Siletz.Net

As readers of Siletz.Net know, in March of 2009 the then Election Board Chairman Tracey Worman and Vice-Chairman Kurtis Barker sued Tribal Council candidate Lynette Warren for defamation over statements she made during the campaign for the 2009 election.

The hearing was held on March 8th, 2010, and the ruling came down on March 12th.

The court ruled in favor of the defendant, Lynette Warren.

Several Benton County agencies recently received monies from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund. The fund distributed a total of $159,572.52 to 55 agencies on Feb. 9 as it continued its quarterly donations to nonprofit organizations.

Local groups receiving funds include the Kings Valley Charter School in Philomath, $1,862 for four cameras and three projectors; the Mount Union Historic Cemetery Association in Philomath, $2,000 for a new pump for a well, and materials for waterline installation and pump house insulation; the Alsea Valley Gleaners in Alsea, $1,000 to purchase supplemental food from a local food bank; Benton Furniture Share in Corvallis, $1,500 for supplies, storage, truck maintenance and mileage, and a telephone for Beds for Kids; and Mario Pastega House in Corvallis, $5,000 support for Lincoln County residents to stay there.
Corvallis Gazette Times

Lillie Butler 536
Bud Lane 474
Dee Pigsley 433

Lynette Warren 352
Kurtis Barker 350
Melinda Logan 302
Farnk Aspria Sr. 190
Ken Blacketer, Jr. 131

I believe there were a total of 978 total ballots

Estimate count ended around 6:15pm.

There were approximately 60 people in attendance
at the General Council meeting.

Meeting ended close to or after 4pm.

There's no Miss Congeniality prize so, for me, it's 4th place as runner up.

I took 4th place, behind Dee Pigsley, who finished in 3rd place. Not enough to get me on the Tribal Council this year, but I am optimistic about the changes we can still make in the coming year.

Thank you, everyone who took the effort to support me. I got encouraging phone calls and emails from tribal members who, like many others, want more accountability from the tribal government and deserve more information about our businesses and tribal salaries, and government spending. They asked me to keep up the good work. It meant a lot to me to hear from them.

Often a breakthrough is achieved just as a person is about to give up. Albert Einstein talked about this when he said, "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." I hope that that those who desire more transparency and accountability will hold to that spirit and not give up.

We not only have next year, but we have this year, too. We can contribute by remaining hopeful and talking with each other throughout the year.

On to the 2010 election:

Lisa Brown, in her usual energetic form, got the vote tallies out to Siletz Tribal Members around the world on Saturday evening.

Just a couple of years ago most members would have had to wait weeks for the results of an election, but Siletz.Net has changed the paradigm of Siletz tribal communications. Lisa had the tally posted within minutes of the announcement of the results in Siletz.

It's been an interesting year in Siletz tribal politics.

Bud Lane and Dee Pigsley began their campaigns early last year. In March their Election Board sued me. In June I announced my candidacy in Brookings. In July, Pigsley used her column in the the tribal newspaper to campaign against me. Then the Election Board who sued me ran it's own candidate - Kurtis Barker, who was given the support of Pigsley-Bremner machine in it's bloc campaign letter. Chinook Winds worker Melinda Logan threw her hat into the ring this year, along with Ken Blacketer and Frank Aspria. The new Election Board proved even more oppressive than the last, prohibiting me from referring to other candidates in my statement for the voters pamphlet, and, finally, prohibiting candidates from even speaking or referring to one another at the Candidates Fair.

In spite of all that, it was a record turnout for voters and when the ballots were counted on Saturday, here's what it looked like.

Lillie Butler 58% support of all who cast a vote
Bud Lane 48%
Dee Pigsley 44%

Lillie Butler took a comfortable 10% margin above all other candidates. Her 536 votes smashed all records. However, it's likely that 3rd place finisher, Dee Pigsley, who fell behind Lillie by more than 100 votes, has been installed as Chairman by her own majority on the Tribal Council.

I haven't received word on who was chosen on Sunday to chair the Tribal Council, but if the tribal council would, for once, put the voters' best interest in front of their own best interest, they would have selected Lillie Butler as Tribal Council Chairman this year.

All the best to my own supporters and to challengers Melinda Logan and Ken Blacketer. Lillie Butler's resounding first place victory is an indication that the tide is turning. Hang tough, everyone.

Lynette Warren

I would like to take the time to thank everyone for their support and votes during this year's elections. It is greatly appreciated.

I learned as a young girl when I participated in the first Longest Walk in 1978 to fight for the rights of our people.

The purpose of the walk was to put a halt to the abrogation of Native Treaties with the US Government. And, because of the success of the walk we continue to have government funding for our health care, education, housing, fishing/hunting rights, trust land, ICWA, Native American Religion Freedom Act and various social service programs.

It is our birth right as Native people to have our needs met for as long as the green grass grows and the rivers flow.

Our tribe receives thousands and thousands of dollars every year for tribal members. Unfortunately, not every tribal member has had their needs met. Which can be accredited to improper budgeting, planning and spending of tribal funding.

We need council members that have experience in proper budgeting, planning and spending. Council members that will stand up and fight for our future generations. Council members that will commit to growth and change because our future depends on it instead of doing a job just to collect a paycheck.

I am that person! I stand for the people! I want our tribe to be stronger and healthier! I am committing my life to better our tribe! I will not give up because I have just begun to make a difference! I am going to run in the 2011 Siletz Tribal Council Elections.

I am asking all tribal members to participate in creating a stronger and healthier tribe by exercising your rights and vote!

Think about our ancestors that didn't have a choice and was taken from their homelands and stripped of their identity. You have the right to speak, to choose your leaders and how you will be treated!

Remember, the decisions you make today will determine the outcome of your children and grandchildren. Don't give up people stand strong and make a change! You can make a difference in our tribe by voting!

Lynette Warren, Candidate for Tribal Council

I wish the best to our membership in 2010. I hope that tribal members, near and far, will reflect on the events of 2009 and will be encouraged to act upon them and their desire for a better tribal government. I believe that, with your support, we can reform this government. There are many areas that will be improved or resolved if we move to institute the following five measures toward accountability, wise investment, and greater transparency.

1) Increase Per Capita From 40% to 70% of the EPR

2) Cost of Living Adjustments for Chinook Winds Casino Employees

3) Term Limits for Tribal Council and Tribal General Manager

4) Internet Video Streaming of All Tribal Council Meetings

5) Detailed Profit and Loss Statements for all Tribal Businesses in Nesika Illahee

Per Capita - Excess Pledge Revenue or EPR, is the money that is left over from the gross revenue of the casino after expenses. Every year, 60% of the EPR is used in government programs. Much of it is wasted on bad investments, boondoggles, and huge pay raises for elite tribal managers. Only 40% of the EPR is distributed to the members via their per capita checks.

