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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 2009)
E Coosh EEWA: The way it is Pgge 4- Spilyay Tymoo Match 12, 2009 Letters to the Editor At tourney D ear Warm Springs community, We recendy attended the Fu ture All-Stars C o-Ed Youth Bas- k e tb all T o u rn a m e n t a t th e W arm S prings C o m m u n ity Wellness Center. We w ere sh o c k e d at th e am ount o f negativity com ing out o f the m ouths o f a lo t o f the parents/audience being di rected toward the referees and participants (kids). Being an in volved spectator is understand able, but w hen a parent/specta to r begins cussing and yelling obscenities at the players (kids) and the referees it crosses a line. H ow is our future supposed to stand up and be leaders when they are getting this sort o f treat m ent from m em bers/adults o f their ow n com m unity (m ind you, in a public setting)? There is no need to mention any names because you know who you all are, and you should be ashamed o f yourselves. D oes it make you supposed “grown-ups” feel good to make children cry by your comments? From w hat we saw, the children w ere m o re re s p e c tfu l an d “grow n u p ” than a lo t o f the adults. This was a basketball tourna m ent and it was supposed to be m eant for community children to participate in and have fun. I f you can’t be positive toward something that is m eant to be good, then you should go else where or just stay hom e or bet ter yet just be quiet. F rom w hat we’ve seen and heard from others this type o f behavior is prevalent at nearly all the basketball tournam ents held here in W arm Springs. Just think, we have people from all over Indian country that travel here for basketball tournaments. Is all this negativity w hat we w ant them to rem em ber Warm Springs by? This is the type o f thing that is wrong with our com munity. O nce someone is doing well for them selves, for their family o r for the community, people around here start calling them down. Negativity is like a cancer that plagues our commu nity. All we can say to those o f you athletes and others trying to do good for yourselves, family a n d /o r the com m unity is to keep your head up and keep up the good work. W hat doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. Pray for those w ho speak only negative, because those are the people w ho need the m ost help. To our community we need to starting thinking/being more positive. A lth o u g h th ere are plenty o f good people here, it’s too bad that they are not praised and heard m ore often. To those who chose to curse at the children and referees at the tournam ent, is it too much to ask for you to apologize to them? I f we had a say, we would like to request security or a po lice patrol officer (like at Ma dras H igh S chool basketball games) inside the gymnasium when there are activities going on, to ensure that we all treat each other with dignity, respect and sportsmanship. Anyone who chooses to yell obscenities should be instantly removed. This should be a pri ority because kids, teenagers and adults are all m em bers o f the community and have a right to feel safe in this public place. We all have room to improve as a p erso n , p a re n t an d roll model. Sincerely, M ichael and (Twink) Leecy. Yvette Album party D ear W arm Springs Police D e partment: I w ant to let you know that I appreciate you guys going out o f your way to secure the re cent Bigg B album release party at the Kah-Nee-Ta Resort with your presence. I understand som e o f you w ere ex p ectin g a m ajor gun shoot out to begin, which didn’t happen, and I am glad every o n e m ade it h o m e safe and sound. Again, th an k you fo r your presence at the show, and we hope that we can come to an agreem ent soon as to how much security is actually needed at p e rfo rm a n c e s su ch as these. Sacred G ro u n d E n tertain m ent is a new company here in town that is looking to cater to the public’s entertainment needs, O ur mission states: “Sacred G round E ntertain m ent is the platform for the in d ig en o u s p eo p les o f N o rth America to express themselves via music, art, photography, writ ing, and vocalism to emphasize their traditional and urban cul tures in an attem pt to empower and inspire the next generation o f Indigenous youth.” O ur slo gan states: “We are the Indigenous A rt o f P op-C ulture.” O u r vision states: “T h ro u g h the purchase o f art, our customers will gather a new testam ent for positive, cre ative, artistic, quality defining, and unique urban expressions.” O ur value statem ent is: “We’d like to make a differ ence in indigenous communities across America by prom oting com m unity education, health, hip-hop, urban and cultural style, creative and personal expres sion, and drive an inspiration to care for one’s self.” We couldn’t help b ut notice th e a m o u n t o