Chairman’s Report
Charles Wilkinson symposium
Recognizing Charles Wilkinson’s
contributions to our Tribe and Indian
Country in general was most rewarding.
I was asked to participate on a panel at
the University of Colorado Law School to
talk about his work with Siletz in the early
restoration days as well as his in-depth
knowledge and writing of The People Are
Dancing Again.
Participants included a wide variety
of folks throughout the U.S. and Indian
Country who have worked with Charles,
students he mentored and public officials.
Charles was working on Siletz res-
toration back in 1975 when I was first
elected to the Tribal Council. He was a
professor at the University of Oregon and
had developed an early relationship with
our Tribe after working on the successful
legislation to restore the Menominee Tribe
to federal recognition.
He spearheaded the legislation and in
working with the Native American Rights
Fund, was successful in helping to get
restoration legislation introduced and a
hearing scheduled on the Tribe’s behalf.
Once the Siletz Restoration Act was
passed by Congress, Charles resumed his
teaching career.
Although Charles’ career took him to
Colorado, he always stayed in touch with
our Tribe. He attended Tribal events such
as our pow-wows and participated in Run
to the Rogue. He was very thoughtful in
sending letters and notes acknowledging
events and the passing of Tribal members.
When the council wanted our history
to be documented, Charles was the likely
person to ask. I had the privilege of invit-
ing him to lunch and posing the question
of a documentary or a book.
He was very excited about the pros-
pect and had a year to undertake the task.
He was so inspired by the history that
the book took much longer to complete
because he felt the whole story needed
to be told.
Charles sent his research students to
Siletz to begin interviewing Tribal mem-
bers and search out historical records. He
also made several visits. The reward for
the Tribe was our book, The People Are
Dancing Again.
Ramah Settlement
Many of you may know that the courts
have settled a long-standing issue that
Tribes have raised for years.
When the Tribe contracts for pro-
grams and services from the federal
government, administrative support dol-
lars should accompany most programs.
Over the years, Tribes have been allowed
to contract but have been shorted on the
contract support costs (CSC).
Northwest Tribes have been allocated
$204 million in the settlement; Siletz
has been allocated $3.5 million from
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and
approximately $800,000 from the Indian
Health Service (IHS).
Delores Pigsley
The IHS funds recently were received,
but the BIA funds have not yet been
paid and it is unknown at this time when
to expect the payment to be made to
the Tribe.
The Tribal Council will have a dis-
cussion and a decision to be made in the
very near future on the disposition of
these funds.
It was an honor and privilege to be
one of the many participants to speak
about the contributions Charles has made
to Indian Country. We are grateful for his
friendship and devotion to our Tribe.
Elders Council Meeting
May 21 • 1-4 p.m. • Chinook Winds Casino Resort
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.
Hazel Sticks
(k’vn)
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: _______________________________________________________
Tribal members interested in gathering hazel sticks for making Siletz bas-
kets should send their contact info to budl@ctsi.nsn.us or call 541-444-8320 or
800-922-1399, ext. 1320.
Hazel bark will begin slipping sometime in April or May. Because of the
changing weather, we will notify people who send their contact info in when the
time is right to pick and peel hazel.
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 June issue
is May 10.
Send information to:
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
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Siletz News
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May 2016
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words)
Introduction to the Athabaskan language
Open to Tribal members of all ages
Siletz
Tribal Community Center
May 9 – 6-8 p.m.
June 6 – 6-8 p.m.
Portland
Portland Area Office
May 16 – 6-8 p.m.
June 13 – 6-8 p.m.
Eugene
Eugene Area Office
May 10 – 6-8 p.m.
June 7 – 6-8 p.m.
Salem
Salem Area Office
May 17 – 6-8 p.m.
June 14 – 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.
