CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Chairman Delores Pigsley
Our tribal newsletter is a valuable
communication tool that lets everyone
express their ideas, concerns, and
general information; it should continue
to do so. I am concerned, however, when
individuals go beyond giving their
opinion and give blatant misinformation
that can hurt the tribe. I am addressing
those issues that are confidential in
nature in a letter to the general
membership. You will receive that letter
before you read my report.
The Tribal Council had its
December meeting interrupted by bad
weather and road conditions. The bad
road conditions actually started just
before Thanksgiving. Siletz, Newport,
To the editor:
I attended the Candidates’ Fair
this past wee’kend in Siletz. It is the first
one I ever went to. I thought it was well-
organized and run very nicely.
I do, however, have some
concerns. Clifford Case and Reggie
Butler seemed to be more interested in
slamming Dee Pigsley and the current
Council rather than sharing their views
on their candidacy. Why would anyone
in their right mind vote for these two, who
are obviously only concerned with their
own agenda and not the good of the
tribe? I mean vengeance, conflict and
mean-spiritedness are not what I want
brought to Council meetings. Clifford
said he carries no animosity for people
in one breath and degrades Dee Pigsley
in the next.
Dee is but one person on the
Council. Hundreds of people signed the
and Lincoln City were isolated for interview committee. I met Judge
periods of time. Casino and tribal Gantenbein for the first time after he was
employees and customers could not get selected by the interview committee.
home until roads were repaired. When
Two other interview panels selected
the tribal staff had their all-employee the other judges. All judges for our court
meeting and Christmas lunch, the roads have law degrees. All of the positions
again were impassable. The Tribal have been filled and we have a full and
Council, scheduled to meet the following active court system. Tribal Court is an
day, had to reschedule many agenda integral part of our tribe. The Tribal
items to a later date in December.
Council’s responsibility and role to the
Needless to say, the bad weather court system is to assure they have
and road conditions raised havoc with adequate funding and personnel to carry
the tribal and casino businesses. I am out their responsibilities.
conveying all this to you because the
Beginning in February, the tribe will
tribe, local governments, and start the process of updating the
businesses have made an issue of the Comprehensive Plan for the future. In
roads and highways that lead to and addition to seeking input on tribal
around the coast. We have sent letters programs and tribal goals, we also will
to our congressional delegation and
seek input on the goals and priorities for
state representatives expressing our
this year’s casino revenues. Meetings
concern for highway improvements. Our
will be held in the four area offices (or
casino has been blamed in the past for
possibly a larger facility) and a mailing
all the traffic on the coast highway;
will be developed for those of you who
everyone knows that those conditions
live outside the tribe’s service area. Your
existed prior to the casino. We hope to
input in both of these processes is
see some major improvements in the
extremely valuable; we do listen and
coming year.
act accordingly.
I was asked to explain how judges’
The new year already is producing
vacancies are filled. The filling of these
its challenges. Some council members
vacancies was by advertisement and
interviews. Tribal Council and whomever attended the National Indian Gaming
they designate act as the interview Association meeting in Washington, D.C.
committee. I was unable to sit in on the It’s clear that tribes will face the same
chief judge interviews. Judge challenges by anti-lndian congressmen
Gantenbein was selected by the with anti-lndian legislative agendas. It’s
too bad that we as a tribe cannot face
those issues with the same amount of
recall petition, hundreds of people voted
energy that is used negatively during
in the recall elections. That is why
Tribal Council elections. Our tribe would
councilmembers were recalled, not
be overwhelmingly successful. We do
because of Dee. And councilmembers
can vote however they please 1 whether the best job that we can to do our share
it be because they trust Dee’s guidance in defeating legislation that is
or because they want what’s best for the detrimental to tribes.
For those of you who live in states
tribe. I think a Council that can stand in
agreement on these issues instead of other than Oregon, please check out the
constantly bickering is something we Indian gaming web site of the National
Indian Gaming Association (NIGA),
should all be proud of.
The people took a stand in the www.niga.org. Everyone can assist in
last election and it will happen again this the tribe’s efforts by keeping themselves
February. So to Clifford and Reggie, all I informed about issues in their state that
can say is deal with it! Don’t give Dee affect tribes.
the credit for getting rid of bad
If you have any questions that I can
councilmembers - give the credit to us answer for you, please give me a call at
voters who took time to vote and elect my home, 503-393-6516, or call and
an outstanding Council who we can trust leave a message at 1-800-922-1399. I
will work for the good of the entire tribe! am in the process of getting my own
Cindy Lane Hill-Jackson
e-mail address.
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