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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2005)
VICE CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Success of Resort Continues Harvard Releases Results of Gaming’s Impact The purchase of the Shilo Inns Hotel, now known as the Chinook Winds Casino Resort Hotel, continues to be a profitable business venture for the Siletz Tribe. A comparison between 2003, when occupancy was at 37 percent under Shilo Inns management, and 2004 dur ing the same months of the year, when occupancy rose to 61 percent under Chinook Winds management, is evi dence of the tribe’s success. As we predicted, the improved revenue comes from the hotel, casino, and convention center operating in coordination with each other as a total resort complex. The competence of hotel and casino staffs was tested during the New Year’s weekend when Lincoln City, and spe cifically Chinook Winds, was swept with a tsunami of guests and demands for services were made on all departments. We are proud of the professional ism and hard work of the Chinook Winds team that has been responsible for making Chinook Winds a viable tribal business. As has been reported previously in Siletz News, ECONorthwest has launched its socioeconomic impact study of Indian gaming in Oregon, the results of which soon will be made public. The ECONorthwest study parallels the national study undertaken by Harvard University, published under the name, “American Indians on Reservations: A Databook of Socioeconomic Change Between the 1990 and 2000 Censuses. ” The Harvard study is a statistical comparison of 15 different socioeco nomic indicators based on the U.S. Census during the 10-year period. The study substantiates what had already been revealed by other studies: Indian gaming has had a positive so cioeconomic impact not only on Indian tribes, but also on neighboring non Indian communities. The Harvard study also reports, however, that there still are serious socioeconomic problems among Indians. According to a summary of the re port released by the National Indian Gaming Association, unemployment among American Indi ans is still twice the U.S. average. Col lege graduation rates also increased for both gaming and non-gaming tribes, though the U.S. average is still twice that of Indians.” The findings of the ECONorthwest study will be reported in Siletz News as soon as they are available. Commission on Indian Services Vice Chairman Jessie Davis “Some key findings of the report reveal that gaming tribes increased their median household income by 35 percent, non-gaming tribes increased theirs by 15 percent. While this growth is signifi cant, the median household income for Indians remains just under half that of the U.S. population. Family poverty for gaming tribes decreased by 11.8 per centage points; non-gaming tribes decreased by 6.9 percentage points. Yet, the family poverty rate for Indians is still three times that of the U.S. average. Unemployment also decreased for both Nuu-wee-ya’ gaming and non-gaming tribes, but The Oregon Commission on Indian Services held its first meeting Jan. 5. All representatives nominated by the nine Tribal Councils in Oregon were confirmed by the Oregon Legislature. For the first time in several years, all nine representatives were re-appointed. Karen Quigley, executive director, commented that since the representa tives remain the same this year as they were last year, there will be continuity in the work of the commission. By acclamation, Jay Minthorn (Umatilla) was elected chairman and Alan Foreman (Klamath) was elected vice chairman. Representing the Oregon Legislature are Kate Brown for the Senate and Tom Butler for the House of Representatives. (our words) Introduction to the Athabaskan Language Open to tribal members of all ages Siletz Salem Siletz Tribal Community Center Feb. 15-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Salem Area Office Feb. 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 15-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Portland Eugene Portland Area Office Feb. 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eugene Area Office Feb. 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tribal members who need help or instruction on cultural projects should contact the Siletz Culture Department. We can assist you prior to the language classes. For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural Department at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1320, or 541-444-8320, or e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us; or Selene Rilatos at the Siletz Culture Department at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1246, or 541-444-8246, or e-mail selener@ctsi.nsn.us. j ■ 2005 Charitable Contributions j Advisory Board j $ The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians has established a Charitable ■ ■ Contributions Advisory Board to distribute profits from Chinook Winds ■ ■ Casino Resort. The advisory board will consist of one Siletz Tribal Council ■ ■ member, three Siletz Tribal members, two non-tribal members from Lincoln j । County, and one member of the gerenal public from the tribe’s service area, j . Term of office is three years. Siletz Tribal members interested in serving. । on this committee must fill out the following form and return it to the address ! _ below by Feb. 28, 2005. J J J . Please send your application to Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, ■Attn: Christine Goodell, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549; ■Fax: 541-444-2307. Î Name: Roll Number: Address :____________________________________ _________________ _____ City:State: ZIP: Telephone: (Day) (Evening) Tribal Council will review applications and approve appointments at the Regular Tribal Council meeting in March. If you have any questions, please call Christine Goodell at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1200, or 541-444-8200. February 2005 • Siletz News • 5
