Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
December 29, 2021
Page 5
New highway signs on the way for museum
A generous $25,000 gift from
Visit Central Oregon will provide the
Museum at Warm Springs with new
signs on Highway 26.
The signs will feature the
museum’s new logo, and will help
draw attention to east and west
bound travelers, encouraging them
to visit the museum.
“We are thrilled about this gift
from Visit Central Oregon,” said
Parking entrance
signage at the museum.
IHS Portland area posts low
covid rate for Indian Country
The Indian Health Service Port-
land Area saw one of the lowest
Covid-19 rates among the 12 IHS
areas across Indian Country. The
Tucson Area and Alaska Area were
lower than the Portland Area,
though Portland was quite a bit
lower than most other areas, and
lower than the overall average.
The national headquarters re-
cently released its latest Covid-19
numbers for Indian Country, re-
flecting cases, vaccine and testing
as of mid-late December.
According to the latest data:
300,328 IHS covid tests across
Indian Country have returned posi-
tive for the virus, since the pan-
demic began in March of 2020.
The number was an increase of
0.6 percent from the previous up-
date just two days before.
The release of the data on De-
cember 21 marked the first time
cases within the IHS surpassed the
300,000 mark.
Altogether, IHS has adminis-
tered 3,536,808 coronavirus tests
across Indian Country for its cli-
ent base.
Since mid-October of 2020, the
IHS has been providing additional
cumulative information about the
spread of the coronavirus within
the system.
Based on the cumulative percent
positive, the highest rates have
been seen in five areas. Two of
them include the state of Arizona,
indicating a disproportionate toll of
Covid-19 in the state: The positiv-
ity numbers are as follows:
Navajo Area, 13.9 percent.
Phoenix Area, 12.9 percent. Okla-
homa City Area, 12. California
Area, 10.1 percent. Albuquerque
Area, 9.7.
In addition: The seven-day roll-
ing average positivity column offers
a more contemporary look at the
impact of the coronavirus. The data
shows where covid cases in Indian
Country have been increasing re-
cently.
Based on the seven-day rolling
average positivity, six out of 12
IHS areas are seeing high covid
rates, marking yet another in-
stance of surges across every re-
gion of Indian Country. The high
areas are:
The IHS Phoenix Area, 12.8
percent. Nashville Area, 12.3 per-
cent. Navajo Area, 11.7. Albuquer-
que Area, 10. The Oklahoma City
Area, 9.5 percent. Bemidji Area, 9.5
percent.
Among the lower areas was Port-
land at 6.9 percent.
Notably, with the release of data
from mid-late December, the
Alaska Area finally fell below 5 per-
cent positivity for the first time in
several months.
The region had earlier seen a no-
table increase in cases, with the high-
est seven-day positivity of 11.3 per-
cent reported.
Throughout most of the pan-
demic, the Alaska Area had seen
the lowest rate of covid cases within
the IHS.
Overall, 9 percent of IHS tests
have been positive since the onset
of the pandemic, the data shows.
Meanwhile, the seven-day aver-
age has fallen to 8.0 percent fol-
lowing a long period of high rates
since the summer of 2021.
Summaries of Tribal Council
(from page 2)
December 6, 2021
Motion by Anita adopting Reso-
lution No. 12,889, that an amount
not to exceed $650,000 is hereby
authorized for expenditure from
the Scholarship Fund for the cal-
endar year 2022. Second by Joe.
Discussion. Anita/yes, Glendon/
yes, Joe/yes, Captain/yes, Jay/yes,
Wilson/yes, 6/0/0, Chairman not
voting. Motion carried.
· Indian Health Services update
with Hyllis Dauphinais, Warm
Springs Health and Wellness Cen-
ter.
· Covid update Hyllis.
· Federal and state legislative
update calls.
· Tribal attorneys update.
Due to loss of internet connec-
tivity the meeting adjourned at 3:30
p.m.
