STAHS Breaks Ground on Museum!
It’s really happening! After many long years of planning by the small volunteer Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society Board, we have broken ground for the Siletz Cultural Center and Museum. Aptly named “Ghii De-Nee Dvn” or “A Place for the People” it’s a dream being realized.
The primary goal of the STAHS board has been to build a museum in Siletz. Many long hours have been spent over the past twelve years to reach that goal and at long last, we can celebrate the beginning of the completion of this project. We have had many board members come and go over the years, each contributing in their own special way. At times our number was only four. Thankfully, soon we will have a full working nine-member board. Members as of this writing are: Gloria Ingle, Chair; Teresa Simmons, Vice-chair/Secretary; Angela Ramirez, Treasurer; Glendora Osborn; Kent Rilatos; Shawna Gray; and Selina Rilatos. Our Capital Campaign Manager, Stephen Reichard, has guided us through the entire process and is responsible for applying for the grants and lobbying on our behalf during the years of the pandemic when nearly everything was shut down.
Groundbreaking is such a good word. It speaks of hope, the beginning of something new and progress. It describes so perfectly the full day of events that took place on March 11. After weeks of nasty weather, Mother Nature gave us the gift of a beautiful day, as if she was celebrating right along with us.
The day began with a reception held at the STAHS gift shop. An estimated 100 visitors made up the incredible mix of people who visited the Gift Shop/Museum Saturday morning and followed us to Government Hill for the groundbreaking at noon. It was exhilarating to share the beginning of this project with people from all across Lincoln County and beyond. Representatives from the Collins Foundation, the Roundhouse Foundation, Senator Jeff Merkley’s office, and members of the Warm Springs Tribe who drove through the snow came to our gathering. From the northern tip of what was once part of the Siletz Reservation representatives from the Tillamook Pioneer Museum came to wish us well. Senator Dick Anderson, representatives from the Lincoln County Historic Society and the North Lincoln County Historic Museum, along with Lincoln County Commissioners, Tribal Council members, architects from AKANA, individual donors, Tribal Elders and so many more joined in.
The celebration continued at a dinner hosted by STAHS to thank all those who have helped us reach our capital campaign goal. State Representative David Gomberg joined us for the evening meal that was held at the ballroom below the Chinook Seafood Grill at Chinook Ends Casino Resort. A silent auction with donations brought by the members of the STAHS board, a very short program, and delightful food gave the evening an informal air allowing all of us to spend time enjoying each other’s company. It was a proud and joyful event.
The largest portion of the funds needed to reach our goal was secured through the efforts of Oregon State Representative Dave Gomberg and State Senator Dick Anderson who lobbied on our behalf as did Senators Wyden and Merkley. We can’t thank them enough.
Now with the assurance of a 3 to 1 match from the Siletz Tribal Council, it’s time to start digging and building!
The STAHS Board of Directors is elated with the outpouring of support to see the dream of a cultural & heritage center for the Siletz Tribe become a reality. The groundbreaking has been over four decades in the making for the Tribe.
There are so many people that made this possible! From the individuals that bought cookbooks, sweatshirts, donated each year, participants at the Indian Fairs, to the foundations that wanted this as much as we did – we are so grateful to each & every one of you.
Ceremonial Groundbreaking
The STAHS Board of Directors is pleased to announce we have exceeded our first goal in the Capital Campaign.
Our next goal is to raise funds for the interior display cabinetry and the other items necessary within the museum and cultural center.
To celebrate this achievement, there will be a public ceremonial groundbreaking on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Noon on Government Hill in Siletz, Oregon. We hope those who have supported our vision will be able to celebrate this milestone with us.
Indigenous People’s Day Celebration – 2022
By Teresa Simmons, STAHS Vice Chair
An estimated 250 people attended the celebration for Indigenous People’s Day hosted by the Siletz Tribal Arts & Heritage Society (STAHS) on October 10, 2022. Some traveled from areas as far as Springfield, Oregon and even those on their travels all the way from Alabama. Friends and supporters of STAHS that were able to attend included Oregon State Representative David Gomberg, Oregon State Senator Dick Anderson, Lincoln City Council Member Riley Hoagland, and Mike Holden who has held too many offices to list and is currently chairman of the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contributions Fund (STCCF).
