E Coosh EEWA: The way it is
Boots on
the ground
Spilyay Tymoo August 5, 2015
Letters to the editor
by Alyssa Macy
Some of the hardest work
I’ve done in my career has
been organizing for issue
based campaigns and parti-
san/non-partisan get-out-the-
vote efforts. While we always
incorporated an element of
on-line work, the bulk of it
was done through face-to-
face interactions and boots
on the ground.
During the 2004 elections,
I worked with the largest non-
partisan get-out-
the-vote (GOTV) Spilyay
effort in the coun- Speaks
try, managing
statewide initiatives in the
Midwest and Southwest, and
eventually working alongside
a great group of individuals
with the inaugural Native
Vote effort. I also ran parti-
san Native Vote efforts in
Wisconsin and Minnesota,
and worked on a number of
issue-based campaigns.
When you work on cam-
paigns you have to give 150
percent and then some. Cam-
paign directors are respon-
sible for developing plans and
budgets, raising money, train-
ing organizers, developing
messaging, raising more
money, knocking on doors,
and talking with voters. There
is hardly time to sleep. And
after Election Day, there is a
required 2-week vacation to
try and piece your life back
together. If you lose, you
need an additional 2 weeks.
I got involved with cam-
paigns because I wanted
change. I knew that I could
not change things alone so I
connected with people who
shared the same passion. To-
gether we refined issues, re-
searched, brainstormed strat-
egies and tactics we could
implement, and did the work.
It was always hard work.
It was through these expe-
riences that I began to under-
stand power and politics in a
very real way. That change
required working within some
processes (like advocating
within governments at vari-
ous levels), outside processes
(like political actions). It
meant understanding what
the rules of engagement
were—specifically govern-
mental structures, policies
and procedures, and law.
Being effective in this role
also required that I under-
stood issues from multiple
perspectives. It mean doing
my research and operating on
fact. Giving partial or mislead-
ing information is not an ef-
fective way to gain supporters.
Being an effective change
maker has also meant that
I’ve had to check my ego at
the door, listen, and most im-
portant, empower individuals
to speak for themselves. It
has also meant that I can’t
take everything personal—
the reality is we won’t agree
on every issue.
Many lessons I learned in
organizing also apply to be-
ing in a leadership position.
Listen to your constituents,
communicate, do your re-
search, operate on fact, em-
power the community, work
hard, actively engage in dia-
logue, don’t take it personal.
Despite some of the chal-
lenges our community has
faced these past few years, I
remain optimistic about our
potential. I know that posi-
tive change can happen—let’s
put our boots on the ground
to move forward together.
Page 4
Head Start celebrating 50 Year Anniversary
Thank you to Chilkat Enterprise, Waylon and Tiffany
Beymer, for purchasing my goat at the 2015 Jefferson County
Fair Market Animal Sale. Your support and generosity are
very much appreciated. Thank you again. ~ Dylan Heath
Summer Nights
On behalf of the Hot
Summer Nights Powwow and
Encampment Powwow, we
would like to offer this pub-
lic acknowledgment thanking
all those who participated and
helped to make our little
event the best it possibly
could be.
During the two days of
celebrating we ate, we played
and we visited. We had visi-
tors from Phoenix, Ariz., the
Zuni New Mexico engine
crews, Chiloquin, White Swan
Wash., Sandy, the visiting
church group plus all of our
local pow-wowers.
We couldn’t have had a
powwow without the big
drums, so thanks to Big Pine
Cone, Slammin Salmon from
Yakama, Eagle Thunder, In-
digenous Love Makers Na-
tion, Horse Thieves from
Chiloquin, and Quartz Creek.
We appreciated that you
came to sing and have a good
time. We want to thank the
parents and grand parents
for bringing all the young
people to dance, as it was
great to see the floor full of
dancers. Carlos Calica was
providing the voice as the
MC for Wednesday evening.
The Simnasho Derby was
a hit with all those who par-
ticipated, and a big shout out
to the engine crews from
Zuni New Mexico for com-
ing up and joining us for the
evening and providing some
good chuckles during your
special race.
We had just over a dozen
participants for the fun run
on Wednesday morning, and
afterwards we shared a meal
at the fun run luncheon.
Each participant received a
sling bag
On Wednesday evening
we had an awesome Luc A
Meen Queen Traditional
Stick Horse Parade honoring
the current Luc A Meen
Queen Alyssa Macy and
former luc a meen queens.
This may become an annual
thing.
We want to thank the fol-
lowing individuals for the do-
nations (cash/gifts) towards
the powwow: Lois Knight,
Lisa Lomas family, Marge
Kalama, Mike Collins family,
Austin Greene and our spe-
cial elder from the northend.
Also those that chipped in
cash for the games/stick
horse race prize money,
thanks. For those that
brought the food donations,
we appreciated it as we all
helped to feed the people and
treat them in a good way.
I know everyone appreci-
ated the Tribal Utilities De-
partment for providing the
porta potties!
Its always nice to see our
Tribal Council present and we
appreciate your presence
Chief Delvis Heath, Austin
Greene, Evaline Patt and Ray
Tsumpti. We were happy to
see Miss Yakama Nation
Lamt Kusi Wallulatum and
Miss Pi-Ume-Sha 2015
Kianna as they came to cel-
ebrate with us.
We started working on the
grounds at the end of March,
so I want to thank my sons
for helping to build and cre-
ate a better powwow grounds,
my daughters and their mates
for coming to help as their
schedule allowed, and my
tilla’s for coming and provid-
ing the spark we needed.
