Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1992)
2 June 1992 L etters . . . . . DEAR TRIBAL MEMBERS: Thank-you for crowning me Little Miss Siletz. Special thanks goes to Kitti Hostler and Natasha Kavanaugh for sup porting me through the'time that I represented the Tribe. I would also like to thank Reggie and Lee Butler, Paul Whitehead, Sonya Moody-Jurado, Pat Darcy and Kimberly Thomas and a lot of the community mem bers. To the adult advisors of the Siletz Royalty, I needed you to defend me and to back me up when there was unfair criticism. I needed you to point out my mistakes and to help me to correct them. Those of you who did criticize and gossip about me, I needed you to support me in doing a better job as Little Miss Siletz. I'd like to apologize for the smart remarks that I made to. a girl at the Title V pow wow while I was royalty, I would like to suggest that in the future there be a pageant coordinator or advisor with the Little Miss Siletz Royalty at all events so that there can be discussions about their behavior at the pow wow that they will be at and other things that have to do with the Royalty. I didn't give up my crown, I had it taken away. I would like everyone to know that my feelings were hurt Very badly and I hope that you can understand how I feel. I wouldn't like any future Little Miss Siletz to lose their crown the way that I did and I hope that they won't be criticized like I was either. I hope that the people who run for Jr. Miss or Miss Siletz realize how hard it is. It takes a lot of responsibility to be Little Miss or Miss Siletz. I would like people to know that everything I have done and all the functions I have gone to I was on my own. Thank You for reading my le tte r. Love, Danelle Smith EMERGENCE OF LOVE THE CIRCLE CONTINUES PROTECTING INDIAN CHILDREN The circle was broken The Healing Spirit was gone... The question asked was, "I didn't know Indians treated their young like this. She has such a loving spirit. Why would someone do this to her?" On May 2, 1992, I laid my daughter's Indian ways to rest. For how long I do not know. She tried hard and that was taken away and she said, "I never want to dance again". From this I, her mother, wrote this poem to her. TO: DANELLE SMITH FROM: MOM & DAD A Child Broken... She carried a heavy load. A lot’was done... For her to fall. The pillars that were to hold her made themselves removed. As she traveled on alone, she often wondered, " where have they gone?" They told me...we will teach 1 you the way, and be there when ever you need us. But as she went she reached out the only way she knew and was told, " that is wrong". And once again the pillars told her,"We are here to show you the way". So she said, "Okay!!!" and she still went on alone. So as she went alone once again she reached out the oniy way she knew. She tried to ask for help, but was never heard. For the ears of the pillars were closed. They told her, "we don't have time right now. She cried and still went on alone. Then the pillars finally looked and said, "we don't want you no more". So, now we have a child that is broken. I and her dad told her to not feel bad; You did the best job you knew how. Be proud of who you are. Love you very much, Mom & Dad OPEN LETTER TO DANELLE SMITH, LITTLE MISS SILETZ (1991-1992): My family and I would like to thank you for representing the Siletz Tribe this past year. We've seen you and your family attending many different functions, throughout the year. Often we have seen you at a basketball game, and then on to ‘ a pow wow or an exhibition dance, with the Siletz dancers. We feel that your effort to represent the Tribe with and without your court or coordinators present, is a credit to you. We hope that this experience has been and will be a memorable one for you. We realize that along with the good is always some bad, but unfortunately, sometimes we don't have any control over this. AH we could have expected of you is for you to have done your best, and you did. We hope that you will continue to dance and be a part of our cultural heritage. Sincerely, Elaine Thomas & Family Letters to the E ditor 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 vour 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. A WORD OF THANKS: Thank you everyone who sent cards, gave hugs, food, money, and all the prayers for my family and 1. When times are sad and life must go on, it is so wonderful to live in a small town where you know so many nice people and work with people who understand what you are going through and help you make your days bright and cheerful. Thank You Everyone, Vella Feller/Family DEAREDITOR: JH M I 1 wrote this as a tribute to my Indian friends, both living and dead, after visiting Government Hill in Siletz, on Memorial Day. INDIAN BURIAL GROUND 1 walked, as others walked, this weekend, Across the silent hallowed abode of the dead, 1 felt the infinite peace, the tender love, As the spirits of life and death communed. God, how close we are, one breath away, From the knowing of life everlasting. But there is one cemetery that is like no other, It holds a magic that embodies both life and death, And the beauty there is not transitory but eternal, For it was the spirit of all things, That whispered low. 1 would have liked to have lingered longer, Just to commune with my God, For 1 knew that He walked there, Among the giant evergreens, And that His fingers caressed the tombstones you could no longer read. 1 looked at the craftsmanship of genius and 1 looked at the love woven in beauty. 1 touched the graves, mounded in Indian fashion, Blanketed in flowers, Reverenced by eternal remembrance, And 1 felt the magic of the Spirit World, And the glory of being alive. 1 walked away in the tender tw ilig h t, From this Holy Place, This sanctuary, And 1 felt a kinship with earth 1 had never know before. We are not strangers as we pass, We are not alien to one another. 1 grew up among you, 1 loved many of you, Just as 1 loved my white friends, But for the first time on a beautiful windswept Hill, 1 felt 1 knew your heart, And 1 cried. Mary Hall Robb SILETZ NEWS DEADLINE June 15, 1992 mail articles and photos to: Siletz News, P.O. Box 549, Sliietz, Oregon 97380
