November 2011 CUJ - Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian ...

CUJ Letters to the EditorContinued from Page 1time the CTUIR elected officials seem to recognize “offreservation” tribal members is when they want our vote.I ask each of the BOT candidates: How will youassure that you represent those of us who live off thereservation? I like many other “off reservation” tribalmembers want to participate in tribal government, affairsand services.I have legal education and experience that I wouldlike to use for the benefit of the tribe. I no longer practicelaw but would like to use my knowledge in otherways. I have tried to participate in tribal committeesonly to learn from the current BOT members that I couldnot do so. I asked that my mileage to meetings be paid.I was told “No.” I asked to participate in the meetingsvia teleconference calls. I was told “No.” I asked torepresent the tribal interests at meetings held here inthe Portland area. I was told “No.” Instead of findinga way to use my skills for the benefit of the Tribe I wasasked to resign my committee appointments.I have asked to be included in the buffalo, elk andfish distributions. I called the tribal Natural Resourceoffice and CRITFC (Columbia River Inter-Tribal FishCommission). Kathryn Brigham told me of one fishdistribution where I had to go to Cascade Locks toget the fish. I was happy to do so. Since I do not getthe tribal food distributions I am grateful for the food.Thank you Kathryn.I am now an elder. I recently read the “elders” report.Nothing seemed to allow elders who live off the reservationto participate in elders’ activities. We are not eventold of activities where on-reservation elders travel tothe Portland area. Are there any elders services, like apension, that all elders can receive?So, for those who want our vote, explain why I as an“off-reservation” tribal member elder should vote foryou. What answers do you have to my questions? Pleasecall me if you want my vote: (503) 970-8004.Celeste (Cece) Whitewolf, X1677Tigard, Ore.Support young leadership like GCChairman Aaron HinesIt is great to see the number of tribal members seekingelection for the upcoming Board of Trustees andGeneral Council leadership, especially the youngergeneration. Many of our experienced leaders are seekingre-election or election. However I think it is time thatour General Council membership think about electingsome of our younger generation members so that theycan learn from our experienced leaders and become ourfuture “experienced leaders.” Who is going to take overthese leadership roles if we don’t give them the chancenow? These people took the time to get their ballotssigned and turned in because they have an interest inrepresenting us, the General Council, now let’s givethem a chance.Many of our experienced leaders are getting older,have health issues, or have come back from retirementto help the Tribes move forward because of theirexperience and knowledge of being on the Board ofTrustees. In the last election, the General Council membershipelected Aaron Hines – a young tribal member- to the General Council chairman position. I have hadthe experience of working with him over the past twoyears seeing his youthfulness mature and his knowledgegrow. Sure he probably made mistakes but that is howyou learn and although I may not agree with everythinghe supported or objected to, he still had the GeneralCouncil membership’s interest at heart.Aaron has shown tremendous growth in my opinion.During his tenure, the General Council meetingshave had large numbers of tribal member attendance,he voices the General Council’s concerns and issuesto the Board of Trustees, he brings information to theGeneral Council that the Board of Trustees wouldn’thave, and he follows up on General Council membershiprequests.‘... I noticed this mansion sittingin this wheat field. I was toldthat it was the new tribal officebuilding and that it cost $28million ... We could have hiredten teachers for fifty years orfive nurses for seventy years.We could have built 300 newhomes for $28 million. Instead,we have this peacock of abuilding ... Nine bozos shouldnot be able to obligate theother two thousand of us andour descendants for millionsof dollars of debt, so they canfurther their obscene selfimagesof themselves.Furthermore, he is rarely on travel and is available toGeneral Council members. His heart is for the peopleof the CTUIR and what is best for them. I have heardand seen his frustration when the Board of Trusteeswon’t work with him on the General Council’s requestsor concerns, but he isn’t afraid to stand up for the people.Aaron is a fine example of a young tribal memberbeing given a chance. So, I ask the General Councilmembership to support our young leadership in theirinterest in representing us on the Board of Trustees andGeneral Council.Respectfully,Teara Farrow Ferman, X-1253Shippentower would continue workto ensure Tribal values, principlesThe sworn oath of office for members of the Boardof Trustees of the Confederated Tribes of the UmatillaIndian Reservation obligates us to “promote and protectthe best interests of the CTUIR.” And for me, the tribalmembership is the CTUIR. I fully understand that as anelected official that I represent the interests of the tribalmembership, and that I am accountable to the tribalmembership. I sincerely believe that the positions I havetaken and supported on tribal issues clearly demonstratethat I have never lost sight of this.For example, tribal members own Arrowhead truckstop and have elected the BOT to protect their ownershipinterests. However, when I ask for accountability, onbehalf of tribal owners, from the non-Indian managersof Arrowhead, some start in with “micro-management”and “BOT interference.” My commitment to honormy oath of office far outweighs my thoughts on beinglabeled a “micro-manager.” I do not believe tribalmembers elected us BOT members to merely accept orrubber stamp whatever is put in front of us.As a grass-roots tribal member, I have always votedfor those who I believed would provide tribal leadershipand not be afraid to take a stand. I am respectfully askingfor your support on November 15 th for re-electionto a second two-year term on the BOT. If re-electedI will continue to work to ensure that our tribal policiesreflect our tribal values and principles, includingintegrity, justice, fairness, and compassion. Thank you.541-310-7048.Sincerely,Bob ShippentowerMore support for Chairman HinesI am writing this letter of support to reel e c t C h a i r m a n A a r o n H i n e s f o r G e n -e r a l C o u n c i l C h a i r m a n o n N o v e m b e r 1 5 .Chairman Hines has stepped up to represent the peopleand ask questions of the BOT by the people and for thepeople of the CTUIR, which is who he represents - theGeneral Council.He knows and applies Article V of the Constitutionand bylaws of 1949 in his role. Chairman Hines takesthis responsibility seriously with a good heart and agood mind. He is a good representative for our people.I am supporting Chairman Hines.Respectfully,Mrs. Kathryn J. Burke, X-2241Chief Sampson supports daughterfor BOT Treasurer positionIt is time for a change on the Board of Trustees! We needa Board Treasurer that consistently and reliably reports theTribes’ finances to you, the Tribal members and shareholders.How many times have you asked for complete financialreports and not received them? How many times have youasked this Board of Trustees for accountability withoutanswers? How much does the Board spend of our moneyon their own travel? How often they are out of the office?How often have they benefited their own family, friends,and represent their own interests - not yours?How can the two current Board members running forTreasurer explain why they voted themselves almost$10,000 in severance pay if they don’t get re-elected? Whileno other Tribal member who is employed by the Tribes -or you – get those special benefits! And they manage ourTribal money – to benefit who?Once Board members get in office, they forget aboutthe people they serve until election time! Well it’s timeto demand and expect accountability. Sandy [Sampson]will deliver accountability and responsible spending ofour Tribal money – your money. She has over 10 yearsof experience managing one of the largest Tribal departmentbudgets - Tribal Public Works. They have builttribal roads, maintained tribal buildings and cemeteries,managed tribal water and sewer systems, built the newNixyaawii Governance Center, helped with tribal funerals,cleared roads during the cold winters, and workedto serve the Tribal membership – all within budgets andhave been accountable and reliable all the time – notjust during election time. Her experience working withWildhorse Casino marketing department allows her tounderstand the Casino operations and hold the casinoaccountable. She won’t be like some Board members andget paid to attend golf tournaments, attend conferences,or micromanage and publicly ridicule tribal staff. She supportsNixyaawii Community School, supports our TribalElders programs, supports building our Tribal membershousing, and supports educational scholarships for ouryouth and improved health services to our people. It’stime for a positive change!Carl Sampson, Chief of the Walla Walla.Prohibit ‘deadbeat politicians’ fromspending without GC approvalI recently returned home for a visit, and I decidedto look around. I noticed this mansion sitting in thiswheat field. I was told that it was the new tribal officebuilding and that it cost $28 million. I slowly beganto anger at the obvious waste of resources. I did somesimple arithmetic.We could have hired ten teachers for fifty years orfive nurses for seventy years. We could have built 300new homes for $28 million instead, we have this peacockof a building.We tribal members should seriously consider amendingour constitution and expressly prohibit these deadbeatpoliticians from spending more than ten thousanddollars per project without approval of the GeneralCouncil. Nine bozos should not be able to obligate theSee Letters, Page 76 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

CUJ photo/PhinneyRico Cruz, manager of the DOSE’s Biological Systems Program is overseeing the project.Frank Taylor and Brock Startzel worked with Mike Hanson and Ed Swalberg.snow storm and winds of up to 150 mph.The domes also are cooled – and heated – by apair of 4,200 gallon water tanks that absorb heat – astandard feature in the Growing Space kits, which canrange from a 51-foot diameter 2,100-square-foot domethat costs about $38,000, to the smallest 140-squarefootstructure with a price tag of around $5,000,Volkmar said.The most popular is a 42-foot diameter dome thatcan have as many as three floors that creates a greatenvironment for plants with “no burning rays, realnice diffused light,” Volkmar said.Three years ago, Cruz said, DOSE had hoped to builda dome for its field station but couldn’t come up withenough money from the U.S. Department of Energy,which is paying for the larger building and the domes.But now that they’re finished with the domes, thework begins propagating plants from more than 100seed varieties gathered by a crew at Hanford (see accompanyingstory.) In addition to restoration plantsfor Hanford, Cruz anticipates the growth of FirstFoods for use by the Confederated Tribes.Combining the work of the DOSE domes with theTribes’ Native Plant Nursery is being considered. TheNative Plant Nursery also grows plants that are usedfor revegatation, mostly to restore riparian areas anddisturbed construction sites.Native Americans working on the project includedBrock Startzel, Vern Bronson and Frank Taylor. Allthree were impressed with a construction job they’dnever seen before.“It’s cool with all the little angles,” Starzel said. “It’shard though because everything has to be precise.”Taylor said he likes the idea of running generatorswithout electricity or fossil fuels.“From the get-go this has been cool,” he said.“From the framework to all the construction on fiveandsix-board struts.”Bronson said the new construction style has been agood learning experience.“It’s very cool and working this job has been agood thing,” Bronson said. “I’ve never worked onanything like this before. It’s fun. It’s going up easyand the octagon stuff is pretty interesting.”Burkes taking aa year off fromThanksgiving DinnerTo all the families who havejoined me and my family for ThanksgivingDinner in past years, we appreciateall of you and enjoyed beingable to sit and visit; it is a time to bethankful and I am thankful for youall. However, our family has had severaldeaths this past year and out ofrespect to them, my family will takea break this year and not be hostingthe Thanksgiving Dinner. We hope toresume next year as usual. We hopeyour holidays are happy and filledwith many memories.Chief Bill Burke and FamilyBirthdays:4th: Juanita Patrick Hussey5th: Brigham Campbell -Happy 13th!9th: CJ Medellin11th: David Harrison24th: Sharice Quaempts27th: Tysen Minthorn28th: Ryan Marsh30th: Kyra VanPeltAnniversary:11th: Dennis & CharlieQuaemptsNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal9

CUJ AlmanacObituariesNorene M. SpeedisDec. 7, 1955 – Oct. 10, 2011Norene M. Speedis - a resident of Pendleton,died October 10, 2011 at her home. She was55 years old.A Dressing Ceremony was held October 12 inthe Burns Mortuary of Pendleton chapel. Recitationof the Holy Rosarywas also Oct. 12 in theAgency Longhouse,followed by a WashatService. On October13 a sunrise servicewas held at the Longhousewith burial at theAgency Cemetery inMission, Oregon. Signthe online guestbookat www.burnsmortuary.com Burns Mortuary ofPendleton is in charge of arrangements.Mrs. Speedis was born December 7, 1955, InToppenish, Washington. She was the daughter ofDuane and Shirley (Thomas) Speedis. She livedin Toppenish until the age of 11, when the familymoved to the Pendleton, Oregon area. She attendedschools in Pendleton. She had worked fora time as a secretary for the Confederated Tribesof the Umatilla Indian Reservation.As a young girl, Norene had been a NativeDance champion, and competed in many dancecompetitions. She also enjoyed gatherings suchas the Pendleton Round-Up as well as others.She enjoyed playing pool and artwork. She willbe remembered as an artistic person.Norene is survived by her husband LonnieWolf of Pendleton, OR, her mother ShirleySpeedis of Pendleton, OR, a daughter KristenM. Speedis of Pendleton, OR, a sister ShirleenSpeedis of Pendleton, OR, six grandchildren,as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces andnephews also survive. She was preceded indeath by her father, Duane Speedis.Sharon L. JohnSharon L. John, 64, of Wapato died Oct. 15,2011 in Yakima. She was born in Yakima andworked as a registered nurse at the YakamaService Unit of the Indian Health Service, whereshe held the rank of lieutenant commander in theCommissioned Corps.Survivors include herhusband, Lehigh JohnSr. of Wapato; four sons,Sydney John of Zillah,Shawn John of Yakima,and Kevin John andLehigh John Jr., bothof Wapato; three brothers,Tony Hoptowit Jr.of Cayuse, Ore., JamesHoptowit of Afghanistan,and John Hoptowit ofWapato; seven sisters,Shirley Iman of Dallesport, Joyce Mardel ofWapato, Faith Kahclamat of Toppenish, ElaineHoptowit of Fort Hall, Idaho, Valerie Juan ofPhoenix, Kathy Batin of Wapato and DebbieLewis of Enunclaw; and eight grandchildren.Dressing service was held Oct. 17 at ColonialFuneral Home, Toppenish. Overnight serviceswere held at the Toppenish Community Center,followed by a sunrise funeral at Satus PointCemetery.Rosalie Ann Wilkinson HarrisSept. 11, 1933 – Oct. 3, 2011Rosalie Ann Wilkinson Harris, Wat-ko-weesh,78, passed away in her sleep October 3, 2011 ather home of 49 years in Klamath Falls, Oregon.Recitation of the Holy Rosary was held October6, 2011 and funeral services were held October7, 2011 at Saint Pius X Catholic Church.Rosalie was born September 11, 1933 in a Tipiat the round up villageduring the PendletonRound Up at Pendleton,Oregon to Cyrusand Margaret Wilkinson.Rosalie was the decendentof Chief Kalipoonof the Wallowa Band NezPerces, who begat MitaatWeptus (Three Feathers)who begat Amos Wilkinsonwho begat CyrusWilkinson her father. Onher mother’s side, Chief Powakee, begat ChiefJim White (Iskeen) who begat Margaret Whiteher mother.Growing up, Rosalie helped raise horseswith her family in the Cayuse and Thorn Hollowarea. As a teenager she was a chief JosephDays Princess, and she won the 1949 PendletonRound Up senior beauty contest. She attendedSaint Andrews, Chemewa Indian School andGraduated from Pendleton High School in 1952.She married Charles Frank Harris in December1955 in Reno, Nevada and graduated fromOregon Technical Institute, in Klamath Falls,Oregon, June 3, 1956. Charles and Rosalie hadfive sons.Over the past thirty years Rosalie was aRegistered Medical Technician, which she lovedpracticing. She helped establish the Siletz Indianhealth clinic laboratory in Siletz, Oregon. Sheretired at the age of 55.She enjoyed traveling, theater, golfing, annualtipi camping at the family site on the Imnahariver, annually attending and participating in thePendleton Round Up, visiting her children andgrandchildren, taking care of numerous cats anddogs, planting and raising roses at her home, andreligiously attended Mass at St. Pius X CatholicChurch. She was a charter member of St. PiusX and regularly cleaned the church on Fridayswhen she was a young woman.Rosalie was an artist, and avid reader of classicalliterature, listened to classical music, spokefluent Nimiputimpki (Nez Perce), Latin, and English.She firmly believed that one should dressappropriately and properly for every occasion.She is survived by her husband Charles FrankHarris of 56 years; sons: Kevin (Debra), childrenJessica, Richard, Jonathan, Leah; Stuart (Deborah)children Katie, Anna, Mary; Christopher,children Amanda, Eli, Alex, Paul; Gregory (Leona)children Elizabeth, Cyrus; Alan (Jessica), childrenAlexis, Fawn; Steve children Scott, Stephanie;Yvonne children Nanmet; Sisters: Anna JanePond (Ronald); Leona White; Brother: JerryNanegoes; daughter-in-law Kathryn; numerousnieces, nephews, cousins and the ten greatgrandchildren.She was proceeded in death by her parents,Cyrus and Margaret; sisters Pauline WilkinsonStanger, Virginia Wilkinson Connor, LenoraWilkinson, Margaret Wilkinson, KatherineWilkinson Heath, and Brother Maurice (Jimmy)Wilkinson.Louie H. Dick, Jr. “Squeochs”April 11, 1935 – Oct. 19, 2011Louie Henry Dick, Jr., “Squeochs,” 76, ofCayuse died Oct. 19, 2011 in Walla Walla, Wash.Dressing ceremony was held Oct. 21 at theMission Longhouse followed by Washat services.Sunrise Washat services was held Oct.22 followed by burial at Red Elk Cemetery. BurnsMortuary of Pendletonwas in charge of arrangements.L o u i e w a s b o r nApril 11, 1935 at RedElk Canyon in ThornHollow, Ore. To LouieDick, Sr. (Wayashus)and Mary Red Elk Dick(Emote Nix Emo Teen).He was a member of theConfederated Tribesof the Umatilla IndianReservation.He attended elementary school at St. Andrewsand St. Joseph and graduated from McEwenHigh School in 1954 in Athena, Ore. He alsoattended Eastern Oregon College. He joinedthe Marine Corps for four years from 1955-59and came home as a sergeant with honorabledischarge. In 1959 he started working for the USForest Service.Louie married Marie Alexander in 1960. Theywere married for 51 years.After he retired from the Forest Service in1985, he went into Indian politics for the CTUIR,serving as treasurer and vice-chairman for theBoard of Trustees.He has been a member of the forest and rangecommittee, farm committee, Natural ResourcesCommission, Tribal Water Commission, TiichamConservation District and Umatilla County Soiland Water Conservation District.He was active with the American Indian AlaskaNative Employees Association for the NaturalResource Conservation Service as an elder andthe Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hallof Fame Board. Louie and Marie were inductedinto the Hall of Fame in 2006.Louie received numerous awards from tribal,state and federal agencies over the years.He is survived by his wife, Marie, of Cayuseand two sons: Lance of Cayuse and Dallas ofThorn Hollow; eight grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents,Louie Dick Sr. and Mary Red Elk Dick and hisdaughter, Arleta Dick.James R. Oatman, Jr.July 16, 1991 – Oct. 29, 2011James R. Oatman, Jr., died October, 29, 2011above Kooskia, Idaho. James was a member ofthe Nez Perce Tribe. He was born in Lewiston,Idaho on July 16, 1991 to James and TeresaOatman.James attended school at the Kamiah SchoolDistrict and graduatedhigh school in 2009.He was a great providerfor his family andenjoyed being in themountains hunting andon the river fishing.James played sportsthroughout his schoolyears. He was on theteam when the KamiahKubs won the StateChampionship in footballin 2006. He also qualified for the State wrestlingtournament his senior year.James worked as Sergeant of Arms at the NezPerce Tribe’s General Council in May 2010. Heworked for the Nez Perce Tribe’s Department ofFisheries Resource Management, WatershedDivision as a Fisheries Technician. He was currentlyemployed as an HVAC Installer Apprenticewith BOSS Heating & Air Conditioning. He waspursuing a four-year degree though LCSC andthe State of Idaho in the Apprenticeship programfor HVAC.He enjoyed spending time with his dear andspecial friend Kelsey Schlieper and her family.James is survived by his parents, James Sr.Pendleton Pioneer Chapel received three prestigious awards in 2009• The Oregon Funeral Directors AssociationAward of Funeral Service Excellence• The Best Of Eastern Oregon Awardas voted by the readers of the East Oregonian• Pendleton Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business of the YearOur experienced family provides caring, compassionate care including:Burial Services ~ Military ServicesCremation ~ Monuments10 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Blue Mountain Community CollegeNative AmericanStudent of the MonthStudent: Patty HallHigh School: McEwen High SchoolTribal Affiliation: CTUIRMajor: Associate of General StudiesFall Term GPA: 3.4Save the DateElders Christmas DinnerCTUIR LonghouseDecember 16More info to be shared as it is developedproudlypresents the...Patty played volleyball and held the record for setting the ball the yearshe played for BMCC. She eventually quit to start a family and becamea licensed beautician. After being in the field for 30 years she returnedto finish a lifelong goal of getting a college degree and to work in a newfield. She’s finishing her last class this fall which is one of her favoriteclasses Sociology-Minorities. She is currently a payroll clerk at theCTUIR.Community urged to help decide howto enhance Tribal youth developmentMISSION – Community members areencouraged to bring their “constructiveconcerns and opinions” to the all-dayYouth Focus Event at Wildhorse CasinoNov. 16.The event, organized by Noelle Richards,the RARE (Resource Assistance forRural Environments program), is scheduledfrom 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with food– breakfast, lunch and snacks – provided.Richards said persons participatingwill be able to choose from 26 differentfocus-group tables, each with one ofthe 26 topics identified by members ofthe CTUIR as the essential elements ofdevelopment in the life of a youth. Thisextensive list of focus group topics rangesfrom tribal language to after-schoolhangout spots and from First Foods toalcohol-and-drug abuse prevention.A survey of programs and servicesavailable to Tribal youth in these 26 areaswas completed in March by Richardsand will be presented to the communityMISSION – No more two-inch bindersstuffed with staff reports and such formembers of the CTUIR Board of Trustees.The BOT has gone paperless.“It’s going well,” said BOT SecretaryKat Brigham. “We’re going into the modernera. No, we’re trying to catch up withthe modern era.”“Going paperless” had been a goal ofthe BOT since the new Nixyaawii GovernanceCenter was designed with laptopcomputers at each BOT member’s stationand overhead screens so that the same reportcould be reviewed at the same time.Nearly two years after moving intothe Nixyaawii Governance Center, staffwas still compiling bulging binders distributedto BOT members each MondayYouth Needs Focus GroupsNov. 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Wildhorse CasinoBreakfast, lunch and snacks providedfor input during the Youth Focus Event.Assets identified in the 27-page surveyrange from Sons and Daughters of Traditionto the NABOR program at PendletonHigh School, and from vocational rehabilitationfor youth over 18 to Waashatservices at the Longhouse.“This will be a completely communitydrivenanalysis of assets for youth,”Richards said. “We want to find out howthe community can work with existingassets to enhance youth developmentfor the Tribes.”Richards would like people to register,or at least let her know if they plan toattend, so enough food is prepared. Shecan be contacted at noellerichards@ctuir.org or at 541-429-7179.BOT goes paperless; now usingcomputers to review reportsmorning to start their work week.But in August, new Chairman LesMinthorn wondered out loud why theBOT wasn’t already “electronic” by now.His directive was heeded and the BOTis none the worse for wear.“Nobody seems to be having a problemwith it,” Brigham said. “It’s going tosave tons of paper.”Brigham said going paperless is allowingBOT members to work in sharedfolders so they can be in the same roomlooking at the same document at thesame time.Brigham noted that some documents,such as resolutions and meeting minutes,will remain as paper “hard copies” andwill be appropriately filed.CTUIR ED Tovey to speak at Lehman ‘thank you’ dinnerPENDLETON – A “Thank You” dinnerfor Larry Lehman, departing PendletonCity Manager, is planned Jan. 6 at thePendleton Convention Center.Dave Tovey, Executive Director ofthe Confederated Tribes of the UmatillaIndian Reservation, will be the keynotespeaker, according to one of the eventplanners, Rudy Rada.Another organizer, Bob Stanger, saidit is appropriate that the dinner will takeplace at the Convention Center, whichwas one of the many civic improvementsmade during Lehman’s administration.Tickets go on sale Dec. 1 at Armchair Booksand the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce.For more information, contact Rada aoldtimer18@charter.net.Patty’s advice, “Being an older (college) student can be frightening.I encourage anyone to do it.”What does BLUEhave for U?Contact Brandie Weaskusto learn more at 541-429-782512 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Geographic Names Board toconsider Umatilla, Burns-Paiutenames to replace ‘S’ word sitesVOTE FOR BILLY QGRESHAM - The Oregon GeographicNames Board on Nov. 5 was scheduledto consider requests by the ConfederatedTribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservationand the Burns Paiute to change the namesof more than 30 geographic featureswhich currently bear the name “squaw”in six Eastern Oregon counties.The tribal requests are a response to2001 Oregon legislative action callingfor the elimination of the word “squaw”from Oregon’s place names. Later legislativeaction in 2005 added considerationof Native American names. As a result,both the Umatilla and Burns Paiute tribessought out elders and historians seekingtraditional names for the “squaw” siteson their historic lands.The board will consider changes forfive sites in Baker County, 15 in GrantCounty (including two alternative namessubmitted by local residents), five inHarney County, one in Malheur County,three in Union County and 10 in WallowaCounty. The board’s recommendationswill go to the U.S. Board on GeographicNames for a final decision. For a completelist, see the Oregon Geographic NamesBoard website, under Oregon HistoricalSociety.Other proposals on the Nov. 5 agendainclude a change from Buffalo Peak toBuffalo Rock in Lane County; competingapplications for Young or Larson for anunnamed creek in Tillamook County, andSchooner Rocks for a cluster of unnamedrocks off shore in Lincoln County. Detailsare on the Oregon Historical Societywebsite.For location and meeting times Nov. 5,contact President Sharon Nesbit, snesbit@aol.com, or at 503-665-0423.The Oregon Geographic Names Boardwas established in 1908 by the Governor,and administration of the board wastransferred to the Oregon HistoricalSociety in 1959. It has 25 members, 24of whom are citizen volunteers with nocompensation. The members, cartographers,geographers, historians, representall geographic areas of Oregon and areappointed by the Executive Directorof the Oregon Historical Society whoalso serves as the Board’s permanentSecretary.Happy Thanksgivingto all our readersRe-electBillQuaemptsAt-LargeBOTmemberPaid political adNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal13