A big thank you to Nonie
for her artwork for powwow
shirt, putting up with me, and
feeding all of us when we
were tired and hungry. We
also want to thank our
children’s Ulla Charlotte as
she was there cooking, clean-
ing and she also provided the
stuffed animals for the kids.
We appreciated everyone
that came to have fun with-
out the lure of big money.
We provided trophies, blan-
kets, buckskin and some dol-
lars to the winners of our
specials and shared gifts as far
as we could. We hope you
had fun and we look forward
to doing this again in 2016.
Captain Moody and
Family
In 1965, Warm Springs
was selected to pilot a two-
month Head Start pro-
gram which eventually
grew to a 10-month pro-
gram.
Originally, the Head
Start program was housed
in the Presbyterian
Church on campus. But as
it and its current building
partner, Tribal Day Care,
grew in size, the tribes rec-
ognized the need to pro-
vide a larger central facil-
ity.
In 1989, tribal voters
approved a $1 million dol-
lar contribution that was
matched by the Head
Start program. The funds
were used to create the
current War m Springs
Early Childhood Educa-
tion Center.
The center was com-
pleted in 1992, and the
Head Start program has
now been in operation at
this location for 23 years.
Warm Springs Head
Start serves more than
125 children and families
in its center-based pro-
gram.
There are nine Head
Start classrooms: Four 10-
month part-day class-
rooms, and five full-year,
full day classrooms.
The change from 10-
month full day classrooms
to 12-month full day class-
rooms is recent, and in
direct response to the
need of working families.
Many families have par-
ents and guardians who
work full-time in order to
meet the basic needs of
their family. While the par-
ents and guardians are em-
ployed full time, they still
do not make enough
Warm Springs Head Start received recognition from
the National Indian Head Start Director’s Association
for 50 years of Service to our Community at the
Annual National Indian Head Start Directors
Association Conference
‘Please join us
August 31 in
celebrating the
partnership between
Head Start and the
Warm Springs
Community.’
money to be over income.
Warm Springs Early Head
Start serves 34 children and
families in its home-based
option, providing 1.5-hour
home visits per week, and two
group socializations opportu-
nities per month.
Warm Springs Head Start
employs 36 people.
Warm Springs Head Start
received recognition from the
National Indian Head Start
Director’s Association for 50
years of Service to our Com-
munity at the Annual National
Indian Head Start Directors
Association Conference held
in Sacramento in June.
We invite the Community
of Warm Springs to join us
in celebrating 50 years of
partnering with the Head
Start program to provide
services to children and
families in this community.
And we look ahead to the
next 50 years.
We invite everyone to
join us in celebrating by at-
tending an event at the
Warm Springs Community
Center on Monday, August
31 from 8-5 p.m.
We will have a guest
speaker, Mitch Factor,
Head Start Teacher and
motivational speaker.
There will be lunch, games
and more.
Please join us in celebrat-
ing the partnership between
Head Start and the Warm
Springs Community.
Parents, Volunteers, gov-
erning body, policy council
and staff are what makes
the program a success! Let’s
take time to celebrate!
Kirstin Ann Hisatake,
Head Start/Early Head
Start administrator, the
Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs.
On Tribal Council agenda for August
On the Tribal Council
agenda for August is a visit
from Oregon Sen. Ted
Ferrioli, (R-John Day), of
the state District 30.
The district includes the
reser vation area. Sen.
Ferrioli is scheduled to
meet with Tribal Council
at 10 a.m. on Monday, Au-
gust 10.
Next on the Council
agenda on August 10 is an
update from War m
Springs Ventures, pre-
sented by interim Ventures
chief executive officer
Don Sampson.
In August, the Affili-
ated Tribes of Northwest
Indians will host a Tech-
nology Summit at Portland.
This will be August 11-13.
Council will be in regular
session on Monday, August
17, with a secretary-treasurer
update, scheduling of the
September agenda, draft
resolutions, legislative update
and enrollments.
A Northwest Indian Head
Start Coalition meeting is set
for Monday through Friday,
August 17-21; and an Or-
egon Tribes meeting is sched-
uled for August 18.
Boards, IHS, CRITFC
Board appointments are
set for 10 a.m. on Monday,
August 24, conducted by
Lynn Davis, director of ad-
ministrative services.
An Indian Health Ser-
vice meeting with the
tribes, and a meeting with
the Columbia River Inter-
Tribal Fish Commission
are on the agenda at the
end of August.
Note: All draft resolu-
tions must be sent to the
secretary-treasurer by
email in Word form two
weeks prior to being taken
into Council for presenta-
tion. Copy to Lynn Davis
at the management office.
The emails are:
Michael.colllins@wstribes.org
ldavis@wstribes.org
Spilyay Tymoo
(Coyote News, Est. 1976)
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Curb, sidewalk, road and other construction work continues at the Greeley Heights subdivision,
the 35-unit project of the Warm Springs Housing Authority.
Publisher Emeritus:
Sid Miller
Multi Media Specialist:
Alyssa Macy
Managing Editor: Dave
McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo is pub-
lished bi-weekly by the
Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs. Our offices
are located at 4174 High-
way 3 in Warm Springs.
Any written materials sub-
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should be addressed to:
Spilyay Tymoo, P.O.
Box 489, Warm Springs,
OR 97761. Phone: 541-
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