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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2004)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Feb. 7, 2004, general election resulted in one of the largest Siletz voter turnouts ever; 850 tribal members voted. We should be proud of this demonstrated democracy in action. As the results of this election show (see page 1), the race for council was a very close one. Bud Lane, Lillie Butler, and I were elected for three-year terms. On Monday evening following the election, the council re-elected from among its members Jessie Davis as vice chairman, Joanne Miller as secretary, Jane John as treasurer, and myself as chairman. I’ve accepted this position with humility, knowing full well, the tremendous responsibilities that come with this office. I will continue to do my best, as I always have, to live up to the trust the council has placed in me. It’s fortunate that our tribal Constitution provides for staggered council member terms that ensure continuity, enabling the council to continue to work without a break on To the editor: I want to thank all of the tribal members who voted for me in the recent election. I also would like to thank all of the other candidates who ran and brought their views and concerns for the tribe into the election process. 1 thank you for your support and trust in me and I will do my very best to resolve the many issues confronting us. Shu’ ‘aa-shi nin-la (thank you). Bud Lane Chairman Delores Pigsley critical unresolved issues and important unfinished projects. Numerous Siletz Tribal projects and issues have carried over from last year that the council will continue to work on. These include economic development projects involving, among others, our Salem property, Lakeside Village, the RV park overlooking To the editor: To all Siletz people - I want to thank you from the deepest part of my heart for those of you who voted for me. I will be back next year, stronger and wiser than this year! And deeply dedicated to you, the people. Congratulations to Lillie Butler, Bud Lane the 3rd, and Dee Pigsley. Approximately 850 people voted out of 1,800 who could have voted. Your vote does count, so please vote. Thank you. Frank DePoe Aspria To the editor: I want to thank all of you who supported me in this year’s election. Thank you for the cards, the phone calls, and the confidence that you have given me in representing you. I will do my best for you. Delores Pigsley 1322 Larchwood NE Keizer, OR 97303 503-393-6516 dpigsley@msn.com Chinook Winds, and the Siletz gas station and mini-mart. Beyond those tribal projects, we face critical national and state Indian issues. I’ve often referred to the dangers posed by anti-Indian and anti-Indian gaming forces that are actively trying to undermine tribal rights and sovereignty. Just last month, I wrote two letters urging our legislators to help prevent the passage of congressional bills which, if adopted, would be extremely damaging to Indian tribes. The National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Gaming Association have been leading the fight and the Siletz Tribe is doing its part in addressing these issues. H.R. 3745, the Tribal and Local Communities Relationship Improve ment Act, as nice as it sounds, contains provisions disturbing to tribes. It would create a “federal advisory committee to establish minimum requirements for federal regulations of Indian gaming,’’ disregarding the fact that a federal com- To the editor: First, I would like to thank all who supported me through my campaign. Working together with honest integrity is what it is all about. While campaigning, I listened and heard some good points of view, positive thinking. With the politics of our campaign behind us, we need to get behind our elected officials and their team and support them. We have a new year ahead of us and a lot to do. We need to push and pull in a positive direction. We have issues and business to get done, not tomorrow but today. Respectfully, Eva E. Clayton mission already exists that promulgates Minimum Internal Control Standards with which gaming tribes are required to comply. H.R. 3745 would perpetuate the myth that Indian gaming is unregulated. It ignores the fact that no other type of gaming in this country, including state lotteries and non-Indian casinos, is subject to such intensive federal, state, and tribal regulatory controls as is Indian gaming - nor is as costly. The bill disregards the Department of Justice’s studies that have found Indian gaming to be free of organized criminal activity. The bill also questions whether Indian gaming revenues are used for tribal benefit, disregarding the numerous, credible, independent studies that already have shown Indian gaming to primarily benefit Indian tribes and members and also the surrounding non Indian communities. Then there is H.R. 2824, the Internet Tax Collection Legislation which, if passed, would undo 200 years of U.S. Supreme Court precedent, disrupt the federal-tribal govemment- to-govemment relationship, and reverse the federal policy of tribal self- determination that has been the viable bi-partisan policy of the U.S. Congress for more than 40 years. Especially because of the Siletz Tribe’s own dark historical experience, I wrote that this bill would be a step backward toward the failed termination policy of the 1950s. After careful deliberation, the Senate had earlier passed S 1177, an alternative version of H.R. 2824, which addresses the issues that are of concern to Indian tribes. We’re urging the House to adopt the Senate version and hope the House will see its way clear to do so. I believe that although the primary purpose behind these pending anti- Indian bills is to undermine Indian programs and rights, their passage would have negative consequences that affect many others as well. In concluding my report, I want to thank those who supported me in this election. But my obligation as a council member and as chairman is to work for the benefit of all members of the tribe. After all, despite how much disagreement we may have on particular issues, the strength of our tribe is, and always has been, our ability to work together for the common good on issues that really matter. March 2004 □ Siletz News □ 3
