Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor are published at the discretion of the
Editor, as space permits. No letter which contains
defamatory or malicious statements will be published. Any
letter which contains questionable material will be sent to
the Office of Reservation Attorney for legal review. All
letters must contain the writer’s signature, address, and
telephone number (if available). Letters NOT signed will not
be published. Letters are limited to 450 words. Letters
exceeding 450 words may be published if space allows and the
Editor so chooses. The Editor reserves the right to edit any
letter for content, clarity, and length.
Views and opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor,
complimentary or critical, are those of the writer of the
letter. They are not endorsed by the Tribal Tribune staff,
Tribal Administration, Tribal Business Council, or the
Colville Confederated Tribes’ membership as a whole.
The Red Writer is Happy…
Once again the editor reminds me that the Law is only 450
words and that anything questionable is sent to the powerful
ORA for review. Just what is dictatorship? Heaven forbid that
we shall not add another page to the Tribune. Maybe our words
are not important enough.
First, there is a councilperson that I must give kudos to, the
head of law and order has returned all my calls and has taken
immediate action on my request. Nice to see one with
fortitude, the backbone of a large pine tree, Thank You.
Many people are fearful of mining on the Rez. As I am not an
expert in this field all I can see is millions of dollars to
be made and the loss of one mountain, like we have a lot of
other options with our small casinos and the timber resources
near an end… Seems that we are always putting the cart before
the horse, once again, we build a much needed medical center
but without professional Native persons to operate them. I
should offer once again that we need to prioritize our
education moneys to the field that will enhance our tribe.
Now to do this we Must First free the reservation from all the
drugs as drugs is a sure way to termination. We must prepare
the next generation to be clean and sober and free from all
drugs, So Let’s Take a Strong Stand and Demand Our Law
Enforcement Take Action. I ask all the tribal council to open
your eyes to our future. I know the people will back you.
QUESTION: If we have a TERO program and an EMPLOYMENT office
that is professionally staffed, why do we need a PERSONNEL
DEPT. when cuts need to be made, why not cut the program that
just duplicates services, or place them under the employment
program if more staff is needed there???
Remember to vote for persons that have a clean background, are
drug free and have some knowledge of political science.
Remember the good old boy concept has hampered our growth for
years. College education does not mean good old common sense,
but gives the person a higher power to think and make
adjustments. Also compromise.
Until next time, I am on your side so stay strong, People.
The Red Writer
Melvin “Bugs” Toulou
Who Will Mining Actually
Benefit?
On March 9, 2005, Gene Nicholson, the BIA Superintendent, went
to the Colville Business Council to initiate reopening mining
of Mount Tolman on the Colville Rez. Nicholson wanted to
request that a feasibility study be done. He wanted to pay
$100,000 to Don Aubertin for a feasibility study. However,
many tribal members were there to protest against it, and one
council person stated that a study had already been done
previously, so why pay for one again.
Nicholson pursued the mining issue the following week, but
this time with more secrecy. Where’s the trust responsibility
to the tribal membership? So $100,000 magically appeared in
the BIA budget to do the feasibility study even though many
tribal members protested the idea of mining. The Colville
people need to let BIA know we want better health care with
the $100,000, not toxic waste dumped into the Columbia River
where our salmon exist.
May 6, 2005, CTEC was planning on presenting mining to the
Council in Spokane, WA. CTEC had no intention of seeking
membership input first. The tribal members were informed that
the meeting was a closed door meeting. Why should a meeting
with CTEC and the Council be closed doors when it has to do
with the tribal memberships’ land? What are they trying to
hide? The mining part of the meeting ended up getting
canceled.
Many of the individuals that are seeking mining will be
benefiting more than the entire tribal membership. Many of the
ones seeking mining have a vested interest in mining. However,
many of the ones that will be profiting a lot more off of
mining than the general membership are also the main ones
mismanaging the funds that we currently have; therefore, more
money will just equal more mismanagement. The Colville Tribes
will still be poor, so mining is not the solution. Rather, we
need a change in leadership.
