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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2000)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: I hope this letter is published before the ballots from the Bureau of Indian Affairs have been mailed to you. You are being asked to change the Siletz Tribal Constitution. Remember, Delores Pigsley has repeatedly stated, “Communication with tribal members is a priority,” however, these amendments have been proposed since Nov. 21,1999, without any input from tribal members. In fact, Delores Pigsley said “no” when first asked in November to notify the general membership of the proposed constitutional amendments. Although the March issue included the amendments, the changes are nearly impossible to detect because there is no comparison to the original language from the current Constitution. During the past four years, the Tribal Council formed Constitution Committees for the purpose of recommending constitutional changes. The committees sought input from the general membership before submitting their four recommendations. Delores Pigsley To the editor: Since August 1998, Delores Pigsley has mailed out at least five “confidential” letters. These letters are misleading, financially inaccurate, and purely political statements. In her last “confidential” letter to tribal members dated Jan. 26, 2000, Delores Pigsley stated “Our tribe is based on democratic principles and our members are free to express their opinions.” The Siletz Constitution provides the tribe with a democratic process: 1) elections by the general membership (all tribal members 18 years and older); 2) individual rights of due process, equal protection of the laws, and equal opportunity to participate in economic resources and activities; and 3) separation of powers between the Tribal Court and the Tribal Council. We, the General Council, also make advisory recommendations to the Tribal Council. Johnson, con’t from page 4 From the limited information available from tribal documents, the amount exceeds $400,000 and counting. Tribal members deserve a complete accounting of all details surrounding these transactions negotiated and executed by DEE Pigsley, and by what authority she acted. Was it real or simply DEEmed authority? All monies used illegally should be paid back to the tribe. Sincerely, Lori A. Johnson ignored three and has submitted only one, along with three of her own to the Department of Interior. These three proposed changes would have the effect of giving Delores Pigsley complete and total control over the casino and tribe’s assets, resources, and government. Delores Pigsley’s Council has proposed changes that would have a devastating effect if approved. Separation of powers would be lost and Delores Pigsley alone would have complete power over the Tribal Court. The authority of the General Council to elect its Tribal Council members would be lost and Delores Pigsley alone could seat whomever, whenever she wants. Numerous related sections of the Constitution would be in conflict, rendering the Constitution inoperable. The most damning change would allow a minimum of two Tribal Council members (currently five are required to protect individual rights for representation on the Council) to meet and make decisions, and it would change the composition of the Tribal Council from elected to seated. In other words, two seated Council members could take action on behalf of the tribe. This would not be a democratic process. Does this sound familiar? It should because this is exactly what has been done illegally by Delores Pigsley. These constitutional changes are unconstitutional, non-democratic, and inadequate protection for individual rights and tribal sovereignty. The Tribal Council’s authority to request a constitutional election does not include changes that take away individual rights from tribal members. Beware of Tribal Council members who would change the Constitution to take away your rights! If you receive a ballot from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, please vote no! on the constitutional changes proposed by Delores Pigsley! Note: Remember, if you are 18 years or older and enrolled in the Siletz Tribe, you are a member of the General Council. Sincerely, Cynthia Viles For about 20 years, Delores Pigsley has sat on the Tribal Council, usually as the chairman, and has made it a practice to not take the advisory recommendations of the General Council. For example, in February 1999, the General Council voted unanimously to recommend that tribal elections are held by electronic methods and even though Delores Pigsley agreed, she has refused to do so. The general membership resoundingly disapproved alcohol being served in the casino. They also disapproved getting additional casino games if it meant paying a disguised Oregon state tax. General Council votes in favor of terminating Craig Dorsay’s contract have been ignored (Dorsay has cost the tribe millions of dollars by negotiating and/or reviewing bad contracts). Delores Pigsley has totally ignored frequent recommendations to support a formal General Council. She continues to conduct General Council meetings as if they were Tribal Council meetings. The general membership did not approve the videotaping and editing of the General Council meetings. The general membership did not approve the hiring of an armed police force. These decisions under Delores Pigsley’s rule have trampled individual tribal members’ rights, including “due process” (according to Pigsley’s own admission). Under Pigsley’s rule, there has never been a fair distribution for health, education, jobs/economic development, and profit sharing or of any other tribal services or resources. Delores Pigsley frequently takes action outside of her legislative or executive authority, and conducts business as if she were above the law. For example, she has held meetings and voted without a quorum beginning on Aug. 1,1998, and she approved the use of health care monies in violation of federal law (P.L. 93-638). Tribal members deserve a democratic leadership that values individual participation in government. As long as Delores Pigsley is “chairman” of this tribe, that will never happen. Sincerely, Denise Peterson I General Council Meeting 1 Saturday, May 6, 2000,1 p.m. Pacific Highway Inn 4646 Portland Road NE Salem, Oregon Agenda Call to Order Invocation Roll Call Approval of Agenda Approval of Minutes - Feb. 5, 2000 General Council Concerns Elders Program Report - Shirley Walker Language Program Report Chairman’s Report Announcements Adjournment 5