It has long been my position that per capita is the most equitable means of promoting the general welfare of the members of this tribe. Casino profits belong to the members, not to the Tribal Council. Leaving only 40% for the members is effectively a 60% tax on tribal members' money. If the Federal and State government charged us 60% tax on our money we would be up in arms, so why should the Tribal Government get away with levying such an exorbitant tax on our membership? The majority on the tribal council will pretend that this cannot be done, but don't believe it. Members, as individuals know how best to benefit themselves and their families with their incomes, therefore we must move forward now to increase per capita to a more reasonable level.

There are a number of ways the current government programs can be readjusted to return 70% back to the members. One thing that can be done would be to roll Economic Development and Investment into one category, since both have been marked by severe overspending and loss due to unwise and self-interested policy decisions on the part of the current tribal council majority. Limiting their funding and returning it to the membership would no doubt make the government more efficient and frugal when it comes to spending casino profits.

It's time to lower the 60% income tax on tribal members' casino income.

Chinook Winds Employee Cost of Living Adjustments – Our tribal government has, for too long, forgotten the workers at our only reliably profitable business, Chinook Winds Casino. In tough economic times our Casino employees are always the first to be expected to do more with less, while political insiders in tribal administration do less with more.

The Tribal Council majority votes for exorbitant pay raises for management in Siletz. Between 2006 and 2008, it appears that the tribal Administrative Manager Sharon Edenfield, received a 13% pay raise, Human Resource Manager Michele Rowan got 49%, and Assistant General Manager Tina Retasket took a whopping 73% pay increase. I got the figures for these positions through the Freedom of Information Act. These are matters of open public record as far as the federal government is concerned but they are heavily guarded state secrets within our tribe. And I've heard from a reliable source that Brenda Bremner's top managers received very generous raises again in 2009.

This should not be happening. We lavish fat cats in the tribal administration with high salaries while our casino workers produce the lion's share of our revenue. It's time to re-evaluate our pay raise policies and open it up to the light of day by reporting administrative salaries to the members of this tribe so that we don't have to go to Federal government agencies to obtain that information.

Term Limits – It doesn't take much of a review of what has happened over the last few years to see that conflicts of interest are becoming an insurmountable problem in our tribal government. In 2004 when Bud Lane took his seat on the tribal council, in violation of the ethics ordinance which, at the time, prohibited him from doing so while he held a tribal job, he was the only Tribal Council member with a tribal job.

From 2004 to 2009 we've gone from having one Tribal Council member with a tribally paid position to seven! Where are they now when it comes to tribal jobs?

Lillie Butler is reportedly no longer receiving pay for her WEX job with the tribe. Bud Lane and Robert Kentta enjoy full time high paying careers in the Culture Department. Loraine Butler is in Enrollment. Sharon Edenfield is among the very highest paid managers in the tribe. Jessie Davis manages the Hee Hee Illahee RV Park near her home in Salem, although she will not disclose her income to the membership who pay her. Since Tina Retasket left her $96,000/yr tribal job, she has been quietly taking temporary tribal jobs from her old boss, Brenda Bremner, refusing to disclose exactly when this work occurred or what she is being paid. She told me at a June meeting in Brookings, Oregon that it was none of the tribal members' business what she gets paid.

Reggie Butler points out that five members of the Tribal Council are supervised by Chairman Piglsey's niece, General Manager Brenda Bremner - who they in turn supervise themselves! The conflict of interest is appalling – they are their own boss's boss, and so is Bremner. One hand washes the other, washes the next, washes the next...

All the while, the Council members are voting to run the very programs and businesses which affect their tribal income. They may abstain from token votes when it comes to some budget questions which are most obviously affecting their income stream, but remember, this year we have a tribal council with a six person majority - the Pigsley voting majority consists of Dee Pigsley, Bud Lane, Robert Kentta, Tina Retasket, Sharon Edenfield, and Jessie Davis. They identify themselves each year in their letter supporting their candidates – this year Kentta, Retasket, Davis and Edenfield endorse Pigsley and Lane. If they get their way then next year Pigsley, Lane, Davis, and Edenfield will endorse Kentta and Retasket. You see the pattern. This block can be relied upon to vote in lock step with Chairman Pigsley's desires whenever necessary, but they also engage in political log rolling. Each of them can be confident in the support of the other five with regard to their increasing their own salaries, their family member's salaries, and funding their programs. They use this tactic to easily circumvent our ethics laws, which were intended to rein in conflicts of interest and political crony-ism And this corrupt process - “I'll fund you, then you fund me...” - has turned our tribal government into exclusive private club funded at your expense. This must end, and term limits are a way to end it.

Term limits will require a Constitutional vote and that's no small feat, but we will never see this Tribal Council allow members to vote on term limits as long as Dee Pigsley's majority remains firmly entrenched - we must first break the stranglehold of the Pigsley majority. We have the opportunity to that this year - by sending Dee Pigsley and Bud Lane back to their private lives and giving their seats to representatives who will not do the bidding of their political machine.

Video Streaming of Tribal Council Meetings – There can be no effective and long lasting reform of tribal government without an informed membership. For years the Tribal Council has been keeping the members in the dark about much of the business it conducts. The reports they pass on to members are full of sunshine and lollipops while, in reality, they continue to lose money hand over fist. When it comes to press releases and articles in our official tribal media, the information our public information officials distribute is long on fluff and short on relevant data.

Dee Pigsley has said that she wished more members would attend the Tribal Council meetings, but it's very difficult for most members to attend meetings because they don't live in the area. Imagine how discouraging it is for an out-of-area member taking special efforts to attend meetings and then being made to stand in the hallway for hours outside the council chambers waiting for the Tribal Council to come back from executive session. Most of the time the Tribal Council do not even give an adequate reason for going into secret executive sessions, much less an estimate for the amount of time they'll be there.

Over the course of her latest term, Chairman Pigsley has been asked to spend less time in executive session. Her response has been to further limit information to the members and to spend more time in secret meetings. As Reggie Butler points out, this is done to prevent even Tribal Council members from telling members what the Council is really doing.

Even when business is conducted in open session, there is the worsening problem of the minutes, which do not reflect what actually occurs in the meetings. I know this because I have attended Tribal Council meetings where relevant discussions are often glossed over or entirely omitted by the minutes.

Concerned members have urged the Tribal Council to provide accurate minutes in a timely manner, but the Tribal Council remains unresponsive and uncooperative. The best solution to this problem is to provide video streaming of the meetings - as they occur - to the members. This can be done in the Members Only area of the the CTSI website. These sessions should then be archived on the web and made available for members to view at their convenience.

Our leaders cannot make informed decisions and act in the best interest of this tribe unless they have input from an informed membership. The present situation with the lack of openness at the meetings and untimely transmittal of information to tribal members is intolerable. The technology to stream videos or audio files to our members in any part of the world as the meetings happen is now inexpensive and easily available. It is imperative that we implement it.

