Smoke Signals
March 1993
Page 2 .
NEWS FROM OTHER TRIBES
Warm Springs
BEND, Ore. (AP)- The U.S Bureau of Land Management has completed its plan to
manage recreation on the Lower Deschutes River, which stretches 100 miles from
Warm Springs to the Columbia River.
More than 4,000 copies of the plan and environmental impacts statement were
mailed January 25 to public agencies that oversee the use of the river and to user groups
involved in negotiations during the past four years.
"Under the circumstances, it's a good plan," said Jim Noteboom, a Bend
lawyer who represented the Warm Springs tribes in the negotiations. "The Deschutes
still may be overused, but this is a fair compromise of all the parties. H
The plan seeks to protect the river from environmental damage and to limit
the construction of new facilities such as boat ramps and campgrounds.
The ban includes tough new limits on jet boats, including a ban after three
years on all power boats above Sherar's Falls.
It also seeks to reduce overcrowding on the river during summer weekends,
setting "Peak use targets" for specific areas. Some of those targets suggest boat numbers
should be reduced by as much as two-thirds.
If overcrowding persists, the plan calls for establishing a system of allocating
boater permits to limit use of the river. However, groups involved in drafting the plan
were unable to agree on how that system should work.
Umatilla
A counselor on the Umatilla Indian Reservation thinks a solution to substance
abuse lies in an emphasis on pride and tribal culture in the tribal communities.
"What we would like to do with culture is to make our children proud of where
they came from," said Marguerite Allman, department director for Cay-Uma-Way
education center.
"I believe Indian people have been branded for so long," Allman said.
Regardless of whether your family drinks or not, they still put you in the same melting
pot."
Allman believes cultural pride can be a deterrent to drug use among tribal
youth.
"We really feel that our value system we grew up with was a lot better than the
value system our children grow up with," she said. "We need to retain our cultural
values."
Allman is currently completing an application for the Healthy Nations
Program, which includes 15 federal grants of $150,000 each, and another $1 million
available after two years of success.
1990 Census Results: Native American
Indians Are Among the Poorest of the Poor
Although three years have passed, 1990 Census statistics indicate that Native
Americans are the poorest population group in the United States today, specifically the
Pine Ridge Reservation in Shannon County, South Dakota. According to the Census,
63. 1 percent of the population lives below the poverty level.
Zeibach County and Todd County, also in South Dakota, and homes of the
Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and the Rosebud Reservation ranked seventh and
tenth, respectively. On these two reservations, approximately 50 percent of the
population lives in poverty.
There are eight counties in South Dakota considered to be among the poorest
in the United States, and all are on or near Indian reservations. The majority of the
people living in poverty are children and elderly. Many people employed with the tribes
are hoping for a brighter tribal economy through business ventures such as gaming and
construction projects. Other tribal officials believe the Census figures are misleading
because of job opportunities that have recently surfaced on the reservations that weren't
available when the Census was taken. But the fact is, many people living on the
reservations are elderly, handicapped, or single parents living on fixed incomes which
fall below the national average.
However, Mel Lone Hill, vice president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, predicts
more growth and opportunity for tribal members in South Dakota. "I dont know why
they are saying we are the poorest We are looking at a promising future for our kids,"
he said.
V , New Editorial Policy
Letters From Our Readers
Smoke Signals is a publication of the Confederated Tribes of
the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. We have recently adopted
an Editorial Policy that encourages input from readers about stories
printed in Smoke Signals as well as othertribal issues. However, all
letters from readers must be received at the Newsletter Office no
later than the 20th of each month, with the author's signature,
address, and phone numberin orderto be considered for publication.
Letters must be printed or typed, and cannot exceed 300
words. Smoke Signals reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity
and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a
letter that may contain libelous statements or personal attacks. Not
all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published
letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smoke Signals,
tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Mail letters to : SMOKE SIGNALS,
9615 Grand Ronde Rd., Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 ATTN: Tracy
Olson
Smoke Signals
EDITOR
TRACY OLSON
Smoke Signals is published monthly by the Confederated
Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, 9615 Grand
Ronde Rd., Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
Articles appearing in Smoke Signals are the sole responsibil
ity of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Submissions of articles, poetry, short stories, artwork and
photos are encouraged. Smoke Signals does not assume
responsibility for unsolicited material and does not guarantee
publication upon submission.
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