Cathy A. Covington
In regards to the
Elections of 2005
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is in regards to the Elections of 2005, I am an
enrolled member who recently started voting. I am a former
resident of Nespelem, and have relocated to Coulee Dam, but
this is the first year that I’ve never received my absentee
ballot request or any letters from the candidates.
I know that I am just a tribal member who’s a nobody until the
elections come around and they just want my vote but I care
who is a council representative because I am proud to be a
Tribal member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. So I am
also complaining about not seeing notices on the upcoming
election.
For instance, I’ve never seen anything around town reminding
us that it is election time, nor were there any broadcast
messages from IT Telecommunications, reminding us to vote on
Saturday, April 30, 2005. What is the deal with that? I found
out too late! My vote wasn’t available because of these two
facts.
Not that it really matters who the council representatives are
any way because they’re all in it for the money, the free
travel and all the benefits. What do we as the membership get
out of the council when they travel? We don’t receive any of
the pamphlets or read anything in the Tribune of their
travels, nor does it benefit us in any way. Question: Why
can’t someone shadow a council representative? What I mean by
that is why doesn’t the council encourage any tribal member
whether an elementary, high school, or college student, to sit
with them in their meetings or to show them what office duties
they work on or what not? Well, not just the students, but at
least anyone who is interested in how the council works, what
and how they make their decision making, just get the
membership caring and knowing how our Tribal Representatives,
represent us as a whole.
I have a lot of ideas to help encourage the membership to
trust, honor, and love our Tribal leaders but the council
don’t want to change for the better of their people, they just
want to change to better themselves and their families.
I feel and believe that the council shouldn’t be paid the
wages they are because that is a waste of tribal resources
that could help the tribe get out of the debt problem we have
and or help tribal programs hire the help they need.
The main purpose of having council is to represent the tribe
in the tribe’s best interest and look out for the future of
their people, I hear and read promises that the candidates say
they would like to change, but I’ve never seen any such thing
as the changes they promise because we’re still in debt, the
membership isn’t getting the money they deserve, and the list
goes on and on.
I had an individual ask me “do I want a per capita or do I
want a job?
What kind of question is that to ask a fellow member, I
thought.
I feel that a lot of members feel the same way I do, so I am
trying to speak for a lot of you out there!
Sincerely,
Suesan D. Clark
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Wouldn’t you agree..?
Concerned Tribal Members,
It’s been some time, years since I’ve written any letter to
the Tribal Tribune, it’s that time again, where there will be
“The time to choose”, Saturday General Elections. I just read
an interesting letter from the Omak District #1 position,
Incumbent & got a good heartwarming “chuckle” out of what was
written and promised two years ago in his campaign “Promises”.
It’s very apparent that there wasn’t enough co-operation from
all the “important” various department “Chiefs”, to accomplish
what “changes” needed to be attended to, for he’s asking for
“yes”, more time.
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, when I ran against him
and some of the others that was or were going to make a
“difference” in our lifestyles, here as residents of the
Reservation and abroad. WHAT changes have really, I mean
REALLY became a reality? We’re still “experiencing” much of
the same problems NOW as we were in the past. The good, the
bad, THE UGLY’s still there, in many cases worse than not…
I left the Reservation in the middle 1980’s to gain sobriety
and for more than 10 years stayed out of the Tribal politics
scene. I went through some very difficult times in those first
10 years, but can honestly say that I found a way that keeps
me from slipping back into the / that alcohol problem that has
plagued many of our families. Through a lot of prayers and
attending a church of my youth, I’m alive and to this day,
“trying” to show and live a better example for my family and
friends, I’ve met a lot of new friends since then. Mainly this
letter is to express my support for those or them that are
willing to do their utmost in working TOGETHER in making the
change a reality. I’m saying out with the OLD and in with the
NEW, Reservation wide. I personally have experienced a lot of
employment problems, as back when I was trying to provide for
my family. Here on the Reservation, it hasn’t changed. It’s
who YOU know and WHAT family you are related to. Even though I
attained a good paying career as an electrician, the
NON*TRIBAL person RULES, they are going to retire at our
TRIBAL expenses, in style. Only one, of the many, very serious
example that needs to be addressed by our NEWLY elected
council persons.
