Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
February 13, 2019 - Vol. 43, No. 4
Wiyak’ik’ila – Winter - Anm
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
Governor sides with tribes on 1865 document
Tribal Council
ballots mailing
Tribal Council recently wel-
comed Oregon Governor Kate
Brown for discussion of tribal
treaty rights. A point of focus was
the ‘Huntington treaty of 1865,’ a
document that has never been rec-
ognized by the tribes or federal
government.
The Treaty of 1855 created the
Warm Springs Reservation while
recognizing the tribal right to hunt,
fish and gather at usual and ac-
customed places, and on “un-
claimed lands” within and beyond
the 11-thousand square miles of
Ceded lands.
Then a decade later the Oregon
superintendent of Indian Affairs,
one J.W. Huntington, orchestrated
the so-called ‘treaty of 1865.’
This document—with no ap-
parent compensation to the tribes,
and with hardly any tribal signa-
tures—purported to eliminate
tribal off-reservation rights as en-
sured by the Treaty of 1855. A
provision in the 1865 document
also says tribal members could only
leave the reservation with written
BIA permission.
This erroneous document was
eventually ratified by the U.S. Sen-
ate. Yet it has never been recog-
nized or enforced, either by the
tribes or the federal government.
So only in bureaucratic theory
does the document appear to still
exist.
In the mid 1990s the tribes and
U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield
were working on a project for-
mally to clarify the null and void
status of the 1865 document.
However, then-governor John
Kitzhaber was unwilling to support
the effort, effectively ending the
The tribes this week mailed out
the 2019 Tribal Council ballots for
the out-of-town voters.
This edition of the Spilyay in-
cludes statements from some of the
candidates (starting on page 6). The
election will be on April 4.
The Agency District candidates
are Mike Clements, Austin Greene
Jr., Leona Ike, Anita Jackson, Cassie
Katchia, Dan Martinez, Carina
Miller, Jeff Sanders Jr., Wilfred
Sando, Dustin Seyler, Glendon
Smith, Randy Smith, Lola Sohappy,
and Valerie Switzler, and Marcia
Soliz (write-in).
The Simnasho District candi-
dates are Levi Van Pelt, Raymond
Tsumpti, Charles Calica, Ron
Suppah, Sal Sahme, JP Patt, Jaylynn
Suppah, Lincoln Jay Suppah,
Raymond
Moody,
Harold
Pennington, Emerson Sqiuemphen,
TJ Foltz, Evaline Patt, Aurolyn
Stwyer, and Priscilla Frank.
The Seekseequa District can-
didates are Reuben Henry, Lee Tom,
Martha Winishut, Wilson Wewa,
Gerald Tufti, and Brigette
McConville.
Alyssa Macy photo
Gov. Kate Brown signs a letter supporting the tribes in regard to ‘the Huntington treaty.’
On hand were Council members Lee Tom, Ron Suppah, Carina Miller, Valerie Switzler, Brigette
McConville, Charles Jody Calica, Warm Springs Chief Delvis Heath, and Council Chairman Austin
Greene Jr. (from left)
project.
Current Governor Kate
Brown, though, is a supporter of
the tribes in correcting this shame-
ful episode in tribal-federal gov-
ernment relations.
With support of the Governor
and the tribes, the present federal
legislative delegation of Oregon
could reconsider the means of
clarifying this matter, through
whatever means appropriate.
Over the decades there have
been many instances of federal
recognition only of the Treaty of
1855 as the defining document of
the Confederated Tribes.
In 1866, just a year after the
1865 document, Warm Springs
Indian agent Jason Wheeler wrote
to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs in Washington, D.C.:
“If ever a fraud was villainously
perpetrated on any set of people,
red or white, this was, in my opin-
ion, certainly one of the most glar-
ing…”
In more recent decades, vari-
ous court decisions—a notable ex-
ample is the 1969 decision by
Judge Robert Belloni, in U.S. v.
Oregon—have found the provi-
sions of the Treaty of 1855 to
be the binding law of the land.
Federal agencies have con-
curred. For example, a 1997
U.S. Forest Service report con-
cludes:
“The Treaty of 1855 re-
mains the only document de-
scribing the rights of the Warm
Springs tribes. As a matter of
policy, the Forest Service rec-
ognizes only the Treaty with the
Tribes of Middle Oregon,
1855.”
Dave McMechan
Snowy weekend greets 42nd Lincoln’s
S imnasho welcomed many guests
as the community celebrated the
Lincoln’s Powwow.
Lincoln’s this year celebrated 42
years of the tradition. It was a
snowy weekend yet the guests and
residents braved the weather—
guests arriving from around the
Northwest, to as far away as Ari-
zona and Iowa.
Margie Tuckta, of the powwow
organizing committee, has compiled
the results of the dance competi-
tions. Here are the results (in order
of finishing—first, second, third,
etc.):
Boys
Fancy/Grass: Liam Beebe,
Toppenish. Julian Stwyer, Warm
Springs. Joeray Stwyer,
Pendleton.
Grass: Elijah Denney, Warm
Springs. Joseph Boise Jr., Warm
Springs. Jeryn Little Eagle,
Wapato.
Traditional: Jayden Esquiro,
Warm Springs. Christopher
Beebe, Toppenish. Arthur
Miller, Warm Springs.
Teen Division
Girls
Fancy: Beth Scabbyrobe,
and Gigi David, both of Warm
Springs.
Jingle: Ashley Beebe,
Toppenish. Coreena Stwyer,
War m Springs. Her mione
Johnson, Warm Springs.
Traditional: Mariash Beebe,
Toppenish. Jordan Heemsah,
Toppenish. Marjorie Heath,
Warm Springs.
Junior Division
Girls
Fancy: Keiara Onepennee,
Wapato. Eva Jurado, Salem. Katelyn
Tanewasha, Warm Springs.
Jingle: Kaylyani Estimo, Warm
Springs. Janessa Abundiz, Wapato.
Sky Victorino, Warm Springs.
Traditional: Askewin Tom,
Kyra Eastman and Shar miah
Brisbois, all of Warm Springs.
Results continue on page 12
Courtesy SimnashoPowwow site on Facebook
509-J meeting
at Academy
The Jefferson County School
District 509-J will host the Warm
Springs Community Engagement
Night this Wednesday evening, Feb-
ruary 13 at the Academy cafeteria
area.
All community members are wel-
come.
The engagement night is to pro-
vide community collaboration and
participation, with a chance to ex-
amine and provide information on
the district programs. Questions,
comments and feedback are wel-
come.
There will be a meal at 5:30 p.m.,
with discussion beginning at 6 p.m.
Childcare will be provided.
Honoring 2
young riders
Two young Warm Springs ro-
deo riders—Isaiah Florendo and
Siddalee Spino-Suppah—have
competed among the best in the
nation.
Isaiah was a 2018 International
Miniature Rodeo Association Fi-
nals Qualifier.
Siddalee was a 2018 Junior Na-
tional Finals Rodeo Qualifier.
Family and friends will gather
this Friday evening, February 15 at
the Agency Longhouse.
The event is the Long Live Cow-
boys Potluck Dinner—Come cel-
ebrate and honor the achievements
of these young rodeo talents!
For more information you can
talk with Paleena Spino.