l
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Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
New
Council
taking
office
T he Twenty-Ninth Tribal
Council will take office on Mon-
day, May 2 at the administration
building. The community is in-
vited. The BIA superintendent
will administer the oath, and
community members are invited
to wish the new members their
best as they begin the new three-
year term.
First orers of business are items
such as selection of officers, dis-
cussion with the Secretary-Trea-
surer of any pending resolutions
and other immediate business.
For the new Tribal Council, Lin-
coln Jay Suppay and Raymond
Moody are two returning members
for Simnasho; and Wilson Wewa is
returning for Seekseequa District.
There will be five new members,
possibly the most ever for a Coun-
cil of the Confederated Tribes.
The new members are Carlos
Calica for Simnasho; Rosa
Graybael, Seekseequa; and James
Manion, Alvis Smith III and
Jonathan W. Smith for Agency.
Community
update
A recent study among people 60
and older found that rates of
Covid-19 infection and serious ill-
ness were lower in people who had
a fourth dose—or second
booster—vaccine compared to
three shots. However, there is
some debate among health experts
about whether a second booster is
a good for everyone: The idea of
simply adding booster after booster
of the same vaccine may be a prob-
lem for the immune system, some
health officials believe.
On the other hand, a second
booster is recommended for elders
who are immuno-compromised.
Health scientists are still studying
the question.
For most adults, being up to date
with Covid-19 vaccines right now
means getting vaccinated, and then
receiving a booster dose a few
months later.
This spring, the Centers for Dis-
ease Control recommended a sec-
ond booster for certain immuno-
compromised individuals, and
people over the age of 50 who re-
ceived an initial booster dose at
least four months ago.
Speaking with your health pro-
vider about this would be the first
step in answering questions for
individuals, as the decision is one
of personal choice. For a covid
vaccine appointment, call the
Health and Wellness Center dur-
ing business hours to schedule a
day and time. Call 541-553-2131.
April 20, 2022 - Vol. 47, No. 8
April – Hawit`an – Spring - Wawaxam
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
41 years’ service with Power & Water
I
n 1981 at the age of
21, Jim Manion took his first
job with the tribal enterprise
now called Warm Springs Power
and Water Enterprises. Jim
worked as an inspection trainee
in the Engineering Division at
the tribes’ hrydro plant: This
was before the actual construc-
tion of the plant.
Then as the construction
process went forward, he
moved from inspection trainee
to the Assembly Division, as-
sisting the engineers in assem-
bly of the hydro turbines, qual-
ity control, wiring and piping,
and finally the placement of the
turbines. “I was very fortunate
to come into the position with
engineers who were more than
willing to teach me,” Jim says.
An example of how he was
there about from the start of the
project: During the very first con-
crete pour at the tribes’ hydro
plant, the engineers and staff were
tossing in a few coins as the con-
crete was pouring, telling Jim it’s a
tradition during this kind of event.
So somewhere in the first concrete
area of the re-reg dam are 70 cents
that Jim tossed in.
He then worked with the se-
nior engineers to ensure the sev-
eral miles of coiled wires were
properly in place. Overall, “I was
given a clear idea of how the plant
would operate,” Jim says.
When the team finished the con-
struction of the plant, Jim was
thinking his job there was done. He
credits engineer, and trusted friend
of the tribes, the late Edward
D.McMechan/Spilyay
Mike Lofting, Jim Manion, Heather Alford and Tricia
Melvin at Power and Water Enterprises.
‘Jerry’ Dibble with keeping him on
at the enterprise. “He asked if I
would like to stay on and run the
plant for the tribes,” Jim recalls.
He was in his mid 20s. “I was
wondering if I was really the one
who should run this multi-million
dollar operation for the tribes,” Jim
says.
See POWER & WATER on 2
Tribes cautiously end covid resitrictions
Tribal Council last week at
the recommendation of the
Response Team dropped most
the Covid-19 protocols for
tribal buildings.
The Response Team will re-
view and monitor the situation
in case the circumstances
change. “We are not out of the
woods yet,” said Caroline Cruz,
Team member, and general
manager of Health and Human
Services.
She points out that at one
point early this year, the tribes
had very few covid cases; then
the next week the number
spiked to over a hundred. How-
ever, the more recent decline in
cases has at times brought the
number of confirmed cases on
the reservation to zero, with IHS
testing finding one or two new
cases now and then, still very good
numbers that warrant the recom-
mendation to Tribal Council.
Currently, complicating the mat-
ter is the omicron B.A2 variant, which
has caused large-scale shut-downs in
China and other Asian countries.
There is a debate as to why the
Asian countries are seeing higher
covid number compared to the
U.S. Ideas are that the U.S. vac-
cines are more effective; and that
a higher percentage of people in
the U.S. have already had the vi-
rus, compared to countries in Asia.
At this point the Tribal Council
has adopted the following guide-
lines:
· Doors to tribal buildings are
to be open for public access, with
no need to sign in or prove the
visiting person is vaccinated.
· Temperature checks will re-
main as a prevention tool: If a
person’s temperature exceeds
100.4, the individual should not en-
ter building.
· There are no capacity limits
in buildings.
· Masks will be optional, rec-
ommended but not mandatory;
however, the IHS Health and
Wellness clinic has different rules
for patient care areas where masks
must be worn.
· Events are not required to be
approved by the Response Team.
· For cooks and servers: If food
is served at any event, to reduce
possible exposure, the recommen-
dation is to use paper and plastic
products. Cooks and ser vers
should wear masks and gloves.
· This protocol is contingent
upon no new outbreak in the com-
munity, to be reviewed over time.
Some other notes:
For a covid vaccine appoint-
ment, call the Health and Wellness
Center during business hours to
schedule a day and time. Call 541-
553-2131.
You can get a Covid-19 home
test kit, if needed, at Warm Springs
Emergency Management during
workdays, and at Fire Safety on cam-
pus.
In Simnasho you can get a kit at
the fire hall, after hours and on the
weekends.
You can also order free test kits
online from the U.S. Postal Service.
Residential households are eligible
for two orders of kits. See the site:
covid.gov/tests
These are some of the
items on display at
Savages and Princesses:
The Persistence of Native
American Stereotypes.
The traveling exhibit will
be at the Museum at
Warm Springs through
May.
Savages and Princesses
comments on some of the
stereotypes of Native
Americans, taking the
Native perspective on this
persistent phenomena.
Courtesy MAWS