8 JUNE 1, 2005
Smoke Signals
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Communications Pioneer, Pow-wow Voice And Friend Passes Away
PI IOENIX He was a forerunner
in the print and broadcast business
and a pow wow icon as thousands of
Native Americans throughout the
country either read his words or heard
his voice.
Communications pioneer Roy
Track, 63, and popular master of cer
emonies at pow-wows passed away
early on April 24, 2005.
His wit, his contribution to the com
munity, his jokes and how no one was
immune to his teasing, will be missed
by the many people who were enriched
by his presence.
The ribbon shirt, the colorful vest, and
the dark sunglasses were his regalia.
His jokes and teasing were his way of
showing love and respect for you. If he
laughed at you, he cared about you.
Roy is Assiniboine Sioux of Fort
Peck, Montana and the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde of Oregon. He
was born in Nevada, then his family
moved to Montana where he was
raised by his grandmother in Wolf
Point, Montana.
He attended Brigham Young Uni
versity in Provo, Utah taking classes
in communications and that's where
he met Nita, his wife-to-be.
Later after college, he moved to
Parker, where he worked for a few
years, then moved to Phoenix in the
early 1960's.
Roy constantly encouraged people
to help others and was a good friend
to the late Ray Boley, founder of Can
yon Records to help get the record
label started. Canyon Records pro
duces Native American music and
has launched the careers of many
Native music artists in Arizona in
cluding the popular group ClanDes
tine, who have always given free con
certs at the Mesa Pow Wow on behalf
of Roy's work in the music industry
and being their friend.
Roy started his career in journalism
as a freelance writer in the Phoenix
area writing for Indian newspapers.
A time he was very proud of while
working in print journalism was
when he took pictures of the Fort
McDowell Indian Community in the
80's when the Yavapai community
was going to be flooded.
His pictures helped convince the
public and politicians who saw the pic
tures that "these poor people in the
middle of nowhere .... were being
driven off their land" he said, accord
ing to an interview in 2002 at Grand
Ronde, Oregon.
He soon after moved into the broad
cast business and had a opportunity to
be the first Native American television
reporter in the early 70's for KOOL-TV
in Phoenix, but declined as he wanted
to learn more about the technical as
pects of broadcast rather than being in
front of the camera.
His choice proved historic as he
launched his new television show,
"2 1st Century Native American" in the
early 1970's which was still in produc
tion at his passing. The show has been
running over 30 years as hundreds of
Phoenix Native Americans have ap
peared on his show.
Roy Track has the longest running
co
r I
Roy Track
Native American public affairs show
in Arizona according to Channel 3
where his show was aired every Sun
day morning at 6:30 a.m. for thirty
years and recently moved to every
other week this past year.
In the early days, while he was in
volved with the community and played
basketball for local teams. He played
with a team called Phoenix "Chiefs" for
a while, then he formed his own basket
ball team called the "Scottsdale Indians"
and traveled the southwest and the west
coast to play and coach at the same time.
He played and later coached his team for
over twenty years. His sons, Hawk and
Chad played along side him for many
years. He was always very proud of sons
and their athletic ability. He also was
avid bowler and golfer.
Amid the all the memories of Roy,
perhaps the most remembered char
acteristic will be his ability to make
dry jokes funny and how no one es
caped his teasing.
The jokes even were about cultures
and American Indian Veteran's Memo
rial Organization President JeffBegay
recalls an original one Roy told at a
pow-wow.
"What does a White Ghost say? You
know, Casper the Ghost."
"Boo!"
"What does an Indian ghost say?"
"BooIAaaay."
Roy would sometimes be a keynote
speaker at Native American gradua
tions and would always tell of what his
grandmother told him at an early age
which became his driving force to work
in the community.
"Give back to your community," he
would say. "As you succeed, remember
all the people who got you there and give
back to them and the community."
Roy is survived by his wife Nita of
43 years and his two boys, Hawk and
Chad; brothers Kenton, Don, and Gale
Track and sister Dana Runsabove; and
seven grandchildren, Rose, Colby, Tay
lor, Cedric, Frances, and Talia; and
one great-granddaughter, Mikela.
Please send cards and donations to:
Nita Track, P.O. Box 645, Phoenix, AZ
85001.
Article courtesy of Loren Tapahe,
Arizona Native Scene, April 28, 2005.
Native American Day At The Capital
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Tribal Awareness Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Legislative
Commission on Indian Services, the Oregon State Capitol hosted a Tribal Infor
mation Day on Thursday, May 19. Many events took place including a tribute to
Tribal Veterans, honor songs by the Many Nations Drum, an opening statement by
Senate President Peter Courtney, Tribal acknowledgement from former Governor
Vic Atiyeh and booths set up by local Oregon Tribes.
Did you hear? Did you hear? The rumbling of the clouds. The rumbling
of the clouds as they parted the way. Cear the path, Gear the path
for a warrior is coming today. He is tall, He is strong, He is brave. He
carries his love, He carriers his passion, He carries his pride, He
carries his heritage. He shows his humble side. Make way for the
Narror that is coming today, My DAD,
Carl Dee Jeffere.
E5y Charlene Hoover in honor of "My DAD" Carl D. Jeffere.
St Michaels Reunion
Former Students, All Grades
June 25, 2005 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lunch will be served. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Ramona or Bill
Kraemer or Eddy Cody? If so, please relay the information to them or any
other classmate that may live outside the area about the reunion. For more
information, please contact Judy (McKnight) Olsen at 503-843-3362.
VOLUNTEERS WELCOME
Long House Cedar Splitting Project Contact Don Day at 503-769-3290
e-mail dbdaywvic.com
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June 13 -17, 2005
3 Day Class - 2 days Field Work
Entry level FFT-2 Wild Land Firefighting,
Training Red Card Certification, and Wild
Land Fire Certification for completion.
Education & Natural Resources Building
MUST HAVE WORK BOOTS AND GLOVES
Tribal members must register for class at the
Social Sercies Department by calling
503-879-2034. r" yf