CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The National Indian Gaming
Association (NIGA) held its convention
and trade show in Phoenix on
April 6-9.
It was an opportunity for me and
other Tribal Council representatives -
Lillie Butler, Reggie Butler, Jane John,
and Rosemary Landis - to interact with
and learn from other tribes and learn
about new gaming-related technologies.
The conference theme, “Indian
Gaming - the Native American Success
Story,” featured panel presentations
from tribal leaders representing all
regions. I was invited to speak on
the topic of “Leadership and Economic
Development.”
I related how the Siletz Tribe
struggled “throughout our history and
what we have accomplished,” but I
added that “We are not unlike what
many tribes have gone through.” I
expressed the hope that “we can reflect
together on our past, our present, and
future - on the leadership experiences
that have brought us to where we are
today that will help us understand what
we must do as leaders to face and deal
with the future, not only in regards to
economic development, but in regards
to all tribal issues.”
I talked of the disaster of
termination that befell our tribe and
how NCAI “understood that
termination meant the extinction of
tribal sovereignty and of tribes, and
of course, any hope for tribal
economic development.”
It was important, I said, to be
reminded that “NCAI leadership
crisscrossed the country on a
shoestring, mobilized tribes to fight
against termination, and lobbied
Congress to halt termination. If it
had not been for that leadership, more
tribes than just Menominee, Siletz,
Klamath, and a few others would have
been terminated.”
“Like other tribes and urban
Indians during the 1960s and ‘70s, we
Chairman Delores Pigs ley
also took advantage of various federal
programs available then to address our
health, education, alcoholism, and job
training needs. However, our early
leaders were aware that the solutions
to our many problems depended on our
being able to address them as a tribe.”
I talked about the Menominee Tribe
of Wisconsin, which was “also
terminated but fought successfully,
becoming the first to be restored. We
learned from them and in 1977, became
the second terminated tribe in the
country to be restored.”
It was an opportunity for me to
relate how, since restoration, we’ve
had many successes. And I was able
to specifically name some of our
accomplishments.
I also commented that “Leadership
requires taking risks. It would be easy
if everyone in our tribes agreed with
everything we do. Dissent not only
comes from outside, but from within
and as we tribal leaders know, dissent
sometimes gets ugly. But knowing and
accepting that is one price of leadership.
Leadership also means commitment
and at a very practical level, we often
miss out on important family events.”
I also related a specific case of
leadership demonstrated by the Siletz
and other Oregon tribes that affects our
To the editor:
The 2003 Siletz/Toledo Grad Nite Parent Committee would like to send a
huge and heartfelt thank you to Sheryl Simmons, Sheila Jordan, and Charlie
Black for volunteering their time and energy on the Bingo fund-raiser held
on April 12 at the Siletz Tribal Community Center. It was a great success!
Thank you!
We also would like to thank the Siletz Tribe for letting us hold this activity
at the community center and all who attended.
The Siletz/Toledo Grad Nite Parent Committee
sovereignty and in turn, economic
development. I want to take this
opportunity to share with you what 1
said. It concerns
tribes urged the attorney general that its
amicus brief be withdrawn.
“Our effort was successful; the
amicus brief was withdrawn.”
“the case pending before the
Supreme Court: Inyo County vs. the
Bishop Paiute Tribe, in which the
county has attacked tribal sovereignty
by invading tribal offices and taking off
with confidential tribal documents.
“The Oregon state attorney general
filed an amicus brief in support of
Inyo County.
“Alarmed over the AG’s action, the
Oregon tribes met with and reminded
the staff of the attorney general of the
governor’s executive order mandating
that state government agencies treat
tribes as sovereigns and on a
govemment-to-govemment basis. The
Although the Supreme Court has
not yet rendered a decision on this case,
I cited it “as another instance of our
tribes exercising leadership, taking
action to protect tribal sovereignty and
in the process, to help ensure that
tribes in Oregon have a right to
conduct our enterprises without
local government interference.”
I ended my presentation by stating
that “We know we are not where we
should be or want to be. But since
restoration, we have learned a great deal
about leadership - and know that how
leadership is exercised determines how
well economic and tribal development
is achieved.”
To the editor:
Hello my brother, my sister, my
cousin, all my tribal friends, and fellow
tribal members. My name is George
F. Siniscal.
Some years ago, a dear friend told
me that I would make a good tribal
leader. He said that in order to do this, I
should be on Tribal Council.
I pondered this for several years and
decided that after retirement, I’d run for
Tribal Council. So late last year, I
decided I was ready. I sent in my letter
and photo, and was ready to be elected.
Everyone knows the outcome, of
course. I received 155 votes. I really
thought this was pretty good for the
first time, but what would have
happened if I’d really listened to the
rest of what my friend had said? His
words that I remember ever so well
today, “You have to get out there and
campaign, let people know who you
are.” What would have happened if I’d
started campaigning early?
So, now its May and I'm starting
my election campaign for the 2004
Tribal Council election.
Some of you know me. but most of
you don’t. Many know my face, but
haven't connected the name with the
face. I’m going to make an all-out
attempt to change that this year.
Now. I’m going to tell you what I‘m
all about. I believe that when a person
has something important to say, people
(especially persons in charge) should
listen. The statement that’s being made
shouldn’t fall on deaf ears’ I became
involved with the tribe about 10 years
ago and I’ve seen a lot of this in that
time. I’d like to try and change that.
I’m tired of hearing people say
something important to certain people
and then watch them be ignored or the
person that’s being spoken to simply
nods his/her head and doesn’t even hear
what’s been said. 1 know this happens
because I see many important issues
that are never addressed, such as
moving ahead. I feel that we’re at a
standstill right now and think it's about
time we started moving again.
I'd like to be the people’s voice! I’d
like to hear what you have to say and
then make sure that it doesn't fall on
deaf ears. I can’t promise that every
thing that is said will happen, but I can
promise that I'll listen. If something can
be done about what you have to say,
then Ill do my best to make it happen.
At any rate, I want to be your voice!
1’11 be writing letters periodically
throughout the year. Keep your eyes
open and see what I have to say. I want
your votes in 2004!
Thanks for listening.
Speaks Out Loud,
George F. Siniscal
P.S. Thank you all again for voting
for me this year!
May 2003 □
Siletz News
□
3