14 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Cobell remembered as Native American warriorFriends, family gatherto remember Blackfeetwoman who discoveredgovernment’s ineptitudeBy the CUJand MATT VOLZ, Associated PressBROWNING, Montana - ElouiseCobell was remembered as a warriorwhose compassion and grit drove herto dedicate the last 16 years of her life toholding the U.S. government accountablefor billions lost or stolen from her fellowNative Americans.Friends, family and American Indianleaders gathered in the high school gymnasiumon the Blackfeet Indian Reservationfor a funeral Mass for Cobell, whodied Oct. 16 of cancer. She was 65.Larry Echo Hawk, the Interior Department’sassistant secretary for Indian affairs,read a letter from Interior SecretaryKen Salazar that said Cobell was ``asignificant force for change.’’ Her work inbringing about a $3.4 billion settlement forhundreds of thousands of American Indianshonorably resolves something thathas weighed on the American consciencefor more than a century, Echo Hawk said.Under the settlement, the U.S. governmentwould pay up to 500,000 NativeAmericans for mismanaging theiraccounts, buy up fractionated land andturn it over to the tribes and establish acollege scholarship fund.Cobell was born on the reservationwith the Indian name Yellow Bird Woman,the great-granddaughter of famousElouise Pepion Cobell - Inokesquetee saki - Yellowbird WomanIt was undeniable the amount of love,determination and strength it took ElouiseCobell to battle the U.S. government, cancerand conditions many have never experienced.What I witnessed attending herfuneral was the loss of a great Mom, Auntieand friend to so many people. I couldn’t helpbut admire all her family strength in payingtheir respects to her on that day. I kept hearing“El is with us today” and I felt it too.Elouise almost made it to her 66th birthday.Indeed her cake would have Elvis ontop. Her message was clear, move forward,keep fighting, and don’t give up. So I won’t.As Cobell Land Specialist, I feel like Elouisehad a hand in sending me in the direction Iam moving toward. As a good friend of herPepion family, I want to extend my condolencesto everyone I met in Birch Creek.They said El planned to plan, with everyIndian leader Mountain Chief. She saidshe heard stories even as a child of howNative Americans were being cheatedout of royalties owed them for the use oftheir land, which was held in trust by theInterior Department.After receiving an education in businessand accounting, Cobell and her husbandAlvin returned to the reservationand took up her life’s calling of helpingher tribe and neighbors manage theirfinances. She was the tribe’s treasurer for13 years. She also helped set up one of thefirst Indian-owned banks in the U.S., theNative American Bank, and was executivedirector of the bank’s nonprofit affiliate,the Native American CommunityDevelopment Corp.As she looked more closely into thestories of the mismanagement by the U.S.detail thought out. So, she went out like atrue warrior that she was, right down to theend when they took her home to her ranch.People will continue to speak her namefor many years to come, it’d be hard notto. Her memory reminded me of my ownparents’ accomplishments. My dad, a foundingmember of the CTUIR Board of Trusteesand first ever General Council Chair, and mymother, the General Council Secretary whenthe 1957 Census rolls were certified. If I hadthe opportunity to meet Elouise I know shewould be proud. Elouise Cobell brought itall full circle for me, why we do what we do- before we are leaders; one Native womanwith a heart of gold for her People.- Andrea Hall, CTUIR Land Aquisition Program/Probate- Indian Trust Settlement - Cobell, attended the Oct. 22funeral in Browning, Mont.government, she discovered there wasno accounting of how much was owedbut that the lost and squandered moneycould amount to hundreds of billionsdating back to 1887.Then in 1996, she and four other NativeAmericans filed the class-action lawsuitthat in 2009 resulted in a $3.4 billionsettlement with the U.S. governmen.Cobell spent those years raising money,lobbying members of Congress and travelingacross the nation to meet with plaintiffs.She won a $300,000 ``genius grant’’ fromthe John D. and Catherine T. MacArthurFoundation in 1997 and used most of themoney to help fund the lawsuit.The settlement was approved by Congressand signed by President BarackObama late last year but payments havebeen delayed until at least next year asthe judge considers several appeals ofthe settlement by potential beneficiaries.Just weeks before the judge’s approval,Cobell discovered she had cancer. Shedied Oct. 16 at a hospital in Great Falls.Dave Tovey, Executive Director forthe Confederated Tribes of the UmatillaIndian Reservation knew Cobell and hadthis to say with her passing:“Elouise was one of the most graciousand generous individuals I’ve had thepleasure to know. As Umatilla was aproject site for the First Nations FinancialProject some 23 years ago, Elouisewas among a group of their crew thatcollectively today are at the head if anynumber of Indian organizations. Shehad a hand in shaping the First AnnualIndian Land Consolidation Conferencewe hosted in 1990. She told me storiesof her days of research where Interiorofficials and staff in D.C. were showingup to work in minks and Cadillacs. Shetold me about lonely Indian widows inareas where huge royalties for oil andminerals should have benefitted them butdidn’t. Like many of our proud people,they were reluctant to even complain.Elouise was a warrior in every senseand she persevered in every way imaginable.I resented it when critics wouldsay she was going to get too much ortoo much for the team if attorneys thatworked for over 10 years for free or whatElouise could beg or borrow. It’s sadlyironic that she was so close to seeing theresults of her life’s work, but not get tosee landowners get some considerationand compensation. But, its as if shefought, won, and only got to miss thefinal applause.”Locally Owned and Operated, Serving You Since 1999PendletonOregonT-shirts$10Sweatshirts$15See our apparel line at DGgifts.com(Click on the red shirt)Order from our store front and get FREE freightNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal15

Water quality standards protect peopleBy the CUJSALEM - Oregon’s Water QualityStandards, with the stiffest pollutionregulations in the country, were approvedOct. 17 by the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency.The adopted standards use new humanhealth criteria based on a new fishconsumption rate. The standards are designedto better protect Native Americansand others who eat more fish than thegeneral population.The new standards were developedover several years by the Oregon Departmentof Environmental Quality in collaborationwith the Confederated Tribesof the Umatilla Indian Reservation andthe EPA.Paul Lumley, executive director forthe Columbia River Inter-Tribal FishCommission, which represents the fourtreaty-fishing tribes (Umatilla, Yakama,Warm Springs and Nez Perce), saidEPA’s approval of Oregon’s revised waterquality standards is “realization of atribal vision” set in motion in the 1980s.“Based on our fish consumptionsurvey and fish contamination study,these standards will provide significantprotection to our tribal members andwill improve the overall health of ourecosystem,” Lumley said. “A partnershipbetween the tribes, EPA and the state,this outcome demonstrates the types ofaccomplishments that can occur when wework together toward a common goal.”Dennis J. McLerran, EPA Region 10Administrator, in a letter to Oregon‘Based on our fish consumption survey andfish contamination study, these standardswill provide significant protection to our tribalmembers and will improve the overall healthof our ecosystem.’Department of Environmental Quality(DEQ) Director Dick Pedersen, said the“revised standards will … serve as a nationaland regional model.” (The state ofWashington has begun a similar processexpected to increase its fish consumptionrate; more information at the bottom ofthis story.)The new standards are in effect as ofEPA’s actions. Oregon will not reevaluateexisting wastewater discharge permits,which are effective for five years, as calledfor in the federal Clean Water Act. Ratherthe state will consider each permit as itcomes up for renewal, which is a continualon-going process.The new fish consumption rate increasesby 10 fold, from 17.5 grams a day(about the amount of fish that would fiton a soda cracker) to 175 grams a day(about 23 eight-once meals a month),the amount of fish that can safely beconsumed, according to state and federalagencies.Paul Lumley, CRITFC Executive DirectorThe fish consumption rate is an importantfactor for developing human healthstandards, according to an EPA fact sheet.The more fish, shellfish and water peopleconsume containing toxic pollutants, forinstance mercury, dioxins and pesticides,the more they’re at risk for developingillnesses such as cancer, cardiovasculardisease, neurological and behavioraldisorders and kidney disease.The new standards, which will restrictthe amount of pollutants that can bereleased into Oregon’s waterways, areexpected to dramatically effect industrialfacilities and larger municipal sewagetreatment facilities (generally for citieswith populations of 10,000 residents ormore) operating under wastewater dischargepermits in Oregon. In some cases,permit holders that cannot meet a permitlimit due to one or more reasons stated inthe variance rule – such as when availabletreatment technologies are prohibitivelyexpensive or when human-caused ornaturally-occurring pollutant levels precludemeeting water quality standards– can apply for a variance.(Forestry, agricultural, constructionand other activities will be affected. However,the Oregon DEQ intends to interactwith the Oregon Departments of Agricultureand Forestry to help pollutionrunoff sources implement managementpractices to reduce toxic runoff from farmand timber lands. In addition, DEQ willalso offer “new permitting implementationtools” to assist dischargers in makingchanges. Several of these tools take intoaccount levels of background pollutantsalready present in a discharger’s intakewater through intake credits and a sitespecificbackground pollutant provision.)In August, Pedersen acknowledgedthat the “new standards have drawn agreat deal of interest and concern fromthe business and agricultural community,legislators and others who fear they willbe overly restrictive. But DEQ will workclosely with all those affected to ensurethese changes are implemented fairlyand effectively. We will monitor the newregulations’ effectiveness and report backto legislators and others on how the newstandards are working. We feel stronglythat these standards set the right goals forOregon waters and, over time, will formthe basis for any needed improvements inthe quality of Oregon’s waters, its overallenvironment, and its overall livability.”In February of 2013 and 2015, theOregon DEQ will report to the OregonSee Oregon Water Quality standards, Page 51Paid Political Ad16 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Ye l l o w h a w k Tr i b a l H e a l t h C e n t e r - U m a t i l l a I n d i a n R e s e r v a t i o n - 5 4 1 - 9 6 6 - 9 8 3 0Health CommissionMembers:At right,Chair Shawna GavinKathryn BurkeMartina GordonBelow,Bette McLeanMyrna ToveySandra SampsonRobert ShippentowerCTUIR Tribal Health Commission Thanksgiving Message:Thanksgiving is upon us and the Health Commission is thankful for the committed and dedicated staff at YTHC who haveaccomplished so much this year. We hope everyone has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.Medicare Sign Ups at YellowhawkOctober 15 - December 7CTUIR-enrolled Elders:It is time to sign up for your Medicare Part D, prescription benefits. Sign up throughDec. 7, 2011. For more information and assistance with registration you can call 541-966-9830 or come in and speak with any of the Yellowhawk Patient Care Coordinatorsat the registration kiosks, or with Linda Hettinga, Business Office Manager.CTUIR Elders should already have received in the mail booklets and applications explainingMedicare Part D. Please bring your information into Yellowhawk for assistancein re-enrolling in the program.Why do I need to sign up for Medicare Part D? When CTUIR elders are enrolled forMedicare Part D, it helps save limited CHS funds and allows Yellowhawk to collect revenueso the clinic can provide additional services to our patients and community.LikeUs(and learn)OnBy enrolling in Medicare Part D, CTUIR Elders help themselves, Yellowhawk and theCTUIR community. Remember, for information and assistance with registration, come inor call 541-966-9830.November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal17

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAYPendleton High School Auditorium6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 30Open to the publicA Native American cultural presentation by the students from PHS, Washington Elementary, LincolnGrade School and Nixyaawii Community School. Come and enjoy an educational experience bysome our community’s most talented Native students.For more info, contact Randall Minthorn, Indian Education Coordinator at PHS, 541-966-3851 orRandall.Minthorn@pendleton.k12.or.usArguably the bestChicken Fried Steakin the World.You be the judge.2220 SE Court Ave / Pendleton / 541-276-1075Tribes purchase 900 acres inGibbon, Meacham Creek areaGIBBON – The Confederated Tribes have purchased more than 900 acres inthe Gibbon and Meacham Creek area that contain vital watershed, riparian,timber and grazing areas.The property was purchased in eight different tracts, according to the LandAcquisition Program within the CTUIR Department of Economic and CommunityDevelopment.Staff in the Land Acquisition Program asked that the property sellers’ namesnot be reported, as requested by the property owner during negotiations.The Land Acquisition Committee has had this particular property on theirtop 10 priority acquisition list for over six years,” a reply for Land AcquisitionProgram staff reads.In the next few months the Land Program, with the assistance from variousCTUIR programs, will be developing a resource management plan, which willdetail the future utilization of the property.“The bottom line is the purchase demonstrates that CTUIR continues thegrowth of the land base to restore the Umatilla Indian Reservation,” the replystates.Clinic will help elders with Medicare Part DMISSION – Elders have until Dec. 7 tosign up for Medicare Part D prescriptioncoverage.CTUIR elders already should havereceived in the mail two booklets andapplications explaining Medicare Part Dand the re-enrollment process.But it isn’t as simple as it might sound.With that in mind, Yellowhawk PatientCare Coordinators are prepared toassist elders with information and reenrollmentregistration. Coordinators canbe contacted by phone at 541-966-9830 orat the clinic kiosks. Additionally, LindaHettinga, Yellowhawk Business OfficeManager, is available to help elders.Elders are asked to bring their Medicareinformation with them to Yellowhawk.Besides the prescription coverageMedicare offers, there are other reasonswhy CTUIR elders should enroll. Enrollmentin the program helps save limitedCommunity Health Service funds andallows Yellowhawk to collect revenue sothe clinic can provide additional servicesto patients and the community.Re-electN. Kathryn“Kat” BrighamWRITE-INHELENMORRISONFORGENERALPaid Political AdBoard of TrusteesSecretaryPaid Political AdCOUNCILSECRETARY18 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Tamastslikt showingVeteran’s Day filmsPENDLETON - In honor of VeteransDay, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute willscreen documentary films on Friday,Nov. 11, from 12:30-5 p.m.As part of the PEPSI PRIMETIME @THE MUSEUM, these films will be shownfree of charge and the event is open tothe public.In addition, on Veterans Day all veteranscan receive free admission to themuseum. (Tamástslikt is always freeto members of the CTUIR, Inwai Circle,Blue Star families, Oregon HistoricalSociety, Washington State Historical Society,and the Fort Walla Walla Museum.)Beverages and snacks will be provided byPepsi Bottling of Pendleton.The Voice of America News reportedthat, “American Indians have consistentlysent more men per capita into theArmed Forces than any other racial orethnic group. More than 12,000 were inthe trenches in World War I, six yearsbefore being ‘recognized’ as citizens ofthe country they’d fought and died for.Some 44,000 served during World WarII; another 42,000 were in the junglesof Vietnam. And in the Gulf War, oneout of every three Marines was NativeAmerican.”At 12:30 p.m. see Reel Injun, a 2009 filmby Canadian Native Neil Diamond, that won aprestigious Peabody Award in 2011. It examineshow Hollywood and its ilk devolved theidentity of many diverse tribal identities into onefalse “fabricated category” of American Indian.The complete filmography of American Indiandepiction encompasses more than 4,000 films.Why is this film being screened on Veteran’sDay? Indian veteran after Indian veteran haverecounted how movie portrayals of Indians influencedmilitary commanding officers to placeIndian soldiers in harm’s way. Fantastic as itmay seem, military officers took the movies tobe true depictions of American Indian superwarriors, possessed of extraordinary sensesand reflexes, skills and abilities. For that reason,the city boy from Chicago might be repeatedlyassigned to “take point” of dangerous patrolssolely because of his racial identity. The documentaryitself is a romp through unreality andshould be enjoyed for its comedic value. It wasproduced in 2009 through Rezolution Picturesand the National Film Board of Canada and isreleased by Kino Lorber, Inc. View the officialtrailer at http://www.reelinjunthemovie.com/site/At 2 p.m., Choctaw Code Talkers, a 2010release, will be shown. In 1918, not yet citizensof the U.S., Choctaw members of the AmericanExpeditionary Forces were asked to use theirnative language as a powerful tool againstthe German forces in WWI, setting a precedentfor code-talking as an effective militaryweapon and establishing them as America’soriginal code talkers. Choctaw Code Talkerswill transport viewers back to World War I foran intimate and engaging look into the lives ofthese brave men, their families, their dreamsand their patriotism to a country that wouldremember them as heroes, but not until aftertheir deaths. Co-produced by Red-Horse NativeProductions, Inc., Valhalla Motion Pictures andNative American Public Telecommunications,Inc. (NAPT) http://visionmaker.semkhor.com/newswire.asp?content_id=23669At 3 p.m.: Way of the Warrior examines thevisceral nature of war and the bravery of NativeAmerican veterans who served in WWI, WWII,the Korean War and the Vietnam War - andcame to grips with difficult post-war personaland societal conditions. Featured author TomHolm proposes that Indians were disproportionatelyplaced in dangerous positions such asleading point, doing long range reconnaissance,and parachuting behind enemy lines, becauseof the stereotypical “Indian scout” syndrome.In Vietnam, for example, Indians were far morelikely to experience moderate to heavy combatthan the general enlistee, according to his research.The gripping and horrifying nature ofwar is brought home through dramatic historicalfootage, period photographs and sound effects.(2007) Producer: Patty Loew http://www.wpt.org/wayofthewarrior/index.cfmAt 4 p.m. True Whispers: The Story of theNavajo Code Talkers. Of all the untold storiesfrom World War II that have come to light,none is more poignant than that of the CodeTalkers - some 400 Navajo youths, boys really- who were recruited by the U.S. to devise anunbreakable code in the language they hadbeen forbidden to speak. TRUE WHISPERSexplores the complex story of the code talkersfrom the Indian point of view and reveals thepivotal role they played in helping the U.S.military forces in the Pacific. Because the coderemained top secret until 1967, their achievementswent largely unrecognized. (2002) US.Director: Valerie Red-Horse (Cherokee-Sioux);Producer: Yvonne Russo (Sicangu Lakota);and Gale Anne Hurd; Executive Producer:Dawn Jackson (Ojibwe). http://www.tribalink.org/archives/whispers.htmEdge of the WildTAXIDERMYBob Fossek, Owner• Shoulder Mounts• Lifesize• Antler Plaques• Birds• Fan Mounts> By Appointment

