Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2002)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: I’m writing on behalf of the Siletz Tribal members who are socially challenged with drugs and alcohol or criminal records or ones who just need a chance to get going. Tribal members who are tired of A&Ds and who are financially challenged who need a chance to prove they’re ready to do whatever it takes. I ask that Siletz make an apartment complex in Eugene because of the two colleges there and use it for these tribal members who have no way to relocate or have transportation. I signed up for a Pell grant at LCC and got it in ‘93. That paid for my books and tuition. The tribe gave me money for bills each month. The money the tribe gives, part of it could go for some cheap rent at this apartment complex, still giving the tribal member money for bills. With the computers and a place to stay, tribal members have the best chance to succeed. I ask that you print this letter in hopes that it sparks someone who knows how to get this idea going for us tribal members who need a chance. Respectfully, James Blacketer To the editor: I am writing in response to a letter that was published in Siletz News. This letter begins with “My name is and I am a Siletz descendant.’ Well, my name is Debbie Jucutan and I am a descendant of the human race and I happen to be white! This person’s letter was beyond offensive to me. Thirty-three years ago, I married a Siletz Tribal member whose mother was full-blood Siletz Indian and father was full-blood Filipino. My husband and I have five children and six grandchildren. My children are * white, w Filipino, and w Siletz Indian. If I understand this person correctly, what they are saying is that when my children were young, if God forbid my husband would have died, that I should not have raised my own flesh and blood children who are enrolled Siletz Tribal members because I am white! That is the most outrageous thing I have ever heard in my entire life! My oldest grandson is white, black, Spanish, Indian, and Filipino. So who should raise him if something happened to his parents? We are all the children of God and I know that God loves us for what’s in our hearts, not for what color or creed we are. As long as we raise our children in a home filled with love, caring, understanding, and a belief and love of God, that’s the most important thing in life. A lot of people need to dispose of categories and rip the hatred from their hearts and love people for their souls, not their outward appearance. Some people should feel ashamed! This person makes it sound like white is a dirty word! This person should be grateful for the fact that there are people of any race who are willing to offer their homes and love to these poor children who for one reason or another have been taken from or lost their biological parents. We are a large tribe called “humanity” and we should take care of our own! Sincerely, Debbie Jucutan To the editor: I would hope someone would look into the spraying practice of the timber companies in Lincoln County. There might not be enough spray getting into the streams to kill the fish, but something is killing the food supply of the fish, the cutthroat trout for example. The herbicides for brush control also affect birds, small rodents, deer, and elk. No more fem flats, few maples, and other native trees. 4 □ Siletz News □ I know the timber company managers get paid to grow timber. I know they are the biggest taxpayers, but they don’t have the right to destroy the streams and wildlife habitat. You know what happened when they killed off the buffalo. P.S. All we need to know is, you know what don’t run uphill. Sincerely, Paul Irish November 2002 To the editor: 1 .) I would like to see a young person get elected to Tribal Council. For years and years, it’s hard to break the block vote. This one group had been block-voting for years. I feel that a young person given a chance could do really well, no matter which family they are from. 2 .) Now when I look at those happy ads and see our young tribal women who are having babies, I think about those men. First question that came to mind - did that guy ever have a job? To me, if you can work at night or sneak around for an hour or less, you sure can work. 3 .) The Tribal Council should reward our tribal members who can prove that he or she has worked in one place for more than 10 years - a free lunch at Chinook Winds. Now for the guys who work less than a 0 hour or sneaks around - a free taco at Taco Bell and a run for the border. 4 .) Now the question that you would ask is, did Royce Strong ever work? In my back pocket, I always carry the letter I got from Social Security. Yes, I have! 5 .) To the Housing Board - I was told that the homes and apartments were built on reservation land. Then a non-tribal member has no say about anything. If they complain, just say move out. It’s that simple. Royce Strong To the editor: I would like to thank the tribe for the computers. Absolutely everyone I know who received one is so pleased. In this new millennium, a home computer seems to be more a necessity than a luxury. For most households, it was only through this generous opportunity they would ever own a home computer. I was very impressed at how nice the computers are, the promptness of delivery, and the year of free Internet. I know there are others who still need them and hope this is available again in the near future. Sincerely, Joan Fisher Thanks for Pow-Wow Donations The Pow-Wow Committee would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for their contributions toward this year’s Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow: Dance Sponsors Edgar E. Blair John Roe Jr. Native Creations Pacific Media Productions Reggie and Lillie Butler Robert/Michele Reed, in memory of Clark W. Martin Rosemary Landis Siletz Tribal Elders Siletz Youth Prevention Group Monetary and Raffle Donations John C. O’Brien Nathan Levin Co. Orsbom Power Saw Co. JC Thriftway, Newport Valley Fire Control Craig Dorsay Canyon Way News-Times Hall’s Office Supply Bateman’s Funeral Home Newport Electronics Hiroto Zakoji Logsden Country Store O’Brien Dental Lab Wolfram Wienhold, Germany Consumers Power Noel’s Market MM&S Investments Corp. Spiro Landscapes, Inc. Don’s Coastal Sweeping Pepsi Toledo Motor Supply Atalanta Sosnoff LeRoy Wilder Pequot Pharmaceutical Network McDowell’s Automotive Clinic Chinook Winds Casino Bi-Mart GH Goebel Michael Elkins Construction
