TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Council, con’t from page 1
COUNCIL MEETS WITH MEMBERSHIP
- Tribal members, area residents and local
dignitaries (left) listen to historical and
cultural presentations at the Tribal Council
meeting in Brookings, which included a
review of the treaties of the Siletz Tribe by
Robert Kentta (below).
The Tribal Council held its regular
monthly Tribal Council meeting for June
on June 12 at the Best Western Beach
front Inn in Brookings. The portion of the
meeting that took place on June 13 was
a historical presentation on the Tribe’s
historical and cultural ties to the area.
“Tribal leadership wants you to know
that the Tribe is inviting you all to share
in this presentation of our history of the
area,” said Tribal Chairman Delores
Pigsley prior to the meeting.
The Siletz Tribe has ties to the area
that trace back to time immemorial, but
it was in the 1850s when Tribal people were
removed from the area after the Rogue River
Wars ( 1855-1856) that is perhaps one of the
most poignant times in Tribal history.
Rogue River War Chief Tyee John, or
Tecumtum, as he was known to his people,
submitted to the relocation of his people
only after years of trying to preserve their
way of life in their homelands. The depic
tion of the removal of Tyee John and his
people in 1856 by artist Peggy O’Neal is
a vision of what that moment in time must
have been like for our ancestors. It shoes
Tyee John with his hands bound and his
people in line behind him and soldiers
standing guard as they wait to be loaded
onto ships that would relocate them to the
Siletz Reservation.
Today, the people of the Tribe have
revitalized their lives throughout the
membership with a Tribal government op
eration housed on the Siletz Reservation
in Siletz, Ore. The membership is more
than 4,500 people and they have programs
to help them with education, health, social
services, cultural knowledge and housing,
among many others.
“We are very proud of our folks who
have become involved in their Tribal cul
ture,” said Chairman Pigsley. “I think it is
vital to point out how important cultural
values and activities are to our Tribe.
Our Tribal Constitution states that our
commitment is to continue forever our
unique identity as Indians and to promote
our cultural heritage and beliefs and pass
them on to our children, grandchildren
and grandchildren’s children forever. The
Tribe is proud of how passionately we
have been fulfilling that mission.”
Just in the last few years, the Tribe
has constructed a traditional ceremonial
dance house on reservation lands, restored
the ancient feather dance, spawned a new
generation of basket makers and language
speakers, and has become a leader of cul
tural activities on the Oregon Coast with
the teaching of the Athabaskan language
and the establishment of a culture camp
in the summer months.
The Athabaskan language is taught to
Tribal youth and adults today through lan
lotos by Brenda Bremner
Cultural renewal is at the forefront of
the Tribe today.
guage classes taught by Alfred “Bud” Lane
III in Siletz, Portland, Salem and Eugene.
The Siletz Tribe has come a long
way and yet in many ways the people
The language originates from the oral
have remained the same. They have the
traditions of the Southwest Oregon Atha
same values and desires of success and
baskan Tribal people who were relocated
prosperity for their children and future
to the Siletz Reservation.
generations. They still feel as though it is
Today as the Tribe reaches back into
their responsibility to be good stewards of
the past for guidance, it is moving forward
the land - all land and all water. They still
with exercising its government and looking
believe that to honor their ancestors they
for successful economic ventures to ensure
must maintain a strong tie to their history,
a promising future for its children and their
to their culture and to their heritage and
children. The Tribe has become a model
traditional ways of life. The important
for success that other Tribes throughout
things must be passed on and preserved
the country use as an example of what they
and it is important to share the story of that
would like to accomplish for their people.
success with everyone who will listen.
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CEDARR
Community Efforts Demonstrating the Ability to Rebuild and Restore
July 1 * 5:30 p.m. • Siletz Community Health Clinic Conference Room
We II finalize plans for White Bison summer activities. Please join us!
Siletz Tribal A&D Programs
Prevention, Outpatient Treatment and Women’s Transitional
Siletz: 800-600-5599 or 541-444-8286 • Eugene: 541-484-4234
Salem: 503-390-9494 • Portland: 503-238-1512
Ask Raven
Raven will answer your questions
about problems associated with alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs. You can call in
your questions to the numbers below
or mail them to Raven, P.O. Box 549,
Siletz, OR 97380-0549.
TLC Attitudes of Gratitude
By Lynn Whitlow
July just might be my favorite month
of the year. It evokes images of sunshine
on sparkling water, fireworks, Fourth of
July picnics and parades, gardens bursting
with color and carefree summer days.
When I was a child, I had no idea July 4
was a holiday to celebrate freedom. I knew
it had something to do with being American,
but mostly it was a picnic-fireworks day.
We always had a picnic, usually with
family friends or relatives. I can remember
some pretty miserable days on a soggy,
fogged-in beach and some joyous ones
seeking shade on a creek bank.
To admit to how old I am, our highlight
was going to the drive-in movie at South Beach
to watch a B-grade movie and waiting impa
tiently for the movie to get over so we could
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Siletz News
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watch the fireworks after. Compared to today’s
shows it was lacking, but to my knowledge it
was the only one around and to a kid it was
pretty exciting!
Nowadays, I attach a new reverence
to the holiday. I still love the picnics and
the awe-inspiring fireworks, but I know we
continue to be able to celebrate Indepen
dence Day because we have freedom!
Freedom to come and go as we wish,
freedom from a tyrannical government,
freedom of speech, freedom of religion
- all just dreams to citizens of some
countries. Be thankful for our democratic
government and for our protectors. Next
time you see a veteran, say “thank you.”
At the TLC our residents regularly
write down and share their gratitudes
with each other. Some of the things they
July 2009
are thankful for this past month are: Ac
ceptance. For my cooking class and eat
ing healthier. For my friend who has the
strength to come back. For my doctors. For
listening to music. Letting go! To forgive
the unforgiveable. Being able to forgive
my mom and dad finally after 33 years of
not understanding.
Other gratitudes include: For pow-wow
season. For my awesome roommates who
go over and above the call of duty. They are
fantastic women! To be able to take care of
my lil niece. For beading projects.
Also appreciation for our wonderful
volunteers - Alice McCain, the ever
faithful overnight volunteer, and Denise
Riding In, who fills in occasionally.
We also are grateful to George Nagel
for weed-eating the grass and weeds from
Old River Road up to the A&D/TLC house.
Sure looks a lot better around here!
We welcome new volunteers. If you
are interested, please give me a call at 541-
444-8238 or 800-600-5599. Also, you are
welcome to join our Women’s Talking Circle
on the second Wednesday of the month.
Enjoy your Fourth of July! For Siletz-
area residents, the city Parks and Recre
ation Committee is sponsoring the Third
Annual Community Picnic at Hee Hee
Illahee Park (or Siletz Grange if it rains)
from noon to 2 p.m.
Dogs, burgers and water will be pro
vided. Bring side dishes, chips or desserts.
This is a drug- and alcohol-free event.
Thank you to the Siletz Tribal Chari
table Contribution Fund for helping fund
this event!