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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1994)
Tribal Council Candidate's Statements Michael Sovereign-People's Berry Report S.L.P.C. To all my relations, all of my people. This action Is only the beginning of our campaign * to end Native and non-Native desecrating our ancestors. We w ill no longer tolerate desecration. We are tired of the discrimination, dem o ra liza tio n , hum ilia tio n , devastation, e xp lo itatio n , dom ination, incrim ination, incarceration and desecration. The Europeans have only begun to bury their dead on this land in the in the past two centuries. But our burial grounds have been here before Jesus Christ walked the earth. As a result, the Europeans have dug up our graves arid placed the remains of our ancestors in bags and boxes at the Smithsonian. Further, the descendants of the Siletz ancestors call upon the Indigenous people to assist them in putting an end to this gross violation of Indigenous Human Rights of Indigenous peoples. The traditional responsibility of respect, care and preservation for the ground where ancestors still make their journey is ignored for want of dollars. One of the issues are whether or not our own Tribe's leaders and Tribe's government are guilty of Political Grave Desecration of our burial grounds and our ancestors. Also whether or not the Tribe’s families that face extinction of Siletz Indian Nations speak out!! It's now or never! Being" the last of a Tribe's people to be recognized as Siletz Indian because of Indian blood degree decrease one-eighth Siletz Indian very most likely means the last of a tribes to be recognized by the Government as Siletz Indian In our families. We all know that we are due millions of dollars compensation a piece. Our Tribes Council and Tribe's Government have spent over 16 million dollars of our inheritance, plus the new mill all the time using us to make the money without giving any of these dollars to its members or in some cases to a chosen few. There is only 1800 to 2000 enrolled tribal members, 16 million plus the new mill dollars, would go along way for tribal enrolled members, not to m ention m illions in compensation "a piece." One has to ask- himself are we being used by a chosen few to make millions for themselves? And if so, are we being used as pawns in a game of chess, to steal our sacred resting places of our ancestors. Others have fallen to the iron teeth of the contractors' equipment, not understanding about the sacredness of these places, blades and shovels rip indiscriminately. Being the last of a Tribe's people to be recognized as Siletz Indian because Indian blood degree decrease. One-eighth Siletz Indian means last of the ancestors Indian blood line to be recognized as the Siletz Nations in some families. Also the last to protest desecration of our ancestors and our land and water. In closing, we would like to ask that all tribal members call or write to our council office and "tell" them to give Michael Berry your own phone number and or address and we will send you an up to date brief and if you wish we'll be sending more free of charge. Make time this year to stand up for your Indian rights, we are all that our ancestors have, and we owe everything to our ancestors and they deserve better than how they are being treated now. Let us show this Tribal Council that we come from strong blood line of Indian peoples and lets put a freeze on T rib a l Council and Tribal Government's actions until we unite and spend time and re-evaluate, employ the general council to become the ethic's community. Let's not be used as pawns in a game of chess any longer, let's not be used by others to make millions for few chosen. May the .Great Spirit Guide and watch over us, all my relations Council Candidate Michael Berry Selene Rilatos-Lynch My name is Selene Rilatos-Lynch, and I am running for Tribal Council in this upcoming election. I have worked for the Tribe for the past 10 years in different capacities which has brought me a lot of knowledge on how the Tribe is run and helped me to understand the needs of the Tribal Members. Some of my accomplishments have been working on the first 39 HUD homes for the Tribe, recipient of the Oregon Indian Educator of the Year Award in 1992 and recently I have received a grant to work on preservation of our culturally significant sites. I am very proud of our Tribe and I feel that the Tribe is in a time where we need our government to be working full time on just government issues. I would like our Tribe to define sovereignty. We need to research the Treaties and speak with the Elders on usual and accustomed places of our Tribe and have a strong "Declaration of Sovereignty". With this effort, it can open the doors to many agencies and government entities, we can help improve with the T ribal Court, water rights, Indian rights, etc. and be recognized as a strong governing body. I would like to see a Cultural Center/Museum developed to be used as an educational tool for our youth, Tribal Members and the community at large. To have our Tribe's most valuable possessions to be beautifully displayed in a Museum quality atmosphere. I would like to see more programs for our youth, as they are the future leaders of our Tribe. I believe that through self- govemance we can develop policies to better serve our peoples' needs and to help those Tribal Members who live outside the service area. I currently am the Cultural Coordinator for the Tribe in the Siletz Office and really enjoy working for the Tribe. Thank you to those members who made it to the Candidate's Fairs. I strongly encourage you to exercise your voting rights and I would appreciate your support. if elected I would continue to be a good listener and would dedicate my time and energy to the entire membership. I believe we need to remember those who have been here before and plan for those to come. Ta-gah-huska-sho-na-schisly, Selene Rilatos-Lynch Bensell Breon My mother was Mary Alice Muncey, a Tribal Council Member, and my uncle was Arthur Bensell, Tribal Council Chairman when we were restored as a Federally Recognized Tribe on Nov. 18, 1977. I have my Bachelors Degree from OCE (WOSC) and my 5th year from the University of Oregon. I have been a logger In the Siletz area,. a public school teacher in Oregon for 7 years and for the past 14 years a rancher in central Oregon. I am running for another 3 year Term. During my first term In office I was privileged to work with representatives of the 9 recognized tribes in Oregon, Oregon State agencies and Oregon State legislators to pass Senate Bill 61 so that Oregon State Law now provides protection for Indian burials on private lands. Life in many instances is not fair but if I am again elected to the Tribal Council I will continue to work with the Council and Tribal Government to continue to expand equal opportunity and services fo r all tribal members. I urge all eligible tribal voters to vote for the candidate of their choice, but please vote! Dear Bensell, Thank you for the copy of your Letter. I appreciate that you are Involved and trying to change attitudes. Best o f Luck, Beverly Clarno House of Representatives Oregon Legislative Assembly Salem, OR 97310 JoAnn Miller Hello fellow Tribal Members. My name is JoAnn Miller, daughter of Mae Downey, granddaughter of Martha and John Adams. I served on Tribal Council in the early 80's and served on two committees this past year (health arid budget committees). I would like to be involved in the crucial decisions that are facing us: land acquisition, gaming, STEDCO operations, treaty rights, and sovereignty. Another area that is crucial is our water rights. The streams have been totally ruined for spawning grounds. The Tribe needs to become more involved in what's left of our environment. Because of so many young tribal members returning to the Siletz area, we need our high school back. Without our school we are not a total community. Our people need this to have pride in the community and ourselves. If elected, I promise to work hard for every member. JoAnn Miller Due to unforeseen unfortunate circumstances and mechanical failure, Jane John's Candidate's Statement is not included in this Newsletter. Every effort will be made to include it in the local Newsletters.
