# Chief Executive Officer (2023) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_siletz%3A204edf4dd387c3f5 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text SILETZ NEWS Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman Kurtis Barker Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Vol. 51, No. 5 Presorted First-Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid - Permit No. 178 Salem, OR Siletz News Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 May 2023 When food is much more than a commodity The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians leverages government-issued commodities to build a resilient food system that nourishes tribal members. It’s paying off. By Jackleen de La Harpe for Underscore News; originally posted April 12, 2023 The Food Sovereignty Project tells stories about traditional Indigenous knowledge and practices that honor and strengthen the relationship to the plants and animals that sustain all of us. The sevenstory project was co-managed by Nicole Charley and Jackleen de La Harpe for Underscore News with generous support from The Roundhouse Foundation. Read the entire series at https://www.underscore. news/work/food-sovereignty-project. The hulking 20,000-square-foot building, sandwiched between a rough road and dark evergreen trees, is unremarkable save for a heap of cedar, pine and fir logs stacked in the muddy parking lot – half for all tribal members, half reserved for elders. The functional exterior of the food warehouse for the Confederated Tribes Photo by Alex Milan Tracy, Underscore News Marci Rilatos oversees commodity food distribution for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, building partnerships to bring more traditional foods to tribal people. of Siletz Indians belies what’s inside: an orderly and warm storage facility housing frozen, refrigerated and shelf-stable food such as applesauce, boxed milk and cereals. Two forklifts are parked against one wall. The neat-as-a-pin commercial kitchen is as much a place to gather and visit as it is to learn to cook. This is the domain of Marci Rilatos, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administrative services clerk for commodities distribution. A tribal member who grew up on the reservation, she knows her community and what they need: who doesn’t have a car, who is having trouble at home, who is hungry. She points out the commodity foods she offers to income-eligible tribal members, including blocks of Maine blueberries, frozen carrots, rolls of bison meat. She picks up a box of cornflakes and shakes it — the sound of possibility. “Cornflakes are not just for breakfast,” Rilatos said. “You can smash them up and whip them with egg and dip your pork or chicken in it, roll in corn flakes to fry or air fry or bake. Melted chocolate chips and cornflakes with peanuts. Yum.” This closet, she says, has extra food for kids who are struggling. Over there is the natural resources cooler with game meat that elders appreciate. Along another wall is the “share box,” food that people bring back to the warehouse if they can’t use it. Because it’s toward the end of the month, there is little to no fresh produce. Food for health, sustenance Nearly all of the food in this warehouse are “commods,” short for commodity food, provided through the USDA Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Commodities are a necessary part of the food puzzle for See Food on page 12 Gov. Kotek’s first 100 days bring hope to community providers in Lincoln County From the Phoenix Wellness Center What started with four people in January 2020, the Phoenix Wellness Center in Newport, Ore., stands today at 15, with the wisdom of serving our community through a pandemic behind us and the hope to continue and expand our work in front of us. In March of this year, we shared our hopes with Gov. Tina Kotek, who visited our center during her One Oregon Listening Tour. Likewise, she shared her hopes that Oregonians in every part of the state will someday have access to the care they need, when they need it. This was not just a conversation about hope, however. It was a conversation about so much more – what outcomes do we want to see for our community, what are the barriers to achieving those outcomes and how can the state help? This was a first for us, but from what we know about Gov. Kotek’s first 100 days in office, she is having conversations like this every day. At Phoenix Wellness Center, we know better than most that progress does not happen in isolation. Our founders are members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and everyone on our staff brings both lived experience and resilience to the work. We walk our talk through deep partnerships with local law enforcement, local behavioral health providers, Oregon Health Authority, the CARE Program and most importantly, the community we serve. The Measure 110 dollars that we at Phoenix were awarded directly flow into our community, supporting our organization’s ability to offer much-needed culturally specific, trauma-informed one-on-one counseling, parenting classes, youth-specific treatments, group therapy and more. Many of the individuals we serve are low- to noincome and/or experience housing insecurities, and have suffered significant trauma, including historical trauma that has impacted generations. We did not grow from four to 15 by luck, eight of whom are Siletz Tribal members. We grew from four to 15 through policy, support of our families, hard work and dedication to our community. That policy should work for all of Oregon the way it has worked for us. We hope Gov. Kotek can take lessons learned from our center, our sheriff, the Newport and Toledo Police Departments, C.H.A.N.C.E Recovery and other community partners committed to leverage Measure 110 dollars to deliver direct benefit to the people who need it most in every part of the state. As Siletz Tribal members, we look forward to a bright future and continued successful collaboration with our Tribe. Courtesy photo from Phoenix Wellness Center First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek are wrapped in a Siletz Pendleton blanket by Phoenix Wellness Center staff, incluing (l to r) Ashliegh Ramirez, Danielle Payne, Zeb Payne and Wylie Stokes. Chairman’s Report Salem Casino I received a call from Gov. Tina Kotek in mid-April letting me know that she was issuing a letter to all Oregon Tribes to notify them that she was not going to approve the Siletz application to take land into trust in Salem for the proposed casino. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has not yet made a decision on our application. The Tribe is close to getting a decision. I let her know how disappointed I was in her judgement. The governor believes there is a “one casino policy,” while we and the state legislature know there is no such policy. I reminded her that we negotiated a compact more than 20 years ago and the Tribe as well as the state need to live up to that negotiation. Once we get a BIA decision, the Tribe will determine how best to move forward. Consent Decree The negotiation on the consent decree has not yet moved forward. We had hoped to be on the Oregon Department Fish & Wildlife agenda in June. Siletz and Grand Ronde were to come up with a plan to move forward. With regard to the federal legislation about the consent decree, it was to move forward very soon in Congress. Rep. Val Hoyle will introduce the legislation in the House of Representatives; not sure who will be co-sponsors yet. Sen. Jeff Merkley will re-introduce it in the Senate. This action is still a high priority for the Tribe and we hope to have a hearing in the House soon. Chinook Nation A motion was passed at our last regular council meeting to support the Chinook Indian Restoration. Chemawa Station The Keizer City Council on April 17, 2023, approved an amendment to the Chemawa Station plan. It will allow us to alter somewhat the kinds of businesses that will go on the property. The City of Keizer has been very supportive of our efforts and we are excited to see the development take place. Memorial Day Please join us for our Memorial Day Ceremony in Siletz as we give our thanks and our appreciation to all veterans who have given their lives during peace and war times. Delores Pigsley For information about the Siletz Tribe, visit our website at www.ctsi.nsn.us. Elders Council Meeting The Elders Council will host an in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 1 p.m. in the banquet room at Aces Sports Bar & Grill in Lincoln City, Ore. If you have any questions, please contact the Elders Program at 541-444-8212. Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail to Siletz News. Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: ____________ _________________________________________ Phone:_ _______________________________________________________ Change of address: Tribal members – contact the Enrollment Department at 541-444-8258; 800-922-1399, ext. 1258; or enrollment@ctsi.nsn.us. All others – call the newspaper office. Deadline for the June issue is May 10. Send information to: Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 Please see the Passages Policy on page 20 when submitting items for Passages. 