Spilyay tymoo., March 24, 2010, Page 13, Image 13

March 24-, 2010
Spilysy Tym oo, Warm Springs, Oregon
Page 13
Simnasho District
Olney Patt Jr.
Friends and Relatives,
M y name is O lney Patt Jr.
and I am a candidate for Tribal
C o u n c il fro m th e S im n a sh o
District. O ver the past weeks we
have heard candidates state the
problems and challenges facing
th e C o n fe d e ra te d T rib e s o f
W a rm
S p rin g s :
S a g g in g
re v e n u e s ,
.
e c o n o m ic
developm ent, unemploym ent,
e d u c a tio n , p u b lic s a fe ty,
housing, and health care.
The list goes on, and even
includes safe drinking water in
the Sim nasho District. Some of
these issues are the ongoing
re s p o n s ib ilitie s o f th e T ribal
C o u n c il. O th e r issu e s have
arisen more recently. Here is my
su m m a ry o f th e issues, and
som e possible approaches to
rem edy them:
•L a ck o f R evenue: W arm
Springs has become a one-trick
pony. W e h a v e d e v e lo p e d
tu n n e l v is io n c o n c e rn in g
C ascade Locks gam ing. W e
p la n te d th e s e e d s fo r th a t
enterprise a long time ago and
here w e sit, waiting for rain.
Even if Cascade Locks went
forw ard unopposed, it is the
re s p o n s ib ility o f th e T rib a l
Council and the tribal staff and
boards to be looking forward to
th e next possibility, the next
winner, the next home run. W e
ca n b la m e o u r o u ts id e
d e tra c to rs fo r s o m e o f o u r
problems, but w e are guilty of
complacency and lack of vision
here at home. W hile w e should
continue to pursue the Cascade
Locks casino project, w e need
to lo o k beyond g am ing and
create an atmosphere that will
a ttra c t
b u s in e s s e s
a nd
encourage our entrepreneurs to
develop locally.
V e n tu re s, W arm S p rin g s’
development corporation, was
created to develop business
partnerships, attract businesses
to the reservation, and to start
new pursuits. The idea behind
Ventures was to take business
developm ent off o f the Tribal
Council table until it was ready
for a policy/business decision.
T h e id e a w a s th a t su ch a
c o rp o ra tio n w o u ld e xa m in e
business possibilities free of
p o litic a l
and
p ro c e s s
entanglem ents th a t the tribal
organization can place on any
well-meaning idea. That is the
way it w as designed, but it is
functioning much differently in its
current configuration. W e need
to return to the original model.
W e are in need o f clear thinking,
good ideas, and action.
•U nem ploym ent: T his is a
problem that has both long-term
and short-term components to
it. In the short term, we need to
develop a jobs program. There
are m any unmet needs in this
community that don’t match up
to e x is tin g b u d g e ts . L o o k
around you; the possibilities are
endless. The funding can come
from drug prevention grants or
other pots of money.
For long term fixes w e have
to attract businesses that create
jobs. To do that, w e must bolster
our infrastructure to satisfy the
needs o f w h a te ver business
considers locating here. Such
th in g s
as
h ig h -s p e e d
com m unications and reliable
cell phone service are sorely
la ckin g on th e re s e rv a tio n .
Perhaps it is time w e take a hard
look something like TERO.
•E d u c a tio n : It h a s be e n
stated that w e must provide jobs
fo r tribal m em bers who earn
degrees. While that would be an
ideal situation, I don’t see having
a degree and being unable to
w o rk in W arm S prings as a
problem. Earning a degree—
partially funded by the tribes—
enables students to write their
own
tic k e t
a nd
seek
e m p lo y m e n t w h e re v e r it is
offered.
E m p lo y m e n t e x p e rie n c e
gained outside the reservation
will be valuable to the tribe when
and if an individual returns and
jo in s the tribal w o rk force. A
variation of that problem is the
e m p lo y e e w h o c a n n o t ta ke
leave from his or her work duties
to seek more training because
they have a family to support. I
th in k th a t is m uch m o re
prevalent in our work force and
results in many of our workers
becoming stuck under a “glass
ceiling.”
