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
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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
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University of California at Los Ange
les (UCLA)
There are many fond memories:
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TRIBAL COURT OF THE CONFEDERATED
TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS OF OREGON
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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
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July 2011
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Siletz News
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