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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1994)
X x XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX? v 0<XXX> qç X? v q <XXXXXXXX* u u u * x * V May 1994 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor : All letters received will be printed except those which are determined to be slanderous. Please type or write legible, no p ro fa n e la n g ua g e w ill be p r in te d . The Siletz News letter and Tribal Government accept no responsibility for statements made In the letters to the editor. The opinions expressed are souly those of in d iv id u a ls w r itin g In . LE TTE R S T H A T EXCEED 350 WORDS IN LENGTH WILL BE EDITED as approved bv Tribal Council Resolution #91-04. All lettersuJm U5l include vour name, address and s ig n a tu re . Send letters to : Siletz News, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, Oregon 97380. Attn: Teresa Miller, Managing Editor. PLEASE NOTE; The C hief E x e c u tiv e O ffic e r o f th e S ile tz T rib e Is th e C h ie f E d it o r of th e S ile tz N e w s le tt e r . Dear Editor, I would like to take a moment to express my (and my family's) appreciation to a few people. First of all, I would like to thank the Tribal council for their decision to allow the roll to be opened. I am glad to see that my votes were cast for the right people who would REALLY represent the wishes of the tribe! But there is someone that I would like to say a very special "thank you" to, and that person is my Aunt Gladys Bolton. She has kept this issue alive and before everyone's attention for so long. She has d ilig e n tly fought to allow children on the roll who will, in turn allow the Siletz Tribe to continue and not die out. We all know this is not a popular issue with everyone, and there has been some heated opposition to this issue so that makes Gladys support on this issue all the more appreciated. I'm sure I speak for others when I say that it makes me feel good to know that even though I don't live in Oregon, I can rely on Gladys Bolton to look out for my interests and well-being when it comes to Tribal Issues. THANKS SIS! We love you! Sincerely, Cindy Lane Hill Brothers and Sisters: We as people are engaged in a political struggle of existence. To carry on as an assim ilated manifestation of conquest is not going to be appropriate. Our burden as representatives of Earth and her life is real. The discontent we have in our community we must strive to heal. We, as indigenous people, are at a time in our e x is te n c e never b e fo re experienced. We, along with many other parts of creation including mankind and our sacred w ater, are at the threshold of extinction. You, the people, are just that..."the people". There is no other that have the magneto you have with Earth and Sky here upon your Mother, the Earth. You have heard many times, "you cannot bring back the old ways, you want to live in a tee pee, you w ant to run with, no c lo th e s " a ll fo rm s of In te m p e ra te in te llig e n ts ia brought forth from a culture of cults, be it religious, political or educational. All believing they are right and they should be the one to be respected more than the other and yet the Native theoretician is given no acknowledgement. Yet, if learned, respected, and lived, it would bring about calmness in chaos, govern the masses with equality, and set standards of respect, honor and dignity. These are the old ways. The value system of the ancestors of the indigenous p e o p le s of the w estern hemisphere, a concept of c iviliza tio n that has been corroded by wantonization. It's our time now to walk this earth. The ancestors of those yet to come, we are the teachers. We must teach ourselves the basis of survival is unity with honor and respect of one another. Through us and only through us, will our nations survive. Our young people are w hat w ill d e te rm in e , our existence and if we will become myth or reality. The world is swooping away faster than can be explained. We cannot last a n o th e r g e n e ra tio n of separatism...two at the most. We must strive to bring back simple morals among ourselves as people. You have the strength, you can still cry, you have the strength. Brothers & Sisters in Resistance Robert Van Pelt Vfiawk g«u I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their out-pouring of love and prayers, during my recent stay at the Sacred Heart Hospital. I had a triple by-pass surgery and was pretty sick for a few days. I am now home and doing fine. A special thanks to the Health Clinic and to Dr. Leman for giving me a call and words of encouragement, and to the Mentorship Program for their nice homemade card. Also the A ccounting O ffice, Central Office, Elouise, and Elders. I would also like to thank the Springfield and Portland Area Office for their nice cards. And to all my cousins and friends that visited me in the Hospital and called to see how I was doing and sent gifts, Thank you so much. A Special "thank you" to my dear brother Delbert and wife Sharon for taking care of me for a week. Also my dear sister Clarice and niece Judy and Caroline Easter for all the help and love. Also my Husband Chuck and my son Randy and wife Karen for their love and support. And my niece and nephews from Springfield and brother-in-laws John Hudson and Walt Easter. I Love each and everyone of you . God Bless, Pauline Ricks To Tribal Members: I writing in regards to Bensell Breon's statement on his disappointm ent that the blood quantum level couldn't be lowered to desendency. I know his disappointment first - hand, because, myself and a lot of others won't be able to call themselves a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. Yet when the Chetco's were marched to Siletz, my G re a t-G re a t-G re a t G ra n d mother, (Lucy Dick) walked with her father (the Chief), they had hope. Hope that their blood would survive generation upon generation, father to son, mother to daughter. Well, half a dozen generations later left me a tablespoon short - (1/32) of being an eighth. I think another vote should be reconsidered. The s tre n g th and future of your generations depend upon it. Thank you Bensell, it's good to see somebody cares. Allan Huffman * y « y y w « z )ear Editor, > In response to Jay Gray's letter in the April edition of the Siletz Newsletter: Dear Mr. Gray, I do not own a teepee or building a sweat lodge. I have read many books about "Indians" and by "Indians". I attend Pow Wows, but not regularly. I am an Oregon "Indian". It amazes me how people are able to explain my situation to me, and other Oregon "Indians". The tragedy of today is that past history still dictates the future of all Oregon "Indians". It really offends me that people who are not Native American try to explain Native American traditions to me. It's a shameful fact that Anthropology Is taught m ajorally by Anglo-Am ericans, with the Native American view often being overlooked. The Government has gone from telling us to be white, then to telling us we're not "Indian" enough with blood quantum regulations. I respect that you can admire our traditions. Please do not think that partaking in them qualifies you as being Indian. I listen to Rap music; I w a tch O p ra h and M ontel occasionally; I eat BBQ. I have read many "Black" books and have seen many "black" movies. This does not mean I am an authority on Blacks, and does not make me and African- American. I respect their way of life. I do not and will not, in my best ability, try to tell "Black" people who they are! By the way, I am an enrolled member of the Coquille Tribe, and I am also on the Oregon State University Longhouse staff. I am unfamiliar with who you are. If you wish to become involved with the Longhouse, please feel free to ' donate your time. Unfortunately, people always talk about helping out and never do. This seems to be existing Government Policy. My family has lived in the same area my forefathers did since the beginning of time, and they, the Coquille, will remain till the end of time. This is what makes Oregon Natives, and all Native Americans "In d ia n s ", not blood te sts, "teepees", "books", "flute music", "drumming", or attending "Pow Wows". Truly an OREGON "Indian" Sincerely, Shirod Younker (edited for length) "Most mothers are instinctive philosophers/ — Harriet Beecher Stowe
