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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2018)
Chairman’s Report From Matt Hill, our Tribal lobbyist in Washington, D.C.: Tribe Thanks Reps. Schrader, Walden for Tribal Labor Vote On Jan. 10, the U.S. House of Rep- resentatives passed legislation called the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, which was supported by the Tribal Council. The bill affirms the rights of Tribal governmental employers to determine their own labor practices on their own lands. The 1935 National Labor Relations Act, which provides federal protection of trade unions, has always excluded federal, state and local governments from its reach. In implementing the law, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) respected the sovereign status of Tribal governmen- tal employers for close to 70 years. For example, in the 1980s the NLRB ruled that the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs’ lumber mill was not sub- ject to the NLRA – and that the Tribe was wholly responsible for determining labor standards there. In other words – that the Tribe has sovereign authority over labor issues on its own land. More recently, however, the NLRB reversed course and has aggressively tried to assert its own jurisdiction over Tribal labor practices when it determines Tribal government employers are acting in a “commercial” rather than a “govern- mental” capacity. Such an analysis does not apply to state or local government employers. The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (H.R. 986) would prevent an unnecessary and unwarranted overreach by the NLRB into the affairs of Tribal governments. By amending the NLRA to expressly treat Tribal government employers and their enterprises and institutions the same as it treats state, local and federal government employers, H.R. 986 would provide cor- rective guidance to the NLRB and bring parity to Tribal government employers across the nation. Of the five Oregon delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives, only Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) sided with Tribes and voted for the bill. I would like to person- ally thank these congressmen for stepping up and defending Tribes from an unwar- ranted overreach from the NLRB. This legislation and their votes reaffirm Tribal governmental sovereignty. The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act passed by a vote of 239-173 and now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. Delores Pigsley Remembering our dear friend and co-worker Cathern Elizabeth Tufts, Siletz Tribal member and staff attorney for the Con- federated Tribes of Siletz Indians, passed away Jan. 23, 2018, from complications of influenza. She was 53. Cat was preceded in death by her mother, Mary. Survivors include her father, Dennis Tufts, and brother, Bill Tufts, and his wife, Mary. Kind and caring, Cat always had a smile and warm greeting for others. She could engage in conversation with anyone – from elders to youth. Hardworking and dedicated, Cat routinely worked well past quitting time. She volunteered at nearly all the elders woodcuts – among the first to show up and the last to leave. Cat was not all work and no play. A music lover, she traveled great distances with family and friends to concerts by her favorite artists, like John Prine and Lyle Lovett. Her family was a priority and she made time to enjoy their company, including annual outings such as traveling to Arizona with her dad last year to attend a Seahawks game. Cat had many wonderful qualities and touched the lives of many. She always gave her heart and soul for the betterment of the Siletz Tribe and its people and for that we are forever grateful to have known her. 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: _______________________________________________________ Elders Council Meeting Feb. 10 • 1-4 p.m. Chinook Winds Golf Resort 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 enrollment@ctsi.nsn.us. All others – call the newspaper office. Deadline for the March issue is Feb. 9. 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 2 • Siletz News • Member of the Native American Journalists Association February 2018 Nuu-wee-ya’ (our words) Introduction to the Athabaskan language Open to Tribal members of all ages Siletz Siletz Tribal Community Center Feb. 5 – 6-8 p.m. March 5 – 6-8 p.m. Portland Portland Area Office Feb. 12 – 6-8 p.m. March 12 – 6-8 p.m. Eugene Eugene Area Office Feb. 6 – 6-8 p.m. March 6 – 6-8 p.m. Salem Salem Area Office Feb. 13 – 6-8 p.m. March 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 e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
