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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2009)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To Tribal members: To the editor: To the editor: To the editor: My name is Jenera Healy and I live About Our Constitution Hello again, so it seems I’m moti Editors/publishers have moral/ethical in Caldwell, Idaho. I am asking for your vated to speak out once more. Not that my Webster ’ s definition of the word Con obligations to serve the public good and help to stop the insanity of Contract opinion is any more or less than another’s, encourage democratic processes. Equal Health Services. stitution is: “The fundamental principles but I care enough to use my voice when access to presenting political points of all In December I gave birth to my of a nation, state or body politic that something bothers me. views is crucial. second child and it was supposed to be determine the powers and duties of the So Lisa Brown has been voted off It should be noted whose letters are covered under Contract Health. I was Tribal Council? So let me see if I get this government and guarantee certain rights censored or rejected for publication. Not given authorization numbers and told by right. As long as four out of seven coun only are some letters rejected, but more to the people and that together constitute an employee that it would be covered. cil members can group up together, then often than not individuals are not offered Two days later, CHS changed its mind the organic law of the land.” the votes of over 400 Tribal members no a consistent or specific reason in a timely about our conversation. As a result, almost Well, I’ve been on the Internet check longer matter? So why even hold Tribal manner for the rejection. $3,000 in bills are not being paid. elections anymore? We may as well just ing our various Tribal Constitutions and What has been provided by Diane Ro I have heard about three other in let Tribal Council decide who they want driquez to Lynette Warren when her letter I’ve discovered some very interesting and stances when Contract Health employ to hold a position. After all, as soon as was rejected: “Siletz News reserves the right ees are giving bad information to Tribal important information. someone tries to shine light on what goes to edit any letter for clarity and length, and members and as a result bills do not get There’s a Tribe that had written on any four of them can just remove that paid or services are not covered. 1 refuse person regardless of our wishes or votes. into its Constitution the power for the to believe that I am the only one who part of a letter that may contain profane lan I don’t know what it is Lisa supposedly membership, if they deemed necessary, continues to have such difficulties using guage, libelous statements, personal attacks, said nor do I care. She made a “racist com services from our Tribe. or unsubstantiated statements.” to remove the council members and this ment" apparently. And?! 1 think our elected If you or anyone you know has So it’s contradictory that Kelley Ellis’ Tribe has just done it because they felt officials are so caught up in being all “Hol had any issues of wrong information letter making an accusation that content lywood” and big wiggin’ around with the the council was no longer working for the from Contract Health Services or their on Siletz.net is “not healthy or accurate governor that they lost sight of their duty. good of the membership. employees, I urge you to write a letter information was published. The same Tribal Council isn’t there to make explaining your situation to the Health concern is noted regarding the letter of Another Tribe is in the process of sure those “others” are not offended. Committee as well as our Tribal Council. Selina D. Rilatos, where she was allowed rewriting its entire Constitution. In one Tribal Council is responsible for seeing If possible, please forward them to me as to print a statement attacking Siletz.net that our people are taken care of and our situation council members were indicted, well so that I can put together something without proof of such an accusation. culture is passed on. something to do with funds. to show what we as Tribal members have The letter printed by LeiLani I ’ m far more concerned for the many, to go through. Cordova makes note of what “we have Is anyone wondering who was in many millions of dollars taken from our It is time that our Tribal Council is accomplished ...” volved in writing our Constitution and casino profits against the standard divisions made aware of what Contract Health I do not discredit this, but it does not originally set up that the council decided why we were not given any powers? Services is doing. 1 don’t know about any make right the losses we have suffered. What to take and sink into failing businesses that You members who can go on the of you, but I have bills going to collection LeiLani refers to as “negativity,” I construe hire very few Tribal members. Isn’t there a due to non-payment regardless of autho as transparency and accountability. Bring Internet, get on it and read what other percentage of total profits that is already set rization numbers and approvals. ing to light failures or less than favorable Tribes are doing. Let’s get inspired to get aside for investing and business? Yes there Please let someone know about what outcomes/decisions is not saying someone is! So that money was stolen from housing, involved in what’s happening to our Tribe. is going on. As one person, no one will is not thankful for what we’ve received. health care, elders, education and so on. There are a lot of things we can do. Let ’ s listen to me. But we all need to document As the 1973 SPJ code declared in its My loyalties lie with my clan first, then our problems we are having! first statement, “The Society of Profes get the power out of the hands of a few my Tribe and lastly all Native American Thank you, sional Journalists believes the duty of and give it back to the membership. people. Anyone else is those “others” and Jenera Healy journalists is to serve the truth.” (www. I care less what they think. What we have Am I the only one seriously con 620 N 9lh Ave. ocrpl.org/?p=29) was bought and paid for in blood! It’s for cerned about what is happening within Caldwell, Idaho 83605 So in response to Ms. Cordova, I us and no one else. The people! Not what our Tribe? fluffnera@msn.com convey that submissions are not provided for council members decide! to conjure negativity but rather seeking Virgene F. Blair Hvm’-chi’ the truth. I don’t wish to prohibit such Randall Hartwell comments as the purpose of the editorial of our news publication should be that members have the right to submit their uncensored opinions. Although letters may incite emo tional, controversial/passionate reactions, they can serve to reflect as a mirror the views/opinions of Tribal communities in Kids Crafts on an unbiased manner. Father’s Day But if the editor(s) choose to reject/ Hey dads - have your kids visit us censor one letter, it should be equally at the Play Palace on Father’s Day and applied to all letters. No editor/publisher should ever make personal judgments on you’ll get a special treat when you pick any one submission to justify rejection/ them up. Our always popular child care censorship. is once again doing something special Siletz News, rather than to silence for the kids, who will leave on those days Dote <6 200^ voices of opponents, should solicit re with a special craft for dad. sponses that will generate dialogue/de- bate. The great belief in those freedoms Special Day for Dads is what brings about social change, where Chinook Winds will celebrate Father’s injustices are corrected, understanding is moam Day with a free gift for fathers on June 21 broadened and education is obtained. (while supplies last). Present your Win I encourage all readers to remember ¿Ainooi e^o ^nt this when reading the opinions of others ner’s Circle card at Players Services. and when writing opinions themselves. You know how dad likes to eat, so To censor opinions is equivalent to mock take him out to the Rogue River Steak ing the very freedoms and rights that are house, Chinook’s Seafood Grill or Siletz mienm general Manager Sar Richards (right) presents a check to Roger Robertson inherent to us as citizens/Tribal members, Bay Buffet. The chef has worked up menu during a food duve that took place during Community Days in April. The local food as provided in the First Amendment. items that will satisfy dad’s hunger. pantry collected more than 3,200 poundsoffood and $3,000 during the day-long event. Lisa Brown Father’s Day Chinook Winds $1000.00 -, One ’7A I and 001100 < ' ‘ ____________ June 2009 • Siletz News • 23
