ta offers a local example^ in which non-tribal members are invited to the reservation on a short-term ba sis. The Bear Springs project differs from Kah-Nee-Ta by contemplating a long-term invitation. The tribes would offer home Sites on 99-year leases, a widely-used structure that has brought significant benefits to other landown ers, including Indian tribes. Preliminary research on Bear Springs' was done as part of an effort to iden tify promising economic opportunities for the tribes. A committee o f repre sentatives from Ventures, Kah-Nee-Ta, Nanjral Resources, Land Use Planning, Fire fighters continue work on wildland blazes Fire fighters hope next week to contain the wildland fires bunting on the reservation. Crews last week made significant progress toward containment of the fires, but high winds over the week end Caused the fires to grow again. The containment date now for the fires, called the WSA Lightning Com plex, is Monday, Aug. 20. The largest o f the fires is the Biddle Pass fire, which has burned across more than 9,000 acres. The Trail 3 fire has burned close to 1,400 acres. The Iionshead fire has combined v)ïtiï - The fîtes have been burning for over a month: The lightning storm that ignited them passed over the area on July 12. The fires are located 12 miles west-southwest of Warm Springs. Containment o f the Biddle Pass fire has been especially difficult because of steep and rugged ter rain. Close to 900 personnel have ar rived on the reservation in response to blaze^, in addition to the local re sponse; The main fire camp is at the rodeo grounds. Forty-two engines, eight helicop ters, eight bulldozers, and 20 water tenders have been employed in the response. A fixed-wing aircraft, which scoops water from Lake Billy Chi nook, has also been used scooping water from the Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook. Part o f the lake was off-limits to boaters during the time when the plane was in use. The WSA Lightning Complex has been at the top o f the list in terms The 4-H Culture Camp, usually held at Peter’s Pasture, was held in Warm Springs last week. Officials with thè Washington In cident Management Team praised camp crewis by awarding them with certificates o f appreciation before the Central Oregon Incident Man agement Team assumed responsi bilities of the WSA Lightning Com plex earlier this month. “T he cache operation; ran smoothly due to your positive atti tude, initiative and willingness; to work,” a letter to the c^mp crews from the incident commanders said. fire personnel and yòùr coiifributions made a positive difference in meet ing that objective. We would be proud to work \vith you anytime.” Cooperating agencies include the C onfederated Tribes o f Warm Springs, BIA, the Deschutes Na tional Forest, Jefferson County and Oregon Department o f Forestry. A smoke advisory is in effect for some areas of the reservation. Sen sitive pèrsons are advised to limit their outdoor time and activities. The Shitike Butte lookout tower was threatened by fire, but retardant drops and helicopter bucket work helped protect the structure. of getting fire-fighting resources in Oregon. Road closures (as o f earlier this week) included part o f the Tenino Road; and the P-400 Road, or Peteris Pasture. Crystal Gomez and Irvin Paul (photo at top) have stayed at the fire camp, working as members of the camp crew, since mid July, when the fires first broke out. The fire fighters pitched their tents at various locations around the camp. the Secretary-Treasurer’s office, and Oregon State University prepared a report that evaluated several use and occupancy possibilities, including the resort at Bear Springs. According to the report, “use and occupancy projects stand out as a uniquely beneficial way to improve the tribal economy through job and rev enue creation. No other tribal enterprise can create so many on-reservation jobs, and no other tribal investment generates comparable financial returns.” See BEAR SPRINGS on 9 Student conference a great success B y A s h le y A g u ila r Spilyaj Tjmoo The Yôuth Leadership Conference held last week at the Kah-Nee-Ta proved to be a great success, as over 90 students, speakers, committee mem bers and chaperones attended. Sixty-two students registered from Warm Springs, Yakama, Bend, Madras and Eugene. The conférence was titled^Prepax- ixig Students’ for Collège ana Careers,” and focused on education, leadership, tribal government, and health and sub stance abuse prevention. “What do you want to accomplish in life?” asked Wendell Jim, Education general manager. As the head o f the tribal Education Department, Jim had reassuring words, aiming to send the students in the direction of success. “How do you know if you’re suc cessful, unless you know what you want to accomplish in life?” Jim asked. His presentation touched on his own educational experience, and his speech emphasized that education is one key that will lead the tribes forward. The college panel consisted o f five students: Angela Anderson from Cen tral O regon Com m unity College; Melinda Polk, Valerie Switzler, Gordon Scott and myself, attending Haskell Indian Nations University. We conveyed our college experience “D o’s and Dorits.” We shared the chal lenges we faced, and what helped us overcome those obstacles. ■ W ith everything said, two powérful points in each presentation came across: study hard and go to class. D u rin g the conference, T ribal Council vice-chairwoman Aurolyn Stwyer gave encouragement to the youth. See STUDENTS on 8 A pile of wood caught fire at Warm Springs Forest Products Industries last week. Pow wow a t High Lookee celebrates 7th anniversary Fire crews were on the scene for several hours extinguishing the blaze. A helicopter was called in to drop water onto the flames. The residents o f High Lookee Lodge are inviting the Community to join them in celebrating the Seventh Anniversary o f the opening o f High Lookee. The powwow begins at 10: a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21, with a perforriiance by the Early Childhood Education Cen ter dancers. Lunch is at noon, followed by a per formance by the 4-H Dancers. There will also be flute music and games. For information call the lodge at 553-1182. The wood pile was going kept on the site because it was going to be used as fuel before. The cause of the blaze was not known at press time. » % - <W .5 Ha ■ . ,!y. ' U
