CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
NCAI also recognized certain in
dividuals for their "outstanding service
to Indian people and ongoing support
of initiatives that promote sovereignty
and government-to-government rela
tionships honoring those who have gone
the extra mile to support efforts of the
NCAI and Tribes across the country ...”
The recipients included Sen. Jeff
Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Alan Parker,
who have played a significant role in
Indian country.
Since bidding farewell to 2007, we
not only welcomed 2008, we con
ducted another Tribal election and in
stalled a new Tribal Council. Like ev
eryone else, we also have been witness
to spirited Democratic and Republican
presidential campaigns. In March. I
attended meetings of the National Con
gress of American Indians (NCAI) in
Washington, D.C., on critical national
Indian issues.
NCAI Executive Council
Winter Session
In this issue of Siletz News, I will
briefly comment on these important
issues, when members of the NCAI
Executive Council were joined by cer
tain members of the U.S. Congress to help
strategize on Indian legislative issues.
NCAI President Joe Garcia called
on Native communities “to keep focus
on our children, our youth and ... put
forward children's agenda, share the
future for our kids, ensure their health,
safety, education and path to their fu
ture careers.”
Garcia stated that members of Con
gress will work with Indian country in
educating lawmakers on Indian issues
and to continue fighting to improve the
lives of Native people.
“Indian country has really moved
into a more productive means of dia
logue recently, Tribal leaders have be
come more engaged, more solution-
oriented and much more forward
thinking,” he said. “This will result in
positive outcomes for Tribes. We are mov
ing more and more in the right direction."
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said
he will propose $1 billion to support
health care for Indians, declaring that
the United States has “a trust and treaty
responsibility for health care for our
first Americans. This isn't just a luxury
but a promise this country made to In
dian Tribes.”
Regarding the need “to reform law
enforcement in Indian country," Sen.
Dorgan was joined by other senators
to make "Indian communities ... a safer
place for families. Law enforcement
reform is on the Senate agenda tor the
remainder of the congressional session."
Proposed Warm Springs
Tribal Casino in
Cascade Locks
Delores Pigs ley
Congressman Norman Dicks (D-
Wash.), a strong supporter of Tribal self
governance who chairs the House In
terior Appropriations Subcommittee,
expressed pride in "the cooperative rela
tionships forged between Tribes and
local governments in Washington State."
He encouraged that kind of coop
eration on the federal level. The Tribes
have a compelling case against reduc
tions in education, health care and law
enforcement.
Reaffirming his long-standing
pledge in support of Tribal rights. Con
gressman Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) said,
“There’s much to be done in Indian
country. All of you will be voting for a
new president and we must continue
to work together to make sure the
new president understands you are sov
ereign Tribes and not a social club.
Someone at the top should recognize
sovereignty.”
In addition to legislative issues,
NCAI took time to pay tribute to cer
tain individuals for their contributions
to Indian causes. Native World War II
hero Woodrow Wilson Keeble, who
was recently and belatedly awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor by
President Bush for his bravery and
patriotism during the war. was honored.
Most Often Requested Numbers
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Salem Area Office
Salem Finance Office
Portland Area Office
Eugene Area Office
Springfield Siletz Tribal Head Start
Contract Health Services (CHS)
Siletz Community Health Clinic-
Si letz Alcohol and Drug
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
Chemawa Health Clinic-
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Web Site
1-800-922-1399
503-390-9494
1-888-870-9051
503-238-1512
541-484-4234
541-747-0161
1-800-628-5720
1-800-648-0449
1-800-600-5599
1-888-244-6665
I-8OO-452-7823
1-8OO-323-8517
www.ctsi.nsn.us
Bud Lane and I attended the pub
lic hearing on the Warm Springs Tribe's
effort to build a casino at Cascade
Locks. There were five public hearings
on the Environmental Impact State
ment. Our testimony was in support of
the Warm Springs Tribe as we have
publicly stated many times in the past
few years. They are facing many of the
same issues we faced when we opted
to build a casino in Lincoln City.
I stated that the Siletz Tribe strongly
supports the right of every tribe to im
prove the lives of its members through
any legal economic development
means available. We believe the right
of Warm Springs to establish a casino
at the Cascade Locks site is a right that
should not be denied.
Many Oregon Tribes have gone
through a difficult fee-to-trust process
in order to establish our casinos. The
Warm Springs Tribe completed every
step of that complex process. I said that
were it not for a new administration,
the process would have ended success
fully for Warm Springs long ago, just
as it did for Siletz.
Unfortunately and unfairly, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs changed its
rules after Warm Springs had its state/
tribal gaming compact negotiated and
approved.
I stated that I have personally
walked the site of the proposed casino
next to a mill on industrial-zoned land.
The area has the potential of being
beautifully improved by the Warm
Springs Tribe. Those who oppose this
proposed site are unreasonable.
I stated that the Warm Springs Tribe
has an established reputation of com
mitment to a stable, safe living envi
ronment and facilities that are ecologi
cally and beautifully constructed.
The Tribe's Kah-Nee-Ta Resort,
established in 1964. is an outstanding
and beautiful resort facility that's been
recognized for its compatibility with
nature, and the Tribe's museum at
Warm Springs, constructed in 2003, has
been recognized nationally for its cul
tural, environmental and architectural
excellence. We can predict, I said, that
the Warm Springs casino will be an
other award-winning facility.
I also stated that Warm Springs
members already have generously
planned to commit casino revenues not
only to the City of Cascade Locks and
the port, but to Oregon education and the
environment while, at the same time,
ensuring that the beauty ol the Gorge
will be maintained. The Tribe deserves
much credit for its forward thinking.
I concluded my testimony by say
ing that above all. we need to remem
ber who the first people were on this
land, give them the dignity and respect
they deserve, and support locating the
casino at Cascade Locks as the best
available site for the Warm Springs
Tribe, for Cascade Locks and for the
State of Oregon.
Nuu-wee-ya’
(our words)
Introduction to the Athabaskan Language
Open to tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Siletz Tribal Community Center
April 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
May 6-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
April 15-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
May 13 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
April 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
May 12-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
April 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
May 5 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Athabaskan Language class started for beginners in January 2008. These
classes began with basic instruction and will progress over the next year. It
also will be a refresher course for those more-advanced students. Come and
join other members of your community and tribe in learning to speak one
of our ancient languages.
For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Culture Department
at 541-444-8320 or I-8OO-922-I399, ext. 1320; or e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
April 2008
Siletz News
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