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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2005)
CHAIRMAN S REPORT pects of which, including the natural beauty of their New Zealand homeland, are similar to ours. As I said in the beginning of this re port, we often have visitors from other American Indian tribes. Seldom, if ever, do we have the opportunity to be in per sonal, face-to-face contact with tribes from another continent. Because of their historical experiences and culture, we felt a deep sense of kinship with the Maori, who also are struggling to achieve eco nomic self-sufficiency and to express their tribal self-determination. Maori Tribal Members Visit In September, we were visited not by another American Indian tribe, but by a tribe from across the Pacific Ocean, thou sands of miles away. They were represen tatives of the Maori Tribe of New Zealand, a tribe that in some respects is similar, historically and culturally, to American Indian tribes. Our tribe and the Grand Ronde Tribe hosted the Maori delegation. On Sept. 23, we met with them, viewed the exhibit of Maori artifacts at the Hallie Ford Mu seum. and officially welcomed them with a ceremony and dinner in their honor at Willamette University in Salem. We were happy they also were able to attend the Welcome Pow-Wow at Chemawa Indian School the next evening. This visit to the school was appropriate because we understand that one of the priorities of the Maori tribe is education, just as it is among our tribes. On Sept. 25. we welcomed the Maori to Siletz. We spent the day visiting with them, sharing our culture, and demon strating our arts. Siletz families brought their baskets, drums, regalia, and other cultural items to share with the Maori. The Siletz Elders gave gifts of beau tiful dentalium necklaces, Ed Ben gave a couple of handmade drums, and Bud and Cheryl Lane presented handmade gifts to each individual guest. Delores Pigsley NNABA Conference The Maori, in turn, sang their beautiful native songs and presented gifts from their land to the Siletz Tribe and to our elders. The event included a wonderful din ner prepared by Frank Aspria and many others who helped. The day concluded with a special feather dance for our guests at the Dance House. Recently, many of you may have seen in theaters or on video the award-winning movie. Whale Rider, a moving story about the struggles of a young Maori girl who, against all odds, becomes chief of her tribe - a position traditionally held by males. The movie gave, for some of us. a glimpse into present-day Maori culture, some as Another event of cultural significance was the Northwest Native American Bas ketweavers Association (NNABA) gath ering, hosted by our tribe at Chinook Winds. It was the largest NNABA orga nizational meeting ever. Beginning on Sept. 29, members ar rived from all over the Northwest. Our tribe hosted a reception and a salmon din ner at the community center in Siletz, fol lowed by a traditional dance at the dance house. Our Culture Department did an outstanding job of organizing and plan ning the event and received many acco lades for its efforts. 1 would like to add my special thanks to Robert Kentta and Bud and Cheryl Lane for coordinating these events and taking such good care of our guests (in cluding arranging for tribal members to host our guests). Many of our members assisted in the procession, welcoming, food preparation, housing, and dancing at the Dance House. 1 want to thank you all - you made us proud. Smithsonian Museum Collection Consistent with the central theme of my chairman’s message this month, which focuses on culture. 1 would like to report that a Siletz delegation recently visited the Smithsonian Museum (ware house in Suitland. Md.) where there is a fine collection of Siletz artifacts, baskets, regalia, and other objects. We took time to review the entire inven tory of artifacts being held in our tribe's name. We were able to photograph the collection as well as carefully handle it. It’s planned that the photos will be put on a CD so they can be made avail able to our tribal members to view at some point, hopefully in the near future. In closing. I'd like to add that we can take pride in the enormous accomplistf- ments we have made since Restoration, our 28th year this month. Our accomplish ments are visible all around us - but it's our continuing efforts to maintain our tra ditional arts, language, ceremonies, and values that help preserve our identity as the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. r-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ï ! ! 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 11- 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 j certification process and information sessions are available upon request. Most Often Requested Numbers Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians I -800-922-1399 Salem Area Office 503-390-9494 Salem Finance Office I -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 I -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 1-800-323-8517 Web Site www.ctsi.nsn.us 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 Nov. 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec.-TBD Salem Salem Area Office Nov. 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec.-TBD Portland Portland Area Office Nov. 15-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec.-TBD Eugene Eugene Area Office Nov. 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec.-TBD 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; or e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us. November 2005 • Siletz News • 3
