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
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Siletz News
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