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“I
E Coosh EE W A: The way it is
Pgge 4
Spilyay Tymoo December 3, 2 0 0 9
Letters to the Editor
A disturbing
incident
B y Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
Ricky G raybael was angry
w hen I talked to him at the
store... not at all frightened.
A t 3:09 a.m. on Saturday,
Nov. 21, som eone shot at the
hom e where he lives, a hom e
that Ricky takes care o f for the
B a p tist C h u rc h in W arm
Springs.
“T he bullet cam e ab o u t a
fo o t fro m m y h ead w hile I
slept,” Graybael said.
Two females, ages 19 and 26,
were arrested, along with one
male, 25. Two suspects fled and
have n o t been apprehended.
There appears to be a gang re
lationship between the shooters,
although houses were targeted
at random , accord
Spilyay
ing to authorities.
Speaks
P u b lic S afety
B ran ch G e n e ra l
M anager Jim Soules said that
three houses in West Hills were
sp ray ed w ith g u n fire. “ I t ’s
frightening because there were
children in those homes,” Soules
said. “It could have been a ter
rible tragedy.”
Fortunately, there were no
injuries. “O ther than the trauma
o f having your house shot at in
the middle o f the night, nobody
was hurt,” Soules said.
Anybody w ho may have wit
nessed this senseless act is be
ing encouraged to contact Det.
Whitenburg at the police depart
m ent, 553-1171.
We should all do our part in
keeping o u r reservation a safe
place, where young people can
learn ab o u t our culture, and
where this type o f violence is
never acceptable.
December 16
In other chat on the reser
v ation, D ecem b er 16 is just
around the corner. Some people
are overjoyed (both tribal m em
bers and otherwise, I presume).
Some people feel as if a wrong
move is being made toward the
econom ic future o f the reser
vation.
“We’re going to be in dire
straights,” one concerned tribal
member said. “This is something
that we really don’t need.”
“I think o f it this way,” an
other tribal m em ber told me.
“There are people on the reser
vation that are really looking
forward to D ecem ber 16. They
need this to m ake Christm as
happen. They’re in dire straights
right now.
T h e se fo lk s n e e d fo o d ,
clothes for their kids, gas in the
car — n o t to m ention gifts for
loved ones. It’s not only a luxury,
but a necessity for them, and I
feel bad fo r th e m ... so I ’m
proud that our leaders are do
ing this on behalf o f the less
fortunate.
T h o se p e o p le w h o d o n ’t
n eed [D ecem ber 16] always
have the option o f giving it back.
O r pass it on to someone who
really needs it. T hat’s how it’s
done in our culture.”
O n the outside o f the cor
re c tio n a l facility in W arm
Springs, you can smell Decem
ber 16 in the air. I can take this
as a rem inder to do unto others
as I w ould like done to me.
I know that I w ouldn’t like
to have my house shot at in the
middle o f the n ight... so I w on’t
shoot at anybody else’s house,
either. In fact, maybe I ’ll do
something nice for my neighbor
both today and on December 16.
Budget process
A fter attending the General
Council meetings recently, there
seems to be a lot o f people be
ing targeted th ese days, so I
thought I would provide some
pointers for our leadership and
our community to think about
fo r o u r vital u n ificatio n -an d
prosperousness.
B udget processing: I f th e
entire p o t o f money for the year
in question were placed in front
o f the tribal m em bership at a
G eneral Council meeting to be
gin moving money around as a
co m m u n ity , T rib a l C o u n cil
w ould n o t have to face such
ridicule, as th e people w ould
express th e im portance o f it
going to certain departments and
programs first hand and through
a-group effort.
Tribal committees: I f Tribal
Council empow ered our com-:
mittee m em bers m ore, then the
comm ittee mem bers, who too
are a voice for the people, would
n o t be so frustrated w ith the
behavior o f the organization,
and could begin to be acknowl
edged as the advisers to Tribal
Council, as they are appointed
to be by Tribal Council them
selves.
