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.
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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
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