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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2004)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Annual Pow-Wow Lyford Donates Land near Seal Rock As reported in Siletz News less than a year ago, Medicine Rock, a site of historic and cultural significance to the Siletz Tribe, was returned to the tribe by the Lincoln County Commissioners. The county had acquired the small par cel through tax foreclosure. Robert Kentta alerted the Tribal Council to the availability of the parcel. The council, in turn, notified the county of the tribe’s interest in acquiring the property. It fell to Rob Bovett, assistant county counsel for Lincoln County, to work with the county commissioners to affect the transfer of the property to the tribe. Now comes Robert Lyford, who has donated to the Siletz Tribe nine acres in Seal Rock that lie on the east side of Highway 101. Although the property is zoned residential, it’s land that is largely inundated by water and basically unbuildable. The land is a sizeable piece of property, which is valuable to our natural resources, con servation, and cultural resources. In appreciation, the tribe recognized Lyford’s generosity by presenting him with a Siletz Tribal Pendleton blanket at the August council meeting. My point in relating these two in stances together is that it was the efforts and good deeds of (non-tribal) individu als with feelings for the tribe that caused Chairman Delores Pigsley this to happen. We will be forever grate ful for their generosity. Thank you, Rob Bovett and Robert Lyford! Detroit Nat’l Forest Tour In August, Rosemary Landis and I met with the regional district manager and several staff of the Detroit National Forest and were given a tour of parts of the forest. Of particular interest was the site of the B and B fire. We observed bear grass already growing back in the burned-out areas. We also were given a tour of the huck leberry gathering areas. It proved to be a very scenic and informative day with lunch at the top of one of the highest peaks. Robert Kentta and Tribal Forester Mike Kennedy also were on the tour. Tribal Council members Reggie Butler Sr., Lillie Butler, Delores Pigsley, Rosemary Landis, Dave Hatch, and Bud Lane wrap Robert and Nancy Lyford in a Siletz Tribal Pendleton blanket as they thank the couple for their donation of land to the tribe. The pow-wow seems to get bigger every year with more dancers, drum mers, and guests. I believe it was su perbly organized and run - from the food, arts and crafts, and concessions to the systematic way the parking and shuttle bus systems operated - nearly without a hitch. On behalf of the council, I want to thank all of the Pow-Wow Committee, staff, and the numerous volunteers who made this year’s pow-wow such a huge success. Totem Dedicated to Help Heal Nation The Liberty and Freedom Totem, dedicated to help people heal from the September 11 terrorist attacks, made a stop at Chemawa Indian School on Sept. 3 as part of its 4,495-mile journey to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The totem will travel from Chemawa to San Diego, to Window Rock, to Al buquerque, to the Eastern Band of Cherokees of North Carolina, then on to Gettysburg, Penn., to scheduled stops in between and finally to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18 at the Pentagon. Jewell James, master carver and Lummi Tribal councilman, along with two other master carvers and 80 volun teers, took 2,400 hours to complete this 10-ton cedar totem. The Liberty and Freedom totem, carved with love by James, is being presented on behalf of all Indian people as a gift to the nation. It’s the third in a series carved by James that has been given to the nation, the first being the traditional Healing Pole, dedicated to the memory of those who were killed at the World Trade Center on September 11. This pole was placed on Sept. 7,2002, on the grounds of Arrow Park near Manhattan. A second carving named the Honor ing Pole was delivered in September 2003 by the Lummi delegation to the site of the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Bud Lane and I were honored to take part in the Chemawa ceremony involv ing the Liberty and Freedom Totem. Bud gave a Siletz blessing. I thanked the school, the school board, the student body, and the Lummi Nation for letting us share in this event, which has historic, spiritual, and national significance. Siletz Veterans Participate in MoreTribal Events by Margo Hudson, Staff Representative Thank you to all those veterans who participated in the parade this year - you looked great! Periodically, I will send out post cards to our Siletz veterans informing them of upcoming events. The Siletz Honor Guard has been active this last couple of months. They have, of course, been and will be avail able for those veterans who have passed over. Recent activities include present ing the colors at three amateur and pro fessional boxing events, Memorial Day celebration, four days at the Vietnam Traveling Wall, the Siletz pow-wow parade, Miss Native American Oregon pageant, and the re-dedication of the Desert Storm Memorial. Upcoming events include Pentagon pole blessing, amateur boxing, and vet erans week. We have new uniforms and are work ing on training for those who are inter ested in serving on the Color Guard. We can always use more help in that area. I would like to thank those who have stepped up to serve on the Color Guard. At this time, I would like to thank Walt Klamath, who has held this group together for many events. He has been there when asked and now he would like to have his own time. May I remind you that Walt is very active in the community, plus working and being my favorite storyteller. Next time you see him, just thank him for all he did and is doing. If I weren’t a new lywed, he would be my next boyfriend. If you have any veterans issues or would like to help, please contact me at 541-444-8303 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1303; or e-mail maigoh@ctsi.nsn.us; or drop by my office at the tribal ad ministration building. We are just beginning to formally organize because of funding issues. If you would like to be part of the Siletz Veterans group (no cost), please con tact me. The only requirement is that you need to be a veteran. October 2004 • Siletz News • 3
