LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
I happily attend most General
Council meetings and have for a num
ber of years. At the last two General
Council meetings, 1 was troubled by
some of the statements made during
tribal member concerns.
I grew up admiring my Tribe and
my Government, in the early years in
my life, I served in Government. Our
council meetings were always open
and members were allowed to speak,
just as they are today. Members then
were much more respectful than are
some who speak today. I am dismayed
that two members show such little re
spect to us, the General Council.
Tribal Council members often get
criticized and blamed for many things.
The Chairman was blamed for the man
ner in which she chairs our meetings,
which by the way are chaired the same
as they were years ago. I feel that tribal
members in the audience were also
being chastised for not having written
rules for people who attend.
Out of respect for our ancestors 1
hope that the meetings continue in the
same way they always have. For those
that insist on written rules and proce
dures, let them learn like I did. attend
the meetings, learn by example, be re
spectful and don't try to hog the mi
crophone. If enough tribal members
want rules or changes it will happen, it
doesn't happen for just a handful.
Our elected officials dedicate a lot
of time to tribal business; that is why
we elect them. I appreciate their devo
tion. Let's support them and not be so
negative, life is too short.
Respectfully submitted.
Gladys Bolton
Tribal Elder
To the editor:
On November 10th, imagine my
surprise when 1 opened my mail and found
a ballot containing a referendum re
questing a 51% salary increase ($10.86
to $16.43 per hour) for our Tribal Coun
cil. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, they
want tribal members to add to that 51%
increase a benefit package of an un
specified amount. Even though this is
just an estimate, costs could range any
where from 20% to 31%, which would
bring the hourly wage up to $19.72 at 20%
and $21.52 at 31% (again an estimate).
I will not vote for a salary increase
that is so excessive it almost seems ob
scene, given the problems that our
tribal members face daily trying to put
food on the table, finding decent hous
ing, refraining or recovering from drug
and alcohol abuse, obtaining proper
medical care and medicine, finding
work and on and on.
It seems to me that the mind set of
the Tribal Council is, to quote Marie
Antoinette, “Let Them Eat Cake,” as
they merrily go on with their privileged
lives while so many struggle with theirs.
I do hear of some Tribal Councils who
(oh my) don’t take pay and just receive
per diem and travel pay as they do the
work for the good of their tribes.
Since that isn't in the cards for our
Tribal Council. I would like to see them
be more realistic in their future requests
for pay raises - 51% just doesn't get it,
especially given their track record of late.
Don't they realize we are keeping track
of their recent business failures - the only
thing that seems to be holding up is the
Casino. Yes, we keep a record and we
do use a calculator. Unfortunately for the
Tribal Council, things do not add up to
a $16.43 plus fringe benefits raise!
Sincerely,
Julie Chavez
Dear Tribal Members:
I am Cynthia Farlow, #58 Tribal
Elder. At the General Council meeting
on November 3, 2007, 1 announced my
intention to run for a seat on the 2008
Tribal Council. Through my life expe
rience I will bring a wealth of positive
business and legal knowledge and ex
perience that will be an asset to our Tribe.
It is an honor and my pleasure to
work with and for our Tribal Elders
these past years. My family members
and Tribal Elders have suggested over
the years that I run for Tribal Council
and now after discussing my decision
to run, I am pleased to say they are giv
ing me their 100% support.
Our Tribe is very important to me
and I believe there is always room for
improvement. I am willing, able and
capable of serving on Tribal Council.
Please support a fresh perspective and
vote for me in the upcoming 2008
Tribal Council election. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Farlow
541-994-7979
cynfarlow@aol.com
To the editor:
I would like to see the 1994 Com
prehensive Plan, as well as the 2005
Plan posted on the website. Our Tribe
works hard and has accomplished
some of these goals. Posting plans
online would enable Tribal members to
offer feedback on ideas/concerns re
garding solutions. Note: 1994 Plan had
no measurable timelines specific to
objectives. So it’s of ones own personal
interpretation if we did indeed “meet”
the goal.
Steps towards progress '94 plan:
Casino, Elders Recreation/Activities
Program. Staff representative. Outreach
Program. Health Orthodontal. Medical
Supplies/Distribution, Eye Glasses.
