TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
To the editor:
I read our Nesika lllahee and I
don't know whether to be angry or
heartbroken. When people speak of
“their own self-pride,” they should re
member they're speaking of their own
“perception” of what pride means. Be
careful not to step on someone else's
pride because that person's perception
is different.
How can a mother look at her child
and not see what’s beautiful, not be
proud of who she is and the family
she's a part of regardless of what
comes or goes?
A lot of these actions and causes
of our younger people (and others) fail
ing criminal background checks re
volve around addiction. Until you've
lived it. how can you judge what price
has been paid?
Alcoholism and drug addiction are
a disease; it's medically proven. Is it
so hard to see that underneath that dis
ease is a person who's lost and suffer
ing? Or is it just easier to write them
off as “weak” or "undeserving?”
I'm a drug addict. I’m paying the
price of my actions with 68 months of
my life and when I come home - I'll not
be able to pass a background check. But
I'll have done my time and paid the price.
So if my own Tribe will not help me,
to not only survive but to succeed, then
who will? Do you think our casino is
the only business that does criminal
background checks? Where can I turn
for a chance to help myself? When all
doors to a new way of life seem barred
to you. it’s only natural that we turn
back to the way we’ve been before.
As a Tribe, we have to create op
portunities for our people who've made
mistakes. Addiction rarely walks alone
mental illness, emotional problems,
inability to interact on a social level, rage,
abuse, violence and the scars of it. Some
of us cannot stand the world we see when
we open our eyes. Do you realize that
sick people who feel kicked around, who
haven't learned to function by society's
rules, who come from and are prone
to violence - something has to give?
Most of us really are good people
deep down. I know I don’t want to hurt
anyone. But there are times when I fear
I cannot stop myself. So I make it go
away. I numb up with a bottle, pipe or
spoon. Then I only blame myself and
self-destruct rather than lashing out.
We aren't going to disappear and an
entire generation is coming behind me.
Make a place for us, give us a chance to
help ourselves. That's the purpose of hav
ing a sovereign nation - they don't tell us,
we decide what we do with what's ours.
A chance to succeed is not too
much to ask for. People who need help
deserve it no matter how much they need.
Hum-chi,
Randall Hartwell
Time to Gather Basket Materials
Spring is here and hazel sticks are
ready to pick and peel. Hazel stick gath
ering is a must for anyone interested in
making traditional Siletz baskets. Spruce
root can be dug year round and is used
for the weavers or weft of Siletz baskets.
Bear grass and maidenhair fern are
used lor overlay to make our traditional
designs or marks in our baskets and
both are picked in late summer.
Any Tribal members interested in
gathering can call Bud Lane at 8(X)-922-
1399, ext. 1320. or 541-444-8320; or
e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
Basket materials must be gathered
in a timely fashion. Here is a general
breakdown of gathering times for dif
ferent items:
.June: Hazel, willow, and fir sticks
(until mid-June), spruce roots
.July: Fir sticks, spruce roots, bear grass,
maidenhair fern
August: Fir sticks, spruce roots, bear
grass, maidenhair fern, hazel sticks
(limited), willow sticks
September: Bear grass, maidenhair
fern, woodwardiii fern, spruce roots
Deadline Nears for Over-Income Grant
L________________________________________ .____________________________ ______________________________ :__________ ______ _____ ________ _________ _________________________ .____ __ _______ J
The Over-Income Rehabilitation Construction Program funds over-income
families with a $5,000 grant for construction rehabilitation on the primary resi
dence they own or families who have possessor rights to their home.
Rehabilitation refers to repairs or renovations to the home, but does not in
clude appliances, saunas, hot tubs swimming pools, etc.
Over-income refers to Tribal members whose income exceeds the income
limits set by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination
Act (NAHASDA). These are listed below:
Base 4
2
3
$38.150 $43.600 $49,050 $54,500
6
7
8
$58,850 $63,200 $67,600 $71.950
If you are a Siletz Tribal member and have not received an over-income
grant, call the Housing office to request an application. Applications, including
proof of income, enrollment and mortgage statements, must be submitted to the
Housing office by July 31, 2008, at 4:30 p.m. Applications received after that
date and time will not be accepted by the Siletz Tribal Housing Department.
Qualified applicants will be placed in the lottery drawing, which will be held
during August on a date approved by the Tribal Council.
If you have any questions, please call Jeanette Aradoz at 800-922-1399, ext.
1331, or 541-444-8331.
4
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Siletz News
•
June 2008
New Steelhead Availability
Notification Process
Every year, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W) donates
steelhead captured in its Siletz River trap to the Siletz Tribe. These are whole
bodied fish fresh from the trap.
The Natural Resources Department usually is notified just before ODF&W
personnel head out to the trap that Fish may become available later that day. The
number of fish, their size and condition, and the time they will be available is
not known until ODF&W returns from the trap and arrives at the Tribe's admin
istration building in Siletz, usually sometime in the middle of the afternoon.
In past years, the number of fish available on any particular day has ranged from
only 10 up to more than 50. The Natural Resources Department does not have a
way to process or store these fish, so they must be distributed the afternoon they arrive.
We have struggled with a way to notify just the right number of people that
fish will be available and to distribute them to those who want them without
having extra left over or not enough to give to those who show up.
We currently are creating a list of those Tribal members who would like to be
notified when fish become available. We will then do our best to make contact
with each person, either by phone, e-mail or any other method people might suggest.
We cannot guarantee that each person will receive notification each and every
time fish are available or that once someone shows up any fish will be left. It all
depends on how much notice the Natural Resources Department receives and how
many fish ODF&W brings each time. Your patience and understanding are requested.
If you are interested in being notified that fish are available and are willing
to pick up a whole-bodied fish in Siletz, on the afternoon that they show up,
please return the notification form below to the Natural Resources office at the
address listed on the form.
If you have any questions, please call Natural Resources Manager Mike
Kennedy at 541-444-8232 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1232; or Natural Resources
Technician Frank Simmons at 541-444-8288 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1288.
Roll Number:
Name:
Phone Number:
E-mail:
Other Method of Notification: _________________________________________
Please circle your preferred method of notification and return to Frank
Simmons. Natural Resources Department. Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians,
P.O. Box 549, Siletz. OR 97380-0549.
Tribal Children Need You
Do you value Siletz Native culture and want to help
preserve it? If so. please consider fostering for the Tribe. The
Siletz Tribe needs loving, stable, nurturing homes in all areas.
If you are interested, please contact Shawmt Nagunst.
foster care certifier, at 541-444-8275 or 800-922-1399, ext.
1275; or visit www.ctsi.nsn.us/icw.html.