Culture and Heritage Teacher Highlight – Roxanne Kelly ~
by Gina Ricketts, Career
Counselor, Confederated
Tribes, Education
Roxanne Kelly has been in Cul-
ture and Heritage since 2016,
teaching Numu in the Warm
Springs k-8 Academy, Early
Childhood Education Center, and
now at the Madras High School.
She has been in the Numu lan-
guage since she was growing up
just listening to her family in Ne-
vada and Oregon, and every-
where with her relatives.
She never thought she was
going to be a teacher until she met
Pamela (Smith) Cardenas, who in-
troduced her to Shirley Tufti, a
teacher at Culture and Heritage.
She was the one who persuaded her
to be a teacher of the Numu lan-
guage and to never let it go.
When Roxanne started she was
happy to see there was writing al-
ready being done, and that she was
able to read and understand the
things that were once written. At
the time, she didn’t even know it
could be written! As a teacher she
gets to carry it on with new learn-
ings and lessons.
She believes that anyone can
learn the language if they are ea-
ger to learn or try.
“Study when possible or ask
people who do know,” Roxanne
says. “Never be scared, because it’s
our identity, our culture.
“It has preserved our ways of
life. There are meanings in our
songs, our churches and our health
with prayers.”
Roxanne believes that the con-
nection between language and well-
being is our cultural identity, our
health, our community belonging,
and ancestry knowledge of what
was passed down.
She continues to stay con-
nected with her current teaching
practices by talking with family,
attending teacher trainings on us-
ing technology in her classes with
the Warm Springs Academy and
Madras High School; as well as
language conferences or gather-
ings at curtain places like the Na-
tive Indian Language Institute in
Eugene.
Zipline
drone test
site meetings
“ Never be scared,
because it’s our
identity, our cul-
ture. It has pre-
served our ways of
life. There are
meanings in our
songs, our churches
and our health
with prayers. ”
She also does a lot of research
on Numu to continue with what
she wants to know to pass on to
her students.
Film about Commissary business center to tell tribes’ story
The Warm Springs Community
Action Team received a grant that
will support the production of A
Bridge to the Future, the first-ever
film to tell the story of the Warm
Springs Reservation and its people
into the present.
The film is written, filmed and
edited by and with tribal members.
The story uses the Community Ac-
tion Team Commissary small busi-
ness development center project as
a central metaphor.
Through the history, present
and future of the Commissary, the
film explores how the Warm Spring
people use the tools of the colo-
nizer to dismantle oppression and
build something new and power-
ful, shaped by tribal hands and in-
vested in a tribal future.
The recent grant funding, total-
ling $75,000, comes from the
America 250 Oregon Commission,
celebrating the anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence and
the founding of the United States.
For the grant project, the com-
mission worked in partnership with
Oregon Heritage and the Oregon
Historical Society. The Commissary
history film is one of 25 funded
during the recent commission
award round.
All of the projects help com-
Notes...
Conceptual rendering of the Commissary small business center. Crews are currently working
at the site, that will include the business center itself, and outside food court area.
memorate the 250th anniversary
of the United States. With the
Community Action Team, two
other Central Oregon organizations
are
recipients:
ClearPath
Healthcare of Redmond, and the
High Desert Museum in Bend.
nd . Details of their plans for
the funding are in the list below.
These grants are in addition to
an initial $50,000 in total
Summaries of Tribal Council
December 1, 2025
The meeting was called to or-
der by Chairman Dennis White III.
Roll call: Lincoln Jay Suppah,
Chief Jefferson Greene, Raymond
‘Captain’ Moody, Alvis Smith III,
Vice Chair man Carlos Calica,
Jonathan Smith Sr., Lonnie Rosie
Tom, Brigette McConville, Chief
Joseph Moses. Minnie Yahtin, Re-
corder.
Invocation given by Captain.
. Bureau of Indian Affairs up-
date with Ken Brochert, acting su-
perintendent.
