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About Siletz news. (Siletz, Oregon) 1983-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1987)
PAGE 2 - SILETZ, OREGON, MARCH, 1987 Chairman’s Report The recent election left the Council unchanged. Congratulations Bud, Frank and Art. I believe it shows that tribal members want us to continue the kind ot leadership we have provided over the years. The tasks of the tribal council regarding STEDCO and Land Acquisition continue to be a priority. The Council needs to give STEDCO its continued support, both finan cially and politically. Discussions at the candidates’ fairs and at the General Council meetings indicate that economic development remains the number one concern of tribal members. STEDCO was created to assume responsibility for that development and is functioning quite well. It is assuming its responsibilities aggressively and professionally. If you have concerns, please come to one of its meetings and be heard. I believe the preliminary work on land acquisition is completed and it is time to prepare a bill and present it to Congress. I intend to push aggressively within the next few months for a final resolution of the issue. While we work to complete our projects, we still need to move on to other areas of concern. At a recent planning meeting of the Council, we took a hard look at what we are in business to do. Based on that meeting, I am in the pro cess of formulating an agenda which will address the following matters. We must do even more to save our history and preserve everything that remains of our past. Every tribal member needs the opportunity to learn our history and what re mains of our language and culture so that we understand what we were and what we are now. Our first language class is set for March 28,1987 at the Community Center. We need a greater effort to foster togetherness among tribal members. I intend to push for new community func tions involving both cultural and recreational activities. We need to focus on helping our undereducated people. Tribal members are smart, capable individuals, but many suffer from lack of educational opportunities or missed opportunities in public schools. We need to identify and establish programs to fill those gaps in education and training so that our people, are more employable in better, higher paying jobs. I would prefer to utilize our resources to help members achieve the permanent ability to help . themselves rather than grant temporary aid for financial difficulties. . Our Tribe needs to become more active in developing national and state policies that affect our membership. We have a new Governor and will soon have a new Presi dent. New policies will be formulated, many will have a direct impact on us all. A good example is the National Health Insurance proposal. It is an issue which will affect many of our people. We should study the proposals and ac tively support the one that is best for us. Another example is the development of new forest management plans for national forests. The draft plan for the Siuslaw National Forest indicates that allowable' timber harvests will be reduced drastically. Since tribal members long have depended upon jobs in the timber in dustry, I believe we should take a close look at this and other plans to determine if appropriate consideration has been given to the welfare of our people. Our new Governor has proposed an agenda which will affect the ability of our members to participate in social - welfare programs, take advantage of economic opportuni ty and benefit from the State’s education system. We should not go unheard in the development of Mr. Goldschmidt’s programs and policies. I believe most of our Council members recognize their responsibilities to work for the best interest of the Tribe. I will encourage the Council to develop a list of priorities and develop plans to make our voice heard. Please let me know your thoughts. "Opinions Questions Concerns" All letters received will be printed. Please type or write legible, no profane language will be printed. All letters must include your name and address. Send letters to: "Siletz News", P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR. 97380. Questions? Call 444-2536. Letters To Editor To the Editor, I would like to thank all of the people who supported me in the February Tribal Coun cil election. 1 would also like to thank the other candidates who ran, for making the ef fort they did. It has been an honor serving our people for the last three years and I look forward to the next three. 1987 will be a challeng ing year for our Tribal government. Major steps in our L and A cq u isitio n , Economic D evelopm ent, Cultural Preservation and Housing Development ef forts will be taken. With in put and support from all of us, I’m positive we will be successful in these fields as well as others. I look forward to the work that needs to be done and I hope to see you at our various Tribal meetings. Sincerely, Alfred Lane III Tribal Vice-Chairman Siletz, Oregon Dear Tribal Members, I want to publicly state my appreciation to the seventy- nine tribal members who ex pressed confidence in my candidacy at the recent tribal Council elections. I also commend all tribal members who took the time and effort to vote and en courage those that didn’t to participate next year. In view of the potential responsibility of serving on Council, I consider this can didacy as one of my most challenging, and yet satisfy ing, experiences. I learned a great deal in traveling