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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1995)
Tribal Members: On the behalf of my husband and myself, I would like to p u b licly thank Howard Roy for the very thorough job he had done for us. My husband and I are in the process of purchasing a home. Howard in sp e cte d the w irin g , plum bing and general condition of the house. This inspection would have cost us $195, but, thanks to Howard, we did not have to pay for it. I really appreciate knowing that our Tribe has such a valuable employee, one who cares about p rotecting trib a l members and one who will go out of his way to help us. He is a valuable asset to our Tribe. Sincerely, Debra Jubinal-Brown TO THE EDITOR: I was pleased to see recognition given to the late John Adams by reprinting of my article in your May 1995 "Siletz Newsletter." The history of the Adams' family is an im portant part of the history of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and I have thoroughly enjoyed the many ye a rs of researching his story, and th e c o n ta c ts and frie n d s h ip s w ith his num erous descendants, many of w hom are currently involved with the Tribe's political, cultural h is to ric a l and s o c ia l a ctivities. Just to keep historical facts straight, however, I wanted to clarify that this article was originally printed in the O regon T e rrito ry Sunday magazine of the Statesman Journal in Salem, Or., on May 8, 1977, rather than in the News Times, as reported in your reprint. The caption for the family photo should have read, "Top: Russell, Mae, John Jr. (known as "D ic k "); B o tto m : Dad (John); Sarah Mattie, Mom (Martha) and Adelaide. Again, thanks for reprinting this material. Sincerely, Grace Castle Siletz, OR. The People Lose Again Well folks, things never seem to change. At the recent Tribal Council meeting our Tribal Chairperson picked her choice to fill the vacancy on Council when Phil Rilatos left to become boss atSTEDCO. Pardon me, but didn't we just have an election in February to fill Council positions coming open? And didn't we, the People, choose not to return Mrs. Fisher to the Council? Believe it - Dolly, this is nothing personal against you, but has to do with the direct opposition to the mandate of the People of the Tribe. Yes, the Tribal Constitution gives our Chairperson the right to recommend whomever she or he might want to fill any vacancies created on Council. But, why go directly against the General Council's wishes? If I may quote from a recent piece in our Tribal News Paper: Quote, " We do encourage the referendum procedure," unquote. Then why Madame Chairman do you deliberately ignore said referendum procedure? In most Tribal elections, the person who receives the next amount of votes is elected alternate #1, alternate #2 etc. and automatically fills any vacancy. The Democratic way. And wouldn't it be nice if the minutes of the meetings that are published would also indicate by name, how each Council member votes on issues of the People? C. W. Case Sr H flP p Y B flfiT H D /? # JE r O m E M A R Z A N ON A U G U S T S . HOPE TO S E E YOU PO W W O W L O vE ALW AYS Y O U R C O U S IN , FELIC IA GIVE AND TAKE I GIVE AND THEY TAKE "Why is it you can't stay late on Wednesdays and Thursdays?" the plant s u p e rin te n d e n t asked Eugene. "B e c a u s e I have cerem onies to attend," Eugene replied as his supervisor listened in on his meeting. "W h a t k in d of cerem onies?” asked the superintendent. Eugene started feeling uncomfort able. These were very personal questions to him. He is Native American following the Red Road as his spiritual path. No one who isn't interested should be asking questions. Eugene felt his defense being peeled away. "In ip i c e re m o n ie s ," Eugene replied. "Sweat lodges." "What time do they s ta rt? " Eugene started feeling like he was on trial and guilty of something, but he knew he hadn't done anything wrong. "6:30," Eugene replied. "6:30, huh," said the superintendent. "Well, you can start working some overtime on those days if we need you to, til 4 or 4:30. And if we ever need you to drive on Wednesdays and work late, you will have to give up your ceremony. We need some give and take here, okay?" Eugene was shocked! Harassed into a corner. He had unexpectedly gone to war, and since he was w eaponless, he s u rre ndered. "Okay," he replied, not knowing what else to say, fearing getting fired for saying the things he really wanted to. Eugene wondered if his children would have to put up w ith th is kind of harassment. Would their children have to put up with this kind of harassment. In 1978, Indians were fin a lly give n re lig io u s freedom in a country who's constitution already amme- nded religious freedom for 202 years for everyone else. Was his work place trying to take that away from him? Eugene had various fo rm s of h a ra ssm e n t perform ed against him since he started walking this path five years before. Mostly it was bad attitudes tow ards him from his supervisors for having to leave on time certain days, or only being able to work few hours or not at all on Saturdays. They don't treat Seventh Day Adven tists like this, Eugene thought. M aybe it's because they use the Bible? As he left the meeting, confused, scared, not knowing where to go, or what to do, all he could think was, " some wars never end." Eugene D. Johnson Dappy WiTtfytev to my toottkerfuJ cousin bjicca L ee 3 iiope you get everything you foautek Joke ya, Happy B ir th d a y to B ren d a B ro^ n . 20 iS good fcut 21 iS t e t t e r , lo r e your fa r o r ite and Only n i e c e FLEA Jkappy JSirtkkay >ak (tyevvy <£kenfieJk; 3 knoto to« kon’t see muck of eack oiker or talk tkat muck kut li s t ill Joke you eken tkousk n e itke r one of us skofo i t Xoke ¿ ir k ALCOHOL KILLS THE PAIN. and the joy and the hope and the spirit and the body and finally, the brain.
