CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
council will take this responsibility
seriously and appoint a person
of outstanding ability, experience,
and dedication.
Incumbents Re-elected;
Election Challenged
On Feb. 2, the Siletz Tribe
concluded another general election with
the re-election of incumbents Jessie
Davis, Jane John, and Rosemary
Landis. For Jane and Rosemary, it was
a very close race.
As expected, several tribal
members exercised their tribal rights by
filing appeals that challenged the
conduct and results of the election. As
of the publication of this issue of Siletz
News, the results of these appeals had
not yet been determined.
Whatever the outcome - whether
candidates win by one or a hundred
votes - those certified as elected serve
on the council with all the rights,
responsibilities, and authorities
conferred on them by our Constitution.
The Siletz Tribe will have survived
24 general elections since Restoration,
testifying to the strength and durability
of our tribal Constitution and
electoral process.
Whatever the final results of the
appeals process, I can assure you that
the Tribal Council will tackle its
governmental responsibilities with
renewed energy and commitment. We
will address many of the issues and
concerns expressed by the candidates
during the candidate’s fairs and in the
voter’s guide. You will recall that I
highlighted those issues and concerns
in the last issue of Siletz News.
ATNI Winter Conference
I regret to announce that Gerald has
resigned from the council because of
his appointment as deputy regional
director of the BIA.
Although I congratulate him and
am happy for his promotion to this
tremendously important position, I
regret that our council is losing a
valuable and dedicated member. There
is some satisfaction, however, in
knowing that in his new position,
Gerald not only will continue to be
helpful to us in addressing Siletz tribal
issues, but also will serve to address
the critical issues that face tribes
throughout the Northwest.
Gerald’s resignation leaves a
vacancy on the council, a situation that
we have faced from time to time during
the past 24 years. According to our
established tribal process, the council
chairman nominates eligible tribal
members to fill council vacancies, and
the Tribal Council approves the final
selection. Whoever is appointed fills the
remaining term of the vacating council
member. I can assure you that the
The winter conference of the
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
(ATNI) was held at the Sheraton in
Portland from Feb. 11-14, 2002.
Included on the agenda were panels on
such diverse topics as the tribes’
Sovereignty Protection Initiative,
telecommunications development in
Indian country, and the FERC federal
hydro-project.
There also were breakout
committee meetings that ran the
entire gamut of topics from
Indian Child Welfare, health, and
education to economic development,
housing, transportation, tourism, and
natural resources.
Jane John and Rosemary Landis
represented the Siletz Tribe at the
conference, attending all general
meetings and as many individual
breakout sessions as possible.
On Feb. 14, a “consultation”
session was held on the highly
controversial issue involving the
Department of the Interior’s “proposed”
plan for the reorganization of the
department’s
trust
services.
Representing Secretary Gale Norton
was Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb,
who listened to the testimony presented
by tribal officials from throughout
the Northwest.
My testimony endorsed the ATNI
position opposing Secretary Norton’s
To the editor:
What a wonderful election this
year. I would like to thank the Election
Board members. The candidate’s fair
was very informative and as a
candidate, I felt that because of the
professionalism they showed during the
fair, the candidates were heard. The
hard work the Election Board put in this
year made this year’s election look like
it ran smoothly.
Second, I would like to thank all
the candidates who ran this year. The
majority of us talked before, during,
and after the elections. It was exciting
for all of us and, of course, very
positive, which I as a candidate
appreciate from my constituents.
I would like to thank my family for
putting up with me during this time of
excitement, stress, and work. Everyone
from Angella my campaign manager
(living in Missouri) to my daughters,
who listened to me unconditionally,
showed great patience.
And thanks to those people who
had confidence in me to vote for me.
And lastly, thank you to all the tribal
members who voted. The number of
people who voted, whether for me or
my constituents, made a clear
statement. People want to be heard;
they are watching, listening, and care.
So congratulations to the incumbents.
You have a big job to do and God be
with you and guide you to make the
right decisions.
I make a commitment to you as the
leaders of this tribe. I also will do my
part to let you know my opinions. I
plan on attending Tribal Council
meetings and learn what direction this
Council will be going. I encourage all
tribal members to start attending
meetings again.
I know that some of the other
Gerald Ben Resigns
Chairman Delores Pigsley
plan and objected to the department’s
failure to consult with tribes prior to
formulating its plan. Tribes nationwide
have mobilized in opposition to the
secretary’s plan. There also has been
general opposition to the appointment
of Ross Swimmer, former assistant
secretary of Indian affairs, to head the
department’s new entity.
Time will tell whether these
regional meetings are, in truth,
consultation sessions or whether
Secretary Norton’s plan already was
cast in concrete long before she began
“consulting” with tribes.
candidates have this in mind as well.
How else can we expect the Tribal
Council to know how we feel about
things if we do not make a commitment
to them. They should encourage us to
be attending and be heard. Again,
please, in a positive way. Don’t just
come up with the problems, but also
come up with possible solutions. Tribal
Council members are very busy trying
their hardest; we need to assist them in
making the right decisions.
Hope to see more of you at the
Tribal Council meetings.
Margo Hudson
-V March 2002
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