Halloween on the RezTrick-or-treaters were abundant around the Umatilla Reservation on Oct. 31. Tribalgovernment offices welcomed dozens of youngsters during the day and that night the YouthServices and Recreation Program hosted the annual Hoo-Hoots pow-wow at the communitygym. Youngsters that could be identified by press time included Sophie Bronson (receivingcandy from Cyndee Bean), and Tatum Ganuelas dressed as a little pink cow girl.Wildhorse hires newmarketing directorPENDLETON – Wildhorse Resort &Casino has hired Gene Stachowski as theDirector of Marketing after a year-longsearch. Stachowski comes to Pendletonfrom Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casinoin Santa Fe, N.M. bringing with him morethan 20 years of management experiencein the gaming industry.“Gene’s expertise will be critical forus as we move into 2012 with our newlyexpanded property,” said Gary George,CEO of Wildhorse Resort and Casino.“The experience he brings gives himthe ability to foresee opportunities thatare coming our way as we move intonew markets and extend our reach as aregional destination resort.”As Director of Marketing, Stachowskiwill supervise all of the marketingfunctions and initiatives, frompromotions, entertainment and eventsto Club Wild, database marketing andadvertising.Stachowski was the Executive Directorof Marketing and Public Relations atBuffalo Thunder Resort & Casino. He hasworked in similar positions at casino inCalifornia and Arizona.The newly appointed Director islooking forward to the new challengesat Wildhorse.“I am excited about the opportunitiesahead for Wildhorse and the ConfederatedTribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.I am really looking forward tobeing a part of this team as we launch theexpanded property into new markets,”says Stachowski.Woodrow Wilson Star, Jr. “PIATOT” (White Eagle)The Great Grandson of John Mithorn “WETYETMAS WAHYAKT”(Swan Necklace) Grandson of Elizabeth MinthornSon of Theresa Mae (Eagle) Star and Woodrow W. Star Sr.Born in Nespelem WA in 1949, raised in Toppenish WA andWhite Shield ND. Attended school at St. Francis BoardingSchool, St. Francis SD; and Ft. Yates Boarding School, Ft. YatesND. Served in the U.S. Army 18th Military Police Brigade,stationed in Phu Bai, Viet Nam (’71-’72).Attended the Indian Police Academy, Roswell NM,Federal Criminal Investigation School,Glynnco GA; and the FBI Academy, Quantico VA.VOTE NOVEMBER15 2011 forWoodrow StarWrite-In-CandidateBOT At-Large31 years Law Enforcement experience. 12 years as aSupervisory Criminal Investigator and Chief of Police. IncludingRosebud PD, Rosebud SD; Pine Ridge PD, Pine Ridge SD;Billings Area Office. Billings MT; and Standing Rock PD,Ft. Yates ND.Vote for Woodrow Star as Write-In-CandidateBOT AT- Large in the 2011 election.With a proven record of governmental relations andexperience with budget analysis and development. Please takethe time to compare and support my candidacy.It would be a great honor to serve and workon the Board of Trustees.Paid Political Ad20 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal21

CUJ Community, Health & EducationHealthy eventsset for NovemberMISSION – Several wellness opportunitiesare planned in November,according to Kristi Yunker, the wellnesscoordinator for the Confederated Tribesof the Umatilla Indian Reservation.Those opportunities include:• “Dirt! The Movie” starts at noon onNov. 9 in Room L202 of the NixyaawiiGovernance Center.• Wellness Screening Roundup from6-10 a.m. Nov. 15 in Cayuse Hall at WildhorseCasino. Free blood screens, fitnesstests, flu shots, health information whena number of exhibitors.• Great American Smokeout all day atall tribal workplaces Nov. 17. “Calling allsmokers and spit chewers … Challengeyour coworkers to support you by quittingsomething of their own as well (soda,sweets, fast food, etc.) Contact Yunker,Jennifer Campbell (Yellowhawk), TarynMinthorn (CTUIR Benefits) or Robin Alexander(Wildhorse Benefits) for detailsabout pledge cards.• NGC Potluck at noon Nov. 18 inthe Nixyaawii Governance Center Commons.The potluck has a Thanksgivingtheme.Movie Day!Nov. 9 in Room L202, NGCFree Lunch and watch “Dirt! the Movie”Starting at 12 Sharp!Listen and LearnCUJ photo/Tara BurnsideLinda Howart helps Sydney Care, 1, Addison Carey, 4, at the Listen and Learn ‘DangerousDecibels’ event at the Longhouse on the Umatilla Indian Reservation Oct. 19. Listen andLearn program leaders teamed up with the Tribal community to help prevent hearing loss andtinnitus associated with exposure to loud sounds. Listen and Learn is a program of OregonHealth Sciences University.Streetman new BehavioralHealth Program managerMISSION – Dr. Joe Streetman, a parttimecounselor who recently earned hisPh.D. in psychology, has been namedmanager of the Behavioral Health Programat YellowhawkTribal Health Center.Streetman succeedsCarolyn Featherston,who retiredin September afterleading the programfor seven years. UnderFeatherston’stutelage, the BehavioralHealth Programsuccessful combinedJoe Streetmantreatment for alcohol-and-drugaddictionwith mental health and preventionefforts.Streetman takes over a staff of highlytrained and certified counselors. Themental health component of the programincludes three counselors and a co-occurring(dual diagnosis) disorder specialist.Streetman also inherits a programthat recently has received grants totalingsome $2.3 million - $1.4 million forsuicide prevention and $900,000 to planand design a holistic, community basedsystem of care to support mental healthand wellness for children, youth andfamilies.Paid Political Ad22 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Everybody’s impressed with new Hotel TowerBy the CUJPENDLETON – Through the confetti,you could see smile after smile, and someproud faces, too, as Wildhorse Resort’snew Hotel Tower and casino expansionwere formerly inaugurated with a ribboncutting ceremony Oct. 12.Wildhorse CEO Gary George andCTUIR Board of Trustees Chairman LesMinthorn cut the ribbon between the hotellobby and the new gaming floor. Theywere accompanied by Pendleton Chamberof Commerce Ambassadors and ErnieStevens, chairman of the National IndianGaming Association, who took a red-eyeflight from Washington, D.C., to be herefor the celebration.Tribal member Janice Hill may havesummed it up the best when she talkedabout what impressed her most aboutthe new hotel.“It looks fun when you come in thedoor,” Hill said. “You know you are goingto have fun.”Stevens said he was impressed by thesize of the hotel.“You come here and you see thebeauty and the size of it. You have a LasVegas look but you’re still in the heart ofIndian Country,” Stevens said.Stevens said he also was glad to seeIndians working at the hotel.“There are lots of strong beautifulpeople in Indian Country and I love tosee employees working,” he said. “I gotup this morning and zigzagged acrossthe country because I was determined tostand by my word and be here.”Also in attendance was PendletonMayor Phil Houk who said members ofthe CTUIR should be proud of the newhotel.“It’s a really beautiful place,” Houksaid. “The customers are going to beWildhorse CEO Gary George and CTUIR Board of Trustees Chairman Les Minthorn cut the ribbonat the grand opening of the Wildhorse Hotel and casino expansion. The Pendleton Chamber ofCommerce Ambssdors were on hand. Below, George with Ernie Stevens, chairman of the NationalIndian Gaming Association.Pendleton MayorPhil Houkimpressed.”Houk said he thinks the hotel, and allthe Wildhorse amenities, plus growth atCoyote Business Parknearby, should helpPendleton’s economy,too.“I hope it will generatemore foot traffic,”he said. “From abroader scope, I thinkthis will spill over sothat businesses willsee additional revenuesfrom those thatcome to town.”Houk said he realizesthat most of the people working atTribal enterprises live in Pendleton andspend their money in Pendleton.“I’ve always felt like the Tribes are agood partner with Pendleton,” he said.One after another, people talked aboutwhat impressed them most on that openingafternoon event.CTUIR member Kaeleen McGuire,By the numbers:- 202 rooms ranging from 452square feet to 637 square feet- Total of 145,000 square feeton 10 floors- Room rates ranging from $89to $199 depending on the roomsize and day of the week- 400 additional slot machineson 24,000 square feet ofexpanded casino floor- Total cost $50 millionwho works with Stevens at NIGA – “Ilove the coffee machines in the rooms.That is such a nice touch. I’ve also noticedthe customer service.”Robert McKenzie of Pendleton – “It’sthe best thing that’s happened in thearea. I think it’s a good thing for thosethat want it. We don’t gamble but I liketo see what’s going on. This hotel bringsa lot of people to the area that wouldn’tbe here ordinarily.”Dee Pigsley, chair of the Siletz Tribeon the Oregon Coast – “It’s very beautiful.Done very very well. The machinesare new and I know you will be verysuccessful.”Cyndy Caldwell, member of the PendletonChamber of Commerce Ambassadors,who helped with the ribbon cutting– “I’m most impressed with the fact thatit is drawing a lot of outside people toPendleton and the fact it will provide jobsfor the people in the community.”November Special5-Meat StuffedONLY$11Family size$2 more541-276-7272613 SW EmigrantOpen Daily 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.We gladly accept EBT.Paid Political AdNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal23

Portland to Coast RelayA local team of walkers, the Rez Bratz,competed in the 2011 Portland to Coast RelayAugust 26-27, tallying a time of 32 hoursand 25 minutes from downtown Portland toSeaside, Oregon. The race was close to 130miles and included each person completingtwo legs of the race. More than 400 teamscompeted in this year’s event with over 4,000walkers.The Rez Bratz, composed mostly of employeesfrom CTUIR, Wildhorse and CayuseTechnologies, included front row, LorasaCreger, Brook Kristovich, Vaughn Herrera,Carol Farrow, Kristi Yuner, Cecelia Husted,Jose Ortega, and back row, Deanna Crane,Todd Rothrock, Terence Denny, Don Fisher,Orville Sheoships and Pam Fisher.VeteransCornerBy Bob DeRocher,CTUIR Veterans CoordinatorNovember 11 is Veterans Day. Itstarted out as Armistice Day, the daythat the fighting stopped in World WarI. Hostilities officially ceased on the 11thhour of the 11th day of the 11th month.This year should be especially significant,as for the first time, we will add the 11thyear to that string of 11’s.Many people confuse Memorial Dayand Veterans Day. Both holidays wereestablished to recognize and honor themen and women who have worn the uniformof the United States Armed Forces.But Memorial Day, which is observed onthe last Monday in May, was originallyset aside as a day for remembering andhonoring military personnel who died inthe service of their country, particularlythose who died in battle or as a result ofwounds sustained in battle.While those who died are also rememberedon Veterans Day, which isobserved on November 11, VeteransDay is intended to thank and honorall those who served honorably in themilitary - in wartime or peacetime. Infact, Veterans Day is largely intended tothank living Veterans for their service, toacknowledge that their contributions toour national security are appreciated, andto underscore the fact that all those whoserved - not only those who died - havesacrificed and done their duty.I would like to encourage everyoneto take the time to thank our Veterans,and their families, for all they have donefor us, for the United States, and for theConfederated Tribes of the Umatilla IndianReservation. Every person who hasstood up and sworn the Oath to “defendthe Constitution of the United States ofAmerica, against all enemies, foreign anddomestic”, has paid a price for that oath,sometimes the price was small, somethingwe don’t even consider a real costto us, but sometimes, the price we werecalled upon to pay was the ultimate price.As the saying goes… All gave some…Some gave All.I would like to take this time to personallythank all of our Veterans, as well astheir families, for their service and theirsacrifices to protect our Nation. Qe’ciyéw’yew’Bob DeRocher, CTUIR Veterans Coordinator- email: robertderocher@ctuir.orgPhone: 541-429-7310.November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal25

Denver man’s sentencereduced in 1975 AIM slayingBy DIRK LAMMERS, Associated PressSIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A Denver manconvicted of first-degree murder for hisrole in the 1975 shooting death of anAmerican Indian Movement activist hashad his federal prison sentence reducedfrom life to 20 years, federal court documentsshow.In February 2004, a federal jury inRapid City, S.D., convicted Arlo LookingCloud, 58, in the slaying of fellowAIM activist Anna Mae Pictou Aquash,a 30-year-old member of the Mi’kmaqtribe of Nova Scotia. He was sentencedto a mandatory life prison term.But Looking Cloud in Decembertestified for state prosecutors against coconspiratorJohn Graham, whom jurorsconvicted of felony murder.A series of court filings in LookingCloud’s federal case since March havebeen sealed, but documents show thatU.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersolsigned an order in August reducingLooking Cloud’s sentence.Mark Salter, a spokesman for the U.S.Attorney’s Office in South Dakota, saidhe couldn’t offer any additional informationother than what was in the signedamended judgment.A call to Looking Cloud’s attorney wasnot immediately returned.Aquash’s frozen body was found inFebruary 1976 on the Pine Ridge IndianReservation. The Canadian woman hadbeen shot in the head.Federal agents investigated for yearsbut didn’t bring an indictment untilMarch 2003, when Denver police arrestedLooking Cloud.Graham, of the Southern Tutchonetribe in Canada’s Yukon territory, wasarrested in December 2003 in Vancouver,British Columbia, on federal charges inAquash’s killing. But two courts ruledthat the U.S. government lacked jurisdictionto try Graham because he is notAmerican Indian, and the case was eventuallymoved to state court.In Graham’s December trial, LookingCloud testified that he stood nearby asGraham shot Aquash on the reservationand left her to die.Graham’s attorney, John Murphy,suggested that Looking Cloud had embellishedhis story to get his life sentencereduced. Looking Cloud agreed that hehad left out details before, but repeatedlysaid he was trying to tell the truth in thetestimony.Aquash’s elder daughter, Denise MaloneyPictou, said that she had no commenton the sentence reduction.AIM was founded in the late 1960s toprotest the U.S. government’s treatmentof Indians and demand the governmenthonor its treaties with Indian tribes. Thegroup grabbed headlines in 1973 when ittook over the village of Wounded Knee,leading to a 71-day standoff with federalagents that included the exchange ofgunfire.Prosecutors believe Graham, LookingCloud and a third AIM activistkidnapped and killed Aquash becauseAIM leaders thought she was a governmentspy.Pleasewrite-inMarcusLuke II‘2’ForVice ChairmanOfGeneral CouncilI appreciateyour VOTE!Paid Political AdDon’t forget to VOTENov. 15 at the NGCNovember 14thHappy Birthday IsaiahLove Always ~ Dad,Bro’s, & FamilyHappiest BirthdayWishes Danielle!November 16th~Love & Mercy ~Brian DouglasHelp your kids comehome for the holidays.Jane Neal, owner65 S Main Pendleton541-276-4821jane@vacation.com26 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Community briefsDiabetes Program wants opinions about excersiceMISSION – The Diabetes Program at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center will conductfocus groups on the current Exercise Program the clinic offers.“We will be inviting community members to tell us what they think of the programnow in place and to give us their ideas about a better program that would meettheir needs for exercise,” said Jennifer Campbell, Chronic Disease Prevention HealthPromotion Coordinator at Yellowhawk.To conduct the focus groups, Yellowhawk is looking for interested individualswho have had experience facilitating such activities. This is a paid position and wouldinvolve about 10 hours of work over a short period of time.Anyone interested in helping run the focus groups should call Campbell at 541-278-7512 or email her at jennifercampbell@yellowhawk.org.Bill schedules annual Holiday Bazarr at LonghouseMISSION – Annette Bill is hosting her annual Holiday Bazaar at the MissionLonghouse from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 23.Cost is $10 per table.For more information, call Bill at 541-379-0227.WW classes being offered to CTUIR employeesMISSION – Jeremiah Farrow is starting a Walla Walla language class for employeesof the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.Class will start Nov. 9 from 2-3 p.m. in the Winaha and Qapqapa ConferenceRooms on the second floor of the Nixyaawii Governance Center.The ‘Beginning Waluulapam’ class will be offered once a week for 12 weeks.Tribal employees are allowed one hour a week (with supervisor approval) of culturaleducation leave, Farrow said.Those who want to attend the class should contact Farrow soon. He can be reachedat 541-429-7859 or jeremiahfarrow@ctuir.org.Watchman takes reignsas UO Duck recruiterEUGENE – Lindsey X. Watchman, amember of the Confederated Tribes ofthe Umatilla Indian Reservation, is thenew Coordinator of Native AmericanRecruitment in the Admissions Office atthe University of Oregon.Watchman describes himself as the“point of contact for all Duck-relatedm a t t e r s ”as studentsc o n s i d e ra n d / o rdecide toattend UO.“ I a mh e r e t os u p p o r tN a t i v es t u d e n t sn a v i g a t ethe campu s c l i -mate and,ultimately,standalongsideLindsey X. Watchmanyou and your family as we applaud yourgraduation a few short years from now,”Watchman said in a letter of introduction.Watchman attended UO from June2009 to August 2010 and received hisMaster’s degree in Education.According to Watchman, there areseveral reasons why Native studentsshould consider UO, among them being:• Active Native American StudentUnion;• Longhouse for personal, cultural,and academic events;• Mothers’ Day Pow-Wow in May;• Native faculty and staff to “keepan eye on our family of tribal students.”• Opportunity to learn the Sahaptian“language family” of historical andcontemporary dialects still used in theNorthwest;• Diversity of staff, faculty and thenine federally recognized tribes of Oregon.“These are only a few support servicesthat I have encouraged my fellow tribalmembers to seek out when consideringany school, community college or university.We have them here,” Watchmansaid.For more information, contact Watchmanat lindseyw@uoregon.edu or 541-346-2722.Re-ElectRosendaShippentowerforBOT Treasurer• Doctor of Jurisprudence, UO• Master of Science, UO• Bachelor of Science, UOTRUSTWORTHY REALISTIC CONSERVATIVEVote for Proven Leadership’pentower on November 15, 2011Paid Political AdNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal27

HonoringOur VeteransWoodrow Star salutes during one of the Veteransceremonies held during the four day event.Above, Fermore Craig was one of several horsebackriders who met the Vietnam Wall exhibit at the entranceof Wildhorse and Tamastslikt. Below, Command Sgt.Major Melvin Hewitt and his daughter, Modine, look fora name on a Vietnm Wall. They were among hundredsof visitors who came to view the Wall and pay theirrespects.Jan Reitz, a member of Combat Veterans International, stands in front of the VietnamWall, which included the names of more than 58,600 soldiers who died in the conflict.By the CUJMISSION - Tamastslikt Cultural Institute on theUmatilla Indian Reservation opened its newest exhibit,Honoring Our Veterans on Oct. 20, with a four-daydisplay -The Wall: American Veterans Traveling Tribute– that included an 80 percent life-size replica of theVietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.Tamastaslikt’s current exhibit – Honoring Our Veterans– focuses on the world wars and major eras of U.S.military engagement, chronicling the history of Indianscouts up through Operation Iraqi Freedom. The exhibitwill single out individuals who participated in particularconflicts, elaborating on their military experiences. Theexhibit will also profile more than 30 veteran groupsin the region and their roles in supporting soldiers inmaking the transition to civilian life. The exhibit willcontinue through Dec. 31.Panels on the 370-foot wall, organized by date ofdeath, included more than 58,000 names of those whodied in Vietnam. Many panels held the names of hundredsof young Americans killed in 6-10-day periodsduring the Tet Offensive of 1969.The Traveling Tribute also recognized veterans fromWorld War II plus conflicts in Korea, Beirut, Grenada,Iraq and Afghanistan, plus all those who died in the 911attacks on the World Trade Center.The display was erected early Thursday morningand removed Sunday following a non-denominationalservice. Tribal members and Tribal employees had theopportunity to visit the wall and accompanying memorialson Thursday afternoon. A ceremony on Fridayhonored First Responders – police, firemen, ambulancecrews, etc., - and Saturday’s events honored fallen soldierswho died serving the United States in wars fromKorea to Grenada.Basically “anyone put in jeopardy to defend our wayof life,” said Kevin Weatherly from Texas, director anddriver for Operation Traveling Tribute.There were several poignant points during theceremonies, including on Saturday when Ann Stump,accompanied by her husband, Jerry, laid a Gold StarMother wreath to memorialize young men who diedin Iraq or Afghanistan, like their son, Adrian, who diedin 2005 while piloting a helicopter. Another Pendletonman, Tane Baum, also died when that same helicopterwas shot down. Their names were on a Cost of FreedomMemorial created in gold dog tags to honor those whohave died during present day campaigns EnduringFreedom and Iraqi Freedom.Another special moment came on Friday, during theFirst Responders Tribute, when a Vietnam veteran toldthose attending about the day in May of 1967 when morethan a dozen men from his platoon were killed.“I’m trying to locate all the men in my company,”said Melvin Hewitt, a Command Sgt. Major with the46 th Division, Infantry Division, in Vietnam.Hewitt, who received the Distinguished Cross medalfor diving on a grenade to save his men, had nevertalked about that day 44 years ago. He carried a list ofthe men he’d lost and, with the aid of computers setup to locate names for visitors, found most of the men.Sitting on the pavement of the Tamastslikt parkinglot, Huwett, from Umatilla, took a photograph of Panel23A, line 56, where he was looking for the name ofCharles McCaffrey.“I lost most of my men, wounded or killed,” Hewitt said.“I should have taken care of them and brought them home.”John Chess, Development Officer at Tamastslikt andthe main event organizer, said it was Hewitt’s commentsthat hit him hardest.“The Wall itself was simply overwhelming, and seeingits effect on visitors was an experience I will neverforget,” Chess said. “Out of the four days, one momentstands out for me. During the First Responders Tributeon Friday, a Vietnam veteran (Hewitt) shared his storyof terrible loss on the battlefield. It was the first time thathe had spoken in public about it, and it was very emotionalfor him, his family, and everyone in attendance.“A short time after the ceremony, the same gentlemanwas walking down the sidewalk, and a young girl about12 or 13 years old ran by on her way back to her schoolbus,” Chess continued. “As she passed the veteran shecalled out ‘Thank you sir!’ and the veteran smiled. Tome that’s what it was all about, people came togetherto say ‘thank you.’”The Traveling Tribute, carried in two huge trailers,28 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Below, Tony Fink from Hermiston and Sherman Brownfrom Irrigon identify medals on a mannequin in theTamastslikt “Honoring Our Veterans” exhibit, which willcontinue through xxxxxzx.Above,Tribal elder TessieWilliams presented a staff toKevin Weatherly, the driverof the Traveling Tribute. Atright, Umatilla Tribal FireChief Rob Burnside carriesa wreath in honor of fallenfirst responders.Photos by Wil Phinneyand Tara BurnsideAbove, the Traveling Tribute, carried in two huge trailers, was escorted from Stanfield to WildhorseResort by about 50 motorcycle riders representing a variety of clubs and organizations from as faraway as Canby and Prineville, plus police representatives from the Umatilla Indian Reservation,the City of Pendleton and Oregon State Police. Directly above, Randall Minthorn sits on horsebackafter helping to welcome the motorcycle caravan to Tamastslikt Cultural Institute.was escorted from Stanfield to Wildhorse Resort byabout 50 motorcycle riders representing a variety ofclubs and organizations, plus police representativesfrom the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the City of Pendletonand Oregon State Police. At Wildhorse it was metby a group of Indian riders on horseback who led thetribute trailers the rest of the way to Tamastslkit.Weatherly said it was the first time the exhibit (a nonprofitthat takes no government funding) had ever beenescorted by horses.The exhibit started each day with the posting of colorsby members of the George St. Denis American LegionPost 140 or the Yakama Warriors, who also gave a threeroundsalute following the National Anthem on Saturday.Tribute and flag songs were offered by local drum groups,along with singers Micheal Minthorn (Vietnam veteran),Leila Spencer and Martina Gordon; Lloyd Commanderon saxophone; and the Prescott, Wash., middle-and-highschool band. (Prescott was the only band in the area torespond to a request from Tamastslkit to play the StarSpangled Banner at the Wall event.)Attendees were reminded Thursday of the militaryservice by Native Americans who, per capita, have thehighest rate of military volunteerism in America. Inremarks on Saturday, Vietnam veteran Bob Shippentowernoted that in 1917 several tribes independentlydeclared war on Germany – seven years before NativeAmericans were granted American citizenship by thefederal government. Also making remarks Thursdaywas Desiree Allen Cruz, Commander of the George St.Denis American Legion Post 140.Friday’s tribute to First Responders opened withTribal Fire Chief Rob Burnside walking 75 yards to placea wreath in honor of fallen first responders.Tribal Police Chief Tim Addleman said World WarII and Korea defined the generations of his grandfatherand father, Vietnam defined his own generation, and thewar on terror is now defining young adults and children.He noted that members of the Tribal Police Departmenthave and are serving in the armed forces, includingDennis Wernlund who recently was deployed with anArmy National Guard unit to Afghanistan. Addlemanhas sons and a daughter who already have served andanother son, a Marine, soon will be deployed.Remarks also were made by Greg Sherman, OregonState Police; Officer Ryan Lehnert, Pendleton Police; FireChief Burnside; and Jack Remillard, retired assistantchief from the Pendleton Fire Department.Saturday’s wreath ceremony honored soldiers fromthe following conflicts with the names of those wholayed the wreaths:Treaty Signers – Chief Gary BurkeWarriors and Scouts – Chief Jesse JonesWorld War I – Chief Gary Burke and Vietnam VeteranMarvin BurkeWorld War II – Alphonse HalfmoonKorea – Gerald ReedVietnam – Bob ShippentowerOperation Desert Storm – Bill KirkOperation Enduring Freedom – Dave WilliamsOperation Iraqi Freedom – Jeff GigerPOW/MIA – Chief Bill BurkeGold Star Mother – Ann StumpSaturday’s speakers – Major Martin Nelson, ExecutiveOfficer, 3 rd Battalion, 116 th Regiment, Cavalry; Cpt.Max Arvidson, Fox Company Commander, NationalGuard; and Luke Wilson, ORANG Reintegration Team- offered more remarks about the sacrifices of veterans,and challenged citizens to find ways to help veteransre-establish themselves after coming home from the war.Also on Saturday, a “modern warriors” reception washeld inside Tamastslikt and, later in the afternoon, anhonor walk from Tamastslikt to the Nix-Ya-Wii WarriorsMemorial and a candelight vigil were held. That eveninga “Vietnam Wall Touching Ceremony” was held.The Traveling Tribute ended Sunday with a washatprayer, retiring of the colors, and Taps on the saxophoneby Lloyd Commander.Chess said he was impressed by the “tremendousamount of community support” that made the eventpossible. Sponsors of the American Veterans TravelingTribute was presented by St. Anthony Hospital withsponsorships from Wildhorse Resort & Casino, LesSchwab Tire Centers, Cayuse Technologies, AndersonPerry & Associates, Inc., East Oregonian, Seaport Airlines,Capps Broadcast Group, Outwest Catering andthe Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal29