Tribal Council presentation:
I f the organization’s leadership
sat together as one and in front
o f the attendees during General
Council meetings, they wouldn’t
look as though they were entirely
separate entities, in turn, adding
to m ore frustration to their al
ready em o tio n al crow d, an d
may even look m ore confident
in their decisions.
P ublic relations: I f Tribal
C ouncil’s p ap er rep o rts were
instead provided to the public
via radio, Internet, and newspa
per on a weekly basis, the orga
nization w ould n o t only reduce
p ap er consum ption, b u t also
would increase the conspicuous
ness o f the overall organization
and allow for immediate com
m ents directed toward the lead
ership.
T ribal m em b er em pow er
m ent: I f m ore o f o u r leaders
considered the economic devel
opm ent ideas that sit within the
grow ing “library” in H u m an
Resources that was derived by
the tribal members themselves,
we may realize that there really
is n o t so m uch need for con
sultants in the first place as the
library simply needs the market
ing research behind them to dis
cover their viability
Collaborative efforts: I f we
considered having two strategic
public relations representatives
from the community o f Warm
Springs, our Tribal Council may
begin to develop relationships
with the surrounding communi
ties and funding organizations as
well as develop a m ore personal
relationship with the community
as the professionalism and duty
w ithin such representatives is
also to compliment the image o f
the overall organization.
Ju st my take and I thank you
fo r y o u r tim e. Jefferson
Greene.
Under siege
The non-tribal people have
long held their meetings on how
best to infiltrate, sabotage and
control the tribal governm ent,
tribal enterprises and tribal p ro
grams.
N o t all tribal m em ber man
agers, directors an d pro g ram
directors think “tribal m em ber
preference.” A nd with the coop
eration o f these tribal m em ber
m a n a g e rs a n d m e m b e rs o f
Tribal Council, the nonrindians
have been successful in position
ing themselves into key positions
in order to shape the tribal struc
ture into something that benefits
the non-Indian. The tribal mem
bership have been under siege,
a persistent attack, since before
opportunities became available
to the tribal member.
T he tribes need to adjust to
the fact that tribally owned busi
nesses that require extensive cus
tom er service to function, trib
ally ow ned businesses that re
quire outside help to function
will fail. These businesses have
been set up to fail, at will.
N on-Indians working for the
tribes have brought with them
the lust for power, control and
w ealth, an d to w o rk fo r the
tribes, you will need to climb
aboard with them, and n o t the
tribes;
To do this, you are required
to forgo your natural cultural
heritage.
To n o t climb aboard, non-
tribal and tribal m em bers will
n o t be allowed to work.
Amos Switzler.
Tears
W hat are your tears that they
should com e from happiness
and joy, They seem to well up
from the heart, these tears you
do enjoy.
B ut there are tears o f sad
ness too, you sometimes have
to bear. They also well up from
the' heart. You wish they were
n o t there.
B u t tears o f sadness heal
your heart w hen it has suffered
pain. I t may take th em many
years before you’re well again.
So w hen your heart has suf
fered pain and tears begin to
flow, you need to let them do
their job, then some relief you’ll
know.
Some calloused people w on’t
agree. “G et over it,” they say.
B ut do n o t listen to their words
for ignorance is their way.
Eino.
A thank you
I w o u ld like to th a n k
Larry Dick, w ho led the First
Kill Ceremony on Thanksgiv
ing D ay for Ali Martinez. I
appreciated w hat you have
done for my son on this day.
I would also like to thank ev
eryone who attended the First
Kill Ceremony. And thanks to
A lbert Kalama Sr. for teach
ing my son Ali to fish and
hunt. A nd taking time to do
w hat Ali loves to do. Again
thank you. Love,
Alex Martinez and Larry
Dick.
Angela Polk.
Apologies
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on 8-1-09 by driving under the
influence and reckless endanger
ing. I apologize to the Warm
Springs P.D. and the com m u
nity, and to E.L. This will not
happen again. Elliot Lawson.
