OR. COLL.
E
78
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5523
v. 28
no. 9
September
2000
SILETZ NEWS
A monthly publication by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Tribal Council
Responds to Letters
by Bonnie Petersen
Tribal Council Vice-Chairman
For some time now, the Tribal Council
has not responded in Siletz News to the
many allegations and misinformation
expressed in letters to the editor. We
believed that the membership would base
their opinions on the facts documented in
motions, resolutions, and minutes of Tribal
Council meetings and through special
mailings like Nesika lllahee (formerly
Chinook Winds Bulletin).
But in conversations with tribal
members, it has become clear that this was
a naive viewpoint. By failing to offer a
response, tribal members are left with no
alternative explanation and could easily
conclude that there is truth to these letters.
By letting the allegations and misinformation
go unchallenged, we have only lent
credence to the authors.
Vol, 28, No. 9, September 2000
Chairman’s Report
NIGA Joins Siletz to Protest NIGC Actions
Because of their importance, I am focusing my report this month on recent
developments relating to the Notice of Violation (NOV) issued against the Siletz Tribe on
June 14 and the recent action taken by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) in
support of the Siletz Tribe on this issue.
Ever since the NOV was issued more than two months ago, it has become a highly
controversial and emotionally charged issue both within the Siletz Tribe and outside
the tribe.
I regret that some of our own tribal members jumped to the conclusion that the Siletz
Tribal Council and Council members are guilty as charged. They don’t seem to understand,
not only that the National Indian Gaming Commission’s (NIGC) action has serious,
far-reaching implications, but also that the NOV itself contains only allegations.
As the NIGC states in the NOV, “The tribe may appeal the allegations by submitting a
Notice of Appeal to the NIGC.”
The Siletz Tribe did respond by filing an appeal on July 14, together with numerous
supporting documents to rebut NIGC’s allegations that the comps were used for personal
benefit and that the costs were taken from “net gaming revenues.”
Disregarding the tribe’s heavily documented appeal of the NIGC’s NOV, the NIGC
issued a notice of proposed fine. This has been misinterpreted by some as a fine, which it
(See Chairman’s Report on page 3)
(See Tribal on page 30)
What’s Inside
Letters to the Editor
Chairman’s Report
Tribal Programs
Job Openings
Notices
Nesika lllahee Pow-Wow
Social Security
Timesheets
Siletz Clinic
Chinook Winds
Tribal History
Passages
2
3
6
13
15
17
18
21
24
26
29
32
Samantha Lynch, Jr. Miss Siletz; Holly John, Miss Siletz; and Jennifer Easter, Little
Miss Siletz, await their crowns at the Nesika lllahee Pow-Wow.
Siletz News
Confederated Tribes of Siletz
P.O. Box549
Siletz, OR 97380
Delores Plgsley, Tribal Chairman
Brenda Bremner, General Manager
and Editor-in-Chief
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