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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2008)
LEITERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: I would like to thank the Tribe for supporting the Tribal women who are in Coffee Creek. The smoked salmon, which the Tribe donated, for the spring celebration is greatly appreciated by us. On behalf of the Siletz women and all the Native women, thank you. Many blessings, Jennifer Rae Torres-Yuca To the editor: On Friday, May 2, the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund awards for spring 2008 were made. The room at the casino held many eager and ap preciative recipients. It is always heart warming to learn about the many projects that are being funded by the STCCF and to hear the gratitude of the recipients who accept the awards. The Siletz Valley Friends of the Li- brary/SVFOL were honored to be among the grantees, receiving two cash awards. The first, for $1,800, will be used to purchase two laptop comput ers. The computers will be used by in dividuals in the library, for possible checkout, and for class instruction. We have known for quite a while that the six original desktop computers are not enough and often people need to wait for their turn to use them. This fact and the greatly improved circulation statis tics (60 percent more books checked out since opening in January 2007) are welcome signs that people are using the library for its intended purposes. Our second award, for almost $800, will be used to purchase liability insur ance for SVFOL. By donating for this purpose, the STCCF allows the Friends of the Library to use precious funds for continuing improvements to the library. Thank you so much for the dona tions, STCCF. We are honored to be partners in making the Siletz Library a beautiful, proud part of the Siletz community. Alice McCain Board member and vice president Siletz Valley Friends of the Library To the editor: We would like to send our thanks and blessings for all the help, prayers, food and love during our great loss of our beloved liny Jane Rilatos. The people we would like to espe cially thank are Ray Taylor and the Harley Davidson Riders, Bonnie Petersen and DeAnn Brown. Earl Littleton and Denny Pearson, Darin Toot Rilatos, Hector De Los Santos and Janet Cummiskey. ABC Co., Mona Fisher, Rick Leaton, Buddy Lane, Vance Lindstrom, Jennifer Easter, Rusty Butler and Sundance Singers, Ray and Ed Ben for singing Grampa’s song, Roundstone Singers and Charles Wilkinson. Tiny was such an inspiration to so many people and a super good person. Her shoes won't ever be filled and she is truly missed and loved for always. Ta gah huska sho na schisly The Rilatos family To the editor: In early May I was happy to catch my first glimpse of the new, upgraded CTSI website. It looks fabulous. Con gratulations to those involved in build ing and maintaining the site. I'm thrilled about the new features, such as online minutes and resolutions in the Mem bers section and the Siletz News ar chives on the general site. It’s a great step forward for the Tribe. Those of us who live away from Siletz are especially grateful to those who made the website possible. Sincerely, Lynette Warren To the editor: I want to thank the people in the Salem Area Office for the wonderful Garden Party they had on May 14. It was so beautifully decorated and deli cious food and fun games. Bev and her people really went to a lot of work to make a nice event for us. They are to be commended for the fantastic job they did! I am looking forward to go ing to more get-togethers there. Cindy Jackson To the editor: More Than Just a Medal May I, 2008, was the day for the opening ceremony for the traveling memo rial, the “Field of Honor” here in Newport. Ore. May 3 was the day selected for the Oregon Honorable Service Medal to be presented to all veterans. The blending of these two events was beyond my expectations. Why? Because when you plan and plan, you want these events to be flawless. I never expected to be engulfed by the positive energy of all the people present. There were veterans, disabled veterans and family members from all eras. All the presentations were right on and to the heart, and after the medals were pre sented there was a strong feeling of peace. And we could hear the long-awaited words from our community - welcome home! There seemed to be an invisible cloud of healing which touched us all. This event brought many tears to many veterans and their families. In these past few months I have had the privilege to work with three of the seven Gold Star Fami lies. These families lost their sons to the Iraq War, along with the other past 25 Gold Star Families of Lincoln County who lost their sons to the Vietnam War. I have the utmost respect and admiration for these families. In working to gether we have not only become new friends but extended family. Out of respect and privacy I will not mention their names and I hope that these past few days have become the beginning of the perpetual standing ovation for their sons. This traveling memorial from the veterans of Oregon has been such a gift to our community of Newport and our surrounding cities. Somehow in the future I will make known how many businesses and friends worked with me to make these six glorious days possible. These powerful six days have become a fabric of our lives. If our world could only live in peace? My dad and many men and women from the 1940s gave their ... yes ... to answer the call ... to protect and to serve. This torch of patriotism was passed on to us! We veterans are trained to give our all. And we ask this great nation not to confuse the war with the warriors. Thank you, Tony Molina To the editor: I've been watching the news and reading the papers ... These are troubled times, when folks cannot afford to live, let alone drive to work to collect a paycheck so they can have not enough money to pay bills ... We are definitely in a recession. It is my opinion that what is transpiring with our economy is happening with Tribes too. Responsible investments and spending is needed. It is not okay for any entity to rack up millions of dollars in debt without asking for the permis sion or opinion of the people they serve. I'he reason why I believe this has occurred: Negligence and incompetence. Governments are refusing to reveal details regarding our encumbrances and debt. I believe it is the right of the public/Tribal members to be able to see a detailed accounting of the expenditures for purchases and operating expenses. For refusing to provide these details to the public/Tribal members, I believe elected representatives should be held accountable. Until they (administrative staff and government officials) step up to prove there is no impropriety, or mis use or abuse of funds ... I believe that this proves that there is something hap pening that is illegal. For these illegal actions, I think those who are responsible for the loss of funds or misuse should resign - immediately! I am a Tribal elder and I have an opinion to share. I know I am not alone. I am just one person, who is not afraid to speak the truth. David Tyee John, Great-Grandson of Klamath John (-------------- Siletz News Letters Policy Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, is published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from read ers about stories printed in Siletz News and other tribal issues. All letters must include the author's signature, address, and phone num ber 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 employ ees, or Tribal Council. Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be ed ited for length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142. Please note: The general manager of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief of Siletz News. 2 • Siletz News • June 2008 Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner Editor: Diane Rodriquez Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh Send letters to: Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 541-444-8291 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Deadline for the July issue is June 10. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Please read the Passages Policy on page 23 when submitting items for Passages. Member of the Native American Journalists Association I I I I Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all oth- ers, a $12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail to Siletz News. I I I I | 1 Name:________ ________________ ■ । Address:____________________ __ । Phone:_________________________ ' Change of address: Tribal mem- I I bers - call the Enrollment Department I I at 541-444-8258 or 800-922-1399. I I ext. 1258: all others - call the news- I I paper office. -------------------------------------------------- )
