LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
What trickery these constitutional
amendments?
In March, Craig Dorsay, tribal attorney,
and Delores Pigsley, Tribal Council
chairwoman, without the original Constitution
to compare and without identifying the
changes, told tribal members about
constitutional changes. Because the
justifications given are false, it would be
foolish for anyone to vote without comparing
the amendments to the current Constitution.
Dorsay and Pigsley proposed to place
Tribal Council in complete control of Tribal
Court, destroying tribal member rights to
appeal Tribal Council decisions that deprive
due process/equal protection or other civil
rights. Currently, there are two instances
when the Tribal Council and Tribal Court may
interact. First, the appointment of judges is
made by the Tribal Council. The other
interaction occurs when Tribal Council
decisions are appealed in Tribal Court.
Dorsay and Pigsley proposed for Tribal
Council to become the head of Tribal Court,
a guarantee that tribal government will not
'hear complaints against itself in court. The
current separation of powers provision in the
Constitution is a good thing! This provision
is embodied in the federal legal system,
which we name as an authority by our
Constitution. It is meant to protect us from
government excesses!
Their story about a catastrophic
reduction of Tribal Council is a false concern.
The Tribal Council Rules and Procedures
Ordinance is the appropriate place for
To the editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Craig and Kris Whitehead. I am
speaking of the Commitment Ceremony they
held for their son, San Poil. It was at that
ceremony that I made the commitment to
support San Poil, that I would do all that I
could to ensure that this community was a
safe place for him to grow up in.
I believe in ceremony, prayer, and
sacrificing my time to teach and share. I am
struggling with my concern for the youth in
the Siletz community. I find it difficult to accept
that they have very limited access to
structured activities where they are
surrounded by adults or people modeling
healthy attitudes and behavior.
I find myself becoming angry for the
choices of other people to not strive to be
clean and sober, or to not make the
commitment to take the time to care about
or spend time with members of our
community. For this, I am sorry and I
apologize. My apology is not to say I am
wrong or right, but only to say I am sorry for
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procedures in the event of a catastrophe.
Instead, the proposed quorum amendment
eliminates the current constitutional
provision for five members to be at meetings
in order to vote and conduct business.
Five members of nine total members
of the Tribal Council is a simple majority.
Reducing it to three alters two constitutional
provisions. First, it strips the requirement of
a simple majority and second, the tribe would
no
longer
be
“government
by
representation.”
We currently elect nine representatives
to Tribal Council. They want members to be
“seated” (not elected) and for only three
(non-majority) of the nine members to be
present, with two votes binding on the tribe
(all of us). Currently, the representative
government and the five-member quorum
are good things! Tribal Council is a myth if
only three have to be present and two
members could relinquish tribal rights and
assets. Just two votes could terminate
the tribe.
Pigsley and Dorsay’s article in March
misled on the amendment for calling
meetings within three days. Meeting
procedures need to be in the Rules and
Procedures Ordinance, just like the
procedures to follow in the event of a
catastrophe. Proposing to change the
Constitution as unclearly, unnecessarily,
and inappropriately as Dorsay and Pigsley
did shows me that whatever we are paying
them for needs to be investigated. Tribal
Council should retract these amendments.
Cynthia Viles
the bad feelings that exist in our tribal
workplace or community. These bad feelings
build barriers between us that prevent us
from working together to create a healthy
community.
I am writing this letter to ask adults to
make a commitment, to be honest and kind
in their process to take the time to be with,
share, or teach the youth, adults, and elders.
I hope that this letter will help us look at the
importance of spending time with our people
and to make the commitment to be there. I
have found that often I try to make things
happen, to create and plan activities, that I
do not have the energy to do by myself.
We have a community center, but not
really any community activities. We have a
youth center, but not really any youth
activities. I remember my boys saying, “You
know, mom, the times I got in the most
trouble was when I was bored.” I remember,
and because of this strong message, I make
the effort to plan and make activities
available. I hope these words will help
To the editor:
I am writing once again to urge each
General Council member to exercise your
constitutional rights by voting NO on the
proposed amendments. Consider the
ramifications if they do pass.
You will be stripped of your right to vote
for your leadership, just as you were in
August 1998. You will have no legal recourse
in Tribal Court against the injustices of a
corrupt Tribal Council, just as what has been
occurring since August 1998. You will be
telling this “renegade” council that it is
perfectly all right to spend your money to
benefit only a select few. I, for one, feel that
the membership deserves equality in
services, benefits, and protection of the
laws, which is what is supposed to take
place in a democracy.
In the past, our tribe has taken pride in
being the first to venture into new arenas.
We were the first tribe in Oregon to be
restored federal recognition. Again, we were
one of the first tribes in the nation to
undertake a coordinated effort of our social
services (ESP, TANF). These two examples
alone had some very serious derogatory
affects on our people.
Let us not be the first tribe in the nation
to give up our rights as individuals and allow
a dictatorship to determine our future and
those of our children and grandchildren.
Again, please vote no on the
constitutional amendments!
Sincerely,
Pat Duncan
community members and tribal staff strive
to collaborate and provide activities for all
of our people.
I would like to thank people who have
volunteered or supported me in this process:
Ray Blacketer, Brenda Bremner, Laura
Bremner Kelly Ellis, Judy Imbler, Natasha
Kavanaugh, ICW Program staff, Rena
Philbrook, my spiritual relations, and
my family.
Special thanks to Kent Rilatos and Bev
Youngman for continuing the Open Gym
activity, and to Ronell Welch and Kelly
Strickler for their help with after
school activities.
Most importantly, thank you to the
youth who participated. There are so many
of you, you know who you are! Keep taking
the time to share and teach others. You have
the gift of youth and energy. Thanks for
sharing your gift with the adults in the
community.
Lisa Brown