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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2024)
E Coosh EEWA: The way it is Letters to the editor Youth job fair The Warm Springs Com- munity Action Team on Fri- day, April 12 will host the Youth Job Fair. Several com- panies will be on hand, look- ing to hire young people for summer jobs. The Youth Job Fair will be at the gymnasium of the former elementary school. The Friday of the Job Fair is a non-school day. If you would like more information, please contact Sara at 541-553-3148; or email sara@wscat.org Wasco Chief To my Wasco people, family, extended family, and friends, My name is Marcia Macy, daughter of Dan and Priscilla Macy, original owners of Macy’s Merchantile which is located in Warm Springs, presently under a different name, owned and operated by my nephew, Terry. My maternal family lineage goes back to Billy Chinook, inter- preter (for Col. Fremont), farmer, and treaty signer. When I was a kid, Mom often took me with her to our family store. There was a spe- cial place in the store called the Candy Room. The candy room was located in the store next to the Post Office, where my father was also the Post Master. In the candy room was a stone fireplace where groups of adults would gather during the cold season, sitting on benches, chairs or blocks of firewood to visit together. I was quite young at the time of this par- ticular incident when I had noticed the adults were talk- ing, some loudly, and was (what I thought) on the verge of a fight! I didn’t understand what they were saying; I got scared and went to my par- ents exclaiming my fears. My parents calmed me down and told me that they were just local men discussing prob- lems or ideas that they had regarding tribal matters. I think my parents had a good chuckle over my alarm. Anyway, that was the be- ginning of watching, listening and learning about what was the common tribal way of getting business done. My Dad was fluent in Chinook Jargon and could understand a lot of what was being said around that fireplace. This is when I learned that those men were the leaders of their families or family groups and shared their concerns and ideas with other family lead- ers. It was explained to me that those men, and some- times women, were able to share and organize their con- cerns to take to their tribal chiefs for presentation to the Tribal Council, at their next meeting. Pretty smart, I thought in my kid ways, in getting stuff done and I could watch and listen, though I still didn’t know a word of what was being said. Skipping forward to more present times, I have read our Tribal Constitution and it has references to the str ucture of our Tribal Council, noting the positions of elected Council members and also having a chief rep- resenting each tribe of our confederation. From what was explained to me by my Mom as I grew up, those adults that met in our fam- ily store were the early or- ganized network of support to their chiefs. They kept them informed of what was going on in the community, what was happening, good or bad, that needed to be addressed. I had learned that the chief ’s position was a lifetime position and that position was passed along in traditional ways of succes- sion and ceremony; not by the election process of early federal government ex- ample. This was established as the way our tribes were identified among ourselves and to the ‘outside’ world, based also on our tribal treaty. Our governing body was not just another copy of a city or county government and their ways. We were unique! Now, I am writing this let- ter as a follow-up to what I said at that Wasco chieftain- ship meeting. A lot of what I have written here is also what I said at the meeting. I am not good at pubic speak- ing, I was nervous and my words may have been con- fusing. On to the meeting of March 18, which was not noted as a nominating or a finalizing of a pending elec- tion, I spoke up for what I felt and still feel was an in- justice to our Wasco chief, Alfred ‘JR’ Smith. From what I understood, although he was not too pleased with the way of se- lection, he became our Wasco chief. I was happy for this as I thought he was a good choice. My parents were friends with Alfred and Lucinda, JR and Wissie’s parents. I often heard my Mom and Dad speaking well of them; my parents re- spected them and cherished their friendship. My Mom understood a lot of the tra- ditional ways that she had learned from relatives and friends and she taught that to me over time. What I saw of JR’s ac- tions as our chief, he was well within his rights as chief, to go the traditional ways of making his choice in chieftainship succession and by ceremony. To go against his effort of reestab- lishing our tribal side of gov- ernment is a great dishonor to him and a disrespect of this tribal tradition. It is a 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 disrespect to our tribal iden- tity and makes