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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2023)
E Coosh EEWA: The way it is Letters to the editor Christmas tree cutting To employees of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Services, the Warm Springs Post Office, Timber Company, and War m Springs churches, The Timber Committee of the Confederated Tribes, in collaboration with the Branch of Natural Re- sources Forestry Depart- ment, in keeping with the spirit of Christmas, have au- thorized the cutting of a Christmas tree by employees of the tribes, BIA and IHS, Warm Springs postal em- ployees, Timber Co. LLC, and community churches. Some terms: Cutting is limited to one tree per family or church. Trees will be cut on tribal land only. The trees should be cut along numbered roads and close to the ground. All live branches should be removed from the stump. Topping of trees, and cutting trees larger than 12 feet in height is not permit- ted. Trees should not be cut that do not have another tree growing within 12 feet of the tree to but cut. Trees will be cut during regular working hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Fri- day. Any non-tribal member employees wishing to cut a tree must obtain a Christmas tree tag and permit from the Branch of Natural Re- sources—Forestry Depart- ment. Individuals will not be permitted to pick up tags and permits for other em- ployees. Tags must be stapled or nailed to the base of the tree. All employees must comply with laws and regulations governing the Warm Springs Reservation. Information on tribal land, harvest location and road conditions may be ob- tained from the Branch of Natural Resources—For- estry, 541-553-8200. Office hours and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. War m Springs Tim- ber Committee and Branch of Natural Re- sources - Forestry De- partment. Money may be with state When you get a chance, tribal members should check with the state of Or- egon to see if they have monies that the state is holding. Go to the internet, and key in ‘state of oregon, un- claimed property.’ Then do a search of your name. There are a number of Warm Springs people who have money with the state. Valerie J. Squiemphen, Public Administrator, Pro- bate Department. Youth, adult basketball tournaments The Cougar s Youth Basketball Tournament is this Friday through Sun- day, December 15-17 at the Warm Springs Community Center. The tourney is for youth 10 and under, coed; and 12 and under. The War m Springs Mens Holiday Basket- ball Tournament is com- ing up this month on Wednesday through Sunday, December 27-31 with Warm Springs Recreation at the Community Center Gym. Classes on Preparing for Memorials ‘Preparing for Memorials’ classes are this month and in January at the Culture and Heritage building. All classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m.: Thursdays, December 14; Tuesday and Thursday, December 9 and 11; and on Tuesday and Thursday, January 9 and 11. The class this week, De- cember 14 is a chance to se- lect your projects. These may include basketry, beadwork, moccasins, shell dresses, wing dresses, as examples. The December 19 and 21 classes are to continue the projects; and the January classes are on Regalia. Materials are pro- vided. Classes are limited to 10 adults, and youth 14 and over. Sign up at the Culture and Heritage Department, or call 541-553-3290. At the classes, light refreshments will be served. Gift making The community is invited to make a necklace for a Christmas gift this Wednesday, December 13; and again on Monday and Tuesday, December 18-19 at the Prevention classroom at the for mer elementary school building. Supplies are provided. Come by between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on one or more of the dates above. A light lunch will be provided. For more information call Judy at 541-615-0115. Warm Springs Recre- ation Snack Attack is every Tuesday and Thurs- day from 3 to 4 p.m. Free snack and fun games at the Community Center. by Rain Circle Tribal Education Branch It’ukdi wigwa Shidaikt from the 2023 Madras High School Kiksht Class! Ichalxchaq aktmin is over and itgachaxlqwlimax aktmin is in full swing. Your Madras High Schjool Numu, Ichishkiin and Kiksht students are still hard at work in the Native Language room at the high school and it is very exciting! The language year at MHS is going well and the students are making long strides. These kids are balanc- ing required classes with their sports, with their social and home lives, and whatever other challenges in their da to day. And on top of that they’ve chosen to learn one of the hardest languages there is to learn. Their regular language week looks something like: Aixtba Wigwa: Group reading from selected, shorter Kiksht transcrip- tions… So, that was inter- rupted by the evacuation and 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 offices 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 Meet your new Wellness Coordinator Bonita Leonard is the new Wellness Coordinator at the Warm Springs Com- munity Center and Recre- ation Department. “I am excited to be working with many of you looking to get healthier and fit,” Bonita says. “I’ve been working out for five years, and have a passion to help others in the same way I learned,” she says. Her workout classes are Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 6 a.m.; and Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. The classes are HIIT bomb scare at high school on November 30. Man! Thank goodness it didn’t get worse, and please, you know who did that, turn them in. They deserve about as much re- spect as they gave the entire student body, faculty and community, which is None, Zero, Nada! The term ‘Don’t snitch’ has turned our reservation into a jail where the inmates make the rules… Set a good example and use the system, give violators a chance at a good life. Help them to own up to their mistakes and take responsibility for their trans- gressions and actions; or else they will likely create fami- lies, have children they teach to be violators. It is a fact that ignorance breeds igno- rance and we are no better than we were before today. Bomb scare evacuation I spoke with a student af- ter the evacuation, and it started as a disciplinary ac- tion. See, We—the student body and faculty—were in the holding area at the fair- cardio—high intensity