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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2005)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT New Siletz Tribal Council I wish to begin my chairman’s re port this month by welcoming newly elected members Robert Kentta, Phil Rilatos, and Loraine Butler to the Siletz Tribal Council. Robert and Lorraine are new, never having served on the council before, but Phil is an experienced council member, having served several years ago. All three bring to the tribe’s governing body diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and perspectives. I also would like to acknowledge and express my gratitude for the many years of dedicated service to the Siletz Tribe by Jessie Davis, Jane John, and Rosemary Landis, the three incumbents who lost their council seats in the re cent election. And finally, a personal note about my being re-elected tribal chairman: I appreciate the confidence placed in me by the Tribal Council. At the same time, I am acutely aware of the responsibili ties that come with this office and the challenges that lie ahead for our tribe. I will, as I always have, represent the Siletz Tribe to the best of my ability and welcome the opportunity of work ing with newly elected executive officers of the council. The new vice chairman Wilkinson, who has wanted to write a history of the Siletz Tribe, will com mence working on the project next month. Many of you may remember that Charles greatly assisted the tribe in gaining restoration back in the ‘70s. The tribe’s recent trust application met with some resistance from the lo cal community. The concerns raised by community members were responded to. It should be noted that the Siletz Tribe has made contributions to Siletz Valley School and to the city of Siletz. Dedication of U of O Longhouse Chairman Delores Pigsley is Bud Lane, secretary is JoAnn Miller, and treasurer is Phil Rilatos. Wilkinson to Document Siletz History Charles Wilkinson, nationally rec ognized expert on Indian law, has agreed to write a history of the Siletz Tribe. Charles’ historical account will be based on extensive documented re search conducted over the past several years not only by our tribal historian and tribal attorney, but also independent studies conducted by credible histori cal and legal experts. I was pleased to present some re marks at the dedication of the Univer sity of Oregon Longhouse in Eugene, Ore., in January. I expressed the fact that the longhouse had special significance and held fond memories for me because it was in the old longhouse that we had many meetings during the period when we were struggling to be restored. The purpose and meaning of the new longhouse will have great signifi cance to the university. It’s a beautiful facility that will be a great asset. The chairmen of the nine Oregon tribes will serve as an advisory group. Meeting with Sen. Smith Oregon tribes had another oppor tunity to interact with Sen. Gordon Smith - this time at a breakfast meeting in Portland, Ore. He listened to the con cerns and issues expressed by the tribal representatives, specifically regarding such issues as health and education. Contributions to Lincoln City, City of Siletz Peter Hatch, Delores Pigsley, and David Hatch at the Native American Ball in Washington, D.C. Of concern to the Lincoln City Council has been the issue of tax con tributions by the Siletz Tribe. In response to its request, I ad dressed the City Council on the issue of future tax revenues to the city if and when the tribe applies for trust status for lot 57 and the hotel property in Lin coln City. Essentially, the tribe agreed to make contributions to the city (not pay taxes) comparable to the current transient room tax. While I was meeting with the City Council in Lincoln City, other Tribal Council members were meeting with the Siletz City Council, specifically re garding the purchase of land for hous ing units in Siletz. Inauguration and Congressional Contacts Like other tribes across the coun try, the Siletz Tribe was represented at the Presidential Inauguration by coun cil members Rosemary Landis, Jane John, Dave Hatch, Reggie and Lillie Butler, and myself. We also used this opportunity to meet with the staffs of our two Oregon senators, Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden, as well as with Phil Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gam ing Commission. We were caught in a crowd of a million people for the Inauguration; because of security we had a difficult time trying to watch the parade. All of us attended the Native American Ball. The weather was extremely cold and as expected, security was at an all-time high, but we were out there on the mall with 1 million other visitors to the city. Willamette University Anniversary At the Founders Day Anniversary of Willamette University in Salem, Ore., I spoke about the past and present of the Siletz Tribe within the Willamette Valley. I recounted specifically how the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 was superceded by an executive order on Nov. 9, 1855, that moved the Willamette Valley tribes to the Coast Reservation. I specifically named the tribes in volved, which included the Molalla, Kaiapuya, Santiam, and others. I also pointed out that the tribe’s past connection to the valley was rec ognized by the U.S. Congress when the Siletz Tribe was restored and given our service area. This initially was an eight county service area that later was ex panded to 11 counties, including counties within the Willamette Valley. March 2005 >• Siletz News •• 3
