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Siletz Tribal Behavioral Health Programs Prevention, Outpatient Treatment, and Women’s and Men’s Transitional Siletz: 800-600-5599 or 541-444-8286 Eugene: 541-484-4234 Salem: 503-390-9494 Portland: 503-238-1512 Narcotics Anonymous Toll-Free Help Line – 877-233-4287 For information on Alcoholics Anonymous: aa-oregon.org Siletz Community Dental Clinic Contact the Siletz Community Dental Clinic if you experience dental pain or a dental emergency. Staff will do everything they can to see you as soon as possible. Morning check-in time is Monday- Thursday from 8:30-9 a.m. and Friday from 10-10:30 a.m. Afternoon check-in time is Monday- Friday from 1-1:30 p.m. CEDARR Community Efforts Demonstrating the Ability to Rebuild and Restore Mission Statement We will utilize resources to prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs, delinquency and violence; we will seek to reduce the barriers to treatment and support those who choose abstinance. Feb. 3 • Noon Siletz Community Health Clinic 200 Gwee-Shut Road, Siletz Address, continued from page 1 non-Native. They are areas where Tribal nations have made significant progress – and our entire nation can as well. 1. Community Security Let’s start with community security. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians created a robust judicial system that incorporates traditional Choctaw values – preserving the peace and respect- ing personal dignity. Their system features special teen and healing-to-wellness courts that are strengthening their community. It’s one of many examples from decades of Tribal governments’ success in building capable systems to enforce our laws and administer justice. America can build on this progress by providing better alternatives to incarceration – well-grounded rehabilitation and, most of all, effective crime prevention. Let’s create restorative justice centers based on Native concepts. The recent decision by the Justice Department to accept jurisdiction of the Mille Lacs (Band of) Ojibwe – under the Tribal Law and Order Act – is a great step toward improving public safety and addressing the problems caused by Public Law 280. But our job is still not done. There are so many more reservations that need this federal help with law enforce- ment, particularly in California. We call for reauthorization of the Tribal Law and Order Act. Congress should fully fund important juvenile jus- tice programs, efforts to collect accurate and relevant data, and preventative ser- vices for all families in Indian Country. Today, Native women and children experience the highest rates of violence in the country. Tribes need full authority to protect them from harm caused by non- Indians on Tribal lands. Across America, states and territories receive direct assis- tance from the Crime Victims Fund – and it’s time that Tribes do too. Working together, we can secure our communities. 2. Economic Equality Second, let’s talk about economic equality. Tribes are building more equi- table, more robust economies. Take the Tribes in the Idaho region. Five Tribal nations are among the state’s top employers. They boost Idaho’s econ- omy by more than $650 million a year – supporting twice as many workers as they employ directly. 2 It goes to show that when Tribes are empowered to govern, our communities and neighbors are safer, healthier and more prosperous. America can build on this progress by empowering Tribal governments to eliminate the gaps that persist in income, jobs and education. Tribes should be able to collect taxes without placing extra burdens on local businesses. We call on the Department of Interior to amend The Indian Trader regu- lations – eliminate dual taxation in Indian Country and empower Tribes to invest in the infrastructure and services that make economic development possible. In addition, Tribes must be able to issue tax-exempt bonds. They are an indispensable tool that every other modern government uses to seed private sector growth. Tribal governments must be treated the same as state and local governments on labor issues. And we must ensure that all Tribes can restore their local land bases. I want to thank this administration for partnering with us to achieve this goal. 3. Education, Health and Wellness Third, Tribes are looking after the education, health and wellness of their communities. Education is a promise made in exchange for our land. We have more work to do to ensure that Tribal governments are directing the education of their youth – especially on schools located on Tribal lands. We can do this by incorporating Tribal culture and language into the classroom; by acknowledging the role of Tribal educa- tion departments in Indian education; and by ensuring that students have adequate, safe and modernized schools and environ- ments in which to learn and thrive. By working together, we can deliver economic justice while meeting a goal we all share – to