541-444-8291 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 Email: pias@ctsi.nsn.us 2 • Siletz News • May 2023 Member of the Native American Journalists Association First Cut Wood for the Elders Day The Tribal Natural Resources Committee and Natural Resources Department will sponsor the first Cut Wood for the Elders Day of the year on Saturday, May 20. The woodcut will be held on the Tribe’s Logsden Road property to the right of the Tribal food distribution warehouse in Siletz. We need lots of volunteers to help cut, split and deliver firewood for Tribal elders. Bring your chainsaws, hydraulic wood splitters, splitting mauls, axes and lots of energy. Even if you don’t have any of those, we can use the moral support! Lunch, drinks and snacks will be provided. We will start at 8 a.m. and go until around 2 p.m. The goal of this event will be to deliver firewood to as many elders as possible. The Elders Program maintains a list of elders who burn wood for their winter heat. People willing to haul firewood to elders outside of the Siletz area can contact A.J Warren in the Elders Program at 800-922-1399, ext. 1212, or 541-444-8212 to be paired up with an elder in need. We especially need folks who can haul wood to the Eugene, Salem and Portland areas. Elders in need of firewood should also contact A.J. to get their name on the delivery list. If you have parents or grandparents who burn wood in the winter to stay warm, you need to help out at this event. Apply now for Siletz Tribal Head Start The Siletz Tribal Head Start program is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. We have classrooms in Siletz, Lincoln City, Salem and Portland and offer services to promote children’s school readiness skills and assist families with supporting their child’s lifelong learning. Classrooms are in session Monday-Thursday. We provide roundtrip transportation and developmentally appropriate activities to promote each child’s success. To qualify, children must be age 3 or 4 by the local school district’s age cut-off date, and income limits may apply. Head Start applications can be found on the Tribal website or can be requested by calling 541-444-2450 or 800-922-1399 and asking for Head Start. CTSIVirtual Virtual CTSI Virtual CTSI CTSI Virtual Nights CTSI Nights Virtual Culture Culture Culture Nights Culture Nights Culture Nights Tipi Drawing Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________ Roll #: ___________________ All tribal members and families welcome Upcoming Dates: May 3 at 6 pm: Spring Foods June 7 at 6 pm: Nee-dash Sponsored by the Education and Culture Departments Contact Nick Viles at nickv@ctsi.nsn.us or 541-484-4234 x1757 to sign up For Siletz Tribal members to use during the Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow on Aug 11-13, 2023. One entry per household. Must be a Siletz Tribal member to enter. Deadline for entries is June 9, 2023. Names will be drawn soon after the deadline. Return the form to Siletz Pow-Wow, Attn: Tipi Drawing, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549. Applications are located on the Tribal website under the Pow-Wow tab – https://www.ctsi.nsn.us/heritage/pow-wow/. Note: You do not win the tipi. The drawing is only for a stay in the tipi over powwow weekend. 2023-2024 Siletz Royalty Applications Applications are being accepted for 2023-2024 Miss Siletz, Junior Miss Siletz and Little Miss Siletz. Applications must be turned in by the end of the workday (4:30 p.m.) no later than June 1, 2023. Applications can be sent to Siletz Pow-Wow Committee, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549. Applications can be downloaded from the Tribal website located under the pow wow tab – https://www.ctsi.nsn.us/heritage/pow-wow/. If you have any questions, contact Buddy Lane at 800-922-1399, ext. 1230; 541-444-8230; or buddyl@ctsi.nsn.us. May 2023 • Siletz News • 3 Changes coming to Childcare Assistance Program Seeking associate judges for Siletz Tribal Court Beginning May 1, 2023, changes to the CTSI Childcare Assistance Program will be in effect. These changes include the return of co-payments for families with incomes above the federal poverty level and new payment rates for providers. The Siletz Tribal Court consists of a chief judge and such associate judges as the Tribal Council shall determine are necessary for the efficient operation of the Tribal Court. Associate judges shall include judges for the Siletz Community Law Court, Siletz District Court, Siletz Court of Appeals and Siletz Gaming Court. Co-payments are based upon household income and household size, and range from 1-4%. Payment rates for providers are based on the geographic area or ZIP code of the provider and their qualifications and training. The CTSI Childcare Assistance Program helps Siletz Tribal families living in the Tribal 11-county service area pay for their childcare expenses while they participate in a work activity. Work activities include working, looking for work, students or participating in a job training program. To be eligible, children must be 12 years of age or younger, and either an enrolled member of the Siletz Tribe or eligible to enroll in the Tribe, or be the descendant or dependent of an enrolled member of the Tribe. For more information about the CTSI Childcare Assistance Program, please call DeAnn Brown, Head Start director, at 541-444-2450 or email at deannb@ctsi.nsn.us. The Siletz Tribal Council is considering the reappointment of the associate judges, but desires to seek additional individuals who are qualified and interested in an appointment for the courts listed above. For detailed information on qualifications, responsibilities and duties of the Siletz Tribal Court judges, please refer to the Tribe’s website – www.ctsi.nsn.us; under the Government Listings Tab, select Court & Justice, then select Tribal Ordinances, then select Tribal Court Rules of Procedures. Information for Judicial Officers, Qualifications, Terms and Scope of Duties is located beginning at § 3.010. If interested in possible appointment as an associate judge, please submit your résumé to Siletz Tribal Council, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, Oregon 97380-0549. Résumés will be accepted through June 7, 2023. CTSI Jobs – Tribal employment information is available at ctsi.nsn.us. Supporting detoxification for our children safely through a variety of options By Nancy Ludwig, MS, RDN, LD, Head Start Consulting Nutritionist As follow up to last month addressing how environment toxins impact our health and create a tendency toward weight gain, we now focus on detoxification for our children with holistic approaches including nutrition and lifestyle. I offer this information for families in my role as consultant nutritionist to Siletz Tribal Head Start. Children are our future. Dr. Elisia Song, MD, holistic pediatrician, is a voice of hope for children even when she speaks about environmental toxicity. Much of the information below was shared by Dr. Song as part of a Toxicity and Detoxification Masterclass by Michael of Rebel Health Tribe. Dr. Song speaks about making healthy choices to help children thrive. She shares concerns that children are uniquely vulnerable to toxins at increased exposure relative to adults. They are exposed during critical times of development, setting the stage for lifelong impacts. Children’s intestinal and blood-brain barriers are more permeable and their detoxification pathways are immature with decreased abilities. Dr. Song also recommended a resource by a Canadian pediatrician found in the resources below. In today’s world, children are sicker than ever before. Dr. Song reminds us not to fret about our past or carry guilt, but to move forward with informed choices to support our children. When we know better, we can do better without living in a bubble of fear. First, a note regarding prenatal exposures. While exposure is a serious concern for an unborn child, detoxification should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation as this would be more dangerous to the developing child. Detoxification, however, reducing stress and optimizing the gut microbiome is recommended 3-6 months prior to pregnancy. Before doing any kind of detoxification, it is essential to always keep elimination pathways open. The most 4 • Siletz News • May 2023 active pathways are pee, poop and sweat. If bowels are not moving, stop and focus there or this will not work at all. 1. To support urination (pee): Stay hydrated, drink fluids with mineral support for detoxification such as coconut water, bone broth or “clean” electrolyte drinks. 2. The goal for poop is stool that is soft and well-formed, every day to every other day. Water, fiber, magnesium and movement support bowel movements. Constipation is a serious concern and it is becoming more frequent in children. 3. Sweat is another pathway for elimination. Exercise is a good way to sweat, which has additional benefits as well. Next, focus on optimizing gut health – highlights below: 1. Take in fiber, fermented foods, phytonutrients, fish oil and probiotic supplements (L. rhamnosus, L. casei, B. breve may be especially helpful for detox). 