E Coosh EEWA: The way it is
Page 4
Spilyay Tymoo
March 30, 2016
Letters to the editor
Vote no
I agree with what Ginger
Smith wrote in her letter of
February 17.
The Chief ’s permanent
seat guarantees each tribe will
be represented on Tribal
Council. To take that away
would open the possibility
that one tribe, maybe two,
would not be represented.
Each district elected their
representatives. One district,
maybe two, may not be rep-
resented if that is taken away.
To stagger the time people
are actually sitting in Council
would allow too few people
to be making decisions con-
cerning tribal business. Abso-
lute power corrupts. There is
already more than enough
corruption in tribal adminis-
tration. These changes would
make things worse.
In my opinion War m
Springs BIA has been com-
promised by one person that
worked in Washington, D.C.
When my dad was still
around, he got back from a
trip to Washington, D.C. He
told me that he found out
this “tribal member” was try-
ing to have our reservation
terminated. So I don’t trust
him or anybody he may have
nominated for Tribal Coun-
cil.
Not much time was given
from when registration cards
were mailed out to the due
date they had to be filled out
and in to be qualified to vote.
Comments I have heard
on KWSO make no sense as
valid reasons for these
changes. It doesn’t make any
sense to think nine people on
Tribal Council can do a bet-
ter job than 11. It would be
more like a good ol’ boys
club. Like politicians running
for office in Washington, D.C.
In my opinion these
changes are wrong and not
necessary.
Johnnie Simtustus.
Leadership
I’m writing this letter in
light of the numerous dis-
heartening posts, photo-
graphs and captions on these
photographs of our Tribal
Council members that have
surface in social media.
These posts were gener-
ated from a fictitious profile,
and have been viewed and
shared within and outside of
our community. What I’ve
taken from these is simply an
attempt to conduct a smear
campaign against our es-
teemed leaders, Austin,
Evaline, Ray, Joe to just name
a few.
This election should reflect
our values as a Tribal people:
dignified, respectful and
truthful. The fictitious pro-
file contains none of these
values, and the person re-
fuses to reveal their true iden-
tity.
What is clearly evident is
their intent to distort uncon-
troverted facts of accom-
plishments of the Twenty-
Sixth Tribal Council, and ul-
timately disrupt the election
cycle.
What we have witnessed is
a tumultuous term these last
three years, seemingly created
by the folly and immaturity
of a few members who have
made numerous claims in
various media forums and
social media.
These edited statements
have undermined our orga-
nization, and have jeopardized
the legal, fiscal and political
integrity of the Tribe. This
has created a daunting and at
times overwhelming task for
the chair, vice chair, three
Chiefs and older members to
maintain stability in Tribal
Council chambers, sustain
stable government to govern-
ment relations, and our fis-
cal affairs. They have kept a
sense of predictability to
maintain the Tribes’ footing.
This election cycle, it is im-
perative we elect members
that hone decency, respect,
transparency, integrity and are
knowledgeable of all our
documents: the 1855 Treaty,
Constitution and By Laws,
and Tribal Code.
I hope you all share these
values and thinking when go-
ing to the polls. I for one am
in full support to re-elect Aus-
tin Greene, Evaline Patt,
Raymond Tsumpti Sr. as the
incumbents. I also support
all three Chiefs, Delvis Heath,
Joe Moses and Alfred Smith
Jr.
These six members are the
elders of Tribal Council and
possess valuable institutional
knowledge and practical ex-
perience to lead the Tribe
forward. Isn’t it the essence
of a people that we value and
listen to our elders?
It seems to me a few of
Handyman Services & More
No job too big or too
small—If you can think of
it, we can get it done.
That is motto of
Handyman Ser vice &
More. If you have project
that needs to be done, then
call A n t h o n y D a v i s
Jr., 541-460-1664.
Veterans and their
families are especially en-
couraged to call. Handy-
man Services is fully in-
sured.
Spilyay Tymoo
(Coyote News, Est. 1976)
Publisher Emeritus in Memorium: Sid Miller
Editor: Dave McMechan
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the younger members of this
term have lost sight of these
values. The older members
of Tribal Council epitomize
ethical leadership, achieved
consensus and lead with a
stable steady hand. All key
ingredients for a smooth and
successful organization.
