CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Siletz Tribal Gaming
Regulatory Agency
Review
For the past several months, the Siletz
Tribal Council has been involved in an
intensive review of the tribe’s gaming
regulatory agency. This has resulted in
revisions of a number of documents
pertaining to our gaming regulations.
This lengthy process culminated
during the week of March 10 with
sessions not only involving the Tribal
Council, but also the executive director
of the Siletz Tribal Gaming Regulatory
Agency (STGRA), the hearings
commissioners, and the general
manager and compliance officer of
Chinook Winds.
Sharon House, who has served as
our consultant on regulatory matters
ever since we began operating Chinook
Winds more than seven years ago,
worked with us throughout the week.
Tribal Attorney Craig Dorsay also
helped us revise appropriate parts of our
gaming charter, STGRA operating
procedures, job descriptions, etc.
Since we began gaming as a tribal
enterprise, we’ve been cognizant of our
responsibility to ensure the fairness,
deficiency and violations and denied or
suspended licenses.
We believe that it’s through these
periodic reviews and needed revisions
that our regulatory system has been able
to address new situations and needs as
they arise.
Economic Development
Conference
Chairman Delores Pigsley
integrity, security, and honesty of our
gaming operations and have seen to it
that an effective regulatory system has
been in place.
Our recent review has resulted in
a number of improvements, one of
which is establishing an independent
three-member Hearings Commission
to hear appeals. These positions
are filled by the three people who had
been titled commissioners. No new
vacancies have been established.
Previously, appeals were heard by the
same entity that issued notices of
To the editor:
I am writing this letter in regard to the Charitable Contributions Committee.
This committee is designed to decide where our donations and such will be allotted.
I feel our Tribal Council made a mistake when they decided on the positions
to be held by the committee. They have designated the following spots to be filled
- one council member, two tribal members, and three non-tribal members.
My feelings are that any committee within our tribe should strictly consist of
tribal members. We are a sovereign governmental tribe, set apart from the rest of
the world. Let me ask you this, don’t you feel we are set apart for a reason? And
if we require non-Indians or non-tribal members to decide where our money goes,
what does that say about us as a tribe?
Furthermore, if we allow non-Indians to decide for us on this issue, what
other say will our Tribal Council grant them over our tribe?
In closing, I don’t feel the Siletz Tribe should be required to make money
spending decisions based on the opinions of, quite possibly, the very race that
In February, I attended a major
conference on economic development
in Las Vegas sponsored by the National
Center for American Enterprise De
velopment. This three-day conference
had more than 1,000 registrants
representing tribes from across the
nation. Dwight Butt, newly appointed
Siletz Economic Development director,
and Dan Lundy, coordinator of
Economic Development, also attended.
The conference covered many
topics, including the means by which
tribes can obtain government contracts
from various federal agencies,
including the Department of Defense.
It included sessions on various aspects
of Indian-owned corporations.
Representatives of the telecom
munications industry were there to urge
tribes to explore ways in which they
could buy and own their own telephone
and utility companies.
The conference, especially for our
Economic Development staff, was an
excellent opportunity for networking
with other tribes and federal agencies
and to gain helpful ideas on available
financing resources and preparing
viable business plans.
Dolly Fisher, Tribal
Council Member
For those of you who haven’t heard,
I regret to report that Dolly Fisher
suffered a stroke in mid-February. She
was transferred from the hospital in
Newport, Ore., to a rehabilitation center
near the hospital where she is
undergoing therapy. The good thing is,
being the fighter that she is, Dolly is
making excellent progress.
She’s been involved in Siletz Tribal
affairs for more than 30 years and was
actively involved in the Siletz Tribe’s
fight to be restored. Dolly has a devoted
family that is by her side, giving her
comfort and assistance. Please
remember her and her family in your
thoughts and prayers.
To the editor:
I want to thank each and every one of you who voted for me in the last Tribal
Council election. It gave me great pleasure and satisfaction to know that even
though I didn’t get elected, I did manage to reach out and touch 155 fellow tribal
members and friends.
I would also like to thank those of you who didn’t vote for me, but took the
time to look at me and at least ponder the idea of casting that vote in my direction.
Maybe next time!
This has been a great experience for me and certainly one that I have not
taken lightly. I want you all to know that this was not a “one-time shot’’ for me
and that you will definitely see my name on the ballot in the next election. Maybe
someday I will even get elected.
Thank you all very much for your support and I will see you in the next
election, if not before.
Sincerely,
Speaks Out Loud
George F. Siniscal
caused the oppression we are working so hard to overcome.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Angela Husberg
Editor's note: The Charitable Contributions Advisory Board is made up of
three tribal members, one Tribal Council member, two non-tribal members from
Lincoln County, and one member of the general public from the tribe s service area.
April 2003 □
Siletz News
□
3