Profit and Loss Statements in Nesika Illahee - Every year we receive incoherent and misleading financial statements which are so difficult to decipher, even Chairman Pigsley couldn't explain the meaning of the figures in the tribe's annual report when I asked her to do so at the November 2008 General Council meeting. If the STBC Chairman can't make heads or tails out of the STBC financial report to the members, who can?

It doesn't take a PhD in accounting to understand honest financial reports, but the reports we tribal members get are not meant to be understood. What we get is a vague and confusing overview, along with a smattering of cherry-picked highlights. The reports the Tribal Council receive on our businesses throughout the year are not the same ones they distribute to the membership. You deserve a fair and honest accounting of how your money is spent.

As the owners and investors in these businesses, tribal members deserve nothing less than comprehensive, investment-grade information. This can easily be distributed to the membership in the quarterly Nesika Illahee.

Siletz Tribal Business Corporation (STBC)

I've been asked why I persist in bringing up issues about failed STBC businesses year after year, but these examples are not ancient history. Much of it is still ongoing and all of it falls within the last three years. It's the economic record of the incumbent Chairman and Vice-Chairman who I am running against in this 2010 election.

As Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Tribal Council, Dee Pigsley and Bud Lane have also long been the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Siletz Tribal Business Corporation which exists for the economic development of the tribe. Three years ago, when Dee Pigsley and Bud Lane assumed their current terms in office, STBC announced it's top priorities for the economic development of the tribe which you can find in the April 2007 issue of Nesika Illahee. The top three priorities were:

1. Siletz Aeroteam
2. River Reclamation Group (RRG)
3. Chemawa Station

STBC invested millions of your dollars in these three projects. So how has STBC performed under the leadership of Dee Pigsley and Bud Lane in their current terms?

Siletz Aeroteam never broke ground in the Siletz area and had to be de-funded by the end of 2007. You think that's bad? River Reclamation Group didn't even survive the month! RRG was shut down in April 2007 when it was discovered that the permits required for it's operation were not in place. The tribe invested a great deal of money in the Chemawa Station project with no return on our investment – the project has been at a dead standstill for over two years. What they told us would be a vibrant shopping center remains a vacant lot - years after spending millions of your dollars.

Upon the shutdown of RRG, it's equipment was used to found a new venture for the tribe: Northwest Maritime. Northwest Maritime appears to be in disarray and perpetually unprofitable. Another multi-million investment of STBC is the Salem Flex Building which has remained vacant of paying tenants (other than the tribe) throughout the entire current terms of Chairman Pigsley and Vice-Chairman Lane. We continue to make huge payments every month for this building we have never been able to rent. The performance of STBC under he leadership of Pigsley and Lane has been absolutely atrocious.

Last year, a tribal member asked Chairman Pigsley what has become of STBC's shares in US Aeroteam? Recall that US Aeroteam is a company that STBC, under the leadership of Chairman Pigsley, bailed out of bankruptcy using tribal members' money. The Chairman responded that US Aeroteam is making a profit and that the profits are being reinvested. But anyone who understands the structure of ownership of US Aeroteam knows that our “partners” at US Aeroteam are simply keeping the money. Because of the way Chairman Pigsley and STBC structured the bailout deal, our US Aeroteam partners own 80% of the company but retain 100% control over the company. Their four votes on the board of directors always trump the tribe's one vote. And I'm told by those in the know that US Aeroteam stopped paying off the balance of its $2,000,000 debt to the tribe a year ago.

It appears US Aeroteam has become the latest in a string of deadbeat partners and tenants. We pay the salaries of high-priced lawyers, some of whom have made millions off the backs the tribe. So what is our crack legal team doing to collect from this parade of deadbeats? Nothing, as far as the Tribal Council will tell us. They would rather hide their losses than contest them, something which our business associates are happy to take advantage of. After all, Tribal Council aren't losing their own money, they're just losing your money.

STBC continues to lose money year after year under the management of Chairman Pigsley and Vice-Chairman Lane. This has been going on longer than just the past three years. There is no reason to expect this to change until we change leadership by voting them both out of office.

Lisa Brown's Expulsion

Last year Lisa Brown was swept into office with a stunning 401 votes, the fifth highest total in our history. She ran a campaign of reform and has worked diligently for the last few years as an advocate for members whose voices would not have been otherwise heard. She was remarkable in her effort to bring transparency to this government. And none of this sat very well with the present Tribal Council majority.

The ink was barely dry on the 2009 election certification when the Pigsley majority set out to undo the election. At her very first regular Tribal Council meeting in February council members Dee Pigsley, Bud Lane, Robert Kentta, Tina Retasket and Jessie Davis voted to initiate expulsion proceedings against Brown. The first notice that tribal members saw in the Siletz News concerning these expulsion proceedings was the notification in Chairman Pigsley's column in April that Lisa Brown had, in fact, been expelled from the council on March 29th. All tribal members in the community and across the country should have had the opportunity to have their voices heard on so grave a matter as the immediate expulsion of a newly elected Tribal Council matter. Instead many tribal members were not even aware this was going on until it was over.

In his letter to voters this year Reggie Butler wrote:

“When the former Chinook Winds Casino General Manager resigned, he should have been a very happy camper. The majority of the Tribal Council took care of that.”

Reggie has to be very careful because of the legal cone-of-silence imposed by Pigsley's majority, but I take this to confirm that they gave Jim Kikumoto a deluxe golden parachute as part of their plan to bury Lisa Brown.

The elections are our last defense against the Pigsley-Bremner political machine. The overturning of the election via Lisa Brown's expulsion is one of the worst acts in our tribe's political history. On this basis alone tribal members should never vote for anyone who worked to expel Lisa Brown, nor anyone they endorse.

The Election Board's Lawsuit

During last year's campaign I informed voters that Tracey Worman and Kurtis Barker, who were, at that time, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Election Board, had received pay for serving on the Election Board through three prior elections, when the Election Ordinance clearly said that “Election Board members shall serve without pay.” These are well documented facts. At precisely the same time the Tribal Council was expelling Lisa Brown, their appointees, Worman and Barker – who were still on the Election Board - filed suit against me in tribal court for statements I made during the campaign. That lawsuit continues to this day, even as Kurtis Barker runs for Tribal Council and Tracey Worman manages his campaign on Facebook.

The advantages of suing one's political adversaries will surely be apparent to future candidates. Substantial investments of a candidate's time which should be used to run a campaign must be devoted a legal defense and held in reserve for court dates.

Is this really the way we want to conduct our elections in this tribe?

This isn't a theoretical fear. In November the Tribal Council passed a law making it possible for them to sue tribal members for criticizing them in their official capacities. Please see www.siletz.net for the details of it. Clearly, the Pigsley-Bremner political machine are preparing to go much further down this road and if they are successful, all effective political criticism will be silenced. Your own ability to freely communicate with one another without fearing retribution from litigation happy tribal officials will vanish, as well.

