Settlement akin to ‘cheese in a trap’
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Editor,
To C.S.K.T Membership:
The “$150,126,000 fiasco” – Case 1:06-CV-02239-T.F.H.
Nez-Perce Tribe v. Kenneth Salazar was filed 12-28-06.
C.S.K.T. was added as a plaintiff to this case on 12-08-08.
How long prior to 12-01-08 did Tribal Council and the legal department secretly discuss the issues or elements involved which resulted in a $150,126,000 settlement?
Why did Tribal Council and the legal department deem it a “covert issue” to the membership, who they are to protect and represent, not be informed of the issues involved in the settlement?
What are they concealing from the membership?
Is it a conspiracy against its membership?
Why didn’t Tribal Council initiate community discussions of the issues involved prior to 12-01-08?
The Seventh Generation Faction and Flathead Indian Reservation Defense Organization initiated community discussion after the settlement was exposed.
Tribal Council succumbed to membership pressure before deciding on meetings of their own on the settlement, to save face. Their reported findings are misleading, as indicated by actions that ensured.
100-percent disclosure before 100-percent payout is what membership should be requesting. What are they concealing?
Does 100 percent consist of $150,126,000 plus all interest accrued? Did the Native American Rights Fund receive payment?
Are all 41 tribes required to file W-9 forms?
To those “who repeatedly” wanted the settlement put into programs, put your “money where your mouth is.” Upon receiving your dividend payment, present it to Tribal Council to be entered into programs that await your funds.
“A lot of free cheese in a rat trap.”
Thomas A. Lozeau, Jr.
Ronan
