Confederated Tribes of Siletz
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The Confederated Tribes of Siletz in the United States is a federally recognized confederation of 27 Native American tribal bands that once inhabited a range from northern California to southwest Washington.
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[edit] Organization and Location
The tribe has 4287 enrolled members as of April 14, 2006. It owns and manages a 3,666 acre reservation located along the Siletz River in the Coast Ranges of central Lincoln County, Oregon approximately 15 mi (24 km) northwest of Newport. The tribe owns and operates the Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City and other commercial property. It is gradually accumulating additional property into the reservation, as part of a 2005-2015 Comprehensive Plan.
Tribal Council includes Delores Pigsley, Chairman; Bud Lane, Vice Chairman; Lillie Butler, Secretary; Phil Rilatos, Treasurer; Loraine Butler; Robert Kentta; Reggie Butler; Frank Simmons; and Jessie Davis. The tribe's Public Information Office publishes the monthly Siletz News.
[edit] Cultural Activities
Artifacts and historical docuements are stored and displayed at the Siletz Tribal Cultural Center, under the care of Cultural Specialist Robert Kentta and Cultural Activities Coordinator Selene Rilatos
Tolowa is taught as a common tribal language. Beginning Athabaskan language will be taught at the Siletz Valley Charter School, opening in the fall of 2006.
[edit] History
The original smaller tribal bands differed substantially in language and culture. During or following the Rogue River Wars of 1855-56, they were force onto a reservation, forming a single unified tribe. Pieces of that reservation were carved away over time. The tribe's federal recognition status was terminated in 1955.
In 1977, the Confederation became the second tribe in the U.S. to have its federal status restored. The confederation takes its name from the Siletz River, the location of their reservation. It includes remnants of the Siletz, a Coast Salish people who inhabited the area up until the middle 19th century but who are no longer counted separately in the larger confederation.
Finding records of the ethnic and cultural history of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz is somewhat difficult. A partial attempt at the tribal population makeup before it was forced on reservation lands in the mid-19th century is as follows:
- Upper Rogue River or Shasta Tribe:
- John's Band 172
- George's Band 222
- Joseph James's Band 160
- Coastal Tribes:
- Joshuas's Band 179
- Choallie's Band 215
- Totoem's Band 202
- Macanotin's Band 129
- Shasta Costa 110
- Port Orford (a Qua-to-mah band) 242
- Upper Coquille 313
A short list of indigenous groups forced onto the Siletz Reservation include the Rogue River tribe, Shasta, Scoton, Shasta Costa, Grave Creek tribe, Chetco, Coquille, Tolowa-Tututni, and likely a small number of Siuslaw, Coos, and Kuitsh peoples.
[edit] See also
List of Native American Tribal Entities in Oregon
