Chairman’s Report
December was a sad month for us,
Indian Country and the nation. On Dec.
17, 2012, the nation and Indian Country
lost two prominent leaders to illness.
wayne Ducheneaux
Our good friend Wayne Ducheneaux,
former president of the National Congress
of American Indians, former chairman of
the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and for-
mer president of the National American
Indian Housing Council, passed away in
Mobridge, S.D.
Ducheneaux was a very strong Tribal
leader not only for his Tribe, but all
Tribes. He served honorably as chairman
and in his capacity as an organizational
chairman.
He was responsible for helping to
pass important legislation, such as the
Indian Religious Freedom Act, inclu-
sion of Tribes in the Transportation Act,
legislation to fix Duro v. Reina, legislation
to change the name of Custer Battlefield to
Little Bighorn Battlefield and a memorial
to honor Native warriors at the battlefield
site.
As a Tribal leader from the Plains,
he had many more accomplishments too
numerous to mention.
We became close friends with Duch-
eneaux when he offered to assist our Tribe
in our efforts to build a casino. He was
quick to offer his support and friendship.
Over the years, we enjoyed many
conversations and visits. On our family
vacation, he invited us to visit his ranch
during their roundup and we were able to
visit a couple of times.
He was a rancher at heart, raising
horses and cattle and working alongside
his sons on the ranch.
Not only will Indian Country miss
Ducheneaux, we will miss his friendship,
kindness and support of our Tribe. He is
the brother of our retired lobbyist, Frank
Ducheneaux.
Sen. Daniel Inouye
The nation lost another warrior and
supporter of Indian Country on Dec. 17
when Sen. Daniel Inouye passed away.
Sen. Inouye served for 10 years as a
prominent member and chairman of the
Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
According to the National Congress
of American Indians (NCAI), “Inouye’s
outstanding commitment to Indian affairs
was demonstrated by his long service on
the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs,
serving as the chairman from 1987-1995,
the vice-chairman from 1995-1997 and
again as chairman from 2001-2003. He
was slated to continue his role as a com-
mittee 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 Com-
mission Act and was later able to secure
funding for Native Hawaiians to purchase
property as a part of the Home Lands
effort. Sen. Inouye was honored by NCAI
in 1999 with the NCAI Leadership Award
for his service to Indian Country.”
NCAI also issued the following state-
ment on Sen. Inouye’s passing:
“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
Delores Pigsley
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.”
We should be extremely thankful for
the leadership and support of these two
great leaders.
elders Council Meeting
Feb.9•1-4p.m.
Chinook winds Casino Resort
For more information about the Siletz Tribe, please visit ctsi.nsn.us.
For more information, contact Dee Navarro at 800-922-1399,
ext. 1261; 541-444-8261; or deen@ctsi.nsn.us.
Culture Craft for Tribal Youth
Feb.5•4-6p.m.•SiletzTribalCommunityCenter
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.
Name: _______________________________________________________
Come learn about dentallium shell money – what it is, what it means to our
people, how to process it and the variety of things one can make out of it.
This activity is sponsored by the Tribal Cultural and Education departments.
Please contact Cultural Education Director Buddy Lane at 541-444-8320 or
Siletz Area Education Specialist Alissa Lane at 541-444-8373 (or either one at
800-922-1399) if you have questions.
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.
Deadline for the March
issue is Feb. 11.
Send information to:
Submission of articles and
photos is encouraged.
Siletz News
Please see the Passages
Policy on page 20 when sub-
mitting items for Passages.
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
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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Member of the Native American
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February 2013
Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words)
Introduction to the Athabaskan language
Open to Tribal members of all ages
eugene
Eugene Area Office
Feb. 4 – 6-8 p.m.
March 4 – 6-8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
Feb. 11 – 6-8 p.m.
March 11 – 6-8 p.m.
Siletz
Siletz Tribal Community Center
Feb. 5 – 6-8 p.m.
March 5 – 6-8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
Feb. 12 – 6-8 p.m.
March 12 – 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.