SILETZ NEWS
Siletz News
Confederated Tribes of
Siletz Indians
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Delores Pigsley,
Tribal Chairman
Brenda Bremner,
General Manager
and Editor-in-Chief
Vol. 40, No. 1
January 2012
Presorted
First-Class
Mail
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No. 178
Salem, OR
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Executive order launches White House
education initiative for Indian Country
WASHINGTON - President Obama
concluded a week of newsworthy
announcements by the federal govern
ment related to Indian Country in early
December by announcing the new White
House Initiative on American Indian and
Alaska Native Education.
The announcement of the initiative
and executive order focused on improv
ing the educational situation of Native
youth and came just a day after the White
House hosted young leaders from Indian
Country as part of the Champions of
Change program.
The initiative is part of the Executive
Order on American Indian and Alaska
Native Education and Tribal Colleges and
Universities that Obama signed Dec. 2.
“I want to give a shout-out to the
young people who are here as part of the
White House program called Champions
for Change. Really remarkable young
people. I had a chance to meet them
backstage,” said Obama, motioning to the
youth in the audience. “There’s Teressa
Baldwin, who’s working to prevent teen
suicide among Alaska Natives. LeVon
Thomas, who’s bringing green jobs to
the Navajo Nation. Dallas Duplessis,
who started a gardening club to promote
healthy eating in Tulalip, Washington.
She wrote, ‘Our goal is not to be couch
potatoes, but to grow some potatoes.’ I
think Michelle would like that one.”
“Secretary Duncan (and) Secretary
Salazar, they’re going to work together
on this effort to prepare Native American
youth to compete for the high-skilled,
good jobs of tomorrow,” said Obama.
“We’re going to find ways to reduce the
dropout rate. We’re going to help students
who’ve already dropped out re-enter the
education system. And we’re going to
strengthen our Tribal colleges and uni
versities. They are cornerstones of their
community and they deserve our support.”
Photo by Diane Rodriquez
See Education on page 4.
Louie Orona and Tre Jackson join other children in making gifts at the Siletz Tribal
Community Center during the holiday break in December.
Siletz Bay Buffet at Chinook Winds gets new look, menu, grand reopening
Courtesy photo by Chinook Winds Casino Resort staff
Members of the community and the Siletz Tribal Council help open the new Siletz Bay Buffet at Chinook Winds Casino Resort,
including (1 to r) Papa Harold Lloyd and Susan Wahlke of the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors; General
Manager Sar Richards; Facilities Director Lee Scantling (behind Richards); Sharon Edenfield, Tribal Council; Project Manager
Sean Sheridan; Tribal Council members Jessie Davis, Lillie Butler, Loraine Butler and Tina Retasket; Executive Chef Jack
Strong, Reggie Butler, Tribal Council; and Chuck McPherson, Food and Beverage director.
By Teresa Simmons, Community
Relations Manager, Chinook Winds
Chinook Winds General Manager Sar
Richards and members of the Siletz Tribal
Council welcomed more than 60 guests to
the grand re-opening and ribbon cutting of
the newly remodeled Siletz Bay Buffet at
Chinook Winds Casino Resort on Nov. 29.
Lincoln City Mayor Dick Anderson,
representatives from the Lincoln City
Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln City
VCB, Lincoln City Chamber Ambassa
dors and Lincoln County District Attorney
Rob Bovett were among those present for
the ceremony.
Lee Scantling, director of facilities for
Chinook Winds, worked with 1-5 Design
to develop a design that would best meet
Chinook Winds’ goals of striving to pro
vide the best possible dining experience
for casino guests.
The Chinook Winds facilities crew
completed the renovation, working after
the buffet had closed for the day - every
day. The whole project took only 30 days
to complete and was done with a mini
mum of inconvenience to casino guests.
With the exception of the murals
depicting the history and culture of
the Siletz Tribe, nearly everything else
has been changed. The buffet has been
expanded to seat 252 people with room
to add more seating if necessary.
The new design allows for a more
efficient flow of traffic with less conges
tion in the serving areas. A pleasant,
See Chinook Winds on page 4.