These were the corner-
stones of Tribal Council in
the 1980’s and 90’s. Let’s con-
tinue on that path for good
leadership and support Aus-
tin Greene, Raymond
Tsumpti Sr. and Evaline Patt
in their reelection bid and I
also encourage you to write-
in Frederick ‘Duran’ Bobb
for Simnasho District.
Floyd Calica
Referendum
First, I appreciate Johnnie
Simtustus’ letter. He has wise
words. Those of us who
know tribal history know the
Simtustus family descended
from a long line of heredi-
tary chiefs who contributed
to our reservation’s develop-
ment.
BIA’s Secretarial Election
on Constitutional amend-
ments is April 11. Hopefully
we will have a good voter
turnout. Many non-resident
voters did not receive a voter
registration form in time to
meet the registration dead-
line.
The statement, “There is
no minimum requirement
regard the number of regis-
tered voters,” is questionable.
An election as important as
amending a major document
should have more stringent
requirements than a random
number of voters. It is ques-
tionable if the required num-
ber (one-third) of qualified
tribal member voters has
called for the referendum.
Once the election takes place,
it must have 30 percent of
those entitled (and registered)
to vote do vote. The amend-
ment is decided by majority
(51 percent or more) vote.
The referendum question is
to be posted in public places
by April 1, 2016; so watch
for it to know what you’re
voting on. In doing simple
math there are 973 registered
voters. Of the 973, thirty
percent (324) must vote.
Outcome is decided by 51
percent of the 324, or 165.
This is off the top of my
head, so feel free to check
its correctness.
Sorry, I have no flowery
words for you because the
Wasco way is to just get your
point across (get ‘er done)
with no frills. It’s vitally im-
portant that voters under-
stand what they’re voting on.
Okay, let’s get to the basic. I
have heard many young
people say they have been
told this referendum is being
held to lower the voting age
to 18… Not so. If you are
18 years or older, you already
are entitled to vote, provided
you registered in time. Don’t
be misled by people who
want to change our laws to
fit themselves. Don’t get con-
fused about who can vote in
Council elections. The Con-
stitution says either sex, mar-
ried, or 21 years of age, etc.
That’s the difference be-
tween voting age for Secre-
tarial Elections (18 or over),
and voting age for Council
elections (21 or married).
More basics: Our law
states, “No person shall rep-
Seasoned rancher mentoring new tribal rancher
by Jo Lynne Seufer
USDA Risk
Management Agency
Nestled on the
Yakama Indian Reserva-
tion, 140 miles southeast
of Seattle on the eastern
slope of the Cascade
Range Mountains along
the Yakima River, Shawna
Kalama is living her
dream.
Shawna, a member of
the Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs, is a be-
ginning rancher.
Over the past several
years, Shawna has suc-
cessfully leveraged USDA
programs to support both
her entrepreneurial educa-
tion goals and her grow-
ing livestock operation.
Pursuing a Business
Degree, Shawna is cur-
rently attending Heritage
University in Toppenish.
Along with that busy
schedule, she has estab-
lished a cattle ranching
operation.
Mike Shellenberger
with Intertribal Ag Coun-
cil assisted Shawna in ob-
taining a micro-loan from
USDA’s Far m Ser vice
Agency in 2013.
Shawna manages a
cow/calf operation that
currently has 30 cows (red
and black Angus), 10
calves and two registered
Angus bulls.
In three years of op-
eration, Shawna has estab-
lished a direct market for
her cattle through the Real
Food Buying Club of Se-
attle. With demand for
her beef, Shawna calves
year round to ensure her
quality beef is available
every month.
Recently, her Business
101 Class, led by Profes-
resent the Confederated
Tribes on the Tribal Council
unless he (she) is a duly en-
rolled member of the com-
munity who has attained the
age of 21 years, and who has
never been convicted of a
major crime.” The nomina-
tions have already been held
for all three districts. In our
current status, it’s important
that whoever is your choice,
that person be very consci-
entious of our bottom line.
This means being innovative
in ways to save, and creative
about spending and always
keeping ROI (return on in-
vestment) in mind. Spend
funds only in ways that yield
returns. A Council member
once elected becomes a pub-
lic servant and time that once
was theirs no longer belongs
to them, but to the people
they serve. A Council mem-
ber is accountable to all three
tribes since we are confeder-
ated, and to the people who
voted for and elected him or
her.