Note that they don't have to win a case to cripple their opponents campaigns, they just need to tie them down in court. In defending myself in Barker's case against me, I have subpoenaed Dee Pigsley, Brenda Bremner, and Tina Retasket as witnesses. They have used the tribal attorney, Craig Dorsay, on your behalf and at your expense, to attempt to quash the subpoenas, denying me discovery in my defense. It's their opinion that I can be sued by their appointees, but they cannot be questioned under oath.

It's important to remember that I'm not suing tribal officials, tribal officials are suing me. Unlike the Tribal Council and the General Manager, I have no access to attorney services on your dime, as the Tribal Chairman and General Manager do, nor am I receiving assistance from members of the General Manager's staff, as the Plaintiffs appear to be.

But this case is not only about me. The mere threat of such suits will necessarily have a chilling effect on free speech in our tribe. The next time it could be you or another candidate that you support.

We are at a crossroads here. Are we going to let public officials haul tribal members into court merely for criticizing them, or are we going to uphold the freedom of speech that was clearly intended for us through our own tribal Constitution? The voters must send a strong message to Kurtis Barker and to his mentors on the Tribal Council that this abuse of the court system for political gain will not be tolerated. And please don't fail to note that the entire Pigsley voting block on the Tribal Council endorsed Kurtis Barker in their letter to voters this year. This isn't an incredible string of coincidences, this is a political team that is using every tribal resource they can get their hands on to crush their critics.

I Need Your Vote

I ask that you vote for me in this election. If elected I will fight to make our government accountable to all tribal members and to break the stranglehold of the Pigsley-Bremner political machine.

I do not agree with some important votes that Lillie Butler cast this year, but I will never forget that she and Reggie Butler were the only tribal officials who stood up for Lisa Brown and voted against overturning our election. On that basis alone she deserves your vote this year. Lillie and Reggie have also been the only Tribal Council members willing to tell us the truth about STBC – that our businesses are floundering. I urge you to vote for Lillie Butler.

I don't have enough knowledge about Melinda Logan to make a solid recommendation, but she has been endorsed by Reggie and Lillie Butler so I encourage you to consider her for your third vote.

Last year we elected Lisa Brown, but the Pigsley-Bremner political machine was able to overturn the election because we also elected Jessie Davis, a loyal member of their voting block. Taking one council seat from them wasn't enough – they simply took it back. We must defeat all three of their candidates this year – Dee Pigsley, Bud Lane and Kurtis Barker – or we leave their political machine with the power to overturn another election.

Please visit www.siletz.net for full documentation and discussion of everything I've said here, and for ongoing coverage of the the election and our tribe. You can reach me via siletz.net if you have any questions.

Please share this letter with other tribal members.

Lynette Warren
email: areswarren(at)gmail.com

As of tomorrow, Jan 18th, I will no longer be the administrator of this website. I want to thank the many members who have joined over the last three years. I helped to bring you news that you couldn't read elsewhere and you brought your perspective on it. I'm now taking my place among you. I plan to continue to read and comment here, as I hope you all will do.

Although I will no longer have any control of this site, I expect the new owners of Siletz.Net to carry on bringing you news and open discussion of tribal matters.

Thank you, everyone, it's been a great and interesting three years!

At 4:22 PM yesterday the election board responded to the candidates statement I submitted.

December 22, 2009

Dear Ms. Warren;

After receipt and review of your proposed candidate's statement received today via email, the Election Board unfortunately must reject the statement as submitted for the Voter's Pamphlet based upon the approved Voters Pamphlet Guidelines. The Voters Pamphlet guidelines, which were published, clearly state that “Candidates statements must not be offensive and abusive or contain personal attacks upon any individual.” Your proposed candidate's statement actually scarcely refers to you as a candidate for election and it contains personal attacks upon seven individuals.

If you would like your candidate's statement printed and sent to all eligible tribal members please submit a new statement via email to sdrilatos@gmail.com before 4pm on Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Your candidate's statement should include statements about yourself as a candidate and also according to the Voters Pamphlet Guidelines your statement cannot include any statements that are “offensive and abusive or contain personal attacks upon any individual.” We will gladly accept and print your candidate's statement that meets these guidelines by the deadline.

Sincerely,

Selina Rilatos

Election Board Chairman

Kelley Ellis

Election Board Member

Heidi Hibdon

Election Board Member

So the Election Board says my statement contains personal attacks on seven individuals. The only way they can get to that number is by saying that this passage contains personal attacks on five individuals:

Last year the reform candidate, Lisa Brown, was elected to the Tribal Council with a resounding 401 votes. But at her very first regular Tribal Council meeting in Februrary council members Dee Pigsley, Bud Lane, Robert Kentta, Tina Retasket and Jessie Davis voted to initiate expulsion proceedings against Brown. The first notice that tribal members saw in the Siletz News concerning these expulsion proceedings was the notification in Chairman Pigsley's column in April that Lisa Brown had, in fact, been expelled from the council on March 29th. All tribal members in the community and across the country should have had the opportunity to have their voices heard on so grave a matter as the immediate expulsion of a newly elected Tribal Council matter. Instead many tribal members were not even aware this was going on until it was over.

This is the only time in my statement I mention Robert Kentta, Tina Retasket, and Jessie Davis. Their vote last February to initiate expulsion proceedings against Lisa Brown is of course a matter of public record. But the Election Board is saying it is a personal attack to even mention to tribal members how these Council members voted.

About 12 years ago I stopped in at the Brookings Chamber of Commerce. I told them that I was Chetco and that my great-grandmother, Minnie (Louie) Lane was from the Brookings area. The woman working at the counter said that all the Chetco were "extinct." I told her she was incorrect and that I was proof that we are alive and well and that many of us Chetcos are part of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. The Chamber of Commerce lady was not entirely sold on the idea, though. So in June, when I heard about the project to put a monument to Lucy Dick at the harbor, I was thrilled. I'm grateful to Lynda Timeus and Karen Crump for working to make that dream a reality. The project not only honors Lucy Dick and the Chetcos, it will help educate the public regarding the tribe and disspell some of the inaccuracies about our people.

For example, here's a bit of history as told by the menu of The Wild River Brewing and Pizza Co.

While I don't begrudge Wild River the attempt to put some local color into the menu, Lucy Dick is not "Lucky Dick." An understandable spelling faux pas, but is it too much to ask for Wild River to fix the menu? Also, I have to admit it's a bit chilling and, well, slightly offensive, to be called extinct. We are people, not dodo birds, after all, and more importantly WE ARE ALIVE!

Bill Schlichting's article below is a nice attempt to highlight the history of the Chetcos, but much like the Chamber of Commerce ladies that I encountered 12 years ago, he's just flat wrong when he says that, "Today, only about 40 people remain who are descendants of the Chetco." There are several hundred of us. We haven't been obliterated simply because we've become a part of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. However, the article by Mr. Schlichting is another step toward raising awareness of Chetcos, past and present, and I'm glad to see it.

