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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2002)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Still No Decision on Tribal Election As most of you know by now, the Feb. 2 tribal election was challenged in Tribal Court by unsuccessful Tribal Council candidates. It was a very close election for two of the incumbent candidates. Letters by the plaintiffs and their supporters who strongly object to the conduct of the election have appeared in Siletz News. I have not commented publicly on this election because I believe once the suits are filed, the proper forum for resolving them is Tribal Court - not the media. My only public comment has been to express my confidence in the constitutionally established Siletz Tribal election process and judicial system. It appears the court has listened carefully to the detailed arguments presented by the opposing parties, which is probably the reason why it has time consuming, sometimes disruptive, and always costly for the Siletz Tribe. Candidates Fair Draws Political Candidates to Chinook Winds Chairman Delores Pigsley been taking so long for the court to render its decision. As I have said before, every tribal member has a right to bring his or her grievance to Tribal Court. I hope our members understand, however, that unless suits have sufficient merit to begin with, they can only end up being To the editor: The Sisters Area Chamber is hosting its first Western and Native American Festival this year on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The vision is to host a festival that will be entertaining and educational, while promoting: 1) Vendors’ art and wares specifically reflecting the western and Native American ways of life; and 2) Museums, organizations, demonstrators, and entertainers whose offerings represent these cultures, as well as our lands, resources, and ways of life 150 years ago to today. This will be an incredible opportunity for all involved to receive a great deal of visibility and recognition! There will be approximately 15,000 visitors to the festival. In addition, the media coverage at the festival will provide a wonderful advertising opportunity for artists and organizations. Artists, crafters, and food vendors who wish to sell their goods are invited to complete an application for booth space. Please contact me and I will send you one. These applications will be viewed by a jury-panel. There is a $10 jury fee. The vendors chosen to be a part of the event will be provided booth space at $ 150 for the two-day event. Museums, demonstrators, entertainers, and organizations will be provided free space. Please call the chamber for registration and space assignment. We would be interested in any exhibit that would reflect the wonderful work you do. Our chamber’s executive director, Clyde Stryker, is Native American and created the theme for this event. He specifically would like to invite you to consider participating and representing your tribal members’ arts, skills, and culture. If you have any questions, please call me at the Sisters Area Chamber at 541-549-0251. Thank you; we look forward to hearing from you and hope that you will be able to attend. Sincerely, Annette Hayden, Events Coordinator The Candidates Fair is covered more fully on page 1 in this issue of Siletz News. On behalf of the Tribal Council, I want to say how proud we were to have co-sponsored this important event with the Kiwanis Club of Lincoln City. The fair drew candidates for the offices of governor, state legislature, county commission, state superin tendent of education, Lincoln City city council and mayor. Except for the non partisan offices, the candidates represented both the Republican and Democratic parties. The event even brought Lori Hollingsworth, candidate for mayor of Lincoln City, to Chinook Winds. Many of you may remember that when the Siletz Tribe launched its effort to establish Chinook Winds in Lincoln City, it was Hollingsworth who opposed the tribe. As city council woman, she has been a hard-line opponent of the tribe’s economic endeavors in Lincoln City ever since. In the months ahead, we will listen carefully to her words and closely watch her actions on issues involving the Siletz Tribe. Tribal members are urged to study what all the candidates stand for, not only regarding local, state, and national issues that affect our lives, but specifically those that affect the Siletz Tribe. Siletz Sponsors Elders Conference Nearly 300 elders gathered at Chinook Winds on April 9 to attend the elders conference sponsored by the Siletz Tribe. They came from as far away as the Colville Reservation in Washington for the one-day conference. The Siletz elders presented their guests with gifts and treated them to a lunch, dinner, and an evening of dance and entertainment by The Bartow Band, a local band that played many old-time favorites. I want to recognize Shirley Walker, chairman of the Siletz elder’s council; Kathryn Dick, elders coordinator; and all the volunteers for the excellent job they did of putting together this outstanding event. American Indian/Alaska Native Student and Community Center Ground Breaking Finally, I would like to comment briefly about the American Indian/ Alaska Native Student and Community Center to be established on the Portland State University campus. I attended the ground breaking ceremony on April 5 along with other tribal officials from the Northwest and city and state officials. This center, which the Siletz Tribe has helped support, will be a gathering place and study center not only for Indian students, but also for and about Northwest Indian tribes. The project has raised $3,768,000 to construct this facility. According to PSU’s description of the facility, “The center will be a catalyst for enhancing PSU’s partnerships with Oregon’s nine tribes and provide opportunities for tribal leaders to enrich the student experience ... will be open to all community members who wish to learn about Native culture and traditions ... and will be a living repository of Native history, culture, and contemporary life ... When completed, it will stand as an enduring symbol of PSU’s commitment to serving Native Americans from throughout the metropolitan region, the state, and the nation. ’’ The facility will provide a gathering place for 300 people, space for classes and offices of Indian student organizations, a library/resource room equipped with computers, gallery/ lounge with exhibit space for Northwest Native art, a kitchen to prepare traditional meals, a rooftop garden, and an outdoor salmon bake area. I believe it is a promising resource from which tribes and Indian students can derive many benefits and which will help promote greater public understanding of Indians and Indian tribes. May 2002 □ Siletz News □ 3
