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
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ters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, Tribal employees or
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Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for
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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.”