Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2007)
TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS Siletz Tribe Hosts OIEA Conference by Tiffany Stuart-Wisdom The Oregon Indian Education As sociation Conference started off with the Roundstone Singers drumming and the flags being posted by the Siletz Color Guard - Wayne Case, Heather Walker, Sar Richards, and DeeJay Hartman. The Siletz Tribe hosted the confer ence at Chinook Winds Casino Resort on April 4-5. Nick Sixkiller gave us many laughs throughout the conference as the em cee. After the morning greetings from Delores Pigsley, chairman of the Siletz Tribe, and Jim Thornton, OIEA vice- president, workshops were in session. The workshops I attended were the Oregon Indian Education Initiatives with Brad Victor; Indians in Oregon Curriculum Today with Brad Victor, Trinity Minahan, and Sonya Moody- Jurado; Integrating Native Language with Joe Scott; Warm Springs Educa tion Committee with Ginger Smith and Joann Smith; Supporting Native Ameri can Families who have Children with Learning/Special Needs with Judy Wiley; and Government-to-Government Relationship with Indian Education Is sues with Danny Santos. OIEA is a great place to network for Indian education. Important ideas I learned were on legislative issues, creating “truthful" history curriculum, disability/special needs laws, and how different groups work. It has inspired me to start a Kansas Indian Education Association Conference. The first evening featured a salmon dinner served at the Siletz Tribal Com munity Center and the keynote speaker was Robin Butterfield, NEA Minority and Community Outreach. The OIEA attendees were gifted with a Siletz feather dance at the dance house in Siletz. Thanks to all the danc ers and singers. Thanks to all the cooks - Mike Orona (head cook), Angeline Easter, Mona Fisher, Selene Rilatos, and Annie Eddings - the salmon was delicious. On the second day, Susan Castillo, superintendent of the Oregon Department of Education, was the guest speaker. At the OIEA business meeting that morning, resolutions were passed, board members were elected, awards were given, and a site for the 2008 confer ence was selected. OIEA Resolution 07-02 on Indian Mascots was passed. Che Butler and his sister (Siletz) presented this resolu tion to the Oregon State Board of Edu cation and OIEA to remove all Indian mascots in public schools. Congratulations to the Siletz Tribal members elected to the OIEA Board: Trinity Minahan and Sonya Moody- Jurado, and to Katy Kaady, education specialist in the Portland Area Office. Also congratulations to Che Butler for receiving the Student of the Year Award 2007 and Darelle “Dino" Butler for the Elder of the Year Award 2007. The Grand Ronde Tribe will host the OIEA Conference 2008 (www. grandronde.org). For information, visit www.oiea.org/. Thank you, Bev Youngman, for your help during the OIEA Conference. Bev and the OIEA board did a great job on the conference. The Siletz Tribe was well-represented. I challenge all Siletz youth, elders, and educators to attend the OIEA con ference next year. This is a place where a positive image of Indigenous people should come together for our next seven generations. Oregon Indian Education Assoc. Board 2008 Front row, / to r: Pat Darcy, Lynn Anderson - secretary, Alison J. Ball president, Katy Kaady, Trinity Minahan (Siletz). Back row, I to r: Jim Thornton vice president, Ramona “Tedi Tanewasha, Az Carmen. Oskie Yasana, Sonya Moody-Jurado (Siletz). Not pictured: Urbana Ross - treasurer (photo hy Tiffany Stuart-Wisdom (Siletz)) Ché Butler OIEA Student of the Year 2007 Susan Castillo, superintendent of the Oregon Department of Education, speaks at the OIEA Conference. Hatfield Seeks Tribal Members to Interview for Ph.D. Samantha Hatfield is working on her doctorate in environmental science at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Orc. She is the eldest daughter of Oscar and Kathy Hatfield of Indepen dence and is from the Goodell and Martin families. Samantha needs to interview Siletz Tribal members over age 18 who practice traditional knowledge and techniques, and who are willing to be in terviewed for her school research study. Samantha's study is aimed at showing traditional ecological knowl edge is worthwhile and valuable, pro viding important information about tribal members’ local environment. Traditional knowledge is used to guide hunting, fishing, eeling, and gathering practices, past and present. It’s also used to interpret weather and environmental conditions. When this project is finished, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians will retain the interview tapes and transcripts, and will receive a copy of Samantha's dissertation. It is Samantha’s goal that this information be used for the benefit of Siletz Tribal members, now and into the future. Family members who practice traditional knowledge are welcome to be interviewed together. Interviews will be roughly one hour in length and follow-up interviews may be arranged. Interested tribal members or those wanting more information can contact Samantha at 503-838-4158, 503-420-9654, or singingbear@go.com. 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. Contact info is on page 2. May 2007 • Siletz News • 15’
