Spilyay Tymoo
November 22, 2017 - Vol. 42, No. 24
Coyote News, est. 1976
November – Anaku Ipach’aanxa Yaamash
Council okays lease plan for KNT
Tribal Council last week ap-
proved a request from the Kah-
Nee-Ta board to proceed with a
lease agreement with the new in-
vestment partner, AV Northwest.
AV Northwest will manage the
resort operation and make sub-
stantial investment, perhaps $16
million, for improvements at the
property.
“Tribal Council is supportive,
realizing our limited options for
making Kah-Nee-Ta competitive
in the Central Oregon market,”
said board chairman Jim Manion.
Kah-Nee-Ta had been facing
the possibility of closure at the end
of this year. The new agreement
is the best way to make the resort
again a viable enterprise, the board
and Council agreed.
Facing possible closure of Kah-
Nee-Ta, the board early this year
reached out to AV Northwest.
Through negotiation over the
months the parties reached terms
calling for a lease of 25 years.
During that time the manage-
ment of the resort would be un-
der AV Northwest. The tribes
would receive compensation
through the room tax.
The list of needed improve-
ments at Kah-Nee-Ta, as outlined
by AV Northwest, is extensive: A
new heating and cooling system,
new paint, improvements to the
rooms, pools, restaurant and café,
to name just a few.
An intriguing aspect of the
plan is a new hydro- and physical
therapy center at the Kah-Nee-
Ta Village. The hot springs would
be put to use in the treatment of
young people who are recover-
ing from muscular and other con-
ditions.
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
The fuel canopies and pumps are in at the Plateau Travel Plaza,
and work on the Plaza center is on schedule as well.
Construction of the Travel Plaza, a project of Indian Head Casino,
began about seven months ago, with completion and grand
opening in the spring. Pictured above is the outside of the
convenience store. Inside to the right will be the restaurant, and
a Class II gaming room. The building is 13,500 square feet, with
showers, laundry facilities, and other amenities.
Land buy-back opportunity for members, tribes
The Department of Interior
has signed the land buy-back co-
operative agreement with the Con-
federated Tribes of Warm Springs.
“The tribes look forward to
working with the program to cre-
ate cultural, residential, govern-
mental and economic opportuni-
ties by consolidating fractionated
lands for the benefit of our tribal
community,” said Council Chair-
man Austin Greene Jr.
“The Tribes will be better
equipped to manage our lands
both on and off reservation,” Mr.
Greene said. “Land is important
to us for the continued sover-
eignty of the Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs, Wasco and
Paiute people.”
The land buy-back program is
part of the Cobell lawsuit settle-
ment. Almost $2 billion of the
settlement went to the buy-back
program across Indian country.
Some tribes have already suc-
cessfully completed the program.
Randy Scott, from tribal Land Ser-
vices, is the main contact person
for participants in the Warm Springs
buy-back.
The problem of fractionated
allotment interests arose with suc-
ceeding generations after the origi-
nal allottees. The heirs have inher-
ited only percentage interests in the
land. With multiple owners,
productive use or sale of the
property, back to the tribes for
instance, is prohibitive.
The land buy-back program
gives fair market value to each
individual who has an interest
in an allotment, plus $75.
The other reason to partici-
pate is that it is in the best in-
terest of the Confederated
Tribes.
The Honoring Veterans Powwow
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
Members
health
survey
A team is conducting an impor-
tant health sur vey among tribal
members ages 18 and over. The
survey information will help guide
tribal health care priorities in the
coming years. The survey team in-
cludes Warm Springs Community
Health, the Northwest Portland
Area Indian Health Board, and
Warm Springs Prevention.
The survey takes about an hour.
Participants receive a $30 gift card.
Tribal Council Chairman Austin
Greene Jr. explains the details of
this project:
Greetings tribal members,
The Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs are conducting an
anonymous survey of tribal mem-
bers, called Behavioral Risk Fac-
tor Surveillance Systems. This
survey will help the tribe collect
health-related information, so ser-
vices and programs can be adapted
to meet our needs.
The information is also vital for
our grant writing efforts so we can
secure funding for current and fu-
ture tribal programs. We are
partnering with the Northwest
Portland Area Indian Health Board
on this project.
The Warm Springs Tribal Coun-
cil approved the Behavioral Risk
Factor Sur veillance Systems
(BRFSS) project, and the Health
and Welfare Committee approved
the questions that will be asked dur-
ing the survey. The project has
been reviewed by the Portland
Area Office Indian Health Service
Institutional Review Board, and all
project staff will be held to strict
confidentiality when handling Con-
federated Tribes of Warm Springs
member contact and health infor-
mation.
The Warm Springs BRFSS in-
terviewers and area Indian Health
Board staff will attempt to con-
tact all tribal members over the
age of 18 via telephone and door-
to-door this coming fall and win-
ter.
See HEALTH SURVEY on 3
Tree lighting
next week at center
Photos courtesy of Preston Meanus
This year marked the third year of the return of the Warm Springs Honoring
Veterans Powwow—Atmaisha Sulcime—organized by Preston and Andrea
Meanus. The Veterans Powwow Committee raised the prize money from
individuals and organizations, and wishes to thank all who contributed. During the
powwow at the Agency Longhouse, Master of Ceremonies Fred Hill Sr. gave public
recognition to all who gave. For the 2018 Veterans Powwow, the committee will be
raising donations throughout the year starting now, Preston said.
Warm Springs Recreation in-
vites the community to its Cow-
boy Christmas Tree Lighting on
Thursday, November 30. The tree
lighting will happen on the front
lawn of the Community Center at
6:30.
There is a meet and greet with
Santa from 6:45 to 7:30. Show up
in your cowboy hat and boots if
you want, or at least be sure to
bundle up.
The Lights Parade and Crafts
Fair is coming up with Recreation,
Native Aspirations and Health and
Human Services on December 7.