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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2007)
LEITERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: I recently listened to a speech by Winona Laduke (1-12-07) where she said, “You learn to say you’re sorry at about age 4’’... I begin to wonder where or when did we forget this? She spoke about waste occurring in regards to spending of $16 million to fight Indians for hunting and fishing rights, ...“you know. I can think ot a lot better things to do with 16 million bucks.' She said she works on many issues and she asks, “How do we transform the people's awareness?” And she spoke about the “... struggle for our dignity as human beings,”...“things are getting worse because we don’t vote | FSTV.com], www.youtube.com/ watch?v=gxnj2tk54JY, http://divided westand.net. So, keeping these words and thoughts in mind, I'll run again for Tribal Council in 2008. Please know that I'm committed to being available, 541-444-1290 or nadosh2@yahoo.com, when you have questions or concerns. I’ll take time to contact you and re search matters of concern. I’ll answer questions you have about spending and I'll listen to your suggestions and concerns. If I don't have an answer, I'll check into the is sue and get you an answer. If I’m wrong. I'll be transparent about it and willing to discuss what didn't work and what to do different in the future. I'm taking the advice of the elder who contacted me and will vote “no’ on the proposed amendment to delete “BIA” approval and oversight of this process, unless the amendment is re vised to read, “subject to the approval of General Council.” I'll vote “no” on changing the “ma jority” vote for our council. It would make change even less likely. I have concerns - amendments to our Consti tution are very serious and should be presented in detail with a significant time period for discussion/compromise by everyone, not just nine elected lead ers and those with connections. Will our leaders share in detail (post on website full budgets/narratives) for gaming/tribal allocations: General Wel- fare, Economic Development, Govern ment Ops, Investments and Charitable Contributions funds? I’d like to see specifics on what we’re spending in 2007 for these figures: $750,000 for “Historical Research Project,” $3(X),(XX) (Gen. Welfare) Clinic Expansion, another $180,000 (from Gov. Ops) Clinic Expansion, then $120,(XX) Public Relations?, a $150,(XX) budget Tribal Attorney, $200,000 for Tribal Government, and $500,000 bud get for computer department. Add to this a $1.5 million budget for real estate “down payments,” $900,000/$600,000 Long-/Short-term investments ... 3 Million ... and much unable to generate profit (plus same details to determine if we’ve success fully met goals/objectives for 2006/05). Money is power and in my opin ion, things are out of order and out of control. Time to listen to the people and give the power back to the people. Yours truly, Lisa Brown, CPS 541 -444-1290 nadosh2@yahoo.com To the editor: I’m a tribal elder concerned that we as a tribe are spending too much money on nothing and many ot these tribal businesses operations are going no where. They’re failing businesses, not looked into, not concerned with why they're not working like they were pro posed to the members. I want to see a tribal attorney for tribal members, so members can bring issues to council to be fixed or ad dressed. I want to see rules enforced and for the truth to be told. I contacted an attorney who has been successful in holding governments accountable. I'd like to see someone like this to rep resent the General Council members. I don't think our council is step ping up to the plate, taking action to ensure progress on issues. Their fa mous line is, “We'll check into it.” I want to see a cap on term limits for council. There should be a cap of 25 per cent on per capita garnishments. Tribal Council should never have waived rights for members to receive this money unattached. I live in Tolowa Court tribal hous ing where there are a lot of elders. I m irritated when people drive by 10 p.m. or later with loud stereos - so loud they drown out my television. I don't think some residents are considerate of el ders regarding this noise pollution. When I comment they say, “It's before 10 p.m.” My question - what happened to being considerate of ciders? I hope our housing staff will medi ate or back up the respect that is due to our elders. Residents should read the lease agreement they signed. The Native American Housing As sistance Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) http://www.lawhelp.org/ d o c u m e n t s / 2 1 0 1 5 I 9 2 0 3 E N. p d 1 ? stateabbrev=/WA/ policy says: 4. You can be evicted if you: a. Threaten the health, safety or peaceful enjoyment of other members of the community (continual loud noises, even if part of religious wor ship, may be considered a threat to peaceful enjoyment) or b. Are involved in criminal activ ity, particularly drug-related criminal activity regardless of where the activ ity takes place (if a member of your household is found guilty of a drug offense, even if the offense takes place somewhere else, you may be evicted from federally subsidized housing even if you had no knowledge of the illegal activity). I think these things needed to be said. I look forward to hearing com ments from other members about these and other issues. Yours truly, David John Siletz News Letters Policy Send letters to: Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, is published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from readers about stories printed in Siletz News and other tribal issues. All letters must include the author's signature, address, and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain profane language, libelous statements, personal attacks, or unsubstantiated statements. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News. tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142. Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 541-444-8291 or 1 -800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Deadline for the September is sue is Aug. 9. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Please read the Passages Policy on page 24 when submitting items for Passages. - Please note: The general manager of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief of Siletz News. Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner Editor: Diane Rodriquez Assistant: Laurel Johnson Member of the Native American Journalists Association t 2 • Siletz News • August 2007 II .. ......... I I I—— To the editor On June 16, I proposed an up graded website to the Tribal Council. My offer to build a website for the tribe, free of charge, was well received by the Tribal Council. I delivered the website, as proposed, on July 1. The new site at www.siletztribe.info supports all the information on the ex isting CTS1 official website, as well as added features such as a tribal mem bers only area, where the tribal meeting minutes and other information can be distributed confidentially to our mem bers in a timely and efficient manner. In March, Chairman Pigsley ex pressed the desire to transmit meeting minutes to tribal members via the tribe’s website. By April, the Tribal Council was told it would cost $35,000 to upgrade the tribe's website and that it would take at least 60 days to begin the process. I’m pleased to announce that my husband, who is an experienced web developer, and I did the job in two weeks at no cost to the tribe. It was an enjoy able experience and I’m delighted to offer this to our tribe. On July 1, we contacted the Tribal Council, general manager, and the as sistant general manager with their in dividual usernames and passwords so they may try out all the features on the new site. I'm confident that the site meets the needs that they have identified. Although this site is fully functional, it’s a demo site only and is not yet the official tribal website, which currently exists at ctsi.nsn.us, nor is it associated with my website at The Siletz Virtual Community Center, www.siletz.net. All tribal members are welcome to try out the newly proposed tribal website at www.siletztribe.info, includ ing the members only private section. Login information will be provided upon request. All the best, Lynette Warren t-------------------------------------------------- Siletz News is free to enrolled | Siletz Tribal members. For all others, | a $12 annual subscription fee applies. | Please make checks payable to CTSI I and mail to Siletz News. | | | | I I 1 M 1 | Address: I I I I ----------------------------------- I | Phone: | I I | | | | Change of address: Tribal mem- bers-call the Enrollment Department at 541-444-8258 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1258; all others - call the news- paper office. I I | | | | k___________________________________________ >