Health Prevention Activities, Home
Health Care, Nutrition Education, Edu
cation Incentive Program, Employment
Tribal Construction Crew, Part-time
Elders employment, Job developer
position, Cultural Heritage Museum/
Interpretive Center, Culture/Language
Program/workshops, Retrieve Tribal
Artifacts, Build Long House, Housing
Senior Housing Complex, Siletz Rental
Apartments, Low-interest Housing
Loans, Transitional Housing, Increase
Disabled Housing, Natural Resources
Protect water resources, maintain Tim
ber Plan, Recreation Gymnasium, Ser
vice Expansion Maintain members re
source list, Communication Elders
Advisory Board, Computer network,
Program reporting, Telephone system.
There does exist a number of unmet
goals that aren't discussed. This isn't
acceptable, it’s a disservice to Tribal
members when elected representatives
and administrative staff fail to provide
details regarding inadequacies. Eco
nomic, Establish Native American Gift
Shop, Research/Develop Aquaculture
Project, Grocery Store/Siletz, Market-
ing/Research Entity. Property Manage
ment Enterprise, Elders Care Facility,
Assisted Living Program, Financial
Assistance Program, Health Health In
surance, IHS spouse coverage, Educa
tion Tribal Intern/Mentorship Program,
Employment Year-round Youth Em
ployment Program, job mentorship,
Tribal member job referral bank. Hous
ing Youth Group Home, Emergency
Housing Shelter, Natural Resources
Protect Water Resources, Tribal Rec
reation Area on Cultural land. Tribal
Forest preservation program. Environ
ment Protection. Aquaculture Project,
Recreation Swimming Pool, Year-
round camping facility, Tribal Sports
Teams, members Recreation Program,
Service Expansion Discard Service
Area (limitation), Communication El
ders Advisory Board. Computer net
work, Program reporting, Telephone
system, Individual Business Develop
ment Create Tribal contracting network,
Transportation member Passenger
transportation, members Auto leasing,
Drug and Alcohol, Acquire/build treat
4
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Siletz News
•
December 2007
Dear Tribal Members:
I am writing this letter in support of
Cynthia Farlow’s candidacy for the up
coming Tribal Council Member election.
Cynthia is currently a very active
tribal Elder. Every year she is raising
money for the Elders in the Siletz Tribal
Elders booth at the annual Pow Wow
for activities and trips. She shows sup
port for our tribe through volunteering
her time and money for those in need.
Well-known in the Siletz community as
a positive role model, she is self
employed with a woman-owned local
business in Lincoln City, Ore. She has
the business experience with running
an ADA construction company and is
a certified court mediator.
With these strong attributes in both
business and in the community, I feel
Cynthia Farlow would be a strong rep
resentative for our tribe. Every vote
counts so please get out there and vote!
Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Best regards,
Jon Richardson
To the editor:
I am writing this letter in support
of my sister, Cynthia Farlow’s candi
dacy for Tribal Council. She is not
afraid to take a stand and neither are
her friends. I believe my sister would
be a great asset to our Tribal Council.
Here is a picture (right) of Cynthia
Farlow and Erin Brockovich in 2003.
I am proud to vote for my sister and
I am asking that you vote for her too.
Respectfully,
Greg Bellinger
#61 Tribal Elder
Biochemist/Aerospace Industry
OSU Alumni
ment center, detox facility, aftercare
facility, Youth treatment center.
Ensuring our assets and natural re
sources are protected and available in
the future for members is crucial. I will
not support: Building/expanding the
golf course over housing for members,
Increasing salary with no open ex
change of information between paid
employees/members, Waiving sover
eign immunity or censorship. Resolu
tions & supporting documentation
should be retrievable.
I will support open/timely notice to
members of excessive expenditures,
aggressive advocacy for Tribal mem
ber employment/counseling at Chinook
Winds, on-site training accessible to all
members, and formal youth/elder rep
resentation on/to Tribal Council.
I welcome your feedback and hope
for your support of me for the 2008
Siletz. Tribal council election.
Yours Truly,
Lisa Brown