Wouldn’t you agree..?
With a lot of Respect,
Garry J. McDonald, Sr.
Omak
I ask you to say NO
Wi-hust stim a spa-oose all our relations,
As a tribal member I choose to live on the reservation, my
spa-oose is part of the sacred land of my ancestors. This land
has been my family’s home for generations before it became a
reservation. Being protected and preserved for the future
generations to come. In respect to each tribe that lost so
much when the reservation was formed, we share one sacred
Mother earth. Our paths have been brought together through
creation’s plan. Together our people have remained strong as
Indigenous people of the world. Unique in our traditional
customs, cultural beliefs that are connected to our Creator
and precious Mother earth.
All enrolled members will decide the choices concerning the
Colville reservation. We have more rights than our ancestors
who were forced to live under the control of the government
and church officials.
The silence continues to devastate our forests throughout the
reservation. Talk has already gone on behind closed doors
about mining being a possible solution to the budget deficit(s).
The BIA superintendent has brought mining to the business
council.
Get the facts from all sources available not just those
presented by CTEC and CCT business council. The Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) is over 25 years old, is it still
accurate today? Will our water, air and all the unborn be
protected?
Our sacred Mother earth was renewed after the ice periods.
When our Creator created our ancestors to take care of our
sacred Mother earth.
In respect for our ancestors, consider the choices made for
all of us. Do not place blame for the wrongs from the past but
learn taking all the positives into the future while retaining
our unique identity as indigenous peoples connected to our
sacred Mother earth. Mining will become an issue sooner than
anyone wants. I ask you to say NO to this irreversible
devastation to our earth.
Wi-lim-limpt,
Billie Jo Bray
Dump our Dinosaurs!
Dear Tribune Reader:
In my career I have known genuine leaders such as Sonny
Morigeau and Richard LaCourse. Richard is deceased and Sonny
has retired but their powerful legacies endure.
Sonny took pride in being a stay-at-home councilman. His
report to the people focused at important outcomes such as the
number of resolutions he brought to council based upon
interactions with his constituency.
He was a quiet Montana rancher who had little reason to
travel. The people he saw every day at local businesses and on
reservation roads were his client. He was a role model for his
family and community. He chose to make a difference when he
was elected.
During six years at Toppenish, I often visited with Richard.
He was always congenial. He dedicated his work to his readers.
He was exemplary in his profession. He ensured the Yakama
Nation Review’s purpose through his work. He was not inclined
to publish trite or trivial rhetoric. Richard and Sonny
possessed attributes and qualities frequently overlooked in
selection of council here.
High standards are needed for our tribe to recover and
survive. I have read far too many letters which outline
serious concern and status quo council response.
While family dynamics spiral out of control and violence
increases, council are downtown “feeling honored” to serve on
one committee or another.
How about attaining some honor by establishing safe
communities on our rez and lowering some critical statistics?
How about initiating some cultural change for many youth who
appear to have no Indian role models??
How about demonstrating some leadership by learning what the
term implies, by going back to school to learn theories and
principles?
No more “same ol’ – same ol’ ”. No more bandaids or emptying
the tribal porkbarrel while Cd’A, Kalispel, Yakama, and other
tribes lead the way to new horizons. Too many holes in the
fabric of our system need urgent repair. When the snow leaves
the mountains, its time to start anew! Dump our Dinosaurs!
Vote for someone who knows how to change what is happening
now.
