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.
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Siletz News
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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