E Coosh EEWA: The way it is
Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo January 26, 2022
Letters to the editor
Free home
Covid testing
Earlier this month the
federal government released
guidance clarifying the ex-
panded coverage for at-
home, over-the-counter
Covid-19 tests.
The new guidance applies
to health plans, including all
self-funded plans, and is in-
tended to remove obstacles
allowing individuals greater
access to Covid-19 tests.
The expanded guidance
will be in effect during the
public health emergency.
The key provisions to indi-
vidual access are as follows:
The tests must be cov-
ered by health plans without
the involvement of a
healthcare provider, an or-
der or individualized clinical
assessment, for those over-
the-counter tests for which
the FDA does not require a
health care provider’s order.
The tests must be cov-
ered without imposing any
cost-sharing requirements.
Order online
The federal government
has launched a new
website where you can order
free at-home rapid antigen
tests, to be delivered to your
home by the U.S. Postal Ser-
vice. See the site:
covidtests.gov/
Current supply limits or-
ders to four tests per resi-
dential address. It will take
at least a week after an or-
der is placed for tests to be
shipped for free first-class
mail. See the site also:
special.usps.com/testkits
the administration’s all-of-
government approach to
strengthening Indian Country.
As we work to tackle public
safety and criminal justice is-
sues impacting Indigenous
people or the implementation
of the historic Bipartisan In-
frastructure Law, I’m proud
to bring tribal leaders and gov-
ernment officials together to
further invest in our trust re-
lationship.
The Bipartisan Infrastruc-
ture Law invests more than
$13 billion directly in tribal
communities across the coun-
try to bolster community re-
silience, replace aging infra-
structure, expand access to
clean drinking water and help
ensure everyone has access to
high-speed internet.
The Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs are set to
receive drinking water infra-
structure funding through the
law.
The session will also focus
on the executive order on
Improving Public Safety and
Criminal Justice for Native
Americans and Addressing
the Crisis of Missing and
Murdered Indigenous People.
For more information, visit
the White House Council on
Native American Affairs
website.
Deb Haaland, Secretary
of the Interior.
Winning logo design for Bureau of Indian Education
Kayla Jackson of the
Pyramid Lake Paiute
Tribe, and graduate of
the Haskell Indian Na-
tions University in
Lawrence, Kansas, cre-
ated the new logo for the
Bureau of Indian Edu-
cation. This is the first
logo for the BIE since
becoming a bureau in
2006.
Jackson submitted
her design as part of a
BIE-wide competition,
inviting students to lead
in the creation of the
new logo. “This design
captures culture, knowl-
edge, and leadership,”
Ms. Jackson said, further
explain the details:
Image meanings
The open book repre-
sents lifelong learning.
The Indigenous student
is wearing a fancy shawl
regalia including mocca-
sins, ribbon skirt, shawl,
yoke, beaded headband,
and eagle feather with
hair long and braids.
The student embodies
the spirit of ancestors by
dancing with honor, and
carrying out prayers with
every step.
The eagles embla-
zoned on the shawl rep-
resent acknowledgement,
strength, and determination.
Finally, in the background,
there is the sun which gives
us growth, abundance and
hope.”
The four lines on the
book represent the four di-
rections, the four seasons,
the four stages of life and
four sacred plants.
The logo represents the
ongoing commitment of the
BIE to its mission as it pro-
vides educational services to
its students and Tribal com-
munities.
The logo will be used on
all official bureau correspon-
dence, as well as publica-
tions, website, social media
and communication materi-
als.
Established in 2006, the
Bureau of Indian Education
currently supports 183 bu-
reau-funded elementary and
secondary schools located
on 64 reservations in 23
states that serve approxi-
mately 46,000 Indian stu-
dents. Of these, 53 are BIE-
Kayla Jackson designed the first-ever BIE logo.
operated and 130 are tribally
controlled through BIE con-
tracts or grants.