Vote for Its-Tma-TaineTribal member companygets $19 million subcontractDavid Wolf Jr.forBOT Vice Chairman•Dependable20+ years Employment with CTUIR Fisheries•Traditional Hunter and FishermanTeacher of Dipnet Making•Knowledgeable on Tribal AffairsLand Acquisition Committeee MemberPast Chair for Natural ResourceCommission and Farm Committee•Vietnam Era VeteranSargeant, 2d Bn. 321st FA, 82nd Abn. Div.Paid Political AdRICHLAND, Wash. – Phoenix EnterprisesNW, a company run by CTUIRmember Jonetta Everano, has beenawarded a subcontract valued at about$19 million for cleanup work at the HanfordNuclear Reservation.Washington Closure Hanford, whichmanages the $2.3 billion River CorridorClosure Project for the U.S. Departmentof Energy at the Hanford site, awardedthe subcontract to Phoenix in early October.The subcontract calls for removal anddisposal of two research reactors, a radioactivewaste storage vault and severalbuilding slabs, and clean up of waste sitesin Hanford’s 300 Area. Optional workpotentially could make the subcontractworth up to $24 million.“Our small business has been extremelyfortunate in this current economy andour continued growth is dependent ongood personnel and performing our worksafely and compliant,” Everano said in anemail seeking comment. “This award hasmany technical challenges that our teamlooks forward to, and we are extremelyexcited to continue working safely at theHanford sites.”According to a Washington ClosureHanford news release, removing the reactorsand vault will complete the bulk ofthe heavily radioactive cleanup work inthe 300 Area.Phoenix began work in late Octoberby cleaning up two waste sites near twopreviously demolished buildings inthe 300 Area. The waste sites are at theformer locations used for research anddevelopment work. Phoenix will removean estimated 12,626 tons of contaminatedmaterial from the two locations andtransport it to Hanford’s EnvironmentalRestoration Disposal Facility.Phoenix also will remove more than22,000 tons of contaminated soil fromanother site that received waste fromresearch laboratories. It contains a vaultwith two tanks, which were used fortemporary storage of highly radioactiveliquid waste before it was shipped tothe waste tank farms in central Hanford.The tanks have been emptied and filledwith grout.“At 1,700 tons, the grout-filled containerwill be the heaviest items we havetransported and shipped to ERDF fordisposal,” said Tom Kisenwether, 300Area subcontracts manager for WashingtonClosure.All work under the subcontract is to becompleted by September of 2012.Five teams bid on the work; Phoenixwas the lowest priced bidder. ThePhoenix team also includes Barnhart ofMemphis, Tenn.; Carter EnvironmentalServices of Nampa, Idaho; Cutting EdgeServices Corp. of Batavia, Ohio; LVI EnvironmentalServices of Hayward, Calif.;Meier Enterprises of Kennewick; andMetalFab Inc of West Richland.Celebrating Our EmployeesKARL KETTELHUNT & BEN HARRISARE DUAL RECIPIENTS OF THE NOVEMBEREMPLOYEE OF THE MONTHKARLKETTELHUNTKarl & Ben have taken on aproject that is both technicallychallenging and clientdemanding.For a 4 week period thetwo man team was working50-60 hours each week. Theteam inherited a project thatwas behind scheduled andneeded further definition;Karl negotiated effectivelyuntil the clients expectationswere under control and met.BENHARRISEvery month, CayuseTechnologies acknowledgesan Employee of the Month.The Employee of the Monthreceives his or her name onan Employee of the Monthplaque that is placed in theentrance hallway, a CayuseTechnologies Polo shirt, anda personal parking space locatedin the visitor parking lot.30 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

CUJ EnvironmentLamprey climbing ladder at Three-Mile FallsBy the CUJUMATILLA - It may not seem like alot, but the return of 138 lamprey to aspecially designed ladder on the lowerUmatilla River, an Eastern Oregon tributaryof the Columbia River, has surprisedfisheries experts who expected a smallerreturn to take much longer.“We’re trying to figure out why wehave so many more in the Umatilla,” saidAaron Jackson, lamprey project leader forthe Confederated Tribes of the UmatillaIndian Reservation, the tribe leading aneffort to restore the prehistoric fish.Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService on Oct., 13 released its PacificLamprey Assessment and Template forConservation Measures, the first phaseof a broader initiative to conserve andrestore the species throughout its range.Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers has established a Juvenile LarvalLamprey Work Group that will workto determine appropriate methods formonitoring passage at Columbia Riverdams. Those methods could include taggingoutmigrant juvenile lamprey as 4-5year olds in their 11-year lifecycle, andthen following their migration through‘Lamprey predate dinosaurs. These crittersare really old and it bothers me to think that inmy lifetime they could potentially go extinct.’hydro-projects as 5-7-inch juveniles.Once juvenile passage patterns arelearned, the US Army Corps can workto provide protection for this ecologicallyimportant species in decline.Also, a Tribal Lamprey ManagementPlan is going through final editing beforeit will be released by CRITFC (ColumbiaRiver Inter-Tribal Fish Commission)probably later this year.“It’s calling for serious attention,”Jackson said. “The funding gates need tostart opening so we can learn more aboutlamprey. At one time there were probablyseveral million in the Columbia Basinand it’s not unfathomable that we couldhave as many as 20,000 or more returningannually in the Umatilla River. But,currently the populations are depressedAaron Jackson, CTUIR Lamprey Project Leaderand we’re struggling to figure out whythat is.”Jackson said restoring lamprey inthe Columbia River Basin will requirepassage improvements for migratingjuveniles and adults. Juveniles have anoption of using a screened salmon bypasssystem, where they often are impingedin the screen mesh, through “strikeand shear” turbines, or over spillways.Understanding which of these routes isconsidered safe for outmigrating juvenilelampreys is critical to their survival.Adult passage is of equal importance,providing passage routes that are safeand that speed up migration throughthese project is critical.“We’re trying to figure out the bestroute,” Jackson said, “But, we need anactive tag that can be used to monitor passage,and development is taking time”.This year, again for an unknown reason,the number of adult lamprey returningto the Columbia River from the PacificOcean is higher than in recent years. Thisyear’s run of an estimated 50,000 lampreywas twice the number that passed overBonneville Dam last year. However, incomparison, the run was estimated at200,000 adults over Bonneville Dam in2003.Those numbers are estimates, Jacksonsaid, because lamprey counting occurs24 hours a day at Bonneville and only16 hours a day at other projects, whichmisses the critical night time passageperiod.“We want 24 hour counts at all projects,”Jackson said. “The four tribes (ColumbiaRiver treaty-fishing tribes) haveasked the Corps to fund CRITFC (whichrepresents the four treaty fishing tribes)and the Washington Fish and WildlifeDepartment that oversees the countingat US Army Corp projects.”Regardless of the total numbers, therun is reduced dramatically before itSee Lamprey at Three-Mile, Page 50Protesters ride in SD against proposed pipelineBy DIRK LAMMERS, Associated PressSIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Opponents of aproposed oil pipeline from Canada to theTexas Gulf Coast rode horses and bicyclesand walked Oct. 27 along a route from thePine Ridge Indian Reservation towardthe Rosebud Reservation in southernSouth Dakota.The protesters included tribal elders,ranchers and actress Daryl Hannah,who was arrested last summer outsidethe White House in a protest againstTransCanada’s proposed Keystone XLpipeline.The 1,700-mile underground pipeline,which would travel through Montana,South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas andOklahoma, ending up on Texas’s GulfCoast, would carry an estimated 700,000barrels of oil a day, doubling the capacityof an existing pipeline from Canada.Hannah, speaking by telephone afterthe short ride, said the pipeline threatensto contaminate the Ogallala Aquifer, amassive water supply in South Dakotaand seven other states, and would furtherincrease the nation’s dependence on oil.``This pipeline will only shackle us to afuture of being absolutely dependent onthis dirtiest of fossil fuels,’’ she told TheAssociated Press.President Barack Obama said Oct.19 that his administration has made nodecision on whether TransCanada Corp,the Calgary-based company building thepipeline, can move ahead with its plans.A message left with a TransCanadaspokesman was not immediately returned.The company in October offered newsafeguards it said would limit the effectof a potential spill, but company executivesmaintained they cannot move theproposed route at this point in the federalpermitting process.Supporters say the $7 billion projectcould significantly reduce U.S. dependenceon Middle Eastern oil, while opponentssay it would bring ``dirty oil’’See Pipeline protest, Page 41Paid Political AdNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal31

Condit Dam breached; White Salmon runs freeBy SHANNON DININNY, Associated PressA muddy stew of black silt and waterroared through a hole breached by workersin a nearly century-old dam Oct. 26 inWashington’s south Cascades, markinganother step in ongoing efforts to restorehabitat for threatened and endangeredfish in the Pacific Northwest.The more than 12-story Condit Damon the White Salmon River is the secondtallestdam in U.S. history to be breachedfor fish passage, according to the advocacygroup American Rivers.Its two turbines produced about 14megawatts of power, enough for 7,000homes. But its owner, Portland-basedutility PacifiCorp, elected to remove thedam rather than install cost-prohibitivefish passage structures that would havebeen required for relicensing.``This is a very important day for theriver and the community,’’ AmericanRivers spokeswoman Amy Kober said.``We’re not just talking about restoringvital fish runs in the region but improvinga nationally renowned whitewater area.’’The White Salmon River winds fromits headwaters on the slopes of MountAdams through steep, forested canyonsto its confluence with the ColumbiaRiver, the largest river in the PacificNorthwest.The 125-foot Condit Dam, which wasbuilt in 1913, blocked fish passage for nativespecies of Pacific salmon and otheranadromous fish that mature in the oceanand return to rivers to spawn, confiningthem to the lower 3.3 miles of the river.Removing the dam and restoring aPLEASE SUPPORTBOB SHIPPENTOWERFOR RE-ELECTION TO BOT ON NOV. 15• ANALYTICAL/CONCEPTUAL AND WRITING SKILLS• EXPERIENCE – CURRENT TERO COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, HEALTHCOMMISSION MEMBER, LAND ACQUISITION COMMITTEE MEMBER,BOT VETERANS DELEGATE, BOT TRANSPOR-TATION DELEGATE, YELLOWHAWK PROJECTTEAM MEMBER, FORMER EDUCATION COM-MITTEE, FORMER ENROLLMENT COMMIT-TEE MEMBER, FORMER WATER COMMITTEECHAIRMAN• EDUCATION – COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OFOREGON. GRADUATE SCHOOL, UNIVERSITYOF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY• MILITARY SERVICE – VIETNAM VETERAN,NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN COMBATINFANTRY UNIT.Emily Washines, a tribal member andremediation and restoration coordinator forYakama fisheries, said her grandfather, bornin 1915, never saw the free-flowing river.‘My sister and I will be able to see the riverthe way our great-grandparents saw it. Theresurgence of cultural activities and renewinga sense of what that means for our futuregenerations is on the brink of happening.’free-flowing river will open up milesof new habitat for fish and likely createadditional recreational opportunities forkayakers and rafters in a region alreadyknown among whitewater enthusiasts.Sirens sounded several times to warnabout the impending blast shortly afternoon, then black silt and water beganpouring through the hole that wasbreached with 700 pounds of explosives,splashing up the sides of the rocky canyon.PacifiCorp posted a live video feedof the event on its website, and localresidents, conservation groups, and recreationenthusiasts held viewing partiesto celebrate the event.More than 100 people downed pizzaand beer at Wet Planet Whitewater, ariver rafting and guiding company. Theyscreamed and whooped as the dam blew,then a great cheer went through the tentset up for the party.Alexa Williams, 26, was born in thecommunity of White Salmon and lives inHusum, working at Wet Planet, duringthe summer season. An avid rafter andbeginning kayaker, she first floated theriver when she was 10 years old.``It’s going to be neat to see what’sunderneath the water,’’ she said in atelephone interview from the partyin Husum. ``Not that I’m the level ofkayaker who could kayak it yet, but itwould be pretty cool if there were somebig drops in there.’’Yakama tribal members viewed a livefeed of the event in an auditorium ontheir reservation. Area biologists did thesame at the Spring Creek National FishHatchery.About 150 people gathered at the damto watch the blast, including the triballeaders of four area tribes - Umatilla,Yakama, Warm Spring and Nez Perce.Some were visibly moved by the event.Yakama Nation tribal elders havecalled the area a ``paradise,’’ recallingstories about tribal members fishing,hunting and gathering berries and othernative plants before the dam was built.Tribal houses and drying sheds sat atthe confluence with the Columbia forprocessing abundant salmon, steelheadand lamprey.Emily Washines, a tribal member andremediation and restoration coordinatorfor Yakama fisheries, said her grandfather,born in 1915, never saw the freeflowingriver.``My sister and I will be able to see theriver the way our great-grandparents sawit,’’ she said. ``The resurgence of culturalactivities and renewing a sense of whatthat means for our future generations ison the brink of happening.’’Removal of the dam opens up at least33 miles of habitat for steelhead. Habitatfor tule fall chinook will double.Yakama Nation chairman HarrySmiskin likened the return of fish to theriver’s upper stretches to ``welcomingback a relative that has been missing formany years.’’``It is sad that the dam is coming out,but again, it is a return to something ourCreator, our Mother Nature, created forus and to put it back to as close to itsnatural state as it can be,’’ he said.In recent weeks, work crews created atunnel 18 feet wide and 13 feet tall in thebase of the dam to allow water and sedimentto pass through from the reservoirbehind the dam once it is breached. Overthe years, a five-story wedge of silt hascollected in 92-acre Northwestern Lake,a popular recreation spot for boaters andthe dozens of cabin leaseholders on thewater’s edge.Fisheries biologists also captured andrelocated 679 tule chinook from below thedam to the river above it to protect theirredds, or spawning nests, from beinginundated by sediment.PacifiCorp has estimated the dam removalproject at $33 million, far less thanthe $100 million improvements and fishladders that would have been required byfederal regulators to relicense the dam.Fish ladders were incorporated on thedam when it was first built, but stormstwice tore down the structures.Demolition of the remaining portion ofthe dam is scheduled to begin in spring2012 and be completed by Aug. 31,2012. Restoration of the former reservoirshould be completed by the end of 2012.In the largest dam removal project inU.S. history, workers last month beganremoving the 210-foot Glines CanyonDam and the 108-foot Elwha Dam fromthe Elwha River in Washington, partof a three-year $325 million project torestore the Olympic Peninsula river andits salmon runs.IF ELECTED, I WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP ANDWILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO ENSURE TRIBAL POLICIES REFLECTTRIBAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING INTEGRITY, JUSTICE,FAIRNESS AND COMPASSION.THANK YOU. 541-310-7048Paid Political Ad32 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Oregon has new wolf pack along Snake RiverFourth pack to establish instate since wolves startedmoving west from IdahoBy JEFF BARNARD,AP Environmental WriterOregon has a new wolf pack in theHells Canyon area along the Idahoborder, and two members of the state’soriginal pack have split off to roam newterritory in the central part of the state -developments that move the state closerto taking wolves off the state endangeredspecies list.State wolf coordinator Russ Morgansaid Oct. 25 that tracks show at leastfive wolves in the Snake River unit, nearthe northern end of the Hells CanyonNational Recreation Area on the Idahoborder. Photos show at least one pup.Morgan emphasized that they have onlybeen able to document five, and therecould well be more.M o r g a n s a i d b i o l o g i s t s h a v epicked up scat samples and sentthem off for genetic analysis to seewhere the new pack’s members havecome from - Idaho or an existingOregon pack.This is the fourth pack to establish inOregon since wolves introduced in Idahostarted moving west in the 1990s. Oncefour packs produce two pups a year forthree years running, the species can betaken off the state endangered species list,though protections would remain in place.Meanwhile, radio collar tracking datashows two young males from the Imnahapack in northeastern Oregon have gonewest into Central Oregon. Two otherswent east to Idaho. The Imnaha pack wasthe first to produce pups and has becomethe most notorious because it is the onlyone to have preyed on livestock.Two of the four remaining membersare under a kill order from the OregonDepartment of Fish and Wildlife. The OregonCourt of Appeals has put a temporarystay on the order while it considersa challenge from the conservation groupOregon Wild.``Generally it’s good news for wolfrecovery in Oregon if ODFW or poachersdon’t shoot them,’’ said Rob Klavins,of Oregon Wild. ``This should providethe state an opportunity to refocus onconservation rather than killing wolves atthe request of people who think the onlygood wolf is a dead wolf.’’Oregon Cattlemen’s AssociationPresident Bill Hoyt and northeasternOregon rancher Todd Nash did notimmediately return telephone calls forcomment.Morgan said there have been noreports of livestock attacks linkedto the new Snake River pack or thetwo young wolves roaming CentralOregon.The 3-year-old wolf known as OR-3left the Imnaha pack in May. A trackingflight picked up his collar in July inWheeler County and the Ochoco Mountainsat the end of September.The wolf known as OR-7 left the Imnahapack Sept. 10 and has gone throughsix counties _ Baker, Grant, Harney,Crook, Deschutes and, most recently,Lake.``Every time he shows up somewhere,within a week or two he is somewhereelse,’’ said Morgan. ``There is no way totell where he ends up. For all we knowhe may end up in California.’’Paid Political AdNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal33