The celebration was held at the recently remodeled STAHS office building and boutique in the center of town at 146 SE Gaither Street in Siletz. The weather was perfect for the event! Guests had the opportunity to view and purchase handmade jewelry created by Shantel Peacock who was located at the front of the building, wander through the boutique to select from a variety of STAHS merchandise, purchase the history book of the Siletz Tribe, People Are Dancing Again and many unique items. Past STAHS Board member and the current President of the Board of Directors for the North Lincoln County Historical Museum Cynthia Farlow is a talented jewelry artist who was present to talk about the origins of the shells and beads that she uses in the fine wearable art she creates.
Valerie and Larry Hidden with their daughter Heidi Lussier volunteered their time and talent to serve up in the neighborhood of 300 servings of complementary fry bread on the back lawn. Students from Siletz Valley High School even stopped by at lunch. Bristo’s Place Food Truck was on hand for some tasty Asian and American Wok Cookery takeout like pan fried noodles with chicken plus those wonderful hamburgers Bristo & crew serves up.
Children’s games were supervised by Jacob Reid. DeAnn Brown offered information on the much needed Siletz Tribal Child Care Assistance Program.
It was a rewarding and fun day visiting with Tribal Elders, community members and those that traveled hours to come support our community. Siletz Tribal Council Members Loraine Butler, Bonnie Petersen and of course, Angela Ramirez who is also a hard working member of the STAHS Board stopped in. The number of people from outlying areas, out of staters, and the interest in the soon to be built museum and the baskets on display was gratifying. One visitor donated a small basket and another donated a large collection of olivella shells. Shantel Peacock will be making some necklaces with the donated shells that will be part of upcoming raffles.
The hourly door prize of a Carmel corn and the collectable book for the STAHS Capital Campaign were a big hit. The two prizes for the raffle, a pair of earrings made by Shantel Peacock and the basket that was a collection of STAHS merchandise had many hopefuls hanging out until the drawing was done at 4PM.
Members of the STAHS Board, Gloria Ingle, Teresa Simmons, Angela Ramirez and Jacob Reid extend their whole hearted thanks to our outstanding volunteers, Cynthia Farlow, the Hibdon Family, Shantel Peacock and Ashliegh Ramirez.
Blessing by Loraine Butler
The Board of Directors for the Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society (STAHS) wants to express our gratitude to all of those that have supported the Capital Campaign over the last two years. To be able to raise our $2.5 million contribution to the construction of the museum exterior throughout a worldwide pandemic speaks volumes to all of those that support the Siletz Tribe’s dreams to have their own museum; a dream that has been growing for 40 years and will soon come to fruition.
Tribal Council member and cultural leader Loraine Butler offers a blessing and song at the recently opened STAHS office and boutique in the heart of Siletz at 146 SE Gaither Street.
2019 Annual Report
The Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society worked tirelessly this year to step up their merchandise sales by adding new merchandise; sweatshirts, long sleeve t-shirts and tumblers. The items were very popular and helps to promote the public image of the Society. The David Hatch Memorial Endowment was established with the Oregon Community Foundation and the inaugural dinner was held for family, friends and supporters of STAHS. The Board of Directors were able to take a two-day retreat to work out the details for the last six events of 2019 and finalize the job description to hire a Capital Campaign Director in 2020.
All in all, 2019 was a huge leap forward for the Society and we are excited to see where we can go in 2020 with the Capital Campaign Fund so we can begin construction of A Place for the People.
2nd Edition Cookbook Coming Soon!
Do you have a well-loved recipe written on a tattered piece of paper or recipe card you pull out all the time that is getting harder to read. It would be heartbreaking to lose that piece of paper! Do you have a family recipe for an amazing chocolate cake, special cookie recipe, the best comfort food or a fry bread recipe you are willing to share with the world? Are there some favorite meals you cook that you want written down so that your children and generations to come will be able to have access to it.
The Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society is creating a 2nd edition custom cookbook featuring favorite recipes submitted by Tribal members, their families and friends of STAHS. These cook books will be professionally published. Our first edition was published in 2017 and we sold out last year. Many that purchased the first edition treasure their cookbook as they can recognize their family members that contributed and they can pass on that family jewel. The 2nd edition is sure to be a cherished keepsake as well. Money raised will be used for the Capital Campaign for the construction costs of the Siletz Tribal Cultural Center and Museum, A Place for the People.
Please submit 3-8 recipes so you and your family can be represented in our cookbook. We especially want your name and the origin of the recipe if you received it being passed down in your family. That is what will make this cookbook a treasure for all!
By having many recipes from Tribal members, their families and friends of STAHS will ensure that our cookbook is a success. We are using Morris Press Cookbook’s web site to easily submit recipes online; by you or we can enter it for you.
If you would like to submit recipes please contact us at STAHS.Board@gmail.com for the website and login information. If you do not have access to a laptop to easily enter the recipe or want us to enter it; you can email or mail us a hard copy of the recipe to STAHS, PO Box 8, Siletz, OR 97380-0008.
Please submit your recipes online by 8/30/2020 or if mailing to us, by 8/15/2020 so we can meet our deadline for having it printed in time for the holidays.
We anticipate a great demand for our cookbooks, and we want to be certain we order enough. To reserve your copies, email us at STAHS.Board@gmail.com with the number of cookbooks you would like with your contact information. Once we have all the recipes submitted we will know the cost of the cookbook.
Grant Writing Workshop
On December 5, 2019 STAHS Chairman Gloria Ingle and Board if Director Celesta Lee attended a grant writing workshop offered by the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) in Lincoln City, Oregon.
OCF is where the David Hatch Endowment is held. As STAHS gets closer to our initial goal of $2.5 million we will be able to secure grant funding for the operation of the Siletz Cultural Center with the museum component.
Almost time!
Three more sleeps and it is time for the Indian Fair & Marketplace! On Saturday, November 23rd from 9AM to 3pm at Chinook Winds in Lincoln City, Oregon the Siletz Tribal Arts & Heritage Society will be on hand with our merchandise; sweatshirts, tumblers, cookbooks and the Siletz Tribal history book. There will be over two dozen other vendors; some with informational displays and others with merchandise for sale. Come by while you are out & about for your holiday shopping or on your trip to where it is Better at the Beach!
This is a miniature replica of a traditional Plank House, a typical structure made of cedar used as a home by many tribes of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Stop in at the Indian Fair & Marketplace in the Convention Center upstairs to learn more about the Siletz Tribe.
2019 Indian Fair & Marketplace set for November 23rd
The Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society is proud to present the 2019 Siletz Indian Fair & Marketplace on Saturday, November 23. Sponsored by the Siletz Tribal Arts & Heritage Society. The Indian Fair & Marketplace will be held at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. The public is invited to attend this free event from 9am-3pm.
The 2019 Indian Fair commemorates the 104th anniversary of the very first Indian Fair that was held in Siletz in 1915. It will be reminiscent of those earlier Indian Fairs as a time of sharing traditions, history and culture.
A wide array of items created by Native artists and crafts people will be on display including regalia, baskets and other art forms, both historic and contemporary. Native vendors will have items for sale just in time for Christmas shopping!
You are invited to join in this educational celebration of the rich culture and history of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
The Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society (STAHS), a non-profit organization, was formed in 2011 with the mission to support and promote the practice, conservation and restoration of the tribal cultures of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.
For more details, visit our website: https://siletzartsheritagesociety.org , find us on Facebook at Huu-Cha~ or contact Angela Ramirez at stahs.board@gmail.com
Nesika Illahee Pow Wow
We have had a great weekend at the Siletz Nesika Illahee Pow Wow! We have sold lots of sweatshirts and have a few left! If we are out of your size, no worries, we will be getting more in and are taking orders now. Stop by the booth today, 11AM – 3PM.
Raffle prizes included … two baskets with the STAHS Cookbook, “A Time to Wail” by Grace Elting Castle, Smoke Signals DVD, and some other great items. A beautiful skirt and necklace created by Cynthia Farlow. Plus a couple canvas prints that highlight images from our postcards.