give every child a chance to succeed so that students like Dahkota Brown can achieve their hopes and dreams. Wellness is also critical to achieve- ment. Look at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center’s cutting-edge Diabetes Care Center. Its holistic health and preven- tative care programs are providing a model for clinics everywhere. America can build on this progress with investments that strengthen the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of every Tribal com- munity. For more than a decade, Nike’s N7 Fund and others have partnered with us to support fitness programs. But more can be done and we are ask- ing the federal government to permanently reauthorize the Special Diabetes Programs for Indians so that Tribal communities can continue to combat this disease. At home, my own Swinomish Tribe recently became the first in the lower 48 to bring oral health care to our people through dental therapists. We commend Alaska Natives for being the first to do this. I am confident that others will follow their lead. Broadly speaking, America needs to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t work. When funding through the Indian Health Service hits delays, it creates uncertainty for clinics, hospitals, staff and patients. We call on Congress to provide advanced appropriations for the Indian Health Service. We also call on both the administration and Congress to relieve our communities of the financial burden they will bear under the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate. This simple fix will go a long way to secure the health of our citizens and make sure our kids grow up in healthy communities. 4. Climate Change Last – but certainly not least – is the threat of global climate change, which threatens not only food security but all of humanity. Some will deny this threat even exists. But Indian Country is on the front lines. We have seen it. Our Tribal scientists and Elders are documenting rising tides in the Arctic, altered migration patterns, unpredictable harvest times and the worst droughts in recorded history. Native scientists and policymakers are working to address these challenges and prevent even worse calamities. Nations from Blue Lake Rancheria to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe are crafting ambitious plans to limit their carbon footprint and reverse the impacts of climate change on their lands. And in Paris, Tribal leaders were proud to take their rightful place among leaders of nations. They shared their scholarship and their indigenous knowl- edge, and helped the world reach a historic agreement. We ask for the establishment of a permanent Climate Adaptation Task Force in collaboration with Tribal leaders. In discussions about how to mitigate the effects of climate change, manage natural resources and protect our sacred places, Native peoples stand ready to serve as experts and partners. Together, we can combat climate change. Conclusion: Promise of tomorrow Consider all we’re achieving today. At every level of government, more and more leaders are seeing that the path to a brighter future for America runs through Indian Country. Imagine how much fur- ther we’ll go as the next class of Ameri- can legislators and policymakers further strengthen Tribal self-determination. But let’s be honest – progress will not continue on its own. WE must drive it – in the halls of our governments, in our relationships with our communities and in voting booths across the country. That is how we honor those who came before us – and those who will follow. I think about my great-great-grand- father, Kel-Kahl-Tsoot, who put his X on the Point Elliot Treaty in 1855. 3 My dad, who is 82, carries his Indian name. And I think about my grandchildren, the seventh generation since the signing of that treaty. So much has changed in that time. This is the question before us today: Where do we want Indian Country to be in another seven generations. How about 70 generations? What progress will we make to help them achieve their promise? It is up to us. ALL of us. Just as it always has been. Thank you for your time. May the Creator bless you, bless the United States of America and bless Indian Country. Thank you. 1 books.google.com/books?id=-QkLsa7e MnoC&lpg=PA137&ots=Y9pJF7LiHL &dq. The Indians had the full undivided and independent sovereignty as long as they choose to keep it and this might be forever. 2 “In total, the five Tribes of Idaho directly employ 4,641 employees, collectively making them one of the top 10 employ- ers in Idaho.” Also: “When the estimated impacts are aggregated, the sum of all of the direct, indirect and induced effects in 2013 for all Tribal activities (see table on next page) are: […] 13,840 jobs” media. spokesman.com/documents/2015/02/ Idaho_tribes_economic_impact.pdf 3 indiancountrytodaymedianetwork. com/2015/02/01/brian-cladoosby-nmais- meet-native-america-series-158972 February 2016 • Siletz News • 11