Discovering Chetco Culture
by Bill Schlichting,
Curry Coastal Pilot
December 02, 2009 06:00 am

Lucy Dick is shown with baskets in this painting by A.V. Talbot. Lucy was the last known full-blooded Chetco Indian and lived in the village, shown on background map, on the south bank of the Chetco River.
In the wake of plans to build a memorial to the Chetco Indians, a renewed interest in the tribe has arisen among residents in the Brookings-Harbor area.

The renewed interest was evident when people filled every available chair, as well as the benches along the walls, of the Chetco Grange Community Center Saturday afternoon. The people came to hear sisters Lynda Timeus and Karen Crump, both Chetco Descendants, share their knowledge of the small band that lived in the area before white settlers arrived.

Timeus, who did most of the talking during their hour-long question and answer session, and Crump are descendent of Lucy Dick, the last known full-blooded Chetco Indian.

The tribe, which is believed to have had no more than 1,000 members, lived in villages scattered throughout the area between the Winchuck River and Cape Ferrelo. Perhaps the largest settlement was a village, known as Chetco, with about 40 houses located on the south bank of the Chetco River. The location is shown on an 1891 map as being near today’s downstream end of the sport boat basin at the Port of Brookings Harbor. It is here that a memorial is planned.

According to articles about the tribe, the Chetco people were peaceful, engaging only in sporadic skirmishes with the Tututni tribe to the north and the Tolowa to the south. These conflicts were the result of the Chetco people being protective of their property, Timeus said.

They were hunter gatherers, and fished, harvested shellfish, picked berries and acorns, and hunted sea lions. They lived in wooden plank houses, wore clothing woven from bark and grass, and used deer-hide ponchos for warmth. It wasn’t an easy life.

Timeus shared a story of how the people ate sea anemones. It was difficult because the animals attach themselves to rocks and stuck well. Then they must be cleaned. Anemones were not the more popular of staples.

The Chetco people also ate lots of mussels and fish. Timeus and Crump shared that their ancestors could be identified by their worn teeth because of the amount of sand in the food. However, it is believed that their diet, which included much seafood, contributed to a long life span.

A long life was certainly the case for Lucy, who was born in the 1840s — the daughter of Tyee, the last Chetco chief — and died in 1940.

It was during her lifetime that the traditional lifestyle of the Chetco people came to an end during the Indian Wars of the 1850s.

Surviving members of the Chetco and other tribes were rounded up and sent to the Siletz Indian Reservation, 14 miles inland from Newport near the town of Siletz, according to Timeus and Crump. The Chetco Indians were perhaps the smallest group among those who became part of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz.

According to a 2001 article in the Curry Coastal Pilot, Lucy’s father was killed on this journey, as well as his brother, a sub-chief, and many others.

Lucy was walking with her mother when her father was shot. When she saw him fall in the dust of the road, she turned back to him, crying, but her mother said “No. Walk on, and don’t look back.”

Upon reaching the Siletz Reservation Lucy was determined to make a new life for herself. In this she succeeded. Remembering that she must look ahead, not back, she left her past and her Indian name behind, and this name is now forgotten.

Lucy met Richard “Chetco Dick” Dick on the reservation and in time they were married, according to the custom of their people.

Lucy, her husband and their daughter, Lydia Dick, made their home on the reservation for a number of years. Then, obtaining permission from the Indian agent there, they made a trip back to their former home at Chetco. While there, Chetco Dick became ill and died. Left without a husband, and little means, Lucy remained at Chetco and never returned to live again on the reservation.

Her daughter, Lydia, married Sam Van Pelt of Chetco, according to the Indian custom. Sam was the son of one of the first white settlers in the area.

Today, only about 40 people remain who are descendants of the Chetco. When asked if there are standards to determine whether a person is a member of the Chetco Tribe, which is not federally recognized, the answer was that each tribe has its own standards. The Chetco recognize a person as part of the tribe by ancestral lineage.

It is these few people who have Chetco ancestry who are working to build a memorial. The site would include historical information about the tribe’s way of life.

As it is, most of the social locations have been lost as are many cultural ceremonies. When the people came back from the Siletz reservation, they became integrated. Many traditions were lost. Both Timeus and Crump agree that this is why building a memorial is important.

The two women also shared that a book is in the works. The goal is to share the history of the area that includes details about the Chetco people.

Following the presentation by Timeus and Crump, the audience was treated to refreshments and invited to view photos of Lucy Dick, maps showing the locations of the Chetco villages and portions of written history. Guests could also view Tolowa artifacts, including ceremonial clothing and jewelry.

After the break, the Tolowa Indians from Del Norte County, Calif., shared a computerized slide show presentation about that tribe.

The Tolowa people lived in the area from south of Crescent City to just a few miles south of the Winchuck River. The Tolowa also had many villages; the three largest were located in the area of Crescent City, on the south side of the channel between lakes Earl and Tolowa, and near the Smith River mouth.

The program was organized by Jo Mochulski and Sharon Huff, members of the Chetco Grange Activities Committee.

Keizer to weigh sign design for tower
City will consider logo tonight that may be at odds with tribes
Nov 2, 2009

By Jillian Daley
Statesman Journal

The Keizer City Council could decide tonight at its meeting whether to approve a design for the Chemawa Station water tower that may include the city's logo but not those of local tribes.

The Confederated tribes of the Siletz and Grand Ronde own the land near Interstate 5 where the tower stands, but the city is leasing the land for the structure.

A city staff report on the Keizer City Council agenda recommends: "Council adopt a simple 'Welcome to Keizer' in a block Helvetica-bold-style font without any additional embellishment, and forward that design to the tribes for their comments."

The water tower's paint job has been under discussion for about two years. In July, the tribes floated their own potential design; the Chinook Winds Casino marketing team created a logo that incorporates images from the Siletz's salmon logo and Grand Ronde's Spirit Mountain logo — as well as two irises, Keizer's flower.

That proposed design says "Welcome to Keizer" as well as "Chemawa Station," a reference to the development planned for the land around the 100-foot-tall water tower.

The logo was presented in late July to Keizer officials, who offered suggestions such as making "Welcome to Keizer" larger, said City Manager Chris Eppley.

The city is leasing three acres for the 500,000-gallon water tower on the 20-acre site slated for Chemawa Station, a development that could include office space, retail stores, a fast food restaurant, a sit-down restaurant and a gas station with a quick-serve eatery.

Also at today's City Council meeting:

-Two Keizer police officers will take the oath of office: Arsen Avetisyan and Jason Remmy.

-A public hearing will be held on a text amendment aimed at clarifying the section of the code that details public-facilities improvements required for new developments.

-Council will decide what action to take in response to residents of Emerald Pointe Retirement Community, at 1125 McGee Court NE.

