Chairman’s Report
American Rescue Plan
Housing
By the time you read this, President
Joe Biden will have signed the American
Rescue Plan that will assist all Americans
during these trying times. Our Oregon
congressmen have worked hard on our
(Tribe’s) behalf to assure that we are
designated funds for the interruption of
our governments and lives because of the
shutdowns the COVID virus has caused.
The 10 new workforce housing units
in Lincoln City were completed last
month. Council and staff had a ribbon-
cutting event. They are beautiful and are
designated as low-income and affordable-
income homes (see photo on page 1).
Our Tribal Housing staff did a great job
planning and delivering.
Through our Tribal partnership with the
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), we used available space on Logan
Road in Lincoln City to enable FEMA to
place 16 emergency homes on this site.
The trailers are fully equipped for
occupancy by victims of the wildfires that
we experienced last fall. The homes are
temporary and will be in use until perma-
nent homes are found for the unfortunate
folks who lost their homes.
The homes come fully furnished with
all utilities and furniture, even blankets for
the beds. According to FEMA officials, it
will take 18-24 months to help locate per-
manent homes. All of the infrastructure
was completed by FEMA.
When the homes are vacated, the Tribe
will then own the homes. FEMA will be in
charge of assigning and managing them.
Our Siletz Tribal Business Corporation
staff assisted with this project that was
completed unusually fast. The City of Lin-
coln City also assisted in passing a change
to the city ordinance to allow this event.
The legislation contains resources to
help address the health and resource prob-
lems created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of $350 billion is designated for
Tribal, state and local governments, of this
amount $20 billion is set aside for Tribal
governments.
Another $11 billion will provide addi-
tional funding for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Indian Health Service and various
other agencies that serve Tribal govern-
ments. It’s not clear how the money will
be distributed to Tribes at this time.
Elections
Tribal elections were held success-
fully. Our Election Board is composed of
staff volunteers (but because no one else
volunteers, they are assigned this duty).
The Tribal Council will review the Elec-
tion Ordinance to make necessary changes
to the ordinance so there is a clear process
to respond to questions and issues that
arise during the election.
Thank you to the staff who have
worked so diligently to assure we have
fair elections.
Chemawa Station LLC
Our first business, Chick-fil-A, is in
the process of building on the Chemawa
Station property in Keizer.
Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12
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Siletz News
•
April 2021
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
Getting businesses in place has been
a long slow process. Since obtaining
the property from the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, the Tribe had to go to Congress
to get official action changing the title on
the land to the Siletz and Grand Ronde
Tribes. We will have a lease in place for a
gas station-mini-mart soon and hopefully
other businesses will follow.
Across Chemawa Road, the Keizer
Station property has been very success-
ful. Our property is much smaller and
we’re hoping with the success of these two
businesses, others will follow.
Memorial Day
If we continue on a downward trend
with the COVID virus, we will have a
Memorial Day Ceremony this year. The
event will be outside with all protocols
in place to stay safe and we will have a
speaker to enjoy.
Every year the cemetery is decorated
so beautifully by lots of people and I would
like to see us pay tribute to those folks
who are no longer with us. Food will not
be provided but we will have a short cer-
emony with our veterans at the memorial.
Delores Pigsley
U.S. Department of the Interior
Former Congresswoman Deb Haaland
from New Mexico was confirmed as the
first American Indian Secretary of the
Interior. She received a lot of Tribal sup-
port, we are extremely happy she has been
selected and confirmed by U.S. Senate (see
article on page 1).
Elders Council Meeting
The Elders Council will hold a virtual Zoom meeting on Saturday, April 10,
2021, at 1 p.m. If you are interested in participating in the virtual meeting from
your phone, computer or smart phone, please contact Brian Crump in the Elders
Program at 541-444-8233 by Wednesday, April 7, 2021.