Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
November 8, 2017 - Vol. 42, No. 23
November – Anaku Ipach’aanxa Yaamash
Housing matter at Tribal Council
Housing on the Warm Springs
Reservation, as in many areas of
Indian Country, is an essential need
in short supply. An important first
step in addressing the need is en-
gagement of the community in
finding a solution.
Marissa Ahern is a recent gradu-
ate of the University of Colorado,
where she studied Environmental
Design in the Architecture pro-
gram. She graduated Magna Cum
Laude with Honors. Her thesis
paper was Tribal Housing on the
Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
In a class of 175, her thesis was
one of only five successfully de-
fended, earning the Magna Cum
Laude honor. Next year she be-
gins the Penn State University
Master’s Degree program in Com-
munity and Economic Develop-
ment.
Working on her thesis, Ms.
Ahern spent time with the Warm
Springs Housing Authority, study-
ing the state of housing on the res-
ervation. In a thesis summary she
says:
“The Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs is at a crucial point
in its history, where critical plan-
ning must take place to address the
tribe’s current housing conditions.
There is a large shortage of hous-
ing on the reservation, with a cur-
rent waitlist of over 300 families.”
The demographics of the tribe
are adding to the situation: “Of
the 3,175 people living on the res-
ervation, 40 percent of the popu-
lation is 19 years old or younger,
and 62 percent of the population
is 34 years or younger.
“This means the tribe can ex-
pect an increased demand for
housing in the coming years, due
to the high percentage of young
tribal members who will be com-
ing to the age of needing a home
at the same time. The demand
will be arguably impossible to
meet without a serious commit-
ment from the tribe to start ad-
dressing housing issues now.”
Ms. Ahern discussed this last
week with the Tribal Council.
Housing for Indians living at the
Columbia River was another
point of discussion, as BIA
deputy regional director Bodie
Shaw was also at the Council
meeting.
See HOUSING on page 3
Charlene Dimmick, Blackbird.
Jayson Smith/Spilyay
Museum at Warm Springs Tribal Member Art Show winners Travis Bobb, Roberta Kirk, Charlotte
Herkshan, Reva Johnson, Scott Kalama, Laronne Katchia and Isaac Trimble.
Reva Johnson, Beaded Eagle
Bernyce Courtney, Midnight
Positive and Negative woven
basket
Richard Macy drawing,
Delbert Frank Sr.
Policy changes after artifacts case
A case involving disturbance of
possible tribal archaeological items
at an island in the Columbia raised
concern with the Confederated
Tribes, especially when the tribes
learned the U.S. Attorney could not
pursue criminal charges in the case.
Council Chair man Austin
Greene Jr. wrote to the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Oregon
District, and to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. The letter
made clear the tribes’ concern, and
asked the Attorney’s Office to re-
consider filing charges.
The Corps of Engineers and
U.S. Attorneys met with Tribal
Council last week to discuss the
issues.
The case involved one to three
apparently homeless people who
were camping on federal property,
more specifically an island in the
Columbia River.
One or more of them dug a pit
near their tent. The island was
known to have tribal artifacts, in-
cluding possible funerary items.
Law enforcement, including a
patrol by the Columbia River In-
ter-Tribal Enforcement, discovered
the situation, and removed the
people from the island.
The Corps of Engineers ar-
chaeologist said the digging appears
to have disturbed only flakes, and
no actual formed artifacts or
funerary objects.
Still, the case was disturbing, and
the U.S. Attorney weighed the pos-
sibility of bringing federal criminal
charges. A review of the evidence,
and the guiding case law in the dis-
trict, however, precluded pursuing
the case.
In the district, a violation of the
Archaeological Resource Protection
Act requires criminal intent. This
appeared impossible to prove un-
der the circumstances, the deputy
U.S. Attorney said.
The possibility of a civil case by
the U.S. Attorney is another avenue
they discussed with Council. This
may be a new avenue they could
pursue in these cases.
Another change: there will be
clear postings indicating what
property is federal at the Colum-
bia, making a trespass case more
obvious.
Stepped up patrol around is-
lands in the river by CRITFE and
other law enforcement is another
policy change, as a result of the
case, the Corps, U.S. Attorney
and CRITFE reported to Coun-
cil.
And there will be better com-
munication with the tribes when
these cases come up, U.S. Attor-
ney Bill Simmons said.
The tribes are planning a cer-
emony where the digging hap-
pened, as the site is restored.
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
General
Council
A General Council meeting is
scheduled for Monday evening,
November 13 at the Agency
Longhouse.
The agenda is the proposed
2018 tribal budget. Dinner is at 6
and the meeting at 7.
Powwow,
Parade and
fly-over on
Veterans Day
Veterans Day is this Saturday,
November 11. Warm Springs will
host the Veterans Day Parade
beginning at old elementary school
at 1 p.m.
The Civil Air Patrol will fly over
the parade and ceremonies at the
community center in honor of
veterans, at 1:45 p.m. The flyover
then proceeds to Sahalee Park in
Madras for their Veterans Day
ceremonies.
This year Veterans Day will
feature the Athmaisha Sulcisma
Powwow at the Agency Longhouse.
The powwow is Saturday and
Sunday, November 10 and 11.
Rejoiners is Friday at 6 p.m.
Grand Entries are Saturday at 1 and
7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Master
of Ceremonies will be Fred Hill;
arena directors are Carlos Calica and
Captain Moody.
The Veterans Special is sponsored
by the Richard Tohet family, and the
MorningOwl
Family.
The
Confederated Tribes also helped in
sponsorship.
Infor mation contacts are
powwow organizers Preston
Meanus, 503-997-9577; Andrea
Sohappy, 541-777-7238, and
Tamara Calhoun, 541-588-0169.
Competition categories include:
Golden Age Men; and Gold Age
Women. For both in all categories,
55 years and up.
Adult Men Fancy and Grass.
Adult Men Traditional.
Adult Women Fancy and Jingle.
Adult Women Traditional.
For all adult categories, 18-54
years.
Teen Boys Fancy and Grass.
Teen Boys Traditional.
Teen Girls Fancy and Jingle.
Teen Girls Traditional.
For all Teen categories, 13-17
years.
Junior Boys Fancy and Grass.
Junior Girls Fancy and Jingle.
Junior Girls Traditional.
For all junior categories, 7-12
years.
Tiny Tots paid daily, ages 0 to 6.
Veterans Day will observance is
this Friday, November 10, and the
tribal organization will be closed.