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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2002)
DECEMBER 1, 2002 Smoke Signals 13 Education Leads To Careers And A Safer City Of Spokane Tribal member Tamie Spitzer and her family really know the value of an education. By Ron Karten Spokane Police Officer and Grand Ronde Tribal member Tamie Spitzer enjoys living life on the edge. "I've been so lucky to be involved in a lot of things," she said. As deputy in the Spokane County Sheriffs office, Spitzer also was part of the TAG (tac tical) team doing riot control and the Sheriffs Kegger Awareness Team to stop underage drinking parties. She taught a 'Criminal Investigation and Evidence' course at Spokane Com munity College and judged events at the Spokane Police Academy. In the Career Criminal Unit, she participated in sting operations in con cert with the offices of the U.S. Mar shals Service and the Bureau of Alco hol, Tobacco and Firearms. This op eration really brought the criminals in. The team sent letters to members of the community who had warrants out standing. The letters said that money was owed them and all they had to do was come in and claim it. "The operation was so professional," said Spitzer, "that even after we ar rested them, some asked, 'Do I still get my check?'" She credits her younger brother, Corey Turman, a police officer with the City of Spokane, for giving her the in centive to go after it. Five years ago, she ran a day care business in her home, but Corey's suc cess reminded her of her own long held ambitions. She gave up the business and went back to school to become a cop. The schooling helped. "I graduated in June, 1997 and I was hired in Au gust," she said. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (CTGR) helped to fund her edu cation and the family was more than willing to struggle without the day care income while she got it. In fact, the Turman-Spitzer family now has three generations growing successful through CTGR's education program. Her mom, Tribal member Jean Turman, went back to school for a degree in Early Childhood Develop ment at Spokane Falls Community College and now runs an in-home day care program. Her brother, Joe, earned his teach ing degree at Eastern Washington Uni versity and is now a teacher and coach at University High School in Spokane. (One of his student athletes recently invited him back to Indianapolis for a December football game and that trip will also include dinner at the home of Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning.) Tamie earned her Administration of Justice degree at Spokane Community College. Her sister, Melinda Turman, gradu ated recently from Whitworth College in Spokane with a Music Education degree, and is now a substitute teacher in three school districts. And Tamie's daughter, Ashley, 18, has just started at Gonzaga University. "We've found the Education depart ment to be just terrific," said Charles Turman, father to Tamie, Joe, CoreV and Melinda. "That's the best thing that they can do." "I think she's a real success story for the Tribe," said Tribal Council member Ed Pearsall. "The whole family's a success story." Pearsall met Charles Turman years ago on a job, became friends and only then discovered that Charles was mar ried to his cousin, the former Jean West. "We worked together for six years and became good friends," said Pearsall. Spitzer recently convinced Pearsall to come for a drive along ("after four years of pes tering him," she said) when he had come to Spokane on vacation. "I wanted to have him go along and see how our education dollars are be ing, hopefully, well spent." "Some individual was apparently keeping his wife in the car," Pearsall said of the drive along experience. "Tamie put on the lights and we pulled up in the driveway. The woman jumped out of the car and ran into the house. Then, a lot of people came out of the house. That made me a little nervous." So, the question comes up: police work for a 5'2-l2" blond with three children? "My family always knew I had a passion to pursue it," said Spitzer "and they were always very supportive." In September, the community added its vote of support. The Edgewood Sheriffs Community-Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) pre sented its first "Deputy of the Quar ter" award to Spitzer. The program consists of homes in various neigh borhoods that the department rents and staffs with community volun teers. Generally, probation officers and detectives also work out of these houses and together they spearhead prevention and outreach work in the community. Thanks to the Tribe's Education de- j: w A v..-v. . I r " : J partment, Spitzer has developed a great appreciation and sense of pride for a community she has lived outside of all her life. "It's really given me a sense of be longing," she said. And togetherness. The family pooled its per capita and timber revenue checks one year to buy a vacation cabin at Diamond Lake. Spitzer now sees all kinds of doors opening for her on the far side of police work from advancing through the ranks to consulting and teaching. And the meanwhile is not bad either. "I have the satisfaction of having a job that I love," she said. Chemawa Gets Down With The Sounds of The Gary Small Band By James Buxman Management T rainee, Tribal Mentorship Program The students of Chemawa Indian School were treated to the inspira tional sound of The Gary Small Band Friday, November 1 at Chemawa's auditorium. The environment outside was cold and dark but once you en tered the auditorium it was warm and full of life. The crowd was filled with hundreds of kids and adults from around the community to view the benefit concert for the school. You could feel the excitement of the audi ence right from the start. As I walked into the auditorium I witnessed kids of all ages cheering, waving lighters, but most of all smiling. Everyone was having a great time. The evening was organized by Gary Small; a Northern Cheyenne Indian that says playing music is the only Kill 0 fi 4" 1 UIMI - i S I t - . t, . I ' '. ml ' Jam Session Native musician Gary Small and his band rocked the house at Chemawa Indian High School with a con cert on Friday, November 1. Small, a Northern Cheyenne, works in Portland for the Indian Health Board and supports young Natives as they grow and try to find their way in the world. time that he is really free. Gary works for the Portland Area Indian Health Board. Helping Indian students find the right medical school is another ability Gary possesses. He started his music career at the age of twelve. Then at the age of fourteen Gary started playing bass guitar professionally. He credits Carlos Santana as being a major influence for his playing and writing style. The music combines roots rock and reggae to produce a melody that is unsurpassable. It has been said that Gary's work sounds like Bob Marley with Santana on guitar. For Gary it is much easier; he is expressing human emotions -J u CO . 'V I 1 Km a through guitar playing. The benefit concert was held at the school in order to heighten awareness about music and the op portunities available for aspiring Indian musicians. Gary stated that he wants to expose Indian students to the "arts" and the creative side of things. He also said, that with this donation it gives the kids a cre ative outlet to explore and experi ment. The sponsors of the event; Indian Motorcycles, Gibson Gui tars, Apple Music, The Paul Reid Guitar Forum, and Gary Small; donated numerous guitars and amplifiers to Chemawa. They also offered their advice, guidance, and help whenever needed. Spokesman for Indian Motor cycles and renowned Indian actor Branscombe Richmond said this about the event, "Music is an inter national language and communi cates every emotional feeling pos sible. Music is the bridge that con nects people together as one. And as Native Americans our philosophy is that we are all ONE. Indian mo torcycles is very proud to be associ ated with this event." B