Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
Management
change at
Indian Head
The Indian Head Casino Board
of Directors is in the process of
hiring a new general manager, as the
previous manager Jeffrey
Carstensen has taken a new posi-
tion at Rolling Hills Casino in Corn-
ing, California. Mr. Carstensen was
with Indian Head Casino for sev-
eral years, starting as the chief fi-
nancial officer before becoming the
general manager.
As general manager he oversaw
the casino operation, and also the
development of the Plateau Travel
Plaza, as approved by the gaming
board and Tribal Council. And over
these past two-plus years Castensen
has managed the casino through the
many turbulent pandemic episodes.
Mr. Carstensen thanked the tribes
and community for his years here
with the gaming enterprise. In turn,
board members wished him well and
thanked him for his service.
As the board considers candi-
dates for the new lead management
position, a number of other posi-
tions at the casino are also avail-
able. Openings are advertising for
positions from cage cashier to
cooks, custodial, finance positions,
bartender, Players Club Ambassa-
dor and security to name some. As
an idea of what it might be like
working at the casino, here is an em-
ployee testimonial from Samuel
Wolfe, Security supervisor:
“I started my employment here
in 2004. I love my job, as it gives
me years of experience and devel-
ops strong relationships I believe are
the foundation of everything I do,
both professionally and personally.
My job comes with a good benefits
package, retirement and accident
insurance.
“Since I have been here I have
met a lot of new customers and co-
workers who are local and from out
of state. If you are looking for a
career meeting people and being
part of company that takes care of
each other, then come to Warm
Springs Casino Enterprises. I’ll be
seeing you soon...”
You can learn more at
indianheadcasino.com
Pelton-Round Butte
Fisheries Workshop
now in 28th year
The Twenty-Eight Annual Pelton
Round Butte Fisheries Workshop is
coming up this summer.
The 2022 workshop will be
hosted in person at OSU-Cascades
in Bend, as well as virtually on
Zoom. This event is an opportu-
nity to hear the latest updates di-
rectly from biologists, restoration
project managers and other experts
in the Deschutes River Basin.
This will be a co-presentation of
the Confederated Tribes’ Power and
Water Enterprise, and Portland
General Electric.
See the website for information
and to register:
portlandgeneral.com
June 1, 2022 - Vol. 47, No. 12
June – Atixan – Summer - Shatm
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
MHS, Bridges graduations on Saturday
T
wo years ago this month
there was no graduation cer-
emony at all for the graduat-
ing Class of 2020. Last year
the ceremony was a kind of
drive-by event, where the stu-
dents one by one would drive
up in the family vehicle, get
out for a minute or two, re-
ceive the diploma and return
to the vehicle. All of this, of
course, was because of covid.
This year finally Gradua-
tion Day will be a return to
nor mal, with family and
friends invited to the mile-
stone event in the lives of the
graduating Class of 2022.
The Madras High School
and Bridges High School
graduation ceremonies will be
this Saturday, June 4. The cer-
emony will start at 9 a.m. at
the school athletic field.
Graduates need to arrive at 8
a.m. at the Performing Arts
Center to prepare.
Gates for guests will also open
at 8 a.m. The graduation cer-
emony will also be live-streamed
and recorded for family and
friends to enjoy. The Warm
Springs Community Parade hon-
oring all Head Start to college
graduates is coming up on Sun-
day, June 5 starting at 11:30 a.m.
(see pages 4 and 5 for more).
Senior receives prestigious scholarship
A Madras High School se-
nior will be heading to the Uni-
versity of Oregon after receiv-
ing a scholarship from the Ford
Foundation.
Christina Thomas was born
and raised in Warm Springs: She
is one of only 130 students se-
lected to receive this scholar-
ship, which will cover 90 per-
cent of unmet college costs.
“I was super excited and I
feel super blessed obviously,”
Ms. Thomas says. “I am very
grateful and fortunate for it.”
Throughout her time in the
Jefferson County School Dis-
trict, Christina has been an ac-
tive student. She is involved
with the National Honor Soci-
ety, Leadership, Yearbook, Fel-
lowship of Christian Athletes,
Key Club and Art Club.
