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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1998)
Tribal Leaders Attend NC AI meeting to Lobby Congress By Bonnie Petersen Chairman, Delores Pigsley, and Vice- C hairm an, B onnie P etersen, trav eled to Washington, D.C. to attend the September 9th Tribal Leaders Meeting on Legislative Action. NCAI Chairman, Ron Allen, presided over the afternoon gathering o f the nation’s Indian leaders to voice concerns and coordinate their messages to Congress. At the end o f the day, D elores and B onnie m et w ith A ssistant Secretary o f Indian Affairs, Kevin Gover, to familiarize him with the Siletz tribe and discuss specific issues o f concern. The Chair and Vice-Chair spent the next two days on Capitol Hill visiting the congressional offices o f Rep. Darlene Hooley, Sen. Ron Wyden, Sen. Gordon Smith, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Sen. Charles Robb, and Sen. John Rockefeller. During these visits, Delores and Bonnie discussed the impacts that anti- Indian appropriation riders will have on tribes and urged representatives to oppose them. There are no less than 24 budget riders attached to the 1999 Interior Appropriations bill. These riders are strategic, coordinated attacks upon tribal sovereignty that preclude an y fair and o p en debate. O f particular concern is the Reid-Enzi Amendment, w h ic h p ro h ib its the Secretary o f Interior from promulgating rules for alternative compacting for tribes where states refuse to negotiate. This very w eek, tribes, state attorney generals and governors are meeting to work out such a process. The Reid-Enzi amendment would stop this effort. Another rider prevents the Shakopee Mdweakanton Sioux Community from taking land into trust. This property was purchased for development — it w ill not be used for gaming. If successful, this rider will set a dangerous precedent to circumvent the long- established BIA procedures for taking land into trust. A t day’s end, Pigsley and Petersen attended an NCAI tribal debriefing session where leaders shared their experiences and discussed further efforts. Their last day in Washington, D.C. included a visit with Bill Sinclair, D irector o f the O ffice o f Self- Governance. In lobbying Congress, tribal leaders w ere unanim ous in th eir m essage -- any amendments affecting tribal sovereignty and treaty rights should be carefully and fully considered through fair and public hearings. Congress should oppose attempts to enact Indian legislation through “sneak” attacks. -2 - TRIBES UNDER ATTACK!!! AGAIN!!! by Tina Retasket B o th th e C h airm an and V ice- Chairman’s reports indicate their efforts to combat the latest attacks on Indian country. O f great importance is the effort by Senator Slade G orton, from W ashington State, to attach a rider to the Department o f Interior’s Appropriations Bill which would determine tribe’s funding from the BIA based on their relative income. In other words, tribes with gaming and other revenue sources may have to forfeit some or all o f their Department o f Interior funding. According to Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman, tribes are outraged at having to declare their income to anybody; and, because o f this, some tribes are considering forgoing their TPA dollars and relying solely on their own revenues. The Siletz Tribe, according to Chairman Pigsley, is N O T one o f the tribes considering forgoing their TPA dollars. Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary o f Indian Affairs, struck an agreem ent with Senator Gorton last week to allow the BIA until April 1999 to come up with a method to allocate TPA or “638” dollars under Senator Gorton’s rider. This gives tribes and the BIA some time to digest the news and provide input on how best to deal with this issue. There is discussion that a Continuing R esolution m ay be passed instead o f the A p p ro p riatio n s B ill b ecau se o f cu rren t conflicts in Washington, D.C. If a Continuing Resolution is passed, it is unclear if it will be short-term or for the 1999 fiscal year and whether or not any riders will be attached. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR * A RecaU o f Reality M any o f our goal reaching realities will happen several generations dow n the road, goals obtainable now! There m ust be a stop to this political assignation, w here does the (buck) stop? N ot in our pockets or program s at this rate. There is a difference between proper professional debate and bickering, backbiting disagreements. One must get beyond the negativeness o f any recall, recognize and w ork towards a positive change. How m any recall the trem endous efforts by all at the accom plishments o f w hat w e have today, what we are able to share w ith many, not forgetting the im portance o f the reca llin g o f priorities. How m any can recall a friend or fam ily m em ber who needs repairs on their hom e? W ho can recall someone who did not have transportation to seek m edical attention? R e c a ll a sh u t in w h o n e e d s companionship? Is there anyone who recalls a m other who needed assistance with her little ones? R ecall a friend, a sister, brother, m other, father, a child who is fighting the disease o f drugs and alcohol? Recall someone you know who is hungry? R ecall a concerned parent who is worried about m oney for a child’s education, (a survival m ust for our children). R ecall a battered face from spouse abuse, child abuse? Can you recall an intimidating moment at work, in our com m unity? R ecall always w ondering, w orried about issues, sides? R ecall a friend, fam ily person w ho is no longer accepted because o f negative energies that are suffocating? R ecall visiting a tribal friend or fam ily m em ber who lives outside the recognized tribal 11 counties geographical boundaries and asking yourself why? R e c a ll atte n d in g m e e tin g s o r sittin g committees that accomplished minimal because o f in n er c o n flic ts th a t clo g g ed th e h ig h w ay o f productive communications? These are positive concerns that need our productive attention. Building a better community o f understanding is w orth recalling, w here all our w elcom e to share responsibilities along w ith prosperity. To receive, you m ust give, there is no room fortakers. We are a reflection ofourpast, an image o f today and the spirit o f tomorrow. All letters received will be printed except those which are known to b e slanderous or racist. Please type or w rite legibly, no profane lan g u ag e w ill be p rin te d . T he S iletz Newspaper and Tribal Government accept no responsibility for statem ents made in the Letters to the Editor. The opinions expressed are those o f the individual writing it. Letters that are excessive in length may be edited for len g th as ap p ro v ed Tty T rib al C ou n cil Resolution #96-142. All letters must include A prayer: your name, address, and signature. Send Feeling the w arm th o f the yellow sun? letters to: Siletz News, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, Spread it around, share w ith someone. OR 97380 I f a prayer is whispered upon the wind, Phone: (541) 444-8291 - o r - 1-800-922- It will be heard by family, a friend. 1399, ext. 291. Fax: 1-541-444-2307. L ook tow ard strength, true harmony, peace, W atch inner turm oil, negative conflict cease. e-mail: newspaper@ctsi.nsn.us Please note: The General Manager o f the Respectfully, Siletz Tribe is the C hief Editor o f the Siletz Eva E . Clayton News,