34 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Lampson project improves more WW habitatMILTON-FREEWATER – The CTUIRWalla Walla Basin Habitat Program hascompleted construction on a major habitatimprovement project on the mainstemWalla Walla River upstream from Milton-Freewater.Continuing a partnership that hasstretched nearly 14 years, the CTUIR WallaWalla Basin Habitat Program worked withlandowners Clark and Layla Lampson ona project that increases fish habitat anddecreases the likelihood of flood watersimpacting their property.“The project has created vital slow waterand side channel habitat that have beenmissing from the river for decades due toagricultural and flood control efforts, andare critical to having healthy salmon runsin the river,” said to Jonathan Thompson,Assistant Fish Habitat Project Leader forthe Confederated Tribes.The project covers about a half mile of theriver behind the Lampson blueberry farm,and includes levee removal, side channelconstruction, woody debris placement,floodplain connectivity, and extensivevegetation replanting.The project focused on removal of thelevee, which had been straightened andconfined between a rock cliff and an informallevee (built by landowners ratherthan part of the formal U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers flood control system) for manyyears, Thompson said.The levee was initially built to providemore space for agriculture. However, theLampsons have had problems with floodwatersbeing trapped behind the leveesand flowing down their property, and havegiven over the land adjoining the river forconservation purposes.Partney Construction of La Grande completedthe levee removal and floodplainexcavation, and brought in hundreds oflarge trees and root wads for the habitatstructures. Design and permitting tookabout two years; the actual constructionstarted July 1 and was completed in earlyOctober.Total construction cost is about $900,000.Most of the funding came from BPA Accordfunds, with additional funding comingfrom the Oregon Department of EnvironmentalQuality and the Oregon WatershedEnhancement Board grants.The Walla Walla Basin WatershedCouncil applied for the OWEB funds andcooperated during the process.CTUIR Project Staff includes Jed Volkman,Project Leader, Jonathan Thompson,Assistant Project Leader, and fish habitattechnicians James Bill, and Frances Marsh.The Confederated Tribes have a 15-yearconservation easement on about 25 acresof the Lampson land. The Tribes have beenworking with the Lampsons for nearly 14years on conservation and fish habitat improvements,including extensive plantingof native vegetation before the recentlyfinished project.The project covers about a half mileof the river behind the Lampsonblueberry farm, and includes leveeremoval, side channel construction,woody debris placement, floodplainconnectivity, and extensive vegetationreplanting.Tribal religion atcenter of Nevadagold mine fightBy SCOTT SONNER, Associated PressRENO, Nev. - Lawyers for an environmentalgroup and Native Americantribes trying to block another expansionat one of the biggest gold mines in NorthAmerica say the U.S. government - inconcert with the largest gold company inthe world - is making an unprecedentedattempt to skirt two of the nation’s fundamentallaws protecting federal lands.In a case that’s been bouncing backand forth between federal court in Renoand the 9th Circuit Court of Appealsfor nearly three years, the U.S. Bureauof Land Management and Barrick GoldCorp. have countered that the Great BasinResource Watch and the Western Shoshoneare exaggerating the harm the miningoperation will cause to the groundwaterbeneath Nevada’s Mt. Tenabo, and to thecultural and religious beliefs of nativepeople who regard the water as sacred.The Obama administration is arguing,for the first time, that it has no responsibilityunder the National EnvironmentalPolicy Act or Federal Land Managementand Policy Act to analyze those culturaland religious impacts because they can’tbe quantified. And - in the case of Barrick’sCortez Hills project - the governmentis arguing any damages from thoseimpacts are impossible to mitigate.``BLM very thoroughly analyzedthe project’s potential effects on NativeAmerican beliefs and cultural practices,’’said Ty Bair, a lawyer in the Justice Department’sEnvironment and NaturalResources Division. But, he said, since theWestern Shoshone didn’t keep recordsabout their use of the water, he said, ``itwas impossible to analyze the impact tothe users.’’Roger Flynn, the lead lawyer representingthe two Western Shoshone tribesand the environmental watchdog groupbased in Reno, refuted that logic.``If you don’t have to mitigate fordegradation any time you can’t quantifysomething, then BLM would be off thehook forever on Western lands for protectionof any cultural or religious values,’’said Flynn, who founded the WesternMining Action Project in Denver in 1990.``That’s a very dangerous precedent forfederal lands in the West.’’See Gold mine, Page 36Cathy Sampson-KruseFor CTUIR General Council ChairTheTime isNow.TheChildrenareWatching.Political ad paid by “always endure: Cathy for GC Chair”“patkanim apple time”November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal35

If you are aNative AmericanFarmer or Rancheror the heir of onewho was denied aUSDA farm loanor loan servicingbetween 1981 and late 1999,The claims-filing periodis about to end.To receive a paymentyou must file a claimby December 27, 2011.For free assistance filing a claim:call 1-888-233-5506or visitLegal Noticewww.IndianFarmClass.com.Gold mineContinued from Page 35U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks isexpected to rule early this month on thesupplemental environmental impactstatement BLM completedin March for the CortezHills project after the9th Circuit Court twicefound the previous workinsufficient and ordered athird try.The appellate courtin San Francisco ruledmost recently in 2010 thatthe BLM had failed toadequately analyze thepotential for the project topollute the air and dry upscarce water resources innortheast Nevada’s highdesert.Because mining operationsrun into the watertable about 500 feet beneaththe surface, watermust be pumped out ofthe open pit in order to maximize productionas deep as 2,100 feet - a projectedtotal of 16.5 billion gallons of water overthe life of the mine. Most of that water isbeing piped about 15 miles away into thearid Crescent Valley for agricultural use.TutuillaPresbyterianChurch‘A Christ centered, biblically basedand caring congregation.’November 2011Nov. 6 – Worship and Communion11am,Children’s Church11:30Nov. 12 – Women’s FellowshipBreakfast & Clothing ExchangeLowery Hall 9:30 amNov. 13 - Worship 11,Children’s Church 11:30 andAnnual Congregationalmeeting following Worship.Nov. 19 – Men’s FellowshipBreakfast Lowery Hall 8:30 amNov. 20 – Worship 11,Children’s Church 11:30Nov. 20 – Community ThanksgivingService at 7 PendletonSeventh Day Adventist ChurchNov. 27 - Worship 11am,Children’s Church 11:30.Pot Luck to followTribal leaderssay Mt. Tenabois home toseveral WesternShoshonecreation storiesand the waterrunning beneathit is a sacramentimportant tomaintaining thebalance andpower of life.Justice Department lawyers representingBLM told Hicks during oralarguments on Oct. 6 that the agency’snew analysis complies with all state andfederal laws. Barrick has been operatingunder the directionsof the supplemental EISsince March and now ismining as deep as 1,500feet.Toronto-based Barrick,which reported netincome in 2010 of $3.27billion on $10.9 billion inrevenue, also argues thatimpact to Indian waterusers can’t be measured.``BLM can’t analyzeuses that aren’t specified,’’said Francis Wikstrom,a lawyer for Barrickbased in Salt LakeCity. ``Nobody told BLMthey go every day to thisspring to pray, or thatspring.’’Tribal leaders say Mt.Tenabo is home to several WesternShoshone creation stories and the waterrunning beneath it is a sacrament importantto maintaining the balance andpower of life.Barrick and BLM maintain that theFederal Land Policy and ManagementAct that President Carter signed intolaw in 1976 ``protects public lands,not religious uses of those publiclands.’’``The laws protect public lands, theydon’t protect individual beliefs,’’ Wikstromsaid.He said BLM has been ``respectful’’of the tribe’s beliefs but their use of thewater is only a ``general, spiritual’’ one.``For those Western Shoshone whofeel the water is sacred and should be leftalone, we can’t mitigate against that,’’ hetold the judge.But John Hadder, executive directorof the Great Basin Resource Watch, saidthey have offered a number of alternativesthat would help minimize the impacton the tribe’s use of the water.``One way is just don’t pump as much,but Barrick doesn’t like that idea,’’ Haddersaid, because less pumping meansBarrick can’t mine as deep.``I don’t like to say it, but it really doeslook like BLM is just catering to the miningcompany,’’ he said.Flynn said BLM is missing the pointin trying to calculate the spiritual valueto the tribes.``They say we can quantify howmany cows go up there to drink sowe’ll mitigate for that, but we can’tquantify Western Shoshone uses. It issuch a short-sighted viewpoint of theirauthority.’’Flynn said the ramifications go beyondmining projects. He said it could set anew precedent for logging on nationalforests as well as development at nationalparks, seashores, monuments andbattlefields.``If simply because you cannot quantifyan entire Native American nation’sreligious views then you don’t have tomitigate for it,’’ he said, ``well, then theregoes out the window all protection forNative American cultural and religiouspractices on all public lands.’’36 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Last of chemical weaponsdestroyed at Umatilla DepotBy SHANNON DININNY, Associated PressHERMISTON - Sirens sounded for thelast time around a Northwest chemicalweapons depot on Oct. 25 as workersincinerated the last of the chemicalweapons stored in the region as part ofthe country’s stockpile.The Umatilla Chemical Depot inHermiston once stored 12 percent of theUnited States’ chemical weapons, includingdeadly VX nerve agent and blisteringmustard agent.Work to begin incinerating the weaponsbegan seven years ago to meet a 2012deadline imposed by the 1997 ChemicalWeapons Convention, an internationaltreaty. Depot employees watched on aclosed-circuit television screen as thelast ton-size container of mustard agentwas incinerated, applauding when thejob was done.The completion of work there whittlesthe number of U.S. storage sites to three:Pueblo, Colo., Richmond, Ky., and theDeseret Chemical Depot in Tooele, Utah,which once held 40 percent of the U.S.stockpile but is expected to complete incinerationin January. Once the Utah sitecompletes operations, 90 percent of theU.S. stockpile will have been destroyed.There once were nine U.S. chemicalstockpiles scattered across the country.``The end of nearly 50 years of chemicalagents at Umatilla Chemical Depothas now come to a close,’’ depot spokesmanMichael Fletcher said in a telephoneinterview. ``The local communities andthe state of Oregon are a lot safer placenow.’’Umatilla County Commissioner BillHansell said, ``It’s been there virtuallythe entire life of everybody living in thearea. We’re glad it’s gone.’’Two months before the United Statesentered World War II in 1941, the federalgovernment began storing conventionalweapons across 30 square miles of northeastOregon, a largely agricultural region180 miles east of Portland, near theWashington state border. Weapons werestored in partly buried earthen bunkers,referred to as ``igloos.’’In 1962, the depot also began storingchemical weapons, and in 1994, conventionalweapons were shipped offsite.The international treaty to rid theworld of chemical weapons shifted theHead 2 ToesFull Service Salon & Spa1904 SW Frazer / 379-0010focus to destroying the substances, ratherthan just safely storing them. That hasmeant big changes for northeast Oregon.Thousands of tone-alert radios andshelter-in-place kits - containing ducttape, plastic sheeting and medical scissors- were distributed to residents toseal up a safe room in the event of a leakor accident at the site. Pressurized roomswere created as safety zones in schools,retirement homes and hospitals to protectthe public.Sirens were installed and tested inat least eight different communities inOregon and Washington, and emergencymanagement officials conducted emergencyexercises each year. They will bedismantled and sent to Oregon’s coastalcommunities to enhance tsunami warningsystems there.The stockpile of deadly GB nerveagent, or sarin, and VX nerve agentalready have been destroyed at the site.On Oct. 25, workers incinerated the lastof 2,635 ton-size containers of mustardagent, which causes blisters on skin, scarson the eyes and inflammation in airways.Incinerators heat the chemicals andtheir containers to thousands of degrees,then run the exhaust through pollutionremovingfilters and afterburners.More than $2.6 billion has been spentoverall on construction and operationsthere.``For decades, the residents of EasternOregon have been living next door tosome of the most dangerous weaponsthe world has ever known, so dangerousthat the world agreed they should be destroyed.Now they have been,’’ U.S. Sen.Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in a statement.The destruction of these chemicalsclears the way for the local communityto begin turning the property into anasset that will create jobs and generateeconomic growth throughout the region,Wyden said. About 1,200 peoplework at the site, but that number willdecline as some move to new sites andwork to tear down buildings and cleanup draws to an end over the next threeor four years.Hansell, the county commissioner,agreed that finding a future use for thesite is equally as important as ridding itof dangerous chemicals. Plans have yetto be determined, but officials are hopingfor some industrial development.Write-inJohnBevisChairman G.C.The ‘Write’ OneThe ‘Write’ GuyThe ‘Write’ ChoiceVoteforBevisThank you toeveryone for all yourprayers and support.We appreciateit so much.KimberlyWeathersHead 2 ToesFull Service Salon & SpaAnd now I am 1!November 30thHappy BirthdaySarah Karson EngumWe love youduck!!You know you want me in there to stir things up so just do it.Write in John Bevis for GC Chair.Paid Political AdNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal37

38 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

NW solid waste advisorynetwork meeting hereTERF will be on display in presentation, tourPaid Political AdMISSION – The Tribal Solid WasteAdvisory Network, a non-profit allianceof Native American tribes throughoutthe Northwest, will meet here Nov. 8-10at Wildhorse Casino.The agenda on Nov. 9 includes a presentationfrom Bonnie Burke about theTribal Environmental Recovery Facilityon the Umatilla Indian Reservation.Following her presentation, conferenceattendees will tour TERF, and then tourthe Nixyaawii Governance Center.TSWAN, according to its website,strives to make effective and environmentallyresponsible solid waste managementa priority on reservations andcommunities.One of TSWAN’s primary goals is toshare technical expertise, informationand educational resources, and opportunitieswith one another, as well as providingTribal perspective to agencies andorganizations designing waste programsso they are effective in Indian Country,according to its website.TERF recently was featured in aTSWAN publication. Here’s what thearticle said:In the past, tribal members living on theConfederated Tribes of the Umatilla’s Reservationin Oregon disposed of their solidwaste in open dumps located across the172,000 acre reservation. The municipalsolid waste landfill criteria implementedby EPA in the 1990’s (40 Code of FederalRegulations 257 and 258) provided insightinto the potential harm that the open dumpsmay be causing to the environment andhealth of the tribal members.The Confederated Tribes quickly beganto evaluate other solid waste managementalternatives. Options includedusing rail to move waste to a regulatedlandfill, incineration or installing a newtransfer station. They determined thata transfer station would be the best optionfor eliminating open dumping on thereservation.Construction of the transfer station tookplace from 1999 to 2001 at a cost of $1.3million. It was financed, in part, by federalgovernment funding. The 13,000 squarefoottransfer station was built by a triballyowned construction company. Waste iseither collected curbside or hauled by residentsto the transfer station seven days aweek. The waste is then processed andtransported to an EPA-approved landfilllocated 55 miles away.Recyclables and household hazardouswaste are collected, sorted, and stockpiledon site and transferred to off-site facilities.The minimum fee charged is $8 per bagto take out waste less than 200 poundsor $55 per ton, which remains competitiveamong other area transfer stations.Currently, the transfer station serves 900residents and 93 commercial customersthroughout the reservation. The transferstation is currently 1,500 tons short ofreaching the optimum operation efficiencylevel of 6,000 tons.Bonnie Burke, Operation Manager forthe Tribal Environmental Recovery Facility(TERF), launched an education andoutreach campaign focused on the benefitsof using the transfer station. The campaigneducated people on the hazards of opendumping and the effects it has on bothhuman health and the environment. Thecampaign also helped ease the transition toreducing solid waste by recycling. Targetedoutreach and education to both tribal eldersand children was a critical component ofBurke’s campaign.Burke is conducting a survey of the participatingtribal elders requesting feedbackon the success of the curbside recyclingprogram. Umatilla is also working withan intern to run an afterschool program toeducate school children on recycling. Overa period of 10 years, the amount of wastecollected has increased by 4,000 tons dueto the TERF staff’s determination and outreachand education efforts.NOW - Dec. 3 - Crow’s Shadow print exhibition at Humboldt State University inArcata, CANOW - April 20, 2012 - Crow’s Shadow print exhibition at PDX International Airport.Nov. 4-6 - Cylindrical and flat bag weaving workshop with Joey Lavador at Crow’sShadowDec. 3-4 - Medallion beading workshop with Maynard Lavadour at Crow’s Shadow.Dec. 4-17 - Printmaking residency with artist Janene NagyDec. 15 - Artist reception and lecture presentation with Janene Nagy, 5:30-7:30Please check our website at www.crowsshadow.org or call 541-276-3954.Become a fan of Crow’s Shadow on FacebookCrow’s Shadow Schedule48004 St. Andrews Road, Pendleton, OR 97801 - 541-276-3954November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal39

Employees of the MonthCecil GuardipeeSupportHotel UtilityBest porter everalways on top of hisduties and never complainswhen we ask forhelp!VOTE FORJULIE TAYLORBoard of TrusteesAt-Large MemberNovember 15, 2011Your VOICEYour VOTE counts!Debra WohlckeSupervisorHot Rock CaféShe fills in whereverneeded. She trys herbest to keep everyonehappy!Paid Political AdTessa MinthornFront LineKenoTessa is the veryembodiment of aGreat WRC Employee.She scores anA+ for each of WRCKey Success!Future of Montana bisonmigrations headed to trialBy MATTHEW BROWNAssociated PressBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Montana’snewfound tolerance toward wild bisonis heading to trial as cattle ranchers andcounty officials seek to prevent a repeat oflast year’s mass migration of hundreds ofthe animals out of Yellowstone NationalPark.State District Judge Wayne Phillipshas been asked to settle a fundamentalquestion: Are bison in Montana freeroamingwildlife, or should they be keptin the park to protect private propertyand public safety?Deep snows last winter prompted anestimated 1,400 bison to spill out of thepark in search of food at lower elevationsin Montana. Many were captured andreleased in the spring, but hundreds ofthe animals, also known as buffalo, fora time roamed at will in the 75,000-acreGardiner Basin.That appeared to mark an end to thestate’s longstanding practice of shootingor slaughtering bison that leave the park,which claimed almost 4,000 of the animalsover the last decade. But now ParkCounty and the Park County StockgrowersAssociation want to revive restrictionson bison movement.``I’m not anti-wildlife,’’ said JoeSperano, a 69-year-old member of thestockgrowers’ group who lives northof Gardiner and runs a small numberof horses and cattle. ``The buffalo area different deal. There was never anyproblem with one or two. When we’vegot 30 or 40 coming through my placeat one time, they want to go through thefences, rub on my house, destroy my irrigationpipes.’’Sperano said he suffered $2,000 indamages to irrigation pipes that werecrushed by bison and additional damageto his house and an electrified fence.Lawsuits filed by Park County and thestockgrowers would overturn an agreementsigned in April by federal and stateagencies and several Indian groups thatallowed bison into the Gardiner Basinduring winter.Although some bison previously werepermitted in limited areas outside thepark, the agreement allowed them intoareas where bison had been barred fordecades.The suits contend free-roaming bisondestroy private property, threaten thesafety of county residents, and increasethe chances that a disease carried by theanimals, brucellosis, could be transmittedto cattle.An initial hearing is scheduled forWednesday in Livingston.Attorneys for Gov. Brian Schweitzerand two state agencies are seeking todisqualify one of the stockgrowers’ attorneys,John Bloomquist, because herepresented the state in past lawsuits overGeneral Council MeetingNov. 17 at 2 p.m.Nixyaawii GovernanceCenterthe animals. Hearings on more substantiveissues were postponed pending thedisqualification hearing.Even if Phillips sides in favor of thestate on the larger question of allowingbison into Montana, Park CountyAttorney Brett Linneweber pledged inan interview with The Associated Pressthat last year’s migration would not berepeated.``The county’s not going to roll overand say there’s nothing we can do aboutit. People have a right to be safe,’’ he said.``There are steps we can take outside thelegal arena, but we would prefer not to.’’Linneweber declined further explanation.Last spring, a Park County residentwho claimed his dog was being threatenedby bison shot and killed two of theanimals and wounded several others. Nocharges were filed.Experts say tens of millions of bisononce roamed across most of NorthAmerica. At the turn of the last century,when the species had been nearly drivento extinction by overhunting, Yellowstoneoffered one of the last refuges forthe iconic animal.The park’s 3,500 bison today make upone of the largest wild concentrations ofthe animals in the world.While they’re clearly wild in the park_ where careless visitors are occasionallygored by the animals - the stockgrowers’lawsuit challenges that status for anybison stepping into Montana. The groupcontends they should be managed differentlythan other wildlife.Officials with Montana Fish, Wildlifeand Parks dispute the group’s assertion,saying state law has classified bison aswildlife at least since 1995.``They are, in the end, wild animals,’’said agency attorney Rebecca Jakes Dockter.``Sometimes you can predict whattheir behavior will be and sometimesyou can’t ... That’s what you have to takealong with the privilege of living withwildlife on our landscape.’’Since the April agreement allowingbison into the Gardiner Basin, Dockter’sagency has agreed to further study theissue before deciding what actions to takethis coming winter. That will include anopportunity for public comment - somethingnot sought before the agreementwas reached.To address concerns over privateproperty damage, state officials workingwith several conservation groups haveinstalled an estimated 1,500 feet of fencingto keep bison away from GardinerBasin landowners who don’t want them.The pushback from Park Countyand local ranchers mirrors resistanceto a related effort by wildlife officialsto relocate up to 160 Yellowstone bisononto state wildlife management areas ortribal lands.Those animals have been kept inquarantine for several years to ensurethey are not carrying the disease brucellosis.When earlier relocation efforts fellthrough, the animals were placed temporarilyon a ranch outside Bozeman ownedby media mogul and philanthropist TedTurner.A decision on the relocation proposalis due next month.40 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Thank you lettersWe would like to thank the manylocal people who made the 9 Tribes SuicidePrevention “Life Takes Courage” Camp agreat success. Thank you from the bottomof our hearts to the following people whoworked tirelessly at the camp: DorothyJones, Janice Hill, Marion Crawford, BeckyGreear, Timur Gaston and Mitch Hayes Jr.Thank you Carl Sampson for being ourCamp Elder. Thank you Linda Jones forgathering cooks and guiding the Daughtersof Tradition in meal preparation. Thankyou to Victor Bates for teaching the Sonsof Tradition how to serve the foods and forleading the male sweat lodge. Thank youRaenita Jones and Ruth Jackson for leadingthe female sweat lodge.Thank you Sonya Lloyd for assisting withtransportation when we had unforeseenvehicle issues. Thank you Jess Nowlandfor your great presentation on how men canreduce violence in Indian Country. Thankyour Armand Minthorn for sharing yourknowledge, gathering the drummers andleading the service. Thank you to FredHill Sr. for mc’ing the pow-wow. Thank youpow-wow drummers.Thank you Elders for attending the TraditionalDinner and a special thanks to JoannWatlamat for sharing words.Thank you Lost and Found Danny Banefor driving the Pontoon Boat and pickingup tables and chairs for the picnic. Thankyou Tim VanCleave for driving the bus, yourpatience and extra effort given. Thanksto those that assisted with the filming ofthe camp - Vaughn Herrera and TyroneFrank-Watkins. Thank you Rhonda Ingramand Chet Tias for your willingness to beinterviewed. Thank you Angel Pabon andMarcus Looney for performing.Also, thank you to Whittney Minthorn forinstructing the beading class. Thank yourSons & Daughters of Tradition for assistingwith the traditional meal.Most importantly we would like to thankthe Umatilla Youth for participating in thecamp; you are all awesome! Rememberthere is always someone saying a prayerfor you and we care!Sincerely,Yellowhawk Substance Abuse PreventionStaffThank you for Making EldersHonor Dinner a success. The Senior ServicesProgram would like to extend a hugethank you to all of the people, programsand local businesses who gave baskets/gifts and helped decorate and serve. Eachone of you who took the time, energy andwillingness to make a basket, gather a gift,deliver a gift and volunteer made Sept. 9 amemorable one for all the elders in attendance.Thank you to the Board of Trusteeswho generously donated two PendletonBlankets and necklaces to honor our eldest.Thank you to Sonny (Bill Quaempts) andCher (Leila Spencer) for your wonderfulsongs and terrific entertainment. Also aspecial thanks to the Wildhorse staff whomade such a wonder meal, and went theextra mile to serve our elders once the mealwas prepared.We could not have had such a celebrationof Luau happiness and honoring of ourelders without the strength and wonderfulcommunity and organizational support.God Bless all of you.Paula Wallis, Senior Services ProgramManagerThank you to all who assistedwith the Candidates Forums Oct. 26 and27 at Wildhorse Casino: the candidates,the audience, moderators Naomi Stacyand Michelle Thompson, Jiselle Halfmoonfrom KCUW, community volunteers andWildhorse Resort & Casino for the use ofCayuse Hall and the amenities that wereso gracious provided to us.Community Forum and Election CommissionPipeline protestContinued from Page 31that requires huge amounts of energyto extract and could cause an ecologicaldisaster in case of a spill.Tribal members said that the proposedroute also crosses the Oglala Sioux RuralWater Supply System, directly threateningthe water supply of both reservations.They also questioned TransCanada’s useof eminent domain along the route.Alex White Plume, a member of theOglala Sioux Tribe, said cowboys alongthe proposed pipeline route are the newIndians, having their land stolen fromthem by a foreign intruder.``Now cowboys and Indians areunited in our fight against TransCanada’star sands oil pipeline,’’ he said in a statement.Hannah said it was special to visit thePine Ridge reservation and see tribalelders and ranchers working together intheir efforts.She said the Occupy protests throughoutthe country have given residentshope that they can be heard above largecorporations.``People realize they have a voice,’’she said. ``They don’t have to be thesilent masses anymore. They can speakup against the injustices, whether they’reeconomic, environmental or social.’’The Rosebud Sioux Tribe in 2008 alsoopposed the original Keystone pipelinebuilt to move crude oil from Alberta,Canada, to refineries in Illinois andOklahoma.Tribal representative Russell EagleBear said at the time that although theroute did not cross tribal land, he wantedto make sure that cultural propertiesimportant to Native Americans wereprotected along the route.The Rosebud Sioux and three othertribes in the Dakotas also filed a federallawsuit to block construction of theoriginal pipeline, arguing that treaties,as well as federal laws and regulations,were broken during the environmentalassessment of the route and granting ofa presidential permit.A judge dismissed the complaint in2009, saying the tribes didn’t show atreaty basis or that the government failedin its duties.Happy Birthdayto my big sister,Michelle,who taught metrue class!Happy 4th BirthdayAveryLove, Mom & FamilyVOTE FOR SANDYFor BOT TreasurerFor ordersplease calland leave amessage.541-966-8336Cayuse Country offers a unique array offlowers arrangments, home décorand specialty items!NativeNaturalUniqueDelivery AvailableMAKE YOUR 2011 VOTE COUNTMAKE YOUR 2011 VOTE COUNTFrom Our Past Leaders, to The the Presentand for our Futureand for OUR VOTE VOTE SAMPSON, TREASURERPaid Political AdNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal41

