Tribe plays manipulation game
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Editor,
I found Lloyd Irvine’s comments about what motivated him to run for tribal chairman interesting. Mr. Irvine certainly displays the warrior attitude in his announced goals to deal with tribal enemies. As one of the rednecks, along with the state and federal governments who Mr. Irvine is forced to war with, I would like to pose a question and a proposal. Who pays for 90 percent of all the services and considerations that the tribe has grown to depend on? Who pays for the schools, roads, health care, housing, college, other schools, and legal defense? Do you believe that tribal government and its associated burgeoning bureaucracy would long stand without the taxpayer dollar? But what’s the point? One fact is clear, no one who was party to the Hellgate Treaty is alive today. What it said was what it implied. There was no complicated language or intent. Was it morally right? Personally I say no. The whole concept of reservations was wrong in the beginning and is still against the best interests of all American citizens.
I mentioned earlier a proposal. If you want to buy back or take over all the land that was included in the original treaty, then get out your checkbook and using tribal monies earned through your enterprises, pay the going rate asked by people who want to sell. Include in that sale a reasonable reimbursement for the endless local property taxes that are collected to build local infrastructure. Include Kerr Dam and the irrigation grid in your repayment to the local taxpayers. When you play the manipulation game, you are still putting your trust in agents you do not know. Remember, the warrior attitude is not an exclusive tribal trait.
I don’t mind being called a redneck or any other combination of words that describe who I am, so don’t concern yourself with an apology. I will remain your neighbor and do the best I can to be reasonable.
Joseph G. Brooks
Ronan
