Image provided by: Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2008)
Museum hosts annual Huckleberry Harvest The Museum at Warm Springs hosted the Thirteenth Annual Huck leberry Harvest at Cascade Locks. Some of the Harvest activities happened at the Cascade Locks pa vilion, and some on the sternwheeler. “It was great. We had so much fun,” said Carol Leone, museum di rector. The silent auction was held on the sternwheeler, as was the dinner. The Huckleberry Harvest is the princi pal annual fundraiser for the mu seum. “We had a great auctioneer,” said Leone. A special auction raised $10,000 for an audiovisual upgrade at the museum. During the Huckleberry Harvest, artist Lillian Pitt (left) and Tamera Moody (in regalia) visited with former Oregon governor Vic Atiyeh and wife Delores. Greg Leo photo for Spilyay Community discusses adoption election well as potentially adopting a census role other than the 1940 census role, she added. Many of the decisions are depen dent on community opinion. “It could mean a lot o f things based on what we rollment— for instance, Stwyer said, if tribal members decide to include those affiliated with the Columbia River tribes for automatic enrollment, about 29 currently on the adoption list would qualify coming adoption election. hear at these meetings,” Q ueahpama- Com m unity m em bers voiced a va- A general council meeting was held last week to give Tribal Council a chance to hear the opinions of people in Warm Springs. Madeline Queahpama-Spino, direc tor o f Vital Statistics, spoke to the large crowd about several options being con sidered for the next adoption election. Three district meetings are being held in order to give people a chance to voice concerns, Queahpama-Spino said. “We’ve had some good input,” she added. Approximately 238 people were in cluded on the original adoption list, Queahpama-Spino said, while 48 ap plied after the election was set. Currently, aspects like the residency requirement are being evaluated^ as Tiety oC 'm ecouSseAF Spino explained. It is particularly important to develop the meeting. Anita Jackson spoke of her struggles a consistent method of handling adop to get her son 'enrolled, and said she tion elections, she added. “Enrollments can get really emo believes the process should be easier tional,” Queahpama-Spino said, and that for tribal members. “I f you’re an enrolled member, your creates a need to have clear methods child should be eligible for automatic o f handling the adoption elections. Aurolyn Stwyer, vice chairwoman of enrollment,” Jackson said. She also spoke o f the lengthy pro the Tribal Council, also addressed the crowd, and said that having enough cess in v o lv ed in enrollm ent. In voters is particularly important to the Jackson’s opinion, “At the rate we’re going, by the time these kids get en adoption election. The 2002 adoption election was in rolled they’ll be dead.” Maxine Switzler encouraged Tribal valid, she said, because not enough Council to keep the residency require people turned out to vote. Several options are being explored ment intact. She urged people seeking to enroll and could potentially involve making some people eligible for automatic en- their children to keep them in the com B y L eslie M itts Spilyay Tymoo Community members gathered at the Agency Longhouse recently to dis cuss their concerns regarding the up munity, and added, “Let’s give these young people a chance to show that they can raise their children in the Indian way.” Daisy Ike spoke o f economic shortcomings the tribes could face if too many are enrolled and encour- 'ageaj3e^fdTdptfTO;ct^ainst‘caix> lessness when having children. “There is not going to be enough money to educate everyone— its al ready short,” Ike explained. O th e r com m unity m em bers spoke o f the problems schools are facing because they are unable to fully represent how many Native students are attending if those stu dents are unable to identify them selves as a tribal member. Schools are facing the loss o f funding because o f that problem, some said. Currently the process to conduct an adoption election has lasted four years, according to Queahpama-Spino. Tribes create a ‘Place for Kids’ Club Action taken to ease impact of closure of Boys and Girls Club The local Boys And Girls Club is closing and a new tribal club will be opening in its place. The Central Oregon Boys and Girls Clubs Board o f