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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1995)
Elder O f The Month May 1995 7 Bill Towner Chuvonne Louise Williams (The National Honor Roll) Chuvonne has received notice from the United States Achievement Academy that she has been officially selected as a United States National Honor Roll Student. Her personal biography will be printed in a volume of the United States Achievement Academy National Awards Yearbook. She has been selected and honored as one of our nation's most outstanding students. Chuvonne, your family wants you to know how PROUD we are of all the achievements you have made. (GRANDPA IS SMILING DOWN AT YOU). You know that we all love you and are very proud of you. All your years of hard work and motivation are paying off. We know that you will be whatever in life you choose to be, and you will be the BEST at it. We love yob and are so proud of you! Love ya lot’s, Ronda, Randy, Todd, Sondra, Jessy, Kyle, Wendy, BJ, Chelsea, Arron, Rory, Daphne, Roiy Jr., Ashley, Hunter, Robina, Micheál, Merica, Jon, Matthew, Rob, Lori, Jimmy, Robbie, Tasha, Tori, Linda, Annie, Amy, and of course, your parents, Mike 8 b Roxanne Elkins and your Grandma Connie Williams. Accounting News If you have any information on the whereabouts of the following people please contact 444-4218. These people still have a Christmas bonus check waiting for them. 1. Mildred Bueno 2. Kenneth Wilson 3. Phillis Meeks 4. Victor Larsen 5. Raymond Girard Accounting Clerk: Renee Metcalf Bill Towner is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Tutoonie from the Rogue River. Bill served in the army from 1943-1946, serving in WWII, the 807 MP company in the British West Indies. His service ended a month prior to his 21st birthday. From the mid-1940's to the early 1950's, he was a logger in Siletz, Molalla, Dallas, and Tillamook. In October of 1957, he was disabled in a car accident that left him paralyzed on his right side, but as Bill says, "I still remain active." At the Siletz High School, he was on the Boxing Team in 7th grade. Bill left the Siletz Reservation in 1938 at 13 years of age. On his own, he made his way working in the Oregon and Swan Island shipyards. He later joined the U.S. Army. Although he traveled many places, he always called Siletz "home." Bill has been on the Siletz Tribal Council; was a delegate for STOWW (Small Tribes Organization of Western Washington); served on the Powwow Committee for 15 years; Hunting and Fishing Committee; the Election Board; was a Bingo Commissioner and even served as Tribal Judge. Bill has lived the last 27 years in Vancouver, Washington with his family. He recently celebrated his 70th birthday! He has been married to his wife Diana for 27 years. Diana has worked at the Clark County Tax Commission in Vancouver for the past 18 years. They have two daughters, Michelle and Stacey, who have each given them a grandchild - Zachary, 2 1/2 and recently, Amber Lanae, bom 4 1/2 months ago. Bill has supported his children in their culture, as a role model and serving as Chairman of the Parent Committee for the Title IV Indian Education Act in Vancouver (now Title V.) He is currently involved in the Inter-agency Policy Council for American Indian Veterans, the American Veterans Council in Portland and Vancouver and is involved with Northwest Indian Veterans Association (NIVA). Bill volunteers each Wednes day at the Portland V.A. Hospital and each Thursday at the Vancouver Hospital. Bill attempts to locate Indian Veterans lost in the system and assists them any way he can - playing cards with them, being a friend to them, or just talking Indian. Bill recently took the responsibility of distributing the Portland Indian News to those Veterans. Bill Towner and Granddaughter Amber Bill has been sober for 27 years this month and quit smoking 24 years ago in April. Bill is certainly an Elder that has triumphed over many obstacles in life. Bill's greatest joy is in "Powwowing." As Bill puts it, "I would like to see more Powwows because that is the one thing I enjoy most. I enjoy being around the people." Bill feels that if a Powwow isn't going on, the community should have "get-togethers." We are honored to have Bill and Elders like him in our community, to r e m in d us of our traditions and keep us focused on the important things in life - family, community, culture, and "good fiybread." (Reprinted from. Portland Indian News, April 1995 edition.) Walt Klamath Receives State Award! Walt Klamath was selected as the winner of the Oregon Insurance Council of Western Insurance Information Service's 1995 Oregon Human Concern Award. The Human Concern Award is given each year to a volunteer(s) who give their time, efforts 8 b energy into projects or activities that "make a difference" in the lives of others. Walt is one of those people because of his volunteer work in the "Fire Safety 8 b Prevention" among many other wonderful things here in Siletz. Walt was nominated by Nancy Campbell (Office of the State Fire Marshal), who attended the Award Ceremony along with Walt and a guest of his choosing. The WHS Annual Insurance Symposium and Awards Day, in which Walt was publicly recognized, was held on Tuesday, April 18, at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, OR.
