Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
November 25, 2015
Vol. 40, No. 24
November – Anaku Ipach’aanxa - Fall - Yaamash
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
Vote Dec. 17 on cannabis initiative Council
Absentee ballots in
the mail this week
As the tribes’ economic develop-
ment enterprise, Warm Springs Ven-
tures works with Tribal Council on
jobs and revenue projects.
At present a cannabis growing
operation has the greatest potential
for the creation of new jobs on the
reservation, plus significant rev-
enue.
Ventures and Tribal Council have
been studying the idea for about 10
months. On page 5 of this publica-
tion is an explanation of the pro-
posal, as provided by Warm Springs
Ventures. Essential aspects include
the following:
The project would create a mini-
mum of 85 new jobs on the reser-
vation.
Estimated new net revenue in
2017 is projected at 11.7 million.
In the following years, when the
greenhouse is fully operational, the
estimated annual net revenue is pro-
jected at over $26 million.
“For comparison, the 2016 total
enterprise net profit—from Indian
Head Casino, Power and Water,
Composite Products, Kah-Nee-Ta,
Credit and Ventures—is estimated
at $8.75 million.”
So the new enterprise would
more than triple the existing enter-
prise income to the tribes.
The grow operation would be in
a secured greenhouse approximately
36,000 square feet in size, on a five-
acre site. The product would be
closely monitored from seed to the
time of sale, in compliance with the
strictest standards and regulations.
No sales are allowed on the res-
ervation. The tribes would have
retail shops in the Portland and
Bend areas.
Voter participation
A valid referendum requires
participation by at least one-third
of the eligible voters.
There are 3,313 eligible voters;
so approximately 1,100 voters
must participate for a valid vote.
Absentee voters are encouraged
to mail their ballots to the tribes
by Thursday, Dec. 10.
(See page 5 for the full summar y.)
Honoring
Veterans
The Confederated
Tribes hosted the
Honoring Veterans
Powwow at the Agency
Longhouse.
The powwow was
during the mid Novem-
ber weekend following
the Veterans Day
Parade (see page 8).
Jayson Smith
photos.
Tribal Constitutional amendment petition at BIA
A proposal to amend the Tribal
Constitution, regarding the Tribal
Council and elections, may have
enough signatures to require a tribal
referendum, to be conducted by the
BIA.
The group that gathered the sig-
natures submitted the petition and
signature sheets recently to the
Warm Springs Agency BIA Super-
intendent.
The group submitted a total of
1,290 signatures of tribal members
18 and over. This would be more
than the one-third requirement of
1,183 signatures needed to call a
referendum.
BIA Superintendent John
Halliday then posted the “Statement
of the Proposed Matter of Petition
for Amendment of the CTWS Con-
stitution.”
A copy of the petition and sig-
natures is available for viewing by
authorized tribal member voters,
upon request at the BIA office at
tribal administration.
A challenge to a signature on the
petition must be filed in writing with
the BIA Superintendent within 15
days of the initial posting.
As the posting was made on Nov.
17, the date to submit a challenge
to a signature is at the end of the
working day on December 2.
As
stated
in
the
Superintendent’s posting, “No
challenge will be considered which
is not accompanied by supporting
evidence in writing.”
After the 15-day period, and if
enough valid signatures remain on
the petition, then the BIA would
submit the matter to the BIA North-
west Regional Area Director for
approval to conduct a secretarial
election.
Tribal members 18 years and
older would need to register to vote
with the BIA. The referendum
would pass with a majority voting
in favor; and seeing at least one-third
of the registered voters participate.
of the Confederated Tribes.
For instance, the proposal calls
for a Tribal Council of nine mem-
bers. Under the existing Tribal
Constitution, there are 11 Coun-
cil members including the three
Chiefs who serve for life.
The proposed amendment
would make all of the Council
positions subject to a term of
years, with no life-term posi-
tions.
Under the proposal, the terms
would be for three years, with
the exception of some of the
initial terms.
Proposed changes
The proposed changes are signifi-
cant in regard to the Tribal Council
appoints
2 judges
See PETITION on page 2
Tribal Council last week ap-
pointed two new judges to the Tribal
Court of the Confederated Tribes.
The new Chief Judge is Lorintha
Umtuch, and the new Associate
Judge is Maria Godines. They join
Judge Lisa Lomas on the court.
Ms. Umtuch is a Yakama Nation
tribal member, with family and
friends among Warm Springs mem-
bers. Ms. Godines is a Warm Springs
member.
Ms. Umtuch has worked in the
court systems of other tribes in the
Northwest and Southwest.
She has several years of judicial
experience and education, and she
is a traditional woman, said Walter
Langnese, former chief judge, who
served on the judicial recommend-
ing committee.
Ms. Umtuch has experience in
criminal and civil tribal law, probate
and juvenile law, said Langnese.
Ms. Godines has worked in tribal
court administration, most recently
as tribal court administrator.
She is a member of the Tribal
Bar, and has an excellent knowledge
of the tribal code, Langnese said.
Her other strengths are in probate,
the tribal organization and customs.
On the judicial committee were
Langnese, for mer judge Lola
Sohappy, and tribal elder Arlene
Boileau, who has worked at Exten-
sion and in other positions with the
tribes, especially with youth.
The committee reviewed the ap-
plications, and interviewed all tribal
members who applied. They gave
recommendations of the top three
candidates for the chief and the
associate judgeships, with a top rec-
ommendation for both positions.
After the presentation, Council
voted by secret ballot, agreeing with
the recommendations.
Two of the three judgeships, in-
cluding the Chief Judge, became
vacant this fall. First, Glendon
Smith resigned to become the Sec-
retary-Treasurer. Then earlier this
month, for mer chief judge
Langnese retired.
The newly-appointed positions
are for terms of four years, follow-
ing a one-year probation period.
Holiday bowling
Thanksgiving weekend is a bowl-
ing weekend for many tribal mem-
bers. This year they will be at the
Warm Springs All Indian Holiday
Bowling Tournament at Lava Lanes
in Bend.
The tourney runs through Sun-
day, Nov. 28, marking the Thirty-
Ninth year of the annual tradition.
The 2015 holiday tournament is
in Memory of Joseph “Cheeks”
Boise Sr., Anna Clements and
Norene Greene. (For the tournament
schedule see page 6.)