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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2005)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: I would like to take this opportu nity to thank each and every one of you who took the time to vote in this year's Tribal Council election. I would espe cially like to extend my deepest and utmost gratitude to those of you who voted for me. I want you to know that I sincerely appreciate the support that you have given me and the faith you have in me that prompts you to cast your votes in my direction. Voting is a very important tribal function and should not be taken lightly. The strength and future of our nation depend a lot on how we vote. Thank you all again and I’ll see you in Siletz. I would also like to extend my congratulations to Robert Kentta, Loraine Butler, and Phil Rilatos. A round of applause to the winners of this year’s election. Sincerely, Speaks out loud George F. Siniscal To the editor: Thank you for your support in my 2005 campaign for Tribal Council elec tion. Even though I did not win a seat on Tribal Council, the faith that you showed when you came up to me and said “good luck” was very touching. The three new Tribal Council mem bers will make a noticeable difference on many issues that our tribe faces. Please join me and show them our support. I believe that I have some very im portant issues that must be considered in the very near future - hunting and fishing rights, gathering rights, and most importantly, water rights. Our in herent tribal sovereignty teaches us that our tribal rights must be upheld for the growth of our tribal membership. I plan on being a candidate for the 2006 Tribal Council election. Please call, write, or talk to me on anything that is on your mind. I will gladly listen. Thank you again. Respectfully, Frank D. Simmons To the editor: Congratulations to Loraine Butler and Phil Rilatos Sr. in gaining council seats in the recent election. I’d also like to thank all the tribal members who supported me in that election. I will keep an open ear and always stand up for what is right and just. I don’t take the trust placed in me lightly and will do my best to live up to that trust by being a strong advocate for our tribe’s interests and our tribal people. We all need to remember how far we’ve come and be proud of that as members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. The incumbents in the recent election have made many impor tant contributions to our tribe. Although there has not always been complete agreement on particular issues, their years of dedication deserve our appre ciation. I wish them well and hope they continue to remain interested and involved in our tribe’s well-being. I consider it an honor and a privi lege to serve as one of your council men and thank you again for placing your trust in me. Sincerely, Robert Kentta To the editor: Thank you to all who supported my efforts to run for 2005 Tribal Council. Apologies for a deficiency in my cam paign information. I had someone assisting me to type the document and Abraham Tom (actually married to my great-great-Aunt Aurilla Tom - sister to Christine Selsic, my great- great-grandmother) was listed as my direct ancestor. I feel that I did very well (fifth from the bottom), considering it was my first time running and I don’t really have the “family” ties to many people here (as I didn’t grow up here). I have much grati tude for the opportunity to speak about issues regarding our future that I believe are very important. I still have key chains to distribute; call me if you’re one of the intended recipients! I’m not certain if I’ll run again; time will tell. But I do believe I’ll apply for a couple of committees - Housing and possibly Election Board (it was so sad to see the turnout) for one (758 ballots returned, 1,053 ballots not returned! Atrocious!). Need to do work on this - maybe a committee? I'm pleased with the outcome. I feel we still have work to do in looking back at the campaign statements (Kentta, Rilatos Sr., Butler) and checking in with the newly elected council members about the issues they spoke about bring ing change to. I think having a section in the news paper (or on the Web site) where tribal members can brainstorm about “needs” could serve as a place to list contact info, and other tribal members could reply with potential solutions. Darcy Lal (daughter of Tina Retasket) is work ing on updating the Web site. She’s doing a great job. I believe that we should push our TC to do a Web cam broadcast of meet ings. It’s not acceptable that tribal mem bers have to pay for a videotape copy. I spoke with Dave Terry (he records the meetings) and he said the record- ings are digitally compatible and could easily be used as an “audio" track, not video for broadcast. There should be no excuse to prevent us from “talking” about ways to pursue solutions to defi ciencies that exist in our tribal govern mental process. I also would like to see our tribal Constitution amended, where it speaks about the individual rights of members in Section 2. General Council, ... “E. Make advisory recommendations to the council ...” I plan to check out what other tribes are doing in this arena. I think this should be changed and the people should have the power, at least at this time, to initiate changes they think are important - pursuit of a Web cam broadcast could make this feasible for members who don’t live near where the meetings happen too. Baby steps! Respectfully, Lisa Brown nadosh2@yahoo.com 541-444-1290 4 • Siletz News • March 2005 To the editor: I would like to thank all the tribal members who stood by me and gave me the confidence to keep running for TC. People ask me how I feel. I feel very green, only because I want to do a good job and represent our tribe in the best way that I can. I feel confident that this council can work together for the betterment of the tribe. I know I have a lot to learn. I have been told to always remember where I came from and how I got here. With that in mind, I will do the best that I can for our tribe and our people. Thank you, Loraine Y. Butler To the editor: This is a big heartfelt thank you to the elders for the nice get-well card they sent me while I was in the Newport rehab facility. This was my very first stay in a rehab facility that cares for the very elderly who have some kind of a disability. I was a short-stay patient, but my eyes became wide open after only a few days. 1 consider myself very lucky to have the physical health that I do have at my age. After only a few days, I be came somewhat depressed, but thanks to the get-well card, my outlook on matters brightened and I looked forward to being discharged. If any of you have relation or a friend who is confined due to illness or injury, I would strongly encourage you to send them a small card or write a few lines. If at all possible, try a visit. Thanks again to the elders! Another big thank you goes to In dian Health. It is very reassuring to go into a medical facility and just concen trate on getting well. Thanks again! George Thompson
