what he and the early tribal leaders
had done to pave the way for the
rest of us.
The 1995 Restoration Day
celebration was an especially
memorable occasion because the
celebration coincided with the grand
opening of our magnificent new
administration building that houses
almost all of our program and
administrative staff, including the
Tribal Council and Court.
Restoration was not something that
was accomplished and completed in
1977. It was the beginning of a
process that is on-going. The new
administration building, Chinook
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Chairman's Report
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Restoration Day, 1995
The turnout at our
Restoration Day celebrations are
getting bigger and better each year.
And you can't help but notice and
take pride in the fact that we have a
new generation o f accomplished
Indian singers and dancers - even
our little tots - who are active
participants of oyr ceremonies and
culture. We are being restored in
more ways than one!
It was good to have Joe Lane,
(who happens to be my older
brother) who served as the Tribal
Chairman during the 1970s,
recount the Tribe's struggle to
achieve Restoration. While we can
take pride in the many
accomplishments since Restoration,
it's important for us to be reminded
that none of this could have
happened if our early leaders didn't
have the vision and fortitude to fight
for Restoration.
I have always had a deep
sense of pride and gratitude for
Winds, our little Siletz dancers aré
all part of that ongoing process.
Chinook Winds TV Ads
Note: Our Chinook Winds TV
Ads have been generating mixed
reactions. My comments appear in
the next issue of the Chinook Winds
Bulletin, distributed to our tribal
members. I would like to share with
the non-tribal readers of the
Newsletter, excerpts of my
comments from the Bulletin.
"Most of you have by now
seen the Chinook Winds' Ads on the
major TV channels. We are pleased
that the comments have been
overwhelmingly positive though
there have been a few negative
comments as well.
"If you are among those who
have been sincerely concerned that
the ads have been demeaning, l ean
understand your concerns. These
days, even ethnic or cultural terms
can generate heated debate. For
example, is it proper to use
Chicanos, Mexican Americans or
Hispanics? Negroes, African
Americans or Blacks? American
Indians, Native Americans or
Indians?
"I suspect that the emotion
Opening of new Administration B u ild in g .
aroused by our TV commercials may
be similar : But its important to
H
keep in mind that as far as gaming
is concerned, it is not a corrupt j
practice adopted from the non- : ■
Indians. It has always been an
integral part of our cultural heritage 9
a major activity that historically had
recreational, economic and cultural
significance.
"People need to know that
there is no state or federal law that
regulates hand games, stick or bone
games which are considered class I
games. Why? This is in recognition
of the fact that gambling has always
been a part of our culture and a
sovereign right.
"It was only when we began
using casino style gaming that non-
Indians have been acting as though
Indian tribes are Johnny-come-
latelys, invading their exclusive
territory.
"Many owners of non-Indian
casinos, the States that run lotteries
and other anti-Indian gaming
interests don't like it a bit. They act
as though gambling is then-
exclusive right and have been trying
to curtail if not destroy Indian
gaming.
"The fact is, the U.S.
Congress didn't allow Indians to
gamble. As confirmed by the U.S.
Supreme Court, Tribes already had
that sovereign right. It was only
under pressure that congress
passed the Indian Regulatory Act
in 1988, succeeding only to regulate
Indian gaming since they couldn't
abolish it.
"There are non-Indians that
are upset about the ad because they
either believe Indians have been
corrupted by the non-Indians,
gambling vices or because Indians
have invaded the non-Indians
exclusive territory.
"We hope that instead of
reinforcing these types of fiction, the
TV ads will be regarded as a
reaffirmation of gambling as part of
our culture and sovereign right.
"Our ad agency wanted to
use professional Indian actors^ but
we insisted on using our own tribal
members. The song in the TV
commercial was composed by one of
our tribal singers - that could be
used for any occasion, including
gambling.
"Finally, the ads have-been
created and performed With a sense
of humor. Remember, humor was
also an important part of our
heritage."