__________________ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
To the Tribal Council: Due to my
attending the alcohol, tobacco, and other
drugs (ATOD) prevention conference in
Eugene, I am unable to present my case
before you.
Several elders have already signed
their names agreeing to have an assisted
living home for the tribal elders who need
24-hour help at their disposal. The residents
will do as much forthemselves as possible.
If needed, an assistant will help them
through the course of the day.
We do not need or want a country club
facility with all fanciness of grandeur. Not a
facility that will cost millions of dollars. We
want a place and home that is practical,
utilitarian,
and
comfortable
with
knowledgeable medical personnel. We will
function in an orderly, structured, loving
environment.
We need to have this project started
as soon as possible and not wait for
tomorrows. We need to have the elderly
taken care of now and not wait until they
are debilitated and near death; others have
already left us and gone to heaven.
I implore you to please seriously start
working on this worthwhile project now.
Time is an essence. Must the tribal elders
beg and plead to have their needs attended
to? We are wise and knowledgeable, so
please listen to us and do for us.
I see there is a house for sale across
from the clinic. This would be an appropriate
place for the assisted living facility. The
residents would be close to the clinic if they
needed their help and assistance.
I ask again of the Tribal Council, please
pay heed to our wants and needs. I do thank
you for listening.
Legislators Visit
Siletz Clinic
On Oct. 18, a party of eight Oregon
state legislators, members of the Joint
Committee on Health and Human Services,
and staff visited our Siletz Clinic.
Judy Muschamp, director of the clinic,
discussed the types of health care provided
not only to our tribal members, but also to
other rural residents and specifically how
the Oregon Health Plan is being used to
carry out services. The legislators said to
let them know if the tribe needs further
assistance that the state might be able
to provide.
All tribal offices will be closed on
Dec. 20 for an all-staff meeting and on
Dec. 25 for the Christmas holiday.
With a great deal of hope,
Maria Westervelt
Another major concern of mine is the
drug scene here on the reservation. We
want this place to be a safe, sound, and
wholesome environment. We want this
place to be a rich, drug-free, and beautiful
reservation. Beautiful and wholesome so
our children will grow up to be sound,
decent, and worthwhile citizens.
We all have a stake in this. We must
try our very best to eradicate this problem.
We must all try to work together on our
different ventures. We must be positive and
constructive and not destructive. Then
and only then will we accomplish our goals.
I thank you again,
Maria Westervelt
Chairman, con’t from page 3
Forums were held in Siletz primarily
to provide answers to residents’ questions
and concerns about how the new structure
will impact them.
Offices Closed Two
Days in December
While in Siletz, I gave the group a tour
of the administration building and described
some of the programs operated by the
Siletz Tribe. It was an opportunity for us to
show these state officials that our tribe
operates a multitude of outstanding
programs and services, not just a gaming
facility in Lincoln City.
Search Continues for
Chinook Winds GM
Interviews of candidates for the
position of general manager of Chinook
Winds are ongoing. It’s essential that a
highly qualified person of impeccable
credentials be selected for this important
post. We hope to make a final selection very
soon. While the search is going on, the
facility is being operated efficiently by
Interim GM Chris Steinbach and Assistant
Jim Lorson.
Siletz Tribe Hosts National
Indian Gaming Regulators
On Nov. 9-10, the Siletz Tribe hosted
a national meeting of Indian gaming
regulators at Chinook Winds. This included
a Seminar Institute for tribal regulators
sponsored by the National Indian
Gaming Association.
In addition to such items as staffing
and budgeting requirements of gaming
commissions, the agenda included a
discussion of NIGC’s proposed rule on
health, safety, and environmental
standards, a subject that I addressed in my
testimony before the NIGC.
The NIGA seminar included “advanced
due process training” and “mediation as a
means of resolving conflicts.” Franklin
Ducheneaux, who was invited by NIGA to
speak to the regulators, addressed the
issue of “maintaining the intent of IGRA.”
We are proud of the fact that Chinook
Winds Casino and Convention Center
has now been the setting of several
national conferences.
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