I
r
Washanaksha grant for artisans cooperative
By Leah Guliasi
W.S. Community Action Team
The Warm Springs Com
munity Action Team received
$1,200 W ashanaksha grant
from the Museum at Warm
Springs.
T he grant will helpc the
Community Action Team to
develop an artisans’ coopera
tive fo r m em b ers o f th e
Warm Springs community.
E ach
year,
th e
W ashanaksha g ra n t gives
awards to community mem
bers and groups tò -support
arts and culture on -the reser
vation.
T he Com m unity A ction.
Team (WSCAT) intends to
use this award to develop
ways to create a sales base,,
sell products, arid obtain sup
plies for Warm Springs art
ists.
The funds will allow the
cooperative to write a feasi
bility study and come Up with
a business plan moving for
ward.
‘Unity is key’
So, what is a cooperative?
A cooperative, or co-op, is
a group o f people who work
March 2,.2016
Spilyay Tymo.o, W arm Springs, O regon
Page 6
together so that its individual
members may increase their
ability to sell the products they
make.-'
Being a m em ber o f a co
op can increase one’s pur
chasing pow er, low er the
cost o f materials and sup
plies, increase online pres
ence, create opportu n ities
for co llaboration, su pport
tribal m em ber businesses,
and provide opportunity for
local artists.
As one community mem
ber said, “Unity is key.’1’ ’ And
a co-op can provide the unity
needed to- help make the art
community in Warm Springs
thrive.
Starting a cooperative
in Warm Springs
In D ecem b er o f 2013,
WSCAT staff and a five-per-
son steering committeebegan
meeting to discuss the devel
opm ent o f an artisans’ coop
erative;
In early 2014 the steering
co m m ittee surveyed 49
Warm Springs artists to de
te rm in e w h at th ey knew
about cooperatives. The sur
vey assessed their interest in
creating a cooperative, and
m ade an inventory o f the meeting was held to reinvigo
products they made.
rate the cooperative.
There were five commu
T h e artisaris w efe also
asked what roles they would nity members at that meet
be willing to play in manag ing: Pinky Beym er, A nita
Jac k so n , M afge K alam a,
ing the cooperative.
More than 77 percent o f Shayleen Macy and Aurolyn
thè respondents expressed in -Stwyer. O n hand were three
terest in joining a cooperative. W SCAT s ta ff m em b ers:
These artists produced at G erald D an zu k a, C hris
least 12 different types o f W atson and Leah Guliasi.
T h e energy and desire to
artwork.
Based on thè survey re move forward with the coop
sults, WSCAT and the steer erative was very positive.
ing committee believe that the
co-op could bring together Joining thè cooperative
Any community member
30-60 artists in the commu
nity to make and sell their is welcome and entouraged
artwork, including traditional to join and participate in this
b ead w o rk , ceram ics, an d cooperative.
You are invited to attend
drawings.
In late 2014 and 2015,. meetings to help get the co
w ork on th e co o p erativ e op running, or to participate
w ent on hiatus, T h is was as an artist in order to sell
necessary so , WSCAT staff your work.
It doesn’t matter how busy
could focus on- other com
m unity p riorities, such as you are or what type o f art
Strengthening business edu you make: The cooperative
c a tio n in W arm S prings, can work with all artists to in
growing the Warm Springs crease their sales, and lower
outdoor market, and getting their costs.
, I f you are interested in
m ore community members
involved in small business attending the next co-op meet
individual developm ent ac in g , please call Leah-Guliasi
or Gerald Danzuka at 541-
counts (IDAs).
E arlier this year, interest 553-3148.
began to resurface, and. a
A rehabilitated owl was part of Eagle Watch 2016. The
bird was injured, and lost its visual depth perception;
and now must live in captivity. At right are the Quartz
Creek Dancers getting ready for their performance.
And below right, a snake skeleton was part of the
wildlife education display.
