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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2001)
^CHAÏftMÂKl’^RÏ^f ‘ NIGA Annual Conference The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) held its annual conference on April 9-10 in Albuquerque, N.M., addressing issues of major importance to gaming tribes. I attended the conference with Jessie Davis, vice chairman, and Jane John, treasurer of the Siletz Tribe. After serving as chairman of NIGA for seven years, Rick Hill, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, retired the chairmanship for health reasons and was succeeded by the election of Ernest Stevens Jr. As NIGA chairman. Hill was a leading advocate and national spokesman for tribal governmental gaming. He often provided testimony to Congress on critical gaming regulatory issues and spoke forcefully about Indian gaming I and the positive impact gaming has had on Indian tribes and Indian people. Hill was effective iny^>r mobilizing congressional support to prevent the passage of legislation that would have seriously damaged Indian gaming. We all should be grateful not only for his leadership and contributions to Indian gaming, but also for his efforts to protect tribal sovereignty. I believe NIGA is once again in good hands. Ernest Stevens Jr., also Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, has served as an elected councilman of his tribe for the past six years. He has been involved in state/tribal compact negotiations and is an experienced financial auditor. As first vice president of the National Congress of American Indians, Stevens has been involved in various Indian issues at the federal level and on numerous occasions has provided testimony before Congress on Indian issues specifically relating to tribal sovereignty. The anti-Indian gaming and anti-Indian issues that Hill had to deal with are still out there. Chairman Stevens has his work cut out for him. He is young and energetic, however, and has the background and leadership ability to serve effectively as chairman of NIGA. The Siletz Tribe will continue to be actively involved as a NIGA member and looks forward to working with Stevens in his new capacity. Memorial Day Ceremony May 28, 2001 11 a.m. Government Hill Siletz, Oregon Procession to Veterans Memorial - Honor Guard Opening Invocation Lord's Prayer - Siletz Royalty Welcome - Delores Pigsley Memorial Day Address Presentation of Flowers Salute to Veterans - Honor Guard Closing Lunch - Noon at the Siletz Tribal Community Center NAFWS Conference Chairman Delores Pigsley BIA/IHS Self-Governance Meeting While we were attending the NIGA annual conference, Tribal Council members Lillie Butler, Reggie Butler Sr., and Rosemary Landis, together with tribal staff, attended the Self- Governance Conference of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service in Minneapolis, Minn. On the agenda were panels that covered such diverse but important topics as Indian affairs consultation policy as related to the presidential executive order; programmatic, budget, and legislative issues, including welfare assistance regulations, job placement, and training; and Indian reservation roads. A special Department of Interior Self-Governance Advisory Committee presented a panel discussion on the topic of “trust management and reform,’’ which Deputy Commissioner Blackwell said, “literally touches every aspect of the work we do in Indian Affairs.” Many tribes are concerned about and had an opportunity to discuss the impact that trust reform has on the implementation of self-governance and self-determination contracting. The Siletz Tribe will host the 19,h Annual Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) Conference at Chinook Winds Casino & Convention Center on May 20-24, 2001. The Siletz Tribe has previously hosted a regional meeting. Since this is a national conference, tribal representatives from across the country are expected to attend. NAFWS is a national, intertribal organization dedicated to the safeguarding of fish and wildlife by Native Americans. In keeping with the theme of the conference, “Elders - Remembering those who remembered who we are ...” the Siletz Tribe will conduct an elders panel to discuss tribal history. Just to give you an idea of the range of topics to be covered at this conference, there will be panels on EPA/ water quality and contaminants, aquatic nuisances, and natural resources. Concurrent training sessions will include such topics as electro-fishing, wildlife diseases, a tribal production symposium, and conservation officer training. In addition to being involved in these important topics, the Siletz Tribe will host the conventioneers for a traditional feast at the Siletz Tribal Community Center in Siletz. Status of NOV We are still in negotiations with NIGC officials, attempting to reach a settlement agreement. Just a few issues remain that, hopefully, will be resolved before the next issue of Siletz News is published. A collection of baskets that belong to Don and Delores Pigsley (foreground) and Bud and Cheryl Lane (rear), on display during the Basket Exhibit held at the Siletz Tribal Community Center in April. May 2001 □ Siletz News □ 3
