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
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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,
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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
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ers, a $12 annual subscription fee
applies. Please make checks payable
to CTSI and mail to Siletz News.
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