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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2009)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Siletz Tribal Election Board has conducted another general election. The ballots were counted during the General Council on Feb. 7 and resulted in the re election of incumbents Reggie Butler Sr. and Jessie Davis and the election of a new member, Lisa Brown. As prescribed by our Siletz Constitu tion, the election of council officers was held by the Tribal Council following the general election. Bud Lane was elected vice-chairman, Tina Retasket as secretary and Jessie Davis as treasurer. I was elected to serve again as chairman, a position that 1 accept with humility, understanding fully the tremendous responsibilities that this position demands. 1 understand that with our nation in the midst of perilous economic and interna tional times, our Tribe and all Indian Tribes face an uncertain and challenging future. I pledge all my efforts to continue to work diligently for the benefit of our Tribe. In regards to the current Tribal elec tion, Frank Simmons, a respected elder and incumbent candidate for council, died suddenly on Jan. 19, 2009. It was a tragic loss to family, friends and the Tribe to which he devoted his life. Please refer to my words in honor of Frank at the end of this report. Gathering of Oregon’s First Nations Delores Pigsley to the lunch, which followed the gover nor’s signing of a proclamation at the State Capitol that morning. The procla mation declares that Tribes were present long before Oregon achieved statehood. The Tribes were recognized for all the contributions they have made to the state of Oregon. The luncheon began with the presen tation of a gift to Stan Speaks, regional director, in recognition of his 50 years of service to Tribes in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, many of which have been in the Portland regional office. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Oregon’s entrance as a state in the Union, Economic Disaster a major intertribal pow-wow of Oregon As most of you know, during the past Tribes was held Jan. 31 in Salem at the few months Congress was in a major po State Fairgrounds pavilion. litical turmoil over how best to address A crowd of more than 4,000, includ our nation’s economic disaster. ing Indian dancers, other Tribal partici President Barack Obama warned that pants, mainly but not only from the nine if Congress didn’t address the millions Oregon Tribes, joined many non-lndian of jobs and homes lost, with the situation guests who filled the pavilion where a getting worse, we will face a national grand time was enjoyed by all. “catastrophe.” He said there is no “silver Five of the Western Oregon Tribes bullet or easy answer” to our nation’s eco produced an Oregon intertribal video nomic disaster. He pleaded for Democrats which was previewed at a luncheon with and Republicans in Congress “to put aside Gov. Ted Kulongoski on Jan. 30, kicking partisanship.” off the Oregon 150th Sesquicentennial With the passage of a Senate bill and celebration. Sue Schaffer, Cow Creek amendments, the final passage would chairperson, introduced the video that need to go back to House/Senate confer runs for about an hour. ence for final resolution and passage. All nine Oregon Tribes were invited As the president continues to work on 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. Siletz News Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner Editor: Diane Rodriquez Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh March 2009 and unveils the specifics of his stimulus plan, Tribes continue to keep an eye on it. Our senators, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, have been supportive of Tribes getting their share. Sen. Wyden sent a strong letter of support to the president for increased health care. Senators Byron Dorgan, Tim Johnson and Daniel Inouye have followed suit. We are extremely lucky to have this strong support in the Senate. We will keep a watchful eye as the plan unfolds. Tribal Council members will attend the National Congress of American Indians annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in March and at the same time we will visit and make clear to our congres sional delegation our specific Tribal issues and needs. Hopefully, 1 will be able to report to you in the April issue of Siletz News the administration and congressional decisions regarding the funding of Tribal programs. If our membership approves the advisory vote to allow alcohol on the gaming floor, training of casino person nel will take place, possibly within a couple of weeks following the vote. If the membership disapproves, there will be no change and business will remain as it exists now. The Tribal Council plans to hold the advisory vote in March of all members 18 years and older. The Passing of Frank Simmons I can t let this month’s issue of Si letz News slide by without saying a few words about Frank Simmons. I’d like to share with you parts of my eulogy during Frank’s funeral service, in which I said: “1 thought about all the good things that could be said about Frank Simmons. The sad thing is that no one, including my self, ever says all the good things about a Alcohol on the person when they are alive. Saying ‘thank Gaming Floor you, you did a good job, you are important The proposal to serve alcohol on the to me, you’ve been extremely helpful, you casino gaming floor has been discussed at were someone I trusted and I looked up various Tribal meetings. While the issue to are just a few words of kindness that is being discussed by the Tribal Council, we all would have said to Frank. three Oregon casinos have already begun “I remember Frank when I was just a serving alcohol: Three Rivers Casino in little girl and visited the Simmons home. Florence, The Mill in Coos Bay and Seven He was a few years older, but I recall that Feathers in Canyonville. The increased he was friendly, always smiling and quite revenue has been good. a dresser. Everyone called him Sonny. He During the discussion of the issue had a powerful smile and demeanor. at an Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance “Frank took an active role in Tribal meeting, I asked if the Tribes experienced issues, beginning with the Tribe's Resto any downsides to serving alcohol on the ration and Reservation plan back in the '70s. He had strong beliefs in cultural gaming floor. All reported that no adverse issues had taken place and no bad press and natural resource issues and eventually or publicity had occurred. Not only were went to work for the Natural Resources there no negative consequences, serving Department, where he was able to accom plish some remarkable tasks. alcohol had increased revenues. “He was the lead contact and negotia As I reported in a past issue of Si letz News, most Indian casinos outside tor with several state and federal agen of Oregon serve alcohol on the gaming cies on various agreements and MOUs. floor. Our Tribe currently has three venues Frank’s assertiveness, calm demeanor, where alcohol is served: the Rogue River pleasant style and his knowledge about Room, the hotel lounge and Aces Bar & natural and cultural resources has led to many great relationships between the Grill at the golf course. Some Tribal members expressed Tribe and state and federal agencies. “Frank said and did what he believed concern that if alcohol is allowed on the gaming floor, disorderly drunks leaving in. He was serious in his deliberations and the casino could cause Tribal liability. We his time served on the Tribal Council was would have the same liability we currently productive and professional. He also had have, however, when inebriated patrons a great sense of humor! “The last major project that Frank was leave the casino from the three venues involved in was a video that was debuted where alcohol is allowed. at the Oregon 150 Tribal ceremony in We must currently have agreed to Salem. In the video, he spoke about the not give away alcoholic drinks. Alcohol Tribe’s culture and history and he did it served on the gaming floor would not be in his special way. free, drinks always would be sold and It s sad to have to say goodbye to casino management would be responsible someone like Frank, who I would say lived life to the fullest. He was a friend, tion of alcohol and their conduct. a councilman, an employee and a trusted We have lost some casino conventions associate. He was devoted to Teresa and because we don’t allow or serve alcohol the rest of his family. He was a proud in the showroom. One of the largest was Siletz Indian who will now join his mom the Dart Convention, which was huge and and dad, brothers and sisters and the lasted most of the week. Our convention ancient ones that he always spoke of so area isn’t big enough for some conventions eloquently. that must overflow into the showroom. “We will all miss Frank Simmons.”
