Hello, my name is Rusty Butler and I am a Siletz Tribal Member roll # 2055. I am Siletz from my mother and Norwegian from my father. I reside here in the Siletz community and work as the Prevention Coordinator for the Behavioral Health Department, working with the youth here in our community. I am also an active volunteer in many different aspects for our people in the community and in youth and adult facilities across Oregon. I have also been honored with being able to work in collaboration with the 8 other Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon.
The work that I do with the youth is rewarding and I will continue to engage as often as I can, if I get elected. The behavior I see in many youth, not all but many, is a reflection of the dysfunction in the home and/or some sort of adverse childhood experience in the child’s life or past. The use of alcohol and drugs has also played a huge role in the struggles we are battling today. I believe that understanding who we are, why we are the way we are, will help us in our efforts to continue to heal.
Although our children are faced with many challenges today they often find resiliency to overcome these barriers. We have this belief about how much help our children need, and they do, but we forget to look at ourselves as adults in regards to what role we are actually playing. What are we doing to better ourselves so we can effectively help our people and families? Sometimes we think we don’t need help and that we know everything about everything. We get caught in a cycle of repetition and competitiveness. We get comfortable so we don’t care about change. Until of course something personal happens to our selves or immediate family.
As Native people I believe we need to focus more on our language and culture. Without knowing these things we still suffer from a lack of identity. When we suffer from a lack of identity we resort to other things like drugs and alcohol. Genetics also play a factor in who and why we are the way we are. We need not to undermine the importance of learning these ways and beliefs. Our ancestors have left us with a responsibility. Part of that responsibility is passing on that teaching. In any organization knowledge is power. In Indian country knowledge is a responsibility to be pasted on to the younger generations.
I see no evolution when it comes to our language or understanding around our traditional dance that we say is the “Siletz way”. We defer to other ways that are not indigenous to our traditions and in a lot of cases not even indigenous to this land. I still see a battle among religious beliefs that started over 500 years ago with the oppression against our people. I see us adults passing judgment about beliefs and dysfunction to our kids who are still innocent in regards to religious or spiritual beliefs and historical trauma. If we are using hundreds of thousands of dollars out of our EPR Funds (per capta) for language and/or culture it would be nice to see the outcome of our revenue being spent.
I intend to bring one of the most important factors in leadership and that is motivation. New generations bring change in motivation and perspective. I have many new ideas in the efforts to help and support our Tribal Programs, our Community Based Process, Culture and Language Programs, Business Corporation and Administration. I would also address Environmental Approach strategies that would decrease substance abuse in our community and increase protective factors. We need to break the barriers that hold us back from assisting families in need and using our right of sovereignty to help ALL of our Tribal Members in and out of the service areas. Including those Tribal Members who are or have been incarcerated and making a transition back into our communities. I would also like to see an increase on Tribal Members being employed and trained by all tribally owned establishments.
I would like to thank you for your time and support. Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions.
Rusty Butler
Cell # 541-270-2711 or Email: