LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thank you to our tribe for all of
the help we received in our time of
need, as our little Aaron left us to go to
be with Creator. Losing a child or grand
child has got to be one of the hardest
things to ever have to experience.
Just as Aaron brightened our lives
with his positive attitude and conta
gious laughter, he is now making Cre
ator smile and brightening the heavens
with that special “Aaron” personality.
Thank you also for all of the prayers
and cards. So many beautiful people.
We appreciate all of you.
Dianne McLeod and family
To the editor:
I wish to extend my utmost respect
and gratitude to those who came to
support me and my cause (my fight for
my son, Jeremy) at this last council
meeting: my illustrious mom, Arliss
Chatterson, the Ben ladies (Victoria
Nelson, Maxine Rilatos, and Shirley
Walker), Pete Downey, Angela Martin,
Marcos Muniz, Phil Rilatos Jr., Wilma
Strong, and those who were there in
spirit: my grandmother, Marie Klamath,
Selene Rilatos, and Babe Simmons; and
the council members who heard what
was spoken there that day. Also, Sandy
Gordon for her glowing letter of reference.
Thank you.
Ikt Tillicum
Levi Simmons
To the editor:
We, the family of Evelyn M.
Larsen, wish to thank the Park Depart
ment (guys, we appreciate you) for the
help they gave us in putting Mommy
to rest with Daddy in the Paul Wash
ington Cemetery on Feb. 24, 2007.
Also, thank you to the family members
who came in the storm.
Robert Kentta, we are so grateful and
we wish especially to thank you for
taking time even though you were not
feeling so well. We appreciate the facts
and knowledge you shared with us.
Sincerely,
Pat and Evie’s family
Dear Tribal Members:
Thank you so much for those who
chose to vote for me. 1 will, over time,
prove that I was worth your votes. What
I want for us as a people I believe I can
still accomplish as a general council mem
ber and still change our elected council.
I propose this - over the next three
years, add one new seat until there is a
total of 12 council members. For those
extra three seats, you can only be
elected to that position if you have
never been on council before. Hope-
fully, that can get some new blood. That
is, if a block vote doesn’t statistically
put someone in there. We must elect
people on their own merit, not because
you have been told to. If someone told
you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?
I believe our council is honest and
hardworking. I think they need new angles
to look at things because if we all keep
doing what we’re doing, we’ll keep get
ting what we're getting. It is possible to
do business that is profitable above
logging and gambling. Even a business
that breaks even is good if it creates jobs.
For all those who thought “Why
bother?” and didn’t vote, well - get in
volved. I haven’t really done any coun
cil participation before, but I will now. I
doubt I’ll run again for some time, but I
will work for our tribe in my own way.
Once again, thanks for those who
believed in me. God bless.
Sincerely,
Phil Rilatos Jr.
To the editor:
1 would like to respond to an ar
ticle in last month’s newsletter: “Youth
Show Up in Force for Elders’ Woodcut.”
First off, I think the parents of those
youth should too be acknowledged, for
if not for their insistence, their youth
would not have been involved.
Secondly, some of the youth listed
were not part of the “Prevention” crew.
My son, Jeff Sweet, and his friend,
Aden Perkins, rode with Marcos Muniz
- and were among the last to leave,
even after the rain came.
Further, it is necessary to recognize
the adults who participated in this
event: Angela Martin, Reggie Butler,
etal ... as their support and persever
ance truly made this year’s project a
success! Thank you.
I also feel the need to respond to
another letter written by Cindy Jack-
son. Selene (Marita) Rilatos is the
daughter of two tribal members. She
was raised and has resided in/around
Siletz her entire life.
She is an employee of the Siletz
Tribal Culture Department and repre
sents our tribe. She should know what
she’s talking about. In my knowledge
of her, as my cousin, she would not
speak otherwise.
Levi Simmons
To the editor:
Hello, my name is Randall. Of the
people in this tribe who know me,
many can honestly say I have no
shame. My own mother has referred to
me as “a rabid dog,” a description my
actions have earned. So why should
anyone listen to what I have to say?
I've walked up to police officers with
a pistol in my belt and various felonies
on my person just for the fun of it. I’ve
walked in on meth community task force
meetings and shut them down by domi
nating all conversation. I stood with my
head high while a judge gave me six
years in the Oregon prison. Never batted
an eye. But do you know what 1 can't do?
1 can’t look my aunties in the eye.
These beautiful, traditional Native
women - you all know who you are. I
never shed a tear for the loss of my
freedom, but when I consider these
women, the lives they live, the sacri
fices they make, the responsibilities
they carry, it breaks me down inside.
They represent everything I believe
and hold sacred - our traditions, our
families, our children, and my life is a
travesty of all these things.
But even I can understand the
“mindset of Native people.” Even I
know who “told me that our tribe
should provide for the basic needs of
our people.” It’s in the Constitution of
the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indi
ans. It was decided on by the same
people who fought for our recognition
as a people and paved the way for ev
erything we now have.
Selene Rilatos’ grandfather was
one of these men. She has spent the
last 15 years carrying on our ways and
working for our people.
Who are you, Cindy Jackson?
What have you done? To put it in a
nutshell for you, your words, “1 was
taught,” “my parents taught me,” “In
dian people.” Why not “our people?”
What happened to “we,” “us,” “the
people?” That’s the example we hope
to set for our children.
And you, Mrs. Jackson, have al
ready made it clear in the past that it
“does not matter who raises our chil-
dren.” Every word you speak conde
scends to others. You place yourself
above and judge what you cannot pos
sibly understand. Who do you think
you are, how dare you?
If you feel a need to vent your mis
guided ideas and judgments on some
one, send them to me - I’ve earned
them. But don't you ever speak down
upon the name of my Aunty Selene,
who deserves nothing but the respect
of our entire tribe.
To all my aunties, you’re my hope
and motivation to pull myself out of
this mess I’ve created. I love you all
and thank you for being who you are.
One Love,
Randall Hartwell
To the editor:
Thank You
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Siletz News
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Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
Assistant: Laurel Johnson
April 2007
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