Siletz news /, January 01, 2025, Page 9, Image 9

Siletz middle school, high school receive robotics grants
Babies!
Nova Linda Webster
Nova Linda Webster was born
Oct. 10, 2024, to Brent Webster and
Kassidy Ball. She weighed 7 pounds, 7
ounces and was 21 inches long.
By Suzanne DePoe
Siletz Valley Schools received
two VEX Robotics Google.org Grants
to enhance their STEM program
for Siletz Valley students. Ginger
Redlinger, superintendent, approved
this program after I met with her
at the Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow in
August. Thank you, Tiffany Stuart, for
introducing m e.
These two VEX V5RC Robot
Grants will be for Siletz Middle and
Siletz H igh School studen ts. Gam e
elements and game fields will be pro-
vided for the next three seasons.
Google Inc. elim inated m y job in
March 2024. I now work part time
for Robotics Education Competition
Foundation, RECF.org. I work strictly
on delivering robots and aerial drones
to Indigenous schools – BIE (Bureau
of Indian Education), Tribally con-
trolled or private/public schools with
a large population of Indigenous
students.
I delivered 21 Drone and 18 VEX
Ro b o t ics Gr a n t s t o m id d le / h igh
schools. RECF.org is creating regions
so these students can com e together
and compete against other Indigenous
students. There is an urgent need for
students to be versed with digital skills
Legal Aid Services of Oregon and the Oregon Law Center, civil legal
service providers for low-income Oregonians, operate a public benefits
hotline where low-income Oregonians can talk to lawyers and paralegals
to get advice on public benefits, including unemployment benefits:
Oregon public benefits hotline: 800-520-5292 or Oregonlawhelp.org
Courtesy photo
Youth and their robots compete at a showcase arranged by RECF.org and
the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
as technology continues to advance.
What a great way to learn these skills
through toys and gam e challenges.
RECF.org and the White Moun-
tain Apache Tribe held a showcase
even t in m id -Novem ber wh er e 77
Indigenous teams traveled from Ari-
zona, New Mexico and Oklahom a to
compete for one of the VEX Worlds
coveted spots.
I was honored to speak to the
studen ts at a din n er held the n ight
before competition began. And hon-
ored to visit with students and coaches
throughout the weekend about their
responsibilities on their teams.
Advancing our students with digi-
tal skills through competition. Feel
free to reach out – suzanne_depoe@
recf.org.
For information about the Siletz Tribal language
program, visit siletzlanguage.org.
Tribal lands, continued from page 1
Summary of Tribal land holdings
The Tribe now holds 19,159.46 acres, an increase of more than 12% from
last year (see chart below). Douglas County has the greatest acreage because
of our Tahkenitch Lake lands, followed by Lincoln County, with most of our
tim ber holdings in these two counties.
The City of Siletz and Lincoln City have almost 800 acres, all non-timber,
with more than 40 properties dedicated to Tribal member services (Tribal
clinic/Tribal housing/future recreation center/satellite clinic/pharmacy/
administration building) and income generation by the Chinook Winds Casino
and Golf Resort properties.
practices that have sustained our people and strengthened the community’s
identity and connection to our heritage.
“We are honored to steward these lands,” said Angela Sondenaa, Tribal
natural resource director. “Every acre brought into the Tribe reflects our resil-
ience and com m itm ent to safeguarding our heritage for future generations.”
These achievements mark another step forward in the Tribe’s mission to
honor our past, strengthen our community and steward the land for future
generations. Through thoughtful acquisitions, trust designations and sustain-
able stewardship, the Siletz Tribe continue to build a legacy of resilience, unity
and cultural revitalization.
Stewardship and vision
The newly acquired and protected lands provide opportunities to bridge
our past with our future. These lands add to our more than 19,000 acres of
timber. They offer Tribal members opportunities to engage with cultural tradi-
tions, hunt and fish. They serve as legacies for elders by preserving stories and
Courtesy photo by Steve Smith
Figure 2. Cape Foulweather is a landmark achievement for the Tribe.
Regaining these 27 acres of ancestral homelands is a profound victory,
marking the return of undeveloped oceanfront property first taken by the
federal government. With support from partners and a $2.01 million NOAA
grant, we reclaim our past and build a legacy of resilience for the future.
This land reflects our cultural and ecological heritage, and its preservation
will inspire restoration efforts.
January 2025
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Siletz News
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