Siletz news /, April 01, 2017, Page 11, Image 11

Ed Ben: Taking care of family and Tribe
At 88, Ed Ben is the patriarch of a
large extended family that descends from
the Chetco and Tututni bands of the Con-
federated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
His parents are Archie Ben and Victo-
ria Butler-Ben. He and his wife, Dolores,
have been married 68 years and live in
Salem, Ore. They have three sons – Ger-
ald, Rodney (deceased) and Ed Jr., nine
grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
The majority of Ed’s working life was
spent at the Oregon State Penitentiary,
where he worked for 30 years as a cor-
rectional officer, then in the prison library
and finally as a personnel manager for
field services in the corrections division.
This World War II veteran says that one
of the best ways he’s given to others in his
life was during 1973-80, when he “sacri-
ficed my life” to help get the Tribe restored.
“I was part of the group that served on
the Tribal Council during that time. Some
of us who lived here in the valley traveled
to Siletz to attend meetings,” he said.
“Often we would meet in Siletz beyond
midnight, then drive home and had to be
at work and able to function the next day.”
In describing the Siletz Tribal mem-
bers and their families who served during
those years, Ed said, “I don’t think a lot
of us considered it doing more than our
parents did. Our parents, prior to termi-
nation, who served on the Tribal Council
likewise weren’t compensated; there was
no money for travel and per diem back in
those days … Our parents on the Tribal
Council didn’t have the resources people
take for granted now. People don’t realize
what those folks went through.”
Ed said the most significant thing the
Siletz Tribe has done since Restoration
in 1977 is build Chinook Winds Casino
Resort, which has helped provide the Tribe
with resources to help Tribal members.
“Health care and education were two
of our objectives – the important things
that drove us pre-restoration. We looked
at Tribes that weren’t terminated and the
number of college grads that we could
identify. Almost none of us were college
grads in 1973 … and other Tribal govern-
ments were getting their young people
into colleges. If you don’t have a Tribal
government to try to do that and you don’t
have BIA resources, we would continue to
be an Indian group that continued to lack
in education and not be self-sufficiently
providing for family.”
Taking care of the family is important
to Ed because “I was raised when family
takes care of it in the Indian community.
I think I’ve been able to hand that down
to my children. I think it’s a Tribal trait.
Another Tribal trait that we practiced –
and maybe also in the big community
– was that I never expected my wife to
provide food for my table, as in fending
for food because dad didn’t do it. I’m
proud that I acquired that trait from my
dad and I think, back in the day, that was
a Tribal thing.
“I look at what the Tribe has provided
for me since we got restored and I’m proud
to be a part of that group.”
File photo
Ed Ben
Siletz Tribal Student Incentives Program
If you have completed any of these milestones, please send a copy of your
certificate or diploma to your area education specialist. The Siletz Tribal Student
Incentive Program rewards student achievements as follows:
Head Start/Preschool
Kindergarten
Elementary School
Middle School
High School or GED
Adult Vocational Training
Higher Education
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Doctorate Degree
$10
$10
$20
$50
$100
$100 (one-year program)
$200 (two-year program)
Pendleton blanket plus $75
$300
Pendleton blanket plus $300
Tribal Education Specialists
Courtesy photos
Tribal youth take part in a clay mask workshop (below right) on March 7 at the
Portland Area Office. Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock) helped participants make all
kinds of masks. Edmo is a poet, playwright, traditional storyteller and lecturer on
Northwest Tribal culture who lives in Portland, Ore.
Adrianna Jaramillo (above) and her father work on masks.
Magdaelena Jimenez (below) helps her daughter, Magdaelena Westley, make a
mask. Gabriel Jaramillo is in the background.
Portland Area Office: Katy Kaady, 503-238-1512, 12790 SE Stark St., Suite 102,
Portland, OR 97233
Salem Area Office: Sonya Moody-Jurado, 503-390-9494, 3160 Blossom Drive
NE, Suite 105, Salem, OR 97305
Eugene Area Office: Education Specialist, 541-484-4234, 2468 W 11 th Ave.,
Eugene, OR 97402
Siletz Area Office: Alissa Lane, 541-444-8373, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380
April 2017
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Siletz News
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