The 2024 Community Meetings continue this month. Learn More.

Cultural Resources Program

The Cultural Resources Program promotes the unique cultural identity and history of the Tribe. Program staff works on research and preservation of language, dance, celebrations, basketry and issues related to the documentation, protection and preservation of cultural resources within the aboriginal homelands of the Siletz Tribe. The Cultural Resource Program also coordinates the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act issues on the local, regional, and national level.

Responsibilities of the Culture Resource Department and the Cultural Resources Committee include:

  • Sponsoring an annual Memorial Day dinner following a ceremony.
  • Review and respond to archaeological permit applications and project notifications throughout western Oregon, and other Siletz ancestral site protection/documentation work. Coordinate with State Historic Preservation Office and other state, federal, local entities to ensure protection whenever possible.
  • Maintain and expand Tribal Cultural and Historical/Archival collections, including new acquisitions, and documentation of Siletz collections in other museums.
  • Siletz Tribal Cultural Center planning and development.
  • Assist Tribal programs by providing accurate cultural and historical information, demonstrations and support for their cultural components.
  • Interpretive projects, class presentations and other services – when available.

Culture Department

Culture Camp

July 9th, 10th and 11th, 2024

A Culture Camp is held the second week of July in Siletz. The camp is for Tribal families to learn Tribal traditions, culture and history in a village type atmosphere. This is a time for our people to be together, learning together the ways of our ancestors. At the camp, there is a sense of belonging, where we meet relatives, make new friends and leave camp remembering we come from a strong tribe with a proud heritage.

Mission
“Promote our cultural and religious beliefs and to pass them on in our own way to our children, grandchildren and grandchildren’s children forever.”

Language & Arts

The Siletz Language and Traditional Arts program was established in 2003 to teach and promote use of the Siletz Athabaskan Language and Siletz Traditional Arts. The Language program offers a comprehensive array of Language materials for beginners to more advanced speakers. Siletz Dee-ni Language Volumes 1 & 2 offer a graduated approach to learning basic nouns, simple greetings and goodbyes and table talk. Volume 3 deals with verbs and verb conjugation and Athabaskan sentence structure. These Volumes of materials play on most standard computers, with the written word and the audio combined for ease of learning. Included with the audio and visual lessons are Word documents and tests that can printed for personal study and assessment. The Nuu-Wee-ya’ (Our words) Athabaskan Language Dictionary is completed and now available, along with an online “Talking Dictionary”. These resources can be found in the Member Area under “Our Language”.

The Language Program is also being taught in the Siletz Valley School, along with community classes ongoing monthly in the Siletz, Portland, Salem and Eugene Area offices. Traditional Arts are also taught in the Area offices prior to Language classes. The classes are scheduled two months in advance and posted in the Siletz News and in Area Newsletters. We also conduct seasonal gatherings of basket materials and teach Siletz basketry, regalia making and other Siletz traditions.

For more information on Language classes or materials and Traditional Arts contact:

Nick Viles

Traditional Arts & Language Instructor

NickV@ctsi.nsn.us
541-484-4234 ext. 1757

Pow-Wows

Siletz Tribal Pow-Wows are under the direction of a Cultural Education Manager. The Manager works with a Pow-Wow Committee to plan and organize two Pow-Wows a year: Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow and Restoration Pow-Wow. This program coordinates culture awareness presentations for schools and other organizations and is the staff liaison for the Siletz Valley School.

To get more information about the Pow-Wows and view application forms, visit the Pow-Wow page.

Run to the Rogue

Each year the Siletz Tribal people and friends participate in Run to the Rogue, an annual relay run/walk to the Rogue River in Southwestern Oregon the second week of September. The Run commemorates the Siletz Tribal ancestors who were forcibly removed from their homeland in the Rogue River Country and marched north to Siletz.

Run to the Rogue 2024

This year, R2R will take place May 31st – June 2nd. This change is to avoid cancellations due to wildfire season.

We look forward to seeing you for Run to the Rogue this spring!

Culture Activities

Individual Cultural Activity Fund

Under the Individual Cultural Activity program, Tribal members may apply for a two hundred dollar ($200.00) grant to support their cultural activities. The intent of this program is to provide Tribal members with the financial support to purchase materials/supplies for making regalia of their choice.

Completed applications may be submitted to:

Buddy Lane
BuddyL@ctsi.nsn.us

or mailed to:

PO Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380

Applications are approved twice annually by the CTSI Culture Committee (Spring and Fall). Approved grant applicants will receive written notice via the CTSI Cultural Education Manager.

Apply online below or download the Cultural Activities Request Form (PDF).

Dance House & Ground Reservation Requests

Siletz Tribal members may request use of the Dance House and Dance House Grounds (located in Siletz, OR) for ceremonial use by filling out the “Request for Reservation of Dance House/Dance House Grounds” form below. All users must fill out and return the form to the Culture Department a minimum of 48 hours (two working days) prior to reservations – with the exception of funerals. Staff will review your request and notify requester of approval or denial.

Blackout dates that are unavailable for reservations annually are: June 15th-20th (Father’s Day weekend), CTSI culture camp week, the second weekend of August, and December 21st-31st (Winter Solstice).

For any questions or to submit the form, please contact Buddy Lane, CTSI Cultural Education Manager, at BuddyL@ctsi.nsn.us.

For questions about either of these request forms, contact:

Buddy Lane

Cultural Education Manager

BuddyL@ctsi.nsn.us
541-444-8230