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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2004)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Tribal members who are eligible to vote should have already mailed in ballots for this year’s election. If you haven’t yet voted, hopefully you’ll do so by Feb. 7, the date of the Siletz Tribal General Election. Regardless of how you vote on candidates for Tribal Council or on ballot measures, I hope you’ll have exercised your right to vote. The strength of our sovereignty as a tribe depends on how actively and well our members participate in our democratic process. When the new council takes over, it will face new and continuing social, economic, political, and other challenges. The overall economic development plan that Tribal Council put together with staff and tribal member input will be refined and implemented. Among the projects will be the Siletz Tribe’s collaboration with the Grand Ronde Tribe in developing the Chemawa property in Keizer, just north of Salem, that we now jointly own. The city of Keizer recently won the lawsuit brought by 1000 Friends of Oregon, which clears one obstacle to development. Although planning has been rela tively slow because this project involves two independent tribes, each with its individual needs and priorities, we’ve been making headway and a concrete plan should take shape this year. Also on the economic development front, we have a number of other projects pending. Our property for a To the editor: I wish to express my concern about our Contract Health Services. I visited the dentist in October for a cleaning. I called Contract Health the day before my appointment to get an authorization number. Though it was mid-workweek, the office was strangely closed. I went to my appointment at 8 a.m. the next day and called Contract Health immediately after my appointment. I was told that I could not get an authorization number because the dental benefits had been suspended. I received no personal notice telling me that my benefits were not there. I do not believe that a few sentences in the middle of an article in a newsletter is the proper way to notify tribal members about a suspension of services. I read the newsletter, but didn’t see that part of the article. It was not in bold, it was not highlighted. I think a letter to each household would have been more appropriate. I would not have gone to the appoint- ment had I known that my benefits were not there. I immediately put in an appeal. That was over 90 days ago. My appeal has not been heard. My bill will now be sent to collections. Contract Health is not able to tell me when my appeal will be heard. I was told that I could complain about my appeal not being heard to the person who would be hearing the appeal. Would this not bias the outcome of the appeal? I think this is unacceptable. I know that Contract Health needs more funding and does a great job with the funding that they have, but more needs to be done. I don’t think that anyone should have to wait over 90 days for an appeal or have their benefits suspended without a personal notice. We should all be taking care of each other. I am very grateful for the benefits that we do have and I hope that situations like this do not arise in the future for other tribal members. Sincerely, Autumn DePoe (Mahtas Ne) C hair man Delores Pigs ley proposed RV park on Logan Road overlooking Chinook Winds is currently before the Lincoln City Council and our beautiful property that sits on the shores of Devils Lake in northeast Lincoln City is still awaiting trust status designation. We’re also negotiating for the purchase of Lakeside Golf Course, which is within a short distance of Chinook Winds. The development of the RV park and the golf course will help round out our casino and convention center as an outstanding multi-purpose destination resort. Although many rumors surround the golf course purchase, that hasn’t yet occurred. The Siletz Tribe will continue to be involved with the state in promoting Oregon tourism, a high priority of Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s economic develop ment initiative. In this connection, I attended the tribal tourism workshop in Coos Bay last month. Among the topics discussed was the new motel room tax, the revenues from which Oregon tribes can use to help promote tourism in the state. Chinook Winds management already has been working closely with the Lincoln City and Lincoln County business communities in promoting tourism. The Siletz Tribe also will update its Web site and put together a new tribal tourism directory. As for Chinook Winds, our tribal enterprise has been a great success under Jim Kikumoto’s expert management, generating more revenues for tribal purposes than ever before. And while Chinook Winds has an unblemished track record of complying with all federal, state, and tribal laws, regulations, and policies, there’s still a need to continue to refine our regulatory organization. The council also will be faced with finding property appropriate for tribal housing. In the area of health services, as I indicated in Nesika lllahee, we need to assure that the health needs of our members are adequately addressed. Inadequate funding has been a basic reason, so the council’s challenge is to try, somehow, to generate fresh resources to meet our tribal needs. And finally, in past issues of Siletz News I ’ ve alerted you to the dangers posed by anti-Indian and anti-Indian gaming forces nationally and here at home. The Siletz Tribal Council has been actively involved with national, regional, and state inter-tribal organizations to protect our tribal interests. The danger is no less real now than it was when the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon had its original Siletz Reservation decimated back in the 1860s and ‘70s, and when we were terminated in the 1950s. It behooves council not only to be aware of the dangers, but also to do everything that’s necessary to protect our tribal rights and sovereignty. To the editor: I have heard some concerns about the pay raise for Tribal Council. They are asking for $ 15.77 per hour, a level 9. For a regular salary level 9, you usually have to have college education and years of experience. What are the requirements to be on Tribal Council? You have to be at least 18 years old and a tribal member. You do not have to have a high school degree or college degree; you are not required to have any prior experience in any similar positions. So why does Tribal Council merit a salary level 9? I think we should give Tribal Council a pay raise and definitely benefits, but only after the education and experience requirements are raised. After all, there aren’t many elders left who didn’t go all the way through school to merit not asking for education requirements. These have been the most common concerns I have had in speaking with other tribal members. Thank you. Angella Robertson February 2004 □ Siletz News □ 3
