"For the last 47 years, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians have held an annual powwow to celebrate regaining federal recognition. This month's event, however, was especially significant: it came just two weeks after a federal court lifted restrictions on the tribe's rights to hunt, fish and gather restrictions tribal leaders had opposed for decades."
"The goal was to try and assimilate Native people, get them moved into cities, said Matthew Campbell, the deputy director of the Native American Rights Fund. But also I think there was certainly a financial aspect to it."
"Losing their lands and self-governance was painful, and the tribes fought for decades to regain federal recognition. In 1977, the Siletz became the second tribe to succeed."
"We're back to the way we were before, Delores Pigsley, the Siletz chair, said. It feels really good."
#tribal-recognition #indigenous-rights #cultural-celebration #native-american-history #legal-restoration
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