Emerald residents are concerned about crossing River Road to the bus stop and want a crosswalk installed or a bus to pick them up on their side of the road.

jdaley@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6714

Looks like it's going to be Sharon Edenfield and she'll be appointed at a Special Tribal Council Meeting tomorrow morning, June19. The meeting isn't shown on the official tribal website. Sharon appears to be intelligent and knowledgeable about tribal affairs. It's not likely, however, that she'll be an independent voice on the tribal council. In all probability, this appointment will increase Chairman Pigsley's power base on the Tribal Council to a lopsided 7-2 majority.

Recall that Sharon Edenfield served as interim director of Siletz Tribal Business Corp (STBC) in 2007 after Henry Cagey was fired. She served until Dave Tovey came aboard to assume the helm of the sinking STBC ship last year. She is the mother of Election Board member, Felicia Carmona, and is now holding the job of Admin Manager, one of the top paying positions of employment in the tribe. It will be interesting to see if she retains her high-paying position while holding office, as so many Tribal Council members have.

Sharon Edenfield can be reached at (541) 444-2532 x1202 or sharone@ctsi.nsn.us

According to well-connected sources, Phil Rilatos had been asked if he was interested in taking Lisa's Browns position before the expulsion proceedings began. Many will find it surprising that Dee Pigsley didn't pick Rilatos, whom she endorsed in the elections and who won the second highest number of votes this year of available alternates. It would have, at least, been a nod to the voters in a year when few gestures of respect for the voters have been forthcoming from the Tribal Chairman.

One wonders what role Chairman Pigsley sees the voters as having in choosing Tribal Council members, but this appointment presents an even deeper problem. The Tribal Council knows very well that Lisa Brown's case is still underway. Tribal attorney, LeeAnn Easton informed the Tribal Council last Friday that Brown still has time to file for an appeal. I'm not saying that Brown is likely to win an appeal, but what kind of situation would filling the vacancy she left put the tribe into if she did win her appeal? And how could any action prejudice Lisa's case more than seating someone in her place while her case is still in progress?

Tribes look to $3B share of stimulus funds
Tuesday, 5-12-09

By Marisol Bello, USA TODAY

PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, S.D. — The 30-year-old trailer that Naomi Sitting Bear shares with her two children, her sister-in-law and her nephew has a broken furnace, broken water pipes and holes in the walls and floor that let in daylight and cold air.

Outside, siding is missing, insulation is exposed, boards cover broken windows and the door has no lock, so it is blown open by the Great Plains winds.

Sitting Bear, an emergency dispatcher on the reservation, says she can't afford to repair the dilapidated trailer. She applied to rent or buy a low-cost, low-interest home from tribal housing when she graduated from high school. That was 12 years ago.

"There's just not enough housing here," says Sitting Bear, 29, who bought the trailer from her aunt six years ago for $1,000.

She hopes $3 billion in federal stimulus funding for Indian tribes will help address the chronic housing problem on Pine Ridge and reservations across the USA. More than 200,000 new homes are needed in Indian Country, the National American Indian Housing Council says.

The nation's 562 federally recognized tribes are gearing up to apply for economic stimulus money to build and repair ailing infrastructure on their reservations. The funding will go for houses, schools, jails, roads, water treatment plants and health clinics. Tribes may use grants and loans for job training, improving the energy efficiency of houses and expanding youth and domestic violence programs.

The stimulus funding is "a huge investment, but it does not begin to meet the need," says Jacqueline Johnson Pata of the National Congress of American Indians.

The congressional Joint Committee on Taxation reported in July that Indians are worse off economically than any other minority. In 2007, American Indians' median household income — the middle figure, with half the amounts above and half below — was $35,000, 31% less than the $50,700 median for all Americans, according to the Census Bureau. One in four Indians, 25%, live below the poverty line, compared with 13% of all Americans.

Indians are more likely than other Americans to live in crowded, substandard homes: 12% are without plumbing, 14% without electricity and 11% without kitchen facilities, Johnson Pata says.

Much of the stimulus funding for Indians hasn't been awarded yet. It will be distributed by various federal departments, some through grants and some on a competitive basis.

Among the tribes' proposals:

• Pine Ridge Reservation plans to apply for $12.7 million to construct 36 homes, renovate 124, repair the roofs of 150 and build a "green" government office building. It also will apply for $2 million to build an alcohol- and drug-treatment center. The tribe expects $40 million to house its courts, police, ambulance services, emergency dispatchers and detention facilities.

• White Earth Reservation in Minnesota plans to request $3.7 million for a study for a new jail, communications equipment and more officers to bolster its 22-member police force. The tribe of 19,000 on a 1,200-square-mile reservation plans to build 30 new homes with $1.3 million in housing money.

• The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians on the Oregon coast plans to build 10 apartments with a $1.4 million grant and construct new sidewalks with a separate $600,000 grant. The group plans to apply for $500,000 to expand a job-training program.

Pine Ridge sits on 2.8 million acres in a desolate stretch of southwestern South Dakota that includes parts of the Badlands, a national park of dry, rugged terrain.

The reservation has a troubled history — in 1890 as the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre that killed an estimated 300 Sioux and 25 cavalrymen, and in 1975 as the place where two FBI agents were killed in a shootout.

It needs 4,000 new homes for its 40,000 residents, says Paul Iron Cloud, director of Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing, the federally funded authority that provides tribal housing.

As part of $255 million in stimulus funds the Department of Housing and Urban Development already has given to U.S. tribes, the Pine Ridge agency has received $4.3 million to renovate another 124 houses and repair roofs on 150 more. Sixty percent of the homes on the reservation are substandard, tribe President Theresa Two Bulls says.

Applying for funds is a challenge for tribes which can't afford to pay grant writers and don't have the money for preliminary work, Johnson Pata says.

For the Siletz Indians, a tribe with 4,600 members, most of them scattered over an 11-county area, tapping into the federal stimulus will be challenging because they don't have the kind of large-scale, "shovel ready" projects the money is intended for, tribal planner Pamela Lind says.

Because rules vary by federal department, she says, "we're still trying to figure out how to access funding."

Elder Guest commented regarding the PBS series We Shall Remain. I've previewed a couple of the trailers. The series looks like a worthwhile effort from PBS. Apparently, you can view the episodes online at the PBS website, but I'm going to wait to record its rebroadcast, hopefully, later this season.

After the Mayflower - Language consultant David White reviews lines in the Nipmuc language with Marcos Akiaten, who plays the Wampanoag leader Massasoit. White consulted with the producers when they were writing the script and later translated lines into Nipmuc for Akiaten and the other actors. -Photo Credit: Webb Chappell

Below is Elder Guest's comment regarding the first episode:

This past week while reading Indian Country Today, I came across an Open Letter to PBS Television regarding "After the Mayflower," (the first episode of "We Shall Remain").

I would like to share it with the readers.

