Tribal Council should consider legacy
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Editor,
Tribal Council: have you ever considered what your legacy will be once you are gone from office?
Obviously, some of you, during your service on the council, have had some positive accomplishments for the tribe to your credit. Sadly, these accomplishments probably won’t be what you are first remembered for. Likely, you will be remembered for some of the following:
The issue of the Salazar Settlement — It appears you have shamed your membership by totally disregarding the overwhelming support of 100 percent payout voiced by the members at the packed district meetings of 2012. You appeared to dishonor/disrespect our tribal constitutional rights by committing numerous violations to Ordinance 53-A during both petition processes. You betrayed us by “donating” $4 million dollars of the Salazar money to a nonprofit group of lawyers, Native American Rights Fund, without ever once asking input from the membership. Your apparent censorship of the tribal membership’s newspaper, the Char-Koosta, denied many members the freedom of press to express their support of 100 percent payout.
But, perhaps more than anything you will probably be remembered for just simply not caring enough about your people to allow them the financial blessings that the remainder of the Salazar money could provide. You chose to dictate to the people versus promoting the opportunity to improve their standard of living by your denial of the petition per your letter to The Peoples’ Voice on June 20, 2013.
The Peoples’ Voice Media
Donna Orr, St. Ignatius
Joyce Mitchell, Ronan
Joelene Frey, Polson