C o m m u n ity A c tio n
te a m o ffe rin g ta x h e lp
all. The IRS may be will
ing to set up an install
Community Action Team
m en t p la n fo r you to
make payments, as long
as they see that you are
It’s tax season, which
trying your best.
som e people dread be
If you file'your taxes, .
cause filing your taxes can
nobody else can file un
f>e difficult or stressful.
der your nam e... This will
T here are many rea
reduce the likelihood of
sons why-filing taxes is a
identity theft.
good idea, beyond just
Another good reason
the fact that it is often
to file: I t m akes you
required.
know ledgeable a b o u t
H ere are 10 reasons
your finances.
why you want to file your
Piling online is actually
taxes:'
p retty easy. T h ere are
You may be able to
many programs that will,
receive a refund- D e
w alk 'y o u th ro u g h the
pending on your income,
many people actually get , steps and tell you every
thing you need. In addi
money back w hen they
tion, there are a lo t.o f
file their taxes.
free services that,will help
You may qualify for
you.
certain credits, Such as
F iling th ro u g h the
the Earned Income Tax
AARP Tax Aide program,
Credit (EITC), that can
administered every year
give you additional funds
by WSCAT, is free.
back.
I f you are interested
W hether or, n o t you
in filing your taxes at the
receive a refund isn’t just
WSCAT office— which
a b o u t yo u r incom e.
has fjve train ed tax
O th e r
fa cto rs
are
preparers— call 541-553-
hom eow nership, Social
3148 to schedule an ap
Security, retirement, dis
pointment'.
ability, child care, or if you
Since 2009, T he
are in school. These fac
Warm Springs Commu
tors may result in you re
nity
A ction
T eam
ceiving a tax credit or ben
(W SCAT) has helped
efit.
I f you file your taxes 7 over 1,000 individuals
file their taxes for free,
each year, you will prob
WSCAT helps up to
ably receive more in so
300 people per year file
cial security benefits as an
their taxes and you could
older person. The more
be one o f them.
years you file taxes, and
T he-average refund
the more money y°u earn,
th a t p eo p le receive
the greater your social
through our services' is
security benefits will be.
$1,500.
A nother good reason
This year, WSCAT will
'to file: You will avoid pen
be providing'filling assis
alties. I f you don’t file a
tance on Tuesdays and
retu rn or file late,'you
Thursdays. D o n ’t wait
may have to pay addi
until the last minute, file
tional costs.
today.
It is better to pay what
you can than not pay at
By Leah Guliasi
Simpasho
Schoolle Flat
Warm Springs
Seekseequa
Call 541-
615-0555
4202
Holliday St
WARM SPRINGS TELECOM
Pave McMechan/Spilyay
Health and
Wellness Center
March-April hours
In March and April, the
W arm Springs H ealth and
Wellness Center is open 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tues
days, Thursdays and Fridays.
O n Wednesdays the cen
ter is open from 1 to 5 p.m.;
closed Saturday and Sunday.
You can reach the Health and
Wellness Center at 541-553-
1196.
The Twenty-First An
nual Na-ha-shnee Na
tive American Health
Science Institute Is a 13-
day summer program
designed to encourage
Native students to pur
sue health science de
grees and h e alth-re
lated careers.
It’s open to students
currently In ninth, tenth
and eleventh grades.
Applications are avail
able online. Google
WSU Native American
Health Sciences to find
it. Deadline is April 25.
Z 7 '
v'".'
~ 'Z 'G C z L
J'
-,('7'
“A
Community Counseling Is hosting the Women’s
Group every W ednesday at the Counseling Cen
ter. The meetings are from 1-2:30 p.m. Orienta
tion was this week, and the first regular meeting Is
March 9, and on Wednesdays afterward until May
4. For more Information contact Alice or Jean Stark
at the Counseling Center, 541-553-3205.
' * "
2 0 1 6 B U R N P E R M IT
B U R N P E R M IT S A R E N E E D E D T O
B U R N D E B R IS . IF Y O U H A V E N O T
R E N E W E D Y O U R 2 0 1 5 P E R M IT
Warm Springs Community Counseling Center
VETERANS GROUP
Jri ,
w
N ative
A merican
% Vrtm
Starting Tuesday, March 8th, 2016
and will continue every Tuesday
From; 1:30 pm—2:30 pm
At the Counseling Center Main Conference Room.
C O M E O N U P T O F IR E
M ANAGEM ENT AND GET A 2016
(B U R N P E R M IT . IF Y O U H A V E A N Y
« Q U E S T IO N S C A L L 5 4 1 - 5 5 3 - 1 1 4 6 .
For more information you may contaet David Howenstine or Sue! Sonnier
L
»
I
(541)553-3205,