Siletz Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Siletz Reservation
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Location of the Siletz Reservation in Oregon
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| Tribe | Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lincoln |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15.16 km2 (5.852 sq mi) |
| Website | Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians |
The Siletz Reservation is a special area of land in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It belongs to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. This reservation is about 5.852 square miles (15.157 square kilometers) in size. It's made up of many separate pieces of land. These pieces are mostly east of the city of Siletz.
Contents
History of the Siletz Reservation
How the Reservation Started
In November 1855, the President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, made an important decision. He issued an executive order. This is a special rule from the President. It created a reservation for the native people living along the coast of the Oregon Territory.
This new area was called the Coast Indian Reservation. It was a long strip of land, about 120 miles long. It stretched from Cape Lookout in Tillamook County in the north. It went all the way to the Siltcoos River near Florence in the south.
Changes to the Land Over Time
As more people moved to Oregon, the government opened up some reservation lands. These lands were then settled by new people. This meant the native people had to move from their homes.
The reservation land became smaller and broken up. This happened because of another executive order in 1865. President Andrew Johnson made this order. An Act of Congress in 1875 also reduced the land. But tribal groups worked hard to get back parts of their traditional lands.
Later, in 1887, a law called the Dawes Act was passed. This law changed how tribal lands were owned. Instead of the land belonging to the whole tribe, it was divided into individual plots. Each family head could get 160 acres. Any land left over was sold to people who were not native. This made it harder for native groups to stay together.
Since the late 1900s, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians have worked to rebuild. They are officially recognized by the government. They have opened Native American gaming (casinos) on their lands. This has helped them earn money for their people. It also helps the local community.
Siletz Culture and Daily Life
Homes for Tribal Members
The Siletz tribe has built many homes for its members. They have a special program that helps tribal members buy their own houses. It's like a rent-to-own plan.
They also have homes just for older tribal members. These are called elders housing units. Plus, there are several apartment buildings for rent. These apartments are on tribal land throughout the city.
Fun Tribal Events
The Siletz Reservation is a busy place with many tribal programs. The biggest event is the annual Nesika Illahee Pow-wow. It happens in Siletz on Government Hill. You can find out more at this link.
This exciting event takes place every year during the second weekend of August. The pow-wow starts with a parade. Then, the celebration continues all weekend long.
Siletz also hosts other cultural events. These include a culture camp for learning traditions. There are also activities for young people and for elders. The reservation has a Siletz dance house. Here, they hold solstice celebrations, weddings, and coming-of-age ceremonies.
Education in Siletz
There is one school in Siletz for all grades, from kindergarten to 12th grade. It is called the Siletz Valley Charter School. It is also known as the Siletz Valley Early College Academy.
This school was closed for many years. But it reopened in 2006. This was possible because of money from the Chinook Winds Casino. It is a public school. It is part of the Lincoln County School District.