As a student-athlete, she
played volleyball all four years
at the high school, and played
tennis for the last two. Before
picking up the racket, she was
part of the track team.
Ms. Thomas also served as
the student representative to the
district school board. She would
give the monthly reports to the
Courtesy 509J Communications
Christina Thomas will be going to the U of O on scholarship.
board, letting them know every-
thing that was happening at Ma-
dras High School.
“At college I think I’m going to
miss the support I have here,” she
says. “All my teachers know me,
and I know all my teachers. I’m
going to miss my family.”
She plans on going the pre-med
route and studying biochemistry
while attending Oregon. Once she
finishes that, she plans on attend-
ing medical school at the Univer-
sity of Washington.
“I want to become a physi-
cian, and I want to advocate for
more rural, Native American
families, like the ones in my
community,” she says.
“There’s just not a lot of
representation in the medical
field, and I think it’s really im-
portant to be a role model, to
kind of set a standard.”
Ms. Thomas credits a num-
ber of teachers and staff mem-
bers who have helped her along
the way. She mentions especially
Sam Loza, who runs the MHS
Future Center. And above all
she gives the credit to her mom,
Shirelle Thomas.
Rare academic achievement for Master’s grad
Amanda Squiemphen-Yazzie
was initiated recently into the
Honor Society of Phi Kappa
Phi, the nation’ oldest and most
selective all-discipline collegiate
honor society.
Ms. Squiemphen-Yazzie was
initiated at Portland State Uni-
versity, where she is receiving
her Master’s in Social Work
Degree. Phi Kappa Phi mem-
bership is by invitation only, and
requires nomination and approval
by a chapter. Only the top 10
percent of seniors and 7.5 per-
cent of juniors are eligible for
membership.
Upon the occassion Amanda
comments to family and friends:
“I want to send my deepest
gratitude to you and say
‘Kwalánuushamatash tlaaxw
inmíma naymuma’—which
means ‘Thank you to all my
relations.’
“I cannot say thank you
enough for all the support you
have unselfishly shown me
Courtesy PSU
Amanda Squiemphen-Yazzie, Phi-Kappa-Phi inductee.
while I was going through grad
school. Your words of encourage-
ment, love, and prayers are what
got me to this point.” She contin-
ues:
“And as I reach this next mile-
stone in my life, I cannot help
but reflect on my lived experi-
ences and what it took for me to
get here, and I can’t imagine get-
ting to this point without you.
“There are not enough words
to show my appreciation and
gratitude to each of you who has
made such a profound impact on
my life and supported me
through this journey.”
Family, friends and commu-
nity members are invited to at-
tend the Sunday, June 12 Port-
land State University Com-
mencement ceremony. You can
find tickets at:
pdx.edu/commencement/
Amanda’s initiation into Phi
Kappa Phi is a rare academic
achievement, as noted by Carroll
Dick, tribal Higher Education
coordinator.
“Congratulations to Amanda
and all her hard work and dedi-
cation. We are very proud of
her!” Carroll said.
See ACHIEVEMENT on 2
Tribal Council agenda items for the month of June
The following are items com-
ing up on the June 2022 Tribal
Council agenda (subject to
change at Council discretion):
Monday, June 6
9 a.m.: Bureau of Indian
Affairs update with Brenda
Bremner, BIA superinten-
dent.
9:30: Bureau of Trust Fund
Administration update with Kevin
Moore.
10: Realty items with Carmen
Parkins and James Halliday.
10:30: Legislative update calls,
federal and state.
11:30: Covid-19 update with
the Response Team.
1:30 p.m.: Tribal attorney updates.
3:30: Indian Health Service up-
date with Hyllis Dauphinais, clinic
CEO.
4: Columbia River Inter-
Tribal Fish Commission invoic-
ing and discussion with Laura
Gephart of the commission.
Tuesday, June 7
9 a.m.: Warm Springs Power and
Water Enterprise update with Mike
Lofting, interim general manager.
9:30: Museum at Warm Springs
update with Liz Woody, director.
10: Warm Springs Composite
Product update with Jacob Coochise.
See COUNCIL AGENDA on 2