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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2008)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: I would like to thank Margo Hudson for your dedication and hard work; you have helped me in many ways. Margo, 1 have been more receptive since 1 have been your “client” of the 477 SSP Program. Margo, your understanding on a daily basis has brought humbleness to me. I thank you for this and the many, many out-of-the-way and above-and- beyond service and duties you help me with. Whether it is my paperwork or my forgetfulness to real-life emergencies, I thank you so for understanding. 1 was offered an “incentive” award due to the consistency of my completed paperwork. I thank you and my daughter, Amber, also is grateful for the great time we had at the aquarium. While there, I often remembered why I was there. I thank you for the recognition. The frustration felt, the many times you, Margo, helped me and my family through no matter what in life, you are very helpful. You offer encouragement on different levels no matter the need, great or small. I am thankful for this. You, Margo, offered a way for me to “look outside of the box” and I now To the editor: Hello, my name is Ralph Steele, an enrolled Siletz. Tribal member in Portland, Ore. I have talked to several people in Tribal government about the possibility of having a class in archery for Tribal members (adult and youth) to learn how to shoot and qualify for the state hunter's safety course. As I understand it, to be able to fund this type of program there would have to be a consensus of Tribal members interested in an archery course and then this project would be presented to the Tribal Natural Resource Committee for funding. It is my hope to get as many people as possible who would be interested in learning archery to contact me so I could then present this to the Natural Resources Committee. There are a number of excel- in different ways look at life in a dif ferent aspect. I now know that there is understanding (more important for both sides) and the “in depth look” is appreci ated also. Being a case worker for a grouchy client as me must be hard, yet you still stand in and understand, offering direc tion and caring kindness. No matter the hurdle, Margo, you offer information and feelings that go hand-in-hand with understanding of the 477 SSP Program for clientele in need, from a “case worker to client” aspect. Again, Margo, I thank you for taking the extra step to help, understand, direct and be caring; this is why 1 feel you stand out as a “case worker,” although at times now I feel more of a friend to you than a case worker. I hope other clients and Tribal members can see this in you. I would also like to thank all the other 477 SSP case workers and staff. While Margo is out, all of you step up and help with solutions. Thank you. Warmly and grateful, Glenn and Amber Yarbrough lent reasons why this type of sport would be beneficial for our community, such as building self-esteem in our youth; deter youth from being involved in alcohol, drugs and crime; teach the lost art of traditional hunting that was also a right of passage into adulthood; archery has been an Olympic sport since the begin ning of the Olympics; and develops fine motor skills. If you or your children would be interested in the Tribe sponsoring an archery course, would you please send a letter of interest to the Natural Resources Committee at P.O. Box 549. Siletz, OR 97380-0549. Thank you, Ralph Steele Ring in 2009 in Worldly Style New Year’s Eve is fast approaching and Chinook Winds is ringing in the New Year with the theme “Around the World. Bon Voyage 2008. Join in the international-style celebration, dressing to represent the culture or country of your choice or wear your best finery for a night on the town. Dressed to the nines or casual, you are certain to have a wonderful evening. With multiple options to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Perform ing live in the convention center from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. will be the party band Dance Factory, with dance music from the '80s to the present. In the Rogue River Lounge, DJ Ultrasonic will spin songs from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tickets for each party are $20 and include a midnight toast as well as party hats and favors. Seating for dinner in the Rogue River Steakhouse will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will close for one hour between dinner service and the party. Join in on the fun at Chinook Winds Resort Hotel Lounge from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and listen to live music by the always popular Bret Lucich. This party is tree and includes a cham pagne toast at midnight. The regular menu will be available throughout the evening. Chinook Winds Golf Resort will host a party starting at 9 p.m. Listen to the local rock-n-roll band the Salmon River Band. This party is free and includes a champagne toast at midnight and party favors. For those who hope to start the New Year off with a big win, there's New Year s Eve Bingo with cash drawings all evening long. Buy-in includes holiday dinner buffet, party favors, confetti cannon, noisemakers and a sparkling cider midnight toast. Dinner buffet will be served starting at 4:15 p.m. with the first session beginning at 7:30 p.m. The buy-in is $ 100 until midnight on Dec. 30 and then $125 until the session begins. To the editor: 1 attended the General Council meet ing on Nov. 1, 2008. I was shocked and disappointed with the conduct of Tribal members who were rude and inconsider ate of other people. The attitude seemed to be a fishing expedition of Tribal Council members doing something wrong. Noth ing was proved but the Tribal member went on and on and refused to leave the podium to let others voice their concerns. 