NOTICES
Indian Physicians Conduct
Youth Initiative
Charitable Contributions
Committee Explained
Through its cooperative agreement with the Office of Minority Health, the
Physicians (AAIP) offers a health,
Association of American Indian
policy development program for
biomedical research, and
16 to 18 years old.
Native American students
American Youth Initiative
The National Native
June 21-29 in Washington,
(NNAYI) is scheduled for
by the Siletz Tribal Council
is May 14. 2003.
D.C. The deadline to apply
motivate Native American
The AAIP's goals are to
academic pipeline and pursue a
students to remain in the
and/or biomedical research. In
career in the health professions
addition, NNAYI prepares students for admission to college and professional
schools; empowers them with effective leadership skills, analytical thinking, and
academic proficiency; and develops their awareness of the health status, health
care research issues, and policy legislation affecting Native American communities.
AAIP will provide the following to participating students:
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A broad perspective on health science and biomedical research
An introduction to national health and scientific institutions
A national network on Native American health professionals, scientists,
role models, and mentors
Counseling on academic strengths and weaknesses
Information on the demography of Native American populations and diseases
affecting Native American communities
Information on current health legislation/policy and educational issues
affecting the academic and professional progress of Native Americans
The program will include workshops on academic and coursework
requirements; standardized examinations; application process/financial aid;
leadership/communication skills; assertiveness, networking and professional
behavior; study and test-taking skills; interactive learning; and time management.
Program: The NNAYI program is an intense academic enrichment program
consisting of mini-block courses teaching leadership, communication, study and
testing skills, plus assertiveness, networking and professional behavior, interactive
learning, and time management.
Topics will be presented in a series of lectures, field trips, and tutorials. The
summer program will inform students of the variety of health careers available to
Native American youth. AAIP members, health professionals, and traditional
healers will provide special lectures regarding personal experiences toward a health
career and the collaboration of western and traditional medicine.
Eligibility: Native Americans age 16 to 18 who plan to enter a health career
are eligible to apply. Students must have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (A=4.0).
Only a limited number of students will be accepted. Early application is encouraged.
Selection requirements:
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One-page personal statement expressing plans to enter the health professions
(double spaced)
Current academic transcript
♦ Photograph
Completed student data sheet
Letter of recommendation from school counselor/teacher
Copy of certificate of degree of Indian blood (CDIB)
Finances: All expenses will be paid for selected scholars. Individuals should
bring extra money for other items (i.e. souvenirs) they may wish to purchase.
Important: For applications or additional information, contact AAIP at
405-946-7072 or e-mail Carla Guy at cguy@aaip.com. Mail completed
applications to AAIP, 1225 Sovereign Row, Suite 103, Oklahoma City, OK 73108;
Fax 405-946-7651.
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The purpose of this article is to help
everyone understand why the Siletz
Tribe has a Siletz Tribal Charitable
Contributions Committee and the basis
of its composition.
In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court
ruled that Indian tribes could operate
gaming free of state regulation in any
state that allowed and regulated gaming.
The states reacted strongly by
trying to prohibit tribes from operating
any casino-style gaming. Indian
advocates in Congress, however, said
such prohibition would be an unwar
ranted intrusion on tribal sovereignty.
In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed
the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
(IGRA), which basically was a
compromise. It declared that IGRA
provided “a statutory basis for the
operation of gaming by Indian tribes as
a means of promoting tribal economic
development, self-sufficiency, and
strong tribal governments.”
But it also imposed certain
restrictions on the ability of tribes to
conduct gaming. For example, IGRA
required tribes to negotiate “compacts”
with states in order for tribes to operate
casino-style gaming. IGRA also
required that gaming revenues be
allocated for specific purposes,
including miscellaneous charities.
Specifically regarding the Char
itable Contribution Committee issue
here, the state of Oregon required that
charitable committees include non
tribal members. No new casino-style
games, such as roulette and craps,
would be allowed without agreeing to
this charities requirement.
The Siletz Tribal Council strongly
objected that the state’s demand
infringed on the tribe’s sovereignty.
Because of the tribe’s position and
the state’s refusal to budge, nego
tiations on the new compact dragged on
for two years.
Finally, after agonizing over this
critical sovereignty issue, the Tribal
Council agreed in order to conduct
casino-style games (roulette, craps, and
many popular class III table games).
While we ultimately agreed to the
charities provision and to set up a
charitable contributions committee, the
Siletz negotiation team succeeded in
getting a number of concessions.
According to the tribe’s compact,
the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribu
tions Committee is made up of equal
numbers of tribal and non-tribal
members. The non-tribal members are
composed of one member recom
mended by the governor’s office and
two from the local community (one
each from Lincoln City and Newport).
Three tribal members plus one Tribal
Council representative also are on the
committee.
And more importantly, the Siletz
charitable committee is only advisory.
The Tribal Council retains the final
decision-making authority on which
entities receive charitable grants.
Our compact also expressly allows
charitable contributions to be given
to tribal and other Indian charities,
including national Indian organizations
whose work benefits members of the
Siletz Tribe.
The net revenues earned by
Chinook Winds have increased
substantially since the new compact
was finalized in September 1999. There
are, of course, a number of reasons for
this increase, but the increased number
of machines and casino-style games
clearly are a major reason.
Finally, it should be pointed out that
the seven-member Siletz Tribal
Charitable Contributions Committee is
strictly a voluntary committee. Its
members are not paid, except for
mileage to and from meetings. These
volunteers have been conscientious in
carrying out their very difficult and time
consuming responsibilities in the face
of limited funds and numerous requests.
Committee members have been
impartial and have used sound
judgment in making their recom
mendations to the Tribal Council.
We hope this article has helped
explain how the charitable provision
came into being as part of the Siletz
Tribe’s compact, why non-tribal
persons have been included as com
mittee members, and that the committee
and the system have worked very well.