T h e la rg e r e d u c a tio n a l
challenge will be to locate a K-
12 s c h o o l h e re on th e
reservation.
S e ve ra l ye a rs ago, trib a l
m e m b e r v o te rs a p p ro ve d a
re fe re n d u m a u th o riz in g th e
e xp e n d itu re o f $8 M illion to
construct a K-5 school on the
re s e rv a tio n . T h a t h a s n o t
h a p p e n e d . M e a n w h ile o u r
stu d en ts a re su b je cted to a
bussing program that requires
some students to endure a 12-
hour day. W e need to start work
on a K-12 school and study the
p o s s ib ility o f e sta b lish in g a
school
d is tric t
on
th e
reservation.
P ublic S afety: O u r police
fo rce , fire d e p a rtm e n t, and
ambulance service should be
fully funded as they are critical
to e v e ry d a y life on th e
re se rva tio n . In m y p re vio u s
terms on Tribal Council public
s a fe ty w a s on to p o f m y
“essential services” list.
•Housing: W e must reduce
th e n u m b e r o f m u lti-fa m ily
dwellings on the reservation. To
d o th is w e n e e d to m a ke
affordable housing available to
young fam ilies and first tim e
h o m e o w n e rs . T h e tr ib a lly
d e s ig n a te d h o u s in g e n tity
(T D H E ) s h o u ld be g iv e n a
d e a d lin e to d e a l w ith a u d it
fin d in g s th a t m ay th re a te n
millions in HUD dollars needed
to a lle v ia te o u r h o u s in g
shortage.
•Health Care: The root of the
health care pro b le m on th e
reservation is a budget shortfall
at the Indian Health Service.
There is a large segment of the
triba l m em b e rsh ip w h o lack
m e d ic a l, d e n ta l a nd v is io n
in su ra n ce . T he trib e should
explore the possibility of a group
h e a lth p la n — p a y a b le by
in d ivid u a ls and fa m ilie s — to
offset costs to limited managed
care, dental and vision budgets
in IHS.
These are very abbreviated
approaches to large, complex
p ro b le m s . T h re e y e a rs is
enough tim e to address each,
possibly even solve some, but
crafting lasting solutions will
require focused discussion and
bold decision-m aking. Tribal
members should expect no less
from their representatives.
Candidates
of the
Simnasho
District
Francelia
Miller
(No picture or statement
available at press time)
Leslie
Bill
(No picture or statement
available at press time)
Seekseequa District
Fran Moses Ahern
Vesta Johnson
M y nam e is Vesta Johnson.
I am running fo r Tribal Council
- S e e k s e e k q u a d is tric t. M y
parents are Delford Johnson
a n d G in g e r S m ith . I am a
d ire c t d e s c e n d a n t fro m th e
lineage o f o u r tim e honored
Paiute C h ie f Oitz. I have fo u r
sisters, Shana, Heather, Jodel
a nd U n a , a n d o n e b ro th e r
C ody Oitz. I have dedicated
this tim e I have here on earth
to s e rv in g p e o p le th ro u g h
vo lu n te e rin g and su p porting
people one at a tim e toward
positive social change.
I am a firm s u p p o rte r in
p re s e rv in g th e g ifts m o th e r
earth has given to us such as
th e la n d , w a te r, tr e e s ,
huckleberries, roots, salm on,
d e e r and elk, as I believe w e
N ative A m ericans have a duty
to m other earth to protect and
p re s e r v e . In c lu d e d is o u r
culture; refe rring to firs t kill,
feasts o f season change, rite
o f p a s s a g e , In d ia n n a m e s,
and m ost important, our elders
- w e h a v e a ll b e e n ric h ly
blessed by o ur creator.
