Chairman’s Report
General Council Concerns
The concerns and issues that have
been raised regarding Chinook Winds
Casino Resort are referred to manage
ment for feedback and resolution. I have
asked the general manager to address
those issues.
Nez Perce Settlement
Lots of discussion has taken place
regarding the settlement and how the
money should be used. In addition, we
have received correspondence from Tribal
members on the issue. Some want all the
money distributed, some want to vote on
how it’s used, some just want it increased.
The Tribal Council amended the
original proposal by resolution and it’s
posted on the Tribal website. The court
has approved the settlement plan and the
Tribe should receive information on the
disbursement soon.
The question on when the disburse
ment will be made is not yet definite.
The Tribal Council proposed to pay it
in August with the annual per capita
distribution so funds would not affect
those whose incomes are affected by
the payments.
Senate Bill S908
Bud Lane, Robert Kentta and I met
with Congressman Kurt Schrader in
Salem recently. We provided him with
the marked-up version of the Senate
bill. He told us last December he would
introduce the marked-up version in the
House of Representatives. We have talked
with county commissioners to assure
the congressman that they still support
the legislation.
last month. The proposed plan is to
streamline the department's interaction
with each other as there are offices in
Washington, D.C.; Albuquerque, N.M.;
and the 12 regional offices that attempt to
coordinate information with lots of layers.
The move to streamline is a good one to
further better communication.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs pro
poses to eliminate agency offices with
fewer than 10 employees in order to meet
a $14.5 million budget reduction. In the
group facing proposed elimination (19 in
all nationwide) are nine in the Northwest
- and Siletz is one of them.
I spoke to this issue: My testimony
was that we were terminated and are a
restored Tribe that worked diligently to
get an agency so we can begin work with
programs and services that we didn’t have
for many years. We have active timber sales
and a fee-to-trust process that has been
neglected for several years. We are finally
beginning to see land going into trust. This
process has taken years to happen.
Additionally, our Tribe left a portion
of self-governance funds at the agency
so we would be assured of having an
agency in Siletz. I believe it is unfair to
target small agencies that have already
downsized and have been downsized for
years as a matter of good management.
As a matter of fact, the Northwest
Region did the right thing by reducing
staff years ago when Tribes were becom
ing self-governance Tribes. So in all
fairness, larger agencies should be looked
at and the Office of the Special Trustee
should be folded back into the BIA. It
continues to be funded at the expense of
Tribal programs. Looking for retirees is
not the answer to streamlining the BIA
Consultation on BIA and Bureau
of Indian Education
budget or cutting out efficient agencies
such as the Siletz Agency.
The Bureau of Indian Education
(BIE) proposes to close/eliminate line
officer positions in several offices. The
question Tribes have regarding this is who
then do they go to for advice and technical
assistance, and where do they go? How
does this enhance Indian education?
BIE must reduce its budget by $3 mil
lion for FY2013. This discussion included
talk from the BIE about hiring a JOM
administrator. Tribes felt this is not a good
idea and the line officers they are propos
ing to eliminate should be responsible for
the JOM program.
If education is as important as this
administration says it is, why the reduction
in funding ? Our education dollars have been
Delores Pigsley
stagnant for many years. Our opinion is that
any cuts should come first from the central
The student body president presented
office. School facilities management should
him with a petition signed by all the students
remain with the school, not in Albuquer
to
introduce legislation to have the land
que. Line officers could be put back in the
taken into trust for all nine Oregon Tribes.
regional offices where they were years ago.
The secretary of interior needs to look for
ATNI
savings elsewhere besides the BIA.
Chemawa Update
1 attended the Chemawa Indian
School graduation on May 11. It was held
in the school gymnasium for the first time
as all-students stayed for the event. Lots
of parents and family from all over the
country packed the gym.
Sen. Jeff Merkley visited the school
earlier in the month. I gave him a tour
of the campus; he then met with student
council representatives and Miss Che
mawa. He spoke to a couple of classes. He
was asked if he would return for a class
and he agreed to do that.
Our Tribe hosted the Affiliated Tribes
of Northwest Indians conference during
the week of May 20 at Chinook Winds.
Several workshops and events took place
and there was a very full agenda on issues
that affect all Tribes.
Keizer Iris Festival
The Keizer Iris Festival had a prayer
breakfast on World Prayer Day to kick off
the Iris Festival. I have been invited each
year to say a prayer at this fine occasion.
This year I said a prayer for the world. The
Iris Festival is one of the biggest events
in the city.
Pow-wow dance class available
Brenda Bremner and I attended the
consultation session in Spokane, Wash.,
June 9 • 1 p.m. • Siletz Tribal Community Center • Instructors: Tony Whitehead, Jennifer Easter, Sara Bell-Tellez
Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12
annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail
to Siletz News.
Nuu-wee-ya’ «swords)
Introduction to the Athabaskan language
Open to Tribal members of all ages
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Change of address: Tribal members - contact the Enrollment Depart
ment at 541-444-8258; 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; or angelam@ctsi.nsn.us. All
others - call the newspaper office.
Send information to:
Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Deadline for the July issue is
June 11. Submission of articles and
photos is encouraged. Please see the
Passages Policy on page 24 when
submitting items for Passages.
541-444-8291 or
800-922-1399, ext. 1291
Fax: 541-444-2307
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
2
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Siletz News
•
June 2012
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
June 4 - 6-8 p.m.
July 10-12 at Culture Camp
Portland
Portland Area Office
June 11-6-8 p.m.
July 10-12 at Culture Camp
Siletz
Siletz Tribal Community Center
June 5 - 6-8 p.m.
July 10-12 at Culture Camp
Salem
Salem Area Office
June 12 — 6-8 p.m.
July 10-12 at Culture Camp
Classes begin with basic instruction and progress over the year. They also
are a refresher course for more-advanced students. Come and join other members
of your community and Tribe in learning to speak one of our ancient languages.
We also have equipment in the Cultural Department available for use in
grinding and drilling shell or pine nuts or other applications. If you need to use
the equipment, call the number below to set up an appointment.
For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural Department
at 541-444-8320 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1320; or e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.