To the editor:
Hello, my name is Rusty Butler. I am an enrolled Siletz Tribal member. I work as
a prevention specialist for the Partnership Against Alcohol & Drug Abuse, a Lincoln
County coalition. Part of my position involves addressing environmental approaches
that will reduce alcohol and drug abuse in our communities.
It is concerning that the first thing you see when entering our Siletz community is
a Tribally owned establishment that is plastered with alcohol advertisements and sales.
This establishment is supported by the Siletz Tribal Council and general manager. In
my opinion, this business is the main supplier of the alcohol in the Siletz community.
It is even more concerning that when I address this issue to the Siletz Tribal Council,
I am given no response.
Not only do we support the business and what it is selling to our community,
but we also provide this business revenue by purchasing fuel for our Tribal vehicles
used by Siletz Tribal employees. Not to mention the gas prices are one of the most
expensive in Lincoln County. Siletz Tribal members receive no profit or benefits from
this establishment.
I feel as if we have come to some concerning times in the Siletz community around
alcohol and drug abuse and we need to start opening our eyes and mouths to address
things that are within our power to address. We have the resources and capacity to make
things happen. We have our sovereignty rights to govern and help our people.
Thank you for your time and please contact me regarding any questions or responses
whether they are pro or con.
Rusty Butler
Rustybutler2015@gmail.com
Cell # 541-270-2711
To the editor:
Do you know what CTSI is? CTSI is every single tribal member.
Thank you CTSI!
This past February I got my license to sell real estate in the State of Oregon! This
is just one of several life-changing experiences I’ve been allowed because I am a part
of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
National gaming group announces
largest Tribal revenue gain in 10 years
To the editor:
I’ve lived 20 + years in Siletz and interacted with many who share about grief/feel-
ings of helplessness when people we love, or ourselves, feel lost, powerless or abused.
Medical/mental health services help with symptoms to heal and I decided to share
about a subject that came up in a community meeting recently: bullying. I believe that
bullying can be and often is a learned behavior. All too often it takes the form of verbal
harassment. Mean statements, often not true! Gossip, plain and simple.
Gossip: a lowest form of bullying. It doesn’t give chances for bullied persons to fight
back. It’s something that’s spreading around them, said behind his/her back. Everyone
who participates also seems to not hold much responsibility for what’s said, blaming
it on who they heard it from, even making up lies that they never said it, so it’s also
difficult to find the source/root of the bullying. [answers.yahoo.com/question/index?q
id=20140130084448AA2GXo7]
It’s been quite some time I’ve made efforts to not have conversations with people
about persons who aren’t present. I’ve stated my reason(s): I feel it lacks integrity: If
someone asks about a person, I say “I’m not sure, you should ask them,” or if they want
to tell me something about someone, I say “I don’t really know that person” or “I don’t
feel comfortable talking about your interaction with them.”
I admit, at times I’ve let down my guard, but at those times I’ve gone to the person
in question and spoke to them about what was mentioned. As a practice, I refrain. I’ve
spent time talking with troubled youth about what people were “saying” and it was very
difficult to see how people judging/speaking exaggerated truths hurt them.
Recently, I became that person because people in our community, instead of asking me,
stated what they “knew” or “heard” and it was manipulated, exaggerated and all too many
statements were just inaccurate. The result was I was subject to atone for “accusations”
based on these statements. The impact of such actions was emotionally overwhelming
and a relationship that was very important to me was damaged beyond reconciliation.
Bottom line – If you’ve taken the time to read this, please stop speaking “about”
people unless you have talked “to” them. Just say “No.” I want to have friends who
respect me. I’m not perfect, but I have a kind heart and I do my best to help others.
I care about people and when I am troubled or demonstrating errors in judgment, I
do my best to make better choices. I’m making efforts to heal. Please be kind in your
thoughts and words to me and others.
Lisa Brown
I N D I O, Ca l i f. ( P R N ew sw i re -
USNewswire) – The National Indian
Gaming Commission (NIGC) released
data on July 19 showing revenue generated
by the Indian gaming industry in 2015
totaled $29.9 billion dollars.
After six years of modest but stable
growth, the 5 percent increase in GGR
(gross gaming revenue) from 2014 is the
largest increase in 10 years.
Chairman Jonodev Osceola Chaud-
huri, Vice Chair Kathryn Isom-Clause
and Associate Commissioner E. Sequoyah
Simermeyer made the announcement from
within the homelands of the Cabazon
Band of Mission Indians.
“The strong regulation that Tribes as
well as federal regulators and other stake
holders provides has played a key role in
the stability and growth of the Indian gam-
ing industry by providing consistency and
predictability,” said Chaudhuri.
The commission also noted the role
of the many small or moderately sized
Indian gaming operations that support
rural economic development where little
else has. Only 6.5 percent of operations
can show GGR of $250 million or more.
The majority of Tribes, 57 percent,
generate less than $25 million per year
in GGR. And 20 percent of the total 474
Tribal gaming operations produce less
than $3 million per year.
The chairman further stated that
Indian gaming is fundamentally differ-
ent from commercial enterprises because
it directly provides resources for Indian
people, including social services, public
works, education, housing, health care,
emergency services, public safety and
cultural presentation programs that no
other economic driver has yet to provide.
The announcement was made from
a location that was historically signifi-
cant to the Tribal gaming industry. The
commission highlighted Cabazon’s early
efforts to engage in gaming as a modest
means of pursuing self-sufficiency and
how those efforts ultimately contributed to
the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of
California v. Cabazon, which recognized
and reaffirmed the inherent authority of
Tribal nations to regulate gaming activi-
ties within their communities.
“The Indian gaming industry can look
back on tremendous growth and advance-
ment. In the 30 years since the Cabazon
case was argued before the Supreme
Court, Indian gaming has grown into a
multi-billion dollar industry annually.
This is in no doubt due largely to the
innovation, leadership and positive reputa-
tion that Indian Country, in conjunction
with the regulatory community, has culti-
vated since the advent of Indian gaming,”
said Chaudhuri.
The 2015 GGR was calculated based
on 474 independently audited financial
statements received by 238 Tribes.
The National Indian Gaming Com-
mission is an independent regulatory
agency established pursuant to the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
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.
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Beginning over 30 years ago, I’ve been able to access education funds that have
made me a better parent, better employee, better person and now as real estate
broker, a sole proprietor.
24 years ago I used the down payment program to get my family into the home
we still enjoy today.
For the past 17 years, I’ve had the pleasure of raising two beautiful children through
the Tribal foster care program.
I have enjoyed serving others for at least the past 40 years. My last several years of
employment have been in social services. At age 59, I think it’s time for me to focus
on some self-centered fun. I choose selling real estate!
I just want to point out that the support of CTSI has allowed me a full and rich life
up to now and I plan on continuing to live a soul-satisfying life until the day I die. And
I assume that CTSI will be there in the background all the way. Again, thank you CTSI.
Sincerely,
Barbara Watson, Oregon Real Estate Broker
Serving the Portland metro area and throughout rural Clackamas County
bwatson@bhgPartners.com
Siletz News Letters Policy
Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, is
published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from readers about
stories printed in Siletz News and other Tribal issues.
All letters must include the author’s signature, address, and phone number in
order to be considered for publication. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any
letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of
a letter that may contain profane language, libelous statements, personal attacks
or unsubstantiated statements.
Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, Tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for
length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142.
Please note: The general manager
of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief
of Siletz News.
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
August 2016
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
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Siletz News
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