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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2007)
TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS Wisdom on the Go with NIEA New Babies! by Tiffany (Stuart) Wisdom Sean Robert Lussier Kierra Star Hudson Day'la'ha - Hello iny relatives. I wanted to share some information and exciting news with you. I recently attended the National Indian Education Association Legisla tive Summit in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12-14, 2007. During this time, I spoke with BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) Director Jim Cason; BIE (Bureau of Indian Educa tion) Director Thomas Dowd; and the staff representatives of Sens. Hillary Clinton (NewYork), Harry Reid (Nevada), and Lamar Alexander (Tennessee), and Rep. George Miller (California). This was my first experience lob bying for Indian education (in D.C., they say “lobbying on the hill”). NIEA staff/representatives gave a presentation on Legislative 101. This was a great help for people who have never lobbied on the hill before. NIEA scheduled all the meetings with state representatives for the Leg islative Summit attendees. It would be great if our tribe could send repre- senlative(s) next year. NIEA always is willing to help tribes that would like to meet with all their state representatives. I will make sure for next year's summit that information is distributed through Siletz News and to the Tribal Council. It’s great for the Oregon rep resentatives in Washington, D.C., to hear your personal story and meet you face to face - this is how we are going to educate them on Indian education in Oregon. I have a limited knowledge of In dian education in Oregon. I plan to visit with our tribal representatives in Indian education to gain knowledge to tell the senators and representatives their stories. I encourage all to write your state delegates and tell them your story on Indian education. I opened our day in the Senate House Indian Affairs Committee room with a blessing. I sang Grandpa Ben's feather dance song and Grandpa Hoxie Simmons' song for the delegates. I started with my introduction and told the members that 30 years ago my grandfather, Robert Rilatos, came to 12 •• Sy^tz News • D.C., the place I am today. Our rea sons for coming to D.C. are the same today as in the past - to stand up for our sovereign nations. I was on the MC panel as an NIEA Board of Directors member to introduce representatives to speak to our summit. I attended the NASA pre-service teachers conference in Alexandria, Va., just over the bridge from Washington, D.C., on Feb. 15-17. Four students from Haskell Indian Nations University’s School of Educa tion were chosen for this trip; Woody Wilson (Choctaw), Darrell Frank (For est County Potawatomi), Cassie Kitcheyan (Winnebago/San Carlos Apache), and myself. We attended use ful workshops that gave us great tips and resources to use as future teachers. I competed in the talent show and won second place. I told the traditional Kalapuya story Crow Lady. 1 received a TI-73 calculator and teacher kit. I would like to thank NASA for spon soring our school to attend this conference. Finally on this trip to D.C., I vis ited The Smithsonian’s National Mu seum of the American Indian. It was moving to be in such a place that represents who I am and where I'm going. I encourage you to visit if you have a chance (www.nmai.si.edu). It was an honor to represent my tribe - Confederated Tribes of Siletz. Indians; my family - Stuart, Rilatos, Ben, Simmons, Butler; my school - Haskell Indian Nations University; and the National Indian Education Associa tion. I would like to thank God, my creator, for his blessing on my life. Hvm’chi Tiffany (Stuart) Wisdom (tiffany.wisdom@yahoo.com) Teacher Candidate, c/o 2008 Haskell Indian Nations University (www.haskell.edu) Tribal member of Confederated Tribes of Siletz. Indians (www.ctsi.nsn.us) National Indian Education Associa tion Board of Directors Member 2006-08( www.niea.org) April 2007 Kierra was born Sept. 30, 2006. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20% inches long. Her parents are Mike and Krissy Hudson. She is the granddaughter of Bill and Karen Hudson, Kathleen and John Nunez, and Jake and Kathy Backer. She is the great-granddaughter of Gladys Bolton and Ruth Lermusiaux. The Hibdon and Rilatos families would like you to join us in welcoming our hand some grandson, Sean Robert Lussier. Sean was born Feb. 1, 2007, to Heidi Hibdon and Gilbert Lussier. He weighed in at 9 pounds, 13 ounces and was 21% inches long. Sean is the grandson of Larry and Valerie Hibdon, Roxanne and Stuart Desjarlait, and Gilbert Lussier Sr. of Red Lake, Minn.; and the great-grandson of Maxine Rilatos and Sally and Albert Hibdon. Congratulations, Heidi and Gilbert - he’s beautiful! Pigsley Wins District Championship Timmy Pigsley, a sophomore at McNary High School in Keizer, Ore., won the district title in the 145-pound weight class at the Central Valley Con ference Tournament. Timmy entered the competition as a fifth seed. On his way to the title, he beat the No. 4 seed 8-0, the No. 1 seed 13-10, and the No. 2 seed for the title 11-5. Timmy was the only McNary wres tler to win a title. As a freshman, he placed fifth in last year’s competition. Congratulations, Timmy! First Dance I had the privilege of danc ing with my grandson, Aidan Healy, at the Chemawa birth day pow-wow on Feb. 17. It was fitting that his first dance was there as our family has a long history at Chemawa. We were able to share that day with lots of family - Aidan's parents, Jenera and Daniel Healy; Grandpa Carl; Uncle Jeremy; Great-Aunt Rae; great-grand parents Donna and Warren Woods; Great-Great-Aunt Sis; and Great- Great-Aunt Dorothy. Send Us News Siletz News is looking for information about tribal members similar to the articles you see on these pages, positive news about you or someone you know. We’ll include info on births, graduations, awards, the Armed Services, weddings, and deaths. Contact info is on page 2.
