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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1996)
Tribal Members, For many, many years my mother Victoria Ben, my dad Archie Ben and my Uncle Pat Ben, Hoxie Simmons, (my husband's grandfather), gave many dedicated hours cleaning the Siletz cemetery. They actually had it cleaned down on the side road from the Aldridge House. They did not do this for money or recognition. They did it out of the goodness of their hearts. I never once heard them complain when they hit rocks or debris because the grass in many places was never cut before. They went through many lawnmowers. They burned alot of stumps - cut alot of brush - they extended the cemetery. They were special people! They all loved flowers. Hoxie was especially known for his calla lilies. My mom and dad bought and planted rhododendrons on my brother Richard. They loved their son - the rhodies are beautiful. Also my family put rhodies on my dear uncles Pat and Harrison. These were planted from the heart. We loved our uncles - they were special to us - The Ben Family. My dad and uncles went to town one day and when they came home they told me to drive through the cemetery, which I did. They bought and planted the beautiful pink rhodies that are on my baby. When I went up to see it 1 just shed tears - it touched my heart - it's been there for thirty five years - if s special to me. Siletz Cemetery - you look so peaceful and beautiful - but there's thieves creeping around. Tribal members are you listening? I would like to say to you - please, please, do not steal off of our plots again. Our feelings are hurt. Our flowers - our thoughts - our memories are all that we have left in the Siletz Cemetery of these special loved ones! Do not tarnish it by stealing from us - and them! I have a question for you - How would you like it if we removed flowers (rhodies and snowballs) off of your mother? father? brother? baby? uncles? Grand babies? or husband? I feel it is rude, ignorant and shameful to be a cemetery thief. I have been approached by other people about similar problems. This problem has an adverse effect on all of us. We should not desecrate our own Sacred Ground. Respectfully, Maxine Ben Rilatos P.S. Please read this 10 times before next Memorial D ay! ! ! Those have gone before Before we the people of other nations came to this country, there was a two legged creatures called the Native American. These people walked in harmony with the winged creatures and the four legged creatures. They paid special attention to Mother Earth, for she fed, clothed, watered, and gave them their needs. As these people evolved, they carried their beliefs of their fore fathers in honoring the earth and its Creator. Unfortunately, the peoples of other nations came and took what they needed, but did not return the favors of the earth. Ideas and lands were taken from the Native Americans. As they grew with "this" country, they had to fit in. Education is a big tool to this process. They came, some off of reservations and worked hard to be in "our society" Oregon State University being one of those such places, where Native Americans can "learn" to be a part of "our society." It was a slap in the face to have OSU 20th anniversary pow wow put into a wet, cold field. I guess the president of OSU thought they could take it, and take it they did, as they have for a few hundred years. You see, a Pow- Wow is a sharing family gathering and welcomes all peoples to share in the bounty of family and the earth through song and dance. OSU,’ you should be ashamed of yourself for what you did to the "real" natives of this country. They have so much to teach u s about family and our planet and "you" seem to have so little time. It is with deep respect for those who have gone before u s and those who will go ahead, that I ask for forgiveness for how rude our so- called educational system was to "our" native people. As the original people of this land we should hold them up and be proud, to those other visitors who came here and decided to stay. Bearer of the honor blanket, Aretha Meece 2oth annual OSU Pow- Wow My special thanks to the OSU Longhouse, NASA, Jeremy and Alina Scott, staff and friends for pulling off the 25th anniversary and 20th Pow-Wow, out in the wet field behind Gill Coliseum. Thru, the pouring rain we trudged Saturday morning to offer peaceful solutions to drummers, dancers, staff, vendors, and visitors. You did yourself proud. I didn't even get a chance to give all my heartfelt thanks back to those of the Longhouse, for the honor of being able to be the bearer of the White Buffalo Calf Woman blanket. It gives me the chance to give more that I have given. The honor blanket graces myself, my home, my family, and all my native American friends. Thank-you All clans can work together, Aretha Meece P.S. The Hope Prophet that was at OSU on Thursday was a God- sent. Thank-you. Congratulations to Shy la A n n Simmons, A Toledo High School Graduate ! ! ! We knew you could do it a n d you did !! Thank goodness you did not give up when someone told you th a t you were not going to make it. I give special thanks to Nancy Osterlund and Kristy Steenkolk jb r encouraging gou a n d supporting gou so th a t you worked hard a n d m ade it. We are so proud of you a n d we love you very much. Hugs & Kisses sister A nn Love Mom, Dud, Derek, & Richard Bill Hudson, H appy B ir th d a y & C o n g ratu latio n s on y o u r re tire m e n t I* I ! F rom th e c i t y of S alem on J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 9 6 . W e lo v e y o u a n d a r e p ro u d of y o u Love, M o m & y o u r fa m ily Letters to the Editor : Alt letters received will be printed except those which are determined to be slanderous. Please type or write legible, no profane language w ill be p rinted . The Siletz Newsletter and Tribal Government accept no responsibility for statements made in the letters to the editor. The opinions expressed are souiy those of individuals writing in. LETTERS THAT EXCEED 450 WORDS IN LENGTH WILL BE EDITED as approved by__ Tribal Council Resolution #96-142. All letters must include vour name- address and signature. Send letters to : Siletz News, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, Oregon 97380. Attn: Teresa Miller, Managing Editor. PLEASE NOTE: The Chief E xecutive O ffic e r o f the S iletz T ribe Is the Chief E d ito r of th e S ile tz N e w s le tte r .
