E Coosh EEWA: The way it is Letters to the editor 509-J student success survey The Jefferson County 509-J school district is seek- ing your ideas and priorities on how to best support the students of the district. The Student Success Act marks a turning point for education in Oregon, and when fully implemented the state will see an additional $1 billion investment each year. This investment will pro- vide new opportunities for every student in our state, particularly students who have been historically underserved. Your voice does matter in how to move forward with helping our students grow: Jefferson County 509-J school district is hosting an online survey that will run through January 12. You can take the survey by going to: jcsd.k12.or.us Tribal scholarships The Confederated Tribes of War m Springs Tribal Scholarship application dead- line is July 1, annually. The Tribal Council just ap- proved the 2020 scholarship budget in late December. For infor mation contact Carroll Dick at tribal Higher Education: PO Box C, Warm Springs, 97761. Or stop by the Education building, 1110 Wasco Street. You can reach Carroll at 541- 553-3311. Email: carroll.dick@wstribes.org Native Food Sovereignty grants The First Nations Devel- opment Institute is now ac- cepting grant proposals through the Gather Food Sovereignty Grant Program. First Nations will award up to eight grants of approxi- mately $32,0000 each. Grants will support com- munity-driven food sover- eignty work that advances local food system control by Native communities leading to improved economic, health or community policies and systems. This opportu- nity is targeting emerging projects that focus on devel- oping tribal food sover- eignty, but all programs can apply. The Gather Food Sover- eignty grant is made possible through the Indigenous People’s Fund of Tides Foundation, accelerating the pace of social change, work- ing with innovative partners to solve society’s toughest problems. The request for propos- als can be found at: firstnations.org/rfps/6549/ The application deadline is Thursday, February 27. All applications must be sub- mitted via the First Nations online grant application sys- tem. First Nations recognizes that Native food systems are important assets to Native communities. As a result, First Nations has long sup- ported Native communities as they fortify traditional food systems, seek to in- crease access healthy and fresh foods, increase aware- ness of and involvement with where food comes from; and expand knowl- edge of the linkages be- tween foods, Native cultures and contribute to tribal eco- nomic growth and develop- ment of entrepreneurially related food ventures. First Nations serves Na- tive American communities throughout the United States. For more informa- tion, visit: firstnations.org. For infor mation call Rana LaPine, First Na- tions program officer, 303- 774-7836 ext. 209. Or email: rlapine@firstnations.org For more than 39 years— To family, friends I would like to take the time to apologize to my fam- ily for letting them down ‘again.’ Although if it wasn’t for the love of the Creator, and all the trials and tribula- tions that this human being has been through, and con- tinue to go through, I would not know happiness, sadness, grief, joy, generosity, humil- ity, strength, love and com- passion. Today, I love my people of Warm Springs and Turtle Island. In a drug and alcohol coma I loved noth- ing. I write this from the Deer Ridge Correctional Institute, the hole E146. In segregation you get a lot of time to pray, contemplate and change, and for me this is a change. To our young people, ask a trusted friend or family for help. The only dumb ques- tion is the one not asked. You are not alone. I too was that scared child, youth and adult with low self-esteem who ran from myself for 49 years. There is someone out there who understands. I wouldn’t say these things if I didn’t care. You can even write to me. I love you all, even my enemy. Happy belated Thanksgiving, and Have a Merry Christmas! Emiliano G. Williams, 17963868, DRCI, 3920 East Ashwood Rd., Madras, 97741. Spilyay Tymoo (Coyote News, Est. 1976) Publisher Emeritus in Memorium: Sid Miller Editor: Dave McMechan Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Con- federated Tribes of Warm Springs. Our offices are located at 4174 Highway 3 in Warm Springs. Any written materials submitted to Spilyay Tymoo should be addressed to: Spilyay Tymoo, P.O. Box 489, Warm Springs, OR 97761. Phone: 541-553-2210 or 541-771-7521 E-Mail: david.mcmechan@wstribes.org. Annual Subscription rates: Within U.S.: $20.00 Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo January 1, 2020 A year in pictures with Indigenous voices of Confluence W hat an incredibly eventful year it was at Confluence: With support from the Friends of Confluence we were able to advance our mission in so many ways, con- necting people with the history, living cultures and ecology of the Co- lumbia River system through Indigenous voices. We strengthened our partnerships with tribes, Native artists and educa- tors, schools and teach- ers, and the communities around the Confluence river sites. Presented here are images from the Confluence events of the past year. Stay tuned for rundown of the 2020 season of Confluence programs and events. In the meantime, en- joy the highlights of 2019. Thank you for your support! Colin Fogarty and the Confluence com- munity. The Confluence Project is a series of out- door installations and in- terpretive artworks lo- cated in public parks along the Columbia River and its tributaries in Or- egon and Washington. Each art installation explores the confluence of history, culture and Photos courtesy Confluence ecology of the Columbia River system, as seen through the Indigenous perspective. Beadwork calls needed attention to the MMIWG cause B eadwork by a Sagkeeng First Nation member was featured on talk show The View, help- ing call attention to the epi- demic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, MMIWG. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg wore the me- dallion beadwork, made by Sagkeeng First N a t i o n’s a r t i s t M i s h Daniels. Goldberg told viewers that the red jingle dress medallion commemo- rates the cause address- ing murders and disap- pearances of indigenous Statistics regarding missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG). women. Ms. Daniels had origi- nally made the necklace for activist Connie Greyeyes, who met Goldberg and offered the necklace as a gift. Daniels said the in- ternational attention gar- nered her roughly 1,500 commissions from cus- tomers ranging from a member of the House of Commons to Indig- enous elders in New Zealand. She may have to leave her regular job in order to meet the demand for beadwork, Ms. Daniels said. COCC Culinary puts food truck into gear T he Cascade Culinary Institute of Central Oregon Community College has un- veiled its newest teaching tool: A food truck designed to show students how to suc- ceed in one of the fastest growing segments of the res- taurant industry. Customized with Culinary Institute’s specifications, the mobile kitchen will serve a range of cuisines to the com- munity beginning in January. You can track its location at cascadeculinar y.com or through the institute’s social media channels. The program purchased and customized the new truck with an earmarked donation made to the COCC Foundation by longtime cu- linary program supporter and Bend resident Shirley Ray. Ms. Ray passed away ear- lier this year at age 91. The COCC Casade Culinary In- stitute christened the truck with her name. Ms. Ray’s own history has deep connections to the lo- cal culinary scene: Her aunt co-founded Bend’s Pine Tavern Restaurant in 1936, where as a young girl Shirley began working, shelling peas. Decades later, she helped manage the business. The ‘Shirley Ray’ food truck features interior cam- eras so that instructors can observe from outside dur- ing training to offer input and feedback. A full range of kitchen equipment fits into the large-scale vehicle, meaning that students can prepare dishes that tap into their complete culinary cur- riculum, from French cuisine Courtesy The Shirley Ray food truck of the COCC Cascade Culinary Institute. to fine pastries. “The majority of our stu- dents want to work in or own this kind of business,” said chef instructor Thor Erickson, chair of COCC’s culinary department. “Our state-of-the-art truck will not only help train students how to launch their own mobile business, it will also give the community a better chance to taste that success, literally.” Erickson noted that a num- ber of former students have gone on to successfully launch food truck busi- nesses, such as the Jerk Kings, now a sauce enter- prise, Sopa and We’re the Wurst. The food truck sector has been fast expanding nation- wide over the past decade, due in part to a smaller up- front investment and ease of business liftoff. For more details contact Thor Erickson at 541-977-1286 or terickson@cocc.edu.