f stereo ty p in g some have placed upon the de mographic we serve. A fter re ceiv in g fe e d b a c k fro m o u r attendees and expected attend Spilyay Tym oo (Coyote News, Est. 1976) Publisher Emeritus: Sid Miller Editor: Dave McMechan Management Successor: Selena T. Boise 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 submitted to Spilyay Tymoo should be addressed to: Spilyay Tymoo, P.O. Box 870, Warm Springs, OR 97761. Phone: (541) 553-1644 or 553-3274. FAX No. (541)553-3539. E-Mail: spilyay@wstribes.org. ees, many were made to feel un w elcom e at a show th at was supposed to have been theirs, an avenue for their entertain m ent, expression and involve ment. We did n o t appreciate the am o u n t o f interrogation th at occurred throughout our audi ence by som e o f th e W arm Springs Police D epartm ent. I can understand to a point, but still o b je c t th a t e x ten siv e search es c o n d u c te d at such events are sometimes routine. Also, the conveyance by some to the Kah-Nee-Ta Resort that our entertainment company had full intentions to bring trouble and militant young Native adults is very prejudicial, stereotypical and threatening to our already struggling com m unity. Aside from the statem ents used and emphasized by our organization, some in your departm ent have made it a point to single out this community’s youth by labeling th e e n tire d em o g rap h ic as troublesome. I t sends a message to the community that anyone who lis tens to our type o f entertain m en t is participating in gang activity, drug abuse, thievery, alcoholism, and challenging law enforcement. In our eyes, in the eyes o f those who had intensions o f at tending, and in those who did attend, actions by some in the departm ent were very wrong. It is w rong to label such young adults, according to uneducated criteria, as “thugs.” For me to use hip-hop enter tain m en t as an avenue away from the life I once lived, then only to still be stereotyped by some in the department, means that youth in this community in volved in even a positive and expressive art still cannot live up to the uneducated standard o f w hat some think young Native people are. T h is p o p u la r c u ltu re w e have accepted as an expressive art fo rm has been know n to save lives within underprivileged neighborhoods across the nation. There are eight elements within the culture: DJ-ism, break-danc ing, MC-ing, fashion, vocabu lary, beat-m aking, poetry and interaction. This culture has allowed for p erso n al expression th ro u g h each o f its elements and for a departm ent like yours to label the culture as negative, while it is still in its introduction stage in this community, is prejudice. Please consider opening your m ind to a culture o ur youth and young adults alike can utilize to express themselves. Thank you for your time. The community’s best regards, J. Greene, C E O /p resid en t Sacred G round Entertainm ent. Congrats, son Congratulations to our son Leighton Pennington. Leighton has perform ed out standing in high school basket ball while attending Riverside In d ia n S ch o o l a t A n ad ark a, Okla. In this year’s 2009 “O kla h o m a T ip O f f M ag azin e,” Leighton was rated no. 10 for top scorers last year, averaging 17.3 p o in ts a game. Also, he made H onorable Mention. Leighton received recogni tion for his awesome p erfo r mance at the Little Axe Tourna m ent, setting a 3-A state record o f 43 points in a single game. H e h ad a trip le -d o u b le and Trip planned to tourney Down Under My nam e is A m anda Jo S q u iem p h en -Y azzie (also known as Panda). P m from W arm Springs, and I am the d aughter o f E dison Yazzie and Priscilla Squiemphen-Yazzie. I am 15 years old, almost 16, an d I am cu rren tly a sophom ore at Madras High School. I am a pretty good student and my current goal is to become an athletic di re c to r... one day. I enjoy playing basketball and volley ball. W ell... you are probably wondering why P m sending you a letter. You see, this sum m er from July 19-31, I am hoping to be in Australia, where I have been invited to play in th e A nnual D ow n U nder H oops Classic Tour nament, This once-in-a-lifetime trip is said to be one o f the best. Moreover, I prom ise to you that I will represent myself, my family, my community, my culture and m ost impor- tandy my country with integ rity, confidence an d g o o d sportsmanship. O n this unforgettable trip, made the All-Tournament team. Last b ut n o t least, the River side Braves w on their district tournam ent for the third year in a ro w ... Way to go, guys! We are so proud o f you, son. Two thum bs up to you. We love you. Mom, Dad, bro Leo, Gramma D elcie, Grampa Wolf, Uncle Lurch, Auntie Ollie and kids, and the rest of the family. A thank you Back on O ctober 31 around 5:45 a.m. there was a tragic loss for our family. We lost our home to a fire, and lost almost every