Loraine Butler, Alfred “Buddy” Lane, IV, and Selene Rilatos were elected to the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in an election held Saturday, Feb. 7.
Butler, from Siletz, Ore., was elected with 375 votes; Lane, from Siletz, Ore., was elected with 464 votes; and Rilatos, from Toledo Ore., was elected with 469 votes. Seven candidates ran for the three open positions and the three who received the most votes were elected.
These individuals will serve alongside Delores Pigsley, Alfred “Bud” Lane III, Judy Muschamp, Robert Kentta, Reggie Butler, Jr., and Gerald Ben. Term of office is three years for each position on the nine-member council.
Enrolled members of the Siletz Tribe who are age 18 and older are eligible to vote in tribal
elections. The tribe has more than 5,700 enrolled members.
The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected council members took place Feb. 8. Officers are elected on an annual basis and those selected for 2026 include:
• Delores Pigsley, chairman • Bud Lane III, vice chairman
• Robert Kentta, treasurer • Judy Muschamp, secretary
Pigsley currently has served 40.5 years as tribal chairman out of 47 years on the council, while Bud Lane has 28; Loraine Butler, 21; Robert Kentta, 20 years; Selene Rilatos, 6 years; Gerald Ben, 5 years; Buddy Lane, 3 years; and Judy Muschamp, 3 years; Reggie Butler, 1 year.
The Siletz Tribe has spent the last 48 years rebuilding its government and economic structure. The signing of Public Law 95-195 in 1977, which restored government-to-government relations between the Siletz Tribe and the federal government, started this process. The Siletz Tribe was the second in the nation – and the first in Oregon – to achieve restoration.
The Siletz Tribe was among the first to become a self-governance tribe, giving tribal government more control over services provided to enrolled members. Under self-governance, the U.S. government provides general funding to the tribe (rather than to specific programs), then tribal employees and the Tribal Council decide how funds will be spent.
For more information on the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the tribal government, or the history of the tribe, you can visit the website at ctsi.nsn.us.
