Image provided by: Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2012)
O c to b e r 3, 2012 spilyay T y m o o , W arm Springs, O regon Page 8 Wiwnu Wash Cultural Center Delson Suppah Sr. and Dallas Winishut arrive on horseback. The Native American Heritage Center. Culture and Heritage director Valerie Swltzler, Carlos Calica and Arllta Rhoan at the dedication. Below, walkers arrive at Mt. Hood. Yvonne Iverson pictures (Continued from page 1) The ridérs emerged from the tree line followed by walkers in traditional regalia to end the 35 mile journey to the Wiwnu Wash Cultural Center at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl. Charles Jody Calica, Secretary-Trea surer for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, said in the opening, “We have an opportunity to build a relation ship that restores the understanding, respect, and cooperation, that honors our history, heritage and tradition.” Kirk Hanna, the owner-operator of Skibowl, said, “As an Oregonian, I feel it is important to understand the his tory behind Government Camp.” Hanna began contacting members of the tribe about a year ago with ideas of the cultural center. The Culture and Heritage Department staff, along with community elders, shared their knowl edge and helped to develop the Cul tural Center. “It is a wonderful thing that Mt. Hood Skibowl recognizes the impor tance of this land to our people,” said Myra Johnson-Orange. The grand opening celebration con tinued through the afternoon with a tra ditional salmon bake, alpine slide rides, and a contest powwow. Tribal members received an adven ture pass and tickets for the salmon Secretary-Treasurer Jody Calica presents Kirk Hanna with a Bolo tie. bake at no charge. Adventure passes allowed unlimited access to over 20 dif ferent rides, including bungee.jumping, zip lines, and go karts. You could hear the heartbeat of the drum across the mountain as Star Horse and two other drum groups got the pow wow started. Contest categories included tiny tots, juniors, teens, adult, and se nior divisions. Planners of the event look forward to making this and annual celebration to coincide with the huckleberry Rea son. ’ “The history and culture that were here so many years ago will not be for gotten it w ill be revived,” said Stan Speaks, Northwest Regional Director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Wascos vote: will be consistent with tribal election procedures (Continued from page 1) Jackson summarized the situation in a written state ment, part of which reads: 1. T here are six (6) an nounced candidates for the Wasco Chieftainship, all of ¡who claim a hereditary con nection to the chieftainship and who have their respective ¡supporters in the Agency Dis trict. a. Each candidate’s family has followed tribal custom(s) by different means, in bring ing their nominee forward to be acknowledged as a candi date for our n ext W asco Chief. b. The selection process has been discussed in nine (9) public meetings. c. P rio r to the seventh meeting Wasco people were in fo rm e d , by K W SO an n o u n cem en ts and flyers posted, that the deadline to nominate a Wasco Chief can didate was the September 12, 2011 meeting. 2. W hy should A gency District WascOs vote to de term in e the n ext W asco Chief? a. The Wasco people and the A gen cy D istrict have b een led for the p ast 60 years by 2 Wasco Chiefs se le c te d b y a v o te o f the Wasco people. b. During the tenure of the 2 previous chiefs, no Wasco objected that their selection by v ote w as “u n co n stitu tional” or not “in accordance with tribal custom”. c. A fter nine (9) public m eetings, A gency D istrict members could not agree on the specifics o f a “custom ary” selection process. Dur ing the first meetings Wasco elders d iscu ssed how the three previous Wasco Chiefs were selected. d. T he previous W asco Chief didn’t appoint or an nounce a successor. ness. b. On the day of the elec tion voting will be conducted at the Agency Com m unity Center from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. ci Ballots will be deposited into a ballot box. Ballots will be counted after the polls 5. The Wasco Chieftain have closed. Once the bal ship vote, while not a Tribal lots have been counted and governm ental election, will the election results certified be conducted in a manner by the special election panel, consistent with procedures the ballots shall be secured and stored in a vault for a for Tribal elections. period of 90 days. d. T he sp ecial electio n 6. The election will be con ducted by secret ballot. Bal panel will announce the results lots shall be printed listing all of the election the next regu 4. How will the winner of 6 candidates and sh all be lar weekday morning. The the Wasco Chieftainship elec available for off-Reservation special election panel and the and Absentee Ballot requests Director, Vital Statistics, will tion be determined? a. The nominee who ob at least 2 weeks prior to the advise the Tribal Council of 3. Who will be able to vote the results o f the election at in a Wasco Chieftainship elec tains the most votes cast will Election. the next regular Tribal Coun a. Wasco people1 will ap be declared the winner and tion? cil meeting. The Wasco Chief point a 3-5 person “Special the next Wasco Chief. a. Confederated Tribes of b. Should there be a tie; Wasco Chieftainship Election shall be sworn in to office at Warm Springs (CTWS) mem bers who are recognized as then a runoff election will be panel” o f Wasco elders who , that time by the BIA Super shall monitor all aspects of intendent. Wasco descendants and who conducted within a month. the election to ensure its fair c. If, in the future, the were registered to vote in the e. A m ajority o f the at tendees polled at two (2) of these nine (9) meetings on thè chieftainship issue supported a vote. f. The Wasco Chieftain ship survey indicates that a majority o f Agency District W asco’s sup p ort a W asco Chieftainship vote. g. Four o f the six nomi nees support a vote to deter mine the next “recognized chief” o f the Agency District. h. A vote will serve to con firm one o f the 6 nominees as the next legitimate Wasco Chief. i. There is no more fair process than a properly con ducted election. C o n fed erated T rib es o f Warm Springs, Agency Dis trict on September 28, 2012, per vital statistics records. (As identified in the Constitution & Bylaws the Wasco Chief serves as part of the Gov erning body.) b. Elimination o f the re quirement that eligible Wasco voters be registered in the Agency District would enable members who are primarily asso ciated w ith either the Seekseequa or Simnasho Dis trict to vote on the selection o f the A g en cy D istric t (Wasco) Chief. Wasco Chief falls ill or oth erwise can no longer fulfill his duties, then the runner-up will act as Interim Chief un til the Wasco Chief can re sume his duties or until a per manent successor can be se lected. _i
