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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2026)
SILETZ NEWS Siletz News Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman Kurtis Barker Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Vol. 54, No. 02 Presorted First-Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid - Permit No. 178 Salem, OR February 2026 All tribal offices will be closed February 16, in observance of President’s Day. Newly remodeled basement opens as hub for community health and wellness By Ruby Moon, Siletz community health manager The Siletz Community Health Clinic is pleased to announce its new Health and Wellness Center, opening Feb. 17, 2026. The basement renovation was determined essential with the rapid growth of the clinic and the services it provides to the community. The base- ment had historically been used as storage for programs within the clinic but was identified as a potential space that could be developed to streamline and expand services. In January 2024, grant funding was identified that allowed the tribe to move forward with a plan to renovate Photo by Andy Taylor the basement space and turn it into a working service area. The full project took 13 months from formal planning to move-in ready. The Health and Wellness Center features 23 offices, two consult rooms, a community room and kitchen, designed to serve as a welcoming, multipurpose space. The Health and Wellness Center will now host a wide range of tribal programs focused on improving health outcomes, strengthening pre- vention efforts and supporting overall well-being. Central to the namesake, the newly renovated space will be home Health, on page 10 The unfinished kitchen, in the new Health and Wellness Center Siletz tribes seek to limit motorboats along river to protect ancestral fishing grounds By April Ehrlich, OPB.org Oregon tribal members are asking regulators to prohibit motorized boats in part of the Siletz River to protect fish and recreation. In early 2025, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians submitted a rulemaking petition to prohibit all motorboats upstream of Jack Morgan Park in a stretch of about 28 miles of navigable water. The river’s lower 27-mile stretch, draining into the Pacific Ocean south of Lincoln City, would remain open to motorboats. The Siletz River runs through the tribes’ ancestral lands, as well as reservation properties owned by the tribes. Tribal members say motorboats can harm steelhead and salmon, par- ticularly during early spawning stages. Motorboats also give anglers an unfair advantage, tribal members say, since they can more easily motor upstream and drift through the same fishing holes compared to anglers who don’t use motorboats. File photo River, on page 12 The Siletz River at Hee Hee Illahee Park A future of opportunity for Native American entrepreneurs with ONABEN By Andy Taylor For more than thirty years, Our Native American Business Network (ONABEN) has stood as a powerful advocate for Native American entre- preneurs, native innovation, cultural strengths, as well as tribal focused economic independence. This tribal led initative brings success to and resources to Indigenous people. Founded in 1991 by participating Oregon tribes, ONABEN was cre- ated in direct response to the lack of accessible, culturally aligned business resources for native communities. The organization has expanded from an Oregon based resource with its home base located in Portland, Ore., to holding offices in Oregon and Oklahoma. This resource will continue to fulfill that purpose with dedication, ensuring that native entrepreneurs seeking financial independence have the tools, training, and support they need to thrive. ONABEN’s mission is deeply rooted in uplifting the community. They promote advanced economic development for native people through culturally relevant pro- grams that foster a relationship with creation, business development, and financial empowerment. ONABEN, on page 9 The evolution of SNAP and its role as a defense against starvation By Andy Taylor The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, has undergone significant transfor- mation since beginning during the Great Depression. Although its structure, policies, and methods of distributing benefits have changed over the decades, its core purpose has remained constant. SNAP exists as a last resort pro- gram designed to prevent starvation among America’s most vulnerable residents. Even as it has modernized, the program continues to serve as a critical lifeline for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. The first iteration of the pro- gram was established in 1939 in direct response to two simultaneous national crises: widespread hunger and an agricultural surplus that was forcing farmers into financial ruin. The government sought a solu- tion that would meet both needs. To provide food to those who could not afford it, while also creating a market for excess farm goods. Additionally this supported America’s farmers, who still today are the backbone of agriculture, feeding our citizens. Early in the program, participants purchased “orange stamps” equal to their normal food spending. For each dollar of orange stamps bought, recipients received 50 cents in “blue SNAP, on page 13
