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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2000)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS To the editor: Ohau red people of the great tiyospaye. As always, my heart rejoices at the opportunity to communicate with the people of my spirit. Written word is not the medium normally used to pass on knowledge and yet it is the avenue that is open to me. It sits in my heart as the correct thing to take pen in hand and share these thoughts. We are a spiritual and not religious people by nature and there is no right or wrong way to be Indian. We do not have a church that encompasses all Indian peoples. We do not have documentation of and do not offer authentication for our spiritual leaders. To us, traditional life entails a spiritual foundation and a oneness with mother earth and all of the creator’s creations. Ceremonies often have variances based upon the many different nations of native peoples. The one constant, however, is the foundation for our beliefs that we have used to build and continue our way of life since the beginning of remembering. At this time, part of an ongoing struggle for rights and recognition within the Oregon Department of Corrections in general and the Snake River Correctional Institution in particular involves issues such as: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Fair and equal treatment to people of other races. Rights concerning medicines, including but not limited to the pipe, drum, inipi, smudging, feathers, talking circles, etc. Rights concerning cultural celebrations such as pow-wows. Volunteers, community involvement, etc. Native American-oriented educational and treatment services. By limiting our ability to gather unto ourselves, to learn from each other and especially our elders, they have effectively limited our ability to become the best native people we can become. I ask you to help us and one another. Although the battleground may have changed, the struggle remains the same. Survival - survival - survival! 4 Posting of Certified Tribal Council Candidates for 2000 Election The following tribal members are certified as eligible Tribal Council candidates. Name Roll Number Gerald D. Ben Bensell Breon Reginald Marcus Butler Sr. Clifford W. Case Sr. Michael L. Darcy JoAnn Miller L. Keith Taylor #66 #110 #164 #183 #229 #661 #922 CERTIFIED Dec. 23,1999 David L. Bartels Election Director Dear Tribal Members, My name is Reggie Butler Sr. I am married to Lillie Logan Butler. I have four children: Gary Sr., Ralene, Reggie Jr. (wife Shelly), and Lee (wife Vicki); and seven beautiful grandbabies: Tausha, Gary Jr., Halona, Lee Jr., (Brother), Bobby, Logan, and Cecillie. My grandchildren, and the grandchildren of all Tribal Members, are the primary reason I am competing for a seat on the Siletz Tribal Councillfor it is the young people who are our future leaders and it is our responsibility to assure that each are equipped, early in life, with the instruments to eventually lead our Tribe in a progressive and productive manner. Goals of the Siletz Tribe A goal of the sitting Council is not, apparently, planning for the future of our grandbabies, because enhancement to our programs is not occurring. The Tribal Council is concentrating, instead, on terminating qualified staff, and amending job descriptions to minimize the qualifications of existing jobs, to ensure that friends or family can satisfy these requirements. To me, we are taking a step backward instead of progressing forward; and this does not assure a positive future for our children and grandchildren, a primary goal of our families. Such should be a primary goal of our Tribal Council. Today, tomorrow, and forever, we must take care for one another as ourselves and educate each other and our children. We must seek answers from one another and listen with our spirits and hearts as well as our ears. We are the first people, the caretakers of earthmother. The future of our children is the responsibility of all of us. We must start today to heal the sacred hoop and work toward building a future where red peoples not only Independent Representation The sitting Council speaks with survive but are truly sovereign and self- sufficient. We must not ignore the needs one voice...that of the Chairman. The of one another lest we empower others cohesiveness of the Council is such that to continue imprisoning and inflicting they voted unanimously to misuse your suffering on us. money (timber and casino revenues), by The time is now to raise our voices granting the Chairman the power to and reach out to one another. To find out negotiate questionable settlements to how you can help, please contact family and friends. This action costs the Delbert Handsaker, Sid#8813846, and/ membership thousands of dollars. In or Stuart Boyd, Sid#6952044, c/o Attn. defense of their collective action, the John Saunders Club Supervisor, Native Tribal Council could not produce American Club SRCI, 777 Stanton Blvd., ordinances or policies to support any Ontario, OR 97914. authority to engage in these decisions. It is only the beginning, my people. The red road is calling. Protection of Tribal Sovereignty Ohau Mitakuye Oyasin The sitting Council jeopardized the sovereignty of the Siletz Tribe by Ricky Lowry, Sid# 10983649 Mahto Ciqala attempting to acknowledge, utilize, and abide by state law regarding employment Editor’s Note: This letter was edited for length. (Continued, see top of page 5)
