Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2009)
SILETZ NE Siletz News Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman Brenda Bremner, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief KNIGHT LIBRARY ACQUISITION DEPTSERIALS 1299 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON EUGENE OR 97403-1205 ili Vol. 37, No. 2 February 2009 Tribe Mourn' by Brent Merrill The Siletz Tribal Community is deep ly saddened by the passing of respected Tribal Elder and leader Frank Simmons on Jan. 19 at the age of 74. Frank was born Dec. 27, 1934, in Siletz to Frederick “Fritz” Simmons and Augusta “Toots” Simmons. He was the youngest of six children in the family. Frank graduated from Siletz High School in 1954 and he served in the U.S. Army from 1957 through 1959. Because of his status as a Veteran in the community, Frank took pride in coor dinating and organizing the Siletz Color Guard for many Tribal events. Along with first wife Nancy Butler, Frank raised three daughters - Cheryl, Kelly and Allison. While raising his family, Frank worked as a logger and was known to have done every job on the landing, from setting chokers to tending hook and running heavy equipment. Frank loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved to drift fish and knew the Siletz River Basin as well as or better than any living person. He loved to take his family and friends with him on his drift boat for fishing trips. Frank was an acknowledged leader in his community and served on the Siletz Tribal Council beginning in 1986. He was a vital part of the Tribe’s efforts to achieve Restoration. Frank also served the Tribe as a groundskeeper, but did his most mean ingful work as a member of the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department, where he served in the role of technician. I h h I tlili JH i 1111 li 11111! I Ji IHi 111 Lli It li I li li il tt Presorted First-Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid - Permit No. 178 Salem. OR ,oss of Council Member Frank Simmons Frank Simmons Frank’s career in Natural Resources began when he was hired as the Tribe’s hunting and fishing liaison. He worked in the Natural Resources Department at the time of his passing and was well-known throughout state and federal fish and wildlife agencies for his sense of profes sionalism, calm demeanor and relaxed, personable style that brought him respect and admiration from all who came in contact with him. Frank was re-elected to Tribal Coun cil in 2006 and was a candidate for re election at the time of his passing. Frank married Teresa Miller in 2000 and together they shared a love for life that was the envy of all who knew the Frank Simmons welcomes guests to a ceremony that took place at Chinook Winds Casino Resort last September when the American Veterans Traveling Tribute was in Lincoln City for the Celebration of Honor festivities. couple. They made their home in Lincoln City, where Teresa works at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Popular and well- liked fails to adequately describe the following the couple had from admiring friends and family. One of the most poignant moments of the service at the Tribal Community Center in Siletz was during the eulogy provided by Frank’s nephew, Randy Fisher, when he quoted Teresa as saying that, “Whenever I was looking for my husband, all I had to do was look for the crowd of women, children or animals” because she knew Frank would be right in the middle of it all. He was the life of the party. Frank loved Teresa so deeply and the love was shared and returned with such passion that the couple was consistently used as an example of what a happy life with someone you love could be. As a tribute to the man and his legacy, the Tribal Community Center was beyond capacity for Frank’s services. Those in side sat for more than an hour while all the well-wishers made their way into the building and greeted the family. A quote from the program at the service read, “Look for me in the people I’ve known and loved or helped out in some special way.” In that case, in our community, we will be able to see Frank every day in almost everyone. Siletz Tribal Elder William “Chief Chewescla” DePoe is on a Journey of Family Tradition by Brent Merrill If you have ever traveled along the Or egon Coast, you may have passed through a beautiful little town on the ocean named Depoe Bay. Depoe Bay is known for its scenic views and its place along the migra tion trail of Pacific Ocean whales. The history of the city, which was incorporated in 1973, begins with the very first Native American inhabitants of the area - members of the Siletz Tribe. In particular, members of the DePoe family were the city's first residents. The history of Siletz Tribal Elder Wil liam Hauser DePoe. Jr., who is also known as Bill. Witt and Chief Chewescla after his father-Chief William Hauser DePoe, Sr. (Tututni, Cheyenne from the Siletz Reser vation)-began in 1936 in Fortotten, N.D. Chewescla is the second oldest of five children in the family - Charlotte, then William, Ronald, Ilene and Peter. Chewescla moved to the Northwest (Washington) after his father checked into — N-, « .1 . . I II William "Chief Chewescla'' DePoe carries the eagle staff during Run to the Rogue. See DePoe on page 12. LEADING BY EXAMPLE - William "Chief Chewescla" DePoe participates in the Tribe's annual Run to the Rogue event each September (left and above) and in January, Chewescla made public appearances at the Portland Commu nity College Winter Pow-wow and the Gathering of Oregon's First Nations Pow-wow at the State Fairgrounds. What’s Inside Chairman’s Report Tribal Program News Tribal Council Timesheets Tribal Member News Notices Siletz Clinic Chinook Winds Letters to the Editor Passages - 2 3 9 10 ] 3 15 16 19 19 ---------- 9
