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