2. Let your child choose foods from the rainbow of color for fiber sources. Remember, tan/brown packs the biggest fiber punch, with seeds, nuts, legumes and whole grains. 3. Serve fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, kvass, sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar, miso, natto, tempeh and kimchi. 4. Nutrients to support detoxification include: a. Colorful phytonutrients – Choose fruits and vegetables from the rainbow. b. Sulfur-rich foods – These are the stinky ones because sulfur is what smells stinky to most of us. Examples include kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, arugula, collard greens, watercress, Swiss chard, mushrooms, garlic, onions, asparagus, spinach and radish. Vitamin C-rich foods, such as papaya, citrus fruit, berries, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, watercress, asparagus, tomatoes, pineapple, cantaloupe, mangos and guava. Note that some of these foods are on both lists. d. Omega 3-rich foods, including fish such as mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, anchovies, plus oysters and caviar. Plant sources include seaweed, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, walnuts and soybeans. e. Supplements, as needed, like glutathione, methylation support and mitochondrial support. f. Epsom salt baths (magnesium sulfate) absorbed through the skin. c. Helpful lifestyle strategies that are important to achieve detox success include sleep and mindfulness. Many of the brain’s healing and detox functions occur during sleep. To succeed with detox, sleep is important and many kids are chronically sleep deprived. It may be important to reduce nighttime blue light exposure, such as electronic screens. Supports for sleep may include phosphatidyl serine to reduce cortisol excess, melatonin to fall asleep, and inositol to stay asleep. Homeopathic remedies may also help, such as coffea cruda for “wired” mind and body or Ignatia for worries and grief. Mindfulness is surprisingly helpful for detox success. It can improve heart rate variability (HRV), which is a physical measurement independent of dietary change. It has been seen that happiness, positive emotions and high HRV are associated with higher gut microbiome diversity in children. Conversely, high stress and low HRV are associated with lower gut microbiome diversity in children. When you optimize HRV, you also optimize vagal tone and health. It can be useful to practice mindfulness meditation anywhere and anytime with your children. Below are three different approaches: 1. Stop. Look. Listen. These are common words to ask when crossing the street. a. b. c. Stop – and pay attention to what is around you. Look – with five senses. First close your eyes and listen, ask yourself: What do I hear? What do I smell? What do I taste? What do I feel on my skin? Then open your eyes and ask, What do I see? Often it is something new that was not noticed before. Listen and ask – How I feel in this moment? 2. Practice the loving kindness meditation: Start with yourself, then think about others, even if you don’t know them, with the following words: May I feel safe • May I feel happy May I feel healthy • May I live with ease May you feel safe • May you feel happy May you feel healthy May you live with ease 3. Teach your child to belly breathe (also known as diaphragmatic breathing). This can bring calm and reduce anxiety. Face it, a calm body is better able to detox and be healthy Siletz Tribal Head Start offers nutritional support at no cost to Head Start families. If you have nutrition concerns about your Head Start child or want to discuss family nutrition concerns, please contact your teacher or the director and ask for a phone call with the nutritionist. Resources Dr. Elisa Song, MD: www.healthykidshappykids.com; Facebook: www.fb.com/ DrElisaSongMD Website: Little Things Matter, Protecting Children from Toxic Chemicals https://littlethingsmatter.ca Courtesy photo above by Jordan Taylor Photo below by Andy Taylor Egg hunters are on the prowl for goodies and fun at the annual Tribal Easter Egg Hunt on April 8. This event is planned and carried out by the Cultural, Youth Services and Higher Education programs. USDA distribution dates for May Siletz Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 Salem 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sammy Hall, USDA Program Director 541-444-8279; sammyh@ctsi.nsn.us Fax: 541-444-8306 or 503-391-4296 May 15 1:30 – 6:30 p.m. Monday Tuesday May 16 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday May 17 By appt only LIKE us on Facebook at Siletz Tribal FDPIR. We would like to see more people sharing their recipes on our FB page. May 2023 • Siletz News • 5 EVENTS - May 2023 MMIP Awareness Event 05/05/23 @5:30pm Every Thursday Virtual 5:30pm Every Wednesday In-Person Trauma Group Ribbon Skirt Making TBD (limited spots) Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons & Contact rachellee@ctsi.nsn.us for more information. We are excited to announce the new LGBTQIA2S+ group forming in the Siletz community. After tallying the votes, we have confirmed “Nuu-da’-ya” (Our Family) for the name. We will begin to have meetings and facilitate events. We want to program around the community’s interests as well as hosting upcoming Pride events in June and will look for volunteers and community members to participate. If you are interested in joining us, please reach out to SiletzHarmReduction@ctsi.nsn.us. We would love to hear from you! The Portraits In RED Painting Project. Nayana LaFond, the artist of this project, paints Missing and/or Murdered Indigenous People throughout Canada and the United States. “…….This project is a labor of love. It has found me and inspired a mission of raising awareness and honoring the memory of those lost. I hope it helps those still here heal, even if only a very small amount. Perhaps it will help someone still suffering gain the courage to get help. You are not alone, you are not without hope, we are your sisters and we are here beside you.” —Nayana LaFond On Feb. 2, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians partnered with the Pacific Maritime Heritage Museum in Newport, Ore., to bring in ceremony for the Portraits In RED exhibit. The artist featured 4 Siletz Tribal members, 3 of whom have been reported to the authorities as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and the 4th one is an activist for this epidemic. CTSI’s CARE Program opened the exhibit with ceremony and Tribal Council member Selene Rilatos opened with prayer, with families of the missing and many relatives from the Siletz Tribe. The CARE Program, Tribal Council members Selene Rilatos and Angela Ramirez, and Nayona LaFond sat on a panel discussion on MMIP with the community on March 23, 2023, at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Museum, where the paintings are on display. Community members had a lot of questions on human trafficking and how they can help Tribal communities and surrounding areas fight this epidemic. SCHC Executive Director Miranda Williams and CARE hosted a lunch with our current MMIP families and Nayana to meet and talk about their stories together. It was an honor to host Nayana and get to know her and why she started this project. The lunch also gave space for families to get to know each other and know they are not alone and have support. If you are interested in becoming a voice for our relatives, please contact the CARE Program. While meeting with families, we received a suggestion to start a group that solely focuses on MMIP issues and our Tribal relatives coming alongside one another during this time; also making posters, billboards, a phone tree or safe space to grieve. 6 • Siletz News • May 2023 THE CARE PROGRAM & DIABETES DEPARTMENT INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON MAY 5, 2023, AT THE SILETZ REC CENTER FROM 5:30PM to 8:30PM Traditional dinners from both Native and Mexican-American Indigenous cultures will be provided Friendship dances Activities for the family Information on the history of the MMIP epidemic with our Native and Mexican Indigenous peoples RAFFLE TICKET FOR EACH PERSON AT THE DOOR EVENT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC Please contact Rachelle Endres at rachellee@ctsi.nsn.us or at 541-444-9638 for further information. April is Sexual Assault awareness month. Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month Asthma affects more than 25 million Americans and between February and early summer is when seasonal allergies can really give asthma-suffering people the most trouble. Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breath. There is no cure for asthma, however, it can be managed by avoiding triggers such as pollen, smoke, dust and whatever you could be allergic to. It’s best to carry your asthma medication when you’re out and about just in case and be mindful of symptoms like coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. With allergies being a big trigger for asthma, it’s important to understand how allergies can affect us. Allergies occur when our body’s immune system overreacts to a substance it sees as harmful. The immune system makes antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which respond to allergens. The resulting symptoms are an allergic reaction. People can be allergic to almost anything, including pollen, food, pets, mold and latex. Symptoms can include sneezing, hives or rash, swelling in the throat and mouth, and even anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening reaction. The best way to prevent allergies is to avoid allergens and be sure to carry medications you may need with you. Talk to your primary care provider if you have asthma or allergy concerns. Jamie Boe, Community Health Advocate https://www.aafa.org/ MAY IS NATIONAL WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH Prepare for Wildfires Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide. Sign up for community alerts in your area and be aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), which requires no sign-up. Pay attention to air quality alerts. Make an Emergency Plan  Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands what to do if you need to quickly evacuate.  Don’t forget a plan for the office, kids’ daycare and anywhere you frequent.  Review Important Documents Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents, like ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password-protected digital space. Strengthen your Home  Use fire-resistant materials to build, renovate or make repairs.  Find an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any area of your property. Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home. Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air. Close all doors and windows. Set up a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low when smoky conditions exist. Know your Evacuation Zone May 2023 • Siletz News • 7 Healthy Traditions For more information regarding activities contact Healthy Traditions 541.444.9627 or kathyk@ctsi.nsn.us Community Garden Opens May 5th Garden spots are available! Contact: Kathy 541.444.9627 email: kathyk@ctsi.nsn.us Container Gardening and Plant giveaway! May 19-20th 3-6pm Open to Siletz Tribal members and their families! Hazel Stick Season! If you are interested in learning traditional Siletz basket weaving, it all starts with gathering your materials and processing them. Hazel sticks are only available one time during the year. We have a co-managed area that we have been preparing for stick harvesting for several years. Contact Kathy if you would like to be notified when we are going to the area. *This activity is open to Tribal members and their families 8 • Siletz News • May 2023 Health Promotion Activities sponsored by: Diabetes Prevention Team For more information about registering, please contact: JacobR@ctsi.nsn.us For more information: Richard Bayya Richardb@ctsi.nsn.us May 2023 • Siletz News • 9 Siletz Community Health Clinic 200 Gwee-Shut Rd Important Mary Lou Grove Born March 1, 1932 Passed on March 1, 2023 PRC Update! Starting Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund Recruitment for Advisory Board Applications are being accepted for one Siletz Tribal member position and one Lincoln County non-Tribal member position interested in serving on the Advisory Board of the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund (STCCF) for a three-year appointment from July 2023 through June 2026. The deadline for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. on May 31, 2023. The STCCF Advisory Board has seven members, including one Siletz Tribal Council representative, three at-large Siletz Tribal members and three non-Tribal positions. Board members serve in a volunteer capacity but are reimbursed for travel mileage and per diem for attendance at advisory board meetings and charitable award distribution receptions. The Advisory Board meets quarterly in January, April, July and October to review applications from charitable nonprofits, community service organizations and other local education and government programs. Board members send award fund recommendations to Tribal Council for final review and approval. Board members also attend quarterly receptions held at Chinook Winds Casino Resort to assist with the distribution of award checks. To learn more about the Tribal charitable fund, contact Rosie Williams at stccf@live.com; 800-922-1399, ext. 1227; 541-444-8227; or visit www.ctsi.nsn. us/Charitable-Contribution-Fund. Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund 2023 Application for Advisory Board Name: Tribal Member [ ] Non-Tribal [ ] May 1st, 2023 Save Our New Number 5414449677 SIletz, OR The Purchased/Referred Care Phone Number is Changing! Starting May 1st, you can call PRC directly at 541-444-9677 All other PRC phone numbers will be deactivated within the coming months. Until then, an automated voice message will direct callers to contact PRC using our new number. This update allows you to contact PRC directlyno more transferred calls or phone trees! Did you know? You can also contact PRC by email at SiletzPRC@ctsi.nsn.us Legal Aid Services of Oregon and the Oregon Law Center, civil legal service providers for low-income Oregonians, operate a public benefits hotline where low-income Oregonians can talk to lawyers and paralegals to get advice on public benefits, including unemployment benefits: Oregon public benefits hotline: 800-520-5292 or Oregonlawhelp.org Address: ____ City/State/ZIP: ____ Telephone: (Day) ____ (Evening) ____ Email: ____ RETURN TO: Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549 Attention: Rosie Williams Fax: 541-444-2307 / Email: stccf@live.com Temporary Tribal Student Assistance Program The Siletz Tribal Housing Department’s Temporary Tribal Student Assistance Program (TTSAP) will start accepting applications for the 2023-2024 academic year on May 1, 2023. Program Information ’ TTSAP assists Tribal students who will attend a college, university, vocational or trade school. ’ TTSAP is a time-limited program. Funding is for one academic year. ’ TTSAP assists students with rent or room and board in a dormitory. ’ The student’s share of the rent is 30% of their adjusted annual income. Important note: The student might be required to remit a portion of the rent. For example, if a student is working, the wages will affect the student’s share of the rent. ’ Assistance is not transferable. STHD will accept applications May 1-31, 2023. If applications are received after May 31, 2023, they will not be accepted by the Siletz Tribal Housing Department. To obtain an application, please stop by the STHD’s office at 555 Tolowa Court, Siletz OR, 97380 or call 800-922-1399, ext.1315, or 541-444-8315. Applications can also be downloaded from the Siletz Tribe’s website at http:// www.ctsi.nsn.us/. Cecelia De Anda ceceliad@ctsi.nsn.us Rental Assistance Program Coordinator/ Resident Services Advocate 10 • Siletz News • May 2023 Graduates! Disaster can strike without warning. Complete your free Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) today to organize all your crucial documents for peace of mind tomorrow. Get started today at https://community.fema.gov/EFFAK. #BeInformed Ginger Keller Valdez High School Ginger, granddaughter of Ron and Pam (Fisher) Keller, will graduate from Valdez High School (Valdez, Alaska). She will attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the fall to pursue a certificate in the health care field. CTSI Jobs – ctsi.nsn.us Note: “Open Until Filled” vacancies may close at any time. The Tribe’s Indian Preference policy will apply. Tribal government will not discriminate in selection because of race, creed, age, sex, color, national origin, physical handicap, marital status, politics, membership or non-membership in an employee orgnization. Tama St. Onge Willamette University Tama will graduate from Willamette University (Salem, Ore.) as an exercise and health science major with a minor in Spanish. While not sure of her future plans, Tana is considering grad school for either public health or occupational therapy. For now, she wants to be a barista before possibly working as a personal trainer at PUSH Fitness in Salem. While at Willamette, Tama was a resident advisor, one of two Bearcat Pantry coordinators and an executive member of the Native and Indigenous Student Union. For more information about the Siletz Tribe, visit ctsi.nsn.us. Siletz Tribe Revolving Credit Program Lowers Interest Rates Siletz Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program (STVRP) STVRP is here to help members of ANY federally recognized Tribe (living within the Siletz Tribe's service area) with barriers to employment. We work with individuals who have disabilities. Siletz Tribal Behavioral Health Programs Prevention, Outpatient Treatment, and Women’s and Men’s Transitional Living Center Siletz: 800-600-5599 or 541-444-8286 Eugene: 541-484-4234 Salem: 503-390-9494 Portland: 503-238-1512 “Hi, I can help with OHP.” Narcotics Anonymous Toll-Free Help Line – 877-233-4287 For information on Alcoholics Anonymous: aa-oregon.org Do you need help with OHP? You don’t have to leave your home to apply! Applications can now be done online or over the phone. The Health Care Marketplace is open now through May 15, 2021. 