Additionally, the BIE di-
rectly operates two post-sec-
ondary institutions: Haskell
Indian Nations University in
Lawrence, Kansas, and the
Southwestern Indian Poly-
technic Institute in Albuquer-
que, New Mexico.
“The bureau is working to
lay the foundation for the
next generation of Native
children to succeed,” said
Bryan Newland, assistant
secretary of Indian Af-
fairs.
“I’m proud the BIE
will have an official logo,
as we carry out our mis-
sion moving forward.
And I’m even more
proud that it was designed
by a BIE student—Ms.
Kayla Jackson.”
A wish...
Happy Birthday,
Emma Fish! Love
You, Donna and
Bubba.
Tribal discussion
on infrastructure
Warm Springs
Pet Food Bank
The U.S. Department?of
the Interior today announced
the White House Council on
Native American Affairs will
convene an engagement ses-
sion on January 31 with tribal
leaders focused on the
implementation of the In-
frastructure Law, and pub-
lic safety resources across
Indian Country. The session
will be led by Secretary of
the Interior Deb Haaland,
who serves as co-chair of
the Native American Affairs
Council.
During the virtual session,
tribal leaders will share their
guidance, recommendations
and perspectives on the com-
mittees’ all-of-government
efforts. The meeting will fol-
low nation-to-nation consul-
tations on the Infrastructure
Law to be held earlier that
same week.
The White House Coun-
cil on Native American Af-
fairs is an important tool in
The Warm Springs Pet
Food Bank has been provid-
ing for about 200 families
in War m Springs each
month.
We are currently work-
ing on increasing their ca-
pacity to serve more fami-
lies, and also currently can
only distribute to those fami-
lies who are already signed
up.
Once we are able to
take more families we will
be sure to let you know,
and we can have more
families sign up. We are
also working on another
spay and neuter clinic for
this spring.
Meanwhile, coming up
this Sunday, January 30 at
9 a.m.: Let’s Build a Fence
for Newbe and Jumbo.
Patti Lovernic, presi-
dent board of directors,
Fences for Fido, War m
Springs Pet Food Bank.
Spilyay Tymoo
(Coyote News, Est. 1976)
Publisher Emeritus in Memorium: Sid Miller
Editor: Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Our of-
fices 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
A thank you for Name Giving
I would like to thank everyone that showed up to
help during our Name Giving in November. In these
unique pictures are Gar y III, Kysen and myself.
Again, Thank you all!
And all my best for 2022! Valerie
Squiemphen.
Courtesy photos
Latest data: Vaccines, boosters are key to health
Health officials released
the
latest
complete
data highlighting the role of
covid vaccines and boosters
in preventing severe illness.
The numbers for last
month show the risk of hos-
pitalization in unvaccinated
people as compared
to people who had received
an initial series of a Covid-
19 vaccine was:
· Nine times higher in
people ages 12-17.
· Twelve times higher in
people ages 18-49.
· Seventeen times higher
in people ages 50-64.
· And 17 times higher in
people ages 65 and over.
For the same time
period, the risk of hospital-
ization in unvaccinated
people as compared
to those who had received a
primary series plus a booster
dose was:
· Forty-four times higher
in people ages 50-64.
· And 49 times higher in
people ages 65 and over.
The data are clear: vac-
cines and boosters protect
Community
notes...
Aide again this year. You can
schedule an appointment for
February by calling 541-553-
3148.
The service will be drop-
off and pick-up, so you will
need to gather everything
needed for your income
taxes and then drop it off
on your appointment date.
The Warm Springs
Community Action
Team is offering Tax
All Community Well-
people from severe covid ill-
ness. The data come
from the Associated Hospi-
talization Sur veillance
Network, which includes
more than 250 hospitals in
14 states, including Oregon.
If you’re looking for a
Covid-19 vaccine or booster,
call the clinic at 541-553-
2131.
ness fitness classes, bas-
ketball practice, personal
training, youth activities
and senior fitness classes
are on hold until further
notice.