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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2000)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: Hello, my name is Loraine Y. Butler. I would like to announce my decision to run for Tribal Council in the upcoming tribal elections. If you have been feeling like your voice is no longer heard, that your opinions and concerns no longer matter to the Tribal Council, then it is time to make a change and give the power back to the people. I feel the Tribal Council has forgotten about the needs of the people. Our elders and our youth are of great concern to me. I feel we owe it to our elders to make the last of their years as comfortable as possible. I’m only talking about their basic needs. We have elders living in sub-standard housing. We have elders who want to come home to Siletz, but where would they live? Who would care for them? I feel that more things could be provided to keep our children off the streets and to help them learn to become healthy, happy adults. We are all asking where is our money going? If the casino is making profits, why are we getting less services? How many times have you called the tribe and asked for help, only to be told there are no funds. We were told we are only allowed $500 a year for medicine. What about the people who have to To the editor: At the November General Council meeting, I publicly declared my candidacy for Tribal Council. During my previous service to the people of our tribe, my record shows that I have listened to and served the membership as a whole by initiating and supporting full accountability and full disclosure. Some policies I will pursue to fulfill this commitment to the membership are: Fair and honest elections conducted by an independent, professional firm As a democratic government, General Council members have mandated fair and honest elections. The leadership should make every effort to assure each and every voter that the process is fair and honest. And I firmly believe that our leadership must be elected by the will of the people. General Council approval of budgets If the leadership is to be accountable to the membership, there must be budget hearings with full disclosure and approval of major tribal expenditures by the people. How is it that the Tribal Council had at their disposal over $2,000,000 in 1999, and yet basic health take numerous medications three times a day? Our dental needs have also been cut. It seems all our money is going to Tribal Council. They have a million plus dollars budget. We have wasted so many thousands of dollars in court costs. Remember when the governor told us No! on the casino in Salem? Tribal Council had to fight it in court. How many thousands did that cost? For nothing. Now the comp issue. We have hired another attorney to fight about that issue. We signed the compact, we are regulated under NIGA whether we like it or not. If they say our Council cannot comp themselves and families, then why don’t they stop? This is our money they are wasting to fight for a losing cause. Remember people, comp money is a giveaway. Do we want our Tribal Council to be able to give away hundreds of thousands of our dollars? If they want to give away money, how about giving it to the tribal people? We want our money to benefit the whole tribe, not just a few. Your vote counts. I am asking for your support. It’s time to take control of our tribe and make a change. Thank you, Loraine Y. Butler care needs were unmet? A policy should be in place to reduce or cut back Tribal Council spending if any tribal program has a shortfall. No tribal member should be denied basic benefits, especially in health care and education. Full up-to-date financial reports on the tribe and casino, including full expenditure reports per Tribal Council member Tribal members have the right to know how their money is being spent. Are we getting a fair return on our tribal investments and casino operations? The “unaudited” reports indicate that the casino’s operational costs are excessive, therefore much less money is going into the net revenue distribution. I believe the gaming net revenues should be designated for all tribal members, especially those in need. Yet, out of the net revenues from 1998, Tribal Council has used five and one-half times as much money as used for the general welfare of the membership. One other thing I want to mention is in respect to our elders. They are falsely being To the editor: My name is Lillie Butler and I am campaigning for a Tribal Council position. I will work for the tribal membership in a positive and productive manner when elected. I currently work for the Siletz Tribe in Contract Health Services and observe the many health needs of the membership within and outside the tribe’s service area. I am also on the Housing Improvement Program Committee and see the housing needs, but with federal budget cuts, the tribe will have to assist this program. The Siletz Tribe has many programs that can be enhanced through long- range planning and additional financial assistance. The tribe is also in need of sound, stable, and profit-making businesses that can be developed to financially assist program services to the membership. I wrote an article on the 4 percent revenues from the casino for the year 1999. At the November General Council meeting, the membership in attendance were told there was a slight increase of revenues for the year 2000. If voted in as a Council member, I will strive to get more than a slight increase. I will strive to get more to the membership than what was given in October 2000. I will strive to get more to the elders than what was given in November 2000. I am willing to work for the membership and the tribe. I am asking for your vote in the upcoming Tribal Council election to be held in February 2001. Lillie Butler blamed for the comps issue. The National Indian Gaming Commission has assured me that the elders are, in no way, responsible for the Notice of Violation. The policy for elders’ comps has been in place and was not questioned by the commission. Furthermore, I believe that, in addition to the comps, a program should be initiated so that our elders are considered first in the budgeting process, even before tribal government operations, as many other tribes do. In closing, I look forward to answering any questions. I can be reached at PO Box 16238, Portland, OR 97292-0238; 503-257-6232; pduncan@pacifier.com. Respectfully, Pat Duncan
