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
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Siletz News
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August 2003
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