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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2001)
CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS To the tribal membership: I am once again declaring my candidacy for election to the Tribal Council. I have actively served on the Tribal Council for 22 years. I am willing and able to commit to serving another three years. Back in 1975, the tribe was actively seeking federal recognition. I was proud to have been part of those early restoration efforts and to work with a group who was dedicated to the goals of restoration. The unified effort of a few turned out to be one of the most significant events in our tribe’s history. We should never forget what our goals and dreams for the tribe were when we were finally restored in November 1997. Since restoration, many successes have been achieved. Our members are provided with health care, social services, housing, scholarships, vocational training, and cultural events. Most tribal members have or their families have benefited from some tribal program. Many argue that what we get is not enough. I agree that our members deserve more than we are able to provide. Unfortunately, tribal programs that are funded through the federal government have declined in dollar amounts over the years. We as a tribe have lobbied hard to keep funding levels that can provide much-needed services for all our membership; that is our job and a job that is not taken lightly. I, along with others on Council, have personally knocked on many doors in an effort to explain our tribe’s needs and to better educate our legislators about the Siletz Tribe. This has been a rewarding experience for me, but the tribe has been the chief benefactor of those efforts. The tribe has been faced with some interesting challenges during the past three years. I mentioned the decline in federal funding of programs. The other challenges have included the allocation of funds; an example is our Housing Program. Congress decided the funding would go to the most needy tribes. As a result, we received a tremendous decrease in funding, while at the same time receiving an increase in our HUD funding. My greatest concern is the level of funding provided for health care and elders care. Casino net revenues have been used to supplement services to elders and to provide health care services to members in the service area as well as to those living outside the service area. Revenues have also been used to establish an education endowment fund as well as providing additional scholarships for our youth. Casino revenues have greatly improved in 2000 and will continue to improve in the future. Tribal members will see more dollars going toward programs and services in the immediate future. We can all be proud of our casino and the staff that we have. There are many economic development activities currently under way as a result of casino revenues. I ask for your support in this election to continue my work for the tribe. I am very dedicated and will work in a positive and professional manner to protect tribal sovereignty and our Constitution. My home phone # is 503-393-6516 if you want to call me for any reason. Thank you for your support during the past three years. Delores Pigsley 12 My name is Stan Werth and I am a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. I have worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 24 years, and retired in 1996. I have also worked at Chinook Winds for 18 months, and am currently working for the City of Eugene airport. I served on the Hunting and Fishing Committee in the early years of our restoration. Stan Werth The Siletz Tribe is involved with many issues. Some of these issues are gaming, health care for our people and employees, housing, hunting and fishing, taking care of our elders, and our children. That is why we need a Council that can work together to solve the issues that come up regarding our responsibilities. We must be able to reach an agreement on how to handle the situations and find ways that will benefit most of the people. Why am I running for Council? I am running so that I can be more involved in what is taking place in the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. Working for our members. Letting the people know that I will listen to your questions and concerns, and also, let you know why we made the decisions that we made. Because I am a member too!
