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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2000)
NOTICES R——""I ——— | Siletz Community Christmas Program The Siletz Community Christmas Program will be on Dec. 9, 2000, at the Tribal Community Center at 6 p.m. Santa will arrive at 6:45 p.m. Donations are welcome for snacks and cookies! Performers are needed. Contact Wendi Schamp or Kelley Ellis at 541-444-2532 before Dec. 7. Ellis to be Sworn In The public is invited to the swearing in ceremony for Kelley Ellis, recently elected to the Siletz City Council. The event is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2001, at 7:30 p.m. at Siletz City Hall. Criminal Code, con’t from page 15 From Portland: Which law is the Siletz Tribal Police currently enforcing? Siletz Tribal Police are currently enforcing Oregon law. Tribal police can enforce Oregon state law within the Siletz city limits and tribal law on tribal lands. State and county police also can enforce Oregon law on Siletz Tribal lands because of Public Law 280, which came into effect in 1953. Does the state have to act on crimes within the reservation with Public Law 280? No. Will developing the code exempt the tribe from Public Law 280? No. How did we deal with tribal members historically regarding crime and punishment? We need to get more information on that from the Cultural Resources Program. Historical punishment/traditional punishments: Parents are afraid of child abuse charges, but also the extended family and whole community need to be involved with the person’s punishment. Or is the individual alone responsible for his/her kids? Our youth not taking responsibility for their actions. Our youth have no responsibility, no one to answer to - uninvolved parents and family members. All family members or elder council should be involved when a minor child is being sentenced for crimes. 16 ITC Scholarships Available The Intertribal Timber Council invites all interested Native American/Alaskan students to apply for its Truman D. Picard Scholarship Program. Fifteen scholarships will be awarded in two categories: 2001 graduating high school students pursuing an education in Natural Resources (five scholarships of $1,200 each), and current college students studying Natural Resources (10 scholarships of $1,800 each). To apply, students must submit the following: E> E> E> E> [x> E> Letter of application (up to two pages) demonstrating interest in Natural Resources; commitment to education, community, and culture; academic merit; and financial need Resume Three letters of reference Validated enrollment in a federally recognized tribe or Native Alaska corporation High school seniors: documented proof of application to an institution of higher education to study Natural Resources, plus school grades College students: documented proof of studying Natural Resources, plus school grades Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on March 1,2001. Applications should be sent to the Intertribal Timber Council, Attn: Education Committee, 1112 NE 21s’ Ave., Portland, OR 97232-2114. Call the council at 503-282-4296 or visit its Web site at www.itcnet.org for more information. Incarcerating people: Is it good to use tribal money to incarcerate? Where do we want to spend our available resources? Dollars spent on imposing sentences, maybe building jails, etc., takes away from other areas, such as foster care. Are we putting the cart before the horse with this code that may include sentencing when we don’t have jails yet? The tribe’s jail agreement enables those convicted under tribal law to go to the Lincoln County jail. Youth arrested by the state or county are taken care of through the Oregon Juvenile Department. Does the tribal member reimburse the tribe for the time they spend in jail? Tribal members not living on the reservation already pay state taxes that include funds for jail. Don’t federal courts have jurisdiction over overcrowding? How would tribal members repay time spent in jail? Who would pay for counsel for tribal members faced with prosecution? The current draft code says that Tribal Court would provide counsel in some cases. How does Tribal Court pay for counsel for defendants if the Tribal Council does not okay the funds? Drugs: People suggested that we need a clause holding the tenant criminally liable for damage done to tribal housing that is related to manufacture/sale of drugs. Someone thought that sentencing should be like they do in the military and not allow them back in tribal housing. Our code does not address manufacturing drugs in a tribally owned home. Should there be some consequences? Indian Civil Rights Act: The good thing: It ended termination. The bad thing: It is an affront to sovereignty because it requires tribes to comply with a sort of Bill of Rights for Indian people. It provides for the right to habeas corpus, which means that people can challenge Tribal Court judgements in federal court. Questions about the Indian Child Welfare Act will be covered in the next issue of Siletz News. Would the area offices be considered part of tribal land, therefore part of our sovereign nation? The tribe’s area offices are rented property and are therefore not tribal land. The offices are located in the tribe’s service area, however, which is covered by tribal and federal law. We are researching this issue further. Would we be considered ambassadors in the areas? (See Criminal Code on page 17)