I also believe today in the
2 1 st c e n tu r y w e h a v e to
balance the culture alongside
the m odern world. W hen I say
th e m o d e rn w o r ld , I am
r e fe r r in g
to
e d u c a tio n ,
c o m p u te r s , h ig h s c h o o l
d ip lo m a s ,
and
c o lle g e
e d u c a tio n . I s u p p o r t a n d
encourage all those w ho have
not com pleted a high school
education to do so. I have faith
in you, and you can do it by
o b ta in in g an e d u c a tio n .
Education at all levels opens
doors o f possibilities!
We
have
a
h ig h
u n e m p lo ym e nt rate. I w ould
lik e to se e y o u n g e r p e o ple
consider going to the military.
W h e re e ls e c a n o n e g a in
u n q u e s tio n a b le c o n fid e n ce ,
jo b skills, and a foundation of
stability? T he m ilitary takes
good care o f soldiers. I am a
disabled veteran w ho served
m y country from 1987-1989.
O ne o f m y dream s th a t can
b e a r e a lity fo r a ll tr ib a l
m em bers is to provide enough
hou sin g fo r all th e d iffe re n t
age groups w e have in W arm
S p rin g s . W h e n I s a y a g e
g roups I am referring to the
single people, married w ith no
children, fam ilies, and elders
as well as off reservation tribal
mem bers. O ne day soon each
w ill have th e ir own safe and
affordable hom e and perhaps
look at solar energy as one of
th e
m eans
to
p ro v id e
e lectricity to these homes, in
other w ords - you w ould have
a hom e w ith no m onthly light
b ill! T h is is p o s s ib le and I
would like to see this initiated
and com pleted w ithin the next
fe w years.
I h a v e s e rv e d on th e
Housing Board in the past for
about fo u r years. I would like
to give a pat on the back of
the fellow team m em bers who
d u rin g o u r tim e p la n n e d ,
im p le m e n te d , a cq u ire d and
built a total o f 49 hom es in our
48 m onths on the Housing
board. How m any jo b s did
th a t 4 9 h o m e s c re a te ?
H ow m any m ore jo b s and
life tim e s k ills w o u ld be
created if w e built 300-400
m o re h o m e s w ith s o la r
energy power?
I a ls o s e rv e d on th e
C re d it E n te rp ris e b o a rd
w h e re w e , th e b o a rd ,
p la n n e d ,
s u p p o r te d ,
im plem ented and built the
new triba l C re dit building
a nd fo rth c o m in g b a n k -
w h e re th e ATM is now in
place.
I started out in college
ju s t w a n tin g to g e t a tw o
year associates degree. I
am grateful I had m entors
w ho
s u p p o r te d
and
e m p o w e re d m e to go on
a n d g e t m y B a c h e lo rs
d e g re e ,
my
M a s te rs
D e g re e
in
B u s in e s s
a d m in is tra tio n , a nd no w
nearing the com pletion o f a
PhD in Clinical Psychology
- when I will be a Doctor. I
have already begun taking
p a rt- tim e
la w
school
c la sse s th ro u g h U C LA. I
will also be obtaining a Law
d e g re e a n d w ill be an
a tto rn e y .
My
fo rm a l
education is a gift which I
h a ve had to w o rk re a lly
hard for, but it is a gift that
anyone can obtain.
M y m entality: “W e, not
m e” and “ Less politics/G et
th in g s d o n e ” - H o m e s ,
e d u c a tio n , c u ltu re , jo b s ,
e th ic s , te a m w o r k a re
im p o r ta n t! M y n a m e is
V e s ta J o h n s o n , p le a s e
consider all o f this, vote fo r
me at the polls or absentee.
It w o u ld be an h o n o r to
re p re s e n t
you,
th e
Seekseekqua District!
My nam e is Fran M oses
Ahern. I am the daughter of
O scar M oses and Kathleen
( K a la m a )
M oses.
I’ m
honored to be nom inated to
run fo r Tribal C ouncil as a
r e p r e s e n ta tiv e
o f th e
Seekseekqua District.
I w a s r a is e d on th e
re se rva tio n and a tte n d e d
W arm Springs Elem entary
S ch o o l b e fore g ra d u a tin g
from M adras High School.
