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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2001)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: My name was mentioned in Ms. Duncan’s letter in last month’s paper. Since I am a candidate for Tribal Council again, I will respond to her comments. I have faithfully carried out the duties of a council member. Parts of those duties include business travel and looking out for the best interests of all of our tribal members. The gaming and tribal government budgets are published for comment. I have never seen a proposal from Ms. Duncan regarding elders or the line item for Tribal Council travel. Ms. Duncan has helped put those budgets together in the past. She had the ability and duty to implement changes if the budget didn’t look out for all tribal members. Those of you who know me know that traveling for me is not a “junket.” I hate to fly and it takes all of my inner strength to board an airplane. My job as a Tribal Council member requires travel to further the goals of the tribe. So, my personal desires are secondary to the needs of the tribe. Our committee assignments also affect the need to travel. I am not going to Hawaii, although I am the Housing alternate. Our chairman has graciously agreed to go in my place because of the importance of housing for our tribe. Her status as tribal chairman will promote our programs’ goals at this meeting. The only other council people going to Hawaii are Reggie and Lillie Butler. Does that mean they are going on a “junket”? I don’t think so! Reggie is the Housing representative and is doing his job. I didn’t ask Lillie why she was traveling with Reggie. She has gone to other housing meetings in Albuquerque. All tribal members have needs. When Reggie and Lillie voted to give the membership $500 each, the council had not even started getting input from the community meetings or asking tribal members outside of the service area what their needs were. I felt we should wait and build up our investment category and take care of the economic development needs of tribal government. After the community planning, another vote was taken. Lillie voted no on the final budget. Not only this generation of tribal members but future generations need to benefit from our tribe’s resources. I have been an elder for three years and bought my own elders jacket so another tribal elder would have one. I saw Ms. Duncan’s name on the sign-in sheet for the last elders meeting. I conclude with a quote from Eduard Douwer Dekker, “Two left-handed gloves don’t make a pair. Two half-truths don’t make a truth.” Rosemary Breon Landis P.O. Box 44 Brightwood, OR 97011 rblandis@ctsi.nsn.us To the editor: According to our Constitution, the purposes in establishing our tribal government include “(4) Help our members achieve their highest potentials in education, physical and mental health, and economic development.” The Oregonian just published that the unemployment rate in Oregon is at its highest in four years. We in Oregon also know that there will be at least a 30 percent increase in our electric bills. What measures are being taken to “help our members” who are unemployed or otherwise on a limited fixed income, such as our elders? While the Tribal Council has given themselves a 40 percent increase in wages and travel alone for FY2001, what programs have they established or enhanced to help our members in need? (As I recall, the budget ordinance limited the Tribal Council budget to a 2.5 percent increase yearly.) And, what benefits have our members received by their spending over $2 million a year? When Denise Peterson and I served on the Tribal Council (shortly before the infamous recall), we met with Indian Health Service self-governance representatives and were told that funds “right off the top” could be used for an elders program. According to the National Indian Gaming Commission, gaming revenues for tribal government also could be used for an elders program. Why then do our elders have to wait weeks for their prescriptions to be delivered from Connecticut? Why then do our elders have to work to supplement their Social Security income? How will our elders pay for the 30 percent increase in their electric bills? If the majority of the Tribal Council put the members’ needs before their wants, these questions wouldn’t have to be asked. And, why is there a three-month delay in sending out the $516 payment? Now I hear that checks won’t be sent out until late December. It would have been nice for parents with school-age children to use it for school clothes and supplies. Again, no explanation from the Tribal Council. What about the interest earned on the $1,833,660 to be distributed to the membership? Will the membership benefit, or will it go into the general fund for Tribal Council to spend? Tribal Council says we need to put money away for a “rainy day,” yet their uncontrolled increased spending tells me, “Do what I say, not do what I do.” After many community meetings, the General Council had proposed a constitutional amendment for General Council to approve budgets by vote. Of course, the Tribal Council ignored this recommendation. Would you have voted to increase their wages and travel by 40 percent? With responsible management of our tribal dollars, all our members could benefit now and on that “rainy day.” 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. 2 □ Siletz News □ Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, 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. 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 October 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 Name:__________________________ _ Address:__________________________ e-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Phone: ()______________________ Deadline for the November issue is Oct. 10. Photos are encouraged. Change of address: Tribal members call Lisa Norton, enrollment clerk, at 541-444-8258; all others, call the newsletter office at 541-444-8291 and leave your new address with the editor. Everyone loves to see photos of events, tribal members, and especially babies. Don’t forget those birthday or anniversary wishes for loved ones.
