CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Chairman Delores Pigsley
The boxing event recently held at
Chinook Winds has received excellent
reviews. It was billed as Lincoln County’s
biggest sporting event ever. Because it
was broadcast by HBO, the casino got
exposure in 27 countries and the U.S.
The fight was televised in the U.S.
at 11 p.m.
I have received numerous calls
congratulating the tribe for promoting and
putting the program together. Those who
deserve the credit are the Chinook
Winds staff, who did a great job. and our
own Boxing Commission. We hope to
have more boxing; the first one was a
truly memorable event. I hope those of
you who were there will agree.
The Tribal Council spent a
considerable amount of time reviewing
budgets from all administrative
departments and Chinook Winds during
the last few months. Those budgets
received final approval in December.
Tribal elections are upon us. Voter
registration cards must be on file to vote
absentee. Ballots can be cast in person,
however, in Siletz on Election Day. Every
tribal member age 18 and older has the
opportunity to vote for their candidate.
Please take the time to vote for the
person you feel can do the very best job
for the tribe.
Our 22nd Restoration Day
celebration was saddened by the death
and funeral of Chuck Lane. However, the
buffet dinner, guest speakers and pow
wow for this year’s event were excellent.
The BIA’s Northwest Regional Director,
Stan Speaks, Robert Kentta, Ed Ben
and Sister Francella Griggs all spoke
eloquently about our tribal history and
restoration. I would like to publicly
acknowledge them for taking the time to
share their experiences and for sharing
the historical information.
To the editor:
A recent study concerning the thousands of Americans injured each year
by medical mistakes is bringing welcome attention to this major problem. As the
authors of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine study point out,
a major obstacle to putting better systems in place is the culture of silence and
secrecy that pervades the medical establishment.
Unfortunately, many doctors and their insurance companies are continuing
to stand in the way of needed improvements in patient safety by insisting that doctors
and hospitals should not be required to disclose their mistakes. With a straight
face, the insurance companies complain that if medical providers were required to
report their mistakes, this information might fall into the hands of their patients, who
then might want the doctor to accept some responsibility for the harm to the patient.
If a driver hits a parked car while its owner is asleep in the house, does his
auto insurance company advise leaving the scene and remaining silent? The
overdue reforms under discussion should at least include a patient’s right to be
told the truth when he or she has been seriously harmdd due to a medical error.
The system now in place encourages medical hit-and-run.
Sincerely,
James G. Nelson
To the editor:
A small letter to fill in a few gaps
on what is happening within the tribal
administration.
I would like you tribal members
to closely examine the gross revenues
Chinook Winds brought in this year and
the net profit that came back to the tribe.
If you are looking for another big per
capita payment of $100, forget it. The
sitting Council made it a one-time
payment.
I questioned Council about the
hiring of over 200 additional employees
at Chinook Winds to operate the four or
five new games the state allowed the
tribe. After sitting Council allowed the
compact to be amended by the state, to
add the new games, the governor and
his staff walked away with the better end
of the deal. Last year, the gaming center
grossed around $50,000,000. The net to
the tribe was around $2,000,000 and
your share was $100. The overhead to
operate Chinook Winds will boggle
your mind.
Also, the Council hired another
attorney for $7,000 per month. A Council
person informed us this attorney worked
seven hours in one month. This tells me
he made $1,000 per hour 1 your
money again.
Finally, the Council fired highly
qualified staff for little or no reason and
replaced these individuals with,
coincidentally, friends or family. The
Council then hired three consultants. For
what? If these employees are qualified,
they do not need a high-paid babysitter
for them. I want you to remember these
consultants are not paid out of federal
funds. Their compensation comes out of
your share of money - either timber
or gaming.
Obviously, there are a lot of
questions that will not be answered by
sitting Council. So, when it comes time
to vote, do not let any propaganda letter
snow you. Ask questions and demand
answers and documentation to confirm
and support these answers. Then vote
with your conscience.
The tribe needs a change in
leadership. Things will not get any better.
This Council is like a runaway horse.
The only way to slow or stop what is
happening is the vote of the people. I am
asking for your vote to try to change what
is happening within our tribe.
Reg Butler, Sr.
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