SILETZ NewS
Delores Pigsley,
Tribal Chairman
Brenda Bremner,
General Manager
and Editor-in-Chief
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Vol. 41, No. 1
Siletz News
Confederated Tribes of
Siletz Indians
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
January 2013
Presorted
First-Class
Mail
U.S. Postage
Paid - Permit
No. 178
Salem, OR
Robin Limbert
Photo by Natasha Kavanaugh
employee of the Year
See details on page 5.
(Photo by Natasha Kavanaugh)
Fourth-grade students at Siletz Valley School celebrate the holidays with a performance of Rockin’ Around the Christmas
Tree at the Winter Program on Dec. 20. See more holiday-themed photos on pages 10-11.
President, cabinet officials, Tribal leaders reaffirm nation-to-nation relationship
From the National Congress of
American Indians
The Fourth Annual White House
Tribal Nations Summit convened the
president, eight members of his cabinet,
numerous high-level administration offi-
cials and hundreds of Tribal leaders from
across the country in our nation’s capital
in early December to discuss key issues
facing Tribal nations.
“Three years ago, I was proud to
see that this conference was the largest
gathering of Tribal leaders in our history.
Back then, an event like this was rare.
Today, it’s gotten routine,” said President
Obama. “What I told you then is that I was
committed to more than a unique nation-
to-nation relationship. I was committed
to getting this relationship right so that
your nations could be full partners in our
economy and your children can have a fair
shot at pursuing the American dream and
that no one has to live under the cloud of
fear or injustice.”
Key Announcements
The administration responded
with action to address top Tribal pri-
orities through a number of important
announcements.
Secretaries Ken Salazar (Interior) and
Tom Vilsack (Agriculture) announced an
interagency policy on sacred places.
“The president is very, very insistent
that these sacred sites are protected and
treated with dignity and respect,” said
Vilsack. He also announced that his depart-
ment’s report on sacred places, a collab-
orative effort with Tribes and the Forest
Service, would be released in December.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury
Neal Wolin announced the release of a
guidance document on general welfare
exclusion. This contains a wide range of
benefits, including assistance with hous-
ing, utilities, education, job placement,
Courtesy photo from NCAI
See Summit, con’t on page 4.
President Obama addresses Tribal leaders at the White House Tribal Nations Summit.
NCAI remembers Inouye as ‘distinguished warrior,’ Native rights champion
Sen. Daniel Inouye,
former chairman of
Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs, passes on
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Daniel
Inouye of Hawaii passed away Dec. 17,
2012, at the age of 88, with his wife
and son by his side at the Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center in
Washington, D.C.
A World War II combat veteran, Inouye
served the second-longest term of any U.S.
senator in history, representing Hawaii
since its statehood in 1959. He passed away
from respiratory complications.
Inouye was a prominent member and
leader of the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs, serving as its chairman for 10
years during two different periods.
The National Congress of American
Indians (NCAI) released a statement fol-
lowing the loss of a great friend and war-
rior for the rights of all people, including
indigenous peoples and Tribal nations:
“Sen. Inouye was one of the most
honorable and courageous men modern
Indian Country has known. He was a
distinguished warrior and he served his
country and people with dignity and a
strong sense of advocacy. As a member
and chairman of the Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs, he championed the
rights of Native peoples and we will
always remember him for holding the
line on numerous issues critical to cultural
protection and Tribal sovereignty. Our
thoughts and prayers are with his family
at this time. This country has lost a true
patriot and statesman.
“In the words of our Native Hawaiian
brothers and sisters, we say Mahalo nui
loa for his service and commitment and
will forever remember this son of Hawaii
as a great leader.”
Inouye’s outstanding commitment to
Indian affairs was demonstrated by his long
service on the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs, serving as chairman from 1987-
1995, vice-chairman from 1995-1997
and again as chairman from 2001-2003.
He was slated to continue his role as a
committee member in the 113 th Congress.
Throughout his incredible tenure,
Inouye worked closely with NCAI and
American Indian and Alaska Native
Tribes as he advocated for Tribal sover-
eignty, Tribal colleges and universities,
and housing and community develop-
ment, among many other issues.
He also supported the Hawaiian
Homes Commission Act and was later
See Inouye, con’t on page 5.