42 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Battle over proposed Spokane casino continuesAIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. (AP) -Spokane County commissioners werebarred from commenting when businessleaders opposed to a new Indian casinoasked them for help in defending FairchildAir Force Base.The Spokesman-Review reported commissionersare bound to remain silentunder a deal in which the county wouldreceive payments to offset the effectsof the Spokane Tribe’s casino and hoteldevelopment.Commissioner Mark Richard defendedthe intergovernmental agreement thatrequires commissioners to remain neutralon the casino project, which is underconsideration by the U.S. Department ofIndian Affairs.The Spokane Tribe’s proposal is a hotlydisputed issue in Spokane County, inpart because the proposed casino wouldbe close to the Kalispel Tribe’s NorthernQuest casino resort on the western outskirtsof Spokane. The Spokane Tribe’sproposed casino needs federal permissionbecause it would be located off theirreservation.County commissioners Al French andTodd Mielke are looking for ways toregain their ability to influence the decisionon permitting a 14-story casino hotelnear the flight path of Fairchild trainingmissions.The hotel is the sort of ``encroachment’’that would weigh against Fairchildin another round of military baseclosures expected in 2014, according toGreg Bever, past chairman of GreaterSpokane Incorporated, the region’s economicdevelopment agency.``We need the county’s voice on this issue,’’Bever told commissioners this week.Bever and Greater Spokane PresidentRich Hadley opposed the Spokane’scasino proposal in a Sept. 12 letter to theBureau of Indian Affairs.``We are concerned that the 4,500 jobsat FAFB will be placed at risk if a majorcasino resort complex is developed,’’they wrote.In addition to navigational interference,they cited concerns about puttinglarge concentrations of people in the pathof hundreds of monthly flights at lessthan 2,000 feet from the ground.Richard said he felt ``kind of ambushed’’by Bever’s comments. He saidhe supported the Spokane Tribe’s AirwayHeights proposal as a matter of fairness.While the Kalispel Tribe already has anAirway Heights casino, the Spokanes are``the tribe for which this community isnamed,’’ Richard said.Spokane Tribe Chairman Greg Abrahamsonsaid Wednesday the projectposes no navigational threat to Fairchildor the nearby Spokane InternationalAirport.He pointed to a Nov. 3 ruling by theFederal Aviation Administration that thetribal hotel tower wouldn’t interfere withnavigation and needn’t have warninglights or markings.``The tribe has met with Fairchild officialsand no so-called encroachment’ issueshave been identified,’’ Abrahamsonsaid in a news release.He said the development, on 140 acresat the western edge of Airway Heights,is expected to generate 3,800 permanentand part-time jobs. It will include retailshops, medical offices and a tribal culturalcenter.CommunityForumMeetingMissionSenior CenterNov. 28, 20115 PM potluck6 PM MeetingKit Morgan, Legal Aid“Surrogate Decision Making”Noelle Richards -RARE youth projectsCome join us!more info call541-429-7386ND tribal official, wifesentenced for theftGRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - A formerSpirit Lake Nation councilman and hiswife won’t serve prison time for stealingfrom the tribe.U.S. Attorney Timothy Purdon says69-year-old Carl Walking Eagle of FortTotten was sentenced Wednesday toabout four months of home detention tobe followed by three years of supervisedrelease, and 65-year-old Barbara WalkingEagle was sentenced to two years ofsupervised release.The couple also must pay about $8,400in restitution, and Carl Walking Eaglewas fined $1,000 and also ordered towrite a letter of apology to the tribe.The Walking Eagles were accused ofhiding household income so they couldget fuel assistance. Carl Walking Eaglewas the tribe’s vice chairman at the time.The couple pleaded guilty in August totheft and embezzlement charges.Judge issues ruling ontribes and child supportJUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A judge’sruling allowing Tlingit and Haida tribalcourts in southeast Alaska to adjudicatechild support in cases involving tribemembers is being touted as a victory fortribal authority.``The Court’s order reaffirms theTribe’s inherent jurisdiction to handle thefull range of family law issues affectingits citizens, including the particular issueof child support for the benefit of tribalchildren,’’ the Central Council of Tlingitand Haida Tribes of Alaska said followinglast week’s Superior Court ruling.In his ruling, Judge Philip Pallenbergdelineated a long history of complicationsthat he said were inevitable with asystem of dual sovereignty.Tara, We’re Sad.November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal43

FishCo completes pilot testContinued from Page 3test, Brending said, will be used to determinea monthly rate, any initial connectionfee, and possible improvement needsfor the treatment plant in White Salmon.In addition to an agreement withBingen, FishCo needs to obtain a permitfrom the Washington DOE to operate thefacility with full capacity next fall.Meanwhile, there’s enthusiasm onthe river.“The fishermen are really excited.They’re saying ‘Finally we have activityat FishCo’,” said Kat Brigham, FishCosecretary as well as secretary for theUmatilla Tribes’ governing body. “Nowthat we have the test run we can sit downand talk about what needs to be done,and establish a schedule so we can startprocessing in the fall when we have thelargest catch.”American-Canadian, which processesroughly 6 million pounds of seafood annually,purchased fish from ColumbiaRiver (fall Chinook as well as steelheadand coho) from Tribal fishers and fromwholesale fish buyers for the test. (American-Canadianhas been buying salmonalong the Columbia River for years, Teosaid.)“We wanted to work with somebodywith proven experience with processing,”Teo said. “We didn’t want topurchase salmon by ourselves thistime. American-Canadian processedthe fish they purchased and ownedthe fish from beginning to end. Theybought from tribal harvesters and tookthe fish back to Bellingham after it wasprocessed.”Adhering to the test guidelines fromBingen, about 16,000 pounds (about 880fish averaging 18 pounds apiece) wereprocessed each day for four days in thefirst week.“It doesn’t sound like much, butthat’s what the city asked for,” Teo said.It normally would take an American-Canadian crewof 12-14 personsabout an hour anda half to “head andgut” 880 salmon,but it took 2-3hours on that firstday because Fish-Co didn’t have adequateequipment.“It took a littlelonger than in theirfacility because wedidn’t have thesame processinglines,” Teo said.“They brought asmuch equipmentas they had available,but we stillhad to use a makeshiftline.”In the secondweek, Bingen andthe DOE asked for 30,000 pounds of fishfor at least two days in a row. Teo saidFishCo had hoped to run 30,000 throughfor four days, but that many fish werenot available.“It all depends on the harvest and thenumber we’re able to buy,” Teo said.“That second week we had one day with30,400 pounds.”Teo believes that when FishCo is upand operating with proper equipmentand trained tribal members on the processingline, the facility should be able toIn addition to triballycaught and processedsalmon that could bebranded, marketedand sold, the facilityexpects to processceremonial andsubsistence salmonfor the Tribes’members.process 78,000 to 100,000 pounds of fishper day, which he said is the industryaverage.The facility would not run everydayall day, and the processing would followthe harvest seasons.“It would probablybe about 12weeks out of thefall season andwe’d scale backin the spring andsummer,” he said.In addition totribally caughtand processedsalmon that couldbe branded, marketedand sold, thefacility expects toprocess ceremonialand subsistencesalmon for theTribes’ members.“ T r i b e s a r epaying someoneto process ceremonialfish rightnow,” Teo said.“We hope to beable to process those fish also.”Teo said FishCo eventually will bepurchasing fish directly from tribal fishersas well as product from fish buyers.“A concern for FishCo is that wehave an adequate supply of fish for aviable operation,” he said. “It is notthe intent to take away from the buyers’operations. We have a buying andprocessing plan in the works right nowto work with fish buyers on the ColumbiaRiver.”Overall, Teo said there were no realsurprises.“What we were trying to do with thecity is fill their waste water line with asmuch as we could for a worst case scenarioon a large run,” Teo said. “When wedid that, we believe there was no impactto the city’s facility.”At the request of the tribes, the Corpsof Engineers built the facility for $4.2 millionin 2006, but it took four years beforethe tribes came together as a non-profitcorporation. It was the first time that thefour Columbia River treaty fishing tribeshave partnered in an economic developmentinitiative.In August of 2010, FishCo electedVirgil Lewis, Yakama, president; RyanSmith, Warm Springs, vice-president;Brigham as secretary; and Larry Green,Nez Perce, sergeant at arms.The facility lacks line-processingequipment, but does include a blastfreezer, refrigeration unit and regularfreezer, and commercial grade ice machines.(This year the facility providedabout 2.5 million pounds of ice to tribalfishers along the river.)A feasibility study completed in 2007projected that the plant, which wouldbe FDA food-safety compliant, couldinitially buy whole fish from fishers andsell headed and gutted fish to a primarilyNorthwest market. Later on, the plantcould add products like fillets. That isstill the goal.As initially envisioned, the facilitywould be operated for and by tribalfishers. According to planning documents,as much as 800,000 pounds –that’s about 40,000 20-pound salmon– could be processed in the first yearof the facility.44 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Traditional game gets new lifeBy KIM ARCHER, Tulsa WorldGLENPOOL, Okla. (AP) - Twelveyear-oldDerek Hill rolled a round discmade of Oklahoma sandstone down awell-worn path while two other sixthgradersthrew wooden poles trying tohit the rolling stone.Whoever hit the stone got a point, hesaid. Caleb Bigpond, 12, who is MuscogeeCreek and Pawnee, stood at the other endto roll the stone back.``It’s fun,’’ said Hill, who is MuscogeeCreek and Euchee. ``Every time I throwthe pole, it feels like I keep getting betterat it.’’The students were playing a variationof a historic American Indian game calledchunkey (or tchung-kee). Traditionally,players try to get their poles or spearsas close as possible to where the stonestops rolling.Once the favorite pastime of manytribes, including Cherokees, Choctawsand Chickasaws, the centuries-old gamehas become a lost art, said Kristi Collington,director of Indian Education forGlenpool Public Schools.``I have only seen one stone for salein my life’’ Collington said. ``They areextremely hard and time-consuming tomake.’’The chunkey stones are traditionallymade of hard stone hand-sculpted intoa disc shape about five to seven inchesin diameter. The polished stone has depressionson each side. Even centuriesago, chunkey stones were cherished andtypically each village had only one.After the class used rolls of maskingtape and unsharpened pencils to teachstudents about the game, Creek elderBen Yahola loaned his chunkey set sostudents could see a real stone. But he feltthe school needed its own set.Feds give Cherokeesfrozen freedmen fundsTULSA, Okla. (AP) - The U.S. Departmentof Housing and Urban Developmentis releasing $39 million it had beenwithholding from the Cherokee Nation,after the tribe made good on its promiseto allow the descendants of slaves onceowned by its members to vote in its recentelection for chief.Newly-elected Principal Chief BillJohn Baker announced the release of thefunds on Friday. HUD froze the moneyafter the tribe’s Supreme Court issued aruling in August upholding the tribe’sdecision to expel about 2,800 of theslaves’ descendants, who are known asfreedmen.The 300,000-member tribe eventuallybrokered a deal with the freedmen infederal court that cleared them to votein the special election for chief.Baker defeated incumbent Chad Smithby nearly 1,600 votes in balloting thatended Oct. 8. A ceremonial inaugurationis planned for Nov. 6 in Tahlequah.Balloting for chief was initially conductedin June, but the results of thatelection were reversed several times onrecounts _ with Smith and Baker eachbeing declared the winner twice. Afterthe fifth count again turned up differentnumbers, the tribal Supreme Courtordered a new election.So Collington set her mind to gettinga real stone and approached EuroCraft, amarble and granite fabrication companyin Glenpool, to make it. Yahola’s stonewas shown to the company as a template.``EuroCraft donated the stone,’’ Collingtonsaid. ``I am so grateful to thembecause I maybe had about $200 frommy Indian Education budget to spend.’’Bringing the game back to life for herstudents is part of keeping AmericanIndian culture alive, she said.``It’s important for students to getoutside and get a sense of what it wouldbe like to hunt for food and get an appreciationfor where our food comes from,’’Collington said.Not only did the game allow Indianwarriors _ who used spears in the game _to sharpen their hunting skills, but it wascentral to each tribe’s social and culturalgrowth, she said.``The game was so important thatmany high-class warriors would evenbe buried with a chunkey stone,’’ saidCollington, who is Cherokee. ``I’ve heardof instances where warriors would bettheir wives. We (Indians) have alwaysgambled.’’In Glenpool schools, 34 percent of itsstudent body is American Indian, shesaid.``(EuroCraft’s donation) helps us accomplishour goals in the program, whichare to promote cultural awareness andproviding an opportunity to students tolearn about language, history and customsthat they may not otherwise have,’’Collington said.Indian EducationCoordinatorsMission and PurposeThe purpose of this program is to improve the AmericanIndian students’ academic performance and help themachieve the same state and district standards developedfor all students by providing supplemental educationalservices to the already existing programs of the schoolsand school districts.Objectives• Address the culturally related academic needs ofAmerican Indian/Alaska Native Students and in particularprovide academic support in Reading and Math throughtutorial support and counseling referrals.• Monitor the attendance of American Indian/Alaska Nativestudents and provide referrals to the Tribes’ TruancyProgram to improve attendance.If you have any questions regarding the Indian Educationin your child’s school please do not hesitate to call them.Indian Education CoordinatorsSeth Christensen - Lincoln, Sherwood, McKay, ElementarySchools, 541-276-2351Susan Ely - Athena-Weston School District, 541-429-7821Sally Kosey - Washington Elementary School, 541-966-3560Janet Maddern - Nixyáawii Community School and PilotRock School District, West Hills Elementary School,541-429-7827Randy Minthorn - Pendleton High and Alternative School,541-276-3621Brent Spencer - Sunridge Middle School, 541-276-4560School Phone NumbersLincoln Elementary School - 541-276-2351McKay Elementary School - 541-966-3000Nixyáawii Community School - 541-429-7900Pendleton High School - 541-966-3800Pilot Rock School - 541-443-2361Sherwood Elementary School - 541-276-1165Sunridge Middle School - 541-276-4560Washington Elementary School - 541-276-2241West Hills Elementary School - 541-276-2543Re-ElectLeo StewartBOT Vice ChairmanBOT Vice Chairman 8 years (2003-2011)Retired after 31 years at QwestU.S. Army Honorably DischargedCurrently serve or formerly served on:- Health Commission- Walla Walla Veterans Cares Team- Law and Order Committee- Timine (Energy Board)- Commission on Indian Services, chairman 2 yrs- Columbia Basn Policy Board of Washington- Tribal Water Rights Negotiation Team- Healing Lodge, member and chairman- Board of Pendleton Academies- Alcohol and Drug Team of CTUIRPaid Political AdSupportive of community - Yellowhawk Fun Run, Salmon Walk, WhiteBison, Youth basketball (coach)Priorities1. Health and human services2. Treaty rights and natural resources, water rights and First Foods3. Promote economic diversity to strengthen our economy within theTribe, for land, education, housing, jobs.I consider myself an open-minded and objective person.I will make sound decisions based on information given to me. Finally, Iconsider myself an independent thinker as well as team player.November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal45

