Siletz news /, January 01, 2019, Image 1

SILETZ NEWS
Siletz News
Confederated Tribes of
Siletz Indians
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Delores Pigsley,
Tribal Chairman
Brenda Bremner,
General Manager
and Editor-in-Chief
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Vol. 47, No. 1
Presorted
First-Class
Mail
U.S. Postage
Paid - Permit
No. 178
Salem, OR
January 2019
Jenkins retires from Siletz Tribal Athletic Commission he helped found
By Heather Hatton, Public Relations
Manager, Chinook Winds Casino Resort
Dec. 31, 2018, was the last day for Lee
Jenkins as a member of the Siletz Tribal
Athletic Commission. Some people like
sports, Lee Jenkins loves them.
When you talk to him though, you can
feel his love of boxing. And as you talk
to him among the three other commis-
sioners – Lillie Butler, Gerald Smith and
Barry Kessinger – you see the friendships
and the camaraderie that has built over
the years. They are a small but mighty
group of individuals who work hard to
keep sporting events safe for the partici-
pants and protect in terms of rules and
regulations.
His passion is why in 1997 Lee helped
create the Siletz Athletic Commission.
He was instrumental in bringing in many
fights over the years, including Sugar Ray
Leonard, Butterbean, amateur boxing
and his favorite, the Fernando Vargas vs.
Winky Wright fight in 1999.
“That was my first fight as a com-
missioner. It was neat to be around all of
those boxers. The energy was exciting,”
said Jenkins.
Jenkins is turning in his commission
gloves for much-needed time traveling
with his lovely wife, Mollie.
Jenkins is an Army veteran of the
Vietnam War. He is very humble in his
answers when asked about his contribu-
tion to the commission. He started his love
of boxing in the gym, helping youth build
confidence and pride. Over the years he
spent much of his time working with the
City of Portland at a community center
and also helped start the Vancouver PAL
(Police Activity League) Boxing Club.
Jenkins started his time on athletic
commissions by serving on the Portland
Boxing and Wrestling Commission from
1985-1987 before the State Athletic Com-
mission was formed. He was one of the
first members of the Oregon State Box-
ing and Wrestling Commission and was
actually appointed to that position by then
Governor Neil Goldschmidt (secretary of
state at the time was Barbara Roberts).
After serving a few years on the state
commission, Jenkins became a founding
member of the Siletz Tribal Athletic Com-
mission. Bruce Anderson is the person
who spoke with Lee to discuss the benefits
of having the Tribe put together its own
athletic commission for boxing and soon
to be other major sporting events.
Jenkins loved to box and share his
love of boxing with youth. Mike Darcy
Courtesy photo by Angela Ramirez
Lee Jenkins
and Reggie Butler met with Lee and they
formed the first Siletz Tribal Athletic
Commission in 1997.
Shortly after the commission was
formed, the members set up several big
fights. Commotion at the Ocean in 1999
is Jenkins’ favorite fight.
“Those fights were fun meeting all of
the boxers. The staff at Chinook Winds
were always great. The energy was great,”
he said.
After the Commotion at the Ocean
series, all of which were pro fights, the
commission began a series of amateur
bouts called Battle at the Beach.
“The amateur bouts are my passion.
I had boxed since I was 8 years old and
stopped when I was around 40. I coached
and worked with youth athletes over the
years and loved it,” said Jenkins.
He found that his passion was really
in the youth arena, making sure they
boxed safely. That’s why he stayed with it
for so long, it was for the kids. Some of
his youth boxers started boxing in the pro
arena in 2006.
“It was very exciting to coach them
and see them turn pro to fight,” said
Jenkins. He very seldom encouraged
young people to turn pro unless they had
performed to a high enough level in the
amateur arena because he knows the dif-
ficulty of excelling in the pro ranks.
When asked why he is retiring now, he
said, “In November 2016 I was diagnosed
with prostate cancer. I went through sur-
gery, radiation and chemo. In 2017 I wasn’t
See Jenkins on page 8
Bipartisan bill to protect endangered salmon
and steelhead passes Senate without objection
Passage of legislation underscores bipartisan urgency to protect ESA-listed
salmon, steelhead from predatory sea lions threatening their existence
Photo by Diane Rodriquez
General Manager Brenda Bremner (left) and Administrative Manager Sharon
Edenfield (right) wrap Gregg Gubuan in a Tribal Pendleton blanket.
Employee of the Year
Gregg Gubuan
Chief Finance Officer
From the nomination form: The Siletz Tribe has greatly benefited from Gregg’s
hard work for almost 20 years. Throughout his years of service, he has saved
the Tribe millions of dollars. He is instrumental in audit compliance, economic
development, investments, banking and countless other areas. He is a selfless
worker who has always been willing to take on duties and assist staff and depart-
ments in any way that he can. From Minor Trust to the Siletz Tribal Revolving
Credit program, the list is countless. Gregg’s dedication to the betterment of the
Siletz Tribe, employees and the Tribal members has always been the priority in
his working years here.
WASHINGTON – Critical bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Jim Risch
(R-ID) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to protect Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed
tsalmon and steelhead from extinction has passed the Senate without objection.
The entire Northwest Senate delegation, including U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR),
Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), have cosponsored
S.3119, the Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act, emphasizing how critical this
legislation is to the existence of salmon and steelhead in the interconnected Northwest
waterways. The House was expected to consider the bill before the end of the year.
“Idaho’s efforts to restore populations of endangered salmon and steelhead in the
Columbia River has been significantly compromised by predatory sea lions,” said Risch.
“Passage of this legislation will help ensure vibrant, healthy populations for years to
come. I encourage my colleagues in the House to pass this bill expeditiously.”
“Wild salmon play a critical role in the economy, culture and Tribal treaty rights
of the Pacific Northwest,” Cantwell said. “As endangered salmon face extinction, we
must take steps to protect them. Science-based predation management will allow state
and Tribal wildlife officials to protect vulnerable salmon populations and the orcas
that feed on them.”
“Salmon are critical to Oregon’s economy, culture and heritage, and it’s clear that sea
lions are creating a serious threat to the very survival of endangered salmon,” Merkley
said. “I’m glad we could find a bipartisan path forward to address this problem in a
targeted way that enables equitable Tribal management and does not materially impact
sea lion populations.”
“For too long, predatory sea lions have been taking an unhealthy chomp out of
Oregon’s salmon and steelhead stocks. This bill applies a reasoned, collaborative
approach to address, in a permanent manner, sea lion predation on endangered salmon
and steelhead,” said Wyden. “This bill took a long time to negotiate. There were a lot of
interests with stakes in this process, including multiple states and many Tribal nations.
This bipartisan compromise shows that Congress can still function, in a bipartisan way.”
“Predatory sea lions on the Lower Columbia River have had a dramatic impact on
the steelhead and salmon populations across the Northwest,” said Crapo. “This bipar-
See Salmon on page 2