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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2004)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Hotel Purchase Although I have previously covered the purchase of the Shino Inn hotel, I would like to say a little more about the fact that the purchase was a sound business investment. Since the tribe has taken over the hotel, there has been a significant in crease in hotel revenues over last year under Shilo Inn’s management. Part of the reason, of course, is the excitement that the tribe’s purchase has created generally - the fact that the hotel is now under tribal ownership and operates together with our already well- established casino as part of the Chinook Winds Casino Resort complex. Jim Kikumoto, general manager of the casino, has assumed management of the hotel and now can manage the two businesses in coordination with each other - something we had wished we could do for a long time. It’s now a reality! While many tribal members were in favor of the council’s action to purchase the hotel, some also were opposed. By and large, those who have contacted me personally have generally been in favor. The Tribal Council is elected to make those hard decisions. After much investigative work was done, we took the initiative to purchase. The hotel is a real asset and one of which we all can be proud. As far as I know, the Quinault Nation and our tribe have the only beachfront casino resorts in the west. I can assure our members that acquiring the Shilo and establishing Chinook Winds Casino Resort was a sound economic investment which will grow in value. Critical Health Care Issues This year, because of a reduction in Indian Health Service funding, we have fewer Contract Health care dollars. A substantial drop in services under the Oregon Health Plan means there are fewer dollars that we can bill for under third-party billing. In 2003, we had to resort early in the year to Priority I health care, which meant urgent and emergent services only, for contract care within the 11- county service area. For the past few years, we subsidized health care with gaming revenues. A few years ago, we established a health endowment from gaming Chairman Delores Pigsley revenues that we have allocated gaming funds to every year (money that can grow and be used at some point for health needs). Money that we get from IHS for contact care can only be expended within the 11-country service area; it cannot be used outside the area. Funds generated by the casino, however, can be used either within or outside the area. For the last few years, using revenues generated by our casino, we have provided health services for people who live outside the service area. This year, however, those funds ran out before January 2004. We added dollars on July 1 of this year, but all of them were consumed the very first day they became available, something that has never happened in the past. Very soon, it’s likely we will again be on Priority I for those in the 11 -county service area. As the cost of health care, including prescription drugs, escalates, it outpaces the cost of living, which also outpaces the few appropriated health dollars each year. As we all know, health care is in a major national crisis situation. And our situation, as you can see from what I have been saying, is, to put it mildly, not good. All tribes across the U.S. are fighting for adequate health care funds. But the president and this adminis tration have not been listening, even though we have testified over and over about our substantial needs. Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota tried to get tribes the full funding they deserve but was outvoted in the Senate. The bottom line for us is that we must make prudent choices on what is spent through the clinic Contract Health care. We need to ensure that everyone applies for any coverage for which they may be eligible and that all available Indian Health clinics are utilized. In our service area, tribal members can use the Siletz, Chemawa, or Grand Ronde clinics. Members outside the 11 counties should find the nearest tribal or IHS clinic. It’s possible that this clinic can provide the service you need. The Siletz Tribal Council has been looking into the possibility of pur chasing a health care plan that would cover all members. The problem is that the cost of such plans is prohibitive at this time. Judy Muschamp, our health director, has instituted, however, a way to save some funds on prescription drugs by becoming our own mail order prescription manager. We will realize substantial savings by using generic drugs and providing our own mail order service. We welcome any ideas you may have on this subject. There is one way you can help - go to the polls in November and support Indian-friendly senators and representatives for the area in which you live. Two-thirds of our population lives in the service area and the other one-third lives all over the U.S. Every single vote will count in the upcoming election. Today, Native American caucuses exist in both the House of Representa tives and the U.S. Senate. Senators and representatives of both parties who belong to these caucuses assist tribes in many ways, mostly by making, reviewing, protecting, and changing laws so they are beneficial to Indian tribes and Indian people. It’s imperative that we support those who are aggres sively assisting tribes and protecting our sovereignty. Please be an informed voter at the polls in November. casino in Cascade Locks. But he made no announcement because he had not yet made a decision. It’s still on the front burner, he said. There are supporters as well as those who are opposed and he said he will continue to work with both sides until the issue is settled. Several people from Cascade Locks also attended who must have been disappointed that the governor had not yet made a decision favorable to the tribe and Cascade Locks. Tribal Council members attended the opening of the Coos Tribe’s Three Rivers Casino. The casino is a Sprung structure, a temporary tent-like facility much like our original casino. The interior, which included a nice dining area, was professionally deco rated; there was no mistaking it for a genuine casino. It was a long time coming, but with the Coos Tribe now having a casino, all nine Oregon tribes have casinos. We wish them the best of luck in their new business. Other Tribal Events Approval of Minutes Several council representatives and I attended the annual Pi Um Sha activities in Warm Springs this year. We enjoyed a lovely dinner hosted by the Warm Springs Tribal Council at Kah- Nee-Ta Lodge. In attendance were many friends of the Warm Springs Tribe, including Gov. Ted Kulongoski and his staff. Every one sat expectantly as the governor addressed the tribe’s request to build a Program Reports ......................................................... "• ............. ...............................-• General Council Meeting Aug. 7,2004 Siletz Tribal Community Center Siletz, Oregon 1 p.m. Call to Order Invocation Roll Call Approval of Agenda Housing: Terry Fisher Enrollment: Loraine Butler Tribal Member Concerns . August 2004 □ Chairman’s Report Announcements Adjournment Siletz News □ 3
