CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Siletz Tribal Election
Economic Stimulus
Package and Tribal Needs
The General Election for our Tribe
will be held Feb. 7. On the following Sun
day. three members elected to the Tribal
Council will be sworn in after taking the
oath of office.
Obama Inauguration;
Election of Merkley
and Schrader
Siletz News already was in produc
tion when the teeming millions converged
on Washington. D.C., and the mall during
Barack Obama's inauguration as our 44,h
president of the United States on Jan. 20.
Those of us who couldn’t attend watched
the inauguration and other events on televi
sion. In a sense, we may have had an advan
tage over those who were actually on the
Washington mall. We were able to actually
see what was going on as the television crews
spanned the mall and focused on events.
And although we appreciated the
efforts of Sen. Gordon Smith on behalf
of Oregon Tribes, we now will be well-
represented by our new legislators, Sen.
Jeff Merkley and Congressman Kurt
Schrader. Merkley served 30 years ago as
an intern for Sen. Mark Hatfield and has
been assigned the Senate seat formerly
occupied by Sen. Hatfield.
He has been named to the Environment
and Public Works Committee (EPW) and
the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
(HELP) Committee. HELP deals with leg
islation on health, education, welfare and
pensions, and shares both health and pen
sion functions with the Finance Committee.
He also has been named to the Banking.
Housing and Urban Development Commit
tee and to the Budget Committee.
Meanwhile, Schrader, who replaced
Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (who re
tired). defeated Mike Erikson in Oregon's
5"' Congressional District. Schrader, an
Oregon veterinarian and farmer, has been
appropriately assigned to the Farming and
Forestry and Small Business committees.
Additional committee assignments
will be made and announced when the
committees meet and discuss their indi
vidual issues, priorities and agendas.
We look forward to both Merkley and
Schrader for support on important issues that
Delores Pigsley
affect our Tribes. And as stated in our recent
congratulatory letters to them, we anticipate
getting together with each of them when
the National Congress of American Indians
convenes in Washington. D.C.. in March.
Economic Crisis,
Congressional Action
and Tribal Needs
Regarding the economic crisis, the first
billions of bailout money were released by
the administration. The general consensus,
however, is that Paul Paulson, former
Secretary of the Treasury, and the Bush
administration failed to craft and execute
the bailout for Wall Street and the global fi
nancial system in a way that would protect
the American taxpayers' billions.
Personnel Matters,
The first billions of bailout money
were distributed with virtually no ac
Nominations
countability required of how they were
Salazar confirmation hearing: On
spent. A highly critical report by an
Jan. 15, a confirmation hearing was held
oversight board declared that “Treasury
for Secretary of the Interior nominee Sen.
had tailed to track the money."
Ken Salazar (D-CO). Salazar, who was
President Obama has been left with
introduced by Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO),
an immediate and desperate need of ad has been a member of the Energy and
ditional bailout funds. The bill as finally
Natural Resources Committee.
adopted by the Senate did, indeed, include
In his opening testimony, Salazar sum
requirements of greater accountability and
marized his written statement by including
reports on how the money will be used.
the cleanup of the illegal issues of the Interior
On Jan. 15, the bill authorizing the
Department; pursuing energy independence,
second bailout funds of $350 billion was
protecting lands of natural significance;
released by the Senate with certain condi
resolving complex and long-standing water
tions imposed.
challenges, improving Indian affairs and
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.
Please note: The general manager
of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief
of Siletz News.
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Siletz News
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As for the $800 billion proposed stim
ulus package, its immediate passage is in
doubt. Tax breaks are expected to account
for about $300 billion of the overall cost
of about $75O-$8OO billion. Other major
components include infrastructure projects
and assistance to states for increasing un
employment and health care costs.
According to Phillips, Chairman
Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Vice Chair
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) of the Senate
Ind.an Affairs Committee in a letter urged
Obama to include $3.58 billion for Tribes
specifically to support increased health
care funding. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) was
one of 15 senators who signed that letter.
The Senate Committee on Indian Af
fairs held a hearing to address job creation
and economic stimulus in Indian country.
This was an important opportunity for
Tribes to be heard.
The National Congress of American
Indians and the Intertribal Transportation
Association have been actively involved
in pressing for the inclusion of Tribes in
the economic recovery package. The Ap
propriations Committee was scheduled
to meet Jan. 21 to mark up the massive
bill, formerly titled the Recovery and
Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009.
According to Chairman Dorgan, “The
Senate Appropriations Subcommittees are
now busy shaping their stimulus provisions
and no sector of the U.S. needs basic infra
structure more than Indian country.”
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh
February 2009
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 March issue is
Feb. 10. Submission of articles and
photos is encouraged. Please see the
Passages Policy on page 20 when sub
mitting items for Passages.
IN / VI 7 a
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
developing programs to engage America's
young people in the environment.
Salazar said that, “Native Americans
have been left behind and are most vulner
able." He said he “will pursue a new agenda,
fostering economic development within
reservations and improved schools and
education ... and end criminality and bring
more law enforcement to Indian country."
David Getches, dean of the University
of Colorado law school and founding
executive of the Native American Rights
Fund (NARF), was rumored to be consid
ered for the interior solicitor’s position.
Chinook Winds,
Inclement Weather and
Possible Use of Alcohol
Regarding the situation at home,
Chinook Winds was hit by recent highway
closures because of winter storms. Severe
inclement weather affected all Oregon
casinos and businesses generally.
Major rain, snow and wind storms
caused disastrous landslides, damaged
homes and closed highways. In spite of
these catastrophes, Chinook Winds had a
very good New Year's Eve and our casino
has not had to lay people off as other ca
sinos have had to do this past year.
Area meetings were held a few months
ago to discuss and get advice on the sale of
alcohol on the gaming floor of the casino in
order to supplement revenues. An advisory
vote by the membership will be held in
March to determine whether the Chinewk
Winds Casino will allow the sale and con
sumption of alcohol on the gaming floor.
Currently, three casinos in Oregon
serve alcohol on the gaming floor - Seven
Feathers in Canyonville, Three Rivers in
Florence and The Mill in Coos Bay. All
three say that since offering alcohol, there
have been no adverse consequences.
Most all casinos in Washington.
California. Arizona. Montana. South Da
kota and many others sell alcohol on the
gaming floor. Compacts with the state of
Oregon allow Tribes to serve alcohol for
sale — drinks cannot be given away.
There would be a definite increase in
revenue. At present, alcohol sales in the Rogue
River Rwm are very good. The Tribe actually
has four venues where alcohol is currently sold
- the hotel lounge, the Rogue River Room,
the Siletz Bay Buffet and Aces Bar & Grill
at the golf course. All involved staff would be
required to have OLCC training.
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