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on O ct. 13 by driving under the
influence; I apologize to every
one. It w on’t happen again. Eric
P.S. Thank you to the Pow
wow Committee for the good
powwow on Thanksgiving.
We had a lot o f fun.
Alexa, Aaliyah and Alex
Martinez.
tem pting to elude a police of
ficer, driving undef the influ
ence, reckless driving and get
ting a liquor violation while un
der age; I apologize to the citi
zen s o f th e C o n fe d e ra te d
Tribes. My actions were uncalled
for. Chantel Clements.
I apologize to the tribes. I
have served my time and will
pay my debt to the tribes. Cassie
Wolfe.
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on S ep t 2 by operating a m otor
vehicle in an inebriated condi
tion. I have no excuse for my
actions and I plan to use this as
a step to life longevity. I apolo
gize to m y b ro th e r. Dion
Craig.
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on Oct. 8 by aiding and abetting
an offender or concealing a fu
gitive. I was doing good for a
while now, but this is my mis
take I m ade. T his will never
h a p p e n ag ain . Trum an V.
Merrifield.
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on O ctober 10 by fleeing or at-
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on July 11, 2009 by assault and
battery. I t won’t happen again.
L.H., I love you and I’m really
sorry that it happened. I have
learned by lesson. Winnie Jim.
Minthorn.
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on M arch 11, 2009 by reck
lessly endangering and discharge
o f w eapons arid N D D H D . I
apologize to C.C. and the 509-J
school district. This w on’t hap
pen again. Jerald Cook.
I am sorry I broke tribal law
on 10-9-09 by driving under the
influence o f intoxicants. I am a
grown wom an w ho should have
known better.
Happy birthday and other wishes...
Happy birthday to our A u n t
Blanche W. in White Swan. Best
wishes. Love, all o f us, Nettie S.,
Thelma M ., Laura L , Gary A .,
Bill-Man and Bert-Bert.
H a p p y b irth d a y to o u r
gram m as N ettie arid M ae D.
H ope your days were good. We
lo v e y o u b o th . L o v e, y o u r
g ran d b ab ies lil G ary, lil E va
Ione, Mahkiyah, Baby Tommy,
Jessie, CeAsia.
Toa’re very special to all
the family. Happy birthday
Rosaleen Yahtin. Big 10!
Love, Uncle.
Happy birthday, sis
ter R osaleen. Your
brother, Kanim III.
H appy
b irth d a y
Rosaleen Yahtin. H ope you
had a great one. A nd here’s
to many, many more. I love
you very much. From uncle
“Mav.”
H a p p y b irth d a y,
Rosaleen Yahtin. Love,
you r bro Samikan R ed
Bear Allen.
H appy birthday to my
little sister Rosaleen Yahtin.
Love, Shanelle.
Happy birthday, Rosaleen
Yahtin. Love, Grampa.
R osie, yo u ’re v ery
sp ecial to all o f us.
Love, the Grama’s.
A s p e c ia l h a p p y
birthday to m y big nana
Rosie. Love, Jazell.
H appy
b irth d a y ,
R o saleen Y ah tin . L ove,
C a s h -P u p p y ,
S tev e
Skittles, B ob and all the
kittyes.
n a p p y birthday Rosie.
From uncle C arl Calvin
Chalissa.
Happy birthday to great-
gramma Blanche Walsey-
Williams in White Swan. We
love you and hope your day
was a bliss. Much love, from
great-grandbabies lil Gary,
lil Eva Ione, Mahkiyah, Baby
Tommy, Jessie and CeAsia.
H appy 21st birthday to our
krazy nephew Curtis “Curtty”
Dickson. We hope you had fun.
We love you. Love, aunty Làura
and uncle Al. Love, your neph’s
Nick and Harley “Midjit” Kelly.
H appy 2 t' birthday lil big
bro Curtis “Dirty.” Can’t be
lieve hòw old you’re getting.
I love you, bro! Love, your
sis La Votine, neph’s lil Gary,
Tommy and nieces lil Eva
Ione and Mahkiyah.
