Siletz news /, November 01, 2012, Image 1

SILETZ NewS
Presorted
First-Class
Mail
U.S. Postage
Paid - Permit
No. 178
Salem, OR
Delores Pigsley,
Tribal Chairman
Brenda Bremner,
General Manager
and Editor-in-Chief
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Vol. 40, No. 11
Siletz News
Confederated Tribes of
Siletz Indians
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
November 2012
VOTE “NO” ON MEASURES 82 & 83
Photo by Diane Rodriquez
Delores Pigsley, Donna Woods, Rose Bremner and Tiffany Stuart join other Siletz Tribal members in a round dance at the 2011 Restoration Pow-Wow.
Community is invited to join Tribe at
35 th annual Restoration Pow-wow
Free event begins with
grand entry at 6 p.m.
By Diane Rodriquez
The public is invited to join the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians on
Nov. 17 as it holds its annual Restoration
Pow-Wow at Chinook Winds Casino
Resort in Linoln City, Ore.
This free event begins with a grand
entry at 6 p.m. American Indian vendors
with jewelry, beadwork and other items for
sale will be available throughout the day.
This is the 35 th year the Siletz Tribe
has celebrated the signing of Public Law
95-195, which re-established government-
to-government relations between the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and
the federal government. The Siletz Tribe
was terminated from federal recognition
in August 1954.
In the late 1960s, it became apparent
that the only way to preserve and revital-
ize Siletz Tribal sovereignty, community
and culture was for the Siletz Tribe to
regain its status as a Tribe recognized by
the United States.
In November 1977, after years of
intense lobbying, Congress and Presi-
dent Jimmy Carter approved Public Law
95-195, which reinstated recognition of the
Siletz as a federal Indian Tribe. The Siletz
Tribe was the second in the nation – and
the first in Oregon – to achieve restoration.
Dedicated to improving the quality
of life of its nearly 4,900 members, the
Tribe puts strong emphasis on the educa-
tion, health and social well-being of all
its members.
Significant Tribal accomplishments
since Restoration include opening the
original health clinic in 1991 and a new
much larger clinic in 2010; building more
than 100 homes and multiple dwellings
for Tribal members, including 20 units
at Neachesna Village in Lincoln City
that opened in 2009, plus another eight
See Restoration, con’t on page 5.
Justice Department announces
policy on use of eagle feathers
Decision comes after
Tribal consultations
WASHINGTON – The Department
of Justice announced on Oct. 12 a pol-
icy addressing the ability of members
of federally recognized Indian Tribes to
possess or use eagle feathers, an issue
of great cultural significance to many
Tribes and their members.
Attorney General Eric Holder
signed the new policy after extensive
department consultation with Tribal
leaders and Tribal groups. The policy
covers all federally protected birds, bird
feathers and bird parts.
Federal wildlife laws such as the
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
generally criminalize the killing of
eagles and other migratory birds and the
possession or commercialization of the
feathers and other parts of such birds.
These important laws are enforced
by the Department of Justice and the
Department of the Interior and help
ensure that eagle and other bird popula-
tions remain healthy and sustainable.
At the same time, the Department
of Justice recognizes that eagles play a
unique and important role in the religious
and cultural life of many Indian Tribes.
Many Tribes and Tribal members have
historically used and today continue
to use federally protected birds, bird
feathers or other bird parts for their
Tribal cultural and religious expression.
“This policy will help ensure
a consistent and uniform approach
across the nation to protecting and
preserving eagles and to honoring their
cultural and spiritual significance to
American Indians,” said Holder. “The
Department of Justice is committed
See eagle, con’t on page 7.