LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
With winter months behind us,
spring showers upon us, and the lazy
days of summer just beyond the
meadow, I’m ready to take off my
winter garb and run free.
New life is everywhere. Bone bare
alders are springing into life with fragile
shades of green that seem to plump up
the forest.
As the day warms, salmonberry
thickets catch my attention. Young
tender shoots, red-orange berries. Good
eating right from the bush or with a little
cream and sugar. It won’t be long before
it’s time for my yearly salmonberry run!
I’m not worried that another spring
adds yet another year to my collection
of many. What takes my breath away -
my grandchildren James, Nestor,
Brandy, and Neil. Each new season
brings change. I’m not sure I’m ready
for these changes; where went
yesterday? Question was I enough a part
of their lives to help make a difference,
offer encouragement to dream big? My
grandchildren, does their youth
energize, spark a memory of a past
moment? Oh yes!
This little light of mine, in my case,
four little glimmer-shines, warm the
cockles of my heart and bring me such
great joy.
1 know I need to be more wise with
my time, for just beyond myself is
family, friends, and a whole world
waiting for the warm days of summer
just beyond the meadow.
Eva E. Clayton
To the editor:
I am writing as a Siletz Tribal member
and I have a few issues that concern me.
1) ESP Program
This is a program that is supposed
to help and give an opportunity to tribal
members to better themselves. I had to
deal with the program personally
myself, so I do know what I am talking
about. When a tribal member signs up
for GA/TANF, they should be treated
with courtesy. I listened to my grandma
years ago talk about how welfare treated
her like dirt. When I hear how the Siletz
Tribe treats some of these tribal
members who ask for GA/TANF
assistance, I thought those prejudiced
days were over. When there are special
needs (yes, there are tribal members
who can’t read or write), those workers
need to get off their hind-ends instead
of throwing the paperwork at them and
threatening them that they will be cut
off, help and inspire them.
2) Chinook Winds
I am proud of our casino. But ...
why is it so poorly mismanaged? The
weekends are so busy and where are all
the workers? I have heard so many
complaints about waiting in the long
lines to cash their tickets and also to
eat in the buffet. We are now established
and have the reputation as the jackpot
casino. The staff is great there, just that
we need to keep the lines going faster.
I, as a tribal member, would like to see
the membership get a per capita. The
Tribal Council benefits, why can’t we?
As for putting the money into programs,
that doesn’t benefit all the
membership. The Tribal Council
consists of all tribal elders and it still
was voted down 7-2, not giving us tribal
members a per capita. Why?
3) Siletz Tribe Hiring
A tribal member who applies for a
job within the tribe and doesn’t meet
the minimum requirements due to no
license, inability to type 40 wpm, and/
or have a GED/high school diploma,
they should be given a chance of
achieving this in six months. Give these
tribal members a chance, not just a
chosen few or because of who they are.
I am strongly against nepotism
and favoritism.
Joella Strong
To the editor:
Tribal members, I would like to
thank those members who voted for me.
I am willing to work and speak for the
membership. I have done so in the past
and will continue doing so.
The first Council meeting that I
attended, I made a motion to increase
the distribution to the membership, but
the vote went two in favor of more
distribution and six against. I was told
at the Council meeting that the dollar
figures given at the February general
meeting might not be correct dollar
amounts, although the membership was
told about an increased revenue figure.
I also made a motion to go to
electronic voting for our elections, but
that vote went two in favor and six
against. Thedast election had a Council
member’s niece-in-law and two nieces
on the election committee. I would
encourage tribal members to sign up for
the Election Committee.
I also saw how hard it is to have
Council meetings or workshops relating
to tribal business because it is hard to
fit into Council members’ travel
schedules. What are our priorities?
I again want to say thank you to
those who voted for me and I will work
hard for the tribe. The telephone number
for Reggie or Lillie Butler is
541 -444-2448 or a message can be left
with Kelley Ellis to have one of us call.
Kelley Ellis can be reached at
1-800-922-1399.
Lillie Butler
LETTERS, DEADLINES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
Siletz News, a publication of the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
of Oregon, is published once a month.
Our editorial policy encourages input
from readers about stories printed in
Siletz News and other tribal issues.
All letters must include the
author’s signature, address, and phone
number in order to be considered for
publication. Siletz News reserves the
right to edit any letter for clarity and
length, and to refuse publication of any
letter or any part of a letter that
may contain profane language, libelous
statements, or unsubstantiated
statements.
Not all letters are guaranteed
publication upon submission. Published
2
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Siletz News
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letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of Siletz News, tribal
employees, or Tribal Council.
Pleas.e type or write legibly.
Letters longer than 450 words may be
edited for length as approved by Tribal
Council Resolution #96-142.
Please note: The general manager
of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief
of Siletz News.
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
April 2001
Send letters to:
Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380
The newsletter is free to enrolled
Siletz Tribal members. For all others,
a $12 annual subscription fee applies.
Fill out this form and mail it with $12
(make check payable to Confederated
Tribes of Siletz) to Siletz News.
541-444-8291
1-800-922-1399, ext. 291
Fax: 541-444-2307
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Address:____________________ _
e-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
Phone: ()______________________
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Don’t forget those birthday or
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Change of address: Tribal
members call Lisa Norton, enrollment
clerk, at 541-444-8258; all others, call
the newsletter office at 541-444-8291
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