Happy 25th birthday to
my sis LaVonne “LaRoze.”
Hope your day is special. I
love ya. Much love, your
baby bro Rydah D. Stwyer
and you r niece C eAsia
Stwyer.
H a p p y 1st b irth d a y b aby
nephew Tommy.' We love you
lots. M uch love from aunties
Brandi “B.J:”, Jamey and uncle
Rydah D. Stwyer “Junior.”
H appy birthday baby cu%
Tommy Gemini EagleSpeaker. IRe
/ w j/oa. L iW , y o u r cwyyins
C eA sia Stwyer and Jessie D.
Stnyer-B.
H appy birthday to my sister
LaVonne. Love, your baby sis
Brandi “B.J.” and your nephew
Jessie D. Stwyer-B.
Happy 2 5 “’ birthday to our
mommi LaVonne. We love you.
Love, your babies lil Gary, lil Eva,
Mahkiyah, Tommy.
H appy 7th b irth d ay lil
Eva Ione. I hope you had a
blast on your day. I love you
my baby niece. Love, your
uncle Rydah D. Stwyer and
your cuz CeAsia Stwyer.
H appy birthday lil Eva. We
lo v e you. L o v e, y o u r krazy
u n c le s B ig B ro ’z N ic k an d
Harley “Midjit” Kelly.
Happy 7tb birthday lil niece Eva
lone M .L .C .K . Love y a ! Much
love, your uncles Curttis and Theo
‘T .J.”
H appy birthday to our g -
m a B lan ch e W. a n d our
aunts N e ttie an d T.Mae.
L o ve, y o u r g ra n d k id s,
n ie c e s
and
nephew s
H appy 1st birthday to our LaVonne, D. Stwyer Junior,
baby brother Tommy G.T. Brandi “B.J ”, Nick, Harley,
EagleSpeaker. We love you, Martika.
H appy 7th birthday to my an
broth er. L o ve, y o u r b ig
brothers Felix, lil Gary, lil gel baby girl E v a Io n e M.L.
Wayne an d b ig sisters lil Chiquito-Katchia. I love you so
v e ry m u c h . L o v e, y o u r
Eva Ione and Mahkiyah.
H a p p y b irth d a y to b ro
Curttis A. Dickson. Love, your
bros Rydah D. Stwyer “Junior,”
Theo “T.J.” and sis Brandi “B.J.,”
H appy 1st b irth d ay to m y
Jamey “Jam mz.” D on’t forget lil
Jessie D. Stwyer-B. and CeAsia baby boy Tommy Gemini T ho
m as EagleSpeaker. I love you
A. Stwyer.
Happy birthday to my sisters m y b aby boy. L ove, y o u r
Nettie and Thelma Mae. A l l the M omma.
Happy 1“ birthday to our baby
best. Loveyour sister Laura Leigh,
Tommy
G .T .
and A l Kelly, Gary Bert-Bert, Bill- grandson
EagleSpeaker. RV love and miss
M an and Bobbie.
H appy 25th birthday to our you, baby. Love, yo u r gramma
daughter LaVonne Rosé B. Can’t Laura and grampa A l.
H appy birth d ay, baby
believe how old you’re getting.
But hope your future is. bright. Tommy. We love you lots.
Love, your m a Laura and pa Al, Love, your silly uncles Nick
and baby bros Nick, Harley and and Harley “Midjit.”
‘M id jit”
Mommie!
Happy 7th birthday to our sis
ter E va Ione. We love you lots.
Love, your brothers lil Gary and
Tommy Gemini, and sister
Mahkiyah.
H appy 7h birthday to our
grandbaby lil Eva Ione M.L.
Chiquito-K . We lo ve you
baby. Love, yourg-m a Laura
and §~Pa Al-
Happy birthday my lil big niece
Eva lone. We love you. Love, your
auntie Brandi “B.J. ” and your lil
cousin Jessie Stwyer-B.
L
I