Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
On this Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a national holi-
day reserved to honor and to re-
member the fallen men and
women of the armed forces with
grave decorations.
The day was first widely ob-
served on May 30, 1868 to com-
memorate the sacrifices of Civil
War soldiers. Congress passed the
Uniform Monday Holiday Act in
1971, and established that Memo-
rial Day was to be celebrated on
the last Monday of May.
According to the 2010 Census
over 150,000 American Indian
and Alaska Native veterans. By
that same year, 27 Native Ameri-
cans had been awarded the nation’s
highest military honor, the Medal
of Honor.
Each year at Arlington National
Cemetery there is a ceremony in
which a small American flag is
placed on each grave.
Traditionally, the President or
Vice President lays a wreath at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
On November 11, 1921 Chief
Plenty Coups, a Crow chief who
led the Crow forces at the Battle
of the Rosebud, participated in full
regalia at the dedication ceremo-
nies of the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier.
Lifting his arms toward the
heavens, he gave his emotional ora-
tion:
I feel it an honor to the red man
that he takes part in this great event,
because it shows that the thousands
of Indians who fought in the great
war are appreciated by the white man.
I am glad to represent all the In-
dians of the United States in placing
The son of Levi and
Kris Keo, Tommy
Boileau Keo died in
1984. He is the most
recent military casualty
who will be remembered
as a young man who
enlisted and served for
the honor of his family,
for his people, and for
his country.
on the grave of this noble warrior this
coup stick and war bonnet, every eagle
feather of which represent a deed of
valor by my race.
I hope that the Great Spirit will
grant that these noble warriors have not
given up their lives in vain and that
there will be peace to all men hereafter.
This is the Indian’s hope and prayer.
My goal is to pave the way for other
Norther Cheyenne and Native Ameri-
can students to study at great colleges
and academies. In that regard if some-
one asks me it I am a warrior in uni-
form I say, ‘Yes, I am.’
One soldier who is not unknown
to our people is Tommy Boileau
Keo. The son of Levi and Kris Keo,
Tommy died in 1984. He is the most
recent military casualty who will be
remembered as a young man who
enlisted and served for the honor
of his family, for his people, and
for his country.
Susan Guerin ,
Ladies Auxiliary
May 23, 2018
Page 7
Howlak Tichum
Woodrow Les Poitra – ‘Woodz – WDZ’ ~ 1986-2018
Woodz Poitra walked on at
7:30 a.m., April 7, 2018.
He was born December 8,
1986 to parents Lester R.
Poitra and Peggy Williams. He
had five siblings, with two older
brothers passing away before
him. His brother Silas M.
Poitra expired in 2005, and
Spencer W. Poitra in 2011.
Woodrow leaves behind his
daughter Jackalynn L. Poitra,
his parents, brothers Willard
and Joshua, and his sister
Wilona. Woodrow grew up
around his nieces Laura,
Jackie, Renee, and nephew
Tyrell.
He leaves behind his many
bro’z who he remembered with
a smile, “You know who you.”
Woodz made this comment
and had his mom write it down
before his passing.
Our deep apologies to all
who did not hear about his
passing until afterwards.
I would like to thank with
all my heart, my co-workers
from the Behavioral Health
Center for financial help.
Thank you Urbana Manion,
Marcella Hall and Ursula
Gibson for financial support
during our stay at the hospitals
with Woodrow.
Thank you to Marie Smith
for prayers and financial sup-
port to his daughter for snacks.
Thank you to the Shaker
members who came and
prayed with Woodrow at the
Redmond hospital. He enjoyed
the songs and praying.
Thank you George and
Debbie Williams and their chil-
dren for coming in almost daily
to sing and pray with
Woodrow. These were special
moments for him.
Many thanks to Priscilla Frank,
Suzie Slockish, Marie Smith, Alberta
Comedown, grandchildren and
grandchildren, for all the donations
for the giveaway.
Thank you to William Sam, Jen-
nifer Smith, Colleen Sandoval and
Julie Sam for the great meals.
Thank you to the drummers and
Shakers for the wonderful services
you provided.
Specials thanks to Edward Lucei,
Emily Yazzie, Colleen and the Shak-
ers who remained to help with
my son’s body Sunday night.
Specials thanks to all oth-
ers who I may have forgotten
to name.
Our deepest respect to the
young men who stepped for-
ward to help.
A special thank you to his
Auntie Marty for all her sup-
port during his passing and
continued tot support each day
since.
He is deeply missed with his
great sense of humor in the
home. “F the dishes, use pa-
per plates.’
“A wise ole elder once told
me…” The wise elder was his
big bro Archie Caldera.
Woodz P.
Jackalynn Poitra, Wilona
Poitra, Peggy Williams, Marty
Crittenden, Jackie Poitra,
Renee Poitra, Laura Thomas-
Poitra, Willard Poitra, Tyrell
Poitra, Joshua Poitra and Sa-
rah Arnold, Lester Poitra,
Sandra, Rhonda and Roslanda
Clements.
Not to forget his brother-
in-law Anthony Parra, and
nephews-in-law Tanner Vandal
and Leander Smith Sr.
On behalf of the late
Woodrow Poitra, we his fam-
ily thank the staff of the South
Wasco Maupin school. Your
understanding and consider-
ation has been outstanding, as
Jackalynn Poitra spent time
with her Dad, without the
worry of being away from
school. We all thank you very
much for your support to
Jackalynn during this struggle
in the hospital and after all
the services were completed.
Thank you all.
Hatfield Fellowship seeking applicants for 2018-19
Burial of unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, November
11, j1921. (Source U.S. Army)
Looking for work? Call
the Warm Springs TERO
office at 541-615-0853; or
stop by the office in the
building with Construction.
These positions pay the
prevailing wage, average
of $40 per hour depending
on the job you are hired for.
Most of the work is off the
reservation. TERO this
year has 15 construction
projects with positions avail-
able.
The application deadline for the
2018-19 Hatfield Fellowship is
May 31. Each year, the Spirit
Mountain Community Fund spon-
sors a highly motivated and capable
Native American to serve as the
Hatfield Fellow and intern in a con-
gressional office.
Placement of the Fellow has tra-
ditionally rotated through the Or-
egon Congressional delegation to
enhance the mutual understanding
between leadership in Washington,
D.C. and Indian Country.
Fellows are given an invaluable
opportunity to gain knowledge
and understanding of how to
navigate the political process in
Washington, D.C., while working
on issues that directly affect Na-
tive Americans.
The Hatfield Fellow will begin
his or her Capitol Hill experience
in November with a month-long
orientation at the American Po-
litical Science Association, fol-
lowed by an eight-month term in
an Oregon congressional office.
The Fellowship includes a
monthly stipend, relocation and
travel expenses.
This life-changing opportunity is
extended to tribal members from
the nine federally recognized tribes
of Oregon, as well as members of
tribes in Idaho, Washington, and
Montana. Preference will be given
to members of Oregon tribes. Ap-
plicants must have a minimum of
a Bachelor’s Degree (or graduating
in June 2018) and be at least 21
years of age to apply. For more
infor mation
see
thecommunityfund.com/hatfield-
fellowship