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COMMUNITY
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V ttitK X I
ARTHUR "ART" S. BENSELL
APRIL 23, 1909
MAY 11, 1988
Arthur "Art" Bensell, former chairman of the Confeder
ated Tribes of Siletz died May 11, 1988, at the age of 79,
in Siletz.
Bensell was involved with the efforts to regain federal
recognition for the Siletz Tribe after the Tribe was one
of several terminated in the 1950's. In 1977, President
Carter signed a bill which restored federal recognition to
the Tribe.
The Siletz were the second tribe successful in regaining
federal recognition, and the first in Western Oregon.
Bensell also played a major role in gaining a 3,666 acre
reservation for the Tribe, including the return of
Government Hill where the Tribal offices and cemetery
are located.
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A
ir Bensell in Grand Entry procession during Grand Ronde's annual Pow Wow.
Bensell displays papers which establishes a 3,636 acre
reservation for the Siletz Tribe in 1980
Through his efforts for his Tribe, Bensell became a
respected community leader in the state of Oregon.
He was born and raised in Siletz. He was a college
educator in Ohio, Minnesota, South Dakota and Alaska.
He also owned and operated the Siletz Grocery Store
from 1951 to 1974, when it was sold.
Bensell was an outstanding end for the Siletz High
School football team and later played at Ohio State
University and Heidelberg College in Ohio. His college
football skills resulted in him being inducted into the
American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
He served as mayor of Siletz between 1960 and 1974.
He served as tribal chairman from 1975 to 1980 and
served on tribal council from 1975 until his death.
In 1978, Bensell received the University of Oregon's
Distinguished Service Award for his part in the tribal
restoration.
As a chairman and councilman, Bensell continued his
efforts to enhance Indian education and preserve the
Siletz tribal and cultural identity.
'"We want people to be proud of being Siletz,' Bensell
commented a few years ago. They can be - and all of
Oregon can be proud of such dedicated leaders as Art
Bensell," said an editorial in the Oregonian.
Bensell is survived by his wife, Ruth, daughter Joan F.
Fisher of El Cerrito, Calif., stepdaughters Merrily Hall
of Edmonds, Wash., and Judith Smith of Harlan;
stepsons Marvin Waring of Chicago, Stephen Waring of
Kent, Wash., and Theodore Waring of Vancouver,
Wash.; and brother Edward Bensell of Prineville.
Bensell was buried at the Paul Washington Cemetery on
Government Hill in Siletz.
TERMINATION REPEALED (Continued from page 1)
been soundly rejected by Congress through enactment
of a number of statues, and rejected by at least two
Presidents, until now the Congress never officially
rejected the resolution itself.
While a resolution does not have the effect of law, the
failure of Congress to expressly repudiate it has been
seen by many Indians as a lingering threat to the
federal-tribal trust relationship. Most of the tribes
"terminated" under the policy in the early 1950's have
now been restored to their former status as federally
recognized tribes by the Congress.
Chairman Inouye praised the work of the other mem
bers of the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs
-. ' i j j i w , pj i i i i f 1 1 .
and Members of the House of Representatives, particu
larly Congressman Dale Kildee, a member of the House
Education and Labor Committee, in making this very
significant overture to the Nation's First Americans.
"The wholesale breach of the long-standing trust
relationship between the Indian tribes of this Nation and
the federal government must never again be considered
without the consent of the tribes involved," said Senator
Inouye.
FOOD HELPERS NEEDED
I have volunteered to coordinate luncheons when we
have a death in a Tribal family. I must know as soon as
possible so I can get everything together. If anyone
wants to help or make food donations, please call and
leave your name and number. Volunteers to help with
the meals would greatly be appreciated, then all I would
have to do when I receive a call is coordinate the meal
for the family after the services.
The most important thing is that I be notified as soon as
possible.
, Thank you,
Val Grout
842-2187