CHAIRMAN S REPORT
The 30 members of this commission
represent Oregon’s population. This is the
first commission that has been appointed
in the last 34 years.
We held our first meeting at the Capi
tol this month and began the process of
setting up a committee structure to out
line how we will work together. The Leg
islature as well as all Oregonians were
asked to give input in this process.
The Legislature has been under se
vere criticism for not being able to take
care of legislative activities during its
regular sessions. Proposed legislation
does not get the necessary action because
of looming budget issues.
Run to the Rogue
Our run began with elders, children,
and members at Government Hill. As
usual, the first mile includes all of the
above. We should be very proud of the
runners who were young and old. They
were greeted along the way; I witnessed
signs acknowledging them and the tribe.
Although it rained at the site, spirits
were high and everyone seemed to enjoy
the gathering.
Lincoln County Agreement
The tribe recently entered into an
agreement with Lincoln County that has
several purposes.
We have been in discussion on issues
over the past year. We both agree that our
two governments provide valuable ser
vices to our members. In many cases the
benefits overlap.
It’s been recognized that when we
apply to have land taken into trust, it im
mediately goes off the tax roles and as a
result, revenues to the county stop. Large
pieces of land such as the casino and
hotel property cause a bigger concern than
do small parcels.
Our agreement is to make a donation
to the county that eases the loss of rev
enue that it’s experiencing. The tribe would
make this donation on July 1 of each year.
In return, the county commissioners
agreed that they would not challenge fee-
to-trust applications in Lincoln County in
the future based on loss of revenue to the
Delores Pigsley
Benefits for Elders
county. So far, their only challenges have
been based on loss of revenue.
There would be an annual increase
in this donation based on the Portland
Consumer Price Index, but not more than
2l/2 percent. The agreement would be re
viewed in four years.
Our meetings with the commission
ers and their staff were very informative
for them as well as for the Tribal Council.
Oregon Legislative
Commission
I was appointed to serve on the Or
egon Legislative Commission to review
the Legislature itself and to recommend
improvements that can be made in the
legislative process.
Many of you have heard that a mo
tion to provide an “elders per capita” was
recently voted on by the Tribal Council.
The motion was put forward without any
plan for where the money would come
from and no plan was offered. The thought
was that we could just pass a motion and
put a plan together to pay monthly ben
efits to tribal elders that would increase
in the first two years.
As many of you know, one of our
long-term goals is to provide health in
surance to all members and also to pro
vide end-of-life care for our elders. Our
only resources to provide this assistance
are either through casino or timber
revenues. Currently, neither of these
resources is adequate to meet all of our
objectives.
Our comprehensive plan was devel
oped with tribal member input and we
attempt to follow the input of our mem
bership. 1 personally voted against the
motion not because it’s a bad idea, but
because it’s too big and too important an
issue to support without careful thought
and planning.
We cannot establish a program our
elders will come to depend upon without
making sure it's funded properly and
funded not just for a year or two but for
decades. We know how many elders we
currently have from enrollment records;
we can project with certainty for several
years to come.
The numbers increase sharply in the
next few years. We also have to consider
how this benefit affects those whose in
come is offset by other programs like
Supplemental Security Income and Gen
eral Assistance.
Our staff are currently researching the
prospects of what impact an elders per
capita will have on other programs, what
the real cost would be for the next sev
eral years, and whether this is at all
feasible at this time. After we gather this
information and look at any options that
may be available, we will provide that
information to all the membership.
When the time comes, it’s likely that
this issue would be referred to the gen
eral membership for a decision since five
of us on the Tribal Council are tribal el
ders and would receive a direct benefit
from our own actions.
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Some Siletz Tribal Children
Need You!
The Indian Child Welfare Program
needs good homes for temporary and
long-term placement for some of our
Siletz Tribal children. Foster homes and
homes for relative placements are
needed, both locally and within the 1 I -
county service area.
If you are thinking of becoming a
foster parent or relative placement, or
just have questions, contact Sandra
Simmons at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1275,
or 541 -444-8275. Packets on the certi
fication process and information ses
sions are available upon request.
Most Often Requested Numbers
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
1-800-922-1399
Salem Area Office
503-390-9494
Salem Finance Office
1-888-870-9051
Portland Area Office
503-238-1512
Eugene Area Office
541-484-4234
Springfield Siletz Tribal Head Start
541-747-0161
Contract Health Services (CHS)
1-800-628-5720
Siletz Community Health Clinic
1-800-648-0449
Siletz Alcohol and Drug
1-800-600-5599
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
1-888-244-6665
Chemawa Health Clinic
1-800-452-7823
Bureau of Indian Affairs
1-8OO-323-8517
Web Site
www.ctsi.nsn.us
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CTSI Jobs
CTSI Employment Job Line
541-444-8296 or 1-800-922-1399, ext 1296
Visit our Web site at www.ctsi.nsn.us
Note: “Open Until Filled” vacancies may close at any time. The tribe’s Indian
Preference policy will apply. Tribal government will not discriminate in selection
because of race, creed, age, sex, color, national origin, physical handicap, marital
status, politics, membership or non-membership in an employee organization.
Nuu-wee-ya’
(our words)
Introduction to the Athabaskan Language
Open to tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Siletz Tribal Community Center
Oct. 11 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
Oct. 10 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 14 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
Oct. 17 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 15 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
Oct. 4-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tribal members who need help 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 Culture Department at
541-444-8320 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1320; ore-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
October 2005
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Siletz News
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