LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To my fellow tribal members:
My name is Ticey Casey and I
proudly belong to the Mason family.
I'm writing this letter out of disappoint
ment, frustration, and deep concern.
Some of our very own Tribal Coun
cil members who make million-dollar
decisions on behalf of our tribe are se
riously confused. I say this based on
personal experiences with our Tribal
Council and the roller coaster my fam
ily has had to endure over the last year
with council members making personal
decisions rather than unbiased ones.
I would hope that if a Tribal Council
member had a conflict of interest on the
issue or didn't fully understand what the
issue was, they would abstain from the
vote. Well, that is not happening with
some of our current council members.
I know we don’t require an educa
tion for council members, but I would
hope they would bring some common
sense to the job. My family has pre
sented an overabundance of legal proof
that someone has been fraudulently
enrolled in our tribe using my family's
name. This is not hearsay, it's the truth
and has been proven to council.
But because some of our council
members cannot make decisions based
on the proof, rather than personal, this
person has been approved to be a mem
ber of our tribe without proof of Siletz
blood. We must remember we are not a
“club" to join because it's “cool" to be
To the editor:
I'm thankful to members who step
forward to share their perspectives re
garding tribal program services and
gaming operations.
I invite Wanda Melton to call me
to travel to our government meetings
- if you need a ride, call 800-922-1399
and I'll try to make arrangements for
your transportation so you can see first
hand what is/not transpiring.
It's important to be aware of the
allocation of gaming revenue (at Dec. 16
TC meeting. Brenda Bremner told me
these figures were confidential. I there
fore approached other agencies -
NIGA, state attorney general's office,
etc., for info).
The figures are: Economic Devel
opment, 17 percent; Welfare, 16 per
cent; Investments, 17 percent; Govern
ment Ops, 10 percent; and Charitable/
Distributions. 5/35 percent. We’ve had
a number of projects for economic
development, none of which is in the
black. The only revenue-generating
enterprise is our casino.
Gerald Ben asked the Tribal Coun
cil on Feb. 3 what was it that autho
rized them to pay $200.000 to operate
economic development ventures (ho
tel and golf course do not generate rev
enue to cover their annual operating
expenses) out of gaming revenue,
rather than the 17 percent they're allo
cated for such ventures? This decreased
monies that would have gone to tribal
tribal or because we have what people
might see as a “rich benefit package.”
I'm asking my fellow tribal mem
bers to really think about whom you
vote for the next time there is a tribal
election. These council members that
we vote in make important decisions
for our tribe and they should have
some background or intelligence to
make those decisions. Or, at least, the
common sense to know when to ab
stain from a vote.
Phil Rilatos Sr., who is currently on
council, has demonstrated that he is
clearly confused when he keeps chang
ing his vote on the same issue when no
more evidence has been given. If there
wasn't any more evidence proven,
why would you change your vote?
If you are easily swayed by other
people telling you how to vote and
can't make a decision based on what
has been presented to council, then you
should not be on Tribal Council and
represent the Confederated Tribes of
Siletz Indians.
I would like to end by asking that
you place yourself in our position. If
you had someone fraudulently use a
deceased family member's name to be
enrolled in our tribe, wouldn't you
want some answers too?
In loving memory of my uncle,
Terrance Mason.
Ticey Jo Casey
programs or members as per capita.
This $200,000 was done not once, but
several times!
I submitted a request to view records
(at my convenience) regarding these
transactions (Dec. 26) and I’ve still not
gained access to view/listen to these
records. My request was specific: Do
NOT destroy or dispose of audio re
cordings of our TC (Dec. 14) meeting(s)!
These are historical records! I filed in Tribal
Court and the judge denied my request.
I'm a firm believer in “not re
creating the wheel." so I check other
tribal enterprises. Grand Ronde posts
information openly. Resolution #059-
93; 049-94; 168-02 (pertaining to
records) ... (B) Audited financial state
ments, including all informational
notes and disclosures shall be pub
lished by the Tribe for each year for all
financial activities, within seven
months after the end of each calendar
year. Such statements shall be provided
to all members of the Council and
made available for inspection, upon
request, to any adult member of the
Tribe.” (We need a law like this one.)
