Settlement should be distributed fairly
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
I lived in Alaska for many years. I was there when the different tribes in Alaska formed their corporations. They now receive shares of money yearly as we do. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with our tribal council, they don’t realize what we are. Does the State of Montana pay out dividends or per capitas? Does the USA pay out dividends or per capitas like we get from our tribal government? No, they don’t.
Most of us tribal members didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. We don’t expect the tribal government to support us. We do expect a fair share in profits when it’s reasonable. When the tribe had a windfall of monies, not expected, from the Salazar settlement, how better for it to be used than given out to the membership. After all, the tribal council has been taking a share of profits for years to buy the Kerr Dam. Now would be a good time to share with the tribal members money that has come to us. We have been patient for years not asking for much. Some of us won’t be here for the future as we are coming to the end of our journey. We should not be charged with being greedy and disrespectful for asking for what was given to our tribal nation.
Finally in closing, I would like to say respect begets respect, councilmen.
Victoria Israelson
Roseburg, Oreg.
