LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
I would like to introduee myself
and take this opportunity to state to the
tribal members that I am running for
Tribal Council in the next election. I
am also asking for your support by
voting for me and allowing me to rep
resent you on the council.
1 am Elaine Thomas and my parents
are Alton and Edythe Butler. My mother
was formerly a Logan and my grand
parents on my father’s side of the fam
ily were Bruce Butler and Jane Hollis.
My grandparents on my mother's side
of the family were Gertrude Curl and
James Logan who lived at his Otis, Or
egon, ranch until his passing in 1964.
I was raised in Lincoln City, Or
egon, and graduated from Taft High
School in 1969. I have seven brothers
and four sisters. Patricia Fredrickson
lives in Lincoln City, Oregon, while
Charlie Butler and Sylvia Butler live
in Siletz, Oregon. James McCormick
lives in Independence, Oregon, and my
deceased brother Alfred (Buck) Butler
had lived in Otis, Oregon. Reggie Sr.,
Elouise. Nancy, and Ronald Butler cur
rently reside in Siletz, Oregon. Delmar
lives in Reedsport and the Nathaniel
Butler who is deceased had lived in
Grand Ronde, Oregon.
I currently reside in Dallas, Oregon,
and purchased a home in 19X3 where I
raised all three of my children, Shawn
and Kimberly Thomas. Shawn and
Kimberly both graduated from Dallas
High School in 1999 and 2000, respec
tively. My oldest son, Dennis Van
Dyke, resides and works in Lincoln
City, Oregon. I am raising my grand
son, Wakien Van Dyke, who is twelve
years old and in the sixth grade at
Lacreole Middle School.
I have served on the Education Com
mittee and served as the Chairperson in
1993. 1 have worked at Chemawa for
the past twenty-four years. I started my
career at the Chemawa High School and
currently am employed at the C hemawa
Health Center. I have worked in the
Optical Department for the past ten
years. I have met and provided techni
cal Optical service to many tribal mem
bers during the past ten years.
I truly believe in the extended fam
ily and encourage my entire family to
exercise their right by involving them
selves in the voting process. 1 would
sincerely hope that they would see their
way to support me in this endeavor;
however, I accept the fact that they will
all be voting their conscience. The im
portant matter is to involve ourselves
in the events that will help create the
future destiny of our tribe.
1 would invite any tribal member who
may have any questions or concerns
about my participating in the election
please contact me at (503) 623-6253.
Sincerely yours,
Elaine Thomas
To the editor:
Would you please let the Confed
erated Tribes of the Siletz people know
that Native singers and songwriters are
wanted to participate and become a part
of a new Internet radio station for Na
tive Christian singers and songwriters.
Please listen to www.jbnlive.com/
JBN_BroadcastPage.htm. I know you
will not be disappointed.
WWW.jbnlive.com is the first ever
24/7 radio station which showcases
Christian Native singers and song-writers,
only. The station wants to feature Native
people from every tribe across America.
You can read articles about the
Internet radio station that were pub
lished in the Native Times and Indian
Country Newspapers at www.jbnlive.
com/jbnpressreleases.htm.
Please let your people know of this
good work and invite them to be a part
of this great mission to “Let our Na
tive voices be heard.”
For more information, contact
Roger Martin at 918-829-9377 or send
e-mail
to jbnlive@aol.com or
webmaster@sunbeltsports.com.
Thank you,
Jan Evans (Yuchi Tribe)
Webmaster
To the editor:
At present the Siletz tribal govern
ment structure seems to be more of a
dictatorial regime than a democracy.
The tribal constitution imposed upon
the Siletz people as a part of the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934 addressed
the fiscal operations of our tribe. But it
includes no separation of powers and
little protection for the civil rights of
us as Indian people.
A number of Tribes do have a sepa
ration of powers (http://www.cherokee.
org/Government/Default.aspx, http://
www.crowtribe.com/govt.htm. http://
www.navajo.org/govt.htm) for good
reason. At present, our Tribal Council has
ultimate authority over all Tribal programs/
services. This action puts them in con
flict between their duties as Directors
and their duties to the Tribal members.
I’ve thought about this for quite
some time. In the past we had a chief
who was the “head” of the group.
