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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1998)
Siletz News Election Results Pages Congratulations! Candidate statements reprinted for tribal interest Delores Pigsley Bonnie Petersen Greetings to all tribal members. I am asking for Once again it is time for the membership to your vote in the upcoming election. I believe my determine who you want to represent your interests experience, skills, and personal attributes are in tribal government. Our tribe is one of the few that qualities needed on tribal council. I received my allows every tribal member to exercise their right to bachelor’s degree in political science from the vote in every election, whether or not you live in the University of Oregon in 1992.1 have been actively service area and whether or not you participate in involved with the tribe since 1983. My paid and any governmental activities. Everyone has the volunteer work history touches on several branches opportunity to decide what kind of government they of tribal government: culture and history gatherer; want and the responsibility to elect those than can tribal associate judge; court clerk; contract health accomplish the many tasks. clerk; enrollment clerk; and education manager. The last five years have been very challenging. Outside of employment, I have served on various The council has had incredible battles with the State tribal advisory and policy-making boards: pow-wow and the federal government over sovereignty issues, committee, culture namely gaming committee, educa E l e c t io n b o a r d R e s u l t s and land issues. tion committee, T r ib a l C o u n c il c a n d id a t e s : The tribe became a Siletz Indian Hous se lf-g o v e rn a n c e 101 Jane I. John 447 Delores A. Pigsley ing Authority, the tribe to gain more 73 Tad S. Mason 340 Bonnie M. Petersen Siletz School site control over the 61 Marcella St. Martin Mary A. Fisher 325 council, and the Ad funds that are Donald Bellinger 50 253 Jessie Davis Hoc Gaming Reve 19 Kenneth P. Blair 217 Reggie Butler, Sr. allocated for nec 18 nue Committee. Mark Pullam 147 Peter J. Downey essary programs 10 Kevin B. Johnson 129 I have served Edell A. Richards and services. The 110 Stanley E. Werth my tribe in various tribe must negoti roles: in an advi ate on a yearly sory capacity as a committee member, in direct basis to keep our funding levels and to obtain new services as a line-staff employee, in program funds that become available. We have been very implementation and development as a manager, and successful in those negotiations. We successfully in policy-making as SIHA Commissioner and as a have had land taken in trust to build our casino in tribal council member. I have also been and will Lincoln City. None of these objectives were small continue to be a client of tribal services. In looking tasks. There are many more accomplishments to back on all these roles, I see that the one which can numerous to mention. I mention them now only to most affect the others is that of policy-maker. And, stress the fact that to serve on council one has to be that is why I am running for tribal council. well versed on sovereignty issues, on federal Every election year the candidates promise you regulations, state and federal land issues, budgeting change. I, too, am proposing changes, but changes processes, and must possess the ability to negotiate that are constructive. I support change that addresses or take a stand on all these issues. weakness in our structure and procedures. I propose I became a candidate for council again this year change that builds up the tribe and its members. because I believe I can serve the tribe in the same We badly need to de-politicize the tribe. There is capacity that I have for over eighteen years. I served a proposed plan to restructure that centralizes all during the years the tribe was restored - everyone entities (except Tribal Court) under the tribal told us restoration was an impossible task, during the council. This move ensures that personalities/ years when our tribal homes were built, our clinic politics can affect decision-making. The tribe needs was constructed, when we became a self-governance an independent Board of Directors for Chinook tribe, and when our casino was built. I have years of Winds. These board members should not be allowed experience as a council member, negotiator, a to game at the Casino. To allow otherwise, despite manager and supervisor. any safeguard, invites criticism for conflict of I am committed to the idea that all tribal members interest. have employment potential with the tribe. Our tribal We need an independent economic development members should always be treated with dignity and entity. While STEDCO experienced some failures, it respect. Above all, the tribal council must act with also experienced some success. Specifically, dignity and professionalism to represent all tribal marketing timber through STEDCO captured greater members as a whole. Council must be fair and profits than under the old BIA process. It was impartial, honest and trustworthy. I can say without STEDCO who convinced the tribe to invest a doubt, that I can and I have provided leadership for marketing profits in the stock market. The initial our tribe to the best of my ability. plan was to not touch those investments and kept the continued next page Mary A. “Dolly” Fisher My intentions for the growth and well-being of the tribe are the same as during the early 1970s when we struggled for four years to obtain restoration. Our number-one priority was tribal preference in hiring for all positions within our tribal organizations. It still is for me, although some are trying to change this policy. Without good health - education and employment may not happen. I’ve supported and continue to support our clinic and Contract Health Services; now e need to expand to all tribal members where ever they are. Affordable housing for tribal members and special attention made to the needs of our elders, such as hand rails, ramps, and easy access to the entire living area, is another priority of mine. I support employment for tribal members, economic development to promote self-sufficiency, and both of these to enhance morale among our members so we can live in peace away from outside threats. We need to teach our culture and inherent rights to our young people and protect those beliefs from being taken away or changed to others’ beliefs and ways. The committees I have served on are many: Education, enrollment, health, housing improvement, Siletz Indian Housing Authority, STEDCO, cemetery committee, and the constitution committee. I have been a delegate to National Congress of American Indians, Small Tribes of Western Washington, and Counsel of Oregon Tribes, Northwest Indian Health Board, Oregon Commission on Indian Services, and The Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest. Also, I was selected as Oregon Woman of the Year for significant contributions to the advancement of women in Oregon; one of the 15 women in the United States honored for Indian Women’s Leadership by the National Congress of American Indians. I have been the tribal council chairman, vice- chairman, secretary, treasurer, and wore many other hats, as well, for the tribe. I always promoted the well-being of our member sand participated in any advancement that came before us. Your vote for me as a tribal council member will be greatly appreciated, so exercise your right to vote. Thank you.