541-444-9611 Examples of Services • Guidance and counseling • Culturally relevant and • Referral to employment services individualized services • Résumé writing • Evaluations, assessments and training • Interviewing techniques placement opportunities • Job coaching • Adaptive equipment Shop for health plans at https://or.checkbookhealth.org/ or call direct at 855-268-9767. For more information about STVRP, please inquire at 800-922-1399. We also maintain resource and employment boards, so please make an appointment if you're interested. You can speak to VR staff in the following locations: Makayla Jackson Job Development Specialist Eugene Area Office 2468 W 11th Ave. Eugene, OR 97402 541-484-4234, ext. 1752 Toni Leija Job Development Specialist Salem Area Office 3160 Blossom Drive NE, STE 105 Salem, OR 97305 503-390-9494, ext. 1861 Tamra Russell Self-Sufficiency Counselor 1 Portland Area Office 12790 SE Stark St., STE 102 Portland, OR 97233 503-238-1512, ext. 1411 Jamie Bokuro Job Development Specialist Siletz Area Office 201 SE Swan Ave. Siletz, OR 97380 541-444-8266 May 2023 • Siletz News • 11 Shu’ - ‘aa-xu Round Dance March 25, 2023 Siletz Valley School Photos by Andy Taylor Family and friends dance together at the Shu’ - ‘aa-xu Round Dance on March 25. This round dance was organized by members of the community for cultural celebration. Above (l to r): Katya Rilatos, Skeeter Lancaster, Crystal Hinds, Tasha Rilatos, Tiffany Stuart, Johannah Wolf, Allivea Hernandez, Naiya Mason and Tehya Seltenreich. Right (l to r): Shawna Gray and Alicia Keene Food, continued from page 1 many tribal members both on and off the reservation, helping to take the pressure off low-income households. Those who apply and qualify – in 2021, a net annual income of no more than $28,380 for a family of four – are eligible for a monthly box of food. Shelley UpChurch, 72, an enrolled Siletz member and treasurer for the tribal Elders Council, has lived on the reservation since 1998, when she moved back to Oregon to care for her aging parents. She lives in a cozy two-bedroom apartment in housing the tribe provides for elders. From her kitchen window, she can see the sacred tribal Dance House adjacent to a grove of fir trees, trunks straight as flag poles. Over the bank, the Siletz River rushes west to the Pacific Ocean. UpChurch initially used SNAP benefits to buy food, but the closest store in Siletz is small and expensive, she said, while larger, more affordable grocery stores in Toledo and Newport are too far away. FDPIR is simple: she shops by checklist and, a few weeks later, picks up her choices at the warehouse. She mentions that she has diabetes and while she appreciates “commods,” she says she wishes they were more friendly for those, like her, who manage this disease. Commodities on reservations Historically, the U.S. government restricted tribes’ ability to hunt and gather the traditional foods — game, fish, roots and berries — that had sustained Native people for millennia. Hunting and gathering were replaced by commodities, government-issued rations like lard and flour, surplus foods that, at times, arrived 12 • Siletz News • May 2023 on the reservation rancid or rotten. Many people starved. “There is a history of rations, then the military diet in boarding schools, then families in need program, then FDPIR. They are technically separate programs with separate authorizations, but the models are the same. Renamed, same model,” wrote A-dae Romero-Briones in an email. Romero-Briones is Director of Programs for Native Agriculture and Food Systems at the First Nations Development Institute. This is a familiar story for many tribes, a throughline from the past to reservations today. Nearly half of the 574 federally recognized Native American tribes in the U.S. participate in the commodity system. In 1857, the U.S. government forcibly removed the 27 bands that comprise the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians from their homelands – west of the Cascade Mountains, from the Rogue River to north of the Columbia River – and confined them to the Siletz reservation. They were required to relinquish the guns, arrows and arrowheads they used for hunting and couldn’t access off-reservation hunting grounds. “It was illegal to leave the reservation. You could be shot,” said Sherry Addis, a tribal elder, adding that the Siletz tyee, or chief, “begged” the government for food. “I don’t know how you get out of bed when you lose 90 percent of your relatives,” she said, referring to a tribal mortality rate from starvation described in a book about the history of the Siletz peoples, The People Are Dancing Again. Despite the risks, some continued to hunt and fish for their relatives and neighbors. Kevin Goodell, 59, a foreman for the Siletz Natural Resources Department, said his dad and his dad’s closest friend would sometimes slip off the reservation to fish for lamprey and harvest deer. Later, they would drive around in an old pickup truck and distribute fish and meat. “It was an ugly scene,” Goodell said. “Our people have survived with probably less money than any other culture. It’s shocking we are still here.” Selene Rilatos, 61, who also grew up on the reservation and is a member of the Siletz Tribal Council, learned as a girl how to fish and hunt, skills she is grateful to know. She echoed Goodell’s memories of poverty and food insecurity on the reservation. “As my father used to say, ‘Our people were never rich – our richness is in our culture and the love of the land,’” she said. Building sovereignty with land, partnerships Today, the Siletz Tribe is strengthening food sovereignty on several fronts. Last year, the tribe purchased a 38-acre farm five miles east of Siletz and is beginning to grow food that tribal members can harvest at the farm, both wild and cultivated. The Siletz forged an agreement with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife so that the tribe gets more than 4,000 pounds of hatchery salmon each year, along with game meat that the state confiscates from poachers, hunters who shot the wrong animal or people hunting without a license. And Siletz is on a USDA registry that delivers additional food from farmers and producers, which is distributed from its warehouse. The FDPIR program is also changing, slowly, due in large part to work by Native people to change the USDA Farm Bill. For many years, Indigenous farmers and ranchers petitioned to have their products – fish, meat, produce – included in FDPIR. In the 2018 Farm Bill, which comes up for renewal every five years, Congress provided $3.5 million to eight tribal nations for a demonstration project to buy food that better reflects traditional diets, including Native-harvested and grown foods. The Native Farm Bill coalition is advocating for additional changes to the 2023 Farm Bill. Lummi Nation was awarded funding for the Self-Determination Demonstration Project. Tribal fishermen catch salmon and vacuum seal the fish into serving packages, which is then provided to tribal members. “One year,” said Dewey Solomon Jr., a 50-year-old Lummi tribal member and FDPIR certification supervisor, “our tribal elders received frozen catfish from Mississippi in their food boxes. The elders laughed – especially because right out our front door are salmon, crab and shrimp. That’s how we make our living, so being able to sell our catch to USDA allows us to feed our tribe in the ways we know.” Food sovereignty is key to the larger goal of self-determination, said Buck Jones, the salmon marketing specialist for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. A tribe’s ability to provide its own food “defines who we are as a people,” he said. “We can’t be sovereign if we’re not controlling our own foods,” Jones said. “Getting traditional food back into our people, that’s wealth right there. The things our ancestors taught us continue to guide us today.” Lincoln County Jail seeks volunteers The Lincoln County Jail in Newport, Ore., is seeking additional cultural practitioners to provide services to American Indians who are incarcerated. They are seeking both female and male practitioners to provide online, one-on-one and group guidance (once it is safe to hold in-person meetings). If you have questions, please contact Lisa Norton at lisan@ctsi.nsn.us. If you want to volunteer, contact Dennis Buckmaster (dbuckmaster@co.lincoln. or.us) to start the process. This process does include a background check, but all situations will be considered individually. May 2023 • Siletz News • 13 Website is one-stop shop for college grants The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) encourages students and families preparing for college to go to OregonStudent-Aid.gov to check out the more than 500 grant and scholarship opportunities. It’s a one-stop shop for information, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Oregon Promise and the Oregon Opportunity Grant. For information about the Siletz Tribal language program, visit siletzlanguage.org. Siletz Tribal Members Online Academic Support Free Virtual Tutoring! * 24/7 On-Demand Access to Online Professional Tutors * GED Support * All Subjects and Grade Levels- From Kindergarten through College/University * Individualized Help in All Subjects * SAT & ACT Prep; College Course Level Help and More * All Tribal Students Eligible to Apply, Regardless of Residence. Contact your local Education Specialist to sign up: Siletz & Out-of-Area Jeff- JeffS@ctsi.nsn.us Portland Katy- KatyH@ctsi.nsn.us Salem Sonya- SonyaMJ@ctsi.nsn.us Eugene Candace- CandaceH@ctsi.nsn.us Please Note: Students MUST complete a Tutoring Application to register. Tutoring hours are available on a first come first serve basis as resources are available. 