Regarding “After The Mayflower,” (the first episode of “We Shall Remain”), the the Tribal Historic Preservation Officers of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Narragansett Indian Tribe and the Tribal Historic Preservation Authority of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe question the potential of this mini series to "...tell the story of pivotal moments in US history from the Native American perspective."

The THPO offices are charged by their federally recognized tribes and the National Historic Preservation Act with the responsiblility to protect, preserve and advise on regional tribal history and culture. Our ancestors are central to the events following the Mayflower landing, yet our historical guardians, our THPOs, were avoided by this PBS production.

This production uses National Endowments for the Humanities funds. We maintain that Section 106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act should have been addressed as the project involved federal money in the public presentation of tribal history. Our Tribal cultural authorities were not contacted to consult on the authenticity of the production's script, intent, process or end product.

We have not struggled to maintain our tribal cultural identities for nearly 400 years since colonization to be disrespectfully ignored and dismissed or to have our history misrepresented for the purpose of entertainment.

PBS, your disrespect of the tribes has done a disservice to your audience. Please note that our histories go back tens of thousands of years prior to these "pivotal" conflicts in defense of our families, our ancestral lands and our ancestral way of life.

Finally, PBS in its support and broadcasting of this production has given credence to a radically altered interpretation of the great Shawnee Chief Tecumseh's 1811 declaration to President James Madison's messenger by deleting its land based implication. "We Shall Remain" implies a call for pity and does not carry the same declaration and meaning as"... AND HERE, WE SHALL REMAIN."

End of article.

I am viewing this series. In fact, I bought the tapes. I have enjoyed watching the first tape and look forward to watching and listening to the rest.

Elder guest

I once was very proud to say I worked at Chinook Winds, in fact I used to say, each day before work, "I get to go to work today". Over the last couple years that feeling has diminished. The Lisa Brown thing is just a recent and small part of why this change has happened, policy changes, lack of observing policies that have been in place, and especially the, what I see, decreasing customer service and lack of concern over it, has taken the air out of my balloon. I truly hope that something can and is done to bring back the feelings I once had. It gets harder and harder to put on that smile and make that extra effort to give the guests that feeling that they ARE what is important at Chinook Winds !!!

By a predictable 6-2-1 vote, Lisa Brown was expelled from the Tribal Council today.

Those voting to expel were:
Dee Pigsley
Bud Lane
Robert Kentta
Tina Retasket
Jessie Davis
and Loraine Butler

Lillie Butler and Reggie Butler voted no on the expulsion. Lisa Brown abstained, as required.

Chairman Delores Pigsley will appoint someone to fill Brown's seat, presumably within the next few days. I've been informed that Phil Rilatos had already been asked if he was interested in taking over Lisa's seat prior to the February 21st meeting when expulsion procedures began. It remains to be seen, however, who Dee Pigsley will pick to take Lisa Brown's place.

The news today that Lisa Brown has been banned from Chinook Winds by the Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission (STGC) comes as no great surprise.

In a letter to Lisa Brown, Executive Director of the STGC Shawna Gray writes:

The Gaming Commission's investigation concluded that you have a disregard for the authority of the Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission and you are an integrity risk based on your actions in your role as a Tribal Council Member. You have abused your duties and resonsibilities as a member of the Tribal Council by interjecting yourself in the day to day activities/operations of Chinook Winds Casino Resort. You have made statements that are damaging to the Chinook Winds Resort operations. You have made Chinook Winds Casino Resort employees feel uncomfortable and threatened for their jobs and have interfered in the day to day operations of the Casino. Additionally, the racist and offensive statements made by you to the former General Manager have had a negative impact on the reputation and profit of Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Your actions since you became a member of the Siletz Tribal Council have establised a pattern of non-compliance and disregard for the Charter of the Siletz Tribal Gaming Enterprise.

The conflict of interest in this matter is stunning. Dee's majority directly hires and fires the Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission. Shawna Gray's job depends on whether she acts to satisfy her direct supervisor, Dee Pigsley and the majority on the Tribal Council, the very people who originally concocted the charges that Shawna cites. They invited the STGC to join the expulsion process. The Same group of people who now seek to expel Lisa Brown have enlisted their subordinates on the Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission to take action against her. In fact, the commission's letter reads like it could have been written by Robert Kentta, himself, Dee Pigsley's point man in the expulsion scheme.

The commission's investigation and conclusions are specious, much of which consists of secret evidence and anonymous witnesses, phantom accusers whom Lisa Brown may not question or even know the identities of, unless by an arbitrary ruling by, you guessed it, Dee Pigsley.

Don't be surprised to see Shawna Gray's admonishment and the news of the banning of Lisa Brown from the casino in the next issue of the Siletz News. The Pigsley-Bremner Political Machine can get news published in a hurry, when it benefits them. I'm sure that Chairman Pigsley will cite the commission's censure of Lisa Brown as independent corroboration to the membership of Brown's high crimes and misdemeanors, but it doesn't take long to connect the dots in this case. The other members of the Commission are Trevor Trachsel and Allison Simmons, who is Vice Chairman Bud Lane's sister-in-law. They report to Shawna Gray. And all of the commission members owe their jobs to the fact that they remain loyal to the Pigsley-Bremner political machine.

There was no vote taken today on whether to expel Tribal Council member Lisa Brown. The meeting was adjourned and scheduled to continue on Saturday, March 28th. I'll publish more details as they become available.

Reported today in the Newport News-Times:

Council Seeking To Oust Brown By Terry Dillman Of the News-Times

After four previous unsuccessful campaigns, Lisa Brown landed a seat on the Siletz Tribal Council during the annual council election held Feb. 7. One of 12 candidates vying for the three open seats, she finished second overall as 401 tribal members cast ballots for her.

During their Feb. 21 session - Brown's first official regular session - council members discussed two resolutions to expel her from the council.

Based on motions by Robert Kentta, both seconded by Tina Retasket, they first agreed to move forward with expulsion proceedings, then - after a lengthy discussion - authorized Tribal Chairman Delores Pigsley to sign the resolution to proceed with expulsion. The first motion passed by a 5-2 margin, with Lillie Butler and Reggie Butler Sr. voting no, and Brown and Loraine Butler abstaining. The council approved the resolution by a 6-2 margin, again with Reggie Butler Sr. and Lillie Butler opposed, and only Brown abstaining.
Tonight in Prime Time
A special tribal council session is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday in tribal council chambers in the tribal administration building in Siletz to conduct the expulsion hearing.

No notice?

After receiving telephone calls and e-mails from several tribal members who voted for Brown and said they only heard about the hearing through word-of-mouth, the News-Times sent an e-mail to all tribal council members, asking them to confirm the allegations, what prompted those allegations, and what the procedure would be for replacing Brown if she is expelled.

Tribal spokesman Brent Merrill provided a written response Tuesday morning. It noted that “as a matter of protocol,” tribal council meeting minutes are routinely posted on the tribal member web page (www.ctsi.nsn.us), and copies of meeting minutes are available on request from tribal council staff members at the tribal administration office.