Mission Assemblyof God ChurchInvites you to join in our Sundaymorning worship service at thechurch at 47328 on ShortmileRoad.Phone: 966-9520Service TImeSunday School Sunday(adults & kids) - 10Mission 9 am -10 am a.m. AssemblyCoffee Hour10 Worship am - 11 am Service Sunday - 11 School a.m.11am of Evening - God 12 am Service Worship Church - 6 Service p.m.6 pm FELLOWSHIPInvites you Wednesdayto join in our SundayPastor: Vern Kube6 morning pm Bible worship Study service and Prayer at theJesuschurchsaid,at 47328“ComeonuntoShortmileme whoare weary Sunday andRoad.burdened Sermons down andNov. I will 6 - give 1 John5;14,15Phone: 966-9520you rest.”“The Confidence Hope to see we you have there! in him”Nov. 13 - Luke 4;18“The Sunday spirit of School the loard (adults is & upon kids) - 10 me”Nov. 20 a.m. - Acts 9;6“What Worship wilt thou Service have - me 11 a.m. to do”Evening Nov. 27 Service - Psalms - 70:1 6 p.m.“make hast, O Lord to deliver me”Pastor: Vern KubeJesus said, “Come unto me whoare weary and burdened down andI will give you rest.”Hope to see you there!Vote Nov. 15 at NGC1312 SW 2nd Street(off Nye Avenue west from Red Lion Inn behind Charter Cable)Open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.541-278-8183Election twistContinued from Page 1what they say has been a lack of transparencyand a lack of willingness to turnover detailed financial reports.As far as we know, campaigns betweencandidates have not been mean-spiritedwith the exception of one of Althea Wolf’scampaign posters being torn down.However, as reported by some BOTmembers, there have been some testy, ifnot nasty, words tossed back and forthbetween protesters and currently-servingBOT members, especially at the Oct. 27General Council meeting.Protesters braved below-freezingtemperatures on the grassy mound andhuddled against the rock pillars in frontof NGC for four days, carrying signsand chanting. On the first day, Oct. 25,protesters took their concerns into theBOT offices and, apparently consideringanswers unsatisfactory, began theirprotest in earnest with some protestersremaining outside the building throughFriday, Oct. 28.Most of the Sampson family was there,including candidates Cathy Sampson-Kruse (whose picture was in The Oregonian)and Sandy Sampson, plus their sisterLinda, who was the protest organizer.Brother Don Sampson, former CTUIRExecutive Director, stopped by a coupleof times (and penned a pointed letter tothe editor in this issue), and Chief CarlSampson sat in a lawn chair to supporthis children.A couple of other candidates – JulieTaylor and Leila Spencer – joined theprotesters. Several BOT members cameout of the governance building to seewhat all the commotion was about. Theyasked questions and at times soundedas if they were debating issues with theprotest group, which grew from about 10on the first day to more than double thatsize by the end of the week.BOT members appeared to be mostlycurious about the protester’s complaintsand motives. On the first morning,with temperatures hovering around 30degrees, BOT Secretary Kat Brighamwalked arm-in-arm with protester DionneBronson asking what the protestwas about.Wolf reported that at one point protestersgot in her face when she approachedthem. Wolf said later she was takenaback because she was treated poorly bypeople she thought were her friends. Theprotesters, Wolf said, weren’t interestedin listening to reason.BOT members talked for about an hourwith protesters to hear their concerns.However, protesters did not appear tobe satisfied with Board members sayingfunding for the school would depend onwhether or not money is actually available.Later, BOT Chairman Les Minthorntold the protesters he liked what theywere doing. The East Oregonian quotedMinthorn as saying, “This is your right todo what you’re doing. It’s also the rightof the Board to deliberate and make surethat they have the funds to provide thenumbers you requested.”Two days into the protest the GeneralCouncil met for its monthly meeting. Itwas there, with about 90 Tribal membersin attendance, that protesters fired questions– and comments – at BOT memberswho tried to defend themselves. Wolfcalled the protest a political ploy.Hines would not discuss with reporterswhat happened in the GeneralCouncil meeting, which is open only toTribal members. However, copies of theproposed budget were made availableearlier in the process, thereby givingGeneral Council members more time toreview and comment on the document.The protest was initiated by LindaSampson, who, unbeknownst to manypeople, resigned on Oct. 24 from herNixyaawii School Board position so shecould lead the contrarians. Althoughsigns ranged from “You Got Bailed Out,We Got Sold Out” to “Have You ForgottenUs?”, the protesters’ concerns boileddown to two – additional funding forNixyaawii Community School and a sixweekseverance package BOT membersapproved last year for members who donot seek re-election or are voted out (aselected officials they are not eligible forunemployment compensation).The severance package was one componentof a BOT Procedures Code formallyadopted by the Board in Novemberof 2010 (available at www.ctuir.org/laws.html). It was the consensus of theprotesters that the money BOT membersapproved for themselves would havebeen put to better use at the school.Nixyaawii receives state per-studentfunds through Pendleton School District16R. In Pendleton, schools also receivelocal funding based on property taxes.There is no tax base on the UmatillaIndian Reservation upon which to generateadditional funding for the schoolor, for that matter, to float a bond togenerate capital to build a new school.Instead, Nixyaawii and any proposedfuture school will need funding fromthe CTUIR.The Finance Office has confirmedthat if all nine Board members are notre-elected, the total amount to be paidin severance compensation would totalaround $65,000. No funds for the severancepackages were budgeted in 2011but whatever amount is needed wouldcome from savings in salary (the BOTChair position was vacant for nearly threemonths after Elwood Patawa resigned),travel and other line items in the budget.Most of the Nixyaawii School Boardmembers were marching or at leaststanding around offering moral supporton the first day of the protest. Thoseschool board members included TrinetteMinthorn, Andi Scott, Janet Maddern andDaisy Minthorn.Later in the week, some Nixyaawiistudents were released from the classroomto attend the protest. Principal TimSprenger defended his decision to allowthe students to go to the protest as a learningexperience. Huddled with the adults,the students shared a bag of elk jerky andlistened to a lesson on tape. Later, LindaSampson read from the Treaty of 1855that most people would agree wouldpass for a lesson.Trinette Minthorn was emotionalwhen she talked about her vote to allowLinda Sampson to leave the School Board,and, she said, her decision to protest wasvery personal.“I’m here to speak for my children.How will we take care of ourselves if wecan’t support our children and the generationsafter that?” she asked. “I wantto be an elder they support and respect.”It was nearing press time for the CUJand most of the BOT members were attendingthe National Congress of AmericanIndians conference in Portland, butthe CUJ sent an email on Monday, Oct.31 to all BOT members, with several provocativequestions. Among others, BOTmembers were asked if they thought theprotesters had any valid concerns andwhether or not they think the protestscould influence the election.Nobody who was in Portland respondedto the email by press time. RosendaShippentower, who did not travel to theconference, was the only BOT memberwho did respond. She said the protestersare simply wrong about her willingnessto share financial reports. In fact, she said,as Treasurer she provides a quarterly financialreport to the General Council andreports monthly to the Board of Trustees.She said she wanted to comment furtherbut the Board is expected to speak as one,not as individuals.The Sampson women also did notrespond to an email asking them to specificallyidentify the protest concerns. Theonly response came from Donald Sampsonwho received the same email request.“No other employee or tribal membergets these special bonuses,” said Don Sampson.“They funded this with tribal gamingdollars. They did this even when all tribalmember dividends decreased. They gotto cash in all their existing leave knowingthey just voted themselves additional leave,which was worth over $20,000 each.See Election twist, Page 4746 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Election twistContinued from Page 1“They got an additional 70 days paidleave over two years. No other employee,tribal member of non-Indian, gets thistheir first year of work. They have toearn it over five to ten years. The Boardgets the leave without earning it. Thisputs their annual salary at $70,000 a yearor more, plus $10,000 of severance plus$20,000 of unearned leave and that addsup to $100,000 each.”Sampson further slammed the Board,of which he was chairman in the 1990s.“Most don’t even have an education orthe real job experience to earn that moneyanywhere but here because they canunilaterally decide this for themselveswithout any consequences. Well, manyTribal members at the October GeneralCouncil meeting said ‘No more, we’re notstupid.’ At that meeting, Sampson said,the General Council voted 37-8 in oppositionto the severance package and leavebonuses. The Board was asked to revoteon the severance and leave bonuses byMonday, Oct. 31, and to report it to theCUJ so all tribal members would know.”According to responses in the onlinequestionnaire, most BOT candidates saythey wholeheartedly support NixyaawiiCommunity School and agree that educationneeds a secure funding source. Thoseresponses to a direct question about theirsupport for the school can be found at theTribes’ website.There has been some water-cooler talkin the hallways that intimates some or allof the money requested by NixyaawiiCommunity School could be added tothe proposed 2012 budget that will bereviewed in a BOT work session on Nov.9, and is likely adopted by the BOT onNov. 14 or 21.It’s fair to say the protesters will bepleased if the final budget includes andadditional $75,000 to for NixyaawiiSchool in 2012, plus $34,000 next fall tobring students from 6-8 th grades to thecharter school. But there’s that uncomfortablefeeling for Sprenger who, at therisk of looking a gift horse in the mouth,says “the intent was not to include” additionalschool funding in the draft budget.The Board approved a total of $275,000cash for the school in the 2011 CTUIRbudget that they adopted a year ago.The proposed 2012 budget for the CTUIRthat was shared with the General Councilshowed a $275,000 cash contribution toNixyaawii School.Nixyaawii School Board members(including former board member LindaSampson) say they have jumped over everyhurdle the BOT has placed in front of thembut never seem to get to the finish line.In an Oct. 4 letter he hand-delivered,plus sent by email, to BOT members,Sprenger outlined the course Nixyaawiihas navigated at the request of the BOT.He reminded BOT members that acommunity survey conducted last summershowed community support forthe school, including parents’ intentionto send their middle school studentsto Nixyaawii. Sprenger said the surveyindicated that Nixyaawii could add adozen students in each grade, whichwould bring the total enrollment to morethan 80 students.In his letter, Sprenger reminded BOTmembers that he, as the School Board representative,presented progress reportsseveral times, including the proposal toadd grades 6-8. At the last meeting withthe BOT, member at-large Bob Shippentowerrequested that the school presentthe expansion and financial request tothe General Council. When that presentationwas made Aug. 18, a motion waspassed to reinstate $75,000 that was cutfrom the school’s 2011 Allocation, as wellas a request for an additional $34,000 tofacilitate the middle school expansion.That would explain the protester signthat said “GC voted 38-5-3, denied by BOT.”The protesters also zeroed in on aseverance package the BOT approved forthem and future Boards. The BOT ProceduresCode, which contains the severanceprovision, was adopted in November of2010 by a vote of 4-3. The vote was tiedat 3 for (Rosenda Shippentower, WilliamQuaempts and Fred Hill) and 3 votedagainst (Leo Stewart, Kat Brigham andAaron Hines) with the tie being brokenby then Chairman Elwood Patawa whovoted in favor of the Procedures Code.Two members were absent that day:Althea Wolf and Robert Shippentower.BOT members who favored the severancepackage justified their vote knowingthey’d be in dire straits if they were notre-elected. Because they are not consideredemployees, BOT members are noteligible for unemployment compensationlike many employees are. If they are notre-elected they wouldn’t have anythingto fall back on.Protesters allege that the Board lopped$75,000 out of the amount Nixyaawii wascounting on apparently resulting in theelimination of an art teacher – and theart elective.A subsequent demand from GeneralCouncil that its chairman, Hines, initiatea recall of BOT members who voted forthe severance package failed to materializefor a couple of reasons. The Boardquestioned whether a sitting membershould be leading a recall of membersof the same Board on which he sits, andwhat Hines cites as a lack of time togather signatures.Because so many were attending theNCAI conference in Portland, the BOTmeeting on Monday, Oct. 31 was cancelled.In a one paragraph email to the CUJ,dated Oct. 31, General Council ChairAaron Hines sent this message to Tribalmembers: “You had requested that I informyou of the actions taken by the BOTvia the CUJ on the decisions made at theOctober 27, 2011 General Council meeting.A work session has been scheduledon November 9, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. for theBOT to address the actions taken by theGeneral Council. Since the CUJ will havebeen published by this date, the office ofthe General Council will issue a noticefor Tribal member review regarding theoutcome.”Vote forROBBY BILLAt-LargeBOT Member349 S Main St Pendleton,hours Mon- Sat: 7am – 2pm / Sun: 8am – 2pmIt’sLook for me on the ballotunder my given name, Robert Bill.Thanks for your vote.Paid Political AdYummy!Treat yourself tothe bestbreakfast(541) 278-1952November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal47

Attention Arrowhead andStone Tool KnappersNew supply of slabs of:Obsidian, Jasper, Agate,Opalized & Fossilized WoodAll slabs are 1/4” or will custom cut at no extra cost.Starting at only $8 per lb. / Pre-shaping available at additional costDon Wagner 541-938-6988Properties for Saleon the ReservationCall Milne for details at 541-377-7787New Listing!A little piece of heaven on earth!!Gorgeous 18 acres with one of the fineststick built homes you will ever see!! 3bedroom, 3 bath, with large shop, thatcould be used as mother-in-law home.Price is $495,000.New Listing!Unique piece of property. 9.62 acreswith two stick built homes!! Very wellmaintained homes with metal roofs,newer central air, propane heat. 40 X 60storage on property.Whitefish basketball athleteemerging as professional artistBy HEIDI DESCH, Whitefish PilotWHITEFISH, Mont. (AP) - Colt Idol’sascension into the professional art worldhas come at a rather rapid pace.Idol grew up drawing, but his focuswas on basketball. The 2009 WhitefishHigh graduate holds the school’s scoringrecord. He signed with Montana StateUniversity-Bozeman to play basketballand later transferred to Carroll College.But after undergoing his third kneesurgery, he decided it was time to takea semester off from school. So he spentthe beginning of 2011 studying paintingalongside his father, Dick Idol, a wellknownsculptor.It was the first time Idol, 20, had reallypainted. He spent six days a week in hisfather’s studio. After 5 p.m. he would gohome and continue to paint.During the summer he presented hiswork to Stephen Isley. The gallery hosteda night featuring his work and his paintingsbegan to sell.Idol returned to school this fall, thistime as an art major at MSU. Then threeweeks into the semester he quit.``I started to sell more than I couldpaint,’’ he said. ``I decided to postponeschool again. Thus far it’s going reallywell.’’At first Idol continued to paint whileattending classes, but it quickly becameapparent his work was in demand. Hewas painting as quickly as possible, whilehis next six paintings were already oncommission. At the same time he wantedto create enough work for a collectionin another gallery, but couldn’t find thetime.Idol knew he needed to be in the studiorather than the classroom, but still hisown success surprised him.``I was ecstatic to sell a painting,’’ hesaid. ``A lot of paintings can sit there foryears, but I had a couple sell in two days.’’Idol describes his work as the ``newface of the old west.’’ Native Americanfaces and teepees set on the plains aredepicted in his oil paintings.``I’ve always loved the Western feel,’’he said. ``My family has collected Hudson’sBay items and Native American artifacts.Teepees and buffalo just naturallyappeal to me.’’Despite a devotion to basketball,leaving the sport was a relatively easydecision for Idol after his third surgery.``It was not worth it to me to continuebasketball,’’ he said. ``I wanted to bephysically active later.’’His new love for art is obvious as heexplains taking a blank canvas and fillingit with his latest inspiration.``I flat out love doing it,’’ he said. ``I’venever done anything else that I wantedas a career as much as this.’’Idol can take a blank 30- by 40-inchcanvas and transform it into a completedpainting in about a week. He’s alwaysworking on several paintings at a time tostay inspired. He paints one and while itdries moves onto the next.``Painting is a complex set of problemsthat never has a right or wrong answers,’’he said. ``Painting will always be a challengeno matter how long I live.’’Idol hasn’t ruled out a return to schoolone day, for now he hopes to make artinto a comfortable career. He would,however, likely choose a different major.``I’m a firm believer in school, but anart degree wouldn’t do much for me.’’New Listing!Gorgeous triple wide on10+ acres. Newer flooring(Brazilian teak), updatedkitchen cabinets, fantasticview of mountains. Greatbarn/shop.Price $274,900.InventoryReduction Sale!Everything on salethru Dec. 31Oregon TrailGallery & Trading Post621 Sixth Street in UmatillaPRICE REDUCTION!Newer manufactured home in goodcondition, large lot with newer shop24’ x 36’. Good view of the mountains.Price $172,900.(#10088985)PRICE REDUCTION!150+ acres on Theater Road.Property is currently in CRP.Great investment propertyclose to I-84.Price $199,000.(#10015515)Open Wednesday-Sunday 10-5 / Closed Monday & TuesdayOn call 24 hours a dayCall the store at 541-922-5123 / Evenings 541-922-5567GOOD ASSORTMENT OF BRAIN-TANNED LEATHERGive ameaningful giftfor the Holidays.(SMOKED & WHITE)rAntique BeadworkrOld baskets and cornhusk bagsrOld shawls with beadworkrBeaded antique old and new shawlsBest selection ofNative Americanproducts, supplies.•Horsehide 18’’ Washat Drums•4 Buckskin Dresses: 2 Beaded, 2 Plain•Dancers: All-New Old-Style Headdresses Wolf-Coyote-Bobcat~ Men’s, women’s & children’s hard-sole fully beaded mocassins ~~ Timber wolf, coyote, fox and beaver fur ~ Roaches, shell dresses for women and children ~~ White buckskin dresses for women and children ~ Old style trade cloth dresses for children ~236 S. Main Street - Pendleton - 541-278-9275Call Milne for more information about these properties - 541-377-7787• White 3X large deer hides • Large ermine and otter pelts •• Adult and children’s jingle dresses and wing dresses •• Otter hair wraps for women and children • 1700-1800’s authentic old trade beads• Men’s, Women’s and childrens’ mocassins • Brain and commercial tanned hides• Same great selection for naming, memorial and giveaway gifts •• Blanket Sale • Deer & Elk Buckskin • Wing dresses, Jingle dresses in adult and children sizes• Ribbon shirts • Leggings & Mocassins • Baby boards • Shawls• Drum frames •Rawhide - buffalo, horse, elk or deer48 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Judicial BranchGRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - The headof the University of North Dakota’s futureconference says the continuing controversyover the school’s Fighting Sioux nicknamecould overshadow its athletic programs.Big Sky Conference CommissionerDoug Fullerton says UND could becomea ``marginalized Division I program’’ ifthe issue drags on, and believes the schoolwould ``become of less use’’ to the league‘The people expectthe Court to interpretthe law, apply thelaw, and makefair and objectivedecisions.’Continued from Page 1Johnson dismissed them as red herringsmeant to entice controversy.Among the complaints was that theproposed amendment wasn’t draftedby General Council.Instead, Johnson said,the amendment wascorrectly drafted byCTUIR attorneys.Now General Councilmembers will be ableto give a thumbs up orthumbs down whenthey vote.“We’ve been accountableto the people,”Johnson said.“When we say it wesay it in public. TribalCourt is transparent,either in writing or in public. When Isay ‘not guilty’ I have to say why I ruledthat way.”“Anyone who opposes the amendment,”Johnson said, “would seeminglywant to keep Tribal Court withoutdocumented checks and balances andthe potential for personal or politicalinfringement. Case decisions should bebased on evidence and law presented inopen court.”Rather, Johnson believes, “The peopleexpect the Court to interpret the law, applythe law, and make fair and objectivedecisions. To maintain that, we don’twant personal or political influence toaffect the confidentiality and the integrityof the system. When you violate that youhave an unfair system– only a chance atjustice.”It is important, too,Johnson said, that Indianand non-Indianalike understandTribal Court will havea fair and objectivesystem to adjudicateproblems.“People need tofeel like they’re gettinga fair shot andthis amendment willmake sure that happens”when another judge takes over,he said.Johnson noted that this proposedamendment follows a study in 2006 thatrecommended an independent TribalCourt.C o p i e s o f t h e p r o p o s e da m e n d m e n t a r e a v a i l a b l e a tXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Johnsonsaid he would gladly discuss the issuewith anyone who asks about it.CTUIR Judge William JohnsonLogo could ‘marginalize’ universityif that’s the case.UND is scheduled to begin play in theBig Sky next season.The Grand Forks Herald reports thatFullerton recently received a letter froma group of nickname supporters from theSpirit Lake Sioux Tribe.State lawmakers are scheduled to meetin November to vote on repealing a lawrequiring the school to keep the nickname.ALTHEAWOLF‘Kimoynew’for BOTTreasurer- Graduate: PHS, BMCC & EOU- Consistent record of GC involvementsince 18 years old- Current record of supporting the GCas a BOT At-Large Member- A plan for a more inclusive budget processDon’t forget to VOTENov. 15 at the NGCPaid Political AdNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal49

Lamprey at Three-MileContinued from Page 31reaches the Umatilla River as the lampreynavigate The Dalles and John Day dams,and enter other tributaries (John Day,Hood, Deschutes, Klickitat, Wind Riverrivers, and Herman Creek).“We’re losing 50 percent at everydam,” Jackson said.However, without proper monitoring,it’s hard to say exactly how many arereaching the Umatilla.“I’d like to say the adult returns arefrom our translocation program, but it’sdifficult to say without seeing an adultthat was tagged in the Umatilla River asa juvenile ,” Jackson said. “We’re talkingabout PIT (Passive Intergrated Transponder)tagging juveniles in the Umatilla andif we get them back as adults then we cansay they were reared in the Umatilla.”Current knowledge lends to the ideathat lamprey are panmiptic in nature,and may not return to their natal streamlike salmon.Although they can’t say whether or notthe returning adults were progeny of theUmatilla from released adults (annuallyas many as 600 to as few as 68, dependingon the number gathered from lowermainstem dams) in the headwaters overthe last 11 years, the Confederated Tribescan point with “excitement” to this year’sreturn, which is eight times higher thanlast year’s count of 17 adults.A number of positive factors can beconsidered, Jackson said, not the least ofwhich is higher flows in the lower threemiles of the Umatilla River. That sectionof the river often dries up between lateJune and October, just before and justafter the peak migration of lamprey,which cross over the John Day Dam in aJuly-to-August window.To remedy that low-water problem,BPA has funded baseline flows of about75 cfs through the federal Umatilla BasinProject, which exchanges water from theColumbia River for farmers who leavethe same amount in the Umatilla for fishduring the spring growing season.Jackson believes that extra water haspushed out into the Columbia juvenilelamprey pheromones (a chemicalsubstance that triggers migration andreproduction) that attract adult lampreymoving up the Columbia.Prior to 2006, those pheromoneswere stopped at Three Mile before theadditional BPA-funded flows duringthat peak adult migration period. Oncethe adults entered the Umatilla Riverthey also were stopped at Three Mile, aconcrete diversion built by the federalgovernment to irrigate lands in the early1900s, which incidentally caused expirationof salmon.But now the new lamprey ladder onthe east side of the river is giving Tribeshope that lamprey can make a comeback.Built with funding from BPA’s 10-yearAccords Project Funding and a U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service wildlife grant, thepilot lamprey ladder project is designedto see if lamprey can better reach watersabove diversion dams, in this case ThreeMile Falls Dam. Prior to the lamprey ladder,the fish – sometimes called eels – hadto use outdated salmon bypass ladders orThis year, for an unknown reason, the numberof adult lamprey returning to the Columbia Riveris higher than in recent years.suck their way up and over about 20 feetof concrete to the other side.“Of the 138 we counted, 115 used thenew ladder and 23 used the existingsalmon fish way or climbed the dam,”Jackson said.The fish ladder, with sharp 90 degreecorners, was not suited to lamprey, whichrely on the suction of their mouths toreach the waters above Three Mile FallsDam. The new ladder has rounded edgeswith a 45 degree climb so lamprey cankeep their attachment up and over thestructure. Furthermore, the ladder isequipped with devices to monitor lampreypassage.Although the value of the fish hasbeen generally dismissed, the adaptablelamprey is a traditional and ceremonialfood for Tribes throughout the region.“The Tribes have a vested interestbecause lampreys are culturally significant,”Jackson said. “They are a prizedfish to us.”For years, Jackson said, state and federalagencies have given short shrift tolamprey in favor of efforts to protect andrestore salmon and steelhead listed on theEndangered Species List. Historically, theonly use for lamprey has been as bait forsturgeon or as fish meal to feed youngfry in fish farms. In the 1930s metrictons were collected on barges from theWillamette, then ground into fish meal.Jackson is hopeful that anecdotalresults from places like Three Mile andsubsequent research and monitoringwill give lamprey a chance to continue ahistoric lifecycle that as adapted throughthe ice age, eons of volcanic disruption,even the Missouri Floods that created theColumbia River system.“Salmon have been around for 10 to13 million years. Fossil records showthat lamprey have been on earth for 530million years, since before the Jurassic Period,”Jackson said, noting that a CBFWA“white paper” is to be published soonthat will provide the research behind thehistoric claim.“Lamprey predate dinosaurs,” Jacksonsaid. “These critters are really old and itbothers me to think that in my lifetimethey could potentially go extinct. It’s notacceptable; it’s unfathomable to thinkthey’ve been around that long and couldbe gone within my lifetime.”Q vote Qnov. 15Q vote QJohn Barkley - BOT Treasurer• Experienced• Qualified• Integrity• Dedicated• Protect, Exercise1855 Treaty Rights• Former General Council Chairman• Tribal Water Commission - 12 yearsas Vice-ChairmanServed on:• TERO Commission• Land Acquisition Committee• Economic & Community DevelopmentComittee• Constitution Review CommitteeAs former Tribal Gaming Manager, Gaming Consultant, 12 years of experience with TERO, a parent of an NCS student, andexperience in Tribal politics, I intend to build on that experience to realize a long forthcomingTribal water rights settlement, a new school, clinic, new housing and community development projects that serve CTUIRmembers and reservation residents. Your vote Nov. 15 is critical for a new direction and opportunties for our future.Paid political ad50 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

