To the editor:
This letter is primarily intended to the family and friends, Tribal and non-Tribal,
who cared for my brothers, Arlen Ray and Monte Wayne Kentta, during their final
days among you. It couldn’t have been an easy task to watch over these two warriors
as their lives faded to black.
Your compassion, selflessness and resilience during this time of loss are heartfelt
and immeasurable.
I can only hope that Monte and Arlen were aware of the tremendous impact they
made in the lives they touched. Much thanks, my brothers, for reaching into the belly
of the beast to extend your respect and forgiveness to me for a life less-lived. In so
doing, you taught me humility and appreciation of my own mortality.
In your youth, you both were giants. No one can ever say otherwise. You played the
hand you were dealt with a unique style. You blew the doors off of Native normalcy.
Props to you, Arlen, for teaching me to get up time and time again again no matter
how many times I hit the ground. To you Monte, for teaching me the value of educa-
tion and to appreciate the power of a well-fed mind. I still owe you an all-you-can-eat
Chinese dinner. Can’t ever forget the look on their faces as we filled plate after plate …
Rest in peace, my brothers. My heart carries the echoes of your memories. See
ya’ on the other side.
Alan Kentta
To the editor:
As I reread The People Are Dancing Again, it came to me that there was no men-
tion of the investigation/report that Robert Kentta did for the Tribe several years ago.
I recall being at one meeting when he gave sort of a review of his findings and I don’t
recall ever hearing anything again. I, for one, am very interested in the final report.
I’m sure it was probably put on the Tribe’s Internet space, but since I can’t afford
Internet I had no access.
I would appreciate being informed as to where the final report/findings can be read.
As I remember at that same period in time, other Tribes were finding their lands
were being occupied by non-Indians and even towns were on their lands. I just wonder
if our Tribal lands ended up being occupied by non-Indians and if so, what was to be
done about it by the government that apparently had allowed that to happen.
Please let us all know where we can read the findings of Mr. Kentta.
Thank you. I look forward to being better informed.
Sincerely,
Virgene F. Blair
To the editor:
I read with dismay your article on the Celilo-related Maya Lin Confluence Project.
During the planning stages of the monuments, I was visiting Celilo Village. My friends
and family there were not happy with the interaction and attitudes of the non-Indian
people running the project. The thoughts and feedback from the community people
were either ignored or disregarded.
At the same time, the project was raising obscene amounts of money – apparently
millions of dollars – on the claim of “helping the Indian community” and explaining
our history to the world.
I contacted the project. I wrote to them that my family living at Celilo (my father
was the late Chief Howard Jim) was moderately pissed off about the project getting
its Indian input from the large off-river Tribes and not speaking sufficiently to the
people directly affected. I offered to set up meetings. The project was not interested!
I also communicated with Jane Jacobsen, the executive director of the Confluence
Project. My impression was that the thoughts and desires of river Indians and Celilo
residents were of little interest to them. They seemed to “know what was best” for
the river.
I think that their activities should be fully explored and exposed.
Shoshynsh/Jack L. Schwartz
Attorney at Law
Courtesy photo by Morgan Crawford
Public invited to Candidates Forum
at Chinook winds on Oct. 12
Chinook Winds Casino Resort, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Lincoln
City Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln City Kiwanis Club, and The News Guard will
co-host a Candidates Forum in the casino’s hotel ballroom on Oct.12 at 2 p.m.
All candidates who will appear on the Lincoln City ballot will be invited to par-
ticipate in this event, including those running for city, county, state and federal offices.
The Candidates Forum will have a live remote that will be broadcast over radio
stations KBCH in Lincoln City, KNPT in Newport and KWDP in Waldport, reach-
ing a listening audience in all of Lincoln County as well as south Tillamook County.
In addition, The News Guard will live-stream the event to its website and maintain
the video online to allow for viewing at readers’ convenience.
Each candidate will have three minutes to present their platform followed by
questions from the audience that will be submitted in writing and read by the moni-
tor. Candidates will have two minutes to answer each question and will be allowed a
three-minute summation at the end of their time period.
The public is encouraged to attend this free event. Refreshments will be provided
and tables will be available for candidate and ballot measure information.
The Amazing Race tryouts set for Chinook winds
If you and a teammate are looking for the adventure of a lifetime and want to
travel around the world, The Amazing Race is for you!
Join KOIN 6 News at the open casting call for the hit CBS show at the casino’s
convention center.
Visit chinookwindscasino.com for more details.
Siletz Valley Early College Academy Class of 2014
A huge thank you from the graduated class of 2014 at
Siletz Valley early College Academy
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our families, friends, SVECA
faculty, community members, local businesses, private vendors and the Siletz Tribal
Charitable Contribution Fund, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians for all your sup-
port and contributions to make our 2014 Grad Nite a memorable event.
With all the fundraising and donations we were able to travel to Portland and enjoy
Sky High Sports Trampoline Park, Wilsonville Bowling Lanes, Bullwinkle’s Family
Fun Center and have an early morning breakfast together as a class. The memories we
made through our school years will be forever in our heart and we again would like
to thank everyone who made those memories possible.
Warm Regards,
2014 Senior Class
Siletz News Letters Policy
Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, is
published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from readers about
stories printed in Siletz News and other tribal issues.
All letters must include the author’s signature, address, and phone number in
order to be considered for publication. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any
letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of
a letter that may contain profane language, libelous statements, personal attacks,
or unsubstantiated statements.
Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published let-
ters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, Tribal employees, or
Tribal Council.
Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for
length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142.
wheel of Fortune wheelmobile returns to casino
The Wheel of Fortune Wheelmobile will be at Chinook Winds Casino Resort on
Oct. 11-12 from 1-5 p.m. each day. The 36-foot Winnebago tours nationwide in search
of contestants for television’s No. 1 game show.
For more information, visit chinookwindscasino.com.
Please note: The general manager
of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief
of Siletz News.
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
October 2014
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
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SiletzNews
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