in- ter val training cardio— with some step aerobics, strength training. Besides the regular class grounds, and in that mostly concrete building we needed to be quite because the sound resonated bad, and each student’s name had to be called off for checkout— A room full of nervous, scared and excited high school students is not con- ducive to quite and calm. The ‘Sssshhhh’ from teachers was coming at regu- lar intervals and with the bodies packed in there, for maintaining positive control of your White Buffalos, it would last as long as it took for a low whisper conversa- tion to get loud (I assume in a need to be heard). Up until now these kids had been on point with their levels of self-control and this was the steam being re- leased. Unless you’ve been under fire or had that impending, immediate threat in your life, please hold your judgement. They really did a great job that day, and showed how well they listen and act ac- cordingly when the situation calls for it. You can’t men- workout times, Bonita is also available to work one-on-one training. You can set up a time by call- ing her at 541-553-3589. Or email: bonita.leonard@wstribes.org Besides staying in great shape and working out, she mentions some of her other favorite things. “My favorite food is en- chiladas,” Bonita says. “My favorite animals are horses and dogs. My favorite color is royal blue, and my favorite place to be is surrounded by family and my people.” tally prepare for bullets be- ing thrown at you until it ac- tually happens so don’t even try… It would be foolish. So back to this student. His attitude was starting to spiral. I have had soldiers like him and I was pretty sure he had ramped himself up to act with aggression and violence 30 minutes prior to this mo- ment, and now that adrena- line had nowhere to go but out. He was louder than the other students and more as- sertive. I didn’t worry too much until he started to dis- miss the other teachers and use foul language. That’s when I decided to step in. I sat next to him and told him “You make the rest of us look bad when you act like this.” Because that’s how racism works. It is always one situa- tion with one person that gets the group ‘judged’ from that point until forever. Anyone who hears the words or saw his actions will likely have a bad outlook afterwards, but he was just coming down from his own fight-or-flight situation and it was, just like him I suspect, much more intense than the average student. Continues on page 9 Important message from Social Security administration Rose ‘Mushy’ Alarcon , W.S, Social Services Office, Aged Persons with Disabilities Finance classes ‘Building Native Commu- nities Financial Education’ classes are this Thursday and Friday, December 14 and 15 at the Agency Longhouse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Friday, December 15, there will be an Insurance 101 ses- sion from 2-3 p.m. that any- one can attend and learn about home and auto insur- ance. Contact Mallor y by the Warm Springs Commu- nity Action Team by email or call to get signed up mallory@wscat.org Or the WSCAT phone number is 541-553-3148. Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo December 13, 2023 The Social Security Ad- ministration is asking every- one to help prevent people from falling victim to Social Security-related scams this holiday season. Criminals pre- tending to be from Social Security and other federal government agencies are tricking victims into sending money or sharing personal information. Some advice to keep in mind: · Remember to be skepti- cal and cautious of unex- pected calls or messages. Criminals are using the names of federal government officials and sending pictures of documents, evidence, fed- eral employee credentials, and law enforcement credentials and badges, to try to prove their legitimacy. They may change the pic- ture or use a different name, agency, or badge number, al- ways with the intent to scam people out of money or per- sonal information. The Social Security Admin- istration will never: · Send pictures of an employee’s official federal government identification. · Suspend someone’s So- cial Security number. · Threaten someone with arrest or other legal action unless they immediately pay a fine or fee. · Require payment by re- tail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or cash by mail. · Promise a benefit in- crease or other assistance in exchange for payment. · Send ‘official’ letters or reports containing your per- sonal information via email. Social Security only sends automated emails and text messages to people who have agreed to receive them and only in limited situations, in- cluding the following: · When someone has sub- scribed to receive updates and notifications by email or text. · As part of the enhanced security when accessing a per- sonal my Social Security ac- count. W ishing you a safe and Mer r y Christmas! Rose Alarcon ‘Wapato Bridge’ in Portland honors Native American First Food Renaming the Sauvie Is- land Bridge became an op- portunity to celebrate and honor tribes and their con- nection to their First Foods, while building stronger gov- ernment-to-government rela- tionships in the Portland area. Last month on the fi- nal day of Native American Heritage Month, the Multnomah County Com- mission unanimously voted to adopt ‘Wapato Bridge’ as the new name of the bridge connecting Sauvie Island to the mainland. Wapato is an edible plant used by Indigenous peoples, and once was abundant in the wetlands that surround the island. In November of last year, the county board voted to es- tablish the council, specifically including tribal representatives from various tribes historically linked to the island. By doing so, they kicked off an initia- tive that has marked the county’s inaugural formal con- sultation process working with tribal governments, engaging appointed cultural guardians, revered elders, tribal represen- tatives, and administrative staff in the decision-making process. Jill-Marie Gavin, CRITFC Communications Members of the Multnomah County Commission and Bridge Renaming Council following the commission’s decision to adopt the name of Wapato Bridge for the bridge to Sauvie Island. The commission was gifted by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission with a wapas, a woven basket traditionally used by Columbia River Plateau tribes to gather roots and berries.
