Chairman’s Report
COVID
We are still in masks and social dis-
tancing, but we can see a light at the end
of the tunnel. The Tribal Council held a
workshop in June on our current emer-
gency plan. We discussed what will take
place in Phase 2. Final action needs to
take place but we are looking at having
some folks return to work effective July 1.
Under this plan, employees can begin
to return to work and some will still be
allowed to work from home. The clinic
would be fully staffed. Wearing masks
will still be required and some travel will
be allowed.
The Siletz Clinic reported that 92%
of clinic staff has been vaccinated and
88% of administrative staff has been vac-
cinated. They have administered 9,500
vaccinations.
Having said that, we still have a ways
to go for community vaccinations. Lin-
coln County is in good shape with more
than 70% accomplished, so please if you
haven’t had your shots get them scheduled.
Thank you.
Sen. Merkley
Bud Lane and I participated in Sen.
Jeff Merkley’s Lincoln County Town Hall
meeting in early June. We gave updates
on COVID responses, housing updates
and our work with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
He was so pleased with the Tribe’s
work that he recognized us in the U.S.
Congress (see page 9). The Tribe also will
receive a flag flown over the White House.
Salem casino
The Salem casino application to have
the land taken into trust is still pending
approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
in Washington, D.C. Recently a website
was established to turn residents against
a casino in Salem and leaflets have been
mailed to voters, but the Tribe will con-
tinue to pursue building a casino in Salem.
House of Tears – Lummi Tribal
members
I earlier had reported on the House
of Tears visiting historical sites as they
visited the Chemawa Cemetery and held
a ceremony. In late May, the House of
Tears, Lummi artists Jewell James fam-
ily and organizer Fred Lane brought the
beautiful 24-foot-totem to Chinook Winds
Casino (see page 14). The group was
touring coastal Tribes to ask for support
for treaties, Indigenous rights, clean air,
clean water and much more. Tribal offi-
cials greeted the group along with Native
Hawaiians, casino staff and casino visitors.
Delores Pigsley
The totem is beautiful and represents
all Tribal issues. It will be taken back to
Bellingham, Wash., before continuing its
journey to other Tribes as it travels across
the U.S. making its way to the White House.
For more information about the Siletz Tribe, visit ctsi.nsn.us.
Tenas Illahee Childcare Center
Board of Directors Vacancies
Résumés are being accepted for the Tenas Illahee Childcare Center Board of
Directors. Currently, there are two vacant board positions.
If interested, please submit your résumé to Siletz Tribal Council, c/o Execu-
tive Secretary, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549.
Vacancies are open until filled.
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: _______________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________________________
Change of address: Tribal members – contact the Enrollment Department
at 541-444-8258; 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; or enrollment@ctsi.nsn.us. All oth-
ers – call the newspaper office.
Deadline for the August issue
is July 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 submit-
ting items for Passages.
541-444-8291 or
800-922-1399, ext. 1291
Fax: 541-444-2307
Email: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
2
•
Siletz News
•
July 2021
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
Elders Council Meeting
The Elders Council will hold a virtual Zoom meeting on Saturday, July 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, July 7, 2021.