LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
Hello tribal members.
My name is Loraine Y. Butler. I’m
requesting your support tor a seat on
the Tribal Council in 2005. I’m very
proud of our tribe and the accomplish
ments we’ve achieved since restoration.
I live in our tribal housing in Siletz
and have worked for the Siletz Tribe
for 10+ years. I have the opportunity to
talk with numerous tribal members at
my job in the Enrollment Department.
The health care issue is a main con
cern for tribal members living outside
the 11-county area. Tribal members
living in Siletz also feel the crunch.
Until our Tribal Council can find a
health plan that works for all tribal
members, they need to delegate enough
money in the Contract Health budget
to help all tribal members.
Health insurance costs are skyrock
eting all over the country. The Tribal
Council could start helping by provid
ing tribal members who work at Chi
nook Winds Casino with health care.
This would not only benefit the Con
tract Health program, but also would
be an incentive to work there.
The casino was built to employ
tribal members, but each year the num
ber decreases. I've been to council meet
ings where tribal members ask the Tribal
Council for help because of issues at
the casino.
The Tribal Council’s response is
they don’t want to get into personnel
issues. They say that a lot of times when
a tribal member comes forward with a
To the editor:
I would like to thank Chief Denis
Bosque, Officer Kay Spang, Reservist
Trainee Jack McCord, and Reservist
Trainee Jon Duarte for their quick and
effective response to the break-in at the
Siletz Gas & Mini Mart. This break-in
took place in the wee hours Sunday
morning, Dec. 12.
Officer Spang was the first on the
scene. She secured the area, preserved
evidence, directed people as needed,
and really took charge of the situation.
Jack McCord was close behind, helping
Kay in a myriad of ways. Jon Duarte
and Denis Bosque weren’t far behind.
I watched our tribal police team
methodically and meticulously gather
evidence, index it, and file it. Finger
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Siletz News
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To the editor:
complaint, the Tribal Council will go
to bat for them, only to find out the tribal
member didn’t tell them the whole story.
A lot of times tribal members cannot
pass the drug test or have missed a lot
of work. But what about tribal members
who have legitimate concerns? Some
one should be there to hear them and
deal with the problems if possible.
Our Tribal Council needs to address
our housing problem. I know of six fami
lies in the Siletz area who are homeless.
Our waiting list for housing and
Section 8 is years long. All our hous
ing money comes from government
funds. The Tribal Council should allo
cate some of our gaming money for
programs to help subsidize rent for
tribal members who work in minimum
wage jobs who cannot get into tribal
housing and cannot afford the high cost
of housing.
Why is there no housing in Lincoln
City? The tribe purchased 20 acres years
ago that was for housing. If we had
housing there, it would not only open
up apartments here in Siletz, it would
make it more convenient for tribal
members to work at Chinook Winds.
We are a great tribe. We have a lot
to be proud of. But our tribal members
deserve health, education, employment,
and housing.
Let’s get back to basics. We need
to take care of our tribal members who
are in need of these things.
Thank you,
Loraine Y. Butler
prints were taken, blood evidence was
gathered, pictures were taken, measure
ments were taken, and on and on.
As a tribal member, I am proud to
have such a well-trained and dedicated
police force. I am thankful that they
truly “protect and serve.”
It is my understanding that they
have suspects in custody as this is writ
ten. Thank you Denis, Kay, Jack, and
Jon, for a job well done.
I would also like to thank the staff
at the mini-mart for their professional
ism and efforts in cooperating in the
investigation, cleaning up, and getting
the store back open. Way to pull to
gether, crew!
Good job all!
Dan Lundy
January 2005
I am declaring my candidacy for
Tribal Council and asking you to vote
for me. I have served as your represen
tative on council for almost 10 years.
Some issues that have been of
importance to me are education for any
tribal member who wants to go to
school, housing, buying land to expand
our reservation, elder issues, and our
tribal children.
Please read my article in the voter’s
pamphlet for more information.
Once again, I ask you to vote for
me in the February election.
Rosemary B. Landis
To the editor:
Holiday greetings to all of you!
My name is George F. Siniscal and
I would like to take the opportunity at
this time to let you know that I will be
a candidate for one of the positions
on Tribal Council in the upcoming
2005 elections.
As many of you know, I was a can
didate in the 2003 election and again in
the 2004 election. Well, “never say die,”
here I am again for the 2005 election.
I sincerely hope you all had a very
nice holiday and I wish all of you the
very best for the upcoming year.
Speaks Out Loud,
George Siniscal
To the editor:
Fellow tribal members,
My name is Jane John and I am
seeking your support and vote for
Tribal Council.
I was one of the nine council mem
bers involved in many tribal projects:
the community center, the administra
tion building, the clinic, housing for
tribal members, and our Chinook Winds
Casino. I can remember when we held
our council meetings at the Siletz Grange
Hall. So when members say that the
tribe has not progressed, they have not
taken all these facts into consideration.
Education is a high priority. The tribe
has assisted in the reopening of Siletz
Valley School. Each year, we up the
amount we put into the education fund
for higher ed, AVT, and special classes.
Economic development is probably
the next priority. The tribe is now the
largest employer in Lincoln County. We
need some type of business that will
give more tribal members an opportu
nity for employment.
Federal cutbacks and attacks on
tribal sovereignty are a constant threat.
We need to be actively involved with
national Indian organizations so that our
programs and funding are protected.
Siletz must have a progressive and
communicating council that addresses
the tribe’s priorities and goals at all times.
Thank you,
Jane Irene John
Council Campaign Decline 2005
Council campaign, I do not step
away in fear or fear loss.
With my many years of service, it
is at this point in time to take another
look and challenge myself to quality,
not quantity.
I have issues that are near and dear
to my heart and it is with this thought I
realize my goals that share common
denominators in Indian Country.
I will be semi-retiring from the
corporate business world. I also have
been given an opportunity to write a
book while pursuing motivational
speaking opportunities.
I feel what I have to offer at this
time is best served, given wings to fly,
a voice that encourages and optimisti
cally challenges, ears that hear the
smallest whisper, proud humble
descendancy, eyes that see what is good
and what is not.
All of the above enrich my pen that
can be mightier than a sword, as gentle
as a child’s heartbeat.
I hope my tribal people will utilize
my potential along this new adventure.
I can promise you it will be an uplift
ing journey.
Respectfully,
Eva E. Clayton