Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
March 30, 2016
Page 7
Agency District candidates
Mona Smith-Cochran
Valerie Switzler
First I would like to say
thank you to those who
are responsible for nomi-
nating me. It is an honor
just to be regarded as per-
son who can diligently rep-
resent our people.
My entire life I have
served my people. I will
do my best to be an ad-
vocate for the people,
whether it is in the com-
munity, at state or federal
government proceedings
or international settings.
It has always been a
strength of mine to work
with people and come to
agreement or understand-
ing.
I believe in education,
whether it is stemmed in
the community or at a
college institution. And I
believe in balance. For ex-
ample, not everyone
wants a desk job, but in
order to become experts
out in the field, education
and training are needed to
speak the language of
those who make the rules.
We need scientists in
forestry, botany, water and
air. It would be good to
find those who are strong
in these skills when they
are young, so they may be
guided in this manner.
Several members of
our community do not
want to follow the tradi-
tional route of education
at a university, but feel they
can contribute to our com-
munity in the wide array of
vocational training, which is
greatly needed.
Learning at the university
or vocational school is only
one type of learning. In or-
der to survive and know our
rights as Indian people we
need to go back to our roots.
Lessons in language, cul-
ture and tradition need to be
taught. Our children need to
know: What is the ceded
area? What is sovereignty?
What are the rights we re-
served in the 1855 treaty?
All these teachings are
needed here. Whether our
children like it or not, they
are born into a political arena,
sometimes speaking out on
behalf of our people, and
they need to know what they
are talking about or know
how to find out the an-
swers. Sometimes they
will find they are the only
person of color in the
room.
Many things fall in
line once you teach a
child. We will a come
out of poverty, our
health will improve, our
economics will become
self-sustaining once we
have learned how to
handle and take care of
our resources.
Whether you can con-
tribute because you went
to university, vocational
or longhouse, we all have
an important role in the
economics of this reser-
vation. And if we have
two or three of these
trainings, the better it
would be for our tribe.
We have been blessed
with many gifts, the most
precious of those are our
elders, our children and
our caregivers.
There were hard de-
cisions made, and still
more to make as we
travel this road of uncer-
tainty. But it has been
done before, and if we
seek that balance and
work hard—like our el-
ders—we too can be-
quest an abundance of
resources like our ances-
tors left for us.
Valerie Switzler
Carina Miller
My name is Carina
Miller. I am an enrolled
member of the Confed-
erated Tribes of Warm
Springs and I am running
for a seat on Tribal Coun-
cil from the Agency Dis-
trict.
My parents are Ken
“Kenman” Miller and Sue
Matters. My grandmother
was atwai Faye Waheneka
and my grandfather was
atwai Sidney Miller. My
great grandparents were
Fannie Waheneka, Grant
Waheneka, Lucy and
Walter Miller and Walter
and Eleanor Matters.
I was born and raised
in Warm Springs. I went
to Warm Springs Elemen-
tary, then Jefferson
County Middle School
and graduated from Ma-
dras High School.
Growing up I partici-
pated in many different
clubs and activities. The
older I got the more I re-
alized what made these
experiences so wonderful
were the people. Whether
it was high school sports
or 4-H camp, I learned a
lot by being involved and
by spending time with my
peers in different settings.
Looking back I’m thank-
ful for the adults who
made youth activities a
priority.
I have a Bachelor of
Science degree from the
University of Oregon. Go
Ducks!
After college I worked
for Warm Springs Tribes
Children’s Protective Ser-
vices, then went on to
work for the Confeder-
ated Tribes of Umatilla at
Cay Uma Wa Head Start.
I also volunteered doing
Girl Scouts, War m
Springs Little League, and
Big Brothers Big Sisters.
I am qualified and ca-
pable to serve you on our
Tribal Council. My experi-
ence lobbying for the Or-
egon Student Association
and the United States Stu-
dent Association in Salem
and Washington D.C. gives
me insight into policy and
advocacy work in govern-
ment to government rela-
tions.
My time serving on the
University of Oregon Stu-
dents Senate taught me how
official meetings are con-
ducted using Roberts Rules
of Order. My Senate work
also sharpened my skills for
heated debates and conver-
sation without losing respect
for others and while also
maintaining good working
relationships. As a senator
I also learned how to admin-
ister budgets and track ex-
penditures.
I am motivated by the
time I have spent working
with families. Their needs
give me the heart I need to
stay strong. For families
and our children I see that
we must better understand
the past and its impact on
us all. Then collectively we
need to begin to heal to-
gether as an entire com-
munity.
We need hope, and as
a candidate I have tried
to represent the best
parts of who we are—as
strong, resilient, culturally
rich, rooted, smart,
healthy people.
I truly believe our
people can return to a
good place, with the right
leaders who lead by ex-
ample, who treat every-
one equally and have re-
spect for all.
Experience, education
and passion for our
people is why I am seek-
ing your vote as Agency
District Representative on
Tribal Council for the
Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs.
I realize I must learn
more in the areas of:
Tribal operations; the eco-
nomic forecast; priorities
and strategic plans; oppor-
tunities, and good things
in the works. But I am
ready and able to work
hard to learn and apply
my skills and energy to
contribute to advancing
the tribes from where we
are—to a better place
for Our People, Our
Land and our Financial
Health.
I am a young, progres-
sive thinker who believes
in respect, hard work and
caring about each other.
I appreciate the time
you took to read this let-
ter and hope you con-
sider casting a vote for
me as your Tribal Coun-
cil Agency District Rep-
resentative.
