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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2001)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: Thank you everyone who has written letters to the editor setting the record straight about Pat Duncan’s letters. She never has anything positive to say about the tribe and how far we have come. Some people are so busy looking at the negatives they miss all the positives. When 1 first came to Siletz, the offices were in double-wide mobile homes. You had to go to an apartment building to get your I.D. pictures. There was no clinic, dental, optician, pharmacy. No housing, administration building, or casino. How did ail these happen? It happened by a lot of hard-working underpaid people trying to help their tribe. There is a picture in one of the doctor’s exam rooms and it says one day I went out to find my enemies and I found no friends. The next day I went out to look for my friends and I found no enemies. Pat, why don’t you start looking for the positive for a change. Your letters remind me of the soldier marching and looking around and saying everyone is out of step but me. The dinner at the flats after the run was delicious and took a lot of hard work. I’m sure it wouldn’t have gotten done if they hadn’t all pulled together. That is how things get done, Pat, and that is one reason I would never vote for you as you have proved you can’t work with the tribal members. All I have heard from you is pointing your finger and running someone down. This is not how things get done. I have a picture of tribal members testifying in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Siletz Tribe’s Restoration Act in 1976, and Delores Pigsley is sitting there and she hasn’t stopped. I'm sure she will be the first to say she couldn’t have done it without a team. In spite of all the criticism and hard work and very low pay, she is still trying to move Siletz ahead. I’m sure there are many who think the same way I do. They just don’t take the time to say thanks. Thank you, Wanda Melton To the editor: I would like to say a word of thanks to the HIP program, Indian Health, Weatherization, and government grants that took care of our water and sewer problem, plus put on our new roof and windows that were much-needed. We had big problems and no way to take care of them, with so many medical bills and medical supplies to deal with every month. But Howard Roy of HIP started the ball rolling and stuck with it, along with Scott Hansen (Weatherization), and Dave Hunt (Indian Health). The out-of-area elders need the same and as much help as those who live in the area. Gives me a good feeling to see that they are getting the much- needed help. Thank you, Siletz. Marvin Jordan Sr. To the editor: My letters to the editor have been sent in the spirit of informing the membership. My opinions are based solely on information printed by the Tribal Council, so how could they be misleading? Who is misleading whom? For example, the letter referred to by Gerald Ben has my previous address. 1 have had the same address since 1996. This correspondence was sent way before I was elected. I believe Tribal Council members have a duty to treat every tribal member fairly, equally, and respectfully — on or off the council. As the Tribal Council chairman, 1 believed it was right to stand neutral in the recall of fellow council members. Since I did not sign the petitions nor circulate them, I proved my neutrality. With your support, I hope to be successful in this year’s Tribal Council elections. I have every intention of putting aside the personal attacks on me and working cooperatively with the other eight members so that, together, we can make decisions that are best for our tribe. I have considerable experience in working cooperatively in elected positions. Besides Tribal Council, I was re-elected to a second consecutive term as the secretary of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. I personally distributed approved executive board minutes and a synopsis of each conference on a timely basis. I also was re-elected to a second consecutive term as the vice-president of the Native American Finance Officers Association. I worked with President Marlene Lynch of the Navajo Nation to increase membership and improve attendance at the conferences by having meaningful issues on the agendas. In each of my elected positions, I felt it was important to be informative to the membership. I hope you’ll consider my record in service to the people of the Siletz Nation and view my letters to the editor as my commitment to do everything in my power to be accountable, responsive, and responsible to the membership. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Pat Duncan P.O. Box 16238, Portland, OR 97292-0238 Pat Duncan@att.net To the editor: The Butler family would like to thank everyone for their love, thoughts, prayers, and food donations in our time of sadness with our father passing, Alton I. Butler. This is a very hard time for us. We just take each day as it comes, one day at a time. Thank you, Sylvia and family, Paul (JR), Jacob, and Sarah 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 r \ j : □ _ _ 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 December 2001 ‘.’•J ' * ' * • ‘ ‘ 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 1-8(X)-922-1399, ext. 291 Fax: 541-444-2307 Name:____________________________ Address:__________________________ e-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Phone: ()______________________ Deadline for the January issue is Dec. 5. Photos are encouraged. Everyone loves to see photos of events, tribal members, and especially babies. Don’t forget those birthday or anniversary wishes for loved ones. 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.
