Siletz news /, May 01, 2004, Page 3, Image 3

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Tribal Employees as
Tribal Council Members
The tribal ordinances and policies
that prohibit tribal employees from
serving on the Tribal Council at the same
time were challenged in Siletz Tribal
Court by Bud Lane, who was recently
elected to council and is a tribal employee.
Bud contended that his (and other
tribal employees’) civil and constitu­
tional rights were violated if he had to
give up his tribal employment to keep
his seat on the Tribal Council.
On March 6, Judge Calvin Ganten­
bein of the Siletz Tribal Court declared
that the tribal ordinances and policies
that denied Bud the right to be employed
by the tribe and serve on the Siletz
Tribal Council were unconstitutional.
Because of the importance and
controversial nature of this issue, the
Tribal Council decided by resolution on
Feb. 9,2004 (prior to the judge’s order)
to request the Secretary of the Interior
to hold a general election to determine
whether tribal employees should be
allowed to serve as council members at
the same time.
According to the tribe’s Constitu­
tion, any election to amend it must be
conducted by the Secretary of the
Interior. At this time, we don't know
the exact date for that election.
The full text of the court case can
be found on pages 6-7.
Chairman Delores Pigsley
Purchase of Shilo Inn
No new information is available
at this time. Members will be kept
informed of the status.
NIGA Trade Show and
Convention
The National Indian Gaming
Association (NIGA) held its annual trade
show and convention in early March.
National leaders Ernie Stevens,
NIGA president; Phil Hogan, chairman
of the National Indian Gaming
Commission (NIGC); Ben Nighthorse
Campbell, chairman of the Senate
Indian Affairs Committee; and Tex
Hall, president of the National Congress
of American Indians (NCAI), each said
in turn that while amazing proven tribal
accomplishments exist that benefit not
only tribes but non-Indian commu­
nities, forces in Congress also exist who
Toll-Free Voter Info Line Available
SALEM, Ore. - Secretary of State
Bill Bradbury recently announced the
availability of a new toll-free voter
information line.
By calling 1-866-ORE-VOTES
(1-866-673-8683), voters will be con­
nected to representatives of the
secretary of state’s office who can
answer questions about ballots and
voting. Representatives are available
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
Voter line representatives will
answer questions about voter registra­
tion, ballot delivery and return,
marking the ballot, requesting a
replacement ballot, absentee ballots,
signature requirements, the Voters’
Pamphlet, when and where to vote,
and any other questions that may arise
about elections and voting. Voters
also can be connected to their county
elections office or to the secretary of
state’s Elections Division.
Required by the Help America
Vote Act and created with federal
funds, the voter information line is a
joint effort of the secretary of state
and all 36 Oregon counties.
Representatives will provide
services in both English and Spanish.
TTY services for the hearing
impaired also are available at
1-866-350-0596.
are dedicated to undermining tribal
sovereignty and Indian programs,
including Indian gaming.
Currently before Congress are
proposed bills, including IGRA amend­
ments, the Wolf-Shays bill, and Internet
Gaming and Cigarette Tax Collection,
all of which have provisions in them
that would adversely affect Indian tribes.
During the past several months,
I’ve written letters to Congress on
behalf of the Siletz Tribe, expressing
opposition to specific provisions of
those bills and recommending appro­
priate amendments.
Legislators like Frank Wolf of
Virginia and Christopher Shays of
Connecticut are especially persistent
and aggressive in pushing anti-Indian
legislation.
National Indian organizations like
NCAI and NIGA play a vital role by
keeping on top of all congressional
activities that endanger tribes and
keeping member tribes informed.
Relative to the NIGA organization
itself, it was election time. I'm pleased
to say that I helped campaign actively
and successfully to get Jessie Davis
elected as regional representative of
NIGA. Regional reps are automatically
on NIGA’s Executive Board.
As most of you know, Jessie and I
have been actively involved in dealing
with Indian issues for the past 10 years.
Jessie served as alternate to the regional
rep for the past two years and because
of her knowledge and concerns regard­
ing national gaming issues, I felt she
deserved to be the regional representative.
With some active lobbying, we got
her elected. We expect Jessie will
effectively represent not only the Siletz
Tribe, but also the Northwest region.
In addition to Jessie and myself,
others who attended the NIGA con­
ference were council members Jane
John and Rosemary Landis, and
consultant Zak Zakoji.
Fill Out Cultural Day Camp
Application if You Want to Attend
Pre-registration is required for participating in this year’s Cultural Day
Camp on July 27-30, 2004. You can attend class only if you register.
Applications are due no later than June 1, 2004.
Applications are included as an insert in this issue of Siletz News. Please
call 1 -800-992-1399, ext. 1246, or 541 -444-8246 if you have any questions.
Save the Date for
Trading at the River
ONABEN’s Annual Gathering of Native American Entrepreneurs
and Tribal Enterprises 2004
October 27-28, 2004
Portland Airport Embassy Suites
Portland, Oregon
The first day is for tribal economic development and is sponsored by the
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation.
ONABEN will sponsor the second day, for Native American entrepreneurs to
meet together to network and learn.
The Oregon Native American Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a trade
show throughout the conference. See www.onaben.org for additional
information as it’s posted.
May 2004
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Siletz News
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