LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
It was with much anticipation that
the week arrived for The Dance
(Nadosh), to be held here in Siletz at
the plank house (mun’). I cannot believe
it has been eight years since the process
began to make this event happen. The
pit was dug eight years ago and it took
almost two years to complete the house
(the curtains 1 made are still in good
condition!) and begin the process to
have our ceremonial dance.
So much appreciation is due to
the efforts of all the persons who
helped to create this opportunity for the
spirits of our ancestors and our people.
I have immense gratitude for Cheryl and
Bud Lane fpr their patience to explain
about this way of our diverse culture.
One of the biggest gifts received
ha$ been the audio language CD that
Bud Lane provided. It has allowed
me to be able to recognize and interpret
the prayers that are said during the
dance. This event is such a good time
to give thanks for all the blessings we
have had and the gifts of animals, foods,
and relationships.
I feel it is important to share about
the things I have been taught. I learned
the importance of turning counter
clockwise when I enter the dance house
(because I am leaving this modem world
to enter the spirit realm of our ancestors)
and to turn clockwise upon leaving.
A most impressive yet difficult
obligation is the requirement to put
aside differences or to settle disputes I
may have with others before I enter the
dance house. I think this is a powerful
To the editor:
What are you people thinking?
When the tribe gives you a new home,
tool for our people, to help us to heal
the pain we may be enduring (or impos
ing on others) because of hostility,
jealousy, or anger.
The meaning behind the dance is
so important. I am often reminded of
the intent necessary to live this way and
realize it is very difficult at times to
change habits that have become a way
of life for our people. Too often we talk
negatively about others and end up carry-
ing this “blackness” in our hearts (for
additional messages on healing processes,
call White Bison Inc. at 719-548-1000
or visit www.whitebison.org) .
I am so honored to have the Nadosh
as a part of my way of life because I
think it will help me to be a better person
and to do good things for my people
and my community.
Things like this (also Culture Camp,
pow-wow, and Run to the Rogue) are
important because they feed our spirit.
We are so blessed!
Respectfully,
Lisa Brown
them thank you so much!
concerned, I’m proud to be a member
I appreciate all the tribe does for
me personally and everyone else as a
whole. Every time I see the doctor and
get my medicine, I am grateful that the
tribe takes care of that for me.
of the tribe that owns that gorgeous
To the editor:
A recent session with the Tututini
Language Program at Agness prompts
me to express gratitude to Gilbert
Towner for his work to preserve the
language of our people who once lived
in the lower Rogue and Illinois area.
His work is heavy lifting. Gilbert
grilled us every day for an hour at 9 a.m.
and sometimes in the afternoon.
In between the heavy lifting there
were field trips to Oak Flats or the
Shasta Costa Creek swimming hole, the
Sacred Sites area, the location of the
last Rogue River battle, Gold Beach,
and various petroglyphs.
Evenings were for basket weaving,
sweat lodge - hot - and singing and drum
ming into the night by the young people.
All events integrated and featured
work with the language of our ancestors
from that area. The weather was perfect
and we had the benefit of modern
shouldn’t you be glad instead of saying
you don’t want it? When we get our per
capita payments (which increase each
year), shouldn’t we be glad instead of
telling them to keep it? Isn’t it better to
get a per capita payment than getting a
welfare check?
I guess there are a lot of you who
are so used to getting everything handed
to you free that you don’t feel the need
to be grateful! I feel sorry for you!
I never got assistance from the tribe
until I moved to Oregon. And there have
been instances when I needed their help
and they freely gave it. And let me tell
you, when I apply for services or see
case workers, etc., I smile and use all
the kind words I know and always tell
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Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
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Siletz News
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Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh
August 2004
more this year, 1 would think each and
every one of you would be compli
menting the GM at the casino instead
of always discussing what is he doing
that you don’t like.
And as far as personnel matters,
how dare you discuss someone else’s
job situation in an open forum! It’s no
one’s business but the person(s) involved.
There are procedures in place to handle
any issues regarding personnel matters
and those individuals involved need to
do it on their own and not have the tribe
sitting around talking about it.
I’ve stayed at the Shilo and loved
it. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful
things about it. And as far as I’m
spread in Lincoln City! If you don’t like
the Shilo, there is a simple solution -
don’t ever stay there!
Cindy Jackson
technology and a linguist for the job.
Our people were captured and sent
to Siletz, where we have been as exiles
since 1856 along with miscellaneous
other tribes. The government prevented
us from using our own words until recently.
Since language is the culture, this
Tututini Language Program is a last-
ditch effort to preserve the culture of
that specific geographical area.
Joan Fisher
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