LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
On May 2, 2004, the Ben family
hosted a memorial dinner and giveaway
at the Siletz Tribal Community Center
honoring the life of Rod Ben.
We want to express our gratitude
to all who attended to assist us in making
the transition from mourning to moving
forward with our lives. We are blessed
to have those friends and relatives who
assisted us and those who offered their
help. Special thanks to Bob Tom for
speaking for the family. Thank you Reg,
Lee, Roy, and Bud for the special songs.
We know that Rod rests in peace,
proud of the number of lives he touched
in a positive way.
Thank you again from the bottom
of our hearts.
Ed and Delores Ben and family
To the editor:
Greetings from the Chako-Kumtux
Native American Club, located at Mt.
Hood Community College in Gresham,
Ore. The club is designed to address
concerns of diversity on/off campus for
students involved with the club. It is a
new club and has a Constitution that calls
for direct contact with Native media and
tribal entities. The club’s focus is on
higher education and urges students’
involvement in activities while
attending MHCC.
The name derives from the Chinook
Jargon “chako-kumtux” (becoming to
To the editor:
A special thank you! On March 5
of this year, I went in for a triple-bypass
operation. I just wanted to say thanks
to a special bunch of people who called
and stopped by to see how I was doing!
But first of all, I’d like to start with
the people who came by the hospital
that I didn’t get to see. Rusty, Paul, and
Tonya, sorry I missed you guys! Everetta
and Shelly, I got your card, thanks!
Arlen Kentta, even though you went to
the wrong hospital! Thanks, it’s the
thought that counts.
The people whom I got to visit with
were Wazzy Case and Buster Lane.
Thanks to you and the crew I work with
at G.P. for the flowers and phone calls!
Brett and Bud Lane, it was good to
see you guys! Also, Wendy and B.J.,
thanks for coming. A very big thanks
to Shine and Ruby (my best friends),
thanks for all the things you’ve done
for me and my family.
To Judy Imbler - Judy, I have a new
heart now, but it will never be as big as
yours! Thanks for all the right food you
brought. Shell, Renee, and Marci, thanks
for cleaning around my house.
To Mason and J.B., for the calls,
thanks! Benny, thanks for coming out.
And thanks to my granddaughter, Lexi,
for the pictures she drew for her poppa!
And last but not least, my four awe
some kids - Jen, Jay, Will, and T-man.
I know you guys have been through a
lot in the last few years, now this! You
guys make it all worth living for.
Also, thanks to Woody Muschamp,
Laverne Butler, and Melody Williams
for stopping by when I got home. If I
missed anybody, thanks for calling or
stopping by.
Thanks again,
Big Lee
understand) and is a manifesto of Native
American consciousness. Native
American students must obtain higher
education to compete in the economic
structure of the 21st century in order to
secure tribal autonomy.
Native Americans must focus on
economic empowerment, which brings
the meaning of “becoming to under
stand” into deeper focus. MHCC has a
lot to offer in media outreach as it is
home to both a television and a radio
station. With proper effort, those could
be useful tools for the Native commu-
nity; there now exists a Native American
program in the television station.
Chako-Kumtux Native American
Club encourages anyone with interest in
the club to contact Mt. Hood Commu
nity College, 26000 SE Stark, Gresham,
OR 97030; phone 503-491-7642, or
visit www.mhcc.edu.
This letter is an invitation for
participation to any and all people, and
is extended from the Chako-Kumtux
Native American Club, MHCC.
Sincerely,
Robert VanPelt
Club President
Send letters to:
Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
541-444-8291 or
1-800-922-1399, ext. 1291
Fax: 541-444-2307
E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
Deadline for the July issue is
June 10. Submission of articles and
photos is encouraged. Please read the
Passages Policy on page 32 when
submitting items for Passages.
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
2
□
Siletz News
□
June 2004
To the editor:
I was saddened this week to hear
that Craig Whitehead had passed away.
The Siletz Tribal community will have
to look far and wide to ever come close
to finding anyone to fill his moccasins.
His efforts as pow-wow coordinator
cannot be surpassed.
In addition, Craig was always an
exemplary citizen in the Siletz
community as well as the tribal
community. I am not aware that he ever
had a “bad day.” As a former Siletz
Tribal employee, I enjoyed associating
with him and working with him. I could
appreciate his success at functioning in
the tribal organization and yet keeping
out of the turmoil of “tribal politics.”
Craig was a great representative of
and for the Siletz Tribe. My condo
lences to the Whitehead family and the
tribal community. Craig will be missed
tremendously.
Respectfully,
Norman Counts
Warm Springs, Ore.
letters to the editor
on pages
4, 5, and 6.
f--------------------------------------------------
Siletz News is free to enrolled i
Siletz Tribal members. For all others, |
a $ 12 annual subscription fee applies. |
Please make checks payable to CTSI |
and mail to Siletz News.
Name:________________________
Address: ______________________
Phone:________________________
Change of address: Tribal
I members - call the Enrollment
I Department at 541-444-8258 or
1 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1258; all
others - call the newsletter office.