14 • Siletz News • May 2023 Scholarships • Fastweb (scholarship search engine) • Be Bold $25,000 Scholarship Deadline: Monthly • Big Future (scholarship search engine) • CollegExpress Monthly Scholarship Deadline: Monthly • Pacific Northwest Scholarship Guide (scholarship search engine) • OregonStudentAid.gov • Christian Connector $2,500 Scholarship Deadline: Quarterly • OTR Diversity in Business Scholarship Deadline: May 25, 2023 • Scholarship for Social Impact Deadline: Rolling • Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship Deadline: June 30, 2023 • AIS Scholarship Deadline: Varies • OppU Achievers Scholarship Deadline: June 30, Sept. 30 & Dec. 31, 2023 • Open Education Database Graduate and Ph.D. Scholarships Deadline: Varies Touchmark Foundation Nursing Scholarship Deadline: June 30 & Dec. 30, 2023 • Tribal College/University Scholarships Deadline: Ongoing • • Be the Boss Scholarship Deadline: Sept. 15, 2023 American Indian Service Scholarships Deadline: Ongoing • • Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway Deadline: Oct. 13, 2023 American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Scholarships Deadline: Ongoing • LasikPlus “My Vision” Essay Scholarship Deadline: Nov. 30, 2023 • • LA Tutors Innovation in Education Scholarships Deadline: 20th of each month • Scholarship Points $2,500 Scholarship Deadline: Monthly • Nitro College Scholarship Deadline: Monthly • Smart Owl Scholarship Deadline: Monthly • • Army Emergency Relief Scholarships Deadline: Ongoing • • Catching the Dream Scholarships Deadline: Ongoing • • College Board Scholarship Deadline: Ongoing DropBox – Remote Customer Experience Program and Project Management Intern – Summer 2023 Deadline: Open Coca-Cola Company Marketing Summer Intern Deadline: Open Amazon Undergraduate Program Internships Deadline: Multiple • • • National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Deadline: Varies Roku Deadline: Multiple/Open Habitat Restoration Internship Deadline: Various • Nike N7 Undergraduate Internship Deadline: Multiple • • Nike Internships Deadline: Multiple Meta (Facebook) Data Center Engineering Internships Deadline: Various • • Tesla Internships (spring 2023) Deadline: Multiple Public Lands Internship Program Deadline: Various • • The Home Depot Remote Human Resources Internships (summer 2023) Deadline: Multiple NOAA Internships Deadline: Ongoing • Code Switch Internship Deadline: Various • HP 3D Printing Engineering Intern Deadline: Open until filled • WOTE Agricultural Incubator Intern Deadline: Various • Saturday Academy Internships Deadline: Multiple • EPA Environ. Research/Bus. Support Deadline: Multiple • NAYA Ninth Grade Counts Deadline: Rolling • • • NPAIHB Youth Delegate Program Deadline: May 30, 2023 Thrive Youth Conference June 26-30, 2023 (Portland, Ore.) • Dept. of Energy Scholars Program Deadline: Ongoing • National Park Service Tribal Stewards Inclusion Program Deadline: Ongoing • Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute – Generation Indigenous Network Youth Ambassador • National Youth Leadership Forum STEM Program Nomination Form Deadline: Various NPAIHB Youth Intern Host Sites Deadline: Rolling Fund for Indigenous Journalists: Reporting on MMIWG2T Deadline: Rolling Internships Liberty Mutual Insurance TechStart Summer Internship Deadline: Open Portland Community College Career Pathways Program • • • • UC Native American Opportunity Plan • • • Tribal higher education and adult vocational training applications are due June 30! Attend graduation – congratulations! Make arrangements for your final grades to be sent to colleges and universities. Good luck! American Meteorological Society Minority Scholarships Deadline: Ongoing • Amber Grants Deadline: Rolling • • • Apple Business, Marketing and G&A Internships Deadline: Multiple • Oregon Tribal Student Grant • • • • This is the deadline for final decisions for universities. Send letter of intent to registrar. Line up a summer job. Attend your Senior Awards Night. Review any award letters and be sure you understand the terms and conditions that accompany each type of aid. If necessary, arrange for housing and a meal plan (at school). Send thank you notes to any person/ committee from which you received a scholarship. • Oregon Promise Grant • • Cronin and Company Deadline: Open • UO Home Flight Scholars Program June May • Other Opportunities • Important information for college-bound Tribal seniors • Starbucks Public Affairs and Communications Internship (summer 2023) Deadline: Open • Paramount Pictures Internships (summer 2023) Deadline: Multiple • Brighthouse Financial 2023 Remote Marketing Summer Intern Deadline: Multiple • WSJ.Magazine Internship/Summer 2023 Deadline: Open • National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Deadline: Multiple • DMS Internships Deadline: Ongoing • Indian Land Tenure Foundation Deadline: Multiple Fellowships • MBA Special Advisor Fellowship Deadline: Ongoing • Master of Forest Resources Fellowships Deadline: Open until filled • Franklin Talent Exchange Program Deadline: Ongoing • • NYT Local Investigations Fellowship Deadline: Rolling NW NA Research Centers for Health Research Support Fellowship Deadline: Rolling • • Institute for Citizens and Scholars Fellowships Deadline: Various Northwestern University’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research Undergraduate Fellowships Deadline: Rolling • American Indian Graduate Center Deadline: Ongoing • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Deadline: Multiple • NOAA Fellowships Deadline: Ongoing • Claremont NA Fellowship Deadlines: Multiple May 2023 • Siletz News • 15 Tribal Council Timesheets for March 2023 Delores Pigsley – 3/1/23-3/31/23 Frank Aspria – 3/1/23-3/31/23 TC 3.5 3.25 Ind 3.5 3.25 .75 2.5 .75 2.5 8.5 5.25 4.5 3.75 1.25 4.75 8.5 5.25 4.25 3.75 1.5 4.75 Gmg 1.75 .5 STBC ED Tvl 3/1-4 3/6-7 .75 3/8 3/9-10 3 2.5 8 3/11-12 3/13-15 3/16 3/17-22 3/23 3/24-31 1.25 1.5 Housing Cmte, email Interviews, Natural Resources Cmte, email Court ruling, attorney mtg Portland community mtg, toll mtg, email Interior budget, DC update, email Packets, email, econ dev Regular TC, email, Email, packets Out-of-area comm mtg, packets Special TC – gaming; toll mtg, email Loraine Y. Butler – 3/1/23-3/31/23 TC 3.5 3.5 2.75 2.25 2.25 1.25 Ind 3.5 3.5 2.75 2.25 2.25 1.25 Gmg STBC ED Tvl 2 4.5 10 17 3/1-6 3/8-9 3/10-13 3/14 3/16 3/20-22 3/24 3/27-29 CEDARR, packets Attorney, CPT, packets NASRAC mtg, packets Culture Cmte, packets Regular TC Chemawa Station, packets Special TC – gaming IGA Alfred Lane III – 3/1/23-3/31/23 TC 3.25 Ind 3.25 8 .5 4 8 .5 4 Gmg STBC ED Tvl 3/2 Meet w/ Rep. Blumenauer’s office, meet w/ Gov. Kotek, meet w/ Chinook, Salem project 2 3/3 Audit/Investment Comm 23 3/5-7 Capitol Hill mtgs 3/14 Packets 10.5 3/16-17 Regular TC, meet w asst sec Ind .25 8 1.25 1.75 2.75 1.5 Gmg 23 Packets Meetings in DC Portland community mtg STAHS, packets Regular TC Packets Bonnie Petersen – 3/1/23-3/31/23 TC 2.25 2.75 Ind .2.25 2.75 2.5 2.5 3 3 .75 3.5 2.75 1.5 1.25 3.25 .75 3.5 2.75 1.5 1.25 3.25 1.5 3/13 3/15 3/16 3/17-18 3/20 3/21-22 1.25 1.25 4.5 3/23-30 16 • Gmg STBC ED Tvl 1.5 .5 3/1-2 3/3-8 3/9 2 1 Siletz News • May 2023 3/10-11 Gmg 2.5 2.5 1 8 8 6.25 3.5 6.25 3.5 2.5 4.75 2.5 4.75 2 2.5 2 2.5 1 1 1.75 1.25 1.25 1 1 1.75 1.25 1.25 STBC ED Tvl 1 2.5 3/1 3/2 2.5 3/3-4 20 3/5-7 3/8-12 3/13-14 1.25 1.25 3/15 10 3/16-17 1.5 2.5 4.75 4 2.5 12.5 7 8 CEDARR, OIN mtg, email Email, reading, interview prep, CPT prep, atty mtg Interviews, USDA mtg, CPT, review minutes, email NASRAC mtg, email, admin, reading, STAHS activities Pow-Wow Cmte, econ dev, email LCIS mtg, email, reading Regular TC, email Email, calls, research, admin Chemawa LLC, email, research SOU mtg, meet w/ Dee, email, research, packets, meeting prep, reading Special TC – gaming, email 3/18-19 3/20-22 3/23 3/24 3/25-26 3/27 3/28-31 Mail, agenda items Meet w/ Chinook & governor’s office, mail Investment/Audit Cmte, evals, mail, meeting prep Meetings w/ Inter ior and congressional, mail Mail, agenda items Meet w/ Keizer Heritage, mail, prep for council LCIS, gaming commission, mail Regular TC, meet w/ secretary of interior, mail Mail, agenda items Chemawa Station, mail, agenda items, prep for council Meet w/ SOU Special TC – gaming Mail, agenda items Meet w/ governor’s office IGA, mail, agenda items Angela Ramirez – 3/1/23-3/31/23 TC 4.5 6 .5 2.75 8.5 4.5 7.5 2.5 1.5 .5 1 3.25 .75 STBC ED Tvl 3/2 3/5-7 3/9 3/11-14 3/16 3/20-22 Ind 1 2.5 Ind 4.75 6 .5 2.75 8.5 4.75 7.5 2.5 1.5 .5 1 Gmg STBC ED Tvl 3/1-8 3/1-5 3/6 3/8 3/9-23 3/9-10 3/11-13 3/16 3/19-20 3/21 3/23 3/24 3/24-31 3/31 1.5 5 Alfred Lane IV – 3/1/23-3/31/23 TC .25 8 1.25 1.75 2.75 1.5 TC 1 2.5 3.5 .5 Email, packets STAHS Education Cmte Legal, STAHS Email, packets STAHS, legal STAHS Regular TC Gaming mtg, design, STAHS SVS board DV/CARE panel Special TC – gaming Email, packets STAHS Selene Rilatos – 3/1/23-3/31/23 TC 3.5 3.25 1.25 1 .75 3.5 2.75 Ind 3.5 3.25 1.25 1 .75 3.5 2.75 2.5 1.5 3 4.5 4.5 2.5 1.5 3 4.5 4.5 1 1 1.75 .75 1.5 1.75 .75 1.5 Gmg STBC ED Tvl .5 3/1-5 3/6 3/7 3/8 3/9 3/10-12 3/13 3/14 3/15 3/16 3/18-20 3/21-23 4.5 3/24 3/26-27 3/28 3/29-31 QBM, email, packets, calls Health Cmte, calls, email COVID mtg, NPAIHB mtg Email, calls, packets USDA reg dir visit Email, packets, calls Tribal caucus, SCP, email, packets NPAIHB COVID, email COVID ECHO, email Regular TC, packets Email, packets, calls NPAIHB COVID, email, packets, calls Special TC – gaming, email, packets Email, packets, phone calls COVID mtg, email Email, packets, calls MAY 26 & 27 • 8:00 PM • $15 HEADLINER THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF WINNINGS OUT THERE. 