You may have reviewed
the mailout. What the pro-
posed amendments do is ba-
sically weaken a major docu-
ment. Everyone who is eligible
to vote would have to regis-
ter for every Council election.
We have had Chiefs hundreds
of years and Warm Springs
is one only a handful of tribes
who still recognize and respect
its Chiefs. An amendment
would eliminate them from
serving on our governing
Courtesy Jo Lynne Seufer
Mike Shellenberger and Shawna Kalama.
sor Leonard Black, included
hands-on instruction using
USDA’s Risk Management
Agency’s Strengths, Weak-
nesses, Opportunities and
Threats (SWOT) guidance
brochure.
“The SWOT analysis pro-
vided everyone in our class
who are, or hope to be in-
volved in a business enter-
prise,” said Shawna. “It
helped me to gain insights
into the past and think of
possible solutions to existing
or potential problems, such
as managing devastating
risks like bears that have
killed some of my herd.”
Utilizing those methods,
Shawna took advantage of
an opportunity—ideas on
how to overcome weak-
nesses and build on
strengths—and met with
James McCuen from the
Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation.
James is a lifetime, sea-
soned tribal rancher who
grew up on the Colville Res-
ervation in the Kartar Val-
ley. James is also the Pa-
cific Northwest Chairman
of the IAC and recently re-
tired from the Bureau of
Indian Affairs.
“I live every day, carry-
ing-forward my grandpar-
body. The proposed impeach-
ment law would allow the
Council to do so by a 2/3
vote, after being recalled by
only 30 percent of the vot-
ers of the district voters who
elected him or her (as com-
pared to a fair 51 percent).
Apportionment eliminates
the districts. Since Agency
District has the most voters
come election time, Simnasho
and Seekseequa stand to lose
representation and a voice on
Council.
The Officer’s proposed
amendment does not offer
enough information. It ap-
pears that the chairman, vice-
chairman, secretary-treasurer
and committee members
must meet qualifications
(what are they, besides what’s
stated in the Constitution?)
through the tribal personnel
salary program. So that brings
up the question of how will
we pay for this change? This
may be a good question to ask
of the originators of pro-
posed changes, or Council
candidates recently nomi-
nated. It sounds spendy. Can
we afford it? Will it be funded
by the line item in the tribal
budget under Council and
Committees?
If an applicant/candidate
doesn’t meet proposed edu-
cation requirements, maybe
they exceed qualification by
public service experience, or
making important well-in-
formed decisions or just plain
good old common sense.
ents and parents’ goals to
sustain the viability of
our native lands,” said
McCuen. “Seeing our
younger tribal members
follow in these footsteps
as Native American
farmers and ranchers is
truly a dream come true.”
James shared with
Shawna infor mation
about IAC’s Marketing
Development Program,
American Indian Foods
and advice on registering
and securing her business
domain name through
IAC’s “Made/Produced
by American Indians”
trademark. This allows
for certification as au-
thentic American Indian
products, with enforce-
ment by the U.S. Patent
Office.
These two energized
ranchers plan to stay in
touch. They know first-
hand they are part of In-
dian Country’s genera-
tions past and generations
to come.
And they take seriously
the role to ensure Indian
agriculture continues to
respect culture, self and
sacred lands for years to
come.
Our reservation has long
been known for leaders with
substance, integrity and wis-
dom, so we need to stay close
to those attributes as possible.
Are we trying to switch our
Tribal Council form a legisla-
tive body to more of execu-
tive one instead? Both?
Should the measure pass,
there’s the potential problem
with voting within Council if
we go to a nine-member
body. One of the nine serves
as chair man, leaving the
votes probable. It’s kinda like
the predicament with loss of
Justice Scalia from the Su-
preme Court.
My take on this election is
that we may be stuck with a
“watered down” version of
our Constitution and By-
Laws. If the amendments
pass and are implemented,
what happens if we don’t
want to, or can’t adjust to
them? My guess is another
election about 80 years down
the road to repeal. It will take
several generations to undo
a bad decision. Descendant
grandchildren and great
grandchildren as adults will be
asking how such laws got on
the books.
My advice as an elder is
to ask questions and gather
as much information as pos-
sible from credible sources
before voting. Remember, we
have to live with our deci-
sions.
Ginger Smith, Wasco El-
der.