Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
November 7, 2018 - Vol. 42, No. 23
November – Anaku Ipach’aanxa Yaamash
Tribes face crucial infrastructure needs
At the present time the essential
infrastructure on the reservation—
the domestic water system, the
wastewater treatment plant, tribal
building heating and cooling sys-
tems—require tens of millions of
dollars of investment.
This fact was clear this week,
during the water break that im-
pacted many households, tribal de-
partments and businesses.
The break happened by an area
that broke just six weeks ago. Utili-
ties, management and Council took
steps to address the problem in the
quickest way possible.
However, the water system is
old, to point where replacement
parts are hard to find. This con-
tributed to the delay in fixing the
break.
The Utilities staff is to be com-
mended for tireless work during
the emergency, said Alyssa Macy,
Chief Operations Officer.
An important thing to consider,
Ms. Macy said: There have been
no significant capital infrastructure
improvements for the past several
decades. “We are now literally pay-
ing the price for decades of de-
ferred maintenance,” she said.
Management, Council and
Utilities have been working on
how the tribes might address this
situation.
They are exploring grant pos-
sibilities—with some significant
success this year—plus assistance
from the Indian Health Service,
BIA and others.
These funding sources will
come to the table to help, Ms.
Macy said, “But there is no way
we can have someone else pay for
all of this. The tribes will have
to invest as well.”
Management and Utilities
are developing a comprehen-
sive assessment of how much
might be needed for all essen-
tial improvements—the water
system and tribal building
HVAC, for instance. A pre-
liminary estimate may be in the
range of $40 million.
Regarding the water system
in particular, “We really need
to have a user fee,” Ms. Macy
said.
Honoring the tribes’ Living Treasures
T he Museum at War m
Springs chose five members—
from a diversity of back-
grounds and occupations—as
the tribes’ Living Treasures.
One thing they share in
comming: Knowledge, and com-
mitment to perpetuating the
culture of the Confederated
Tribes. This is also at the core
of the Museum at War m
Springs mission, and its legacy
for future generations.
The Living Treasures are
Redine Billy, Geraldine Jim, Fos-
ter Kalama, Arlita Rhoan and
Maxine Switzler.
They were announced at the
conclusion of the Treaty Con-
ference in October, part of the
museum’s Twenty-Fifth Anni-
versary.
The museum board ap-
pointed a special committee to
nominate and select by consen-
sus the five Living Treasures.
Each recipient received an
award, and will present a pub-
lic program at the museum
during the coming year.
“Many aspects of Warm
Springs cultures are most effec-
tively taught and passed down
by working directly with tribal
members who are considered
the living memory of the tribes,
said museum executive direc-
tor Carol Leone.
“Language, dance, canoe cul-
Fe, New Mexico.
She was chosen as a Liv-
ing Treasure because of her
beautiful beadwork, and
knowledge of making regalia.
She has made dresses and
beadwork for many of her
grandchildren, nieces, neph-
ews and others who have
wanted to participate in social
dancing or powwow dancing.
Billy’s Jingle Dresses are
sought after by many in the
Northwest.
Natalie Kirk/MAWS
Foster Kalama, Geraldine Jim, Redine Billy, Arlita Rhoan (from left);
Maxine Switzler not pictured.
ture, storytelling, basket weaving,
regalia making, fishing, food gath-
ering and ceremonies encompass
some of the activities that are
passed down and perpetuated
through their teaching.”
The Living Treasures
Redine Billy
An accomplished artist, Redine
Billy graduated from the Institute
of American Indian Arts in Santa
Geraldine Jim
Geraldine Jim is a former
member of the Accessions
Committee at the Museum at
Warm Springs.
As a member of the com-
mittee, she helped select cul-
tural treasures, artifacts and
tribal member heirlooms for
the museum’s permanent col-
lection.
Geraldine helped build the
museum’s collection of ex-
quisite items.
Ms. Jim was selected be-
cause she is a master artist in
her beadworking and crafts-
manship.
She treasured as an elder
with traditional knowledge and
stories.
See TREASURES on page 5
Funding headway for Business Incubator project
The Small Business Incubator
project with the Warm Springs
Community Action Team has made
great headway in raising needed
funds for this fascinating endeavor.
Chris Watson, chief executive
officer of the Community Action
Team, says the team is very close to
the target goal of just over $1 mil-
lion.
The project will involve moving
the historic Old Commissary build-
ing to a site just off the highway.
After full renovation, there will
be space for new businesses. The
artists group Tananáwit will have a
spot at one end of the building, Mr.
Watson said. A café will be at an-
Courtesy WSCAT and Hacker Architects.
Architects conceptual drawing of the business park
other end.
The Community Action Team
business coach will have space on
the upper floor of the building,
along with other community busi-
ness people. Additional features will
be an outdoor food court pavilion,
and a separate building to house a
commercial kitchen.
A leading architecture firm,
Hacker Architects, is generously
donating their services. Hacker is
one of many organizations that
have assisted in bringing the plan
to reality. “I’m so grateful to all
of our funders,” Mr. Watson said.
The plan is to move the build-
ing in the spring. The renovation
will take several months, at which
time the businesses can move in,
with the grand opening the first
part of 2020.
One of the spots in the build-
ing is committed to Tananáwit.
The Community Action Team and
the Business Incubator team,
headed by Marissa Ahern, will
then weigh the other proposals.
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
Meeting
on KNT
in Dec.
Tribal Council and Manage-
ment plan to meet with the mem-
bership in December regarding the
future options for Kah-Nee-Ta.
Tribal Council will meet on
November 14 with Secretary-Trea-
surer Michele Stacona on the avail-
able options. There is the possi-
bility of working with an outside
investor to re-open Kah-Nee-Ta
Resort, Ms. Stacona said.
She will discuss the options this
month with Tribal Council, who
will then meet with the member-
ship for discussion.
Kah-Nee-Ta shut down in early
September after a potential out-
side investor was not able to se-
cure the needed financing to take
over management of the resort.
An issue is security to a lender, as
the land cannot be used as collat-
eral for a loan.
The tribes are paying for secu-
rity and maintenance at the resort,
as the leadership and members
weigh the options for the future.
The cost of the needed security
and maintenance is an estimated
$720,000 a year.
There were more than 120 em-
ployees at the resort before its clo-
sure. In its early years—the Lodge
opened in 1972—Kah-Nee-Ta was
the premier resort in Central Or-
egon. This market is now much
more highly competitive, requiring
a major investment in the Kah-
Nee-Ta.
Parade
Sunday
for Vets
A focus of this year’s Warm
Springs Veterans Day Parade is
youth—Kids Marching for Veter-
ans. The parade organizers have
‘Thank You, Veterans’ flyers that
young people can fill out for the
parade.
The form includes the phrase
‘The Veteran I am Marching for
Is...’ with space where the young
person can fill in the name.
This way our youth will gain a
better knowledge of our veterans
and the meaning of Veterans Day,
said Rosemary ‘Mushy’ Alarcon, a
parade organizer.
The Confederated Tribes, Vet-
erans of Foreign Wars Elliott
Palmer Post 4217 and Ladies Aux-
iliary are hosting the 2018 Veter-
ans Day Parade, Sunday, Novem-
ber 11.
Parade line-up will start at noon
by the former elementary school.
The parade will start at 2 p.m., go-
ing to the Agency Longhouse for
lunch and ceremonies. This open
to the public.