Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
August 12, 2020
Governor’s Arts Award recipient
Roberta J. Kirk, tradi-
tional artist and educator
from Warm Springs, is one
of the recipients of the
2020 Governor’s Arts
Awards.
Ms. Kirk was honored for
her volunteer work teaching
apprentices beadwork, and
the beliefs and ceremonies
that make the beadwork
meaningful.
She has taught countless
women how to do beadwork
and dentalium work for re-
galia and everyday clothing,
and she has conducted sev-
eral workshops on Plateau
dress-making.
Roberta also serves as a
traditional food gatherer for
the Simnasho Longhouse.
The Governor’s Arts
Award is Oregon’s highest
honor for exemplary service
to the arts. This year it will
be celebrated during a virtual
ceremony on September 12
on the Oregon Arts Commis-
sion Facebook page. The cer-
emony is open to the public.
Courtesy
Roberta Kirk, artist of Warm Springs
“The awards are a great
way to celebrate Oregon’s
artistic treasures and honor
the impact they have had on
our state,” said Governor
Brown said. Here is an
artist’s statement from a pre-
vious Oregon Folklife Net-
work feature:
Roberta is Wasco and
War m Springs on her
mother’s side, and Dine’ on
her father’s side.
She is a traditional food
gatherer for the Simnasho
Longhouse. This includes dig-
ging for the Root Feast and
picking huckleberries for the
Huckleberry Feast.
She studied museology and
three-dimensional arts at the
Institute of American Indian
Arts, Sante Fe in the 1980s.
She worked in museum
related areas for several
years, and then with the Con-
federated Tribes as the Na-
tive American Graves Repa-
triation Act coordinator.
She has worked with Mu-
seum at Warm Springs, and
with the National Museum of
the American Indian as a
museum specialist. She over-
saw the traditional care com-
ponent of the museum’s col-
lection.
New 2020-21 school activities calendar
Some discretion
with local districts
The Oregon School Ac-
tivities Association—the
OSAA—shifted its tradi-
tional fall sports season con-
tests to begin in March. The
OSAA executive board ap-
proved the calendar last
week.
The board also voted to
waive current out-of-season
coaching policies to allow for
student participation during
the fall.
Participation will be at the
discretion of the local school
district in those activities al-
lowed per directives from
the governor’s office, the
Oregon Health Authority,
and the Oregon Department
of Education.
“Today’s decisions by the
executive board provide a
framework to maximize the
potential opportunity for stu-
dents in Oregon to partici-
pate in three seasons during
the 2020-21 school year,”
said Peter Weber, OSAA
executive director.
“The board recognized
that a one-size fits all ap-
proach isn’t what’s best for
students across the state.
“By waiving policy to al-
low regional participation this
fall, local school districts will
have the discretion for par-
ticipation in those areas that
are able to do so safely per
state directives.”
The OSAA executive
board took this action follow-
ing the early August release
of school re-opening health
metrics by the governor’s of-
fice and the OHA.
These metrics will result in
nearly all OSAA member
high schools starting in a
Comprehensive Distance
Learning—CDL—format
this fall, which presents chal-
lenges for the resumption of
school activities.
Shifting the season calen-
dar later in the school year
provides additional time for
more schools to return to a
hybrid or on-site learning for-
mat, while providing flexibil-
ity for local school districts
to make decisions this fall
that are best for their school
communities, as health
metrics and state guidance
in this area continue to de-
velop.
The OSAA’s new calendar
provides for three distinct
seasons from late Decem-
ber to late June with limited
overlap between seasons.
Traditional winter activi-
ties will take place in Janu-
ary and February—season
2—; followed by fall activi-
ties in March and April—
season 3—; with spring ac-
tivities occurring in May and
June—season 4. Each sea-
son will feature an equitable
seven-week regular season,
with adjusted contest limita-
tions, followed by an OSAA
culminating week.
Specific plans for culmi-
nating week events will be
developed in conjunction
with member schools in the
coming months in alignment
with large group gathering
guidelines issued by the
state.
The OSAA association
year will officially begin on
August 31 in season 1,
where policies restricting
out-of-season coaching have
been removed.
This allows member
school students and
coaches—at the discretion
of the local school district—
to participate in any OSAA-
sanctioned activity permitted
by directives from the
g overnor’s office, state
Health Authority and Edu-
cation.
This participation may in-
clude conditioning, practices
and interscholastic competi-
tions in those permitted ac-
tivities provided schools ad-
here to OSAA policies.
The OSAA will continue
to work with the governor’s
office, OHA and ODE,
along with our Sports Medi-
cine Advisory Committee, to
provide infor mation to
member schools.
Guidance from these en-
tities continues to evolve,
along with the pandemic it-
self, and will impact future
OSAA decisions regarding
the 2020-21 school year.
Page 3
Burn ban in effect
A reservation burn ban is in effect due to ex-
treme fire danger conditions.
With dry fuel conditions and persistent drought,
and potential lack of
water for fire suppres-
sion, it is critical to take
precautions to help pro-
tect people, property and
resources.
All outside agricul-
tural and residential
burning is not allowed—
including weed burning and burn barrels. Outdoor
camp fires are also not permitted during the ban.
Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt.
Warm Springs Fire Management is not issuing
any burn permits at this time.
Services available during closure
Essential tribal services
are operating this week.
Tribal Council for now
has set Monday, August 17
as the potential re-opening
date for the rest of the or-
ganization.
Meanwhile,
War m
Springs Credit has their drive
through and ATM lobby
open weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3
p.m., Monday through Fri-
day.
Warm Springs Housing
is open weekdays from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m. Or call
541-553-3250.
Warm Springs Victims
of Crime Services can be
reached for anyone in need
through Police dispatch at
541-553-1171.
The 509-J school district
Summer Meal Program
for youth 1-18 years of age
offers free, grab-and-go
meals, on weekdays through
the summer.
House for sale
For Sale: A four bedroom, two
bath newly remodeled home in the
Sunnyside Subdivision.
It is fenced and move-in ready.
Contact Lori Fuentes or Carlos
Calica at the Tribal Credit Enter-
prise for information or to set up a
time to tour the home. 541-553-
3201.