Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
May 27, 2015
Vol. 40, No. 11
May – Xawit’an – Spring - Wawaxam
New housing nearing completion
T he first four units of the
Greeley Heights subdivision may
be ready for occupancy in just a
little over a month.
The first four units—one 3-
bedroom, two 4-bedroom, and
one 5-bedroom—have an occu-
pancy date of July 2, said Desirae
Wallace, project coordinator of
the Warm Springs Housing Au-
thority.
Housing is planning to host a
ribbon cutting dedication for the
Greeley Heights project, she said.
All of the parties to the
project—the tribes, the state of
Oregon, the investor and assets
consultant—are hoping to attend
the dedication.
The Greeley Heights project
eventually will include 35 units, with
a total cost of $9.7 million.
The project is possible through a
partnership unique in the nation,
involving tribal and private enter-
prises, and state and federal agen-
cies.
Desirae is working on complet-
ing the paperwork for the first
residents of the subdivision.
There is an extensive qualification
process, based on income, credit
history, etc.
Housing is still taking applications
for the units. For more information
you can reach Housing at 541-553-
3250.
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
New Greeley Heights unit nearing completion.
Town hall on sea lion predation bill
Sea lion predation has been a
growing problem for the past 10 to
15 years for the Treaty Tribes of
the Columbia River.
Record numbers are now seen
at Bonneville, Willamette Falls, at
the mouth of the Columbia, and
elsewhere in the basin.
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal
Fish Commission has been advocat-
ing for some solution, and Congress
is considering a law to address the
issue.
The problem is evident in recent
research:
A study by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration
found that a 45 percent of return-
ing Columbia River spring chinook,
including an Endangered Species
Act-listed population, went missing
in the lower Columbia. The estimate
takes into account harvests and
other known impacts.
The reduced survival for spring
chinook corresponds closely with
the huge increase in California Sea
lions entering the Columbia River.
Congress in June is scheduled to
hold hearings on a law that would
amend the Marine Mammal Pro-
tection Act, allowing some control
of the sea lion population in the Co-
lumbia. Tribal Councilman and
CRITFC chair Carlos Smith will
present the tribal case at the Con-
gressional hearing on the bill, HB
564.
Before the June hearing, a town
hall meeting is set for Saturday, May
30 at Oregon City, starting at noon.
The town hall will be hosted by U.S.
Congressman Kurt Schrader, along
with the Columbia River tribes,
Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife, and the Coastal Conserva-
tion Association of Oregon.
Councilman Smith is encourag-
ing all interested tribal members to
attend the town hall (see page 10 for
The law would give
the four Treaty Tribes
of the Columbia, and
CRITFC, the author-
ity to apply for a
permit to remove 10
to 12 sea lions.
details).
Doug Hatch, senior fisheries sci-
entist at CRITFC, has been study-
ing the sea lion predation problem.
“The California sea lion population
has been growing exponentially,”
Hatch said.
In the early 1970s the sea lion
population was estimated at about
20,000 to 25,000. Since 1972, the
year of the Marine Mammal Pro-
tection Act, the sea lion population
has grown to about 325,000.
The sea lions are protected by
New home
for casino HR
New offices, and a new train-
ing program are among the re-
cent changes at the Indian Head
Casino Human Resources De-
partment.
Human Resources moved re-
cently to new offices located in
the center building of the Warm
Springs Plaza. The new location
includes offices, and a large train-
ing room for new and current
employees.
Before, the HR staff were in
the main building of the casino,
but had limited space for train-
ing and other programs.
“Now they have seven or
eight times more space,” said
casino general manager Harold
Baugus.
The Human Resources De-
partment invites the public to an
open house and job fair at the
new HR offices on Wednesday,
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
The Indian Head Casino Human Resources Department staff
includes benefits coordinator Karen Goodell, HR coordinator
Georgianna George, training director Wyval Rosamilia, and HR
director Margie Tuckta.
the Marine Mammal Protection
Act, not by the Endangered Spe-
cies Act.
A similar situation happened
this year with cormorants, pro-
tected by the Migratory Bird Act.
A population explosion of cor-
morants on a man-made island
in the Columbia resulted in the
predation of millions of juve-
nile salmon.
Federal agencies made an
exception in the case of this spe-
cific cormorant population, al-
lowing the U.S. Corps of Engi-
neers to control the number of
birds on the island.
In the case of the sea lions,
the law would give the four
Treaty Tribes of the Columbia,
and CRITFC, the authority to
apply for a permit to remove
10 to 12 sea lions.
See SEA LIONS on 2
June 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Indian Head Casino HR is
implementing training programs
for new employees, and existing
employees.
For the new hires, the orien-
tation focuses on the casino and
its operation, and also on the cul-
ture and history of the Confed-
erated Tribes, said Wyval
Rosamilia, Indian Head Casino
training director.
“Harold wants to make sure
we’re giving the employees the
tools they need to succeed,” she
said, “and to have the best cus-
tomer service.”
The casino employs between
190 and 200 people. The orien-
tation training is mandatory for
new hires, while current employ-
ees will also have new training
opportunities, in leadership, cus-
tomer service, safety, etc. “The
goal is to provide optimal ser-
vice to the guests,” Harold says.
This in turn, he said, will en-
hance casino reveunes.
Dave McMechan
P.O. Box 870
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
50 cents
Graduating
students
The Warm Springs Graduation
Banquet is coming up on June 11.
This year the banquet is being held
at the Warm Springs Eagle Acad-
emy. Dinner will start around 5
p.m.
The banquet is for high school
and higher education graduating stu-
dents. To these students, please
bring a copy of your diploma to
Carroll Dick at Higher Education.
Her office is located in the ad-
ministration building, and her num-
ber is 541-553-3311. Or call the
Education Committee at 541-553-
3258.
The Madras High School gradu-
ation ceremonies are coming up on
Saturday, June 6, starting at 2 p.m.
at the high school stadium. Gates
will open for seating at 1 p.m.
The Head Start-Early Head Start
graduation ceremony is set for June
19, starting at 10 a.m., at the Warm
Springs Community Center.
Kah-Nee-Ta
adds Nike N7
Kah-Nee-Ta Golf has become a
distributor for Nike N7 products in
Oregon.
The Nike N7 products support
the N7 Fund, providing grants to
Native American communities in
support of sports and physical ac-
tivity programs for youth.
Meanwhile at the Kah-Nee-Ta
Golf Course, the Junior Golf pro-
gram is returning this summer.
Kah-Nee-Ta Junior Golf starts
in June, and will run until August
18. This is for youth ages 8 and up,
in different age groups.
For more details call the pro shop
at 541-553-4971.
Summer events
continue at casino
The Indian Head Casino Sum-
mer Concert Series resumes next
month with a concert by Hell’s Bells,
the best AC/DC tribute band. The
concert is Friday, June 12, starting
at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, June 13, Indian
Head will host Micro Championship
Wrestling by Hulk Hogan Produc-
tions, with a pre-show Monster
Supercross Show. Micro Champion-
ship Wrestling is a wrestling event
involving midget wrestling.
Indian Head Casino Players Club
members can ride the Fun Bus for
free. On Tuesdays the bus is for
Central Oregon seniors. The bus
makes the Mid-Columbia run on the
first Saturday of Month, and the
Portland run on the second and
fourth Saturdays. Call 541-460-
7777 for information and to reserve
a seat.