December 14, 2021
The meeting was called to or-
der at 9:08 a.m. by Chair man
Raymond Tsumpti Sr. Roll call:
Glendon Smith, Lincoln Jay
Suppah, Anita Jackson, Vice
Chair Brigette McConville,
Raymond ‘Captain’ Moody,
Chief Delvis Heath. Minnie
Yahtin, Recorder.
· Columbia River Housing
Workshop with tribal attonrey John
Ogan.
· Attorney contract review with
Josh Newton and Howie Arnett:
Motion by Captain adopting
Resolution No. 12,891, that Tribal
Council hereby consents to the as-
signment of the currently effec-
tive Attorneys’ Contract between
the Confederated Tribes and the
law firm of Karnopp Petersen LLP
approved by Tribal Council Reso-
lution 12,7903 to the law firm Best
Best and Krieger LLP, and autho-
rizes the Chairman, Vice Chair,
and Secretary-Treasurer (each an
“Authorized Representative”) to
execute any documents or take any
further actions to effectuate the
same, as amended. Second by
Anita. Discussion. Glendon/yes,
Jay/yes, Brigette/yes, Delvis/yes,
Anita/yes, Captain/yes, 6/0/0,
Chairman not voting. Motion car-
ried.
· Blue Stone discussion.
Motion by Brigette to reinstate
Blue Stone. Blue Stone will make
adjustments to their budget, then
come back: Motion rescinded.
· January agenda discussion.
Motion by Brigette approving
the January 2022 meeting agenda.
Second by Jay. Discussion.
Glendon/yes, Jay/yes, Brigette/
yes, Delvis/yes, Anita/yes, Cap-
tain/yes, 6/0/0, Chairman not
voting. Motion carried.
Motion by Brigette to adjourn
at 12:20 p.m.
Elizabeth Woody, museum execu-
tive director. “This will enable us
to step up our marketing efforts
and bring more visitors to the
museum. Look for the new signs
soon!”
Julia Theisen of Visit Central
Oregon says: “Central Oregon is
fortunate to be the home of such
rich cultural heritage, including the
Museum at Warm Springs. We ap-
preciate this opportunity to sup-
port the museum’s new signage,
designed to enhance their visibil-
ity to the countless vehicles that
pass by their location on a daily
basis.
“The signage will create
an opportunity for more visitors
to experience the museum as they
travel to and from Central Or-
egon.”
December Gift Giveaway
D.McMechan/Spilyay
Outside the Family Resource Center, Warm Springs
Police officers help with the Health and Human Services
December gift giveaway, held again this year as a drive-by
event for covid safety. The team also delivered Christmas
bags to elders, and Emergency Preparedness helped
distribute the holiday food boxes.
Community notes...
The Oregon Ducks football
team is in San Antonio for the
Alamo Bowl this Wednesay
evening, December 20. The
Ducks play the Oklahoma Soon-
ers. Game time is 6:15 Pacific
Time, and will be on ESPN.
For anyone who was out of
town for the holiday, or who at-
tended a large gathering where you
may have been exposed to active
covid; or if you have covid symp-
toms: You should get tested today
at the Orange Tent at the Health
and Wellness Center. And for in-
formation on vaccines, call 541-
553-2131.
Most Oregonians who receive
SNAP—the Supplemental Nutri-
tion Assistance Program—benefits
will continue to receive increased
emergency food benefits in Janu-
ary. Approximately 382,000 SNAP
households will receive approxi-
mately $61 million in extra food
benefits in addition to their regu-
lar SNAP benefits. Find resources
to meet your basic needs: Dial 2-
1-1, or text your zip code to 898-
211, or see www.211info.org
The Branch of Natural Re-
sources reminds tribal members
about recently installed multiple
seasonal gates on main roads in
the Lionshead fire area. The sea-
sonal gates will be closed Decem-
ber through March each year. This
seasonal closure helps reduce the
impacts to road systems in the win-
ter months and secure wintering
big game within the closure area.
