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.
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Siletz News
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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
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Please make checks payable to CTSI
and mail to Siletz News.
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Address:______________________ _
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