Chairman’s Report
Siletz legislation introduced in
U.S. House
The Siletz legislation titled To Pro
vide for the Addition of Certain Real
Property to the Reservation of the Siletz
Tribe in the State of Oregon was intro
duced in the U.S. House of Representa
tives on July 17, 2012, by Congressman
Kurt Schrader.
HR 6141 recognizes the original
boundaries of our historic Siletz Reserva
tion as described in the executive order
of 1855 signed by President Franklin
Pierce. The purpose of the legislation is
to allow our Tribe to take land into trust
in a process that treats the application as
on-reservation versus off-reservation.
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff
Merkley introduced the same legislation
in the U.S. Senate several months ago.
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee
held a hearing earlier this year at which
I testified.
On July 24, the House Subcommittee
on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held a
hearing at which I testified on the need for
this legislation. Bud Lane, Robert Kentta
and I have worked on and lobbied for
this legislation for the past few years. We
appreciate the support of Oregon’s elected
officials in supporting all of our efforts.
There was only five minutes for me
to give supporting historic information
for this legislation. We were extremely
pleased that Lincoln County Commis
sioner Terry Thompson also was invited
by the committee to testify in support of
our legislation.
We were displeased that once again
the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
and the Confederated Tribes of the Coos,
Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw testified in
opposition of our legislation, making false
statements and distorting history.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs testified
that it is in full support of both the Grand
Ronde and the Siletz legislation recogniz
ing our historic boundaries for purposes
of taking land into trust.
We are hopeful that our legislation
moves forward in this Congress.
City of Portland
Our Tribe was invited to an historic
event by the City of Portland on July 11.
The purpose was to be present as the City
issued a proclamation (see page 3) to
recognize the sovereignty of Tribes and
to honor and respect relationships with
local Tribes.
It was quite an historic event and we
are pleased to have the City of Portland as
a future partner in events that are of mutual
interest to both of our governments.
Delores Pigsley
U.S. attorney visit
S. Amanda Marshall is the new U.S.
attorney for Oregon, replacing Dwight
Holton, who was serving as interim U.S.
attorney. Marshall recently came to Siletz
and visited with the Tribal Council and
our staff. She was accompanied by Tim
Simmons and Billy Williams, assistant
U.S. attorneys.
Historical information was shared
with the attorneys as well as issues the
Tribe raised that are very important to
us. Marshall has a unique background in
working with Tribes that makes her ability
to work with us a very good experience.
We look forward to working with
her office.
Courtesy photos by Paul Lumley, executive director, Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission
Grande Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy, Nez Perce Chairman Silas Whitman
and Siletz Chairman Delores Pigsley (above)
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.
I
| Name:_______________________________________
Silas Whitman, Delores Pigsley, Cheryle Kennedy, Umatilla Chairman Les
Minthom and Warm Springs Vice Chair Ron Suppah (left) sit before the
Portland City Council.
Nuu-wee-ya’ <our words»
Introduction to the Athabaskan language
Address:
Open to Tribal members of all ages
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 September issue
is Aug. 10. 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
E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
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Siletz News
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August 2012
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
Aug. 6 - 6-8 p.m.
Sept. TBD - 6-8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
Aug. 13 - 6-8 p.m.
Sept. 17 - 6-8 p.m.
Siletz
Siletz Tribal Community Center
Aug. 7 - 6-8 p.m.
Sept. 11 - 6-8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
Aug. 14 - 6-8 p.m.
Sept. 18 - 6-8 p.m.
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.