User:Liuyimingfaker/Delores Pigsley (Siletz)

Delores Ann "Dee" Pigsley is the chairperson for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, of which she is a member.

Early life
Pigsley was was born in Toledo, Oregon to Alfred and Maude Lane and was the youngest of 8 children. She lived and grew up at the Chemawa Indian School, where her parents worked. She attended Keizer Grade School, after which she attended Serra Catholic High School and then North Salem High in Salem, Oregon, the latter of which she graduated from in 1961.

Career
Pigsley took a job with Prudential Insurance Company and worked for 24 years in the Social Security Administration. She has worked as a receptionist, service representative, expense representative, on-site representative, operations analyst, branch manager, and operations supervisor in various places in and out of Salem, Oregon.

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
In February 1983 Pigsley began working with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Prior to this she served as a member of the Siletz tribal committee from September 1975 to November 1979, beginning when the tribe sought and overturned the federal termination. From February 1983 to the present she has been appointed and held successive positions, serving as the tribal chairman for more than 32 years. During her tenure as chairman, Pigsley has been actively involved in tribal government, Indian committees and boards, committees, and other government functions. She works closely with the Indian Affairs Agency, the Indian Health Agency, the Native American Administration, the Department of Labor, many other federal agencies, the governor of Oregon and local governments.

As the Chairman Pigsley serves as a tribal spokesperson, testifying before Congress and many tribal and non-tribal organizations. She also ensures that the members are compliant with all tribal and federal laws and sets the agenda for all tribal committee meetings. Pigsley also helps manage the properties owned and run by the Confederated Tribes, such as several RV parks, and the development of future businesses.

Awards and honors
In 2011 Pigsley received the Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award for work on the tribal council of her people and as the Tribal Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon. In 2018 she won the iChange Nations Women of Golden Rule Dialogue “Legacy of Honor Award".