STAHS board members attended meetings with AKANA and CTSI staff to review architectural design progress of the Cultural Center throughout the year.
Early in 2016 an application was prepared and submitted requesting $200,000 in EPR funds as seed money for the capitol fund for the Siletz Tribal Cultural Center. The geological work holdup was resolved and core samples from the hill were analyzed to determine the foundation design of the future Cultural Center.
In March, the geo-technical investigation was completed and the board reviewed the building design and work schedule. Planning for the May “Past is Present” event was in full swing. Jerome Viles accepted the Board position as Secretary.
CTSI approved the request for $200,000 in EPR funds to be designated as seed money for the capitol fund for the Siletz Tribal Cultural Center in April. $25,000 was also awarded on April 22nd to STAHS from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund for the capital fund dedicated for the construction of the Siletz Tribal Cultural Center.
On May 21st The STAHS board presented “The Past is Present” at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Several interaction events were part of the presentation, including the opportunity to listen to historic tapes of elders such as Francis Johnson, speaking Takelma language, current photos of Tribal Elders taken along with oral history recordings and basket weaving demonstrations by current accomplished Siletz basket weavers. In May, the STAHS Board presented a review to the Tribal Council of the progress being made toward the building of the Cultural Center.
Sophie Kaady joined the board in June and took on the Treasurer position.
A display showing the architectural sketches of the proposed Cultural Center and the scale model was set up at the Nesika Illahee Pow Wow in August and STAHS also had a float in the Parade.
With the passing of Dave Hatch in September, the meeting for that month was cancelled and the Board waited until October 29th to meet. At that meeting, Shawna Gray joined the Board. Josh Eddings and Gloria Ingle became Co-Chairs for STAHS. Action was taken to establish the Dave Russell Hatch Memorial Endowment for the Siletz Cultural Center curator position. Future marketing and advertising of the Cultural Center was discussed.
STAHS contributed items to the Elders Restoration Pow Wow raffle in November.
In December STAHS participated in the Festival of Trees at Chinook Winds Casino – a charity event that gives STAHS exposure to the North Lincoln County community and community leaders. Shawna Gray created a wreath on behalf of the Board that was donated and in turn it raised $300 toward the charity and was voted the best on display with a people’s choice award. AKANA completed 3D models of the Cultural Center. The STAHS Board began work with the Oregon Community Foundation to create an endowment for the cultural center curator position.