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.