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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2010)
Testimony Before the Appropriations Subcommittee Area Director on Fee to Trust and Leases Council member Bud Lane and 1 were in Washington, D.C., this past month. 1 testified before the House Appropriations subcommittee chaired by Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia. My testimony followed that of Ron Suppah, chairman of the Warm Springs Tribal Council, and came just before Joe Durglo of the Intertribal Tim ber Council. My testimony was on two items of the highest priority for our Tribe, health and education. We responded to questions asked by representatives of the subcommittee. At one point the chairman commented that he heard a great deal of history and wished this history could be found some where in the National Native American Museum. He also stated he was very much in favor of Indian gaming because it sup ported important Tribal programs. At our Tribal Council meeting in March, Stan Speaks, Northwest regional director of the BIA, spoke to us about the fee-to-trust process. The new assistant secretary of Interior for the Bureau of Indian Affairs under Secretary Ken Sala zar will assist Tribes in the land-into-trust process. During the Bush administration, trust applications languished in the central of fice (D.C.), often for years with no action being taken. The applications then would all of a sudden be returned unprocessed to Tribes because, according to the cen tral office, they needed to be upgraded, cadastral surveys completed or for some other reason. Meetings with NIGA Executive Director and Hawaiian Reps While in Washington, we visited the offices of the National Indian Gaming As sociation and met with Executive Director Mark Van Norman. Mark not only is very much on top of critical gaming issues, but also is knowledgeable about important national non-gaming issues. While at NIGA, we were pleased to meet two Hawaiian representatives who we learned are opening an office for their organization just two blocks away from NIGA. The Native Hawaiian recognition bill recently passed both the House and the Senate. They soon will celebrate that impor tant event, which was a long and difficult struggle for the Hawaiians to achieve. Tribe Acquires Timberland in Original Reservation As reported in the April issue of Nesika lllahee, our Tribe is now the proud owner of additional forestland at the southern end of the Tribe's original reservation. As described by Mike Kennedy, our director of Natural Resources, the property involves 6,488 acres known as the Tahkenitch property. The land the Siletz Tribe bought from Rosboro Timber Company consists of five parcels ranging in size from 11 acres to 4,548 acres and includes more than 17 miles of lakefront property on the southern end of Siltcoos Delores Pigsley For the last couple of years, our coun cil expressed to our congressional delega tion the difficulties and the length of time we encountered in having the central office approve our fee-to-trust applications. We were pleased to learn the Obama administration has streamlined the process so our applications now can be processed in the Portland regional office. Since the process has been moved to within our area, we look forward to having land taken into trust sooner and more expeditiously. We also were successful in our lobby ing efforts to get legislation introduced to allow the Tribe to enter into 99-year leases on our business properties. This will allow us to deal with prospective companies, such as the large box company that wants to lo cate its businesses on our trust properties, with more than a 25-year commitment. Tribal Children Need Foster Parents Do you value Siletz Native culture and want to help preserve it? If so, please con Lake and the northern and eastern shores sider fostering tor the Tribe. The Siletz Tribe needs loving, stable, nurturing homes in of Tahkenitch Lake. all areas. If you are interested, please contact Shawna Henarie, foster care certifier, at The Tribe’s Natural Resources De 541-444-8275 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1275; or visit www.ctsi.nsn.us/icw.html. partment will manage the land as part of the overall timberland base in accordance Youth Council, con’t from page 1 with the Tribe's Forest Resource Manage ment Plan. people; building strong and lasting friend has been collaborating with the Youth The specifics of the terms of the pur ships; building greater self-esteem and Services Team to partner with the Youth chase, the process by which the property self-confidence; developing communica Council to implement a tobacco advisory will be converted to trust and details relat tion, leadership and organizational skills; committee and provide additional funding ing to the management of the property by strengthening the ability to battle negative from the Tobacco Prevention program. the Natural Resources Department gener peer pressure; strengthening a winning The Youth Council participated in ally were described by Mike in Nesika llla attitude; reinforcing accountability; and The Traveling Vietnam Wall and the 1,000 hee, the Tribe's confidential publication. making a difference in the community. Flags Traveling Memorial, both of which Mike described the acquisition cor In addition to youth members, the were set up in Newport in late April. rectly when he stated, “In addition to council is seeking several advisory men Other planned activities include a being a great addition to the Tribe’s tim tors consisting of parents, Elders, other three-on-three basketball tournament berland base, the return of the Tahkenitch concerned adults and representatives of (more information in upcoming issues property to Tribal ownership will provide various agencies serving American Indian of Siletz News) and a town hall meeting, Tribal members with a beautiful place youth. Those interested in becoming a and six youth have been approved to go to recreate, including hunting, fishing (a mentor need to fill out an application, to the annual Oregon Indian Education great place for bass) and boating.” registration card and consent to a back Association conference. I would like to highlight the fact that ground check. A new logo, still in the works, will the acquisition of this forest property was The Youth Council reviews and se incorporate the Youth Council’s mission made possible by our gaming revenues lects its mentors. The general manager of statement in the design. specifically allocated for economic de the Siletz Tribe or their designee will then You can become a “friend” to the velopment and investments. The addition make a determination of the applicant’s Siletz Youth Council MySpace site, www. of this property, which now brings the suitability as a mentor to the youth. myspace.com/siletzyouthcouncil, or Tribe’s total timberland to almost 15,000 “I hope more youth will get involved e-mail SiletzYouthCouncil@live.com for acres, serves as a very positive investment and speak up more,” says Tasha Mason, additional information. for which present and future members of Tobacco Prevention and Education Pro The next Youth Council meeting is set the Tribe will benefit and be proud. gram coordinator at the Siletz Clinic. She for May 16 at 1 p.m. at the Siletz Tribal Community Center. Nuu-wee-ya’ (Our words) Send letters to: Introduction to the Athabaskan Language Open to Tribal members of all ages Siletz Salem Siletz Tribal Community Center May 4-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Salem Area Office May 18-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 15-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Portland Eugene Portland Area Office May 17-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eugene Area Office May 3-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 7-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Come and join other members of your community and Tribe in learning to speak one of our ancient languages. For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural Department at 541-444-8320 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1320; ore-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us. 2 * Siletz News * May 2010 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 Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail to Siletz News. Name:_______________ ___________ Address:______________________ _ Deadline for the June issue is May 10. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Please see the Passages Policy on page 19 when submitting items for Passages. Member of the Native American Journalists Association Phone:_________________ _________ Change of address: Tribal mem bers - call the Enrollment Department at 541-444-8258 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; all others - call the newspa per office.
