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
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Siletz News
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