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Management reserves the right to alter or withdraw any of these promotions at any time. chinookwinds.com • 1-888-CHINOOK • Lincoln City Collect even more entries with your tracked play in the casino; one bonus entry for every 100 points earned on Slots, Tables, Keno, Bingo and Sports Wagering. May 2023 • Siletz News • 17 The Elder Experience – An Interview with Tribal Elder Ed Ben By Teresa Simmons, courtesy of STAHS It would be impossible to adequately convey the full story of Edmond Ben’s life in the space available. To say he’s an institution would be an understatement. What I can do is give you a brief outline and a small glimpse of Ed Ben’s journey over his 95 years. I listened intently as I visited with him to gather the material for this article filled with dates and accomplishments. A twinkle in his eye, however, and a bit of a grin were dead giveaways for the occasional humorous memories he shared. It was hard to stay on track from time to time. So here goes: A long life of sharing, participation, encouragement and observation and the oldest member of the Siletz Tribe, Ed has worn many hats: WWII Navy veteran, member of the Air Force Reserve, logger, Oregon State corrections officer, fine craftsman, orator, husband, brother, friend and a very proud father. The eldest child of Archie Ben and Victoria Butler Ben, Edmond Ben was born in his grandmother Ella Ben’s house on Christmas Day 1927. He was one of seven children: Vicki, Maxine, Virginia (stillborn), Richard (who was killed in a car accident at age 21), Shirley and Ray. Ed joined the Navy in 1945 at age 17 and was stationed in the Philippines just as WWII was coming to an end. Upon his discharge in 1946, he came back to Siletz and went to work in the logging industry, which was the main source of income in the area at the time. There were numerous gypo logging outfits in the county and Ed worked for several. Between 1946 and 1950, he was employed by Johnny Essex, Mulkey and Downey, Balderee, the Ring Brothers and Whitey Willis among others. He drove bulldozer for Wilbur Martin and finally between 1950 and 1952 he worked for C.D. Johnson. During that time he met his forever love, his wife Dolores. Ed told me they met through one of Dolores’ friends, possibly while he was cruising the main drag in Toledo following a teen dance at the Eagles Lodge. They married in 1948 and lived with his parents for a time before moving to the housing project in Siletz. With the natural progression of newly wedded bliss, their son Gerald (Butch) was born in 1949 in Toledo followed by son Rod in 1952, the same year that Ed and Dolores moved to Salem. Their youngest son, Ed Jr., joined the family in 1957. Ed took some business classes after the move and applied for two jobs that were presented to him. Although it was not his first choice of the two, he was hired at the Oregon State Prison as a corrections officer, where he worked until his retirement nearly 30 years later in 1982. Ed had some harrowing experiences while he was there, two prison riots and fires among them. He was well-liked by the inmates and working together, he and the prisoners who were trapped with him in the riot and fire of 1968 were able to escape the inferno. Ed’s son, Ed Jr., wrote: “He and several convicts were trapped in a burning building on an upper floor. They were 18 • Siletz News • May 2023 Courtesy photo from Ed Ben Jr. Above: Ed and Dolores are shown in this five generations photo with their sons and some of their nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-greatgrandchildren. Courtesy photo from Teresa Simmons Right: Ed Ben in full regalia able to break a window that reportedly had shatterproof glass and then cut out metal bars with a saw made to cut wood, not metal. They escaped by going through a small hole in the bars. Convicts below helped by catching the men as they fell to the lower roof. They then helped dad get out of the prison instead of attacking him or taking him hostage, as they had done with other guards. Speaks volumes about the kind of person my father is. In 2019 a book was written called Crime and Corrections that had the inmates’ testimonies in it.” Ed has been active in the events of the Siletz Tribe his entire life. His first memory of dancing with his family was at the home of Johnny Williams when he was perhaps 7 years old. His father, Archie Ben, formed an American Indian dance group that performed all over the state, sometimes representing the Eagles Lodge of which Archie was a member. The lodge provided a truck or a trailer that could be used as a float. The Ben family and other members of the Tribe often participated in the Loyalty Days Parade in Newport and many others, including the Albany Veteran’s Day parade in which one year they were awarded the Grand Marshal’s Award for their float, This Land is Our Land. Ed served on the Tribal Council prior to Tribal Restoration. Always willing to speak for the people, Ed was one of a group that traveled to Washington, D.C., in 1976 at the invitation of the U.S. government to the Siletz Tribe. Other Tribes from the Northwest participated, including Warm Springs. They were housed at Georgetown University and bused to the reflecting pool every day where they danced. His mom and dad, sister Shirley, brother Ray, Delores Pigsley, Pauline Ricks, Katherine Harrison and members of the Bell and Easter families were all there. Years later, Ed and Alfred “Junior” Lane and four other WWII survivors were invited to return to Washington, D.C., to be part of the dedication of the WWII Memo- rial. They were accompanied by Siletz Veterans Representative Tony Molina. Over the last several years, Ed could be found many, many times dressed in full regalia, carrying the Eagle Staff and leading the Tribal Honor Guard at the opening of events, both Tribal and nonTribal. His devoted wife Dolores, who passed away last year, accompanied him and was always nearby cheering him on. All three sons followed in the tradition to promote their Tribal heritage. Sadly, son Rod passed away in 2003. Together, Ed and Dolores handcrafted literally hundreds of beautiful dentalium necklaces that have been presented to performers at Chinook Winds Casino and dignitaries at various functions and awards. Fine full dress regalia is among his many other creations. Ed has always been a strong voice for the Siletz Tribe, recounting the history in great detail. His amazing memory and ability to put voice to the struggles of the Siletz people have served as catalysts in not only enlightening the greater community, but also in reminding the younger generations of the history and the sacrifices of the previous generations. We can and have learned a great deal from him over the years, not just from his words, but also from his deeds. I asked Ed what he would want to share with the younger generation and he replied, “If you have the opportunity to go on to school, do it and do it to the best of your ability.” Thanks, Ed, for all that you do. Siletz Tribal Student Incentives Program If you have completed any of these milestones, please send a copy of your certificate or diploma to your area education specialist. The Siletz Tribal Student Incentive Program rewards student achievements as follows: High School or GED $100 Adult Vocational Training One-year program Two-year program $100 $200 Higher Education Bachelor’s Degree Pendleton blanket plus $75 Head Start/Preschool $10 Kindergarten $10 Master’s Degree Elementary School $20 Middle School $50 Doctorate Degree Pendleton blanket plus $300 $300 Tribal Education Specialists Portland Area Office: Katy Holland, 503-238-1512, 12790 SE Stark St., Suite 102, Portland, OR 97233 Salem Area Office: Sonya Moody-Jurado, 503-390-9494, 3160 Blossom Drive NE, Suite 105, Salem, OR 97305 Eugene Area Office: Candace Hill, 541-484-4234, 2468 W 11th Ave., Eugene, OR 97402 Siletz Area Office: Jeff Sweet, 541-444-8207, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549 To my men mentors: I, Socetna A. Butler, would like to thank you – Sally and Charlie Butler, Dan Smith and John Monroe – for taking the time and showing me how to cut, split and stick firewood to complete 20 hours of community service. I would also like to thank Ralph and Calvin Easter for letting me serve and help my disabled