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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 8, 2019)
Spilyay Tymoo Coyote News, est. 1976 May 8, 2019 - Vol. 43, No. 10 PO Box 489 Warm Springs, OR 97761 ECR WSS Postal Patron U.S. Postage PRSRT STD Warm Springs, OR 97761 May – Xawit’an – Spring - Wawaxam The Twenty-Eighth Tribal Council The new Tribal Council mem- bers took office on Monday of this week. After the swearing-in ceremony, the Council met for preliminary business on Monday, and then met on Tuesday to re- view the tribal major documents— the Treaty, Constitution and By- Laws and others. As a first matter of business, the Council members—six new members and two incumbent— elected the chair and vice-chair. Council chose Raymond Tsumpti, longest-serving member, as chairman; and Lola Sohappy, former tribal judge, as vice-chair. They agreed to advertise the Sec- retary-Treasurer and Chief Opera- tions Officer positions for 30 to 45 days. Council then took action on two important procedural matters. The first decision was to change the way a resolution can be adopted. Seniors Day turning 50 For three decades now the Warm Springs Honor Seniors Day has brought great entertainment, and lunch and dinner to visiting guests and elders of the reservation com- munity. The Thirtieth Annual Honor this Friday, May 10 will continue the tradition. The daylong celebration begins at 9 a.m. at the Agency Longhouse, and continues through dinner at 5 p.m. Noon lunch and dinner are free to seniors, $5 for non-seniors. The Early Childhood Education Center will host a mini powwow at the longhouse at 10 a.m. The 2019 Warm Springs Honor Seniors Day features a Western theme—Come Dressed in Your Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats! For more information contact the Senior Program at 541-553-3313. Dave McMechan/Spilyay See COUNCIL on page 7 The Twenty-Eighth Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes is sworn into office on Monday. Tribal organization awarded non-profit status There are many worthwhile project ideas on the reserva- tion—from economic develop- ment, housing, a new commu- nity center, a traditional foods processing plant, to name just a few. There are grant and other funding sources available to tribes, yet a potentially greater source of revenue also exists. These other sources are the tens of thousands of chari- table trusts and foundations— 1,600 in the Pacific Northwest alone, and more than 110,000 nationwide. These sources become avail- able when an entity has 501(c)(3) non-profit recogni- tion. The tribes received great news this week, as the federal gov- ernment awarded 501(c)(3) non- profit status for the Warm Springs Community Development Orga- nization. Tribal executive management, the community development direc- tor, Tribal Council and legal coun- sel initiated the application process two and a half years ago. The obvious motivation has been the financial situation facing the tribes for the past several years. This week Chief Operations Officer Alyssa Macy was look- ing forward to informing the Warm Springs Community De- velopment Organization board of directors of the 501(c)(3) rec- ognition. The board has met only a few times, as the non-profit status un- til now had still been pending. The board members include Valerie Switzler, president; Curt Hanna, owner of Ski Bowl, vice president; Ervanna LittleEagle, sec- retary; and Alyssa Macy, treasurer. There are several reasons why it is important for the tribes to have an independent non-profit organi- zation. First, this organization is now eligible for public and private grants: Many foundations and gov- ernment agencies limit their grants to public charities. Non-profit organizations also can offer tax deductions to indi- viduals or businesses that give charitable contributions. The organization has tax ex- emption status: Organizations that qualify as public charities under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) are eligible for fed- eral exemption from payment of corporate income tax. Once exempt from this tax, the nonprofit will usually be ex- empt from similar state and lo- cal taxes. A nonprofit organization ex- ists as a legal entity in its own right and separately from its founders. Incorporation puts the nonprofit’s mission and structure above the personal interests of individuals associated with it. Under the law, creditors and courts are limited to the assets of the nonprofit organization. The founders, directors, mem- bers, and employees are gener- ally not personally liable for the nonprofit’s debts. Decision approaching on Huntington legislation F or some decades now the Confederated Tribes have sought the official nullification of the ‘Huntington’ document. The document is also variously referred to as a ‘supplemental treaty’ to the Treaty of 1855; and also by the misnomer ‘Treaty of 1865.’ Legislation to correct the situa- tion is currently pending in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The bills before are HR 1803 and S 832. The record on the proposals is open until May 15. Successful passage of the legis- lation would then go to Pres. Trump for his signature. Sponsors of the legislation in- clude Rep. Greg Walden, and Sena- tors Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. Other federal lawmakers are also in support, as is Oregon Gov. Kate Courtesy The National Archives One of the multiple signing pages of the Treaty of 1855, the only recognized treaty between the Confederated Tribes and the United States. Brown. Summary of the House and Senate bills is self-explanatory: “A bill to nullify the Supplemen- tal Treaty Between the United States of America and the Con- federated Tribes and Bands of In- dians of Middle Oregon, con- cluded on November 15, 1865. “Nullification of Treaty: The Supplemental Treaty Between the United States of America and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon, con- cluded on November 15, 1865, and entered into pursuant to the Senate resolution of ratification dated March 2, 1867 (14 Stat. 751), shall have no force or ef- fect.” Before the expiration of their term this year, the Twenty-Seventh Tribal Council made the 1865 nul- lification legislation a priority. The federal legislative delegation has been key in getting the bills this far through the process. The tribes and lawmakers would like the 1865 document officially nullified as a means of correcting a fraudulent agree- ment imposed on the tribes. The Treaty of 1855 created the Warm Springs Reservation while recognizing the tribal right to hunt, fish and gather at usual and accustomed places, and on “unclaimed lands” within and beyond the 11-thousand square miles of Ceded lands. A decade later the Oregon su- perintendent of Indian Affairs, one J.W. Huntington, orches- trated the so-called ‘treaty of 1865.’ This document pur- ported to eliminate tribal off-res- ervation rights. See TREATY on page 7 Lil’ Miss Pageant this month Warm Springs Recreation will host the Lil’ Miss Warm Springs Pageant on Wednesday evening, May 22 at the community center. Dinner will be at 5 p.m., and the Pageant to follow. The Pageant sup- ports the traditional values and teachings of the Confederated Tribes, and provides an opportunity for all people to participate and learn. For more information call Recreation at 541-553-3243. Salmon Bake at COCC The First Nations Student Union at Central Oregon Community Col- lege welcomes Warm Springs to the 2019 Salmon Bake. The salmon lunch is free, and there will be traditional dancing, drumming and singing, vendor tables and auction. Vendors can receive a free space with a donation to the auction. The Salmon Bake and Native American celebration will be from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 at the COCC athletic field at the Bend campus. for more infor- mation contact Michelle Cary, COCC Native American program coordinator; at 541-318-3782; or email: mcary@cocc.edu The COCC First Nations Stuent Union and Native American pro- gram provide cultural learning op- portunities for Native students at the school. The union and program provide a support system and net- working opportunities; recruitment and retaining Native American stu- dents. They promote equality and fairness through cultural sharing.
