Chairman’s Report
First Peoples Fund
The First Peoples Fund is a nonprofit
founded in 1995 to honor and support
Tribal artists and culture bearers. Its office
is located in Rapid City, S.D., and its board
members are made up of several Tribes
across the U.S. It provides trainings and
promotes community-level and entrepre-
neurial spirit.
In July I was invited to participate
on a panel with two other Tribal leaders
to discuss Siletz history as well as Tribal
sovereignty. The event occurred at the
Kennedy Center for Performing Art in
Washington, D.C.
Several training sessions were held as
well as a wonderful performance by Tribal
people on the many issues that face Tribes.
It was actually a sold out performance.
The casino still operates on reduced
hours because of the labor shortage. Most
COVID restrictions have been reduced.
An increase in COVID cases in the area,
according to weekly and daily reports,
has been a concern for casino and Tribal
administration.
The casino did have a great anniver-
sary weekend!
Siletz Valley Charter School
Siletz Valley Charter School principal
Sam Tupou recently left the school. The
school board will work toward replacing
him.
Tribal member Kent Rilatos was
recently hired by the board. Welcome,
Kent!
Negotiations with ODFW
Chinook Winds
The Tribal Council approved hiring a
new general manager for Chinook Winds
Resort Casino. His name is Harold Bau-
gus; he comes to us from Tucson, Ariz.,
and started on July 25.
We very much appreciate John
Wheeler serving as our interim general
manager for the past eight months.
Negotiations with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife have continued.
We are close to a final agreement that will
be presented at the General Council meet-
ing this month (see agenda on page 4).
We have great support from the gov-
ernor as well as our congressional delega-
tion to see this process through and be rid
of the Consent Decree.
Elders Council Meeting
The Elders Council meeting scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13,
has been canceled.
The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m.
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 September
issue is Aug. 10.
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
•
August 2022
Member of the Native American
Journalists Association
Pow-Wow update
We will have a one-day Siletz pow-
wow on Government Hill on Aug. 13 (see
page 1). It will not be a contest pow-wow;
we will have vendors and a salmon dinner.
Hope to see you all there.
Salem casino
The Tribe is addressing issues raised
in the property’s environmental assess-
ment for the Salem casino. The project has
been supported by the community and I
have made presentations to anyone who
asks for information.
Siletz Community Clinic
Interviews are currently taking place
for the director of the Siletz Clinic. Marci
Muschamp left the clinic for another
position outside of the Tribe. It is hoped
we will have a new director in place very
soon.
Delores Pigsley
See you all at the pow-wow!
Siletz Tribal offices will close at noon on Friday,
Aug. 12, prior to the Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow on
Saturday, Aug. 13.
Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5,
for the Labor Day holiday.