1 was reminded of the years that preceded the recall. The same type of accusations and suspicions went on. The history of the period is very sad because the Tribal Council at the time was so sure they could find something wrong with the previous Tribal Council that they hired a new law firm and a new company to audit the books. A lot of money was spent needlessly - because they didn’t find anything wrong. 1 was on the Tribal Council during this time of conflict. The stress was so bad — I was diagnosed with diabetes. Many staff members were so stressed they were under doctor’s care. Dee Pigsley has been a wonderful Tribal chairman. We can all be proud and thankful of how she has represented our Tribe and the leadership she has provided. She is well-known and respected by all Tribal peoples and she has national rec ognition among the federal agencies and legislators we must work with to make things better for our Tribal people. She does not deserve the kind of treatment that a few poisonous tongues spit out. I would like the General Council to approve a time limit for each member concern and only one concern to be ex pressed at a time at the podium. Let others speak and then sign up to speak again to ask another question or express a differ ent concern. The negative harangues and strings of unfounded accusations are what keep many of our people from attending the meetings and drive others into leaving early. There were many people who had come to hear the candidates' declarations to run for Tribal Council, but most had to leave before getting to that part of the agenda because of the two members who made a number of motions, each of which was voted down by large majority votes. And still they went on. We don't need these kinds of negative attacks in our General Council meetings. We need to be respectful of each other and work together for the betterment of all. Thank you. JoAnn Miller Dear friends: A small group has hijacked our Gen eral Council meetings. During Tribal Member Concerns, they don't state their concerns by describing the situation, sug gesting solutions, and/or asking for help to fix the problem. Instead, these folks act like the General Council meeting is a “fishing expedition.” They ask question after question, sometimes just an unrelated string of questions. Many questions ask for de tailed facts - not for things Council mem bers should be expected to know off the top of their head. For example, the exact amount of property tax last year on a piece of land. There is an answer, but one you have to look up if you want accuracy! The questioner’s intent is not even to learn information, since they must know they won't get good answers going about it that way. Instead, it is just to ask a mil lion questions and get “I don't knows" - or to get an answer to point to later and say was wrong or a lie. The goal seems to be to “spin” things into a “Gotcha!” and to convey disrespect by tone of voice. It's political grandstanding and it is driving people away from attending General Council. At the November meeting, this balo ney went on for hours. It went on so long the Salem Elders had to leave before the candidate's declarations. People became exhausted and went home. It's not right and it's counter-productive. As a Tribal member. I have a couple of suggestions. Tribal Member Concerns could be put last on meeting agendas. General Council could establish a time limit for concerns, maybe 15 minutes, with the option for an additional 15 min utes if approved by a vote at that time. That way, if someone has something really important to talk about, General Council can vote to extend the time but one person can't take over the meeting for hours. Finally, we could all take a lesson on how to act from our Elders. In the August meeting, an elder explained a concern on behalf of casino employees. She provided information, she made suggestions and an advisory vote was made. That s how we all ought to do it. Years ago, when the Tribe cut down and distributed some beach pines for firewood, many members complained at General Council because the wood was full of knots and pitch. I never thought I 'd be nostalgic for those meetings, but they had real concerns, honestly articulated not like this last meeting! Don't let yourself be driven away from General Council meetings. Please attend so we can get the meetings back on track, so we hear about important Tribal business and real concerns. Sincerely, Cathem E. Tufts December 2008 Siletz News • 21
