The Termination Era for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians began with the Western Oregon Indian Termination Act of 1954 (Public Law 588), which took effect in 1956. This act was part of a broader federal policy aimed at ending the special relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes, with the goal of assimilating Native peoples into mainstream American society.
Under termination, the Siletz Tribe lost its federal recognition, along with essential services, funding, and the remaining communal tribal lands. The trust relationship with the federal government was dissolved. This period had a devastating impact on the Siletz people, leading to the loss of their land base, disruption of their cultural practices, and forced migration.
However, the Siletz people persevered and initiated a grassroots movement to regain their federal recognition. After years of dedicated lobbying and political action, the Siletz Restoration Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on November 18, 1977. This landmark event made the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians the first tribe in Oregon and the second in the United States to have its federal recognition fully restored.
The Restoration Act reinstated the government-to-government relationship between the Siletz Tribe and the United States, allowing the tribe to re-establish its sovereignty and work towards self-governance. In 1980, the Siletz Reservation was re-established, providing a land base for the tribe.
The restoration era marked a turning point for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, signifying their resilience and determination to reclaim their cultural identity and secure their future.
This film captures voices that experienced termination and restoration and the impact they felt.
A film produced by Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society and directed by Sea Legs Media with the generous support from:
