Howlak Tichum ~
The following is the Eulogy, by
Jamey Skinner McCloud, honoring
the late Dr. Ron Pound. The words
are presented here at the request of
Aurolyn Stwyer, awtwey Mr.
Pound’s daughter:
It is a great honor to honor
a great man, so thank you for
inviting me here to pay respects
to our beloved elder. I was
not raised in the Indian ways,
so please forgive me if I speak
in error—my only intention is
to show respect for our be-
loved elder and this commu-
nity.
In listening to the
storytelling of our beloved El-
der, who we honor here today,
I am struck that without our
culture, without our ways, we
are not a people—we are sim-
ply flesh and bones.
The effort to destroy—
physically, spiritually and cul-
turally—the peoples that have
nurtured this land since time
immemorial is only prevented
by those who protect and re-
vive the cultural ways.
We have gathered here to-
gether to lay to rest a Legend
in protecting and reviving the
cultural ways of many Indian
peoples. We gather to honor his
legacy—to show we under-
stand the importance of his
work and are committed to
carrying it on.
In a 2006 recorded
storytelling, our beloved Elder
told of his growing up on
these lands, learning from his
elders, and attending public
school in Pendleton. He said,
“There was nothing in the
schools that taught us about our
culture.” So he changed that for
future generations. He made edu-
cation more valuable and more
relevant.
He was a first in many things
that he did, but he was ultimately
a man of service—that is what he
was taught by his elders. When he
worked as a smokejumper, he pro-
tected lives and land. When he
worked as an educator, he taught
students, his co-workers, U.S.
Members of Congress, and even
U.S. Presidents. He played a fun-
damental role in establishing many
of the Indian civil rights laws that
protect our families today.
Although the bar for U.S. Presi-
dents is a low one when it comes
to Tribal sovereignty and the rights
of Indian peoples, President Nixon
is notable in his support of estab-
lishing many Indian civil rights. But
he didn’t get there by himself. He
was taught. And our beloved El-
der, the Legend, was one of
Nixon’s greatest teachers. The Leg-
end educated those in power and
brought people together, across
political lines, by working with con-
gressional Republicans and Demo-
crats to pass Indian civil rights laws.
Audre Lorde, a descendant of
slaves, once said, “the master’s
tools will not dismantle the master’s
house.” You have to be very smart
and determined and courageous
and compassionate and persistent
to dismantle the legal and political
shackles that Indian peoples faced
when the Legend began educating
U.S. politicians.
The Legend was instrumental in
passing civil rights laws that have
impacted the lives of so many: the
Indian Child Welfare Act, the In-
dian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act, the Ameri-
can Indian Religious Freedom Act,
and the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act.
· With the Indian Child Welfare
Act, he helped save children being
stripped of their culture and sense
of identity. Yes, being a parent has
its challenges, but irreparable dam-
age is done to a child’s soul when
they lose their sense of who they
are.
· With the Indian Self-Determi-
nation and Education Assistance
Act, he helped change what had
been his own experience, of not
being taught Tribal history, lan-
guage, culture and traditions—
these things that helps us be con-
nected to something greater than
just ourselves, to have a history and
purpose.
· With the American Indian Re-
ligious Freedom Act, he helped
protect the rights of people indig-
enous to this land to continue the
traditional practices of ceremony
and worship and use of sacred ob-
jects that have sustained culture
throughout time. When your cul-
ture is taken from you, you lose
your sense of self. The Legend
helped people remember and re-
establish traditional language and
practices that were on the verge
of being lost forever.
· With the Native American
Graves Protection and Repatria-
tion Act, he helped Congress un-
derstand that robbing graves is a
crime, and helped draft the law
that said human remains and sa-
cred objects should be returned
home.
And when he couldn’t move
them in the halls of power, he
fought them in the courts.
When the State of Oregon
claimed that that Klamath and
Modoc could not use peyote in tra-
ditional religious ceremonies, The
Legend got involved. Because even
if it wasn’t his way, he knew the
importance of supporting Tribal
rights and sacred practices. He
joined the fight, and they won in
the U.S. Supreme Court.
He worked on—and helped
win—water cases with Tribes who
may not have been traditional al-
lies, but who needed each other
to win important cases to protect
Tribal sovereignty.
He also fought for fishing
rights—something promised in the
Treaties that ceded the lands that
became the states of Oregon and
Washington. The Boldt decision
affirmed Tribal sovereignty and
fishing rights. This fight was im-
portant to protect the ways—and
the food—that have sustained the
peoples of this land since time im-
memorial: the fish, wild game,
plant foods, roots, and huckleber-
ries—in all the usual and accus-
tomed places.
He was a man of great educa-
tion—from Oregon schools to his
PhD from Washington State Uni-
versity, where he studied Anthro-
pology and Archeology and mu-
sic. He revived drumming and
dance traditions, then helped teach
them to young people.
He believed profoundly in the
value of education, saying we are
“obligated to ensure that our young
people receive an education.” He
first made education relevant, then
he made sure that people had ac-
cess to it. To teach the old ways.
Because knowing who we are and
where we come from is what
makes us a people, more than sim-
ply flesh and bones.
In the 1980s, when many Tribes
were on the brink of losing their
languages, as the elders passed, he
worked to provide cultural and
language education for young
people.
He was a culture bearer.
And he impacted education of
Anthony Culps, Alvis Smith III,
JoDe Goudy, and Utilities xtaff,
all drummers, grandpa Austin
Smith Sr., aunt Yvette Picard, and
all Smith and Ike extended fam-
ily, along with his dad’s former
co-workers for their swift and lov-
ing service and spiritual support
to properly begin his dad’s jour-
ney into eternal life.
Julius Jr. would also like to
thank his friends and his dad’s
friends for reaching out and giv-
ing him support as he prepares
to continue forward in life with-
out his dad.
Julius Jr. will remember his dad
as a loving father who not only
provided for him, but many oth-
ers with his generousity. Julius
Jr. also thanks his mom Holli
MadPlume and grandma Muriel
Dusty Bull for their support.
Julius Sr. was proceeded in
death by his Dad Kanim Smith Sr.,
Sister Angela Smith, Grandparents
Frederick Ike Sr. and Daisy
Tealawe Ike, Alvis Smith Sr. and
Ramona Whiz Smith, great grand-
parents LaVena Towash Tealawe
and Benjamin Tealawe, Annie Jack-
Howlak Tichum ~
Julius Blake Smith Sr. ~
1987-2023
Julius Blake Smith Sr. passed
away on Sunday, March 26,
2023. He was 35. Julius passed
away unexpectedly at home.
He is survived by his son
Julius Blake Smith Jr., 15; his
mother Leona Ike, and broth-
ers Jonathan R. Smith, Mario
Smith, Joseph Smith, Corey
Smith, Kanim Smith Jr., Aaron
Smith and sister Hazel Smith.
Julius’ careers were as a
Hotshot Fire Fighter with the
Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs, and as a mill worker
at Brightwood Corporation
until his death.
The family would like to thank
Oregon State University-Cascades
faculty, Brightwood Corporation
and Warm Springs Fire Manage-
ment for their spiritual support to
the family.
Julius Jr. would like to thank
his aunts Natasha Dibiaso,
Raylene Thomas, Lara Ike,
Dawn Ike, Felicia Ike and cous-
ins Iylani Ike, Tyrell Smith,
Kanim Smith III, grandmas Lena
and Lovie Ike, Venus Tasimpt,
grandpa Tyrone Ike, Lucas Ike,
James Greene Sr., uncles Nelson
Greene and Frederick Ike III,
James Greene Jr., g randmas
Anges and Flossie Wolfe, Great-
grandpas Larry Dick, Samuel
Starr, Wilbur Slockish, uncles
A message from your Veterans Service Officer
Stand to, Warm Spring! Stand
to! The Tribal Veterans Service
Officer—the TVSO—has more
info for you, your Veteran, fami-
lies, currently serving members
and those thinking about joining
the military.
If you have a mortgage, this
one’s for you, from the Oregon
Department of Veterans Affairs
(oregondva.com).
The Oregon Department of
Veterans’ Affairs—the ODVA—
will increase the maximum loan
limit for the Oregon Veteran Home
Loan for 2023, conforming to loan
limits for mortgages set by the Fed-
eral Housing Finance Agency, the
FHFA.
The ODVA will now accept loan
applications s up to the new maxi-
mum loan amount of $726,200,
an increase of $79,000 from
$647,200 in 2022. This was effec-
tive as January 1, 2023.
The Oregon Veteran Home
Loan Program offers eligible vet-
erans fixed-rate financing for
owner-occupied, single-family resi-
dences in Oregon. The veteran
Rain Circle, the CTWS
Veterans Service Officer.
have served on active duty with the
U.S. Armed Forces, as documented
on their DD-214, and must meet
one of the service criteria outlined
on ODVA’s website.
For more information about the
Oregon Department of Veterans’
Affairs Veteran Home Loan, and
program eligibility, please visit:
orvethomeloans.com
Or call 800-633-6826 to speak
with an ODVA home loan special-
ist.
‘Basket Case’
home loan product is a non-expir-
ing, lifetime benefit for any eligible
Oregon veteran and may be used
up to four times. The program pro-
vides financing for purchases only,
and cannot be used for refinanc-
ing.
This state benefit is separate and
distinct from the federal VA Home
Loan Guarantee, and has lent
nearly $9 billion in low-interest
home loans to more than 336,000
veterans since 1945.
To be eligible, a veteran must
While it tends to be used in a
fairly lighthearted way today—usu-
ally describing someone who con-
stantly makes stupid mistakes, who
crumbles under pressure or gets
overly excited and nervous—the
original ‘basket case’ is an unexpect-
edly gruesome reminder of just how
bloody the War became. In its origi-
nal context, a basket case was a sol-
dier who had been so badly injured
that he had to be carried from the
battlefield in a barrow or basket,
usually with the implication that he
had lost all four of his limbs.
Remember, Pay attention to your
Veteran! Every Veteran is different,
and many may not show any signs
of intent to harm themselves, but
some actions and behaviors can be
a sign that they need help.
Learn to recognize some of the
signs and take a self-check assess-
ment at:
veteranscrisisline.net/signs-of-cri-
sis/
The Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7
confidential crisis support can be
reached by dialing 998. Then press
1 or text 838255
I know the frustration and con-
fusion of Military paperwork very
well. Please bring in your DD-214.
our entire state when he helped
spearhead the Memorandum
of Understanding between
Oregon’s nine federally recog-
nized Tribes and state univer-
sities to develop historical and
cultural education for future
generations. This affected me
personally—when I studied
Water Law and Indian Law at
the University of Oregon. We
utilized the Longhouse that is
next to the Law School.
That was just part of the im-
pact he had.
I know I am not telling you
anything new. Many of you here
have witnessed these things
with your own eyes. But I share
them to remember. These are
gifts that our beloved Elder,
this humble leader, has given
us and the legacy that he leaves
us.
He was a modest man.
In a 2006 recording, The
Legend said he was taught to,
“do your best to serve the
needs of your people. That’s
what I was brought up to do.”
He said, “always seek the wel-
fare of the people. And do all
that you can because we’re only
here in this life for a brief
time.”
That is his legacy and lessons
to us. He impacted us all—this
community, this state, and this
country— in ways we are not
able to fully understand or ap-
preciate.
Our broken hearts are grate-
ful.
And with his passing, he now
hands these responsibilities to
us.
As you take your well-deserved
rest, our beloved Elder, please know
that we will honor your legacy by
carrying on your work.
Rest in Peace and reclaimed Power.
Julius worked with the
Warm Springs Hot Shots.
son Smith and Wesley Smith.
Julius Sr. was direct descen-
dants to the Treaty Chiefs of
Middle Oregon Tribes (Wasco),
Yakama Nation, and Tulalip
Tribes.
Don’t have it? I can help you get
it.
If you haven’t brought your
DD-214 in for archiving, please
do so. I would hate for you to have
that ‘inked’ copy lost or destroyed
without a back-up copy. I can be
that archive. Also, if you have
your 2-A/2-1/201 File on disk, or
other storage device, and want it
in hard copy form, too easy, bring
it in.
I hope these articles in our news-
paper help you and your veteran(s).
My contact information is below,
feel free to call me with your ques-
tions. Thank you!
Rain Circle, CTWS-TVSO, 1144
Warm Springs St., Warm Springs,
OR 97761. Cell 541-460-8971.
Office 541-553-2234.
Child care apprenticeship opportunity
The Warm Springs Community Action Team and the Mountain
Star Family Relief Nursery are accepting applications for their child
care apprenticeship.
The position will start April 15, and is a path to earn a child care
teacher qualification in 9-12 months through courses, hands-on
training and learning opportunities. Interested applicants should email
their resume to:
carina@wscat.org