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
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Siletz News
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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