Tribal Electoral System
For many years, a great deal of
discussion has swirled around the Siletz
Tribe’s electoral process. Some
members have been critical of our
present system and have advanced ideas
on how it can be improved.
One thing we should have learned
from the Florida debacle is that finding a
foolproof solution is not as simple as
some people think. Adopting an
electronic system, for instance, is not the
answer either. We did amend our Election
Ordinance to strengthen the process.
Under our system, every qualified
adult tribal member has the right to vote
for one or up to three candidates. At
least one thing the Florida election has
made clear - every vote counts!
Participating in the election is one
important way that tribal members can
have input into our tribal affairs.
No one can tell the member
whom to vote for. That is a private,
individual right.
We are currently advertising to fill
Election Board positions.
Regulatory Agency
Replaces Gaming
Commission
As a result of changing
circumstances, including increased
regulatory responsibilities, the Siletz
Tribal Gaming Commission has been
Chairman Delores Pigsley
restructured and renamed the Siletz
Tribal Gaming Regulatory Agency
(STGRA). This was accomplished with
the help of Sharon House.
Tribal members may recall that
Sharon has provided consultant services
to the Siletz Tribe on gaming regulatory
matters off and on for the past five years.
She not only serves as attorney for
the Oneida Gaming Commission, but
also has provided legal consulting
services to the National Indian
Gaming Association.
When Chinook Winds first opened
in 1995, we only had 250 machines and
a few table games in a small facility.
We now have 1,250 machines, many
more table games, and increased
regulatory responsibilities.
To the editor:
Although Tribal Council members commented on my letter (September issue),
no one justified spending so much to give so little to the membership. No one even
addressed the $99,609 increase in wages and travel. And, what is the source of
“misinformation” when my comments are based on what I read in tribal publications?
I know there is a certain amount of necessary travel. When I served previously on
the Tribal Council, we assessed the importance of the meetings and conferences, and
limited travel authorization to one or two council members. Now, resolutions for
travel most generally include any council member who wants to go. At the meetings,
what did they say on behalf of our tribe? What did they learn? How did the travel
benefit the membership? I know Lillie and Reggie Butler provide written trip reports.
I believe there needs to be a complete change in the way our tribal dollars are
spent. Currently, we have our casino and are developing an RV park in Salem.
Why are we relying on people with disposable income during a time when the
unemployment and utility rates are so high? Rather than taking advantage of our
$50 million business by investing in our people and reinvesting for the future, the
Tribal Council is just spending more and more.
Let’s stop unnecessary spending and use our tribal dollars to:
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Diversify our business ventures so that we don't have to rely solely on our
casino. We need to allow good business decisions to overrule political
decisions.
The new organization will include
three part-time gaming commissioners
with final hearings authority, each
serving 40 hours per month.
These positions will be advertised
and Tribal Council will appoint
the commissioners.
An executive director position will
be added. The executive director will have
authority over the operations of the
agency, which includes, in addition to the
support staff, the Surveillance, Licensing,
Compliance,
and
Enforcement
departments.
The
Surveillance
Department will be led by a director who
reports directly to the executive director
and also coordinates with the general
manager of Chinook Winds.
The three current commission
positions will be re-classified as agents
for the Licensing, Compliance, and
Enforcement departments. Other
new positions will include an
investigative auditor, an inspector, and
an investigator.
We believe that when fully staffed
and in operation, the STGRA will be
one of the strongest tribal regulatory
bodies in the nation.
ATNI Annual Conference
I can’t conclude my report without
commenting on the Affiliated Tribes of
Northwest Indians annual conference,
hosted by the Siletz Tribe at Chinook
•
•
•
Winds during the week of Sept. 17.
Remember, the conference was held
just one week after catastrophe struck
New York; travel nationwide was
drastically curtailed and people’s
nerves were on edge.
I was, of course, proud of the fact
that the Siletz Tribe received so many
words of appreciation for putting on
what became a very successful
conference. But I am especially proud
- we all should be proud - that despite
that national catastrophe, more than 300
tribal officials representing 55 tribes
attended the conference! This
remarkable turnout and the work the
conferees produced just goes to show
how deeply tribal leaders throughout
the Northwest are committed to
working on critical Indian issues despite
the crisis situation.
To show how productive we were,
the conference generated more than 30
resolutions that covered a wide gamut
of Indian issues - Indian Child
Welfare, education, fisheries, law
enforcement, trust responsibilities, and
tribal sovereignty.
Although our focus was on critical
Indian issues and our thoughts naturally
were full of the tragic events of
Sept. 11, we did share a lighter moment
during the conference - free
entertainment so the conferees could
laugh with Williams and Ree.
Restore adequate health care coverage within the service area and provide the
same benefits for all our membership, no matter where they live. In addition,
we need to make some changes in our clinic’s operation to stop the drain on
our resources.
Provide adequate funding for any tribal member who wants an education.
Each and every student should receive funding for tuition and books for the
full school year.
Provide monthly dividends to all elders. The only recognition all our elders
receive is a $100 Christmas bonus. Lillie Butler i de a motion, seconded by
Reggie Butler, to double the bonus this year to $200, but it failed. Guess who
voted against it.
Tribal resolutions should be published in the newspaper immediately after
the meetings so that we have current information on Tribal Council activities and
how the members vote. With your support in the upcoming election, I am committed
to making these and other changes to be accountable to the membership and
improve the quality of life for all our members, now and for the future.
Sincerely,
Pat Duncan
November 2001 ‘ Ö
Siletz News
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