The resolution alleges “gross misconduct” for “acting in a manner inconsistent with the supervision of an employee; making racist comments; jeopardizing the assets of the tribe; interfering with the day-to-day operations of the tribe's gaming operation; and abuse of authority.” The expulsion process is “spelled out” in the Siletz Tribal Constitution under Article VI, Section 3 (Tribal Council Election), and Article VII, Section 4 (Expulsion), under which a tribal council member “may be expelled...for neglect of duty or gross misconduct” based on a two-thirds vote of the entire council (six votes required).

‘A racial slur'

The pivotal issue is found in a written statement Brown posted on www.siletz.net - billed as “a virtual community center” for the tribe and operated by Lynette Warren, another council candidate and a supporter of Brown - the morning after the election and a few hours before the swearing-in ceremony. A paragraph within that statement referred to Jim Kikumoto, who at the time was still general manager of the tribe's Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City.

“Time to cut that budget - wherever possible - so members can get a bigger per capita,” Brown wrote, in part. “I was serious when I said we need to work Sar Richards into the GM position. And let Kikumoto know when it's time to go - I'll even learn how to say it in his ‘native' tongue - Japanese.”

According to the minutes from the Feb. 21 regular council session, a copy of which was provided to the News-Times, tribal members Chuvonne Metcalf, Laura Bremner, Selina Rilatos and Cynthia Farlow spoke during that session. All admonished Brown.

According to those minutes, Metcalf called the Kikumoto comment “a racial slur” and told Brown she was “an unethical person.” “What you have said is wrong,” Selina Rilatos added, noting that she believed Brown owed Kikumoto and the tribal membership an apology. Bremner deemed it an issue of “prejudice and racism,” and said she would “not tolerate that type of behavior from anyone, especially those who represent me and mine.” While she agreed that Brown had a right to her opinions and beliefs, she said it did not include “insulting this person's heritage.” Selene Rilatos talked about dealing with racism her whole life, “especially when we were being restored,” and how as a people, they “need to be united, and we need to represent ourselves professionally.” Farlow said, “There was a time when I could say I admire everyone on the council, but I can't say that today.”

Power ploy

Lynnette Warren calls the expulsion effort a “transparent power play” that would negate the wishes of 401 tribal members.

“Delores Pigsley's allies on the tribal council are determined to restore their weakening power structure by vetoing the voters' choice,” she said, alleging they had “engineered” the charges against Brown as a ploy to eject her from the council and put in a “handpicked” appointee more amenable to their perspective.

Warren said the lack of notification to tribal members - no mention in the March issue of Siletz News, the tribe's monthly newspaper, and no posting on the tribal website prior to March 12 - indicated the council's intention to expel Brown “before most tribal members even become aware of it.”

Warren called Brown's Kikumoto comment “unfortunate and ill-considered,” but not grounds for expulsion.

In an open letter to the council, posted on Siletz.net and e-mailed to the News-Times, tribal member Donna Rodriguez asked them to consider the members who voted for Brown, not “the few that hate her for their own personal reasons.” She added, “If she fails, and the people are not happy with her, then let them decide if she stays or goes at the next election. That is the right of the people. We are not YOUR tribe; you are OUR tribal council.”

If expelled, Brown could never serve again on the tribal council. Pigsley would appoint a replacement, subject to a full council vote to confirm or deny her recommendation.

Terry Dillman is the assistant editor of the News-Times. Contact him at (541) 265-8571, ext 225, or terrydillman@newportnewstimes.com.

Tomorrow at 1pm there is a Special Tribal Council Meeting in Siletz, a hearing where Dee Pigsley's Tribal Council majority plans to vote to expel Lisa Brown from the Tribal Council.

This meeting, one of the most important in our tribe's history, is not even mentioned on the calendar of events on our tribal web site.

The Community Meeting at 5:30pm is not Lisa Brown's expulsion hearing. The 1pm expulsion hearing was arranged a month ago so there has certainly been enough time to notify members, but it's not even on the calendar.

Here is the calendar for the whole month:

So you can check our tribal calendar to find out when there will be, for instance, Smoke Free Bowling in Toledo. But don't bother looking for any indication that there's going to be a Special Tribal Council Meeting to overturn the election - that's not something Dee Pigsley and Brenda Bremner think you need to know about.

Obviously this hearing should have been announced to all members on the front page of the current issue of the Siletz News, and there was more than enough time to get it in the paper. If Delores Pigsley and Brenda Bremner wanted all tribal members to know about the meeting it would have been on the front page. And it would have been announced on the front page of the tribal web site as well as on the calendar of events. Instead they plan to let tribal members know about this only after the election is overturned.

The Pigsley/Bremner political machine handles tribal members using a technique known in business as Mushroom Management:

Mushroom management is an allusion to a company's staff being treated like mushrooms: kept in the dark, covered with dung, and -- when grown big enough -- decapitated. The connotation is that the management is making decisions without consulting the staff affected by those decisions -- and possibly not even informing the staff until well after such decisions are made.

To: Loraineb@ctsi.nsn.us
Sent: 3/18/2009 1:57:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Expulsion

Our voters spoke! 401 voters decided to elect Lisa because they wanted changes, changes that members have wanted to see for the past 5-6 years. Lisa was one of the highest vote getters in our tribal election history, and with good margins over 2 incumbents, 1 tribal endorsement, and 7 other candidates. More than any other candidate in history, Lisa had 15 ideas!

Lisa deserves her seat on Tribal Council. She has devoted years of her time and effort as an advocate and candidate for Tribal council.

Lisa has diversity, new approaches and fresh ideas, all of them designed to build and compliment our tribe for the better. These traits would be an asset to our Tribal Council and members. Although Lisa will not yield her character to favor her fellow members, to say yes just to be in their favor, to have a difference of opinion or outlook on issues, is no reason to expel her.

I hope our Tribal Council has proof and solid evidence of those charges for expulsion. All members should be able to view those charges, instead the whole expulsion issue and charges were blacked out, which means the intention was to keep members in the dark until its all over. I don't think that worked.

I would be disheartened to learn that if Lisa was expelled on unsubstantiated charges and ruined for the rest of her life to find out after the fact that she was not guilty.

How would Tribal Council smooth and justify this to the voters? How would Tribal Council help our voters to forget this whole thing of overturning the voters choice?

I have faith and trust that this time our voters will not forget. This is the election they would remember because Lisa represented so much to them - A new young face with impeccable appearance, her diversity, new ideas, new opinions, new approaches, new perspectives, and changes that our voters want to see on council.

I ask you to support Lisa. Give her a chance and ample time to serve. She only served 12 days before she was ambushed (literally) with charges.

I ask you to search your conscience and heart before you vote. I ask for a positive decision for Lisa.

Rose Kentta