CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
In this issue of Siletz News, I’d like
to touch on two general areas, one
involving a couple of national Indian
issues and the other regarding matters
here at home.
Senate Bill 1529 to
Amend IGRA
Chairman Ben Nighthorse
Campbell, R-Colo., and Vice Chairman
Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, of the Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs introduced
a bill to amend the Indian Gaming Re
gulatory Act (IGRA). They explained,
“It is important to keep in mind the twin
aims of the act: to ensure that gaming
continues to be a tool for Indian
economic development and to ensure
that the games conducted are kept free
from corrupting influences to maintain
the integrity of the industry.”
They could have added to
economic development, “promoting of
self-sufficiency and strong tribal
governments” - purposes that are
specifically stated in the preamble
to IGRA.
Chairman Delores Pigsley
The bill addresses a number of
issues. It would:
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To the editor:
On behalf of the Ben family,
we would like to thank all of the friends
and relatives
who called,
sent cards or
letters,
or
attended the
services for
Rod when he
passed away.
We will
not attempt to
thank all the
people who
helped us during this time because we
know we would leave someone out. We
would, however, like to thank staff at
the tribal office, the maintenance crew,
and especially the kitchen committee
who served the dinner after the services.
They
all
did
a wonderful job and it was greatly
appreciated.
Again, thanks to all the people who
reached out to our family and assisted
us in this very difficult time.
Ed and Delores Ben and family
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•
Require the National Indian
Gaming Commission (NIGC) to
undertake a strategic plan as the
National Indian Gaming Associ
ation (NIGA) has been urging
Clarify that Class II technologic
aids are not prohibited by the
Johnson Act in accordance with
several federal courts of appeals
Clarify NIGC’s authority regarding
Class III gaming
Establish guidelines for limiting
revenue sharing with other tribes,
local governments, and states
Authorize NIGC to issue minimum
internal control standards for the
conduct of gaming and require that
those regulations be revised
through negotiated rulemaking
with tribal governments
Require NIGC to consult with
tribes on a government-to-
govemment basis
Since Congress wasn’t in session
in August, no action is expected on the
bill until it reconvenes. In a future issue,
I’ll report on what congressional action
has been taken on SB 1529.
Reorganization and
Trust Management
After nearly two years, the Bureau
of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) trust manage
ment remains a hot and unresolved
issue. Tribes and the Department of the
Interior (DOI) are still miles apart.
Tibes haven’t bought into Secretary
of the Interior Gale Norton’s plan to
resolve the trust management issue
through her proposal to reorganize
the BIA.
The department’s plan, which tribes
seem almost universally to oppose,
would establish a trust management
structure independent of BIA regional
offices, led by the same official who
now directs the Office of Special
Trustee (OST). OST funding would
increase by $275 million by taking
funds away from various ongoing - and
already underfunded - BIA programs.
Early on, it was widely publicized
that a Tribal Leaders Trust Reform Task
Force had been established to advise
the secretary on reforming the BIA to
address trust issues. The department
created a joint task force with the
assistant secretary of Indian Affairs
and the president of the National
Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
as co-chairs.
But there was general tribal
discontent on how the joint task force
was structured and how the department
was limiting participation by tribal
leaders. Because tribes wouldn’t agree
to the Interior’s proposed reform, the
task force was dissolved.
That’s where the critical issue of
trust reform stands today. It still remains
a principal issue on the agendas of
NCAI and the Affiliated Tribes of
Northwest Indians (ATNI). Trust
reform is expected to be a major
topic at ATNI’s 50thannual conference
this month.
Siletz Valley School No
Longer a Dream
Faced with the closure of Siletz
School, which had been in existence
since 1918, the Siletz Tribal Council
took the bold step of putting into
action our vision of a tribally run school
in Siletz.
Several months ago, the Tribal
Council hired a consultant, Van Peters,
to help us put together a plan for a
charter school. As described in greater
detail elsewhere in this issue of
Siletz News, the charter school proposal
was approved by the Lincoln County
School Board and the Oregon Depart
ment of Education in July. The newly
named Siletz Valley School will be
tribally administered and begins
operating this month, serving both tribal
and non-Indian children who live in the
Siletz area.
Putting together a viable plan for a
charter school for approval by the
school board was a major challenge.
The challenge still before us is to create
a school that successfully meets the
educational and social needs of our
children. This Tribal Council, our
education staff, teachers, and others
involved have the commitment to make
that a reality.
Oregon’s Economy, The
Wall Street Journal, and
Chinook Winds
Finally, I’d like to comment on the
success of, and contributions to the
community as a result of, Chinook
Winds, our tribal enterprise.
A recent front-page article in the
July 30 issue of The Wall Street Journal
described the horrible state of Oregon’s
economy and joblessness.
The article prompted Forrest
Gerard, a former consultant to the Siletz
Tribe and retired assistant secretary of
the Interior, to comment to us how
proud the Siletz Tribe must be that
“despite Oregon being at the bottom of
the national economic barrel, the Siletz
Tribe enjoys a thriving gaming
enterprise that generates significant
revenues and jobs that benefit not
only the tribe and its members but
surrounding communities.”
He hoped the “council and tribal
members would give support to
Chinook Winds management and tribal
members would rally behind our staff
and their commitment to make us one
of the best casinos in the nation.”
Management has demonstrated its
leadership ability to make Chinook
Winds stand out with the best.
Forrest went on to express his hope
that tribal members would keep in mind
“how fortunate the tribe is for having
a tremendously successful tribal
enterprise despite Oregon’s pitiful
economy and in the face of fierce
competition from the neighboring
casino which sits strategically en route
to Lincoln City.”
The revenues and jobs generated by
Chinook Winds have been reported in
other publications. Regarding whether
the tribe carries its weight in generating
taxes, I’d like to point out that it’s
because of the presence of the tribe’s
gaming enterprise that significant state
and federal payroll taxes are being paid.
* For the first half of 2003 alone,
employer-paid payroll taxes totaled
$1,098,220; employee-paid payroll
taxes totaled $784, 204.
i if
September 2003 □
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Siletz News
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