1
r
Spilydy Tymoo,
Springs, Oregon
Page 5
July 13, 2011
TeleCo Corner
Enterprise now hiring senior staff
members broadband Internet
access.
The network was connected
to the outside world through a
new microwave radio link to
Madras. The grant also pro
vided some funding for small
amount of wireless residential
internet access.
by M arsha Spellman
M arketing <& Regulatory
Director, WSTC
In this issue of the Spilyay,
you will find the first three jobs
that the Warm Springs Telecom
has posted for this new company.
For many of you, it may seem
like a tribally owned telecom is
a recent idea. But in fact, it is
the result of more than 10 years
of work by tribal leadership and
staff to upgrade the tribes’ tele
communications services and
networks.
This article will give you an
idea of what has gone into the
process to m ake this tribal
teleco a reality.
The “Telecom Steering
Group” or “TSG”
The Com m unity Connect
grant showed what might be
possible if the tribe took mat
ters into their own hands. But
there wasn’t an umbrella tribal
organization that could prioritize
and coordinate these activities.
Early on, it became clear that
a group of all tribal agencies and
businesses that used telecommu
nications would be necessary to
discuss the issues and solve
problems facing tribal telecom
munications. That is when the
TSG was created.
Since then, the TSG has been
m eeting regu larly for m any
years.
The group includes tribal
administration, police, Fire &
Safety, the BIA, IHS, KWSO,
Natural Resources, Public Utili
ties, Power Enterprises, Land
U se, K ah-N ee-T ah, W arm
Springs Ventures, Fire Manage
ment and Eagle Tech.
The TSG discusses issues
and problems and has been the
source of' ideas for improving
telecommunications services on
the Reservation. This group has
been an important component
to the planning process on the
Reservation.
Needs assessment.
The first step that was taken
was to hire a consultant to do a
“needs assessment” to better un
derstand what problems existed
on the reservation.
This study quickly indicated
that telecommunications service
was limited and it was critical for
the tribes to upgrade telecom
munications on the reservation.
Community Connect Grant
Instead of letting the study
gather dust on a bookshelf, the
tribes decided to take the lead
towards better telecommunica
tions by applying for the USD A
Rural Utility Service Community
Connect grant.
This grant, which the tribes
received, enabled the CTWS to
build a small fiber optic network
to connect administrative and
other tribal buildings together,
as well as build a technology
center with 24 computers, now
the Teepee Deli, to give tribal
Strategic plan
One of the first tasks of the
TSG was the creation o f the
Telecommunications Strategic
Plan.
The plan formed a blueprint
of how to develop and priori
tize telecommunication on the
reservation.
This strategic plan was cre
ated by the TSG and approved
by Tribal Council in 2006. The
plan prioritized the top three is
sues to work on: Public safety
radio including cell phone ac
cess, internet access and basic
telephone.
Public safety radio is the
two-way radio system used by
the Public Safety Branch to
communicate on the reserva
tion during any incident, and
at the time of the plan, cover
age was lim ited to the core
Agency area.
Since then, the tribes have
made a lot o f progress with
public safety radio, including new
radio consoles, new radio repeat
ers, new frequencies and a new
tower on Miller Flat.
This has all been funded
through H om eland Security
Grants.
The TSG has also been fo
cused on improving cell service
on the reservation and was suc
cessful in getting two new cell
sites installed by Verizon, one at
Kah-Nee-Ta and the other on
Eagle Butte (US Cellular is now
sharing that same tower).
Im proving internet access
and basic phone service on the
reservation has been the biggest
and most challenging goal.
First, the tribes secured fed
eral funding to research tribally
owned telephone companies.
After much research, a tribal
delegation went to Washington,
D.C. to meet with the federal
agencies for telecom m unica
tions.
Later, tribal leaders went to
Fort Mojave Telecom to see its
tribal teleco’s operations and to
better understand the complex
issues of starting and operating
a telecom company as well as
the impact that this company has
had for the tribe.
Finally, the Tribal Council au
thorized the creation o f the
Warm Springs Telecommunica
tions Company.
Thanks to the newly created
Warm Springs Telecommunica
tions Company, telephone and
internet access were two issues
in the Strategic Plan that are
now part of the same solution.
The future
The Tribal Telco is now start
ing to hire the senior staff.
Once these people are in
place and trained, a full staff will
be hired.
Remodeling of the central
office and customer service cen
ter is nearing completion.
Plus, as long as all the details
come together as planned (some
are out of our hands), service
should begin to be offered this
coming fall.
As for public safety radio, the
tribe has secured a grant to build
a new radio tower in Seekseequa
and has just applied for a new
grant to expand two-way radio
coverage into Simnasho.
And the TSG continues to
work with cell providers to ex
pand coverage, particularly in
the northern end of the reser
vation.
So again, stay tuned for the
changes to telecommunications
on the reservation in the near
future.