thing including all o f our mem o ries. Yet, we are thankful that no one was hurt. Since then, we have gotten a lot o f help from family, friends and many others. A nd to these people we would like to thank you for all your help and sup port: Warm Springs Tribes, Warm Springs Police, W arm Springs Fire and Safety, K ah-N ee-T a High D esert Resort & Casino, A m erican R ed C ross, C ross K eys S tatio n l W arm Springs Utilities. Thank you also to: Carlos Q uindon and Trenton Calica; H arvey and Eliza Jim and family, W olfman Suppah; Jim m y and N eda Wesley and family; Amelia and Allee Tewee; R obert Sr. and Marella Sam and family; G erald and N eda Tias and family; Elsie Sam and fam ily; R o sie J o h n s o n ; N an cy Scabby Robe and family; Chuck an d C arol D ick an d family; Chester Van Pelt Jr. and family; A urolyn P. and family; Pinky and Kelly o f Chilkat Construc tion. I would like to thank the pool players o f B en d , R ed m o n d , Prineville and th e players o f W arm S prings th a t play fo r Rialto Tavern. Thanks for the Y akam as w ho cam e fo r th e to u rn am en t an d fo r grandpa Buford Johnson, w ho is there for us. A special thank you to Carla Bagley, Lynn Davis, Pat Allen, Jan Six, and Leah for work th ey d id o n th e ja c k p o t fundraising tournament. I plan to expand my horizon by m eeting new people, m aking new friends, learning new cul tures, and im proving my self esteem and confidence. Pve been playing basketball ever since I can rem ember and would love to go D ow n U n der and share this lifelong memory with other people. Your support and bless ings will be with me forever. Thank you, mates. Yours truly, Panda Joe. Thank you Earl and Shirley T u fti an d fam ily, B ern ice Courtney, Aurelia Stacona, Jery and J a n B agley a n d fam ily; Bonnie Baxter and Darin Fos ter; Mavis Shaw; Gloria Brown and fam ily; C ecilia B ru n o e, Emm anuel G reene and family; Celestine B runoe and family; A ndrea Sohappy, Buddy and Marla Hicks and family; Jacky Simtustus, Melissa, Frank and Shayla Smith, Rose Kirk, Brent Sr. and Rosa Graybael and fam ily; Jimmy Tohet Jr., Sharon and Rayann Katchia; Carol Tewee; Flood Johnson, Lorien Stacona and family; Jayleen Main, Wesley Teeman, Linda David and fam ily; Mitchell W hitefoot, Jamey a n d Ja s o n Sr. T o h e t, G ina; T ru m a n an d A d rie n n e Merriefield and Kurtis S. To those w ho we forgot to list, we are sorry. Thanks for all the love, help and support that each individual has given to our family to get through all o f this. roost— he tells the world each day. You hear his crowing far and wide, before the break o f dawn. H e guards the hens within his flock, he knows what’s going on. A nd if you take him from the flock, no hen will take his place. For hens can’t crow, it’s not their job, and silence will they face. In time the flock will all be gone, no baby chicks to peep. N o eggs are hatching in the nests, much sadness does this reap. R eturn the ro o ster to the flock, then hens will dance with joy. T hey did n o t know how m uch they’d m iss th eir little rooster boy. The Van Pelt family, Levi Larry Van Pelt, Pearl Renee Van Pelt, Charmaine Nina Watts, Prenincia Jewell Van Pelt, Jenni Lee Van Pelt, P atrina I. Ha V., L atrell Brent Van Pelt, G. and Eu gene Melvin Bill. Sorry F ellow frie n d s an d family,especially the kids that love me, friends and family o f atw ai T aw ny T o h e t-S m ith , H arv ey T o h e t-S m ith , atw ai grandm a Iris K alam a Sm ith, atw ai g ra n d m a In a C u lp u s T ohet, m arried ins and outs M iller, G ram ps, Ike, P icard, Crane, G adsberry, Rodriguez, M itch ell, B ru n o e , Jo h n s o n , M artin ez , S an d ers, S urface, Trim ble, T hom pson, Boileau, Polk, Clem ents, and adopted family. S orry I possessed and w as p o s s e s s e d by drugs. By Emo. Thanks C h ie f o f Police, C arm en Smith: I w ant to thank the follow ing Warm Springs Police D epart m ent officers for their help with th e eviction p ro cess o n the N athan rental property at 4606 U p p e r D ry C reek R o ad o n Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 25-26. Officers: Gilbert, McEwen, O ’Reilly, Sm ith III, Tias and White as well as others who were at the site. We are truly blessed to have officers o f this caliber on our local police force. The assigned officers were courteous, profes sional and respectful to b oth parties in the court actions for this eviction process. ■Those o fficers sh o w ed a knowledge and respect for our Indian heritage and sense o f pride. T hank you again for a job ‘W ell D one.” A truly grateful tribal mem ber, Norman A. Nathan. N.D.D.H.D. Lisa Smith. The rooster Have you ever seen a rooster strut? Q uite cocky you m ight say— for he’s the ruler o f the Thank y o u fo r writing to the Spilyay. The next deadline to sub m it letters to the Spilyay Tymoo is Friday, March 20. k_________ ) L J J/ fi 5 $ I
