Warm Springs Program; Interview with Delvis Heath

But 1992 being tribal council election year we wanted to get more insight into the way Council I guess Council nominees were viewed traditionally and how that process was I guess done a long time ago by the elders and talking with us about this. Today is Elvis Heath who's the chief of the Warm Springs tribe. Douglas maybe you can talk about a long time ago how were candidates did they have candidates or what was the process for trouble Council. A long time ago the old people knew the people that was on this reservation and when they grew up they knew where they grew up and knew where their roots were and knew what they were doing when they were old enough. And then the value with them through their life and their will remember this is the people we elect people because the people have grown and have matured enough to make a decision that would help this tribe and the

people more than say like some people here have signs up and say this is what I'm going to do for your tribe. But overall they have to do everything that's going to hold our reservation intact. In not only holding tank because this land of ours they thought it was valuable. We don't want to lose a reservation. We don't want to lose anything. The Roots the berries here. Once we got there that's the livelihood of our people. So basically what you're saying is a long time ago people were evaluated throughout their life and as they grew older then the the people viewed them as far as how they conducted themselves in their life and also the ways that they carried themselves among the people. Yes they went to Sunday services.

They're rife for how the gym was whatever they did through their life. You know. They conduct themselves in such a way that the people you know approves of it. Then they Third the ones that were. There once a terrific they would be the ones that says yeah this man is now. He's right for it. That's pick a man there tell him why you let the people know why they would like to have somebody appoint them pay to put on a record also because he was ready then not somebody saying I want to promise you this. How was that process changed or maybe we can talk about the evolution of that process a long time ago maybe things were viewed that way and I'm sure now even some of the the elder

still view it in this way. How do you feel the the order of business through tribal council has changed and how is that maybe the selection process if you can talk about that maybe how some of that has changed also. Well time ago not long time ago just a few years ago and. 30s 40s in the 50s. Thirty eight when the Constitution was born and the 40s. Then we had interpreters and temperatures interpret the law but we had some people like Jeremy some tests when he was a chief and they had to interpret what they had to have an interpreter along with them to interpret everything to do the time. Today it's changed. We were at boarding schools and we day government

has changes you want you know which teacher taught the Indian people this is a name which is forcibly superior. Maybe it's not I think everything reverts around our culture and our language traditionally the people knew who these people wore and they picked them. That's why we got the councils that we have. But I can't judge or see anything to young people I mean Thelema. You know education is very important to you and also to hold it with that it's your creation to mesh it together where the education and the culture will fit together and work and much stronger way for people. We need to instill that in telling people this is what they want our language is number one. We need to continues to hold that strong. So that's that's I mean if they mean i tribesmen traditionally have everything there is talk to our

people. I think that's an important point for tribal members and to keep in mind as far as looking towards this event which is is very important concerning the leadership of the tribe and also hopefully that those tribal leaders will also emphasize both of those points. On one hand the education on the other hand also maintaining the traditions and trying to bring those two together concerning our future leadership of the tribe. Del Bosque if there's anything that you could say to the candidates or for those people that are maybe even even in the future would like to be considered as a leader for the tribe. What is some words of advice you can give to these people. I don't really have any advice but you know the people are the ones that choose who they are like in their own district in my warm

springs tribe. The people have student decided this is the people I want I don't know what they do in the sheiks who were you know while school but when I or people chose our candidates they they're strong recommendations. But the young people today don't know the things that they need to know. And whenever you do get around to the council it's not an easy task it's going to be a hard task in a lot of people think it's just a cake walk. And when after after being mean here I would welcome anybody to want to take the position that I have to go ahead and take it because I think that people are running.

COLMES for a costume. Wants to be known here. Their job is more important data like to continue single trader a job instead of serving their people here. He then it's a really wonderful thing that we had all heard issue of People back then that they sat sat and served and did our people brought us up to where we're at if we didn't have that back then but I don't think we would be standing would be we're all the same to first one for the determination we were able to at the Winter tribe should it to remain at first but the dirt to meet all the people around us. But we're still we're still the number one tribe that there is a mad every time we want that tripe to go down. The people outside of us all around us everybody seeming to have Warm Springs and it's not a cake walk it's hard

work. But people will know that I have served and I think it's wonderful to have that i'm people that was all that had gone. Already Pat's father wanted to last once alive. You know what or how hard that work was done in the 50s and will. But this is not a lie. He's alive but no dedication. That's what they took. It took dedication for them to not receive no money. And when they didn't have any money that is dedication for them to to come through to do the work for the people here in my council and I think that's what's going to take for the young people. If you're going to become a consummate dedicate dedicated to the here and there to Kate to do the work for the people dedicated to make sure that the service is done for the people in this being and I mean it's not easy but I wish everybody all the candidates Good luck and I hope the best person

is appointed. Certainly a lot of things to keep in mind not only for the candidates but also for the people. Once again this being a tribal council election year and the tribal council elections will be held on April 2nd and I appreciate you taking the time to talk with us and share some thoughts on this process and giving us a little bit of historical background and once again I'd like to thank you dell this delta seeth is the chief of the Warm Springs tribe for talking with us and once again KW was so also wishes all of the candidates Good luck. Once again delegates Thank you. Thank you Kate and we are sure. Thank you for that. So if your words.