When a tribal chief was in charge of
his reservation, he looked out for all
4
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Siletz News
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January 2008
To the editor:
I’m interested in hearing what
members needs are (541-444-1290,
nadosh2@yahoo.com). Resources are
limited in respect to the number need
ing services. We must seek to aggres
sively stretch our budgets to meet the
ever increasing needs.
I presently serve on the Health
Committee. Prior to this I’ve served on
the Housing/Powwow committees to
better understand how each component
works. 1 know health care expenses are
a high priority. I support alternative
health care services (chiropractic/acu-
puncture) can serve to alleviate medi-
cations/referrals for treatment. I sup
port creating sustainable businesses and
community gardens and/or recycling.
I recall some years ago, we used
to aggressively search out donations,
grants and creative solutions for
fundraising. I miss the annual Head
Start auction and other collective ideas
that helped us fill the gaps. Program
budgets are increasing and there seems
little interest in saving a buck. Since
this money is Tribal dollars, I believe
accounting records for these program/
tribal expenditures should be viewable
by Tribal members.
In the past (2003 Nesika Illahee)
Tribal members received a balance
sheet on casino operations. We knew
how much revenue was received and
what operating expenses were (payroll,
maintenance, etc.). We no longer re
ceive information is such clear/concise
detail. 1 support providing this info to
members, especially since other gam
ing enterprises (Harrah’s) provide
shareholders with this info in detail
(http://investor.harrahs.com/
phoenix.zhtml?c=84772&p=irol-
reportsAnnual).
It’s my opinion that our present
organizational structure (Tribal, Gam
ing, Court) needs renovating. At
present we have no clear separation,
creating a conflict of interest for elected
officials when they are asked to advo
cate for members. It's with little suc
cess that council members can act
when they are facing questions regard
ing the very entity on which they serve
as board members.
Funding is scarce, we need to do all
we can to address unnecessary expen
ditures. I’ll support endeavors that give
Tribal members opportunities, plus the
rewards and recognition they deserve.
Personnel development (professionally
and within our community) is key in
providing this to members. Risks such
as unemployment, poverty, drug/alcohol
addiction and violence can increase
when our community or organization
fails to provide sufficient programs or
alternatives education for members.
I believe we can increase revenue
distribution (per capita) by identifying
where expenditures can be decreased
expenditures. In order to do this effec
tively it would be necessary to provide
members with detailed information on
all current jobs and casino/program
services. A review of past performance/
accomplishment of objectives is a cru
cial part of this process. Addition of on
site trainings rather than sending
elected officials/staff out, plus offering
educational components to tribal mem
bers (local community for a fee) would
benefit the Tribe as a whole. I welcome
your comments and suggestions.
Yours truly,
Lisa Brown, CPS
2(X)8 Siletz Tribal Council candidate
his people; not only just himself or his
brother-in-law, but the entire member
ship. I don’t understand why our gov
ernment had seen fit to do away with
the tribal-chief system and put in rep
resentative government. By doing that,
we’re split up into groups of Indian
people who are easier to control
(Bellanger MPR 7/22/99).
The result is mega power and con
trol of financial resources. In this case
I believe that all this money and power
has proven to motivate people for the
wrong reasons. Our elected leaders
haven’t consulted members on impor
tant decisions (many with negative or
minus outcomes) involving millions of
dollars. Our present government struc
ture takes away the opportunity for in
put from people and shifts the power
to the business and administrative com
mittees, which are an arm of govern
ment that answers to the Tribal Council.
I’d like to have my concerns ad
dressed, and be able to receive detailed
answers (documentation) to my ques
tions. There are many Tribes that pro
vide this for members, (http://
www.wabanaki.com/
tribal_constitution.htm) “(h) All min
utes, ordinances, resolutions, votes of
the Governor and Council, and audits
performed pursuant to Section 1(c) of
Article V shall be recorded in writing
and shall be available to Sipayik mem
bers of the Tribe. All regulations and
ordinances governing the conduct of
non-members of the Tribe shall be
available for public inspection.”
I’d like to hear input from other Tribal
members who support having one main
chief. Considering the areas in which we
live, I think designating “sub-chiefs”
could lead to a process that honors tra
ditional Indian beliefs and democracy,
so we can better serve future generations.
Thank you for allowing me to take this
time to share what I think is a good ex
ample of what works for tribal government.
Yours Truly
David Tyee John