State measure
recognizes tribal
police authority
The Oregon Legislature voted June 29 to recognize off-
reservation tribal police authority. The vote came deSpite
objections from some county sheriffs who said the measure
would open the door to lawsuits.
Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins supported the tribal
position on the bill, recognizing tribal police authority. Tribal
officers have to meet the same requirements as other law
enforcement officers, so their authority should be equally
recognized, Adkins said.
The state measure now goes to Gov. John Kitzhaber who
has said he supports the bill.
Off tribal land
The new law would give tribal officers limited authority
off reservations for two years, including the power to con
tinue pursuing suspects who leave tribal land and to take
action when a crime is committed in front of them.
Beginning in 2013, the measure then expands the author
ity of tribal officers, giving them full police authority through
2015.
Republicans Andy Olson of Albany, Greg Smith of
Heppner and Matt Wingard of Wilsonville joined all 30
Democrats in approving the measure in the House on a 33-
25 vote. The Senate approved 19-10.
Question arose in W.S.
The Oregon Supreme Court ruled this year that tribal
officers can make an arrest off the reservation if they’re in
“hot pursuit.” The decision stemmed from a 2005 police
chase that began on the Warm Springs Reservation and ended
in Jefferson County.
A Warm Springs officer who was not certified by the
state law enforcement academy or deputized by the county
sheriff made the stop.
The suspect appealed his conviction, arguing that the tribal
officer did not have the authority to make the stop. The
state Court of Appeals agreed with the suspect, but the Or
egon Supreme Court ruled that the tribal officer did have
authority.
House co-speaker Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, said the
Supreme Court ruling is a good start, but the bill is necessary
for tribal officers who encounter other kinds of crimes.
“If they stopped an assault, they would have to go back
to Supreme Court to see if they could make that arrest,”
Roblan said.
Under the measure, tribal police officers would be granted
limited police authority if they obtain certification from the
state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
and the tribe agrees to certain rules of insurance, tort liabil
ity and evidence.
Solution to underage drinking begins at home
A message from the
Warm Springs Office
o f the Prevention Coordinator
Youth listen to their parents.
We asked students, “How wrong
do your parents feel it would be
for you to drink beer, wine or
hard liquor regularly?”
Eighth-graders who said their
parents think it is “wrong or very
w rong” were two and a half
times less likely to drink, and
four times less likely to binge
than those who said their par
ents think it is “a litde bit or not
wrong at all.”
Youth who drink are at
greater risk of academic failure.
Alcohol use during adoles
cence is associated with signifi
cant and possibly irreversible
damage to memory and learn
ing. In Oregon, one in twelve
youth, who said they drank al
cohol in the past 30 days, also
reported missing school or class
because of drinking alcohol.
School can help by:
Providing lessons about the
effects of alcohol in elementary,
middle and high school;
Establishing and enforcing
strict policies against alcohol use,
M ore than 60 percent o f
eighth-graders and three-fourths
of eleventh-graders say it is easy
or somewhat easy to get beer,
wine, or hard liquor. And they
most often get alcohol at par
ties, from friends or by taking it
from their homes.
Parents can prevent under
age drinking by:
Telling their children not to
drink, knowing their children’s
whereabouts, and ensuring par
ties are alcohol-free and super
vised by adults.
What schools can do
and
Providing information to par
ents about the consequences al
cohol use can have on their chil
dren.
Community attitudes about
underage drinking must support
the efforts o f parents and
schools.
Eighth graders who believe
most adults think it is “wrong
or very wrong” for someone
their age to drink alcohol are
half as likely to drink when com
pared to youth who believe
adults think it “a little wrong or
not wrong at all.”
Letter to the Editor
Stolen items
I am writing this letter in re
gards to items stolen from my
home on April 22 to June 2. I
went to Pendleton for a funeral
for atwai Earl “Lil’ Man” Spino
and I received a teal green
Pendleton shawl with long teal
green fringe, a black Pendleton
shawl with med length black
fringe, and a red Pendleton
blanket with “Let ‘er Buck” and
a bronc rider on the blanket.
I would like these items re
turned to me. I have turned this
into the Jefferson County Sher
iff and Tribal Police. Please re
turn these items to me. I am very
hurt and angry that these items
were stolen from me. Please
return to me.
Brenda B. Strom, PO Box
672, 2490 Sunset Lane, Warm
Springs, OR 97761
PIONEER ROCK
& MONUMENT
Specializing in Native American Design
201 Crafton Rd
Goldendale, WA 98620
PO Box 348
509-773-4702
LET US SAVE YOU TIME & MONEY
DESIGN & ORDER OVER THE INTERNET
www. p io n e e rro c k . com
w w w .b e tte rh e a d sto n e s .com
Find MAP To Our Shop Under 'CONTACTS'
L
•V
it
910 SW HwyB7 Suite 203 Madras
541460 5020