LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
My name is Shy la A. Simmons, roll
should have known better. I look at all
#862. I recently inquired about using
the other tribes that put their members
the emergency funding. I had used this
up in nice housing and provide them
one time before when I was expecting
with complete medical/dental/eye care.
and needed help with a deposit so I
I have been to the clinic only a rare
could get into an apartment in Lincoln
few times. Twice I was left waiting and
City near my employment. I have
missed my appointments; once was for
worked at Chinook Winds Casino for
my newborn baby who was sick and
five years. I thought it was great that ended up going to a doctor in Newport.
our tribe was willing to help me out in
I was never given an apology. The
my time of need.
employee who did this to me twice and
The casino offers a great benefit of had done this to several other people
paying you 60 percent of your wages
was never reprimanded and should have
when you take maternity leave, but you
been terminated.
have to be unemployed for 30 days. I
I will always wonder where all of
did not worry about this. Much to my
the revenue from the timber and the
surprise, when I again asked for help I
casino go to. All I know is that it is not
was turned down because you are only
going to the tribal members when they
allowed to use this funding once every
need it most. Anyone else who has had
two years.
similar experiences, please speak up for
I have a good job and I am not on
the sake of everyone else.
welfare. I figured since I was an enrolled
Concerned and disappointed
member of the Siletz Tribe, I could rely
tribal member,
on them always when I needed help. I
Shyla A. Simmons
Don’t forget to turn in your applications
for hunting tags.
See applications on page 12.
To the editor:
I am compelled to respond to Mary
“Dolly” Fisher’s letter. She accused me
(“P.D.”) of “personal attacks, libelous
statements, and non-substantiated
statements.” I have never personally
attacked anyone, and the questions I
raised have only been to increase
awareness of what I believe to be
overspending and misuse of our tribal
dollars. In every democratic government,
a citizen has the right to question
decisions made by “elected” officials.
Every question I have raised about
our tribal finances has been after review
of published documents. For example,
I reviewed the 1999 Tribal Council
timesheets published in the newsletters.
Although the article in the September
2000 issue of Siletz News, submitted
by Bonnie Petersen, then-vice
chairman, stated “the total cost of wages
for Tribal Council members was
$81,217.16,” the Tribal Council
(Gaming Board of Directors) spending
from gaming dollars was not included.
I had estimated that more than $2,000,000
was used to run our tribe while tribal
member services were being cut. Without
full disclosure, we don’t know.
During the last Tribal Council
election campaign, Mary “Dolly”
Fisher publicly accused me of initiating
the complaint to the National Indian
Gaming Commission, even though she
had been aware in August 2000 of
the proof that I had no involve
ment whatsoever.
Mrs. Fisher questioned my service
as tribal chairman. I am proud of the
fact that I voted to replace an attorney
whose advice cost our tribe millions of
dollars. I am proud of the fact that I
voted to hire a qualified tribal member
with a degree in business administration
to serve as the general manager. And, I
am especially proud of the fact that
every one of my decisions was based
on what I believed to be in the best
interest of our tribe as a whole.
As for the recall (of four, not five),
it was successfully challenged in tribal
court, but was overturned by a panel of
non-Indian judges, which included
Calvin Gantenbein, our current chief
judge. These decisions are available from
the court so you can decide whether they
were legally or politically motivated.
I challenge Mrs. Fisher to prove
there were “secret meetings.” There were
none! Conversely, I had tried to initiate
better communication and an open form
of government. I made sure that issues
raised by tribal members at General
Council meetings had timely responses.
Serving on the Tribal Council does
not mean you are “above the law,” yet I
have been a victim of many personal
attacks by members of the Tribal Council.
Without legitimate elections and
adherence to constitutional provisions,
especially the protection of tribal
members’ rights, there is no democracy.
Sincerely,
Pat Duncan
LETTERS, DEADLINES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
Siletz News Letters Policy
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, personal attacks, or
unsubstantiated statements.
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Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380
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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
August 2001
Deadline for the September issue
is August 10. Photos are encouraged.
Everyone loves to see photos of events,
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Don’t forget those birthday or
anniversary wishes for loved ones.
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