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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2007)
Siletz News Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 S iletz N ews KNIGHT LIBRARY ACQUISITION DEPT./SERIELS 12?? UNIVERSITY OF OREGON tdGEHE GE Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman Brenda Bremner. General Manager and Editor-in-Chief Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Vol. 35, No. 12 December 2007 Presorted First-Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid - Permit No. 178 Salem, OR 97403120599 Honor Song - The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians hosted the largest Restoration Pow-Wow crowd in Trihal history on Nov. 17 at t hmook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. Tribal members joined with American Indians from throughout the Northwest in an Honor Song during the pow-wow. The Honor Song was written by Chet Clark of the drum group Johonaaii and dedicated to the people of the Siletz Tribe for overcoming years of termination. Largest Restoration Pow-Wow Crowd Ever Helps Tribe Celebrate 30-Year Anniversary by Pre nt Merrill The people of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians have a long, rich history. Never before have so many people joined them in celebrating that history. An overflow crowd of more than 1.000 people jammed the convention center at Chinook Winds Casino Re sort in Lincoln City. Ore., on Nov. 17 to participate in the Siletz Tribe's 30th Anniversary of Restoration celebration. “Not only is this a very significant day in Tribal history, it is a very sig- nificant day in the history of the State of Oregon as well,” said Tribal Chairman Delores “Dee” Pigsley. “For the first time, a restored Tribe west of the Mis sissippi River has reached three de cades of self-government. “We are honored to have so many people join us in celebrating one of the most significant events in Tribal his tory,” she said. “The support we have received from so many sources has been overwhelming and very appreci- What’s Inside Letters to the Editor Chairman’s Report Tribal Program News Tribal Member News Notices 2 3 6 1 1 18 Tribal Council Timesheets Siletz Clinic Chinook Winds Passages 19 20 2 I 23 ated. We are moving forward in a posi tive way as a people and the people of Oregon are celebrating with us.” Tribal leaders, Tribal Elders, hon ored guests and dozens of Tribal danc ers followed the Color Guard into the dance arena during grand entry. As the dancers moved throughout the dance area in a circle, the floor swayed with the rhythm of the movement, literally. Tribal members had been prepar ing for the historic occasion all year. A Tribal Restoration Committee that in cluded Tribal leaders and Tribal Elders met monthly throughout the year to plan the celebration. Tribal leaders and Tribal Elders from many Tribes throughout the Northwest made their way to Lin coln City for the Restoration pow-wow. Honored guests included former Or egon Governor Vic Atiyeh. Atiyeh sat in the front row with wife Delores and watched as young dancers circled the floor to the sounds of tradi tional drumming. He joined the over flow crowd in the center of the dance floor for an honor song that was writ ten by Chet Clark of the drum group Johonaaii. Clark said he wrote the song to honor the people of the Siletz Tribe for overcoming termination and build ing a bright future for their young people to carry on their traditions. Termination as a policy devastated Indian Tribes throughout the country when it was adopted by the federal government in 1954. When Congress passed the Western Oregon Indian Ter mination Act, it severed the trust rela tionship with Tribes guaranteed in trea- See Restoration on page 6.
