TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom
As most of you know, I go to different institutions and do sweats. I recently went to
EOCI (Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute). There were four tribal members. Some
didn’t make it; I was later in contact with them by letter.
I also went to Two Rivers on Oct 14. I did not do sweats there at this time. The
management wants us to sweat on concrete. I have not been able to contact anyone yet
to see if it would be acceptable to cover the cement with a couple feet of Mother Earth.
While writing this, I contacted a medicine man who told me that he thinks it would be
acceptable if there were a couple feet of Mother Earth on top of the concrete. He doesn’t
like the way the rocks will be heated, with propane. I have talked about this with one of my
past teachers and was told it would be acceptable, especially where it is difficult to get
wood. So, we’ll see how it works out.
I do not go to the Oregon State Penitentiary. For some reason, I have not been able
to make contact with Siletz Tribal members there. It seems that they always have to work
and seeing as how Siletz is my primary concern, I just quit going there. I did not do
sweats in there.
Now, the reason I am writing this is that on Nov. 5, during elk season, I will be going
to the Snake River institute to do a sweat. I hope to see Siletz Tribal members there. At
this point, there are three that I know of.
What I’m asking is that you good people who have family or friends there, please let
me know who they are and their SID number. Then I can call the religious volunteer there
and request that they be present.
You can call me at 1-800-600-5599 or 541-444-8268, or write to me at PO Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380.1 think that it’s important to keep this contact as much as possible.
We don’t know how much of an affect we’ll have, if any, on them when they complete
their time, but at the very least we have given as much as we can. We do see, at different
times, those who come back and are now productive citizens. I also see some going back
to the prisons as volunteers. For many, this is the first time that they have been in touch
with their heritage and will continue to carry it with them.
If any of you have friends or relatives in an institution, please let me know. I write to
several different people now and can write to more. I will answer all correspondence.
There is a grapevine in the system that tracks people very well. In fact, I find out things
that are going on in our own community in the sweats.
L to r: Brenda Bremner, Mike
Bewersdorff, and Norm Counts
Bewersdorff
Graduates from
Police Academy
On Sept. 15, General Manager Brenda
Bremner and Police Chief Norm Counts
attended Officer Michael Bewersdorff’s
graduation from the Police Academy in
Monmouth, Ore. Bewersdorff graduated
with 33 other individuals following a
10-week training program.
Since then, Bewersdorff has been
busy as a swing-shift officer on duty. He has
investigated a number of incidents, from
noise complaints to making warrant arrests,
one of which required that he pursue the
wanted subject on foot, leaping fences
before taking the individual into custody.
Other items of interest: Chief Norm
Counts and tribal administration are looking
into relocating the police office. This will be
on an interim basis of possibly two or three
years because it will take that long to locate
funds, apply for grants, and design and
construct the facility before it can
be occupied.
Currently, with the hiring of a third
officer and recruiting of reserve officers,
there is no room in the police office. For the
officers to work effectively, Chief Counts
says that the department will need to
increase its space to at least 24' x 60'.
Tribal Police September
2000 Activity Report
Progress continues on the houses at the Dickenson property on the western edge of
Siletz as such things as carports and windows are installed.
12
Meetings Attended
Sept. 5 - Managers Meeting, Siletz
Sept. 9 - Elders Meeting, Chinook Winds,
Lincoln City
Sept. 13 - Lions Club, Newport,
(See Police on page 25)