Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1996)
SSasS - h -**«.® *'* 4 January 1996 TO THE TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP: My name is Mike Darcy, and I would like to thank friends and family who have encouraged me to run for a second term on the Tribal Council. I have served four years on the Tribal Council and I have had an opportunity to share in the vision for this Tribe for the next several years. The Tribe is no longer a small organization of a few employees and a few programs, but has the potential to open up a whole new world to our Tribal members. Gaming has been on the front burner for the past two years while many important issues have had to take a back seat for fear o f upsetting political enemies or blocking our efforts. Hopefully, gam ing will give us programs and services that we have had to rely on the federal government to fund, since our Restoration. During these next few years we have several major challenges facing our Tribe: * Gaming is an oppor tunity and a challenge. * Housing for our Tribal members is a major challenge-how can we provide housing for members outside the Siletz area. * Elders needs are undefined and unmet. * Gaming revenue will be a major challenge. * Increasing our land base must be a priority. * Increasing our blood quantum has increased the challenge of offering services to members. * Higher education is facing a waiting list for the first time in our Tribes history. * Economic develop ment must continue to be addressed. * Drug and alcohol services to members. * Culture and language must be moved up in our priorities. * Medical and social services must be expanded to serve our new members. As a Tribal Council member my major responsibilities have included serving on the Education Commit tee, Timber Committee, Gaming ad hoc Com mittee and Enrollment Committee. I feel I am a team player and have no hidden agendas. I would ask for your vote in the coming election. Respectfully Submitted, Mike Darcy DEAR FELLOW TRIBAL MEMBERS: I plan to run for a Council seat in the upcoming electipns. For those who do not know me, I would like to give a quick family history and tell you about my goals if elected. I was raised in the Siletz area and I am one of twelve children born to Roy and Mae Downey. My Indian heritage comes from John Adams, (a name the soldiers gave him) my grandfather, a Shasta Indian who was born near the Applegate River in southern Oregon. As a young boy, he witnessed his parents being killed, and having to hide in the mountains to survive. Can you imagine a small child having the best of all worlds, playing with hfs friends, taking from the land only what was. needed, then to have it all taken away? | My grandfather was brought tb the S iletz Reservation where he grew up and survived astro nomical hardships to become a leader in many areas. I have listened to my m other te ll ’ stories about him ...!' carry the sadness in my heart for hfs struggles. I feel our people are stiff' in a struggle, facing many road blocks, but we can do it. It's our right. ' Tf I am elected, my priorities are: (1 )R is te n and .learn our government procedures (2) Education. It's the key to out youth's survival. (3) Honesty in all aspects of tribal govern ment. (4) Active ongoing audits In all tribal depart ments. (5) Secure our water, timber and salmon resources*; so all our, generations w ill benefit. (6); I. have served on the Timber, Fish & Game and Culture committees and plan to . c o n tin u e - , in these programs. Please Remember to t , Vote on February 3rd! Pete Downey, Siletz Tribal Member Dear Tribal Members: As election time rapidly approaches, it is imperative that we reflect upon past, present, and recurring iniquities, unremorsefully inflicted upon our tribal members, by those in positions of unrelenting and unhin dered power. This past year T voluntarily participated in the ICW Task Force, as one o f two Tribal Elder representatives. Eight grueling months were exhaustively devoted to review of the Indian Child Welfare Program, a component o f the Social Services Department. The intent of this review was to assure unerring protection of the Siletz Tribe's future *- our children. The group convened with the undisputed support o f the following: Lillie Butler, Tribal Council Member; other members of the Tribal Council; and members of the General Council. The review was conducted by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, under the expert guidance of Terry Cross, Executive Director. Many were skeptical about the possibilities o f a positive outcome throughout the investi gatory process. Thank fully, the results o f the review (embodied in a public document) prompt ed immediate reorgani zation o f the tribal government, which unsur prisingly resulted in removal of two indiv iduals from coveted positions within the Tribe: Social Services Manager (now a Tribal Council candidate) and the ICW Family Advocate. The following are but a few enlightening con clusions, encapsulated from the public document submitted by Mr. Cross: 1. Failure to assure confidentiality; 2. Unfo cused and ineffective program due to staff creating rules as problems emerge; 3. Violation of general tribal wide policies; *4. Certification of foster homes including individuals with active substance abuse problems and those involved in child sexual abuse investigations; 5. Decision making that placed children in dangerous or potentially dangerous situations; 6. Disappear ance of 1/3 o f the files at time o f the review (50% of the existing files did not contain minimum sufficient information)., My intent in reopening a wound of this truly egregious nature, is to implore the tribal members to vividly recollect and remember those who jeopardized the innocence of our tribal children and to commend the Tribal Council for ensuring rehabilitation of the Social Services Department and the Indian Child Welfare Program. Thank You. Sincerely, Clifford Case Sr.
