25™ ANNUAL RESTORATION CELEBRATION
Above: Jennifer Easter and Judy
McKnight pin the sash on
Carlene Easter.
Top right: Caroline Easter, Delbert
Bell, Jennifer Easter, and Carlene
Easter await congratulations from
Bobby Butler and Lee Butler.
Below: Keyonna Williams and
Kyle Wallace enjoy an
owl dance.
Above: Carlene Easter awaits an
honor dance as a member of
Siletz Royalty.
Right: Connie Hartt and Kay Steele
draw winners for the elders ’ raffle.
Restoration, con’t from page 1
“It is a remembrance of the tragic
loneliness of termination - the hard
work of tribal members and their legal
assistance - the trips to Washington,
D.C., to convince Congress that a
terrible mistake was made in 1954,” he
said. “But even more, the leadership of
the darkest of days, the zeal to keep
your identity, the struggle to hold things
together, the vision to once again
become a tribe.”
Achievement also could have been
a theme for the day.
Rudy Clements is tribal relations
manager for the Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs, which has been a long
time supporter of the Siletz Tribe and
its efforts to improve the lives of tribal
members. He spoke of “the light of the
Siletz Indian Nation” that shines
brightly once again.
“I doubt that many of us can fully
appreciate what the Siletz Tribe has
accomplished, the endless work, and
the tireless dedication that brought the
Siletz Tribe to this point,” he said. “But
the evidence of what the tribe has
achieved is all around us. That evidence
is in the faces of the Siletz people. It is
also in the lands of the Siletz
reservation, its water and trees, its
salmon and deer. The significance of
today’s celebration is not only that
the Siletz have regained and re
established a land for their people, but
they have recaptured a strong spirit for
their future.”
A special moment at the pow-wow
came right after the grand entry when
Carlene Easter was honored as a member
of the Siletz Royalty for life. She received
a crown beaded by Bonnie Petersen, a
sash, and moving tribute by Ed Ben.
The Dancing Again Singers
performed an honor song for Carlene
and the number of people who joined
in the honor dance nearly completed a
full circle around the dance arena.
December 2002
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Siletz News
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