Shuttle
transport
service for
veterans
Veterans Services offers
a weekly free transport,
available on Wednesdays.
The transport is from Warm
Springs to Madras, and
from Madras to Redmond
and Bend.
The service is intended to
help veterans travel across
Central Oregon for shop-
ping and special events. The
program offers four to six-
hour trips. Veterans Services
transport will stop at Wal-
Mart, Costco, and allow ad-
ditions with prior approval.
They are using community
centers for pick-up and re-
turn sites. Operation will be
Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m.
The shuttle follows strict
Covid-19 and masking
guidelines, as well as requir-
ing Veterans ID. You can
contact 541-408-4147 for
more information or com-
ments. Donations are ac-
cepted for fuel and mainte-
nance.
Region seeing
an influx of
winter robins
Central Oregon is seeing an in-
crease in the number of robins, as
thousands of the birds are flock-
ing to the
region.
Robins
are migra-
tory, and the
number in
the region
usually in-
creases during the winter months.
This winter, though, Central
Oregon is seeing a ‘bird Irruption,’
the term for a sudden and signifi-
cant increase in a particular bird
population. Bird experts are not
sure why this is happening, though
it could be related to the wildfires
that have burned in the West dur-
ing recent summers.
Secretary Haaland highlights infrastructure
investments across Indian Country
Secretary of the Interior Deb
Haaland visited South Dakota in
December, where she highlighted
federal government commitments
to strengthening tribal communities,
protecting public lands, and invest-
ing in infrastructure.
In Rapid City, Secretary Haaland
and Assistant Secretary for Indian
Affairs Bryan Newland met with
tribal leaders of the Great Plains
Tribal Chairman’s Association.
During the meeting, Haaland, a
member of the Pueblo Laguna
Tribe, discussed Interior’s progress
for Indian Country, and commit-
ment to honoring the agency’s trust
and treaty obligations.
She also highlighted how the
Infrastructure Law makes historic
investments in tribal communities,
including a $466 million investment
in tribal infrastructure projects and
climate resiliency initiatives.
Some of this funding is planned
for investment in the domestic
water system on the Warm Springs
Reservation.
The Interior Department lead-
ers also met with local Indigenous
youth participating in the 2021
Lakota National Invitational.
“As the effects of climate change
continue to intensify, indigenous
communities are facing unique
challenges that pose existential
Secretary Deb Haaland
threats to tribal economies, infra-
structure, livelihoods and health,”
Haaland said.
“With new resources to invest
in tribal communities, we are com-
mitted to ensuring that tribal lead-
ers have a seat at the table and
can work directly with federal of-
ficials to safeguard their commu-
nities.”
Haaland also visited Wind Cave
National Park, where she heard
about investments the park is mak-
ing to improve its infrastructure
and enhance visitors’ experience.
The infrastructure law provides for
a five-year reauthorization of the
Federal Lands Transportation Pro-
gram, which will help invest in re-
pairing and upgrading National Park
Service roads, bridges, trails and
transit systems.
The law also invests in projects
that will help fund bridge replace-
ments and resiliency, repair ferry
boats and terminal facilities, and
maintain wildlife crossings that keep
people and surrounding wildlife
safe.
“The infrastructure law makes
historic investments in bolstering
community resilience, protecting
natural areas, and strengthening
our response to the effects of cli-
mate chang e,” said Secretar y
Haaland.
“This is the largest investment
in physical and natural systems in
American history, and a much-
needed down payment to ensure
our grandchildren and great-
grandchildren get to enjoy the
same outdoor experiences we all
have today.”
Secretary Haaland also toured
the D.C. Booth Historic National
Fish Hatchery and met with local
landowners who are participants
in the Partners for Fish and Wild-
life Program. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service program offers fi-
nancial and technical assistance to
interested landowners, helping to
keep working lands in working
hands.