Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2004)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Two Important Elections Candidates Fair By the time you receive this issue of Siletz News, two very important elec tions will have already taken place: the tribal constitutional election and the election for the next president of the United States. Hopefully, you exercised your right and duty as a tribal member and as a U.S. citizen by casting your ballots in both of these elections. No matter who wins the U.S. presi dency, tribes will have to accept and work with the new administration to ensure that tribal programs and services are protected and enhanced, and tribal rights and sovereignty are preserved. And whichever way our tribal consti tutional election turns out, our govern ment and members will have their actions documented in our Constitution. The fact is that throughout our history, we have been resilient enough to deal with whatever comes our way. The Siletz Tribe hosted a Candi dates Fair at Chinook Winds in Lincoln City. It was well attended by county and state candidates, though we regret no City Council candidates showed up. Those candidates who did attend were well prepared, some specifically citing their working relationships with the tribe. The fair was well advertised with announcements on several radio sta tions. Roger Robertson from local ra dio station KBCH did an excellent job of moderating and controlling the time allocated to the candidates. Again, as in previous years, we re ceived many thanks for sponsoring the fair and for offering the excellent hors d’oeuvres. Highlights of the Past Month On Sept. 21, an event of national and historic importance occurred when the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian was officially dedicated. A magnificent structure on the only available, remaining area on the Na tional Mall, the museum is an integral part of the Smithsonian Institution and represents the culmination of many years of careful planning and develop ment. The museum “symbolizes a deeper understanding and reconcilia tion between America’s first citizens” and those who came to this continent as immigrants. More than 515 tribes and Indian organizations - 25,000 people - marched in the procession that lasted more than three hours. It formed a highly symbolic journey eastward to the site of the opening ceremony adjacent to the museum at the foot of the U.S. Capi tol building. The procession included Native Hawaiians, Guamanians, and Incas and other South American Indians. Speak ers included Rick West, museum direc tor, and Sens. Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Daniel Inouye. It was estimated that 85,000 people were on the mall witness ing this historic event. Chairman Delores Pigs ley I was accompanied by council member Bud Lane and other tribal members: Robert Kentta, Selene Rilatos, Ed Ben, Dona James, and Ken and Leslie Ralston. We were in our full, traditional regalia, which drew admir ing comments from many people. Also in the procession were Gerald Ben, Don Pigsley, and Doni and LeRoy Wilder. We attended the Smithsonian re ception for invited guests and once inside the museum, managed to visit all four floors and see all the exhibits that dramatically represented every region. Outside, different tribal groups per formed their native songs and dances. It was a very long day but was prob- ably one of the most significant events I have ever attended with the largest group of Indians in Washington, D.C., ever. Pow-Wow Whipman I have been asked to give a histori cal overview of the role of the “tradi tion” of a whipman at Siletz. The establishment of a whipman at Siletz was through the borrowing of tradition. It’s a fairly recent event and our old-time traditions do not include that role. Tribal Council has appointed a per son for this position since it was estab lished from a short list of people who had interest in and attended and partici pated in our pow-wows. There never has been any recogni tion of an inherited right to serve nor recognition that once the post is given up, and another serves, that the prede cessor automatically takes it over again, or selects the successor, upon the posi tion becoming vacant. The Siletz Tribal Council has always previously asked people to serve and has bestowed the title upon those who are able to serve and who seem worthy by Tribal Council resolution. The role was originally developed for pow-wow purposes, but has evolved somewhat to include some duties and responsibilities that other tribal commu nities expect of their whipman, but the primary purpose was for pow-wow. We were saddened to have lost our whipman this year. To date., no action has been taken to appoint another whip man. The Pow-Wow Committee will use the pow-wow arena director to fulfill some of these duties. Congressional Contacts While in Washington, Bud Lane, Robert Kentta, and I met with the staffs of our legislators - Sens. Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, and Reps. Darlene Hooley and Peter DeFazio. Mary Pavel, our Washington, D.C., consultant, arranged the meetings and accompanied us on these congressional visits. We also had lunch with a staffer for Sen. Tom Daschle, who brought us up to date on some important legisla tive activities. I expressed to each, as appropriate, our concerns regarding the need for increased funding to more adequately meet our health care needs and our con cerns regarding land acquisition and fee-to-trust issues. November 2004 • Siletz News • 3
