TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
To the editor:
I would like to thank everyone who
supported me by your vote in this past
election. I appreciate the time and ef
fort you took to vote.
I have enjoyed being your council
representative over the past 16 years. I
am proud of the accomplishments of the
tribe that I have been a part of during
this time. Thanks for the opportunity
to serve.
Dan VanOtten and the rest of the
Election Board did an excellent job this
year. At first when I found out we were
going to electronic voting, I was very
skeptical, but all of that went away once
Nuu-wee-ya’
I saw how the process went. All of you
did a great job!
(our words)
I wish the new council well in the
coming year. There are a lot of issues
Introduction to the Athabaskan Language
on the horizon in the tribe’s struggle to
preserve our sovereignty. The new eco
nomic impact study completed by
EcoNorthwest for the tribe will help in
educating the public on what a positive
impact the tribe is to not only our mem
Open to tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Salem
Siletz Tribal Community Center
March 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
April 12-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Salem Area Office
March 15-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
April 6-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Portland
Eugene
Portland Area Office
March 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
April 11-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Eugene Area Office
March 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
April 4-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
bers, but also to the local community
and the state at large.
Sincerely,
Jessie Davis
«a
r in
To the editor:
I hope my voice can be heard by
the people of the Suletsi Nndaye (Siletz
Relations). I’m a prisoner of the state
of Oregon and tribal member.
There has been an ongoing issue
that should be addressed in a good way.
I personally think as Native peoples, we
can do much more to change this in a
positive way.
I’ve been seeing, talked to, and ex
perienced that a lot of brothers and sis
ters throughout the iron walls of Suletsi
blood face a common problem within
our tribe. It seems that of the tribal
members who have made a mistake(s)
that leads them to prison, it’s as if we
become non-existent, like exile.
It’s sad, but happens all too often.
There isn’t much support for imprisoned
tribal members and even less from the
system itself. Let’s face it - the Depart
ment of Corrections is anything but that.
It’s very discouraging in our
struggle for freedom. I know many of
us know a family member who has done
or is doing time. I know one brother
who had done five years without a
single visit or help from the tribe.
What as Native people are we
showing each other? Prison is a very
lonely and ugly place. A place you
might never walk away from. I person
ally love our people and am proud of
where our people have come from.
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, ore-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
Please help where you can and stop
acting as if we’re not here. We are here,
live and well, praying for you, us our
peoples. I encourage our tribal mem
bers, council, and employees to get in
volved and show support. A lot of us
are doing our best to turn our confusion-
filled lives around. We are far from lost
as are ones on the streets.
We need your support, support pro
grams, and love just as much as us all.
There is much we can do. Write letters,
educate yourselves of the realities of
prison and prison issues, contact prison
support groups, buy a family member/
friend a book, visit, prayers, help the
ones coming back home, help with a
person’s goals and needs.
We can use your help as much as
you need ours. We’re all each other’s
teachers, as relations. Our peoples are
only as strong as our weakest link.
I also want to say thank you to all
the ones who show love and support to
our Native peoples who are prisoners.
We’re grateful for the love and support
and prayers.
I’ll continue my personal struggle
of the resistance and walk upon the Red
Road. My prayers go out to all the broth
ers and sisters behind the wails and all of
our peoples as a whole united as one of
our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits.
One love shu ashi nuu laa,
Prairie Dancer - Sage Butler
TLC Attitudes of Gratitude
It’s not so hard to feel gratitude
when the warmth of the early spring sun
is shining down. Bulbs are poking their
heads out and some are about to burst
into bloom. Early-blooming trees and
shrubs are starting their parade toward
the official opening of spring, Equinox
on the 20th.
We’re grateful for many things here
at TLC, including positive climate
changes. We have had some generous
souls donate items that are welcomed
by residents.
Sunshine Keck and Selene Rilatos
both gave toiletry items for our women.
Bill Wheeler shared a bunch of his fa
mous potato salad - just like grandma’s!
Linda and Wayne Helgerson passed
on some jars of assorted chutney that
can be used for fancy jam or a glaze on
meat dishes. Just a couple days ago, we
found a bag of perfumes, lotions, and nail
care items hanging on the doorknob,
from whom we don’t know. We are
thankful for each and every one of these
gifts and for the folks who give them.
We also are grateful for our faith
ful volunteers! Without our overnight
volunteers, we would not be able to
maintain the serenity and safety that is
evident at the TLC.
Thank you to Carrie White, Jackie
Ashley, Joan Hartung, Denise Riding
In, Lisa Brown, and Alice McCain.
Welcome back, Jenifer Metcalf! You are
all so appreciated! Thank you also to
Selene Rilatos for all you do!
Again, thank you to CTSI Public
Works for the good work you do for us.
Bobby, we really appreciate your mop-
up job when the dishwasher overflowed
and I was at a workshop. I came back
expecting a soggy mess. Instead, there
was only a clean, dry floor and a mop for
me to put away. What a nice surprise!
We can always use a few more good
volunteers to fill in some gaps. If you
are a woman who enjoys helping other
women in their recovery, please give a
call. The work is not hard and there are
personal rewards.
Call Lynn at 541-444-8238 or
1-800-922-1339, ext. 1238, if you are
interested or have questions. Also, join
us for our monthly Women’s Talking
Circle at the TLC on the second
Wednesday of the month.
So, smile at the sunshine, be grateful
for the rain, and stop to smell the flowers!
March 2005
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