Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2015)
Chairman’s Report Meetings in January 2016, so we will meet prior to that date. Oregon Tribes Our Tribe hosted the Oregon Tribes at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. All Tribes except for Cow Creek were present. Agenda items included climate change, youth initiatives, Tribal police, the Oregon Military Museum, the Affordable Care Act, the Cultural Resource Protection Program, marijuana initiatives, the Nine- Tribes Substance Abuse MOU and the Oregon Tribes mascot Issue. Lincoln County Commissioners Issues that affect our Tribe locally were discussed in a meeting with the Lin- coln County Commissioners in August. They included the school (Warrior) mas- cot, highway improvements, housing, law enforcement and Tribal fishing rights. The county has been very supportive of the Tribe on all of our issues and agreed to send a letter to the Oregon Education Department (ODE) on our behalf about the lack of action taken to let Siletz Valley School keep its mascot. The mascot issue was scheduled for a rule-making hearing but was abruptly removed from the agenda by the ODE. No reason was given to the Tribe for the removal. Lincoln City Council The Tribal Council met with the Lin- coln City Council right after the meeting with the county commissioners. Many of the same issues were discussed. The new mayor is Don Williams and we look forward to a good working rela- tionship. The Tribal agreement between Lincoln City and the Tribe is up for review Legislative Commission on Indian Services (LCIS) The LCIS held its tri-annual meeting at the capitol in on Aug. 18. There was a very active and informative agenda. Dr. Phil Mote from Oregon State University reported on his work with the Oregon Climate Change Research Insti- tute, a NOAH-funded research center on a five-year renewable cycle. The Quinault, Hoh and Quileute Tribes currently are involved in discussions. They also are working with the Umatilla Tribe. Tribal Reports There are two large fires in the Cow Creek area; no Tribal lands are involved in either one. Warm Springs reported 62,000 acres have burned on its reservation. Fires cur- rently are burning and four structures have been lost to the fire. The fire was caused by a trailer being pulled that lost a tire and the sparks from the metal ignited both sides of the road. Grand Ronde just concluded its annual pow-wow. The Tribe has designed a new arbor for events. Tribal firefighters have been busy assisting with the fires throughout Oregon. Budgets are currently being developed. The Tribe currently is looking at health delivery systems to determine if and how the service is going to work and will develop a health authority. Lynne Saxton, director of Oregon Health Authority (OHA), reported that the new Tribal liaison will report directly to the director; hiring will take place in September. Caroline Cruz will work with OHA to address some Tribal needs, what are the barriers and solutions, and Tribal priorities. A new eligibility system is com- ing online, the One Eligibility System. The first step takes place in December and the second step in January. The focus is to keep this simple. Ben Cannon, executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commis- sion, discussed the HECC role in Tribal implementation. Jodie Jones is the special projects coordinator for repatriation of ancestors/ family as part of the Hospital Replace- ment process. After 1971, bodies were sent to local funeral homes for burial/ cremation and many of those are sitting on shelves in those homes. The Oregon State Hospital is now working with some of them to get background information on their families. All American Indians prior to 1971 have been identified and claimed by Tribes. Erious Johnson Jr., director of civil rights at the Oregon Department of Justice, introduced himself, offered his services and plans to visit Tribes. Aaron Hines from the Burns Paiute Tribe reported on the bad air quality as a result of the fires in Eastern Oregon Jackie Mercer from NARA reported on future problems with reimbursement of medical services. Mark Ingersoll, chairman of the Coos, Siuslaw and Lower Umpqua Tribe, discussed the new pipeline that will be Delores Pigsley installed at the location of the former mill. The Tribe hasn’t opposed the project but wants to study it further. Don Gentry, chairman of the Klamath Tribe, announced the Tribe is redevelop- ing its economic structure. It pays a small per capita from gaming revenue. The Tribe is looking at developing a culture center and an RV park. The Tribe passed a referendum to change its blood quantum that resulted in a new enrollment total of about 4,800. Brenda Meade, chair of the Coquille Tribe, reported on its 26 th Restoration celebration. The weather has helped keep its hotel full. The LCIS Board was given an update on the fires currently burning in Oregon, the largest being the one in the John Day area. Elders Council Meeting Sept. 19 • 1-4 p.m. • Chinook Winds Casino Resort 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. Send information to: Deadline for the October issue is Sept. 9. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 Please see the Passages Policy on page 20 when sub- mitting items for Passages. 541-444-8291 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 Email: pias@ctsi.nsn.us 2 • Siletz News • Member of the Native American Journalists Association September 2015 Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words) Introduction to the Athabaskan language Open to Tribal members of all ages Siletz Tribal Community Center September - no class Oct. 5 – 6-8 p.m. Portland Portland Area Office Sept. 14 – 6-8 p.m. Oct. 12 – 6-8 p.m. Eugene Eugene Area Office Sept. 8 – 6-8 p.m. Oct. 6 – 6-8 p.m. Salem Salem Area Office Sept. 15 – 6-8 p.m. Oct. 13 – 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.