. Other business: Discussed the
request from the Cannabis
Project, to be scheduled.
. Federal and legislative updates
by phone calls.
. Tribal attorney update with
Howard Arnett, Josh Newton and
Ellen Grover:
Letter to Land Conservation
and Development Commission.
Consensus approving the Chair-
man to sign the letter, with cor-
rections.
Executive session, 2:54-4:40
p.m.
Motion by Alvis to adjourn at
4:55. Second by Captain.
December 2
The meeting was called to or-
der by Chairman White. Roll call:
Lincoln Jay Suppah, Raymond
Captain Moody, Alvis Smith III,
Chief Jefferson Greene, Brigette
McConville, Vice Chair man
Carlos Calica, Lonnie Rosie Tom,
Jonathan Smith Sr. Minnie Yahtin,
Recorder.
Invocation given by Chief
Greene.
The tribal community is
invited to attend a meeting
regarding the Warm Springs
Zipline Drone Testing Site
opportunity. The proposed
project is presented by
Warm Springs Economic
Development.
The meetings are sched-
uled from 6 to 8 p.m. as fol-
lows:
This Wednesday, Feb-
ruary 18: The Warm Springs
Agency Longhouse. Thurs-
day, Febr uar y 19: The
Simnasho Longhouse. The
Seekseequa meeting was for
Tuesday of this week.
The agenda for the meet-
ings includes a light dinner,
followed by introductions,
project overview, and com-
munity discussion.
Hosted by Warm Springs
Economic Development and
Zipline, the presenters are
seeking input on the project
proposal, and invite the com-
munity to participate as part
of the tribes’ Resource Man-
agement Interdisciplinary
Team review process.
You can learn more about
Zipline at the website:
zipline.com
You may RSVP for a
meeting at:
wsed.info@wstribes.org
· Introduction to Lonny Macy,
Planner.
· Kah-Nee-Ta storm damage
claim with Jim Souers:
Motion by Jefferson approving
the request of $1.2 million insur-
ance claim. Second by Joe. Ques-
tion: Rosie/abstain, Joe/yes, Cap-
tain/no, Jay/no, Alvis/no,
Jefferson/yes, Brigette/yes, Carlos/
yes, Jonathan/yes, 5/3/1, Chairman
not voting. Motion carried.
· Tribal member concerns: Off
the record, 4:27 p.m.
· Associate Judge resolution dis-
cussion with Edward Henderson:
Motion by Alvis adopting Reso-
lution No. 13,290A, that Anita L.
Jackson be appointed as Associate
Judge to term as noted, beginning
November 19, 2025. This resolu-
tion rescinds Resolution No. 13,287,
approved November 18, 2025, ap-
pointing Anita L. Jackson as Judge
Pro Tempore for 2026. Second by
Carlos. Question: Rosie/yes, Cap-
tain/yes, Jay/yes, Alvis/yes,
Jefferson/yes, Brigette/yes, Carlos/
yes, Jonathan/yes, 8/0/0, Chairman
not voting. Motion carried.
· Other business: Discussed fol-
low up on the tribal member con-
cerns.
Motion by Brigette to adjourn at
4:59. Second by Carlos.
December 15
The meeting was called to order
by Vice Chairman Carlos Calica.
Roll call:
Lincoln Jay
Suppah, Raymond Captain Moody,
Alvis Smith III, Brigette
McConville, Lonnie Rosie Tom,
Vice Chairman Carlos Calica, Chief
Jefferson Greene, Jonathan Smith
WSCAT
funding awarded to 13 organiza-
tions last October.
“From highlighting Indigenous
histories to honoring the sacrifice
of Oregon’s veterans to instilling
a love of history in our youth,
these initiatives provide an oppor-
tunity for Oregonians to engage in
our shared story,” saidAmerica 250
Oregon Commission Chair Kerry
Tymchuk. ”We are grateful to the
Oregon State Legislature for pro-
viding the funds that made these
grants possible.”