I obtained m y degree from
W a s h in g to n
S ta te
U n iv e rs ity . Im m e d ia te ly
a fte r c o lle g e I re tu rn e d
home.
My w o rk history in W arm
S p rin g s
has
a lw a y s
In vo lve d in te ra c tin g w ith
and serving the public. As
a te e n a g e r I w o rk e d a t
M acy’s. W hen I returned
from college I w orked at the
C om m unity Center. I held
a n u m b e r o f jo b s th e re
before eventually becoming
th e C o m m u n ity H e a lth
Director. For the last several
years I’ve been em ployed
as the Recreation M anager
fo r Kah-Nee-Ta.
Each o f th e se jo b s has
b r o u g h t m e in to d a ily
c o n ta c t
w ith
t r ib a l
m e m b e rs . I b e lie v e m y
w o rk h isto ry d e m o n stra te s
to m y d is tric t th a t I w ill be
a v e r y a p p r o a c h a b le
re p re se n ta tive .
I h ave a lw a ys en jo ye d
working w ith tribal youth. A t
the C om m unity C enter w e
ran an a c tiv e ye a r-ro u n d
p ro g ra m fo r k id s a n d a t
K a h -N e e -T a w e h a v e a
num ber o f activities targeted
to youth.
If elected to Tribal C ouncil I
will focus on the opportunities
tr ib a l y o u th h a v e o n o u r
reservation.
I’m ve ry im pressed w ith the
dedicated w orkers w ho serve
our youth at the W arm Springs
G rade School, Boys and Girls
C lu b , a n d th e C o m m u n ity
C e n te r. U n fo rtu n a te ly , th e
facilities these program s are
operating in are outdated and
too sm all to m eet the current
d e m a n d . I w ill be a stro n g
advocate fo r im proving these
facilities if elected to serve on
Tribal Council.
Im p ro v e d e m p lo y m e n t
o p p o r tu n itie s
fo r
tr ib a l
m em bers m ust be a priority o f
Tribal Council, if w e are going
to have healthy fam ilies and a
strong reservation. I strongly
s u p p o r t th e tr ib a l h irin g
preference, and I have hired
h u n dre d s o f trib a l m em bers
w h ile
w o r k in g
at
th e
C om m unity C enter and Kah-
Nee-Ta. The vast m ajority of
m y h ire s in v o lv e d g iv in g
s o m e o n e t h e ir f ir s t w o rk
experience. By giving a tribal
m em ber a chance I often had
the pleasure o f watching them
gain confidence and advance
in m y d e p a rtm e n t o r go to
other jo b s on the reservation.
T rib a l C o u n c il n e e d s to
prioritize jo b training and jo b
p ro g ra m s to im p ro v e trib a l
em ploym ent.
I ’ m a w a re o f th e m a n y
c h a lle n g e s th a t fa c e o u r
re s e rv a tio n n o w and in th e
future. I will w o rk hard to learn
as m uch as possible about all
the issues th a t com e before
T rib a l C o u n cil. I p ro m ise to
re s p e c t th e d e c is io n s a nd
w o rk o f a ll p re v io u s T rib a l
Councils. W h e n e ver I m ake a
d e c is io n , if e le cte d as y o u r
rep re se n ta tive , I w ill a lw ays
ask, “Does it benefit our youth,
and does it help m aintain and/
or expand
e m p lo y m e n t
o p p o r tu n itie s
fo r
tr ib a l
m em bers.”
I have been em ployed by
the tribe fo r alm ost 30 years.
I feel honored to have the
chance to pay back to the tribe
fo r th e o p p o rtu n itie s I have
been given by se rving as a
T rib a l C o u n c il m e m b e r. If
elected, I prom ise to represent
m y d is t r ic t w e ll on T rib a l
C o u n c il a n d re p re s e n t th e
e n tire tr ib e w e ll w h e n
representing Tribal Council at
e v e n ts o n a n d o ff th e
reservation.
CAST YOUR BALLOT ON MARCH 31
VOTE