to each area’s candidates’ fair. I was impressed by the number and scope of ques tions and concerns express ed by tribal members. These covered a variety of topics — education, culture, tribal membership requirements, elders, economic develop ment, and attention to tribal members’ needs throughout the 11-county service area. I encourage all of you to con tinue this dialogue with your leadership at regular Tribal Council and General Council meetings. In closing, again, I thank you for your support. I hope it continues. I hope it grows. And, I hope that you’ll ex press it again at next year’s election. Respectfully Yours, Bonnie M. Petersen Dear Editor, The disease of alcoholism is an obsession of the mind, coupled with a physical com pulsion. Alcohol has become the ruler of the mind and the. body has an irrestible im pulse to do something irra tional. Most people can use alcohol and take it or leave it as they choose, but once the phenomenoma of craving begins, it is impossible to satisfy the thirst and that is when a person is an alco holic, it is usually well past the drinking of choice, that is to stop when desired. This disease is not limited to any one race, group or class of people. It strikes everyone, the well educated, wealthy, low-income, men, women, boys and girls. It will have the same effect on all. When a person has an il lness such as cancdr, others are sympathic and will offer help and encouragement. This is not so with alcholism, in fact it is just the opposite. People Will look with scorn a t the affected person, though they need help desperately, few will extend themselves. They are not a pretty lot, but help is avail able. The disease can be ar rested, it cannot be cured. Once addicted to alcohol it is forever. It can be reversed, even though a person stops using alcohol, the disease progresses. After a long dry spell, a person starts using again, it will be as if one never stopped. The only chance of recovery is com plete abstinence. I have become involved with the Lincoln County Alcohol and Drug Preven tion Program and l am am alcoholic. Janet Dair, the Tribal Alcoholic Counselor and myself would like to set up a support system for anyone that may have a problem with alcohol or drugs, or for someone that lives with'the problem. Call 444-2532, ext. 43. Walt Klamath To the Editqr, Special thanks to all Tribal members who supported me in the recent Tribal Council election. At the last General Council meeting there seemed to be a very good turnout and it was such a good meeting. But I noticed our American Donations Requested Working Mother My working mother works night and day trying to please everyone in every Anette Smith, member of the Newport Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, is requesting donations of trihal artifacts or crafts which they can sell during their National Con- ■ ference. All proceeds from the sale of these items would go to Bacone College in Oklahoma, a college for Native Americans. If anyone has any items to donate, beadwork, basketry or other; please contact Anette at 265-7045 before April 1, 1987. All donations will list who donated the arti cle and what tribe they are from. way. She does her share and even more. She keeps her temper though tim es are hard always keeping things in line. Even when her .boss may yell she’s always ready for her next duty. She’ll go out and get ’em cause she’s got PRIDE and she’s my mother. Submitted by Alison Jones 2/5/87 Committee Appointments Timber Committee Frank Simmons Bud Lane Art Bensell Manuel Rilatos Robert Rilatos, Jr. Education Committee Mike Darcy Gloria Werth Cheryl Lane Bey Owen Sharon Butler Mary Fisher Health Committee Alta Courville Pauline Ricks Cindy Viles Culture Committee Lori Johnson Bud Lane Mary Viles John Roe Marty McMahon Lillie Butler Bonnie Petersen Pow-W ow Committee Bonnie Petersen Shirley Strickler Kristi Martin Denise Wilson Janice Metcalf Jessie Davis Bill Towner Alta Courville Hunting & Fishing Committee Pete Downey Benny Marzan Gary Butler ’Frank Simmons Bristo Bayya Danny Rilatos Everett Downey Sacred Lands Preser. Comm. Mary Alice Muncey Pete Downey Art Bensell Mary Fisher Pauline Ricks Gary Butler George Baker CHANGE OF ADDRESS flag was not displayed inside a t the speakers’ platform. This to me is sad. Why can’t we have “Old Glory’’ wave on the days permissible, bar ring bad , weather and so forth? Our Tribal Center should have the flag out each day without fail. Another important factor, and possibly so to other tribal members, is to look at our present Tribal Council and see just how many are very close relatives. Four are brothers and sisters, two m o re a r e v e r y c lo s e relatives. Why can’t we have more of a distribution of tribal members on the Coun cil that are not so close relatives? This is something the Election Board should consider in the future, it’s more important than having our own language. Thanks Kindly, Martha “Marty” McMahon Tribal Member or ADDRESS CORRECTION Old or Incorrect Address: Name(s)________ ________ _____________ ______ _________ _ Address____________ •______ ' ____________ __________ City_____________________ ____________________________ State/Zip Code____________________________ ___________ N e w or C o rrect Address: Name(s)________________ ______________________T_______ Address ___________________ _________________ _ City_______________________________________ I_________ State/Zip Code______________ ___________ •_____ - M a il to "S ile tz N e w s " P.O. Box 549 S iletz, O R. 97380 -
