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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2007)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT February was a busy month for the National Congress of American Indi ans (NCAI). Here are some of the high lights of what took place in the nation's capital when hundreds of tribal leaders convened for the conference, unde terred by terrible winter weather. The need for immediate congres sional reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) and tribal inclusion in the Combat Meth Act were “two of the most urgent priorities in Indian Country identified by NCAI's Executive Council.” Readers of Siletz News and the tribe's confidential newsletter are aware of the Siletz Tribe's concerns about these two issues. We have joined NCAI and other inter-tribal organiza tions to urge congressional and White House action on reauthorizing the IHCIA. I also have written and spoken ex tensively on the issue of meth among Indian tribes. It was appropriate that the NCAI Executive Council identified these two issues to be urgent priorities. Our tribe has since joined all Or egon tribes in signing on to an inter tribal Memorandum of Understanding to address meth issues and problems that are created. The NCAI honored Indian policy leaders at the Ninth Annual Leadership • • Delores Pigsley Awards Banquet. The following hon orees were recognized for outstanding service to Indian people: • • The Congressional Leadership Award to Congressman Tom Cole The Public Sector Leadership Award to Wade Henderson, execu tive director of the Leadership Con ference on Civil Rights Elder Honor Day-“Circle of Wisdom” Registration begins at 10 a.m. Event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 10, 2007 Chinook Winds Casino Resort For more information, please contact Angela Ramirez 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1225; 541-444-8225; or angelar@ctsi.nsn.us Can You Play Taps? Seeking a talented tribal member to play Tups at the 2007 Memorial The Native American Leadership Award to John Ecohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund The Governmental Leadership Award to the National Conference of State Legislators The Secretary of Housing and Ur ban Development (HUD), Alphonse Jackson, addressed the conference, relating “President Bush’s commitment to ensure American Indians have access to all opportunities of this great land. " He stated that, “The president's FY 2008 budget proposal will help thou sands of Indian families share in the dream of home ownership ...” In his speech before the NCAI Ex ecutive Council. Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico stated that he had accepted the invitation to participate in the debate of Democratic presidential candidates. Gov. Richardson is a former con gressman. cabinet secretary, and am bassador to the United Nations. II elected, he said he will create the first- ever cabinet-level Department of In dian Affairs. The debate is being called the “Prez on the Rez” and is scheduled to be held on the Morango Reservation in Cali fornia on Aug. 23. 2007. Richardson is the first Democratic presidential can didate to accept the invitation. Indian Mascots A sensitive issue among Indian tribes generally is the use of Indian mascots. NCAI President Joe Garcia expressed gratitude to the University of Illinois for officially discontinuing the use of its Indian mascot. “Tribal leaders and Indian people are heartened by the U. of I. decision." he said. “NCAI encourages other edu cational institutions to follow suit in dis continuing use of Native American mas cots that are derogatory and offensive to Indian people. NCAI hopes to work with the U. of I. in furthering awareness about Native culture and traditions." In conjunction with NCAI’s Execu tive Council Winter Session. NCAI and The Smithsonian's National Museum ol the American Indian co-sponsored a Capitol Hill reception at which hun dreds of tribal leaders joined members of Congress and congressional stall in celebrating the Native Spirit. The event took place inside the rotunda of the national museum. NCAI will host the mid-year ses sion in Anchorage. Alaska, on June 10-13, 2007. Restoration Committee Working on 30th Anniversary Celebration by Tina Retasket The Tribal Council has appointed a committee to work on this year's Resto ration Celebration. As you may already know, this year marks the 30" anniver sary of restoration. The committee is working on many events leading up to the restoration event in November. If you have any photographs of people or events that are significant to pre- or post-restoration, we would like to make a copy of them. Please bring your photos to the Public Information office in the admin istration building in Siletz. Diane or Laurel will scan your photo, ask you who the people are in the picture and what the event is. and return the photo to you. They will forward the copies to the com mittee and you will have the original. We appreciate everyone's assis tance in this event and hope to use as many pictures as possible to show the recent history of the Siletz Tribe. Day Ceremony on May 28 at II a.m. in Siletz. If interested, contact Celesta Lee, assistant Tribal Council secretary, at I-800-922-1399, ext. 1205, or 541-444-8205. CTSI Jobs CTSI Employment Job Line 541 -444-8296 or 1 -800-922-1399, ext. 1296 Visit our Web site at www.ctsi.nsn.us Position: Executive Director Department: Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission Location: Lincoln City, Ore. Open: 3/19/07 Close: 4/30/07 Salary: $41.32 per hour Job Posting Number: 200715 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. Don’t Forget Hunting/Fishing/ Gathering Meeting Have you ever wondered how' the tribe administers its Hunting, Fishing, and Gathering program? Want to know what is available to tribal members through out the year and how to access it? Come to the Hunting/Fishing/Gath- ering meeting on April 7 at 1 p.m. at the Siletz Tribal Community Center and find out. Do you have ideas on how the pro gram can better serve the tribal mem bership? Come to the meeting and let the Natural Resources Committee know what you think. The meeting will include an over view of the tribe's Consent Decree on Hunting. Fishing, and Gathering (the document that defines the tribe's rights as recognized by the state); a description of the various types of licenses, tags, per mits. etc., available to tribal members; and a review of the current procedures for obtaining those licenses, tags, and permits. We'll also review the current meth ods used to distribute the tribe's sub sistence game and fish allocations. Then we want to hear from the tribal membership about how you feel the current procedures are working and any suggestions for improvement. This is your chance to speak out and let the Natural Resources Commit tee know what you think. April 2007 • Siletz News • 3
