NOTICES
Denver Plays Host to 23rd Annual NAJA Conference
by Brent Merrill
The publicized theme of this year's
23rd Annual Native American Journalists
Conference in Denver. Colo., on June
7-9 was a tribute to Native America’s
foremost writing icon. Vine DeLoria Jr.
The real theme as it played out for
the Native journalists themselves was
“We Write Because We Care” and
“Never. Never, Never Give Up.”
The Siletz Tribe was represented at
this year's conference as part of the
yearlong effort to educate people about
the long, rich history of the Siletz
people in honor of the 30th Anniver
sary of Restoration.
Copies of Siletz News that included
Parts I and 2 of the yearlong series of
articles about the tribe's Restoration
efforts were a hot ticket, but not as
hot as the packages of Siletz Tribal
smoked salmon that were passed out
to the most influential Native journalists
in the country.
DeLoria’s passing in 2005 seems
to have unified Native media through
out the country to reach higher in their
pursuit of excellence. Truly, every
writer, broadcaster, producer, editor, or
student that you talked to from areas
as remote as Oklahoma and South Da
kota or as metropolitan as Los Ange
les, Seattle, or Toronto - all felt the
same way. Everyone seemed stronger,
wiser, and more prepared to achieve
their best for their people.
And although the passing of an
icon like DeLoria seemed to inspire ev
eryone to be the best they could be,
the younger journalists -students from
all over Indian Country - seemed in
spired by the professionals with whom
they were conferencing. This included
legendary journalists like Minnie Two
Shoes, Paul DeMain. Jodie Rave,
Ronnie Washines, and Tommy Arviso Jr.
All would agree that the most in
spiring journalist at this year's confer
ence was Tim Giago.
During “The Native Voice” session
that featured Giago as moderator for
presenters Rave of Lee Enterprises and
the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Mark
Trahant, Giago gave an emotional and
inspiring account of the tragic, short
life of his younger sister. He shared his
agony in his words and his emotions,
but he shared his strength in his actions
and his message.
He shared stories about his begin
nings as a writer when serving his
country during the Korean conflict. He
seemed to speak for us all when he
said, “We write because we care.”
Every NAJA Conference is high
lighted by its student outreach projects.
Every professional Native journalist
agrees that they have a role as tutors
and mentors to the younger generation
of writers to follow.
This
shared phi-
I o s o p h y
plays out in
person at ev
ery
NAJA
Conference
and this year
one voice of
inspiration
directed to
the
youth
present stood
out above all
others. It was
the message
given to stu
dent journal
ists by Rich
ard Williams,
president of
the American
Indian Col
lege Fund.
Williams
directed his keynote message to the
educational opportunities currently
available to young American Indians
all over the country who want to chase
a dream.
His message may have been di
rected to youth, but he inspired all in
attendance when he finished his talk
by placing two fingers over his right
cheek just under his eye. He explained
that for generations, Natives had a uni
versal language they shared with each
other secretly in the presence of whites.
He drew his fingers down across
his cheek and whispered the words,
“Never give up. Never give up. Never
give up.” By the time he finished with
his full voice, he was leading the en
tire room in the words, “Never give up.
Never give up. Never give up.”
Lincoln City to Hold Celebration of Honor for Veterans
A Celebration of Honor to recog
nize the contributions of all veterans will
be held in Lincoln City on Sept. 28-30.
Lincoln City’s Community Market
ing Group is planning the event. The
group is composed of representatives
of several businesses, organizations,
non-profits, and individuals, including
Chinook Winds, the Lincoln City
Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln
City VCB, the Kiwanis Club of Lincoln
City, the North Lincoln County Histori
cal Museum, Lincoln City Parks and
Recreation Department, Oceanlake
Merchants, The News Guard, Oregon
Coast Today, All ways Traveling, the
Pendleton Store, the Nordic motel, and
C&J Boutique.
During the next few months, it’s
the hope of the committee that many
other entities and individuals will
choose to participate.
The Celebration of Honor is de
signed to cater to veterans and their
families with activities for both children
and adults. Many activities are still in the
planning stages and will be announced
in upcoming months.
The Lincoln City Kiwanis Club will
hold a pulled-pork barbeque at Kenny’s
IGA North store parking lot from 1 I
a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 29. The founders
of James Gang Bar-B-Cwe Sauce, Jesse
and Pam James, will prepare the meal.
Proceeds from the event will be used
to further the welfare of children.
The Lincoln City Parks and Recre
ation Department will sponsor two
events: Adventures in Geocaching and
the Celebration of Honor Carnival.
People interested in participating in
geocaching need to arrive at the Lin
coln City Community Center, 2150 NE
Oar Place, and register by 2 p.m. on
Sept. 29. At 2:15, participants will be
released to complete the adventure.
All participants need a GPS and a
mode of transportation. They will need
to find and receive marks on their pass
ports from 10 different places. Prizes
will be awarded to the winners.
For the youngsters, also at the
Community Center, the Celebration of
Honor Carnival begins at noon on Sept.
29. Clowns, a juggler, face painting,
and games all will be part of the fun -
and it’s free.
Free admission will be offered to
veterans and their families Sept. 29-30
at the North Lincoln County Historical
Museum. Located in the historic Taft
District at 4907 SW Highway 101,
museum hours are noon to 5 p.m.
Regular admission price is $2 per per
son and $5 for a family.
The recently refurbished museum
has amazing exhibits that are of inter
est for all ages, including a military
exhibit and areas for children that re
ally bring history to life.
At 2 p.m. on Sept. 30, the rededi
cation of the Veterans Memorial located
at Chinook Winds will take place. In
conjunction with this, the Veterans of
Oregon Field of Honor will be on dis
play from Sept. 28-30 just north of the
casino in a grass-covered area over
looking the Pacific Ocean.
The Veterans of Oregon Field of
Honor consists of 1,000 American flags
that have previously flown over the
nation’s Capital. Each pole is num
bered and displays a brass nameplate
dedicated to an Oregon veteran.
The field will be set up in the form
of a maze designed to take visitors by
every flag and provide time for remem
brance, tranquility and in many cases,
healing. Volunteers are needed to help
set up the memorial, to stand vigil, and
assist with the disassembly.
As part of the rededication of the
Veterans Memorial, a presentation of
medals will be made to Oregon veter
ans. A custom-designed, engraved
medal in appreciation for the service
and sacrifice of veterans from the state
of Oregon will be presented to Oregon
veterans in attendance.
To qualify for the medal, a form must
be filled out in advance of the cer
emony with proof of military service
attached. Forms will be on hand at
Chinook Winds beginning Sept. 28 in
a tent near the flag display. To access
the forms in advance, go to www.
veteransoforegon.com.
These are just a few of the events
that will be offered during the weekend.
Tanger Outlet Center offers free
coupon books to anyone with a mili
tary ID year-round and many local
motels offer discounts to veterans.
Individuals, businesses, merchants
associations, non-profits, and charitable
organizations are encouraged to take
part by planning their event and con
tacting Community Marketing repre
sentatives with the information or by
attending the Community Marketing
meetings.
If you would like to become part
of the planning process or for more
information, contact any of the follow
ing individuals for further information
and dates of the upcoming meetings:
Teresa Simmons (541-996-5815),
Roger Robertson (541-996-7474),
Sandy Pfaff (541 -996-1271), Robert
Morrison (541-994-2426), or Allyson
Longueira (541-994-3070).
Fresh ideas are welcome!
July 2007
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Siletz News
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