LEITERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
I want to take this opportunity to
express my disappointment about the
elders payment that our Tribal Council
recently approved. I am not disap
pointed in those who will be receiving
payments, but those of us who won t be.
Once again. Tribal Council is being
selective on who will receive benefits.
I think this totally unfair. There is no
equal protection under any constitution
for privileged treatment, but there are
common fair practices in all govern
ments, whether it be non-Native, Na
tive, communities, city, state, and our
own government.
The most common practice is to
give benefits to elders beginning at age
65, a few at 62. We all know what those
benefits are. To name a few, Social
Security, meals, discounts on every
thing from soup to nuts.
Why did council skip all the way to
70 for their elder benefit? You say that
is all you can afford. Most of us believe
that you can afford the rest of us. We
know that you won't break the bank
or go bankrupt. With a little juggling,
you could afford the rest of us elders.
You can cut back on all that bureauc
racy and spend less on travel. Most of
us think there is way t(X) much investing
coming out of funds all at the same time.
Some say too many council members.
Now, how about a compromise?
How about elders 65-70 receive $100-
$150? There may be a couple at 62 who
want to be included. Finally, elders 70
and over receive $200-$250. We ask that
you re-think and consider the rest of us.
I urge all elders to speak out for this
compromise on the payment issue. Use
all the sources you have, whether it be
vocal, e-mail, voicemail, telephone,
letters, meetings, and petitions. We
need solid unity.
Our young people can get involved
for their loved ones. Speak up for your
mother, father, sisters, brothers, grand
mothers, grandfathers, aunts, and
uncles. I did my part. How about you?
And why not?
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Rose Kentta
To the editor:
To My People,
Title IV-E is taking our children. Its
policies are keeping them from being
returned.
Our children are being removed from
our homes and fostered to the state on
a weekly basis. To the point that 1CW
has placed an ad in the county news
paper classifieds.
Our tribe is asunder and it seems
that our council's hands are tied. It is
in their power to exhume Title IV-E.
But they have not.
They have done a financial audit
on the program. The finances are not
what I am questioning. I am question
ing ICW's placement of our children.
Where are they? Are they with fam
ily? Are they in tribal homes? Is their*
cultural identity prevalent and intact?
Is familial communication made pos
sible? Is reunification addressed? Are
we allowed the opportunity to bring
our children home?
In my Fight for my child (who was
never taken from me), 1 have posed
these questions in petitions, motions,
and to council. What are our "parental
rights’’? There is no format to define
them. There is only the Indian Child
Welfare Act of 1978, which is man
dated by federal statute.
I cannot think of a tribal family that
has not been affected in some way by
Title IV-E. I ask that you join me in the
fight for our children
Sagahallie Tillicum
Levi Simmons
To the editor:
The Greatest Parade was Miss
ing the Greatest Generation
Thanks to the Loyalty Days Com
mittee and the City of Newport, the
Loyalty Days Parade was a patriotic
success. But who was missing? Our
World War 11 veterans.
I’ll ask the Loyalty Days Committee
if this can be the theme for next year.
The WWII veterans are the greatest
generation of American heroes. We, the
Vietnam-era veterans, have a motto that
states, “that never again will another
generation of veterans be left behind."
For myself, it’s so moving to be in
the parade and spot WWII, Korean- and
Vietnam-era veterans standing at atten
tion saluting the American flag with
tears of memories.
We’ll take it upon ourselves to
make the WWII veterans a comfortable
float and bring them back on board.
We’ll work with the Newport VFW and
American Legion, plus the Oregon
Coast Veterans Association, to pay trib
ute to these heroes.
This was also the first time the read
ing of the names had a handful of
people. We not only read the names of
Oregon veterans who lost their lives in
the Vietnam War, but last year we in
troduced reading the names of Orego
nians who have lost their lives in the
Afghan-Iraqi War.
Maybe through the Chamber of
Commerce we can have a representa
tive from every business and also en
courage citizens to support this mean
ingful event. My dream has always
been to have over 800 people help read
these names so each person would read
one name as they do in Washington,
D.C. This would take great coordinat
ing, but it can be done.
I wish also to invite the Persian
Gulf, Afghan-Iraqi, and just all the vet
erans to make their presence in next
year’s parade.
Ld like to thank the new city manager
and parks director for making the Viet
nam Memorial Commemorative Walk
way in Don Davis Park so presentable.
Just over a year ago we installed a
storytelling wall of the park and it was
destroyed within a year. It took us five
years to raise $6,000, but with the help
of Halsey Sign Co. they have repaired
To the editor:
To our family and friends,
Well, 1 can’t believe the time has
come for us to be moving to Oklahoma.
Mickey and I would like to thank each
and every one of you for making us feel
so welcomed. We will miss you all very
much. I hope that you all still continue
to keep in touch with us.
Dad, what can I say? It’s going to be
really hard to say bye to both you and
Sharon. No matter where we are, you
will always be in my heart!
Aloha - wanting to say hello and
hating to say goodbye! Thanks for all
the memories and fun times.
Shine and Ruby - We will always
have our karaoke nights together!
Vai and Larry - Thanks for the
memories and thanks for being the ones
to take us in when we first got here.
To my brother, Phil - Take care of
yourself and your family. Love ya'
bunches!
Elaine and Gloria - What would I
do without the golden girl sisters! Lol
Take care of yourselves and keep in touch!
Love, Mickey, Denise and gang
it until we can raise the money to con
struct a new storytelling wall.
1 close in thanking the many people
who stood in the rain to watch the pa
rade. And I thank the young children and
adults who stood at attention with their
hand over their heart. Our American flag
means so much, as do our citizens! We
still live in an era where we have the free
dom to speak what is within our hearts.
I have many good friends and fam
ily members who detest this war, but yet
respect the fact that the safety of our
young men and women who answered
the call to serve this nation must have
the highest priority. I'm grateful we live
in a nation where we can send a mes
sage to the president in various ways,
but yet respect our troops who are fol
lowing the footsteps of all the great
Americans who made this nation great.
Thank you,
Tony Molina
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Siletz News
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Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
June 2006
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