Recall election approaches
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Editor,
Approximately one month is left until the Tribal Secretarial Election on June 14. Of the 550 Native American Tribes within the United States, about half have a recall provision in their constitution.
As a CSKT member and shareholder you will be given a larger role in the operation of your tribal government; you can realistically enforce resolutions, policies, pay/COLA (Cost of Living Allowance), ordinances, and tribal constitutional laws and other mismanagement of CSKT tribal government. It is important you get the latest copy of The Confederated Tribes Constitution, as amended, and by-laws. You may also get a copy of the 1855 Hellgate Treaty at the Tribal headquarters.
There are many unanswered questions that need to be addressed.
Why haven’t tribal employees received a pay raise in the last five to six years? Yet, it appears that select department heads get timely raises. Another question: Why are three non-tribal attorneys receiving in excess of $700,000 each, per year, for Kerr Dam? This amount is exceptionally extreme for the Mission Valley and is totally unfair and creates a stumbling block for CSKT programs. Tribal staff have families to raise, elders to care for, bills to pay, put food on tables; yet it appears they have become the “forgotten” people. Tribal employees are cautious of saying anything to the unfair treatment in their positions or asking for raises for fear of being fired. What sort of tribal council and/or tribal government can allow this injustice to occur?
It is important to evaluate your tribal government situation and consider a “historical” change by voting in the upcoming Secretarial Election on June 14. No staff member shall be threatened or intimidated by anyone, prior and during the Secretarial Election. Anyone who denies you the right to vote is infringing on your civil rights and can be expelled from his job, fined, and serve time in a federal penitentiary. This infringement is a direct violation of your civil rights. Your vote is strictly confidential and only BIA will know which tribal members have voted. If your civil rights are being infringed upon, call Jeri Roullier at (406) 745-0110 and the Department of Justice will get involved immediately.
Jeri Roullier
St. Ignatius