I'm impressed by this transparency
in ordinances and resolutions. Such is the
way our business should be conducted.
I'm have a “warning” letter from
NIGA to our gaming establishment/
Tribal Council for refusal to provide
access to records pertaining to “comp"
records.
To the editor and tribal members:
We are writing this letter as con
cerned tribal members. This is in re
gards to a Special Tribal Council meet
ing on March 5. 2007. It had to do with
an ongoing enrollment issue.
We are for truth and documenta
tion to show proof to be an enrolled
Siletz Tribal member. We never be
lieved in letting non-Siletz Indian blood
be enrolled on the Siletz roll. Not only
is that wrong, but it is not fair to every
one. We have white friends who would
love to be on our roll and reap the great
benefits we receive.
The first vote the Tribal Council did
on this enrollment issue was for a DNA
test to be given. Something happened
- we do not know why - but it was
revoted again and it was passed to let
this non-Siletz Indian blood to be on
our roll.
Is that right - and without a DNA
test? DNA is a great discovery for facts.
If the person(s) does not want to do
DNA. there is something wrong. Why
did this person refuse to take the DNA?
Tribal Council: The vote was 4 for
DNA and 5 against DNA.
We want to thank Delores Pigsley,
Bud Lane, Robert Kentta. and Jessie
Davis for voting for a DNA test. We feel
that a lot of tribal members who live
For the record, it is a violation to give
show tickets to friends/family, rather
than someone who spends an exces
sive amount of time and money at our
casino. I believe the main office should
distribute these tickets, with records ac
cessible by members. It's our resource
and we deserve to know how it's be
ing utilized.
Visit www.siletz.net - share com-
ments/ask questions. Thanks for your
time.
Respectfully submitted.
Lisa Brown. CPS, Siletz
541-444-1290
nadosh2@yahoo.com
To the editor:
As a Siletz Tribal elder, my wife and
I went on our second outing with the
Siletz elders to the I l,h Annual Oregon
Tribal Elders Honor Day Celebration
in Coos Bay. Once again, we had a
great time and would like to publicly
thank our Elders Program coordinator.
Angela Ramirez, for making this an
enjoyable event for us.
We as tribal elders should all thank
her for all the time, effort, and care she
puts into making our trips enjoyable.
out of the I I -county area are not aware
of what goes on in this tribe. Voting
time, all they see is a voter's pamphlet
with pictures of nice smiling faces and
promises that are rarely kept.
There is a Tribal Council member
as of today against giving “per capita."
Members need to start getting involved
and start knowing the person they are
really voting for.
Don't just look at the pictures or “1
have to vote for this person" because
he/she is my relative. Ask for the Tribal
Council minutes; see how each one
votes. We hope one day the minutes
will be posted on the Internet.
We are thankful for the tribe and
how far we have come. Some mem
bers have forgotten where we came
from. Want. want, and want more. We
only have so much money for health,
education, and welfare. If we start let
ting non-tribal members on our roll,
what will we have?
The big politicians do not like giv
ing to Native Americans and letting
non-tribal get our benefits is like a slap
in our faces.
Thank you.
Wilma D. Strong
Joella Strong
Tribal Children
Need Your Help
Do you value Siletz Native
culture and want to help preserve
it? Do you have room in your
home and your heart for one more
to love and nurture?
If so, the Siletz Tribe needs you!
Foster homes are needed in the Siletz
and surrounding areas, with an in
creasing need in Marion County.
For more information, please
contact:
Shawna Nagunst
Foster Care Certifier
1-800-922-1399. ext. 1275.
or 541-444-8275
Or visit www.ctsi.nsn.us.icw.html
Thank you, Angela!
Respectfully,
Fredrick and Ann Hostler
April 2007
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Siletz News
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