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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2004)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: My name is Robert Kentta and I am announcing my intention to run for a seat on the Siletz Tribal Council. I have a deep respect for, and an understanding of, our history, culture, and tribal government. I also under stand federal Indian statutes and case law. I know that our Siletz Tribal people have been wronged many times over. We cannot afford to pass up opportuni ties to have those wrongs righted. At crucial times, our leaders have made decisions without a full knowl edge of our tribe’s legal rights and rec ognition of the negative implications that their decisions may carry for fu ture generations. We need to institution alize our claims to our treaties and rights contained therein. Those are the kinds of proposals you can expect to see me advocating, ones that build and strengthen our membership and our tribal sovereignty. Many of you know me from my work in cultural programs and from participation in tribal events. I always try to pitch in and do my part, and conduct myself as well as I expect of myself. I have always aimed to be fair, independent, and impartial in my decision-making. I have little patience for mean-spirited actions, defeatist mentality, and government stalled be cause of focus on unproductive pursuits. Although our government has served many of our basic needs well and we have come a long, long way since restoration, I believe that sometimes it takes a fresh perspective and new en ergy to refocus tribal priorities, and this election is one of those times. Through the regular campaign events and other opportunities, I will be sharing my ideas of what we can do to strengthen our tribal people. A stron ger Siletz people is what makes a stron ger Siletz Tribe. Of course, I will be asking that you consider voting for me, but please lis ten closely to all candidates’ messages and decide who you believe will serve the Siletz Tribe and its members’ inter ests to the betterment of all. Thank you. Sincerely, Robert Kentta TLC Attitudes of Gratitude Christmas is just around the comer. As I write this, Thanksgiving is two and a half weeks away, but TLC residents already are talking about decorating for Christmas. Have to admit that lights and tinsel do tend to brighten up dark and dreary winter days. So soon, we will pull out the boxes to see what we have to work with. We have been blessed by members of our community again this past month. Thanks to Angie Husburg and an anonymous donor for clothing items. Volunteer Alice McCain brought us six blood-red sedum plants. They will pro vide attractive foliage next summer and beautiful pink flowers that turn a deep, dark red in the fall. Now to get them transplanted ... We received two food donations this month. Pam and Ray Ben donated two bags of frozen foods. The Logsden community, through the Logsden Store, provided us with two boxes of food items (we really appreciate the fruit and 4 • Siletz News • the oatmeal!), two bags of hygiene items, and a box of chewing gum! Angie Husburg and Bev Youngman brought us issues of current magazines to keep us up on what’s going on in the world. We appreciate the support of these wonderful individuals! Of course, those beautiful women whom we can’t get along without - our much-needed overnight volunteers! Our deep gratitude goes to Denise Riding In, Jackie Ashley, Alice McCain, and Carrie White. They keep a feeling of strong security alive! Also much appreciation to Jason Harrington, who does periodic checks to assure that all is well in our neigh borhood. Thank you! Hope Santa is good to you and you are good to your fellow man. Have a blessed Christmastime! We still could use a few more good volunteers! Please call Lynn Whitlow at 541-444-8238 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1238, if you would like to give of your time. December 2004 To the editor: Thank you to everyone who made donations to the Siletz Valley School Trick-or-Treat the Hallways. We were trick-or-treated by at least 275 children. Also, a very big thank you to those of you who helped man the doors to hand out the goodies. This type of event would not be possible without help from people like Jill Irwin, Melissa Butler, Raiona Hawk, Kris Whitehead, Mona Fisher, Felicia Carmona, Stephanie Rilatos, Sherry Rilatos, Kassandra Rilatos, Sa vanna Rilatos, Karen Hatch, Spencer Hatch, Sage Hatch, Teri Nielsen, Darla Grove, Randy Grove, Maranda Garrett, Laura Henderson, and Bill Foster. And an extra big thank you to my husband, Jim, for all of your wonder ful help; and my children, Chris and Morgan, for giving up your own Hal loween to hand out goodies to others. Bonnie Crawford SVS Board To the editor: I am writing as a tribal member. 1 attended the General Council meeting on Nov. 6, 2004, and as usual, one of the main tribal member concerns was Chinook Winds Casino. I am greatly disappointed that the tribal chairperson is always stating that she does not interfere with the policies and procedures of Chinook Winds Ca sino and the Siletz Tribal offices. If the Tribal Council does not stand behind our tribal members, who will? It’s sad that our senators and repre sentatives take the time to answer and deal with our concerns when our own Tribal Council does not do the same. In my opinion, when a person(s) are in office or a job too long, they lose any kind of feelings for others. When one of my family goes to the tribal office and tells me they are not treated nice, I always get upset. The ones who treat one of my fam ily wrong don’t have any room to talk. There are employees who have given their children away, are alcoholics, drug addicts, have police records, and then want to treat my family disrespectfully. Get real, you live in Siletz. Another thing - we always hear we need money for programs. Programs do not benefit everybody. The Tribal Coun cil takes $200,000 from the casino for high-income people for fixing their nice homes, and then there are others who cannot get prescriptions or medical help due to no funding. The tribal election is coming soon. Tribal members need to put block votes and family aside and vote who would be the best representatives for our Siletz Tribe. Tribal member, Joella Strong Tribal Election Deadlines 4 p.m. - Dec. 22, 2004 4 p.m. - Dec. 22, 2004 4 p.m. - Dec. 27, 2004 I Weekof Jan. 7, 2005 I 4 p.m. - Jan. 28, 2005 I 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Feb. 5, 2005 I 4 p.m. - Feb. 5, 2005 Deadline to file for candidacy Deadline to submit a photo and/or candidate’s statement for inclusion in Tribal Voter’s Pamphlet Deadline to withdraw name from candidacy and not have your name appear on the ballot Absentee ballots mailed out Deadline to request a mail-in ballot In-Person Voting - Tribal Elections, Tribal Community Center, Siletz Deadline for returning absentee ballots Candidate’s Fair Jan. 8, 2005 - Noon Siletz Tribal Community Center
