Chairman’s Report
Legislation
Violence Against Women Act
Portland Harbor
The Tribe came very close to getting
HR 5701, the Western Oregon Indian
Tribal Lands Act that was passed in
the House of Representatives in the
late days of Congress, passed by the
entire Congress.
It included land for the Cow Creek
Band of Umpqua and the Coos, Lower
Umpqua and Siuslaw Tribes. It also would
recognize the initial reservation bound-
aries of our Tribe as well as the Grand
Ronde Tribe.
All of the Oregon delegation sup-
ported the legislation, but when it was
presented by Sen. Ron Wyden (D) of
Oregon, it was challenged by Sen. Jeff
Sessions (R) of Alabama and failed the
“unanimous consent” process.
We thank the Oregon delegation for
its actions and support during this long
process. We look forward to the next
Congress to re-introduce and pass this
legislation that is important to our Tribe.
November marked the 20 th anniver-
sary of the Violence Against Women
Act. I was invited to speak on this occa-
sion at the Capitol in Salem along with
Gov. John Kitzhaber; the U.S. Attorney
for Oregon, Amanda Marshall; and state
representatives.
One of the guest speakers, Charlene
Wesler, told her story of being a victim
to becoming a survivor. It was a moving
story and had a happy ending. However,
in November 2014 seven women in
Oregon lost their lives in one of the most
deadly months.
Women need to feel secure when
reporting violence and need to be able to
count on the law and enforcement actions
to protect them and their children.
The lack of police protection in rural
areas is a huge problem for Tribes as well
as all small rural communities. It is hoped
that enough funds are made available to
help get police protection.
As many of you know, Tribes have
been involved in the Portland Harbor
Superfund Project. DEQ and EPA began
studying the site more than 18 years
ago. Our Tribe joined its governmental
partners (five other Tribes, the state,
EPA, DEQ and federal trustees) in a
Memorandum of Understanding for the
Portland Harbor Superfund Project in
January 2001.
The timeline for cleanup was eight
years. The Tribe’s attorney and Tom
Downey from Natural Resources have
attended meetings with all parties involved
and regularly update the Tribal Council on
the progress.
The Siletz Tribe knows that the
Portland Harbor is a complex site with
many involved parties. But all stake-
holders need to work together to get to a
Record of Decision for cleanup as soon
as possible for the benefit of all who are
affected by this Superfund Site, including
Tribal Member Artists/Vendors
The Siletz Tribe will host the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indian’s (ATNI)
Winter Convention at Chinook Winds Casino Resort on Feb. 2-5, 2015, and
would like to notify Tribal members who may be interested in vendor space
at this convention.
If interested, please contact ATNI at 503-249-5770 to receive vendor
information and associated cost.
Vendor space is limited, so we encourage you to phone ATNI as soon
as possible.
CTSI Jobs –
Employment information available at ctsi.nsn.us.
Delores Pigsley
those Tribal members who want to feel
free to eat the fish (including lamprey)
that live in and around this stretch of the
Willamette River. We look forward to the
end of this project.
Siletz Clinic is 100 percent tobacco-free
The Siletz Community Health
Clinic property is 100 percent tobacco-
free. The policy prohibits all tobacco use
by everyone – no smoking in your car,
in the parking lot or on clinic property.
We do not provide any cigarette
disposal units, so please keep all tobacco
products in your personal vehicle.
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We do not have designated smok-
ing areas.
No smoking in the parking lot.
No smoking in your car in the
parking lot.
No smoking behind the building.
No littering of cigarette butts.
Elders Council Meeting
Jan.17•1-4p.m.•ChinookWindsGolfResort
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: _______________________________________________________
Siletz Elder potlucks are held monthly at 6 p.m. on the Monday
before the regularly scheduled Elders meeting. Please bring a
potluck dish you would like to share.
For more information, contact the Elders Program at
800-922-1399, ext. 1261, or 541-444-8261.
Address: _____________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________________________
Change of address: Tribal members – contact the Enrollment Depart-
ment at 541-444-8258; 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; or covas@ctsi.nsn.us. All
others – call the newspaper office.
Deadline for the February
issue is Jan. 9.
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
Email: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
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Siletz News
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Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
January 2015
Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words)
Introduction to the Athabaskan language
Open to Tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Tribal Community Center
Jan. 5 – 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 2 – 6-8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
Jan. 12 – 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 9 – 6-8 p.m.
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
Jan. 6 – 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 3 – 6-8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
Jan. 13 – 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 10 – 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 email budl@ctsi.nsn.us.