Louie DickContinued from Page 2Program, Dick had a “special skill in communicatingtraditional values, such as Indian Law (Tamunwit)and First Foods to both Indian and non-Indian people.For Indians, his actions strongly influenced the FirstFoods-based Department of Natural Resources missionstatements and program actions that are implementedtoday. For non-Indians, his knack for telling stories andgiving examples greatly increased their understandingand respect of Indian ways and values.”John Barkley, who also reveres water, said Dick wasan inspiration.“He brought a significant traditional perspective thatreflected a reverence and humility to use and managewater with diligence and sensitivity for all creaturesof life,” Barkley said. “I respected hiswords, compassion and devotion to thissacred resource and will truly miss him.”Dick was respected everywhere hewent and not just for his stance on water.Longtime friend Ron Pond said agood example of the people’s respectwas when Chief Raymond Burke, beforehe died, asked the community who theythought should serve as a chief. Thenames of Dick and Pond were amongfour put up for consideration.Two others sought chieftainships andDick and Pond took it no further.Dick also was chosen to take a whipman’s role but the elder who recommendedhim, Winnie Burke, passedaway and out of respect Dick didn’t takethe position.“That goes to show that people hadrespect for him and his family background– being from a warrior’s family,the Red Elks on his mother’s side and the Squeoch’sfamily on his father’s side.”Marcus Luke knew Dick from the Longhouse andrespected his ways.“He always expressed traditional values at theLonghouse in our language, which is needed today.To some he was stern, but ones who had traditionalteachings understood.”People understood Dick’s vision for a sustainable,healthy world. He expressed it in many ways, notthe least of which was in words that will live longafter his death:“Water is life. Without water there is no life.”Editor’s Note: Louie Dick’s obituary appears on page 10.Above, Louie Dick was involved in sports as a youngster. At right, he participatedfor many years in the annual Happy Canyon Pageant at the Pendleton Round-Up.Oregon Water Quality standardsContinued from Page 17Legislature on the status of human healthtoxics rulemaking, including specific informationon the use of variances.EPA’s decision this week follows therecommendation of the Oregon EnvironmentalQuality Commission, whichadopted the new water quality standardsin August. The Oregon EQC sets policybased on recommendations from theOregon (DEQ).At the urging of the Umatilla Tribes,Oregon DEQ arrived at the higher fishconsumption rate after an extensive reviewof relevant fish consumption studiesby a panel of health professionals andthrough public workshops and commentperiods that spanned several years.McLarren praised the work of theOregon DEQ and the Umatilla Tribesfor “conducting a thoughtful public dialoguewith tribal governments, citizens,municipalities, industry and others tounderstand the issues associated withincreasing the fish consumption rate usedin your water quality standards.”EPA’s approval is testament to years ofcollaborative work, Pedersen said.“EPA’s decision endorses the years ofhard work by the state and the UmatillaTribe,” Pedersen said. “The standardallows us to move forward as Oregondecides how best to reduce toxics in collaborationand in a thoughtful way toimprove water so fish are safe and thepeople who eat fish are safe.”Pedersen said that without the influenceof the Umatilla Tribes, DEQ probablywould not have pushed as hard fornew human health criteria.“Without their leadership the taskwould have been a lot harder than itwas,” he said. “I don’t think we wouldhave pushed as hard without the tribalcomponent. Through collaboration, thetribes were instrumental in what weended up getting.”It was a long struggle arriving at thenew Water Quality Standards.In August, the Oregon EQC approvedthe standards by a 4-1 margin, with ViceChair Ken Williamson saying the standards“provide greater protections forsensitive populations. As a society weneed to provide these protections. We aremoving in the right direction.”The new rules put limits on 104 toxicpollutants (48 non-carcinogens and 56carcinogens) based on studies that havedocumented that certain populations,including Native Americans, eat morefish than the general population in theUnited States, and that toxics found infish from Oregon waterways cause cancer,and effect immune, reproductive andnervous systems.Prior to its efforts to develop these newrevisions, DEQ developed and adoptedrules in 2004. DEQ based the criteria forthe 2004 rules on EPA’s recommendedcriteria at the time, which used an assumed17.5 grams (that cracker-sizeportion) for the general population perday fish consumption rate.At the time (2004) that Oregon approvedthose standards, the UmatillaTribes expressed concerns to EPA thatthe standards were not protective enoughfor high fish consumers and did not meetEPA’s guidance that local data be used tomake decisions on criteria.In 2006, DEQ, EPA and the UmatillaTribes reached an agreement to worktogether collaboratively to revise the fishconsumption rate.In what would be a five-year process, DEQbegan re-evaluating its water quality standards,holding seven workshops around the state toshare information and discuss stakeholders’views about the fish consumption rate.DEQ convened workgroups thatlooked at public health, and the fiscalimpact and implementation of newrules. Workgroups included representativesfrom industry, local governments,non-government organizations, and localgroups meeting to develop the newcriteria with the intention of lowering theallowable amount of pollutants releasedto Oregon waters while, at the same time,considering variances and other actionsthat would provide affordable optionsto those that discharge those pollutants.Meanwhile, in 2009, while stakeholderswere meeting to hash out a new fishconsumption rate, Oregon DEQ and EPAwere sued for failing to meet federalClean Water Act deadlines.Because the rulemaking process wasnot complete - data, comments and inputwas not yet available - EPA had nottaken action. A federal court orderedEPA to take action on Oregon’s existingstandards.In June 2010, EPA disapproved those2004 standards because, as agreed uponin 2006, they were not protective enoughof Oregonians based on the amount offish they are known to consume.EPA’s disapproval caused the majorityof the 2004 water quality criteria to nolonger be effective, leaving in place theprevious criteria of 6.5 grams per day thatwas adopted in the late 1980s.The new adopted rules address EPA’sdisapproval of DEQ’s 2004 criteria andobviate the need for EPA to promulgatefederal rules for Oregon.Meanwhile, the Washington Departmentof Ecology has started a processintended to prevent sources of toxicchemicals that contaminate air, water,soil and human bodies.Toward that goal, according to a newsrelease from the Washington DOE, thestate is asking for comments on a newlyreleased technical support document,which focuses on fish consumption inWashington and existing environmentaland human health information. The draftdocument is called “Fish ConsumptionRates Technical Support Document: AReview of Data and Information AboutFish Consumption in Washington.”Washington currently uses an existingfish consumption rate of 6.5 gramsper day (26 times lower than the newlyadopted Oregon rate) in its water qualitystandards.The draft document is available onDOE’s fish consumption web portal,which can be found at www.ecy.wa.gov/toxics/fish.html. The comment periodends Dec. 30, 2011.For more details on Oregon’s newstandards, see DEQ’s “human healthrulemaking” web page at http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/standards/humanhealthrule.htmNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal51

Indian tribe uses tradition to combat suicidesBy TOM MAST, Casper Star-TribuneCASPER, Wyo. (AP)It began inside a jail cell, where ayoung man hanged himself.What followed was a cascade of deaththat threatened to engulf the Wind RiverIndian Reservation.During August and September of 1985,nine young people killed themselves.Most were Northern Arapahos.Four of the victims were between theages of 14 and 19, and five between 23and 26.Three additional victims, between theages of 18 and 23, had ties to the reservationand to some of the other victims.Eighty-eight verified suicide attemptsor threats also were recorded, the majorityby young people 13 to 19 years old.Mental health experts from around thenation tried to intervene.``But it wasn’t doing any good,’’ NelsonWhite Sr., an Arapaho elder, recalled.National media descended on thescene, an intrusion many people resentedas insensitive and bent on sensationalism.One television crew tried to crash a victim’sfuneral. Eventually, tribal leadersbarred the press from Indian land.Almost as quickly as it spread, thecontagion ended.Alcohol was a direct contributing factorin four of the deaths. But in the absenceof concrete answers, larger causesremained matters of conjecture.At the height of the episode, anArapaho elder remembered that certainceremonies had been performed duringan epidemic many years earlier.Prayers were said, and offerings madeto the four directions and to the Creator,to purify and restore harmony in a mannerconsistent with traditional beliefs.Elders Nelson White Sr. and CrawfordWhite said that’s when the deathsstopped.Their account is corroborated by ascientific review of the incident.In a journal article, Margene Towerof the Indian Health Service referred toa ``traditional medicine’’ ceremony thathappened at the height of the epidemic.``This ceremony was held followingthe ninth suicide,’’ she wrote. ``It was animportant cultural and spiritual eventthat aided in the resolution of grief andincreased cohesiveness in the community.No further deaths occurred afterthis ceremony was held.’’She noted that while suicide attemptsremained abnormally high for twomonths after the ninth deaths, these soonsubsided as well.It was the power of community anda people’s prayer that broke the deadlycycle, Nelson White Sr. said: ``We belongto the Creator.’’What happened among the NorthernArapahos in 1985 has not been forgotten.Efforts to forestall suicides today incorporateceremonies conducted in theArapaho language, talking circles, sweatlodges and involvement of elders, allwoven together in a kind of communitysafety net.Trained suicide interveners watch forearly signs of trouble. Both the NorthernArapahos and the Eastern Shoshoneswith whom they share the Wind Riverreservation have suicide preventionprograms. These efforts have been largelysuccessful.In 2009, an 18-year-old woman shotherself to death in Arapahoe, according torecords of the Fremont County coroner.Before that, a young person had not diedby suicide since 2003, when a 10-year-oldFort Washakie boy killed himself.Between 2000 and 2010, 116 peoplein Fremont County killed themselves.Twenty-seven, or 23 percent, wereAmerican Indian.Chaos erupted.A 15-year-old boy threatened to harmhimself with a knife; screaming and confusionensued.The cops wanted to jolt the boy witha Taser gun; nobody wanted him to run.Into this tumult stepped Telano Groesbeck,only a couple of weeks out of suicideprevention training.``I was scared,’’ he said. ``My heartwas pumping.’’ Would he say the wrongthing and make matters worse?Groesbeck began searching for somethread that would establish a connection.And among the Northern Arapaho,there’s always a connection.``The whole tribe’s a family,’’ CrawfordWhite said. ``One way or another,we’re related.’’On this occasion, Groesbeck knew theteenager’s dad, which established somecommon ground. Slowly, a potentiallylethal situation was defused.The Northern Arapaho tribe provideswithin its structure a support network forearly intervention.A distraught young person confidesin a friend, who alerts an aunt, who tellsGroesbeck, who invites the young personto a talking circle or a youth sweat lodge.Groesbeck said depression and suicidalthoughts often are intertwined withdrugs and alcohol abuse.In a sense, such behaviors are a slowmotion form of self-destruction: ``They’rekilling themselves doing it,’’ he said.The roots of destructive behavior canbe complex, but Groesbeck said the perniciousimpact of bullying is sometimesmissed. A child bullied at school mightalso be bullied in reservation housing bythe same tormentors, and so abuse can beunrelenting.``The answer’s always within the kid,’’he said. ``You have to listen.’’Suicide prevention efforts often arehigh-profile. Harmony Spoonhunter, directorof Eastern Shoshone Tribal Health,noted that a suicide prevention powwowwas held in June.Powwows are major communityevents. They can be used as an opportunityto share information and galvanizecommunity action.Suicide prevention programs inschools also are common, and both tribesactively seek to train people in suicideprevention.George Leonard, suicide preventioncoordinator for the Northern Arapahos,likened the stirring of suicidal thoughtsto a wild river. The goal is to rescue ayoung person at risk before he or shereaches the falls.Talking circles and sweat lodges provideyoung people with opportunitiesto learn more about their language, theirculture and traditional spirituality, andtherefore themselves, he said.RE-ELECTChairman, Board of Trustees (current)November. 15, 201152 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

CUJ SportsBig Sky Alumnihoop tourneyNov. 19-20ARLINGTON – A Class 1-A Big SkyLeague Alumni Basketball Tournamentis planned Nov. 19 and 20 at ArlingtonHigh School.The tournament, sponsored by BigSky Conference Athletic Directors, willfeature men’s and women’s teams invitedfrom Nixyaawii Community School, Helix,Echo, Ione, Condon, Fossil, Arlington,South Wasco, Dufur, Sherman, HorizonChristian and Central Christian.All money raised by the two-day tournamentwill go to the Big Sky ScholarAthlete fund, which each year rewardsBig Sky seniors planning to attend college.Last year, the Conference gave outfour scholarships.Players must be working for a Big Skyschool district or be a graduate of a BigSky school to be eligible to play.For more information, contact AaronNoisey, Nixyaawii AD, or find “Big SkyAlumni Tournament” on Facebook.Runners take overWildhorse Golf CourseCross country runners from all over the region,including Nixyaawii Community School andPendleton High School, competed in a highschool meet at Wildhorse Resort & CasinoOct. 21. Above, Nixyaawii freshman ShariceQuaempts gets words of encouragementfrom her coach, Drew Johnson. Bottom left,Quaempts works her way up in the pack. Atright, Weyekin Bill, a sophomore at PendletonHigh School, makes the final turn toward home.CUJ photosww/PhinneyThanksgiving basketballtournament for co-ed teamsMISSION – A co-ed basketball tournamentis planned for Thanksgiving weekend,Nov. 25-27, on the Umatilla IndianReservation.Games for the tournament, organizedby Robert Van Pelt, will be played at theNixyaawii Gym. All teams are invited,including city-league teams; the tournamentis not limited to Native Americansquads.There are, however, some player rules.Each team must have at least one girlon the floor at all times. Buckets will bescored as three-pointers for shooters 40and older, for youth 12 and under, andfor all girls.Entry fee is $250 per team. Awards willbe presented for first through third placeteams, for all-stars and MVP selections,as well as consolation prizes.For more information, contact Van Pelt(whose team, by the way, is the defendingchamps) at 541-429-7115.DID YOU KNOW?The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the secondSaturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several statescelebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislatorsenacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states havedesignated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continuesto be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legalholiday.In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolutiondesignating November 1990 "National American Indian HeritageMonth." Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including"Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian andAlaska Native Heritage Month") have been issued each year since1994.http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about/November 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal53

Tribal colleges hope to lure kids to hoopsBy MYERS REECE, Flathead BeaconKALISPELL, Mont. (AP) - On theFort Belknap Indian Reservation, a landriddled with devastating poverty andperpetual unemployment, there are noscholarships. Basketball is played, as thesaying goes, for the love of the game.Fort Belknap’s Aaniiih Nakoda Collegeis one of five Montana tribal collegesto officially form basketball programswithin the last two years, joining SalishKootenai College on the Flathead IndianReservation and the Crow Agency’s LittleBig Horn College.The others are Stone Child College inBox Elder, Chief Dull Knife College inLame Deer, Blackfeet Community Collegein Browning and Fort Peck CommunityCollege in Poplar. Aaniiih Nakodais in Harlem.Now all seven of the state’s reservationcolleges have basketball programs,playing in a league called the MontanaTribal College Athletic Association. Theorganization was called the MontanaTribal College Basketball League lastyear, which was the organization’s first.The regular season begins in Novemberand the league tournament is held inFebruary.While the tribal colleges have longhad loosely formed teams, the school’sathletic directors say the league givesthe teams a real game schedule, a claimto legitimacy and, most importantly,an incentive to attract young AmericanIndians to college and keep them there.``It gets more students to our campusbecause Indian people love basketball,’’Gerald Stiffarm, league commissionerand Aaniiih Nakoda College’s athleticdirector, said. ``It’s just what makes Indiancommunities tick.’’Some of the greatest prep players toFind all yourNixyaawiiapparel...~ Celebrating 32 years in business ~Good luck to area teamsentering playoff time!Nixyaawii Letterman’s JacketsNixyaawii hooded sweatshirts in cardinal,gray and blackNixyaawii T-shirts in cardinal and grayNixyaawii hats (4 styles) and visorsNixyaawii beanies and stocking capsEagles muffler with “N” for NixyaawiiDean Fouquette’sever take the court in Montana have beenAmerican Indians. The names border onlegendary in knowledgeable basketballcircles: Jonathan Takes Enemy, Elvis OldBull, Larry Pretty Weasel and J.R. Camel,to name a handful. Camel is an assistantcoach on the Salish Kootenai men’s team.But the transi t i o n o f f t h ereservation intocollege life hasbeen rocky fora number of thestate’s top nativeplayers, if theyleft home at all.It is with this inmind that tribalc o l l e g e p r e s i -dents founded theleague with threef u n d a m e n t a lgoals, accordingto Stiffarm: studentrecruitment,student retentionand developing ``the concept of the NativeAmerican-student athlete.’’The state’s tribal basketball teams aremade up of enrolled members of theirrespective tribes who attended nearbyhigh schools, except in the cases of LittleBig Horn and Salish Kootenai, whichhave more established programs andrecruit players from around the countryin addition to locals. Little Big Horn is amember of the National Junior CollegeAthletic Association.Basketball players must meet certainacademic requirements and they mayalso garner outside recruiting attention- two realities that help foster improvedperformance in the classroom. At AaniiihNakoda, Stiffarm hopes the sport encouragesstudents to buckle down for theirendleton Athletic249 S. Main - Pendleton / 541-276-6988‘It gets more studentsto our campusbecause Indian peoplelove basketball. It’sjust what makes Indiancommunities tick.’two-year degrees, and then maybe more.``We want to do things for our youthsto encourage Native American peopleto go into four-year programs,’’ Stiffarmsaid.For all the passion and support behindthe game, operating a basketballprogram on a reservationdoes notcome easy. It isGerald Stiffarm, league commissionerand Aaniiih Nakoda College’sathletic directortrue that if youbuild it they willcome, but enthusiasmalone cannotmaintain a program.The moneyquestion weighsheavily, even onthe Flathead IndianReservationwhere the economicpicture ismore positive.The U.S. Bureauof Indian Affairspegs the unemploymentrate on some reservations athigher than 60 percent. On Fort Belknap,located in north-central Montana, Stiffarmsaid the jobless rate at times soarsabove 80 percent, while a little under halfthe population lives in poverty.``Money is damn hard to get,’’ Stiffarmsaid. ``But we just dig deeper andwe raised money to get those uniforms.’’In addition to securing money forthe teams’ uniforms, the college’s 20student-athletes - out of 143 enrolledstudents -must raise a combined $14,200to pay their way and for cheerleaders,Stiffarm said.``With a community with that high ofa poverty level, it’s quite a task to raisethat money, but we do it,’’ Stiffarm said.Michelle Spang, the athletic andactivities director at Chief Dull KnifeCollege in Lame Deer, said her schoolonce had a junior college men’s teambut in recent years the college has onlyfielded teams to play in the AmericanIndian Higher Education Consortium(AIHEC) tournament in March. That hasbeen the case for other tribal colleges inMontana as well.The Northern Cheyenne studentathleteswho try out for the Chief DullKnife team must endure odd and oftenlate practice hours based on the availabilityof gym time at the local elementaryschool. Many of the players - some nontraditionalstudents - are single parents,all without scholarships.Spang, who is the women’s coach,can relate. As a college basketball playeryears ago, she had a baby her freshmanyear.``They played in high school and theywere good and then they did what I didand went and had a child,’’ Spang said.``Now they’re able to be a part of anorganized college basketball program.They’re able to travel and meet newpeople and go to other schools and experiencethat lifestyle, something theymight never get to do otherwise.’’The socioeconomic conditions at SalishKootenai College in Pablo are lessbleak. As a whole, the reservation is moreeconomically developed while the fouryearcollege is reputed for its academicintegrity. And the basketball programis among the most successful of all 36AIHEC tribal colleges and universities inthe nation, for both men’s and women’s.Though the college has had basketballsince the 1980s, it’s only been in the lastdecade that the program has becomea national powerhouse. Both the menand women have regularly won AIHECnational championships since 2000. Theteams practice and play in the $5.5 millionJoe McDonald Health and FitnessCenter, which opened in 2007 and wasconstructed with the help of grants.Zachary Conko-Camel, in his 13th yearas head coach of the men’s team, said inthe early 1980s all seven tribal schoolsplayed regular game schedules. He’sglad to see it happening again, as he seesgreat benefits in a team working toward acommon goal for a full season. His players,together as a group, have been ableto endure the deaths of two teammatesin the last two years _ one in a shootingand another in a drowning.``They become brothers and familymembers to me,’’ Conko-Camel, the olderbrother of J.R. Camel, said. ``Our job is tomake them into good players and goodpeople, to help get them set for life.’’Juan Perez, Salish Kootenai’s athleticdirector and women’s coach, said sincethe formation of the league he has seena decline in the number of players fromother reservations who come play forhis team. They are staying home to play,which is a foremost goal of the league.But players still stream in from out-ofstatetribes.Lisa Bible of Big Arm, a shooting guardfor Salish Kootenai, grew up watchingBison basketball and said she doubts shewould have played college ball anywhereelse after graduating from Polson in 2007.Her husband is James Bible of the men’steam. She said most of her teammates areat the college specifically to play basketballor because of the school’s academicreputation.``This is all on your own time; it’s a lotof work,’’ she said. ``These girls want tobe here. There aren’t any scholarships. Itshows their heart.’’But even with the college’s many successes,both on the court and off, basketballdreams do not come without theirobstacles at Salish Kootenai. For one, theprograms don’t have money for scholarships,which is problematic for the athleticdepartment’s goal of joining a leaguesuch as the NAIA’s Frontier Conference,in which teams such as Rocky MountainCollege and Carroll College play.Other tribal athletic directors have thesame ambitions, though Spang concedesthat such aspirations are hardly realisticfor Chief Dull Knife College at this point.First the program must get on its feet.And while doing so, perhaps a few of theschool’s players will get recognized by afour-year school.``Maybe in the future we’ll be able tooffer scholarships,’’ Spang said. ``Thatwould be my dream down the road, butit’s hard when you don’t have a gym andyou have to hold rental agreements withthe schools to be able to practice.’’Stiffarm also has a vision for his programand it extends well beyond thereservation borders. He hopes the playerscan see that far too.``Hopefully one day we could send aNative American player to the NBA orWNBA,’’ he said. ``That’s our dream.’’54 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011

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56 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011