TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Steele Nominated for
“Mother of the Year” Award
by Kathryn Dick
Kathleen Danielle Orton-Steele
was nominated as “Mother of the Year’’
for American Merit Mothers, Inc. AMI
is an interfaith, non-political, non-profit
organization for women and men
who identify with its purpose of
strengthening the moral and spiritual
foundations of the family and the home.
AMI is dedicated to continuing its
68-year pledge to promote these age-
old values and principles upon which
America was founded. The nominees
are recognized by Gov. John Kitzhaber
with a Governor’s Citation. Manor
Management Services sponsored the
nomination for Kathleen, also known
as Kay.
Kay married her high school
Ralph and Kay Steele
sweetheart 39 years ago. She has four
children — Sandi, Danielle, Michelle, and Ralph Jr. She also is a grandmother
of eight.
Kay is 60 years old and has lived in Portland for the past 50 years. She was
involved in the restoration of our tribe and has worked as a transporter in the
Portland area. She tutors children who need help with their studies at the Portland
area office. She’s also involved with culture classes at the office. She has served
as secretary of the Elder Council for the past four years.
Working as a small business owner, Kay also has a BA in liberal arts and
worked as a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital. She also is a volunteer for Easter
Seals and started a support group for people with post-polio. In addition to working
with many other projects and activities, she enjoys beading, making baskets,
hunting, fishing, making regalia, and just plain talking and visiting with people.
In Kay’s portion of her entry, she wrote about her philosophy on parenting:
Parenting is something that doesn’t come with an instruction manual. It
should, but if it did, with my luck it would be in a foreign language and I couldn't
read it anyway. I can only say that my Dad gave me most of my parenting skills.
Since I was bom of American Indian ancestry when it was something to be
ashamed of, I had to learn to live with prejudice. My Dad always said, ‘‘Be proud
of who you are, you have the best of both worlds. "
I stress with my children that we are all the same and that we should be
judged by our inner qualities. I try to instill in my children their cultural heritage
and to educate others. My children were taught to accept everyone as their friend
and if they don’t like you, it is their problem and not yours.
1 let my children be individuals and give support when needed, giving them
suggestions and trying to direct them on the right path. I know there will be
obstacles in their way and I won’t be able to remove them all, but I will always be
there to pick them up.
Anyone who knows Kay knows she is a hard worker and is always there to help.
She has great enthusiasm and support. She has a heart for elders and children alike.
Chinook Winds Casino
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Elders Meeting
May 11, 2002
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Siletz. News
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May 2002
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Elders Attend
Coos-Coquille
Gathering
by Kathryn Dick
On March 15-16, 29 Siletz elders
attended an Elder Honor Day hosted by
the Coquille and Coos, Lower Umpqua,
and Siuslaw tribes.
The event started with a cooking
demonstration and luncheon at the Mill
Casino in Coos Bay. Our own Kay
Steele (from Portland) was crowned
queen of the gathering. She received
many gifts, including a Pendleton
blanket. This was a great honor not only
for her, but also for all of our elders.
A dinner was served that evening
at the Coos Bay Armory, with
storytelling and music. Our own
Snoball Butler sang and performed his
music during dinner. Each woman
received a beaded necklace and the
men received a whistle flashlight.
Tribal feather dancers performed
cultural dances.
On March 16, we woke up to snow
and sleet. We attended a breakfast at
the Coos Bay tribal office. It was a
wonderful breakfast and we saw many
friends that we haven’t seen for a long
time. It was a good time to visit and
socialize with our fellow elders.
We appreciate the prayers that were
said as we left for home. We traveled
in snow, sleet, rain, and strong winds,
but all the elders made it home safely.
Top photo: Sandy and Lee Smith
enjoy themselves at the Coos-
Coquille gathering.
Above: Kay Steele is named queen
of the gathering.
Thank You!
A special thank you to each
and every one of you who donated
items for our Circle of Wisdom
gathering. All your work and
help made for a very successful
gathering.
Kathryn
Editor's note: Photos and a
recap of the event will appear in
the next issue of Siletz News.