The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians issued a statement following the publication of this opinion piece, noting, “This Article is solely the opinion of individual Siletz tribal members and does not constitute the views of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Administration or Tribal Council.”
Drew and Jerome Viles
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
We belong to the General Council of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and we support Chinook federal recognition because we understand the importance of our nations’ respective sovereignty and rights. The Siletz and Chinook peoples have lived in the Pacific Northwest for centuries, enduring forced relocations, broken treaties, and the fight to preserve our languages and traditions in the face of colonization.
Siletz regained federal recognition in 1976 after years of neglect, and now we stand by the Chinook as they fight for the same restoration of their status, which was unjustly taken from them in 2002. Federal recognition provides access to basic resources, the ability to protect sacred lands, and the right to govern their own affairs. Without it, the Chinook people continue to be denied the support and self-determination they deserve.
The Siletz Tribe knows what it’s like to fight for federal recognition. While our identity as Indigenous people is rooted in this land and our distinct languages and cultural practices taught to us by our ancestors, it was very good for our morale at Siletz to have the government of the most powerful nation in the history of the world recognize us after decades of termination-era neglect.
A strong Chinook Indian Nation will mean housing, healthcare, and education for our relatives and friends up north. It will mean cultural programming and environmental protection for the mouth of the Columbia River.
We’ve been taught that it’s important to pass down our cultural values to our children by practicing them ourselves. We’ve been taught that Indian people don’t let each other go hungry.
That’s why in 2023, we helped propose to the Siletz General Council, one of three core bodies within the Siletz government, along with the tribal council, and tribal Court, to pass a resolution supporting the restoration of the Chinook Indian Nation’s status as a federally recognized tribe. That proposal passed without a single vote in opposition!
Siletz membership’s backing of the Chinook recognition strengthens our cultural ties and also opens doors for both tribes to access vital federal resources — enhancing our ability to preserve our heritage and support our communities.
While the Siletz membership decisively voted for a resolution to support the Chinook Indian Nation’s federal recognition, the Siletz Tribal Council chose to ignore the voices of their community and stand in opposition to the Chinook Indian Nation’s restoration today.
Unfortunately, Siletz leadership has repeatedly interfered with the Chinook’s federal recognition efforts, citing concerns over resources and jurisdiction. This interference overlooks the fact that Chinook recognition would not diminish the rights or resources of the Siletz. It would simply correct a historic injustice and help all of our children remember what all of our ancestors both at Siletz and Chinook have always recognized: Chinook Indian Nation claims to their homelands including the lands on the Oregon Coast north of Tillamook Head are undeniable.
Centuries of harm and neglect from the United States government have forced tribes to compete for resources, justice, and recognition. Siletz leadership should listen to members who know Indian Country is stronger when we refuse to let the government divide us.
When Siletz sought restoration legislation in the 1960s and 1970s, we were successful because Warm Springs and many other tribes in the area stood behind us. Restoration at Siletz wasn’t easy. But because of Indigenous unity, we won.
It’s never been easy. The Chinook Indian Nation’s fight for restoration of federal recognition — that’s what we support! Please join us in that effort!
United again, we will win!
Son of former Siletz Tribal Court Judge Mary Viles and grandson of former Siletz Tribal Council Secretary Ada Carson Service, Dr. Drew Viles is himself a former Siletz Tribal Court Associate Judge and an Instructor Emeritus at Lane Community College.
Jerome Viles is Drew’s son. They are enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians through their Che’-me’ (mouth of Rogue River) and Sv-k’wee-che’ (Sixes River) ancestors. Jerome is passionate about revitalization of his peoples’ ancestral practices of language, place, food, and relations.
This opinion-editorial essay does not reflect the views of ICT; voices in our opinion section represent a variety of reader points of view. If you would like to contribute an essay to ICT, email opinion@ictnews.org and jourdan@ictnews.org.