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.