R. C. Covington
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Your vote can make a
difference
I am a concerned tribal member, and I would like this year’s
council elections to make a difference for our future. We are
in need of change in our business economics so that we not
only survive, but we prosper.
Candidates for council should be judged on his/her commitment
to the people and to the tribe, his/her experience, ability
and realism to do the job required of him or her.
Here’s how I plan to evaluate the candidates based on
standards that are important to me:
1. Value and sustainability of results and efforts (0 - 25
points). This is the most important criteria to me because it
rates the value and usefulness of the candidate.
2. Suitability (0 - 20 points). This criterion is meant to
determine whether or not this is an appropriate candidate
based on his/her goals & objectives and consistency with the
needs of the people and the tribe.
3. Feasibility (0 - 15 points). Is the candidate some one who
can implement and see projects through to completion?
4. Validity of approach (0 - 15 points). Is the candidate’s
methodology logical and does it include all of the proper
elements for following through?
5. Cost realism (0 - 15 points). Does the anticipated cost for
the candidate’s promises for change seem reasonable and
appropriate?
6. Timeliness of projects and deadlines (0 - 10 points). To
what degree are the candidate’s promises and proposals timely?
Are they appropriate to be undertaken?
I will then total the score for each candidate. The candidate
with the highest score is the one that will receive my vote on
Election Day.
Remember, your vote can make a difference in our tomorrows.
Thank you.
Dannise Davisson
Nespelem Jr. Rodeo
Thank-you
Our Junior Rodeo was held on April 22, 23, 24, 2005. We would
like to thank all the volunteers, award sponsors, spectators
and contestants that participated to make this year’s rodeo a
great success. The chicken scramble was again enjoyed by the
youngsters thanks to Warren Sager and Lorena Dick for donating
the chickens. “Smokey the Bear” was in attendance thanks to
the Colville Tribe’s Fire Management program.
Our rodeo was dedicated to a long-time friend, Barbara Vargas,
who passed on in June 2004. She was a volunteer for 28+ years
and coordinated the admission gate sales. She took this
responsibility seriously and did an outstanding job. We are
very thankful for her friendship and years of service to our
Jr. Rodeo club.
A special thank you goes to our gals in the Cook Shack. This
is an exhausting job of cooking burgers and fries, making
frybread, and waiting on customers for three days. Your food
was very tasty.
Another thank you goes out to our gate admission and parking
gals and rodeo arena helpers. They all have a difficult job
but handle it very well.
The last thank you goes out to the members of the Nespelem Jr.
Rodeo Assoc. and our Royalty for taking the time in planning
and organizing the rodeo. You guys and gals do such a great
job each year. The rodeo has been an annual event that is
appreciated by the local communities in and around Nespelem.
We also have had new contestants coming here as far away as
Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Canada just to visit and compete in
our Jr. Rodeo. Keep up the good work!!!!!
They give us the “PO”
numbers
To: Tribal Council
I know that I’m among the many tribal members who had been
getting huge unpaid medical bills from our local clinics.
Since I can’t really speak for them, I can speak for myself
and my family.
I call this IHS contract care in Nespelem to get their
approval and they give us the “PO” numbers for the doctor
appointments for my wife who is an eligible tribal member for
IHS services and she is also listed as a “priority one” and we
keep these appointments on a weekly and monthly basis. We then
get the statements from IHS that says we didn’t have their
prior approval for the doctor appointments and IHS won’t pay
the bill. I don’t know why they contradict themselves like
that then turn around and say that I never got the “PO”
numbers. They shouldn’t be giving me “PO” numbers if they
can’t or won’t pay the bill.
I seen in the last Tribal paper that IHS says they’re forced
to stay in priority one.
Is there a way that the council can help our IHS become fully
funded like they used to be? Because so far since 2002, I have
about $9,000 dollars worth of unpaid medical bills that would
have otherwise been paid by IHS.
Respectfully submitted,
Lawrence J. Fry, Sr.
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