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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2003)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: On behalf of the Siletz Elders, I would like to thank the Chinook Winds - Siletz Tribal Charitable Donations Committee for their support of our elders. We appreciate all of the contributions you have made in the past and the recent $1,000 contribution received in yesterday’s mail. Sincerely, Shirley B. Walker To the editor: Helping Hands Tug of war. I am sure many of us have played this game or know of it as a child. Two teams pulling at opposite ends of a rope. Life can be one big tug of opposition. What we as family and tribal com munity need to do is get at one end of the rope and continue pulling together. What a difference when we’re all pulling in the same direction, it’s called people power! Strengthening our services through education, understanding, and commu nication is worth a few tugs here and there. Tribal member input on committees and at meetings is important; we need informed helping hands responding to concerns. I have a pair of helping hands that pull quite well, meet you on the rope line? Respectfully, Eva E. Clayton To the editor, I am a tribal member working for Chinook Winds Casino. 1 have been employed by the casino since June 1996.1 have been having a great time working here until the past year or so. There are several issues that need to be addressed. Some of the decisions that are being made as far as who becomes a supervisor or manager needs some improvements. I support having tribal members in management and as supervisors, but we need them to be qualified. 1 have seen tribal members become supervisors who don’t know what is going on. People who work for a few months on grave then transfer to swing, then become a dual rate. These are the people who say “I’m tribal’’ or “1’11 go to Tribal Council.” Then they get what To the editor: Why we should not go descendency... 1) The tribes that go descendency are giving the government a future tool to abolish the treaties that we now live by. 2) We are now close to 4,000 members and we cannot accommodate each and every one with health, medical, and housing. 3) It is not about money, but survival for our tribal people who are of they want. That is not right. What happened to “equal opportunity employer?” The tribal heritage should not be abused! Another thing that needs to be looked into is the insurance. Up until now, people have been happy with the insurance. Now, they are not happy. Why all of a sudden are we paying for insurance? I thought it was a benefit. A benefit is not something that you pay for. I can understand paying for dependents or a spouse, but to pay for yourself and have the benefits get worse is not a good way to keep employees. People can go to work at a little store in town and get better benefits. The employees have to be taken care of, not abused! Thank you. George Blacketer blood degree. As it stands, four generations have passed from full to 1/2, 1/2 to 1/4, 1/4 to 1/8 and 1/8 to 1/16. What follows 1/16 - zero. The government and other races have always been against us, not for us. I personally feel that descendency is not in our best interest now or ever. Wayne Case II To the editor: I would like to thank all my family members and friends for their prayers while I was in a car accident on April 14,2003, on Kernville Road. I had my Aunt Mary (Hudson). I hurt my back and my aunt got a broken wrist. We are very lucky that we are still here because I really didn’t realize that we had gone airborne until it was in the News-Times and my car could have flipped over and smashed us. I hate to think that, but it’s the truth. After I went to see where it happened, I realized what had saved us from being killed. It was a family spirit. I know this because the accident was right across from where family member’s remains were uncovered at the Ludson Cemetery. Robert Kentta, Craig Whitehead, and I had gathered the remains and reburied them. I feel that this is the reason that I and my aunt are here, alive and kicking. We are very thankful for the family spirit and the Great Spirit for saving us from greater harm than what happened to us. Thank you, Robert and Craig, for giving me the honor to participate in the reburial of the remains. This was a very moving experience for me. Thank you again. At this time, 1 would like to make a public apology to my Aunt Mary. I didn’t mean to scare or hurt you in any way. I don’t know what I would do if I had lost you that day. I’m so sorry and I love you with all my heart. Richard Leaton Send letters to: Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 541-444-8291 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 291 Fax: 541-444-2307 E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Deadline for the September issue is Aug. 8. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Please read the Passages Policy on page 24 when submitting items for Passages. Member of the Native American Journalists Association 2 □ Siletz News □ August 2003 | | | | Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $ 12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail to Siletz News. Name:________________________ । Address: ______________________ Phone:____________________ ____ Change of address: Tribal I members - call the Enrollment I Department at 541-444-8258 or । 1-800-922-1399, ext. 258; all others - call the newsletter office.
