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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2011)
The People Are Dancing Again - Taking the history book out on the road Author,Tribal Council take part in book tour, tell Siletz story to receptive audiences in several states by Charles Wilkinson When a new book comes out, it is sometimes a tradition to have a book tour to bookstores, universities and public gather ings to introduce the book to the public and sell books. The Siletz history is an unusual book because the history is especially com pelling and because the Tribe - the council and many, many other Tribal members and staff - were so deeply involved in creating it. Probably no Tribe has ever had so much input into its written history. So it figured that the Siletz book tour - from November 2011 through July 2012 - would be unusual, and it was. The very first event was in Albuquer que, N.M., at the annual meeting of the National Congress of American Indians. NCAI conferences are large and busy, but about 50 people from Tribes across the country attended the Siletz book event. Delores Pigsley joined me and together we presented the book and the numerous Tribal contributions to the mak ing of it. Delores and I were both bowled over by the strong, sincere interest dem onstrated by these Tribal leaders in the Siletz historical and modem experience. The official launching of the book came at the Restoration Celebration in Novem ber. I’ll personally never forget those days. The Tribal Council bought 10,000 books from the publisher and provided one book to every Tribal member. For my part, I’ve wanted to sign a book for every Tribal member who wants me to. So I signed books in Siletz and Lincoln City nearly non-stop for two full days. People joked about how I must have been exhausted. But I wasn’t because it was so great just to move slowly during the signings, talk with people and get a sense of what is going on in the community. We then had a long series of events. In most of them, one or more Tribal Council members participated, which is very rare. Normally, only the author comes to book events. But it really worked because the Siletz people brought so much knowledge and the audiences invariably were keenly interested in their views. The crowds ranged from about 50 to 250 and higher. The additional events (all proceeds from book sales went to the Tribe) included: Powell’s Bookstore, Portland, Ore. University of Washington, Seattle Village Books, Bellingham, Wash. Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver University of Montana, Missoula University of Colorado, Boulder University of Wyoming, Laramie Writers on the Edge monthly series, Newport, Ore. University of Oregon, Eugene Oregon State University, Corvallis Michigan State University, East Lansing • • • • • Photo by Diane Rodriquez Don Pigsley (right) greets Charles Wilkinson (center) during an honor dance at the 2010 Siletz Tribal Restoration Pow-Wow. Also pictured are Tony Whitehead (left) and Stan Speaks (second from right). June 10, 2011 Notice of Pending Litigation Court telephone no. 800-922-1399 541-444-8228 Court Address P.O. Box 549 201 SE Swan Ave., Siletz, OR 97380 In the matter of: Siletz Tribal Per Capita Distribution These matters came before the Court on review and the court being fully informed finds as follows: FINDING OF FACT 1. This Court has jurisdiction to review this matter as the Respondents are members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI). 2. Petitioner filed a Notice to Offset Tribal Per Capita in the Siletz Tribal Court. ORDER The following Tribal members have a lien filed against their per capita and do not have a valid mailing address: Everett Hartwell David Lane Nakoa Williams July 13, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. July 12, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. July 14, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. Hearing Date: Hearing Date: Hearing Date: If the above-mentioned people do not show for their hearing date, an Order of Default will be entered against them. SO ORDERED this 10,h day of June 2011 Calvin E. Gantenbein, Chief Judge Siletz Tribal Court -............. -........ -.......... ■ University of California at Los Ange les (UCLA) There are many fond memories: • TRIBAL COURT OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS OF OREGON .............................................. • The Indian drum group made up of students that greeted Robert Kentta, Tina Retasket, Bud Lane, and myself as we entered a large, candle-lit room at Oregon State University 200 people turning out in a snow storm in Laramie The large audience in Missoula and the later discussion carried statewide on Montana Public Radio The good spirit in the air at the Long- house on the University of Oregon campus The long and fascinating discussion at UCLA, where a major sympo sium featured both our book and the recent history of the Tule River Tribe of California and several Tribal Council members from both Tribes participated The large and extremely supportive audience in Newport But in every locale the sponsors went out of their way to honor the Tribe and the audience interest in the Siletz Tribe was strong, sincere and uniformly supportive. Two events remain. In the fall (date TBD), Willamette University will hold an event for the book. It will be organized by Professor Rebecca Dobkins, who made outstanding contributions to the book and is one of the Tribe’s very best friends. Tribal members are encouraged to attend this evening in Salem. On July 8-10, the National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall in Washington, D.C., will honor the Siletz Tribe over a three-day period. Many Siletz people, young and old, will attend. Rega lia and basketry will be displayed, young people will dance Nee-Dosh, and panels on the book will be held each day. This honor ing of the Tribe is itself an historic event. Also, I hope we can do one other gathering. I’d like to come out to Siletz and have an evening for Tribal members in which we have a discussion about Siletz history, perhaps focusing on the Ten Distinctive Events in Siletz History that Sustained the Tribe. In the meantime, thanks to you all for making my job so easy in writing The Peo ple Are Dancing Again. This has been one of the very most fulfilling parts of my life. Siletz Veterans Office Open Daily Tony Molina is available for all Siletz Tribal veterans. He is in the Tribal administration build ing in Siletz on Monday-Friday to help you get information for your VA benefits. Additionally, he needs your help to update our veterans’ roster, especially for those who are cur rently serving. Call Tony at 541-444-8330 or [^800-922-1399, ext 1330._________ j ........... --....-.. -.. --.................... July 2011 • Siletz News • 5