us more like just another city or county government. It is an insult to his memory as our chief. I did not hear of anyone going face-to-face with JR, while he was still with us, to tell him that as our chief, he is not allowed to make his choice, not allowed to per- form his succession cer- emony or was warned of re- placement for his actions as our chief. No, all this comes up after he is gone. We have our legitimate chief in Wissie Smith. But let’s get real now. We are our own weakest link in this mat- ter. We are not organized like in the past. As our chief, Wissie hasn’t even been given a chance to show he is ca- pable. But this is a two-way road. As our chief, Wissie can’t be left dangling by a thread in high winds, alone. Be supportive, not sitting back waiting for him to fail. What kind of sour grapes leadership would that be any- way, to abandon our chief ? Those wanting to be viewed as chieftainship material in the future, need to be part of the organized support network for him; be the fam- ily leader to help our chief, our tribe and in turn, our con- federation, to survive and thrive. I don’t think that this is too much to expect. Personally, I stand by JR’s intent as our Wasco chief. If this goes to a vote, I will stand by JR’s choice of our legitmate chief, Wissie Smith. I hope others will realize the value of our tribal traditions, our tribal identity, and join me. I also say all this in re- membrance of my friend- ship from childhood with Pat, Wissie’s late wife. I be- lieve she would have wanted her friends to speak up on behalf of her husband and family for her. In that regard, I hope I did ok. In closing, remember, that the abandonment of our tribal ways might be used against us in the future by those who would want to find a way to tear down or elimi- nate this reservation. We are seen by many as standing in the way of their gain for water rights, land, or what- ever. We existed before Or- egon became a state; govern- mentally, by treaty, and be- yond all that. We, as a con- federated tribes, have senior- ity. We ARE unique! Marcia Macy Page 4 Spilyay Tymoo April 3, 2024 A YouthBuild Clean-up project Courtesy Butch David Young people with YouthBuild were on the reservation lately, cleaning up around the Dry Creek Landfill. Butch David is the crew director. A crew with Youth- Build spent a day cleaning up debris from around the area of the landfill in the Dry Creek area of the res- ervation. Butch David su- pervised the project. Heart of Oregon Corps YouthBuild helps young people transform their lives and roles in society through earning a GED, high school diploma, or college credits, learning job skills, and serv- ing their community through a variety of projects. For more information talk with Butch; or call 541-633-7834 or 541- 306-3703. Museum re-opening moved to mid May Courtesy MAWS Contractor working on installation of the new HVAC systmem. The Museum at Warm Springs is now looking at mid-May for the re-open- ing date. The delay is due to a sup- ply chain issue impacting the installation of th new heat- ing, ventilation and air con- ditioning system. There will be a more specific public an- nouncement once the date is confirmed. The museum’s staff is working during the clo- sure. Student assocation powwow in Eugene on Saturday The Lane Community College in Eugene will host a powwow, presented by the Native American Student Association, this Saturday, April 6. The grand entry will be at 12 noon, dinner at 5:30 and a second grand entry at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome. The master of ceremo- nies will be Nick Sixkiller, and the arena director is Anthony Quenelle. The head man dancer is Sam Riding In; and the head woman dancer is Megan VanPelt. Host drum is Bad Soul, and the Honor Drum, Soar- ing Hawk Eagles. The Honor Guard is Nacao, nad the Eagle Staff carrier is Tim Tobato. Guaranteed pay for the first 10 walk-on dr ums. Dance categories include Tiny Tots, with a special sponsored by Lane County Courtesy LCC-NASA Salmon bake during last spring’s powwow. Youth Wellness. For general powwow and vendor infor- mation, please contact: oldoyotea@lanecc.edu The public is also invited to partake with Native American Student Associa- tion in a free salmon dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Longhouse, building 31. The powwow will be in the Titan Coliseum. This is a drug and alcohol free event. Let’s take the time to honor and celebrate the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Burns Paiute Tribe, Cla tsop- Nehalem Confederated Tribes, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, the Confed- erated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reser va- tion, the Coquille Indian Tribe, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, the Kla- math Tribes, the Confeder- ated Tribe of the Grand Ronde, and the Lane county community. The Lane Community College Native Ameri- can Student Association.
