LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
Apparently a constitutional election to
be conducted by the Department of Interior
is still pending. Currently, the Siletz
Constitution has several requirements that
protect individuals from the excesses of
government. The following constitutional
provisions will be taken away from all of us
if the amendments proposed by the Tribal
Council are passed:
1. “Five members of the Tribal Council
shall constitute a quorum.” This provision is
the guarantee for an elected representative
form of government - a democratic process.
It will be taken away from us, however, if
the proposed amendments pass.
2. Currently, when dismissing or
suspending a Tribal Court judge, the Tribal
Council must provide an opportunity for a
hearing “open to tribal members.” If the
proposed amendments are approved, this
requirement for “open” hearings will be taken
away from us.
3. Tribal Court rules and procedures are
currently required to be “consistent with the
provisions of this [Siletz] Constitution and
requirements of federal law.” This will be
taken away from us if the proposed
amendments are passed and we could then
say goodbye to the legal requirements of due
process and equal protection of
the laws.
And worse, the proposed amendments
have placed the rules and procedures for
Tribal Court to only be “subject to Tribal
Council approval.” If these amendments are
approved with the Tribal Council as the head
of the Tribal Court, then we will lose
separation of powers as a check and
balance against corruption.
The Constitution is our document for
sovereignty and certain provisions must be
present for our tribe to survive legal
challenges. The proposed amendments will
remove those important provisions.
Provisions of representative government,
separation of powers, due process, equal
protection, and guaranteed individual rights
are all subject to disappear if these proposed
amendments pass.
Please vote No! No! No! And No! on
the proposed constitutional amendments.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Viles
4
To the editor:
I have been reading the tribal newspaper for months now and it seems to me that
there are a few tribal members who are not happy. I ask myself why, and I have come to
the conclusion that they need to get more involved in finding the answers to their concerns
before they make spiteful remarks in our tribal newspaper. If they would make the effort to
go to Tribal Council meetings, which are open to all tribal members, maybe they wouldn’t
have to get so upset guessing or coming to their own conclusions on what is happening
with the tribe.
My mother, Jane John, is a Tribal Council member and has been for at least 11 years.
She is one of the original Council members who was on the Ad-Hoc Gaming Commission
and has worked hard to help get our casino where it is today.
I am very proud of all of her accomplishments and what she has helped the tribe
achieve. So when I read all of theses articles from our own tribal members slurring Tribal
Council, it makes me wonder: Do they really know what they’re talking about? I know my
mother; she is one of the most honest people that I know, and she would never do any of
the things that Tribal Council is accused of!
I just want to also say that I was Tribal Council secretary for two years (’91 & ’92) and
have been associated with Tribal Council members since my mother, Jane, has been on
Council. I know that everyone who is on Tribal Council now are all honest, hard-working
tribal members who are working to make our tribe better for everyone. I hope that our
tribe can learn to work together instead of fighting everything that we want to accomplish,
for our elders (who brought our tribe back), and all tribal members’ future.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and let’s support each other and work together!
We all have the same goals!
Glendora (John) Osborn
To the editor:
,, . „
I am not surprised by the new policy for letters to the editor. In anticipation of this
policy, I have been developing a Web site to inform tribal members of issues. If you do not
have access to the Internet, you can reach me c/o PO Box 16238, Portland, OR
97292-0238.1 have documents to support all the statements I have made previously.
Nonetheless, I have a number of questions for tribal members to consider:
® The Tribal Council earns $9.54 an hour. How then was more than $2 million spent by
Tribal Council in 1999? I propose that the Tribal Council provide an up-to-date
expenditures report (including wages, travel, etc. - all “work-related expenses”) per
Tribal Council member at each General Council meeting and upon tribal
member request.
® Our tribe and our casino are both listed as contributing to a recent NIGA conference.
How much was contributed and out of what funds? What is the total contribution per
year to NIGA and out of what funds?
® Exactly how much money was received for our health program and how was it spent?
® Why weren’t our net revenues used to supplément the shortfalls in the areas of
immediate need (health care, education, Housing Improvement Program, etc.)? After
all, our casino is supposed to benefit all tribal members, especially those in need.
® How much is it costing our tribe (in essence, tribal members) in attorney’s fees to fight
the National Indian Gaming Commission? And, how do you appeal something that is
“proposed” rather than a decision?
® Isn’t it a direct violation of the Ethics Code for Council members to continue benefiting
from the 401 (k) retirement, a definite fringe benefit, in light of the recent vote of
the membership?
These questions should not even have to be asked. Tribal Council members have the
responsibility to meet the basic needs of the membership or inform us of the truth as to
why they cannot (or will not). The needs of the many should outweigh the wants of the few.
I propose that the Tribal Council enact a policy of full disclosure to the membership,
starting with immediate full disclosure of our tribe’s and our casino’s finances. Perhaps
then there would be no need for a policy to “edit” letters to the editor.
Sincerely,
Pat Duncan