CHAIRMAN S REPORT
economy, energy independence, health
care, education and the middle class.
With this, the December issue of
Siletz News, we say farewell to 2008 and
greetings to 2009, the New Year!
Obama - Possible
Impact on Indian Affairs
31st Restoration
Anniversary
Celebration
Tribal members and friends gathered
to celebrate the 3Is' anniversary of the
Restoration of our Tribe. It was a wonder
ful event in honor of what our ancestors
had to endure and the accomplishments
and challenges of 2009 and the years that
lie beyond.
The Saturday, Nov. 8. and the Sunday,
Nov. 9, issues of The Oregonian published
full-page ads of our 3 Is' Restoration an
niversary under the heading, “We Will
Remember.” The article, written by Brent
Merrill, and photos tell a brief history
“long before we were recognized by the
U.S. government as a federally recognized
Tribe ... (when our Tribe) was a number
“of sovereign Tribes and bands that ex
isted hundreds - thousands - of years ago
in our aboriginal homelands ...”
The article tells of our ancestors be
ing removed from our homelands to the
promised 1.1 million-acre Coast Reserva
tion and the subsequent “devastating loss
of land and resources.”
Since we were restored 31 years ago,
however, the article also tells about how
“our people and culture endured” and
goes on to report on the Tribe’s accom
plishments since Restoration.
Ted Werth, a Tribal member who was
young during the termination and Resto
ration years, addressed the audience. He
gave a warm report, remembering those
years as he grew up and went to college. It
was uplifting to hear of Ted’s experiences
and success he has made of his life.
Our Head Start children also were a
hit, speaking our language and singing.
I would like to thank all the staff at
the Tribe and casino for their assistance
in making the day a success, and thank
you to the Restoration Committee, Bud
Lane, Tina Retasket and Ed Ben for all
the work on the calendar, photos, gifts
and coordinating activities.
The pow-wow was great! Everyone
enjoyed the Apache Crown Dancers, all
Delores Pigsley
students at Chemawa Indian School. I
received many nice comments from visi
tors and guests.
As a Harvard-educated lawyer who
has taught constitutional law at the univer
sity level, Obama has stated that the U.S.
government’s Indian trust responsibilities
are expressly recognized in the U.S. Con
stitution. He also has affirmed his belief
in the principle of Tribal sovereignty and
govemment-to-government relationships
between Tribes and the federal government.
Obama understands the seriousness
of health conditions among Indian Tribes,
including the high death rates and suicides
that continue to plague Tribes. He has
stated that federal health care services and
funding are essential if these problems are
to be satisfactorily addressed.
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 readers about
stories printed in Siletz News and other tribal issues.
All letters must include the author’s signature, address, and phone number 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 let
ters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, Tribal employees, or
Tribal Council.
Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for
length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142.
Merkley Unseats Smith
for U.S. Senate
As for the state senatorial race, Or
egon House Speaker Jeff Merkley beat
Sen. Gordon Smith in a very tight race.
Sen. Smith currently serves on the Senate
Indian Affairs Committee and has had
a positive record with regards to Indian
affairs issues.
This past fall, the Siletz. Tribal Council
met with Merkley in council chambers. We
had an opportunity to ask questions regard
ing Tribal issues. We look forward to work
ing with Merkley as our new senator.
Elders’ Council Meeting
Obama, the Presidency
and the Aftermath
Regarding the presidential campaign,
2008 was the end of a very long and
eventful year that culminated in the his
toric election of our nation’s first African
American president, Barack Obama. Who
would have dreamed this could happen
in America when just a few years back,
blacks were bought and sold as slaves and
denied the right to vote.
I watched, as many of you probably
did on Nov. 4, the televised events when
thousands of people of every race, ethnic
and economic background, young and
old, gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park and
waited excitedly for Obama.
John McCain appeared first on the
large screen from his home state of
Arizona, where he made a brief but very
gracious and respectful congratulatory
concession speech. When Obama ap
peared before the jubilant multitude in
Grant Park, many in tears, his speech as
president-elect was delivered with his
usual composed eloquence.
For almost two years, throughout his
campaign, Obama had defined his basic
policies and objectives on the nation’s
So the enactment of the Indian Health
Care Improvement Act, which has been
languishing for so long in Congress, is
of vital importance to the Siletz Tribe and
all Indian Tribes nationally. Hopefully, it
will be a high priority item on Obama’s
and the new Congress’s agenda.
Dec. 13*2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
For more information, please contact Danise Barker at
800-922-1399, ext. 1225; 541-444-8225; or daniseb@ctsi.nsn.us
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N u u-wee-ya
<our words*
Introduction to the Athabaskan Language
Open to Tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Salem
Siletz Tribal Community Center
Dec. 2-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Jan. 6-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Salem Area Office
Dec. 9-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Jan. 13 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Portland
Eugene
Portland Area Office
Dec. 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Jan. 12 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Eugene Area Office
Dec. I - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Jan. 5-6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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 800-922-1399, ext. 1320; ore-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
Siletz News is free to enrolled
Siletz Tribal members. For all others,
a $12 annual subscription fee applies.
Please make checks payable to CTSI
and mail to Siletz News.
Name:__________________________ _
Address: _________________________
Phone:
Change of address: Tribal mem
bers-call the Enrollment Department
Please note: The general manager
of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief
of Siletz News.
2
Siletz News
*
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh
December 2008
at 541-444-8258 or 800-922-1399,
ext. 1258; all others - call the news
paper office.