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About Siletz news II. ([Place of publication not identified] : $b [publisher not identified]) 1989-???? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1989)
August 31,1989 Siletz News II page 2 Who's Fired, Who's Not Forgive the confusion, but I'm Andrew Viles, former editor o f the Siletz News and current writer and guest editor of the SiletzNewsII. As the story on page 1 of this paper relates, I was fired on August 25,1989. Phil Rilatos is out of town and unavailable for comment, but I think he would agree that he fired me because I failed to follow his orders. Phil had told me before that he expected all employees to follow orders given to them by supervisors. When I pressed him, Phil did say there might be some exceptions to this rule of thumb--say for instance, if he told me to jum p into a lake and I didn't know how to swim, or if Shirley told me to tattoo my arm in the laser printer. In general, if a supervisor’s order causes you to sacrifice safety or health,-then as an employee you have the right to disobey. Even with all that said, Phil believes he fired me with good reason. He didn't tell me to jum p into the lake. He merely ordered me to pull an article from the September issue of the Siletz News. Safety wasn't an issue. I've used scissors before. No danger of me cutting myself clipping out the article. So why did I refuse? I refused because I believe that tribal employees have one primary and supreme duty: to uphold the Constitution o f the Tribe. The Constitution forbids the tribal government from abridging any person's right to freedom of the press. Phil's demand that I censor an article from the September issue is a violation o f the Constitution. I refused to comply because I considered Phil's demand to be illegal. But all that is past. What I really want to talk about is what I'm up to with this new paper. With your patience, I'll ask myself some questions by way of explaining what's going on. What is this Siletz News I P It's a brand new publication written by and for members of the General Council of the Siletz Nation. The main purpose of the Siletz News II is plain and simple: Provide accurate, fair and timely news and information to Siletz tribal members. Is n 't th at w hat the old Siletz News does? Long-time readers can answer this one. All I know is that in a little over two months o f working, I was told to delete 3 articles from the tribal newsletter. During that time I was also told by tribal employees to avoid the topics of Land Acquisi tion and the proposed Community Health Clinic. I've also heard some criticisms during the years about the tribal newsletter, including com plaints about timely posting of job openings, letters to the editor not getting printed, bias against certain tribal employees and agencies, etc. W ho’s paying for th e Siletz News IP. Unlike the SiletzNews, which is supported by a BIA contract, the Siletz News II is funded entirely by private donations. This issue cost $106.02 to print, $30.00 to have the photographs screened, and $70.00 dollars to distribute. Carla Viles, through a VISA cash advance, bankrolled the entire cost. I donated my time to write articles and do the layout. W ill the Siletz News I I come out every m onth? Eventually, the plan is to have an issue every month. But right now, we're facing several obstacles. 1) We don't have addresses o f very many tribal members and it looks doubtful that the Tribal Council will give us a mailing lis t 2) The chief writer and guest editor-m e~has a family to support and needs to find a real job. 3) C arla-the woman with the V ISA -is up to hereyeballs in debt and the bank has scissors waiting for her VISA card. R a ch el B ro w n C arson an d S a ra h P ie rre display old-style C oast apron s, hats an d baskets. T h e design on P ie rre 's h a t p ro vid ed the m odel fo r the m asthead o f the Siletz News I I . Photo fro m th e T rib e 's C u ltu re P ro g ra m . Budget----------------- ------------------- - Roe voiced similar concerns. "Pm (Continued from page 1) disappointed that there isn’t more ming classes will continue. Members of the Tribe's Culture money and that we won't have a staff Committee, the body that has overseen person working for the Culture Pro the Culture Program since its start in gram next year." » In response to these comments, 1984, weren't happy with the Tribal Council decision to reduce funding of Pigsley said, "I don't think it shows a lack of recognition. It's just a different the Culture Program. "I think it will, have a negative way to provide services that all tribal impact on the Tribe," said Lori members should be interested in. And Johnson, Culture Committee member I'm also disappointed that there isn't from Portland. "The cut shows a lack more money for Culture." Pigsley added that the Siletz Tribal o f recognition for the programs and projects which already have been ac Econonic Development Corporation complished through the Culture Pro (STEDCO) will consider starting a museum project in the near future. gram." Fellow Committee member John S ile tz N e w s II was designed and laid-out in Eugene, Oregon using Pagemaker 3.0 Softw are on a M acintosh SE. The Springfield N ew s printed this edition. O n ly the name "S iletz N ew s II" and the W hat can I do to help? Send in your address and all your relatives' addresses. Pass along this copy to friends and family. W e also need more direct help—both financial support and individual tribal members willing to help out with the photography, writing, information supplying, distribution, editing, and other work involved in getting a newspaper o u t Send all help and offers to help to Siletz News II P.O. Box 152 Alvadore, OR 97409. masthead on page 1 are copyrighted and Tribal Election Board needs interested tribal members to serve during the next election. Travel cost and per diem are paid. cannot be used or reproduced without the w ritten permission o f A ndrew M . V ile s . A ll other parts o f this papers may be reprinted as long as Siletz New s I I is cited as the source. T h e masthead, de signed b y Andrew M . V ile s , first ap peared in the August, 1989 issue o f the Siletz News. The next edition o f this paper is due out soon after the w riter and guest editor finds a fu ll-tim e job. Call 1-800-922-1399 or (503) 444- 2532 for more information. Or write to C.T.S.I. Attn. Tina Jones PO Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380