Thank you,
Carina Miller
Itukdi Chuusdi Naika
itgulxam,
Naika
ishawashxliy X’yoya is
my Indian name. My
given name is Mona
Smith-Cochran. I always
turn to my Creator God
for guidance and our el-
ders. My elder parent
atwi’ Alvis W. Smith Sr.
showed me, and taught
me how to be a hard
working person. These
teachings showed me at
a young age to take care
of business, and not to
be dependent on other
people to take care of
me. I have always been
a hard worker, since my
first job at twelve years
of age.
I will be committed to
my people and dedicated
to creating solutions for
our Tribal members. I
have attained three un-
dergraduate degrees, and
was successful in receiv-
ing my Masters degree. My
life experiences as an em-
ployee with the state, federal
and tribal entities—providing
me professional social skills
and social interaction—en-
able me to be objective, neu-
tral and open minded. These
qualities will have a positive
benefit for the tribes and
tribal members.
My concerns include pro-
tection of Tribal Sover-
eignty, Economic Devel-
opment, Implementing the
Tribal hire policy, and pro-
viding positive support and
services for tribal mem-
bers who are seeking a
higher education. Another
priority is improved recre-
ation for a healthier qual-
ity of life for our people
and families. I would like
to see the Tribal Council
representatives have posi-
tive collaboration and
team work for the better-
ment of the people.
These are a few of the
critical areas that I priori-
tize for the future of our
youth, adolescents and for
the generations to come.
With all due respect I
am seeking your support
and your vote.
God Bless You and
Yours.
Mona
Smith-
Cochran
Ryan G. Smith Sr.
Greetings, my name is
Ryan G. Smith Sr.
(Smitty), son of Lepha
Marie Smith and
Raymond Gene Smith.
My grandparents be-
long to the Miller,
Adams and Smith fami-
lies, and my family rela-
tions further include the
Tohet,
Thompson,
McCorkel and Tufti
families.
I am asking for your
support to represent the
Agency District in the
Tribal Council election.
The pressing job at
hand is to help better
the daily lives of the
people of the Confed-
erated Tribes of Warm
Springs.
I believe that I have
the knowledge and skill
set to do this. I am cur-
rently a member of the
Fish & Wildlife commit-
tee (since 2002) and
work for the tribe as the
Hydrologist in the Tribal
Environmental Office.
In 1997 I received my
degree in Environmental
Studies from the Uni-
versity of Oregon.
I grew up fishing and
hunting this reservation,
and continue to do so on
and off our reservation.
I feel qualified to help
our tribe and its mem-
bers to gain economic
health and stability in the
coming years. The expe-
riences I’ve gained and
shared by being part of
the Fish & Wildlife com-
mittee, Columbia River
Inter-tribal Fish Com-
mission, Resource Man-
agement Inter-disciplin-
ary Team, and Project In-
ter-disciplinary Team,
have taught me policy,
management and coop-
erative skills. I have a
good attendance record,
a decent grasp of scien-
tific principles, and I’m
willing and open to hear
concerns, issues and new
ideas!
With a shrinking and
uncertain tribal budget
we have to use tribal dol-
lars to benefit our tribal
people. Our budget needs to
allow for growth and expan-
sion. In the past we have
always valued and utilized
outside recommendations
and insights like Oregon
state studies, third party rec-
ommendations, consultants
and legal council. They have
all had their opportunities to
contribute, yet we are still
waiting for the very low
hanging fruit to be produced
and used to tribal members’
benefit.
We will be competing for
state and federal funds in the
coming years, and adjusting
to very aggressive outside in-
fluences. Other tribal nations
have truly raised the bar on
what the CTWS will need to
do for these dollars in the
future.
Considering demograph-
ics of our tribe, a majority
of our people are below 30
years of age. This is our
workforce. So should the
young people be our main
focus, and how can we ad-
just our priorities?
Every year an additional
60-100 people are added to
our workforce. What are
their options? Very few lim-
ited duration, seasonal and
part time jobs seem to be the
only option for them.
Youth work experience
has always been a Council
priority, but what is the track
record for this concern? We
still need all of Council to
champion this!
I hope to take part and
critically review plans
and strategies for tribal
use of funds. I don’t
believe we need to in-
crease revenues by in-
creasing resource extrac-
tion. Treaty reserved re-
sources on this reserva-
tion are struggling to sur-
vive.
I saw a missed oppor-
tunity when War m
Springs K-8 was occu-
pied, and there were no
plans about how to use
the Warm Springs El-
ementary area. I think
that the campus area has
been talked about long
enough.
A fresh produce
store, bakery or laundry
mat could create great
tribal businesses and
tribal jobs.
The campus plan has
to be a priority for this
Council! Trout Lake,
Dry Creek and Blue
Lake campgrounds are
seriously lacking up-
grades, and invest-
ments in all our parks
are low hanging fruit
options.
The executive, judi-
cial and Congressional
entities have failed mis-
erably to meet our tribal
trust responsibilities. We
do need to better orga-
nize this for sure.
We are a culturally
rich people with cus-
toms, practices and be-
liefs where unique niches
have flourished. We as a
tribe caught all fish des-
tined for everywhere.
We must retain rights to
hunt and fish, and exer-
cising that right is fun-
damental as a tribal
member of War m
Spring.
I would push to be
the steward for Council
on natural resources is-
sues. A true co-manage-
ment status and inte-
grated tribal philosophies
can’t be over empha-
sized. Thanks for your
time and hope to have
your support.
Ryan G. Smith Sr.