CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
During January and February, I
attended a number of meetings that are
of vital importance to our tribe. I would
like, in this issue of Siletz News, to
report on those meetings.
Congressional Action on
Chemawa Station Project
Council member Bud Lane, tribal
attorney Leroy Wilder, and I met with
the Oregon delegation in Washington,
D.C.. to discuss several critical issues.
Among them was an issue involv
ing the Chemawa Station LLC property
in Keizer across from Keizer Station,
an economic development project of
high priority not only to our tribe but
to the Grand Ronde Tribe as well. The
Chemawa Station LLC is unique in that
it involves joint tribal ownership and
developmental responsibilities.
Although the project has been de
scribed in previous tribal publications,
I would like to briefly review what has
already been done and what the par
ticular obstacle is that took our Siletz
delegation to Washington, D.C.
The land on which the Chemawa
Station property sits was federal prop
erty. A great deal of progress has been
made in developing the site since own
ership of the property was turned over
to Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes in 2(X)2.
According to the approved com
prehensive plan, this is a "high quality
light industrial park” with related re
tail and other services. Issues involving
the master plan, including variances,
were resolved by city action a couple
of years ago.
The construction of roads and in
stallation of water and sewer systems and
lines have been completed and cur
rently are in service. The tribes together
already have invested more than $3 mil
lion in these developmental activities.
Because of the variety of busi
nesses and multi-tenant potential, the
property when completed is expected
to generate significant employment
opportunities for members of both tribes
as well as Chemawa students.
As we reported to tribal members
a year ago, however, we encountered
a major obstacle in developing and
using the property for economic devel
opment purposes. The quitclaim deed
Delores Pigsley
that conveyed the property to the tribes
contains what is called a "reversion
ary clause.”
Specifically, it prohibits use of the
property for economic development or
natural resources purposes. The term
quitclaim deed itself means that it
doesn't provide a guarantee or war
ranty of title.
A monkey wrench was therefore
thrown into further implementation of
our project, not only putting in jeop
ardy substantial funds the tribes already
have invested, but discouraging any
lender from providing needed supple
mental financing for the project.
It was determined that the restric
tive clause in the quitclaim deed could
only be removed by congressional ac
tion. not by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
It was for this reason that we went to
Washington, D.C., last month to appeal
to our congressional representatives to
push a bill to remove this obstacle.
Our appeal was successful. Legis
lation has been introduced and is
headed for markup with a very good
chance of quick passage.
USDA Funding
Re-organization
The Siletz Tribe receives U.S. De
partment of Agriculture (USDA) funds
that have served the pressing needs of
our members who live in a congres
sionally established multi-county ser
vice area.
USDA now intends, however, to
change the method of distributing
funds, which will seriously and ad
versely impact the Siletz Tribe's food
distribution program.
A meeting was held in San Fran
cisco recently at which USDA reported
on its plan for re-organizing and re
allocating its funds. Under this new
methodology, it's likely the Siletz will
lose funding that has historically been
available to meet our members' needs.
San Diego Tribal
Leaders Forum
Concluding Personal
Remarks
What is the state of Indian affairs
in the new Congress? This is the burn
ing question that brought together
Regarding the recently held tribal
election, I want to congratulate my two
colleagues and incumbents, Lillie But
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tribes from across the country to the
Tribal Leaders Forum in San Diego in
early January.
Five Siletz Tribal Council members
were among hundreds of other tribal
representatives who attended this im
portant conference. Although our Siletz
delegation was prepared to present our
tribal needs and legislative priorities, we
were reminded by various presenters
that there was very little chance the
Indian affairs budget will increase. The
Democratic Congress understands
tribal needs and priorities, but the real
ity is not bright for tribes.
High priorities discussed were pas
sage of the Indian Health Care Im
provement Act. trust reform, and settle
ment of the Cobell lawsuit. Because of
the money being spent on the war in
Iraq, tribes' budgets will suffer.
Our tribe's highest priority has to
be increased health care for our mem
bers. Yet we know that this year’s bud
get will be flat and won't keep up with
inflation. The leadership forum focused
on the priorities that all tribes need to
weigh in on.
Note: “Open Until Filled” vacan
cies may close at any time. The tribe’s
Indian Preference policy will apply.
Tribal government will not discrimi
nate in selection because of race, creed,
age, sex, color, national origin, physi
cal handicap, marital status, politics,
membership or non-membership in an
employee organization.
ler and Bud Lane, for being re-elected
to council.
In addition. Lillie has been elected
secretary and Bud. vice-chairman. I
also am pleased but humbled at being
re-elected to the council and once again
as tribal chairman.
Although I appreciate the confi
dence of those who voted for me. I am
mindful of my obligation to represent
all members of the tribe, whether they
voted for me or not. and to be chair
man of the Siletz Tribe as a whole.
Also, although the recent re-election
of the incumbents represents continu
ity. it doesn't mean we will maintain
the status quo. Under my chairmanship,
the council will continue to be innova
tive. forward-looking, responsive to
new challenges, and willing to seek
new opportunities.
On another matter. I also would like
to express how proud and honored I was
to be named one of the Ten Great Women
of Gaming, having been nominated by
Ernie Stevens, president of the National
Indian Gaming Association. On Feb. 13.
I attended the event held in Las Vegas
to honor the IO named women.
I understand that it wasn't only the
nominees' involvement in gaming but
other factors as well that determined
the final selections.
The fact that I was involved as a
member of the council in the fight to
be restored in 1977 following the rav
ages of termination, in the tribe being
designated one of the first 20 self
governance tribes in the country, and in
the many tribal accomplishments lead
ing up to and including the establishment
of Chinook Winds - all these factors may
have played a part in the determination.
However, whatever the criteria, the
most point I have to make is that
throughout the more than 27 years I
served on the council and the past IO
years that led to the establishment of
our gaming enterprise, nothing could
have been accomplished without the
dedication, the sacrifices, and the
shared leadership of all the Tribal
Council members and our staff.
I will accept the honor not for my
self. but on behalf of the “Great Men and
Women of the Siletz Tribal Council” who
served with me during the past 27 years.
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Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
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March 2007
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Siletz News
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