A third funding cycle will open
at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4,
and grants will be awarded on a
first-come, first-served basis to eli-
gible projects. More information
about the Oregon 250 Grant
Program can be found at:
oregon250.org
Sr., Chief Joseph Moses. Minnie
Yahtin, Recorder.
· Joint Health Commission up-
date with Caroline Cruz and
Tammy Wilson.
· Indian Health Services update
with Tammy Wilson.
· Health insurance plan, 2027
prices, discussion with William Sam
and Tyler Moore.
Motion by Captain to adjourn
at 11:55. Second by Brigette.
the Bankruptcy Plan, and acting
through the authorized law firm,
SKIKOS CRAWFORD SKIKOS &
JOSEPH, LLP, hereby elects to be-
come a participating Tribe as defined
therein, and release all Released
Claims against all Released Entities
as defined therein; that the Tribal
Council Chairman, Vice Chairman,
and Secretary-Treasurer/CEO are
authorized to submit the Conflict
Waiver attached as Exhibit “C” to this
Resolution on behalf of the Tribe,
signifying that the Tribe understands
and waives the conflict of interest cre-
ated by the SOR; that SKIKOS
CRAWFORD & JOSEPH, LLP is
authorized to submit on behalf of
the Tribe the Tribal Participation
Form attached to this Resolution as
Exhibit “D”; the Authorized Repre-
sentatives are hereby directed and au-
thorized to take any reasonable and
necessary actions to carry out the pur-
pose and intent of this Resolution.
December 16
The meeting was called to or-
der by Chairman White. Roll call:
Lincoln Jay Suppah, Raymond
Captain Moody, Chairman Den-
nis White III, Alvis Smith III,
Lonnie Rosie Tom, Chief
Jefferson Greene, Chief Joseph
Moses, Jonathan Smith Sr. Minnie
Yahtin, Recorder.
Invocation given by Chief
Greene.
· Secretary-Treasurer update
with Edward Henderson.
· January agenda with Edward
Henderson:
Motion by Alvis approving the
January 2026 agenda. Second by
Brigette. Question: Joe/yes, Cap-
tain/yes, Jay/yes, Jonathan/yes,
Alvis/yes, Jefferson/yes, Brigette/
yes, Rosie/yes, 8/0/0, Chairman
not voting. Motion carried.
· Draft resolutions with Pam
Douglas, acting Secretary-Trea-
surer:
Opioid settlement discus-
sion with Sarah Monkton:
Motion by Captain adopting
Resolution No. 13,295, that the
Tribal Council, in order to obtain,
and in consideration for, the ben-
efits provided to the Tribe pursuant
to the Direct Action Settlement and
Social Dance Classes are held
Wednesdays from 3:30-5 p.m. in
the Wellness Center aerobics room.
Classes are open to all ages, and
no sign-up is required. If you have
questions, contact Deanie Johnson
at Culture and Heritage, 541-553-
3290.
The Warm Springs Academy
Native American Student Union
for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade
students is meeting this Wednesday,
February 18 during the lunch period
the Academy community room.
Second by Alvis. Question: Rosie/
yes, Joe/abstain, Captain/yes, Jay/
yes, Jonathan/yes, Alvis/yes,
Jefferson/yes, Brigette/yes, 7/0/
1, Chairman not voting. Motion
carried.
· Joint Health board appoint-
ments with Taw Foltz:
Motion by Alvis adopting
Resolution No. 13,296, that the
Chairman of the Tribal Council
is authorized to confirm Heather
Crow-Martinez to continue to
serve an additional three-year
term, Deborah Jackson continue
with two-year term and Caroline
M. Cruz to continue with one
year term on the Joint Health
Commission. Second by
Jonathan. Question: Rosie/yes,
Joe/yes, Captain/no, Jay/yes,
Jonathan/yes,
Alvis/yes,
Jefferson/yes, 5/2/0, Chairman
not voting. Motion carried.
Summaries continue on 3