2
February 1992
To the Editor:
Recently a very interesting
and important article by Tribal
Member Mr. Blacketer appeared in
our paper.
It related to
discrim ination within our own
ethnic family as Indians.
The discrimination
he
described he and his family
encountered was one of a type
many of us have long endured
because
of
our
p h ysica l
characteristics—the way God made
us, because we identify as Indians
but are not "full bloods", having
varying degrees of Indian blood in
our bodies. But we do not possess
as must full, or near full bloods do,
the looks of the traditionally
stereo-typical Native American.
The few who do and might
on occasion and through ignorance,
have made uncomplimentary or
derogatory remarks questioning
another's ethnicity due to his/her
"looks", or call them as I was once
called—a "token Indian", should
examine their consciences deeply.
This brings to mind a story
I have recently read by a Canadian
m inister,
Rev.
A.L.
Macky,
describing the great difficulty
H ebrews
in
b ib lic a l
tim es
experienced when passing through
Samaria to get to Galilee.
In the New Testament,
John (4:3-4) tells that Jesus "left
Judea, and departed again in
Galilee. And he must go through
Samaria." In those days that would
be traveling from a southern
section of Palestine (Judea), north
through what is now west Jordan
(Samaria), on to Galilee in northern
Palestine.
Samaria was a place the
Jews hated to travel through not
because it was not a beautiful
place, but because the Samaritans
did not welcome them and they
were sure to get a bad time while
going through. Why? Because the
Samaritans were also Jews,, but
were of mixed heathon blood. They
had intermarried with non-Jews-
a big "no-no" for that time!
Hebrews outside of Samaria, the
general Jewish communities, hated
and disrespected the Samaritans
for this, so when they traversed
the roads of Samaria, Samaritans
returned the hate and hostility in
full measure in retaliation.
There is a lesson in this.
Just because you do not happen to
be 100%. of one thing—or a full
blood, does not diminish your
worthiness as a human being.
Since most civilized people do (and
will continue to ) intermarry, their
offspring will follow biological
norms, and full-blooded or-lesser
blooded degree parents will have
lighter children. This should never
rob the children of their cultural
identities and values.
We have suffered enough
during the past 4 centuries. Let's
not now allow tension and
animosity or discrimination of any
kind to penetrate our tribal trust
and respect for each other.
Joe Lane Sr.
,
THANK YOU:
On November 16, 1991, a
four hour long, buffet-style dinner
was enjoyed by over 225 people at
the Siletz Community Center. In
recognition of the efforts of those
many people involved, a special
thank-you is hereby given. Thanks
to
the
T rib a l
C ouncil
fo r
contributing funds for the purchase
of food.
Thanks
to
the
Hunting/Fishing Liaison and the
Siletz Valley Lockers for providing
salmon, venison roasts and elk
burger.
Thanks to the STEDCO
Smokehouse for smoking up the
salmon so deliciously and then
arranging for its delivery to Siletz.
Thanks to tribal maintenance for
cleaning the kitchen grills and
unlocking the center early on
Saturday morning. Thanks to my
fellow Culture and Sacred Lands
Preservation Committee members
and their families for all of their
time and energy given for the
preparation and service of the 11-
course buffet.
Thanks to the
Committee staff-representative for
setting up a photographic exhibit
and thanks also along with the
Central Office staff and Accounting
staff for handling all of the
necessary administrative details.
Thanks to the Whipman for his
invocation. Thanks to Little Miss
Siletz Danielle and Princess Natasha
for their help serving. Thanks to
those e specially kind-hearted
volunteers helping in the kitchen
and also to those generous visitors
who brought desserts.
This year's celebration
marked 14 years since the
Congressional Act of 1977 which
restored federal recognition for our
Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Indians. A special thanks to all of
you who came to the center to help
mark the occasion as one of
importance. And for those of you
who were not able to be there, you
were missed.
you
My best regards to all of
Chairman, Culture/Sacred Lands
Preservation Committee
EDITORS NOTE:
Recently we received this letter
from West Germany for Pen Pals. I
have taken the liberty of editing it
some. It is exciting to know that
people in Europe know of us.
HELLO!
My name is Tina. I am 22
years old and I live in Germany. I
have a daughter who is
1 1 /2
years old and a very nice dog
(husky).
I am interested
to know
more of the history of Indians in
America, and I would like to know
something about life on the
reservations today.
This way I
hope to become acquainted with
some new friends. Perhaps it will
be possible sometime to meet
someone personally.
I would like a pen pal. If
someone would like to write to me,
my address is:
Tina Erlmoser
Wittelsbacheistr 14
8445 Schwarzach
West Germany
(Remember, oversees postage is
higher, so it would be a good idea to
have your letter weighed at the
post office)
THANK YOU:
I was born in Newport and
spent my early childhood at Seal
Rock which was then a summer
resort.
My father built many of
the cottages and acted as
caretaker.
We also sold milk,
butter, eggs, garden produce, and
wood to the cottagers. I remember
the 4th of July Celebration at
Newport.
How I watched the
Indians dances.
My father's mother died
when he was only about 3 and a
half years old, so I never knew my
own grandmother, but her close
fr ie n d
J u lia
M a g g in s o n
grandmothered my brother and I.
To me she embodied what all
Indians were like, and I was very
proud of my Indian blood. I do not
remember ever being made fun of
because of my Indian nationality. I
think this was largely because I
was so proud of it. One time when
a new boy came to school he made
a discouraging remark, that I do
not even remember, another boy
spoke up quickly, "You can't tease
her, she's proud of it."
And now as I become
acquainted with the people who are
putting so much time and energy
into the effort, to make life better
for all of us, and to preserve our
tribal identity, I am still proud of
my Indian heritage, and I wish to
thank those who work so faithfully
to protect it.
Thank you one and all, and
have a good Christmas Season.
Sincerely
Maxine fell and hurt her
bones,
Now we find we're all alone,
Work is lonely, Days go slow,
We miss your friendly face
aglow,
Get well soon and come back
to this place
So we can see your smiling
face!
Letters to the Editor
All letters received
will be printed. Please type or
w rite legible, no profane
language w ill be printed.
LETTERS THAT EXCEED 350
WORDS IN LENGTH WILL BE
EDITED.
All letters must
Include your name and address.
Send letters to : Siletz News,
P.O. Box 549, Siletz, Oregon
97380.
PLEASE NOTE: The
General Manager of the Siletz
Tribe is the Chief Editor of the
Siletz Newsletter.
SILETZ NEWS DEADLINE
February 15, 1992
mall articles and B/W photos to:
Siletz News, P.O. Box 549,
Siletz, Oregon 97380
Tribal Members:
Greetings again. Since I've
started this information article,
I've received a total of 193 letters
from individuals. I use the word
Individuals because one-third of the
letters were received from non-
Indians. It was very interesting to
learn the many types of people that
follow their tax monies and read
our tribal paper. So far 72% say
"Throw the bums out," 18% say
"Let's keep what we have and be
glad we did," 10% are undecided.
Next I'd like to comment on
a current
Tribal Councilman's
comments: I have never personally
attacked any Tribal Council/Tribal
Member. I have reflected only upon
and from tribal records. If I have
misrepresented those records, I
w ill apologize in this Newsletter
and at General Council. But first,
you must prove to me that those
records on hand during my Tribal
C ouncil tenure were indeed
inaccurate.
The civil codes that
were handed to me by Council do
not reflect any truth on your part.
Secondly - I did not personally
(Continued on Page 3)
Velma Redmer