CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
In past issues of Siletz News, I have
highlighted several important eco
nomic development projects currently
being implemented by the Siletz. Tribe.
I now would like to highlight a num
ber of equally important human re
sources programs of the Siletz Tribe.
There are many, but 1 would like to
mention the following few.
Siletz Valley School
Siletz Valley School, which began
operating three years ago for kindergar
ten through eighth grade, will begin en
rolling high school students this fall.
This is a remarkable achievement in
view of the fact that just two years ago,
the Siletz grade school was doomed to
be closed by the county school district.
The Siletz school (now a charter school)
was not only saved by the concerted ef
forts of the Tribal Council, staff, and the
Siletz community, but also, beginning
this fall, will include kindergarten
through high school.
In 2006, under existing programs,
127 clients overcame barriers that were
preventing them from attaining self-
sufficiency. Five earned their GEDs, 25
became employed, and 32 reached
other educational goals. The establish
ment of the Siletz Valley School’s high
school credit program will enhance
Labonte - are to be congratulated for
being selected to enroll in this wonder
ful program.
The Human Resources departments
of tribal administration and Chinook
Winds also are coordinating their ef
forts to further strengthen the tribe's
employment and training opportunities
for our members.
The Chinook Winds Human Re
sources Department sponsors monthly
meetings to identify job openings and
provide opportunities for training and
recruitment by bringing together a wide
variety of state and federal resources,
i.e., the Department of Labor, the Bu
reau of Indian Affairs, etc.
The Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families (TANF) needs-based
program, funded at $906,377, helps
Delores Pigsley
facilitate this coordinated effort. (In
even more educational opportunities calculating need. TANF is governed by
federal regulations and per capita is
for our members.
counted as a resource.)
An example of this effort is the job
Mentor/Protégé Program
A few years ago, Chinook Winds fair that was held on April 12, hosted
started what is called the Mentor/ by Chinook Winds, which included
Protégé Program under which selected more than 200 participants from which
tribal members will receive help to de 50 people actually were offered jobs.
I believe that one measure of the
velop their management skills. Re
cently, three tribal members - Natane progress that has been made in the
Siletz Tribe’s efforts to develop our
Woosley, Chad McCormick, and Candi
human resource potential is the fact
that more than 10 years ago when ( hi-
nook Winds first began operations,
there were virtually no tribal member
managers. Today, 26 tribal members
hold responsible casino management
positions.
We have made a great deal of
progress and many good things con
tinue to happen to strengthen the hu
man resources of our tribe. Many
educational, employment, and training
opportunities are available and our
tribal members are strongly urged to
take advantage of them.
Local Elections
In closing my chairman's report. 1
am compelled to comment briefly on
Lincoln City's municipal election.
I find it regrettable that Mayor Lori
Hollingsworth stated that the tribe's
fee-to-trust land transactions have
significantly reduced the city's tax
base. My immediate response to this
statement is that our economic devel
opment ventures on these lands have
fueled an economic revival in Lincoln
City that has had far-reaching benefits
to the citizenry.
I shall speak further on this matter
through the local media.
r
Siletz Valley School and
Siletz Valley Early College Academy
Now accepting applications for next school year (2006-2007)
Attention Siletz Tribal Veterans
Any veteran who is interested in performing Honor
Guard ceremonies for various events at Chinook
Winds Casino Resort and pow-wows, etc., should
contact Clay Arden at the Portland Area Office, 503-
238-1512 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1419.
A stipend will be given to those who participate.
All grade levels have limited space and are on a first-come, first-served
basis, so be sure to register soon!
You can pick up a registration packet from Teri in the school office from
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Most Often Requested Numbers
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Salem Area Office
503-390-9494
Salem Finance Of lice
1-888-870-9051
Portland Area OH ice
503-238-1512
Eugene Area Office
541 -484-4234
Springfield Siletz Tribal Head Start
541-747-0161
Contract Health Services (CHS)
1-8OO-628-572O
Siletz Community Health Clinic
I -800-648-0449
Siletz Alcohol and Drug
I -800-600-5599
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
1-888-244-6665
Chemawa Health Clinic
1 -800-452-7823
Bureau of Indian Affairs
I-8OO-323-85I7
Web Site
www.ctsi.nsn.us
Open Your Home - and Your Heart -
to a Child in Need*
Every child deserves to grow up
in a safe, nurturing environment.
A number of foster care programs
and organizations nationwide are
dedicated to ensuring that foster chil
dren get the care and support they
need. These organizations can't do
it alone - they need the assistance of
people like you.
The need for foster parents cur
rently ranks among the most pressing
problems in the child welfare system.
Nearly every community in the nation
has a shortage of foster families. 3 his
is true for the Confederated I ribes of
Siletz Indians, both locally and through
out the 1 I-county service area.
Many people believe that only
married couples can become foster
parents. In fact, foster parents can be
single, married, or divorced. I hey
can be homeowners or live in an
apartment. They can be as young as
21 - or they can be retired.
Families who care for foster chil
dren receive payments that are in
tended to cover ordinary living ex
penses for the child, including food,
shelter, and daily supervision.
Each state has its own rules and
procedures for becoming a foster
parent. For information on fostering
a Siletz Tribal child, please contact
the tribe's Indian Child Welfare de
partment at:
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Attn: Sandra Simmons. Foster Parent
Certifier/Case Manager III
Indian Child Welfare
P.O. Box 549
Siletz. OR 97380-0549
1-800-922-1399. ext. 1275
541-444-8275
★ Used with permission of the
National Foster Parent Association,
1-800-55 7-5238, www.nfpainc.org.
June 2006
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Siletz News
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