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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2011)
Photo by Diane Rodriquez Margo Hudson sells raffle tickets for a multitude of items that were given away at the event. Courtesy photo by Tasha Mason Ilene Somes hands out name tags and pouches as people register. Oldest ones share 355 years of life as Elders enjoy a day in their honor Oldest male and female, oldest male veteran and female veteran highlight Elder Honor Day event By Diane Rodriquez They share 355 years of life between them - lives full of experiences, changes, sorrow and joy. Think about it - 355 years, the com bined ages of four of the oldest people who attended Elder Honor Day festivi ties at Chinook Winds Casino Resort on April 5. The oldest male attendee was Henry Fuller (Grand Ronde), 96; the oldest female was Margaret Paz (Mescalero Apache), 91. The oldest male veteran was Clifford Charles (Lummi), 88; the oldest female veteran was Dorothy Ackerman (Sisseton Sioux), 80. Shirley Walker, chairman of the Elders Council, welcomed more than 500 Elders to the event and introduced the day’s emcee, Nick Sixkiller. The Siletz Tribal Honor Guard - Ed Ben, Earl Edmonds, Alan Fish, Don Miller and Tony Molina - presented the flags to the drumming and singing of Logan Butler, Bo Johnson, Chayson Metcalf and San Poil Whitehead and retired the flags to the accompaniment of Jack Cagey (Lummi). The Sree-Xvsh Singers, including Clarinda Black, Felisha Howell, Jazmyn Metcalf, Kateri Whitehead, Makiah Woodruff and Tehya Woodruff, performed several songs then joined with the four young men who helped present the flags on additional songs. Marcie Muschamp, QI coordinator at the clinic, presented information on the construction and current operations of the new Siletz Community Health Clinic, which opened in the spring of 2010. Lindy Taylor, MD, Tribal com munity health director, followed this with information on the hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia issues that can accom pany diabetes. The Siletz Royalty - Leslie Lundy, Miss Siletz; Ashliegh Ramirez, Jr. Miss Siletz; and Healyah Butler, Little Miss Siletz - performed The Lord’s Prayer. After lunch, Delores Pigsley, Siletz Tribal chairman, spoke about the National Indian Council on Aging (N1COA), founded in 1976 to advocate for improved health care for American Indian and Alaska Native Elders. James DeLaCruz Sr. (Quinault) represents Oregon, Wash ington and Idaho on the 13-member NICOA Board of Directors. NICOA helps its members by net working with agencies on such subjects as care providers, caregivers, diabetes, Veterans Affairs, transportation and tech nical assistance to Native communities. “This helps keep agencies aware that Indian people are out there and there is a need,” said Pigsley, who also warned that anticipated cuts in the federal budget may mean less money for Elders’ services. Pigsley encouraged Elders to contact NICOA to “let them know of the situation with Elders in your community” and to keep pressure on congressional repre sentatives to keep the benefits that Elders currently enjoy. Left photo by Diane Rodriquez Courtesy photo below left by Chinook Winds Casino Resort staff Courtesy photo below by Tasha Mason Left: Wilma Strong and her grandson, Jack Strong, enjoy each other’s company. Below left: Donna Kessinger, Ilene Somes, Delores Case, Barbara Fisher and Vera Lafferty help stuff gift bags before the event. Below: Cookie Fernandez and Alice Keene help people register at the event. May 2011 • Siletz News • 13
