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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1998)
Faw 2 S ile tz N ew s Tribal Government ¿Skaimean's R e p o r t S. 1691: “American Indian Equal Justice Act” new threat to our sovereignty; voice your opposition to this attack C o n fe d e ra te d T rib e s o f S ile tz In d ia n s Siletz Administration Office 2 0 1 SE Swan Avenue PO Box549 Siletz, Oregon 97380-0549 1-800-922-1399 FAX: (541) 444-2307 Contract Health Services PO Box 320 Siletz, OR 97380 1-800-628-5720 FAX: 541-444-9645 Portland Area Office 3715 SE 39th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97202 503-238-1512 FAX: 503-238-2436 Salem Area Office 3789 River Road North, Suite D Keizer, Oregon 97303 503-390-9494 FAX: 503-390-8099 Springfield Area Office 188 West "B" St.z Building P Springfield, Oregon 97477 541-746-9658 FAX: 541-746-0049 General M anagers Mike Kennedy Sharon Edenfield TribaZ Council Pat Duncan, Chair Lillie Butler, Vice-Chair Clifford Case, Secretary Mary "Dolly" Fisher Geneva Johnson Bonnie Petersen Denise Peterson JoAnn Miller Delores Pigsley CTSI on the Internet www.ctsi.nsn.us PAT DUNCAN Tribal Chairman n April 7, a hearing was held in Seattle on Tribal Sovereignty. . S. 1691, proposed by Senator Gorton, is entitled, "American Indian Equal Justice Act." The bill is far from equal justice for Indian people. On behalf of our Tribe, I have submitted written testimony against the enactment of this bill. An excerpt from the testimony follows: "The Siletz people view S. 1691 with a particular suspicion owing to our own experience. We are a tribe that survived Congressional termination of our sovereignty from 1954 until our restoration in 1977. T h e Termination Era was perhaps the darkest chapter in our history, but through the perseverance of our people, we have managed not only to survive, but to thrive as a community. We now face a new threat to our sovereignty in the guise of S. 1691, offered by Senator Slade Gorton. Sadly, for us, it is a familiar threat and one we must fight." O The attacks on our sovereignty are very real, both nationally and at the state level. When we were restored federal recognition, we gave up our hunting and fishing rights. I personally feel that we still could have regained federal recognition if our leaders stood their ground and did not give -up any of our rights. Many of you voiced your opiniohs on this issue when the gaming compact negotiations was discussed at the last General Council meeting. To that end, I am ’assuring you that I will not support any agreement that gives up any of our sovereign rights. I am asking each and every tribal member, wherever you live, to Contact the Congressional representatives of your state to voice your opposition to any attacks on the sovereignty of Indian tribes. As I had stated publicly many times before, we have gone through the trauma of termination and I personally am committed to assuring our tribal members that we will not go through it again. Thank you. Jessie for all the hard work and hours she put into the Chinook Winds casino project. The larger quilt will be ready soon. $ Thanks, Dub, for an excellent idea! Surplus uniforms crafted into quilt and token of appreciation A t the May 2, 1998, General ./^.Council meeting, Dub Bellinger presented Jessie Davis with a small model of a quilt being crafted out of surplus Chinook Winds uniforms. Ad Hoc Constitution Comm ittee meets monthly at area offices A while back, several uniform pieces were left at the tribal Administration building. Many months went by while the uniforms remained in their box. Dub Bellinger, Education Specialist, hit upon the idea of having a quilt fashioned from the pieces. The artisan creating the quilt gave Dub a smaller version for design approval. He, in turn, gifted Jessie with this lovely sampler quilt, along with a big thank-you on behalf of all of us, Committee members Gladys Bolton, Teresa Collins, Dave Viles, Don Hudson, and Edell Richards thank all who have offered their concerns and ideas, regarding the revision of our tribal constitution. We will be meeting on a monthly basis at our four area offices, and ask for your continued support and participation. Call 1-800-922-1399 for informa tion about our next scheduled meeting, or write us, in care of: P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380. Please come and join us.
