Inaccurate remarks addressed
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
In response to the letter written by Sybil Burton on Nov. 27, I take exception to most of the inaccurate remarks she made in her letter. The tribal constitution is anything but “written simple and based on complete good intentions and honesty.” The road to hell is paved with good intentions, too.
The tribal constitution lacks a whole lot of democratic consistencies, like checks and balances, transparency, membership input on key issues, and the list goes on. Burton states that prior to the payment of $10,000, that she wrote a petition for 100 percent pay out plus a secretarial election. It is obvious she is unaware of what it takes for a referendum petition and/or an amendment petition. What is a secretarial election? Once the Secretary of the Interior or his designee approves the narrative of the constitutional amendment, the BIA will hold a “secretarial election” on this reservation for the tribal membership to vote Yes or No. If the yeses win, then the narrative becomes law and is placed in the corrected part of the constitution.
Burton’s remark that The People’s Voice, Inc. divided up the first petition is purely nonsense. If she knew the architectural assignment of a referendum or amendment petition, she would know this.
This recall amendment will give power to the membership to recall any tribal councilperson who committed malfeasance or who did not follow the rest of the tribal constitution.
As spokesperson for The People’s Voice, Inc., I don’t recall Burton coming to one of our meetings and giving “explicit instructions to support Shelley or Lois, choose three others to sign a pledge of support of the membership, and to keep the membership informed.” Unfortunately, some tribal members assumed we were a political non-profit because we sponsored some “Meet the Candidate” meetings. We are a charitable non-profit and are here to help the tribal membership with any issues they may have in tribal court, before the tribal council, and in any other way. We do not charge any fees for our services and we maintain confidentiality.
Jeri Roullier
St. Ignatius
