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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1998)
Dear Fellow Tribal Members - recalled Council members, that it forced the Tribal I wish there were some magic words I could Council to adjourn the meeting. offer that would turn us all around. Comments As the Tribal Council members and others about the Siletz People lately aren’t very flattering. supporting or even assumed to be supporting the I’ve felt embarrassment, I’ve felt rage, I’ve felt Dear Editor - Former Chairman, Pat Duncan, the four Council’s decisions were trying to exit the apathy, but I’ve tried to push all of the emotions away, and offer myself up to hear the true recently recalled Tribal Council members and building, additional name calling, insults and taunts message. their supporters sank to new all-time lows this were coming from Pat’s supporters. Lori Johnson (for one) owes Bensell Breon and Why are so many acting out? Why are people weekend (Nov. 7th & 8th). calling names and throwing stones? These are November 7 th was supposed to be (our) Bonnie Petersen personal apologies, and should things I do when I feel threatened. I sit here, my quarterly General Council Meeting. Instead, the make a general public apology for her conduct eyes tearing up, because I refuse to believe that above-mentioned came with an organized plot that day. There are several others who also any tribal member would want to cause harm to to throw the meeting into chaos. participated in the same kind of behavior. our confederated tribes. What followed the adjournment of the A series of motions were made, including at Each of us can easily trace our roots to one least two that are in conflict with the Tribal regular meeting was a mock meeting of Pat’s of the families that made up the original CTSI. Constitution: ( 1 ) doing away with the set agenda supporters, headed at different times by Pat There is pride in that! We also have heard and for the meeting; and (2) a vote to recognize Pat Duncan, Cindy Viles, Lori Johnson, & Lillie can still remember the gossip about each of these Duncan as Tribal Chairman and have her fill the Butler (Pat was stunning in her portrayal of “our families. seat left vacant upon Phil Rilatos’ recent deposed leader - living in exile”). Then I saw The tradition of passing on this gossip now their entire scheme. resignation threatens our whole tribe. We can no longer Draft proposed amendments to the Tribal These and other motions came to a vote, afford the luxury of my family fighting with your Constitution were circulated which (if passed) family. We’ve got too much at stake! I can’t tell and passed (Pat and her supporter’s attendance would basically strip our Tribal Council of anyone what to do, but I can share with you the was also organized). The Tribal Council was thoughts and ideas that have come to me. I can caught by surprise by the first one (approval of authority and replace it with the whim and hope that others will begin to put their constructive the agenda has always been a courtesy vote), inconsistency of whoever the majority at General thoughts together, and that something good and but a study of the Constitution clearly shows that membership meetings happened to be. Putting the power back in the hands of the Tribal Council sets the agenda for General strong evolves. people may sound catchy, but believe me, if last I have a vision in which families do not vote Council meetings. in blocks. Where the ballot is concerned, each In the second issue, Ms. Duncan attempted Saturday was any indication, the people are not tribal member thinks and acts like an individual. to take a seat among the Tribal Council (again ready for it (though Pat, the Recallees and their Where we vote for candidates that answer our showing her contempt and disregard for our supporters would sure like to give it a whirl). questions with more than accusations. Constitution). Pat knows as well as anyone that Pat also made mention of having recently had In my vision we realize we’ve come to a very the Constitutionally-mandated procedure for contact with legal counsel for the State of Oregon bad place and hold a special election. We see the filling vacant seats ofTribal office (outside of the “cautioning them not to conduct any Gaming importance of a whole new Tribal Council. A annual election), is for the Chairman of the Tribal Compact Negotiations with our ‘illegal’ Tribal council clearly voted in by the membership. We Council to present a nomination to the full Tribal Council.” I’d heard enough. I left them to then- also see the importance of trusting ourselves, and Council - who either approve it or not. If the mock motions and votes those we vote onto the council. True heroes Vendetta and spite reigns supreme among first nomination is not approved, another emerge, as several current and former council this bunch, and they will stop at nothing to nomination is made until one is approved. members choose not to run because they care That is the process, like it or not. It was accomplish it no matter what the cost: financially, more about the tribe than their own egos. improper (and shows her unfitness for office) for spiritually, oi reputation-wise to our tribe. Individuals vote in honorable people willing to take Pat to then participate in trying to enforce the ............ Robert Kentta responsibility for their own votes and actions. People like this are special, so when someone is advisory vote on this matter. Pat also knows willing to serve our tribe in this capacity we vote very well (as she time after time ignored General Editor's Note: Due to length, only half of Council motions duly passed) that General them in. Robert Kentta’s letter is printed here. The This new council has three different types of Council can make motions and pass them at these remaining half of his letter will appear in the seats. It holds elder seats, general layperson seats quarterly meetings, but the Tribal Council is not December edition of the Siletz News. (a minimum education standard is not required), bound by those votes (even if the motion passes and some seats are held by people who must meet the constitutionality test). It is only Petition, a basic experience/education standard. We are referendum or initiative (election type vote of the (LETTERS FO THE EDITOR proud to be using the accumulated wisdom of our full General Council) that the Council is required CONTINUED ON PAGE 4) elders and the education we’ve provided for our to follow. children as we exercise our privilege to vote. The framers of our Constitution were smart. We do this long enough and eventually nobody They didn 't want to create a Tribal Government TRIBAL HOLIDAYS remembers the gossip. When this happens, we’ve that stifled itself by binding the elected Tribal .•JO actually cleansed our tribe of generations of pain. Government to the periodic whims and We’ve forgiven ourselves for the pain we’ve inconsistent make-up of these quarterly meetings. Thanksgiving Day - Nov. 26th caused each other, and now that we’ve moved What followed Ms. Duncan’s attempt at Christmas Day - Dec. 25th out of our own way, there is nothing there to stop illegally re-gaming a Council seat, though, wa so New Years Day - January 1, 1999 us. much name claling, threats and other aggressive/ Barbara Watson abusive “out of order” behavior from the recently -3-
