LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
My name is Tracy Molina. I was raised in Siletz since 1978. My parents are
Tony and Sue Molina. My son, Nakai, is enrolled (11/64) Tootootney/Chetco in
the Siletz Tribe. From my side, he is also (1/4) Mexican Indian (Pascua-Yaqui,
Nahua) and he’s about half white (English, Irish, Scottish, Spanish). I wanted to
thank the Native American Church of Siletz for the prayer service that helped
heal my son from a sickness that he had.
I’ve served in the United States Navy combat zone in the Persian Gulf War,
graduated from Oregon State University, given birth, survived a lot of racism and
teasing. But the hardest thing I have ever done and am the most proud of is to
further my relationship with God and remain abstinent from all illegal drugs and
alcohol, including tobacco, so that I could be a good role model for the Siletz youth.
Siletz is my home; the least I could do is to give back to the community/tribe
that raised me. I have noticed that many Siletz Tribal merpbers have Mexican
blood and this seems to be increasing with the next generation. I just wanted to let
people know from an educated indigenous point of view.
The word Mexican comes from the Nahua language, which means our people
or one body together. Mexican is derived from the Aztec tribal name Mexica
(May-Shee-Kah); that is why the X is there for the Native people. The Mexican
Indians put the X in there to remind people of their tribal history after the revolution.
The Ute Aztecan language family is spoken in Oregon by the Paiute Nations of
the McDermit Reservation, Bums Reservation, and Warm Springs Reservation.
People often seem to confuse Spanish and Mexican. Spanish is referring to
that which is European from Spain. Most Mexicans (90 percent) are Mestizo,
a mixture of Spanish and Native American. That information is easily accessible
via the Internet or any encyclopedia.
It wasn’t that long ago Siletz people couldn’t speak English and Siletz people
used to work in the fields and they knew the Mexica to be their Native brothers
and sisters. I don’t know what has changed to hear Siletz people speak of Mexicans/
Chicanos in a negative way. I suppose it is too much English on the tongue and
mind. The only reason Siletz people are not Mexicans and are Americans is all
based on which white people claimed the land.
John Trudell once said, “You know you are conquered when you see yourself
through the conqueror’s eyes.’* I chose to mention this so those tribal members
who are Mexica can be proud of themselves. We all know too well how self-hate
destroys. I am still recovering from that myself. I hope these truths have not
offended anyone. Please feel free to contact me.
Love, Faith, Hope, and Charity,
Tracy Molina
To the editor:
My mother’s mother is Siletz. When I was old enough to make the decision,
I chose the Siletz Tribe. I live in Oklahoma because I was raised here since I was
5 years old. I am now 22.
My educational goal is to graduate in May 2002 with a double associate’s
degree in political science and public relations. I love to travel, but Oklahoma will
always be my home. I would like to support the tribe in the most positive way that
I can. If there was any way for me to work for the tribe from here, I would be
willing to do so. I currently own my own personal computer with scanner and
printer and an Internet connection. In addition to paying for my college education
myself so far, I have also paid for short-term vocational training classes to assist
me with job skills in the meantime.
I am open to suggestions and ideas about how to improve the way that I
support the Siletz Tribe. My location doesn’t make it easy to participate in activities,
but if I could afford to come up more often to do so, then I would.
I have heard the Siletz Tribe be compared to the Grand Ronde Tribe in a not-
so-positive way. It saddens me that someone says to a young person that they
should have enrolled in another tribe just because it does better. I don’t feel that
it’s right for a person to think that they should be enrolled in any certain tribe
solely for the benefits.
Maybe I don’t receive tribal aid for school, but that doesn’t change the history
of the Siletz Tribe. It doesn’t change who I am or what I am proud of. When we
were terminated as a tribe, it didn‘t stop there. I will not allow someone to
discourage me from what I believe in.
I believe in receiving an education, so when I was denied federal student aid,
it was a little hard. When I started out I had a scholarship, but it wasn’t enough to
stay in school unconditionally and I did have to have a job. This upcoming spring,
some of my high school classmates will be graduating with their bachelor’s degrees.
There was a time that I thought I would be one of those students. I’m not though,
but I am more proud of what I have because of that. When I hear someone try to
make the Siletz Tribe sound bad like that, it just makes me want to work harder to
make a difference.
Waleeska Riding In
Rainyhope@hotmail.com
LETTERS, DEADLINES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
New Letters Policy for
Siletz News
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
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Published letters do not necessarily
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tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
Please type or write legibly.
Letters longer than 450 words may
be edited for length as approved by
Tribal Council Resolution #96-142.
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
Please note: The general manager
of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief
of Siletz News.
June 2001
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Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380
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