LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
So, the Tribal Council has finally,
what little tradition we have left, has
thrown it right out the window.
By tradition, I am the lifetime whip
man. When the duties became too much
for me, I passed these on to my cousin,
Qaama Sirria. After my cousin left us,
it became my duty to again pick up
these duties. In August 2005, it will be
up to the Whitehead family to choose
the next whipman. This position of
authority must stay in this family.
Chief Enselsun, a Macanotin war
chief, is how I am enrolled as a 3/4
Tututni. He, and Noch Nos Cia, the very
roots of my family. And full bloods,
back to the beginning of time. Only my
father’s mother was not from the Rogue
River. She was 4/4 Hupa. And her father
was Billy Beckwith, 4/4 Hupa.
I have always tried to follow my
people’s ways, just as all the old people
were, in their Tututni language. Most
people my age were ashamed of who
they were.
So now, we are learning another
tribe’s language and ways because our
young people were never exposed to
our own language. And if they were
exposed to it, they laughed at it and did
not want to learn. An elder lady was
ashamed to speak our language in public.
And we see another brazen act of
our Tribal Council, disregarding part of
our culture, in their decision.
They say, in a letter to me, that I
made a gesture to pick up the whip. I
say that it is not a gesture on my part,
but it is my lifetime duty and respon
sibility to uphold the traditions of Chief
Enselsun and Noch Nos Cia.
Saying that they, the Tribal Council,
have the authority to pick a whipman,
is in total error. It will be up to the
family alone.
Enselsun
Gilbert Towner
To the editor:
I was very surprised and grateful
for the size of our checks we got this
year and just wanted to let those
working so hard keeping us growing
that not everyone is so ungrateful. I’m
sure sometimes they must think what
are we going through these headaches
for people who do nothing but find fault.
Someone was complaining because
we didn’t buy some service station and
build a motel there. Well, we have one
now and it couldn’t be in a better loca
tion. I have stayed in the Shilo Inn and
the only fault I found is it needed a good
cleaning, which I’m sure has been done.
Those who think we should have tom it
down and started from the ground up, I
don’t think they have priced lumber lately.
To the editor:
I work at Northwest Indian College
in Bellingham, Washington. I am in
contact with hundreds of people from
different tribes from all over the
country. As far as I can tell, not many
tribes give back to their people, as our
tribe does.
Working within the Indian com
munity, I know they may provide health
care, help with college tuition or
housing, but as for the extra benefits our
tribal members receive, that is pretty
much unheard of with other tribes.
From gifts and help to our elders,
computers, gaming distribution, over-
income grants, and college tuition -
these are just a few things my family
has received. We all should feel fortu
nate for these benefits. I know we do.
My grandparents, Charles and
Helen (Nellie) Orton, were proud of
their heritage and our tribe. And now I
know why. Because I too am proud to
be a member of the Confederated Tribes
of Siletz Indians of Oregon.
Please accept our thanks for the
opportunities that you, our tribe, have
provided to our family.
Sincerely,
Wendy Swedelius
As for those who are complaining
about having to pay part of their
insurance, I wish I could afford any
insurance. I live outside the service
area and yes, I wish my county was
covered. I have to drive 3-4 hours to
get to the clinic and am glad I am able.
I have had to go to some doctors in my
area and believe me, we have the best.
Those wondering how come the
clinic is running out of money must not
have had to pay for medical (treatment)
in awhile. My husband had to have heart
bypass and his bill was $85,000 and
$10,000 for the ambulance. Medicare
paid 80 percent of the hospital, but
would only pay $2,000 on the ambu
lance. Try paying that on Social Security.
My son was a hospital admin
istrator in the Air Force and he said
several times they ran out of money
and had to run on credit until the next
pay period. He went to his general and
asked if they couldn’t start charging
each patient $5 for each visit and maybe
it would stop the ones who came in
for every ache and pain, but was told
he couldn’t because it was the law.
All medical was free, so it isn’t just
our clinic.
It sounds like we are on the right
path and I’m sure many think the same,
but it seems the complainers are heard
from more often.
Wanda Melton
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 October issue
is Sept 9. Submission of articles and
photos is encouraged. Please read the
Passages Policy on page 24 when
submitting items for Passages.
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
2
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Siletz News
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September 2004
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