Spílya Táimu, Warm Springs, Oregon
November 2, 2022
Preparing for change to ICWA
The Indian Child Welfare Act
has been the law for 44 years.
Passed by Congress in 1978,
ICWA provides statutory protec-
tion to tribal families: Essentially,
the law provides a framework for
keeping tribal children connected
to their Native cultures, and seeks
to preserve the future of tribal
nations.
The possibility that aspects of
the law may change, or be over-
turned, raises concerns and the
need to be prepared.
Last week, the Confederated
Tribes Health and Human Services
held a discussion session regarding
the future of ICWA. Present were
people who work in children and
youth services from the tribes and
the region.
A sign of the significance of the
ICWA development: A second dis-
cussion, hosted by the Oregon De-
partment of Human Services, is
scheduled for this Wednesday, No-
vember 2 at Willamette University,
also available for virtual attendance.
The state Human Services de-
partment is inviting tribal commu-
nity members and students from
schools across the state to come
and join the discussion.
These kinds of meetings are also
happening across the U.S., as the
future of ICWA is the subject of a
U.S. Supreme Court hearing com-
ing up this month, raising the pos-
sibility the act may be modified, or
overturned in part or in whole.
In 1978, when Congress passed
the law, the issue to be addressed
was that generations of tribal chil-
CTWS/HHS
Interested parties, such as Health and Human Services, CPS and
youth workers, met in Warm Springs October 26 to discuss
potential changes to Indian Child Welfare Act.
dren across the U.S. had been re-
moved from their families and
communities, often placed perma-
nently without connection to the
Native culture and families.
Two years ago, the Oregon Leg-
islature passed the Oregon Indian
Child Welfare Act.
This created a state-based In-
dian Child Welfare Act that aligned
with the federal law, while also hon-
oring the unique needs and experi-
ences of tribal nations in Oregon.
The Oregon Indian Child Wel-
fare Act was strengthened during
the 2021 Legislative Session. How-
ever, if provisions of the federal
law are overturned, this would af-
fect the state law as well.
The constitutionality of the fed-
eral act is challenged by the case
of Haaland v. Brackeen. Oral ar-
guments in this case are scheduled
before the U.S. Supreme Court on
November 9.
The situation is complex, and
this complexity is the reason for
the discussions happening with
tribes and the states. The Novem-
ber 2 panel discussion with the
Oregon Department of Human
Services is titled ‘Complex Conver-
sations: Tribal Rights Are Human
Rights – Protecting Oregon’s In-
dian Child Welfare Act.’
As an example of concern that
is raised by the U.S. Supreme cur-
rent consideration of the law: “If
the Supreme Court rules ICWA
unconstitutional, it could have dev-
astating consequences for Native
children, families and tribes while
simultaneously putting the exist-
ence of tribes in jeopardy,” accord-
ing to the American Civil Liberties
Union.
Employment with the Confederated Tribes
The following are positions
recently advertised with the
Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs.
For information, contact the
Human Resources office, lo-
cated in the tribal administra-
tion building, 1233 Veterans
Street, Warm Springs.
Staff are available to answer
questions related to the appli-
cation process and can be
reached at 541-553-3262 or
hr@wstribes.org
Tribal Member preference is
exercised in hiring processes
as defined in Tribal Personnel
Policy PER 202.
Chief of Police. Carpenter.
Vo c a t i o n a l R e h a b i l i t a t i o n
counselor. Vocational Reha-
bilitation office manager. Vo-
cational Rehabilitation direc-
tor.
Maintenance worker. Sec-
retary. Administrative forester.
Soil scientist/watershed plan-
ner. Prevention intern (limited
duration).
Surveillance observer (part-
time). Compensation and ben-
efits administrator. General
staff technician (limited dura-
tion). Tribal Court administra-
tor.
Archaeologist II. Fisheries
Biologist II. Fisheries Biologist
III. Information/referral driver.
Senior Program community
health representative.
Cook. Payroll specialist.
Travel accountant. Warehouse
assistant (Finanace Depart-
ment). Restoration field crew
member (limited duration).
Water technician (limited
duration). Director of Informa-
tion Systems. Children’s Pro-
tective Services specialist.
Community Health Nurse.
Air quality specialist. Elder con-
sultants/Early Childhood Educa-
tion (limited duration). Hydrolo-
gist. Registered Dietician.
Public administrator. Fire/
Medic. Assorted work experi-
ence jobs (limited duration).
Assorted work experience jobs
for youth (limited duration).
Jobs with Indian Head Casino, Plateau
The following is a recent list
of job openings with Indian
Head Casion. For details see
the website:
indianheadcasino.com
Tule Grill attendant. Cage
cashier. Cage main bank cash-
ier. Cage supervisor. Coffee sta-
tion attendant. Cook. Count
team member.
Custodian. Executive chef.
Kitchen steward. Lead cook.
Lounge bartender. Player ’s
Club ambassador. Players’
Club/Player development su-
pervisor.
Revenue auditor. Security
officer. Server. Slot keyperson.
Table games dealer. Tule Grill
cook.
The following are jobs adver-
tised recently with the Plateau
Travel Plaza (see the casino
website for details on apply-
ing):
Store cashier. Store su-
p e r v i s o r. C u s t o d i a n . D e l i
cook. Host cashier/server.
Line cook. Security officer.
Security supervisor.
Page 3
Fall Fitness Challenge
Warm Springs Recreation is hosting the November Fitness
Challenge. Registration and entry fees are due by 5 p.m. this
Friday, November 4.
To get signed up, contact: Joseph Arthur at Warm Springs
Recreation, 541-553-3243. You can pick up or drop off the
application packet at the Community Center.
This Friday as the Fitness kickoff, Recreation will host the
Poker Walk at the Community Center walkway.
The goal of the Fitness Challenge is to encourage people to
be active, enjoy a variety of exercise during the month of No-
vember, as a competition, and continue to be active throughout
the year.
Entry fee is $5. A t-shirt is another $10. Additional t-shirts
are $10. Cash or money orders only. Some of the rules:
Participants must be 18 years or older. Five members to a
team, one person being the captain. The captain will be respon-
sible for fees, contact information, collection of registration
forms, timesheets, and weekly fitness sheets being turned in.
Any person may participate who is affiliated with the Con-
federated Tribes by enterprise, employment and departments,
BIA, IHS, committees, etc. Each team will be responsible for
keeping time of exercise done. All forms sheets will be due by
December 2.
Members Art Show at Museum
The Twenty-Ninth Annual
Tribal Member Art show opens
this month, on Tuesday, Novem-
ber 15. The show will be on dis-
play into mid February.
The museum again this year will
combine the tribal member Adult
and the Youth Art Show into one
exhibition. Only the adult entries
are judged.
Come and enjoy many genera-
tions of beautiful artistry in paint-
ings, drawings, mixed-media,
beadwork, weavings, video, pho-
tography and more, in two catego-
ries: Traditional and Contempo-
rary Art.