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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2004)
VICE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT To the editor: 1 am writing as a concerned tribal member. I have lived in Siletz all of my life and witnessed the beginning of tribal restoration. Two main concerns are: 1) Election. The tribe’s election will be here shortly. It is important that all eligible tribal members vote. The Tribal Council makes all the decisions of the tribe. As long as I’ve known, the General Council really has nothing to say. When Tribal Council gets elected or re-elected, you will notice that the Tribal Council puts them above the General Council. As a tribal member, I have concerns and I want answers, and the administration is not doing their job. I should be able to go to any Tribal Council representative and get some answers. I don’t believe in “a Tribal Council official saying that they do not get involved in personal problems.” Tribal Council needs to remember if it weren’t for the people, they wouldn’t have gotten there in the first place. The Tribal Council has made a lot of wrong decisions for us. Tribal members who live on the outside don't know all the facts. In the Siletz Tribal newspaper, you only read the great things about the tribe. We have lost a lot of money due to the wrong decision of the Tribal Council. We also will be voting on the Tribal Council getting a pay raise. I feel now is not the time for a pay raise. Our tribal programs are not meeting every tribal member needs. Our pharmacy benefit is very little. Chinook Winds tribal member employees are not covered by health insurance, like the tribal employ ees are. I could go on, but I won’t. 2) Hiring. I always hear that Siletz Tribal members are priority in hiring for the Siletz Tribe and Chinook Winds Casino. That is not true. Every tribal member should be given a chance. At the Siletz Tribe, there is too much unfairness. For a true example, two tribal members with education applied for the same job and one tribal member with no education and no office skills also applied for the same job. Who got the job? The tribal member who has no education and office skills. Why? Because of who she is. Is that fair? Absolutely not. The HR does have a person who is very prejudiced against Indians. Nepotism should be forbidden and if applied, the person(s) should be immediately terminated. If our own don’t care, then who will? A proud Native inside and out, Joella Strong January USDA Distribution Dates Salem Siletz Monday, Jan. 5 Tuesday, Jan. 6 Wednesday, Jan. 7 Thursday, Jan. 8 Friday, Jan. 9 9 9 9 9 9 a.m. - 3 a.m. - 3 a.m. - 3 a.m. - 3 a.m. - 3 p.m p.m p.m p.m p.m Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed the holidays and are ready to begin an exciting, happy, and healthy new year. We would like to thank Laura Duarte for preparing a delicious entrée in December. This is her recipe: Sweet Potato Peach Bake 3 -15 oz. cans of sweet potatoes (drained) ° cup brown sugar ’A cup chopped almonds “ teaspoon cinnamon ° teaspoon salt 1 can sliced peaches (drained) 1° tbsp, butter Tuesday, Jan. 20 Wednesday, Jan. 21 Thursday, Jan. 22 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Combine brown sugar, almonds, cinnamon, and salt. Drain sweet potatoes. Separate brown sugar mixture in half. Layer half the sweet potatoes in small casserole dish, then sprinkle half the brown sugar mixture over sweet potatoes. Repeat. Dot with butter. Bake covered in 35O°F oven for 30 minutes. Uncover. Put drained peaches on top. Bake uncovered for another 10 minutes. This is a good side dish to go with a holiday meal, all out of your commodities. Enjoy! Happy meals! I think I express not only my own, but the sentiment of all members of the Tribal Council when I wish all of you a very Happy New Year and hope that your Christmas was a merry and memorable one! The Siletz Tribe had a very good 2003. I’m proud to say that your Tribal Council was able to work with a sense of unity and common purpose. Although we council members naturally had differences of opinion among us, we always felt, in the end, the need to work together as a team. Motivated by that spirit, we were able to accomplish a lot for the tribe. The past year was successful from the standpoint of social and economic accomplishments. Our timber sale and Chinook Winds, which generated substantially more revenue than previous years, helped enhance our tribal programs and services. We also moved slowly but steadily forward with our economic devel opment efforts. Because we know how important it is for our tribe’s future to diversify our economic base, we’ve been setting aside sufficient funds from gaming for investments and economic development. Jessie Davis As the year 2004 begins, we face new and continuing challenges. In the face of many unmet tribal needs, obstacles continue to impede our prog ress, such as the uncertainty of federal funding of Indian programs and the ever-present threat posed by anti Indian and anti-lndian gaming forces. But the Siletz Tribal Council will, with the support of our members, as it always has, face and overcome these obstacles with renewed strength and determination. TLC Displays Attitude of Gratitude The Women’s Transitional Living Center would like to express its gratitude to the following individuals and organ izations for their generous support: To our overnight volunteers: Jackie Ashley, Jennifer Metcalf, Linda Tough, Tina Retasket, Janice Cameron, and Joan Hartung. To the Culture Department: Craig Whitehead, Bud Lane, and Robert Kentta for spiritual blessings and smudging, and to Selene Rilatos for skills sharing and support. To the following for other dona tions of time, skills, or items: Lisa Brown for time and donations, Cathy Russell for much-needed supplies, Siletz Valley Partnership and Sunshine Keck for baking pans. Oregon Coast Quilters Guild for lovely handmade quilts and comforters, Mike Kennedy and his Natural Re sources staff for wood and a perfect Christmas tree, Pam Ben for hygiene supplies, and the Public Works Department for its “fix-it” jobs. Also, thank you to the A&D staff for continued support and to the women of the community who share in the monthly Women’s Talking Circle. We so appreciate all of you. The TLC operates on a very tight budget. Any and all donations of paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, plastic wrap, foil, storage and freezer bags); hygiene supplies (shampoos and conditioners, tampons or pads, bath and skin products, etc.); cleaning supplies (Dawn dish soap, laundry detergent, stain removers, furniture polish, tile cleaner, dryer sheets, etc.); and fresh, frozen, and canned food items would be greatly appreciated. Call Lynn Whitlow at 541 -444-8238 for information or to make a donation. We will hold a volunteer training in January. Any interested women should call Lynn. Happy New Year to all! January 2004 □ Siletz News □ 5
