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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2001)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: Hi everyone, I hope that your holiday season was wonderful. Most of you know that when a tribal member passes on, the tribe allows $50 to go toward the potluck expenses. Some items bought for the funeral with this money are paper plates, cups, coffee, juice, plastic ware, and napkins. I would like to see all of that money go toward actual food products. I would like to challenge each of you to donate sturdy paper plates, juice cups, coffee cups, plastic ware, napkins, and/or paper towels, coffee, and juice. To the editor: 1 have just recently started to become involved, working with my tribe and the Siletz community. I have had the opportunity to attend a prevention conference in November. I learned a lot about how I can share information about alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) issues that are in the community of Siletz. I learned what I can do to help others and myself. Throughout life, we are all faced with peer pressure and learning how to deal with it. Learning how to say “no” and how to avoid it is truly a test. Earlier this year, I was put in a situation where I had to look at all factors, then make a quick decision that would surely affect my life. It was Mother’s Day and I decided to take my family to a pow wow over in Eugene so they could dance. During this celebration, I was encouraged to fight. In the presence of his mother and for no apparent reason, this individual provoked and threatened me. I had to look at where I was at, whom I would be affecting, and what the outcome from this would be. I also had to look at all those things that I would be giving up. The outcome was simple: I didn’t give him what he wanted and we both went about our business. It isn’t always that easy, I know. I feel the first step for me is to avoid putting myself in high-risk 4 I plan on purchasing two or three large plastic tubs to put these items in for easy storage. Also, if anyone is willing to donate old kitchen or bath towels for the kitchen, we would be more than happy to take them off of your hands. I am also putting together a list of volunteers who are willing to help out in times of need, so if anyone out there is willing to be on a list in case we need extra help, please call me at 1 -800-922-1399, ext. 278, or 541-444-8278. Thank you for your time and consideration. Have a great New Year. Wendi Schamp places. Where I think there may be trouble, there probably is. Going into a bar expecting not to meet one of these situations isn’t likely. Now if in fact I happen to come face to face with one, I have a plan, something I can fall back on. For example: My protective factors in this case were mainly family and culture. I wasn’t witling to put my family or his in danger. Being in the presence of our whipman (Craig Whitehead), I would have been jeopardizing my rights to attend this and perhaps more pow-wows to come. Also, I could have been giving up the respect that he and the people may have for me now. Having and using “protective factors” (see article on page 16) allow me to make better decisions when dealing with peer pressure. Not only in situations as this, but also when it comes to drinking, drugs and so forth. Using drugs and alcohol isn’t a part of my culture and isn’t healthy for my family or myself. I’m grateful for my sobriety and am proud that I have this chance to model this for other youth. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my experience with you. Respectfully, Rusty Butler To the editor: Tribal members, it’s getting close to tribal election time again. I urge the tribal members who are 18 years and older to get registered to vote. You can do this by calling or writing to the Enrollment clerk or the Election Board Committee at the Siletz Tribe. We all know there are issues that need to be dealt with, some that we will be talking about in the upcoming candidate’s fair. Thank you to all the people who have approached me and let me know they are glad that I’m running and that they will support me. Remember that the tribe belongs to all of us. Our vote can make a difference. Together we can make the tribe something our people can be proud of and a tribe that will benefit ail, not just a chosen few. Thank you, Loraine Y. Butler To the editor: As human nature goes, we tend to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. It’s important that we be thankful and acknowledge where the tribe has come from. With elections coming up, many candidates and individuals would have you believe that just a few people built the tribe into what it is today. It takes a group of people willing to work together for the good of the people to make lifelong changes. When you vote this election, ask yourself if this person is willing to work with others, or are they divisive and only trying to promote themselves. Today, when an employer looks at a list of potential employees, teamwork is an essential ingredient they are looking for. This is the type of Tribal Council that is needed today. A Council member should speak their heart and look for the long-term goals that will best serve the tribe. I am recommending a vote for Bonnie Petersen. Many will point out that Bonnie is my sister. However, Bonnie has impeccable values. She is hard working, professional, and puts the tribal interest first. I am proud of the work she has done for the tribe. She has taken on some difficult tasks for our tribe and I believe that her commitment to the tribe will always be there. I also would like to acknowledge several other Tribal Council members that I have had the privilege of working with on a committee. Rosemary Landis and JoAnn Miller are both very ethical and hard working Council members. I have seen both of them take their job seriously by reviewing and reading packets for the committees they served on. I have also seen JoAnn abstain from voting on issues that would affect her family, as she stated it was a conflict of interest. This is not true with all past Council members. I hope that we will hear more about these types of acts by our Council and less harsh words due to political interest. This letter has been long overdue and I will strive to comment on what I see working within the tribe. Sincerely, Laurie Brown Godfrey