Governors announced the closure of the Warm Springs Boys and Girls Club. The Boys and Girls Club was scheduled to close today, July 31. According to the Central Oregon Boys and Girls Clubs Board o f Govenors, the Boys and Girls Club is closing for financial reasons. With the declining regional eco nomic picture, the Board of Gov ernors concluded that continued subsidization of the Warm Springs branch jeopardized the financial sta bility of other local clubs. The club’s Warm Springs Local Advisory Board approached Warm Springs Tribal Council on July 17 to Leslie Mitts/Spilyay Jiana Smith-Francis, Amyah Miller, Kyeowna Miller, and Anessia Smith play in front of the Place for Kids Club. advise them o f the situation. Recognizing the service that the club provides to youth and families, Tribal Council passed resolutions in support o f transitioning the former Central Oregon Regional operations o f the Warm Springs Boys and Girls Club to a tribally operated stand-alone program. Short term funding is being pro vided to allow the Local Advisory Board time to create a viable plan for continuing club operations. The Warm Springs “Place for Kids” Club will be open as o f to morrow, August 1, 2008, in the same location as the current Boys and Girls Club, at the Vernon Jack- son Home. The new club will continue to operate with the same staff, sched ule and activities for children. The clubs provide daily activities, snacks and fun to kids ages 6 to 18, although the majority o f youth who attend are 6-12 years o f age. “The transition will be seamless,” says club director June Smith. “We will continue to offer af ternoon activities to school age youth through August 22 and re turn to our school year schedule in September.” The tribes will honor fees paid to the Boys and Girls Club as fees for the Place for Kids Club. Patt resigning from CRITFC Olney “J.P.” Patt Jr. has announced his resignation as the executive direc tor o f the Columbia River Inter-Tribal • Fish Commission (CRITFC). Patt said he chose to resign because o f p erso n al and family co n sid er ations. He concludes a five-year tenure that witnessed the emotions of the 50-year commemoration o f the loss o f Celilo Falls; a growing sea lion predation con troversy; and the completion o f three historic agreements with federal, state and Canadian parties. A m em ber o f the Confederated Tribes o f Warm Springs, Patt cites a desire to return to the Warm Springs Reservation to be nearer his 94 year old father, Olney Patt Sr. Patt Jr. spent much o f his political career as a member o f the Tribal Coun cil, and served as the Council chairman from 1998-2003. He will seek to return to Warm Springs tribal service, and desires to stay directly involved in fish and wildlife policy. “The time is right for this personal and professional transition,” he said. “It has been an honor to serve the tribes through this esteemed organization.” CRITFC is organizationally sound ‘vnihVrcsh multi-year agreements and a robust implementation agenda, said Patt. “It’s a time for new blood, new en ergy and fresh ideas,” said Patt. ‘T know CRITFC will secure a new director with all those skills”. • Patt has d Presidential appointment as a U.S. Commissioner to the Pacific Salmon Treaty. He will continue to fulfill the duties o f that appointment. Fidelia Andy, CRITFC executive committee member, commented: “We respect Olney’s wishes to be closer to family and tribe. We’re deeply appreciative o f his five years o f ser vice to the four treaty tribes”. CRITFC will immediately begin a nationwide search for a new executive director with emphasis on candidates from its member tribes. Kathryn Brigham, CRITFC’s newly elected Chairwoman, said the Commis sion hopes to complete its search and selection by October. Employee appreciation day next Friday The 2008 Employee Appreciation Day will be on Friday, August 8. Appreciation Day will be at the Community Center field. E stim ated start time is 10 a.m. Lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities will be throughout the day, until about 4 p.m. Please register for activities with tribal Mail and Reception, 553-3333. Activities include: Tug o f war, canoe race, softball, 3 on 3 basketball, kickball, three-legged race, balloon toss, gunny sack race, cook off, watermelon eating contest, talent show, dunk tank, limbo contest, and karaoke. An Elvis impersonator is also scheduled to perform.
