VICE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
During the 51s1 Annual Conference
of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest
Indians (ATNI), I chaired the Commit
tee on Indian Gaming and presented,
on Sept. 28, the committee’s report to
the general assembly.
Representatives from Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, and Montana gave
area updates. The recurring theme was
the threat to Indian gaming posed by
current activities within each state.
In addition to giving an update on
national Indian gaming issues, Harold
Monteau, former chairman of the
National Indian Gaming Commission,
provided information about Indian
gaming in California. (Although Cali
fornia is not a member of ATNI, what
is happening in that state is being
looked at with great concern by tribes
across the country.)
Thus far, the California governor
has gotten eight tribes to sign compacts
giving up significant percentages of
their gaming revenues to the state,
contrary to the very purpose of Indian
gaming as articulated in the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act.
Computer
Training
Available
The Siletz Tribe is providing the
opportunity for tribal members to take
online computer classes at your own
pace and in your own home.
The tribe has purchased a limited
number of training subscriptions to a
company called MySkilSource. More
than 200 different types of computer
programs can be learned.
In order to enroll, you must be an
enrolled tribal member, have Internet
access (the tribe does not provide
Internet access), and you must send an
e-mail to tinar@ctsi.nsn.us.
You will be registered for the
classes and notified about how to ac
cess the program. From there, you just
log on when you have time and decide
which programs you would like to learn.
Class opportunities include Word,
Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and many
other popular software programs.
Again, you work at your own pace and
individual modules allow you to return
to the program for a refresher.
For the state of Washington, Marty
Lesch reported on an initiative that
would allow convenience stores, delis,
restaurants, lounges, and similar retail
ers to operate gaming machines exactly
as operated by Indian casinos. It would
entitle retailers to have, in total, the same
total number of machines operated by
Indian tribes.
Lesch stated that because the ini
tiative was designed to provide prop
erty tax relief, the general public was
looking upon it favorably, although it
would have a serious, adverse impact
on Indian gaming in the state of Wash
ington. (By the time this issue of Siletz
News is published, you will know how
Washington voters have decided this
important issue.)
As chairman of the Oregon Gam
ing Alliance, I reported that all nine
Oregon tribes are now members of the
Vice Chairman Jessie Davis
alliance. I stated that the alliance ad
dresses issues that commonly affect all
Oregon tribes while recognizing and
respecting the individual issues of each
member tribe.
I also reported on the anti-Indian
gaming activities of PACT (People
Against a Casino Town), which has filed
lawsuits against the state of Oregon
contending that Oregon’s governor has
no authority to sign gaming compacts.
PACT’S ultimate objective, of
course, is to destroy Indian gaming and
it is contending that Oregon casinos
are prohibited according to the state’s
constitution. Although unsuccessful in
its initial efforts, PACT recently re
ceived a donation of $35,000 from an
Arizona-based group called the Alli
ance Defense Fund, enabling it to con
tinue its campaign against Indian
gaming in the courts.
The committee also introduced a
resolution on the California issue to
protect tribal sovereignty, which was
adopted by the general assembly.
Nuu-wee-ya’
27th Anniverary Restoration
Celebration
(our words)
Introduction to the
Athabaskan Language
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
Nov. 20, 2004
11 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
Noon
12:30 p.m.
2 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
6 p.m.
Events all day
Open to tribal members
of all ages
Opening Remarks
Invocation - Siletz Royalty
Welcome address
Guest Speakers
Blanket Drawing
Entertainment: Williams & Ree
Blanket Drawing
Buffet Luncheon
Blanket Drawing
Recognition of Special Guests
Closing Prayer
Pow-Wow Grand Entry
Siletz
Siletz Tribal Community Center
Nov. 9-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
Nov. 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 6-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
Nov. 1 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Culture Room with displays and tribal
video; pow-wow vendors
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
Nov. 3-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tribal Holidays
All tribal offices will be closed on the following days:
Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
Nov. 18 - Restoration Day
Nov. 25 - Thanksgiving Day
For more information, contact
Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural
Department at 1-800-922-1399,
ext. 1320, or 541-444-8320, or
e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
Nov. 26 - Day After Thanksgiving Day
November 2004
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Siletz News
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