elders. It was an honor to work with each and every one of you, and Mike Kennedy. Thank you for helping with my community service. Socetna To the editor: Some FAQs concerning an urgent issue follow: What’s the beef that Siletz Tribal Council (TC) is having with the Chinook Indian Nation (CIN)? Before 2018, warm and friendly relations existed between Siletz and Chinook. Then, Siletz TC attempted to horn in on CIN’s Indian Claims Commissions settlement award both in federal court (where Siletz lost) and at the BIA hearings level (where Siletz lost again). Controversial statements concerning CIN have more recently been included in letters sent by Siletz officials to regional organizations. And in April 2023, Siletz TC refused to offer full support to Chinook’s restoration efforts and instead made CIN’s dismemberment a precondition for Siletz support. Why has the present Siletz TC not yet given full support to CIN? Someone on/near Siletz TC appears to have been successfully offering this advice: We’d better extract some sort of concession from CIN in exchange for our support – something along the lines of the Consent Decree giving up Siletz hunting/fishing rights in exchange for State of Oregon’s support for Siletz Reservation legislation. Siletz TC’s demand is that CIN abandon two-fifths of its constituent Tribes whose ancestral lands lay along the south bank of the Columbia River (Clatsop and Kathlamet Tribes) in exchange for Siletz support. Won’t Siletz lose out by fully supporting CIN? No. While hope for control over CIN wealth prompted a past Siletz TC to pursue expensive legal claims against CIN, these claims failed (see above). Siletz TC chose not to appeal either legal defeat. Siletz chances of winning future claims for CIN wealth/territory would remain non-existent because Grand Ronde and other Tribes that haven’t fought CIN claims – which they consider legitimate – would likely contest any future Siletz claims to Clatsop and Kathlamet territory/wealth – which other Tribes (along with historians and anthropologists) view as illegitimate. No loss will come from Siletz dropping dubious claims. Rather, Siletz will save money by foregoing costs of further expensive legal services. What will result if Siletz TC continues its present approach? Coercing or harming another Tribe in a time of need can be expected to “come round” to Siletz after Siletz helps it “go round” to Chinook. (Ancestral Dee-ni’ proverb: “Ch’ee-nvk nay-ghe, k’wee-nvk nay-ghe.”1) If Siletz TC continues to follow the worst examples of when U.S. and state governments have harmed Indigenous peoples rather than the best example of Grand Ronde, Cowlitz, Shoalwater Bay and other Tribes who have fully supported restoration of CIN federal recognition, Siletz TC will further damage a valuable and long-standing friendship between Siletz and CIN, oppose the values of truth and justice, and receive a drastically lower level of respect from its neighbors. Drew Viles Dear friends and relatives: Hope all are aware of the Tribal Court case that two Tribal Council members were forced to bring against five of our sitting Tribal Council members in October 2022. The case directly involves five of our Tribal Council illegally intervening in an HR (human resources) matter that was not under the authority of the Tribal Council. All HR matters for Tribal employees who are not under the direct supervision of the Tribal Council were delegated to CTSI admin decades ago because HR matters need to be handled per policy, not become political decisions. These five council members ignored their responsibility to uphold those laws and directly violated them. The Tribal Court completely agreed with our complaint. The court ruled that the two resolutions were illegal and overturned them. Ethics concerns were mentioned in the court case, but they were the not the direct subject matter of the case. Now multiple ethics complaints have been filed with the Siletz Tribal Council about not only the violation of Tribal laws by these five, but also the unethical ways they achieved the five votes they needed to pass those two illegal resolutions. One voted in a matter that was a direct conflict and the other four didn’t support the raising of the vote as a conflict and used that illegal vote to get their illegal resolutions passed. We are at a crisis point. Now those five have missed their deadline to file an appeal on the judge’s order – but have asked the court to allow them to bring their appeal anyway – proving once again that they believe the rules that apply to everyone else do not apply to them. The court documents from the case are posted on the members’ portion of the Tribal website. Please read them all and inform yourself as to the ways that the majority of our Tribal Council are acting outside of the law and continuing to break the law. Once you have informed yourself, please express your views to the Tribal Council on five of our elected members acting in violation of the laws that are there to protect us. Too much time, energy, productivity and huge amounts of Tribal resources have been spent on them defending these ridiculous and illegal actions. They have violated the Siletz Tribal Constitution, Personnel Manual, TC Ethics Ordinance, TC Rules and Procedures, and their Oath of Office. Update: April 12, 2023 – Tribal Appellate Court has issued an order denying the attempt of appeal of the chief judge’s decision by these five sitting Tribal Council members. Now that the illegality issue is settled, will they resign and repay attorney, TC timesheet and other costs? Robert Kentta General Council Meeting Saturday, May 6, 2023 • 1 p.m. • Siletz, Oregon Call to Order Invocation Flag Salute Roll Call Approval of Agenda Approval of Minutes Program Reports Indian Child Welfare Program Elders Program Special Presentation Announcements Tribal Member Concerns Chairman’s Report Adjourn Please note the General Council Meeting will be livestreamed through the Tribal website. Siletz News Letters Policy Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, is published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from readers about stories printed in Siletz News and other Tribal issues. All letters must include the author’s signature, address, and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain profane language, libelous statements, personal attacks or unsubstantiated statements. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, Tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142. Please note: The chief executive officer of the Siletz Tribe is the editorin-chief of Siletz News. Editor-in-Chief: Kurtis Barker Editor: Diane Rodriquez Assistant: Andy Taylor Bommelyn, Loren Me’-lash-ne. Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ Wee-ya’. 2nd edition. 2006, p. 93 1 May 2023 • Siletz News • 19 Hotel rates for Siletz Tribal members Siletz Tribe hotel rates all year round! No longer do you have to guess at what your rate is and worry about higher rates in the summer. One rate for each hotel type is now $79 plus tax for standard deluxe oceanfront rooms and $125 plus tax for oceanfront junior suites. Need Rental Housing? The Siletz Tribal Housing Department encourages you to apply for the Low-Income Rental Program waiting list in Siletz (1-4 bedrooms) and Lincoln City (2-3 bedrooms – Neachesna Village). Applications can be obtained at any Tribal area office (Eugene, Salem, Portland, Siletz) or online from the Tribal website – ctsi.nsn.us; follow links – Tribal Services-Housing-Low Rent Apartments & Home Ownership. Questions? Call 800-922-1399, ext. 1322, or 541-444-8322; fax: 541-444- 8313 Happy Birthday, Lakota! Hope you have a great day, son! Love and prayers always, Mamma Bear and family Happy 19th Birthday to Hayden! Hope you enjoy your mini-vacation to Las Vegas. We love you very much. Mom and family Happy 11 th Birthday on May 17, Deenie! We all love you lots and hope you have an amazing day. Love, Mom, Sis, Sissy, Bubba and Bubs For more information about the Siletz Tribe, please visit ctsi.nsn.us. Happy Birthday to Kent Rilatos and Gloria Ingle on May 17! That was a great day for birthdays. Love, Selina and family Free child ID kits from the Oregon State Police 503-934-0188 or 800-282-7155; child.idkits@state.or.us Courtesy photo Chemawa Indian School students at the February 2023 Birthday Pow-Wow. Chemawa Indian School would like to thank the Siletz Tribe for its donation to the pow-wow club cooking heaters. Also, thank you to Chinook Winds for the raffle donation. Passages Policy Submissions to Passages are limited to two 25-word items per person, plus one photo if desired. All birthday, anniversary and holiday wishes will appear in the Passages section. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any submission for clarity and length. Not all submissions are guaranteed publication upon submission. Please type or write legibly and submit via e-mail when possible. 20 • Siletz News • May 2023 Courtesy photo by Teresa Simmons Tribal elders attend the monthly Elders Council meeting on April 8 at Aces Sports Bar & Grill in Lincoln City, Ore. --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_siletz%3A204edf4dd387c3f5. Public record. Not legal advice.