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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2005)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: I’d like to encourage everyone to consider making a donation to Siletz Valley Friends of the Library, which is working diligently on raising funds to build a new library in Siletz. As many of you may know, early tribal staff shared space with the city of Siletz in the old A-frame building. Later, this building became a portion of the library and has certainly seen better days. A group of volunteers - Siletz Val ley Friends of the Library - has been writing grant proposals and holding numerous fund-raisers to raise money to build a larger, newer building. The city of Siletz has set aside property beside the post office to locate the new building and the tribe has donated $100,000 toward the construction costs. Siletz Valley Friends of the Library is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, so donations may be tax- deductible on your income tax. Please send your tax deductible donations to Siletz Valley Friends of the Library, P.O. Box 130, Siletz, OR 97380. Siletz Valley Friends of the Library is working on other fund-raising activi ties. In January, it’s planning a “Super Bunko” game to help raise funds to complete the project. More information will be shared as it is received. This is a project that will directly benefit tribal members and tribal chil dren. I sincerely hope you will consider making a donation. Tina M. Retasket We believe that we deserve the same privileges as tribal members who live on the reservation. Many of us suf fer from the high cost of housing here. We’re forced into apartments, small cottages, campgrounds, etc., simply because we cannot afford a house. It’s too expensive in this resort town. Many tribal members wish they could get a house here because of the distance they travel every day to and from Lincoln City. Additionally, many employed tribal members are forced into multi-fr.mily dwellings, living to gether (i.e., brothers, sisters, grandmoth ers, mothers, and children) because they simply cannot afford a house. This list goes on and on about why we should have housing here, includ ing the issue of safety and the crime our children are subjected to by living in these undesirable conditions. Most of us don’t want to live in Siletz because our children have been raised here and they want to finish school here. I was raised in this community. The town has grown a lot since I was a child. Since the early ‘60s, more people, along with businesses, have come here. We all know that tourism is the main busi ness focus here and that the casino is an important part of that. As the town grows, so will the ca sino. As we grow and fulfill our people’s needs in the surrounding ar eas, it’s fair that we also fulfill the needs of those who live and work here. Thank you very much. Arthur L. Butler Siletz News Letters Policy Send letters to: Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, is published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from read ers about stories printed in Siletz News and other tribal issues. All letters must include the author’s signature, address, and phone num ber in order to be considered for publication. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain profane language, libelous statements, personal attacks, or unsubstantiated statements. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, tribal employ ees, or Tribal Council. Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142. Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 Please note: The general man ager of the Siletz Tribe is the editor- in-chief of Siletz News. 2 To the editor: This is about opinions on tribal housing from tribal members who live in the Lincoln City area and work at the casino. As we all know, housing was in developing stages before being taken off the table because the land had not been put into trust. It was mentioned that the need for tribal housing should be re-addressed. I was proud to go before Tribal Coun cil to represent our people. We dis cussed the issue and agreed that the need is still here. We didn’t, however, really discuss the reasons why, only that it be consid ered a priority. I’d like to share com ments made by tribal members who live and work here. We’ve been hearing that housing would be here for many years. Nine years ago, Tribal Council told us we were going to build a casino here. We all agreed this would be good for the tribe and the community. The casino has fulfilled much of what Tribal Council had predicted (i.e. jobs, training, funds for helping tribal mem bers, etc.) Many tribal members moved into the area, hoping for a new start by working for our casino. Some already lived here and have strong roots here. Many of us who work at the casino call this place home. We’re proud to work here and enjoy the success of cre ating funds for tribal members in need. We’re dedicated to making our casino a success. • Siletz News • Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner Editor: Diane Rodriquez Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh January 2005 541-444-8291 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Deadline for the February issue is Jan. 10. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Please read the Passages Policy on page 24 when submitting items for Passages. Member of the Native American Journalists Association To the editor: Hello fellow tribal members. After much soul-searching and dis cussions with tribal members, I have decided to announce my candidacy for Tribal Council. I truly believe that in some instances, I can make a difference in the direction that our tribe is going. Our inherent rights, for instance. Our ancestors gave up an awful lot and I am sure that they believed that someday someone would reopen our inherent rights that were never lost. I believe in delegating some author ity to our tribal staff to undertake a lot of research rather than hiring consult ants. We are fortunate to have some educated and dedicated staff who have a lot to offer if we let them think out of the box. We are all blessed with com mon sense; mix educated opinions with common sense and you will come up with good sound decisions. Tribal Council is elected by the tribal members; they should represent the tribal members. Our tribal members have hope in their hearts that someday things may be better for them, just the way our ancestors’ hopes were. We are all blessed with faith, love, hope, and courage - that is a very good foundation to start with. The majority of you know me and what I represent. All of the Tribal Council candidates have something to offer, please listen to them wisely and make a wise deci sion when you vote. I would sincerely appreciate your vote. Respectfully, Frank D. Simmons Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all oth ers, a $12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail to Siletz News. Name:________________________ Address: _____________________ Phone:__ _____________________ Change of address: Tribal members - call the Enrollment De partment at 541-444-8258 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1258; all oth ers - call the newsletter office.
