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 Letters NOT signed will not
be published.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.
Vote for accountability to the
people…Vote for accountability to the people…
A wise friend shared with
me, that… “Emmet Oliver, former director of Indian Ed for the
state, and a retired Coast Guard Commander who saw duty in
both WWII and the Korean War, used to say: “In a time of
crisis DO SOMETHING – you have a 50/50 chance of being right.
If you do nothing, you have no chance at all.” These were wise
words he learned as a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy. So
the CBC and other groups need to realize they do not have the
luxury of time forever to make decisions and plans. They have
to come up with plans and monitor for results. Of course, it
takes planning and careful thought. Think of the way major
organizations like GM and Ford have to work to even stay alive
in this highly competitive global economy? If they don’t make
major decisions on well founded grounds, they are doomed.
Our health service programs are failing us miserably. Our
tribal budgets are yet again over spent by lack of
accountability, and the lack of leadership holding top line
management accountable. When the elders talked about
malfeasance/ misfeasance, they were talking about
dysfunctional management and accountability to themselves and
the people.
It seems like the only part of a democracy that we really
share in is “voting” because once we vote – the CBC take their
positions, nothing else is really in our hands. And it’s back
to business as usual and the elected officials keep doing what
they’ve been doing. Never mind that far too often they can’t
get a quorum to conduct business, because too many people are
on travel status and serving on committees to push agendas
that don’t put any food on the people’s plate.
It’s also rather perplexing to hear administrators to openly
say that “we don’t need to give out percapitas”, I say bull to
that. Why should the people suffer for mismanagement? These
kinds of remarks are easy for people who make the big bucks to
say… but in many instances, a percapita is the only thing some
members do get from the tribe that helps them make ends meet.
As you vote for our leaders this year, think about who is
capable of making a difference and isn’t a recycled product of
the past.
Sincerely,
Preston Boyd, Tribal Member
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It is sad to have to come
to this
Dear Editor:
For Tribal People, keeping our cultures, languages, ceremonies
and traditions is a full time job. The outside pressures of
American economics and greed to make a buck on everything,
especially Indian resources, makes protecting and preserving
tribalism that much harder. This stress is what our ancestors
saw coming and warned us about.
It bothers me how many of our own tribal council persons have
turned away from respecting our cultures, even though their
oath of office requires cultural preservation in connection
with the tribal constitution. To be fair, some of our council
learned their cultural ways from when they were little but
have now turned away and only want money. While other council
members never learned about their culture and seem to be
ashamed of it. We can see they are ashamed by the way they
disrespect the animals, the trees, the water, and land,
hobbling our future.
Natural Resources Committee Chair plays into U.S. anti-Indian
policy in the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act that wiped out
our traditional governance.
Even if Mt. Tolman was a money pit, what would become of The
San Poil People? Think about it, how would other Omak People
feel if an open pit mine was proposed two miles from Omak, or
Inchelium, Nespelem? The Keller People can get over-run by the
rest of the voters to destroy their community because of more
votes that would come out of the rest of the reservation to
promote the mining. Still, it is embarrassing to hear our
Natural Resources Chair say the money will help us do more
things. More money hasn’t done that yet. It has only added to
the pile for waste and failure like Quality Veneer.
”This hurts all native people to see our ways of life done
away with for money. There are plenty of other ways to make
money besides putting filthy water on a sacred place.” “To
Native people, there are no compromises to saving self. When
our ceremonies go, and when our herbs go, there are no
compromises left to be made.” Joe Shirley, Navajo Chairman,
2005
Sovereignty is preserving our languages by using them, our
cultures by practicing them and not over-cutting our gift of
trees or exploiting minerals only for today’s immediate greed
and incompetence. This immediate greed also creates a
long-term resource debt against generations to come and puts
all other resources in stress conditions adding to their own
peril.
It is sad to have to come to this, but maybe we need to file
for damages against our own Natural Resources Committee
Chairman, Department Director, including the BIA
Superintendent past and our own reservation attorneys for
malpractice for not protecting our land, water, foods, and
medicines.
Jake Atkins
Omak
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The strength of our
people has always been our spirit
For those who don’t know the “Indian
Re-organization Act” was implemented in 1934 as a means to
further assimilate by destroying our traditional ways of
resolving Tribal concerns. Replaced with the Tribal Council
which in many opinions acts as a “go between” for leasing
purposes in regards to our natural resources. The United
States government therefore has tightened the noose on our
already limited sovereignty while simultaneously utilizing our
assets to their benefit.
I’d like to believe that none of our people would support such
an idea as the Mt. Tolman project. Although in reality it
appears that some actually do.
On an individual level I myself have learned what’s right from
wrong the hard way – I am not proud of this, though on a much
larger scale us as a people will decide and finalize what’s
right from wrong for our entire Nation and its future.
With our children in mind and the wisdom of our Elders I hope
this is done ‘cause I grew up on the Rez playing in the
waterfalls behind the strength of our people has always been
our spirit Moccasin flats! I learned at a young age to
respect, cherish and protect Mother Earth
How could this for a second even be considered a means of
prosperity??? It seems the industrial playground has
definitely influenced someone – or some ones, for us to even
be put in such a detrimental situation as if mining, of all
things, is the solution to our problems.
Haven’t we learned anything from history? Please, I ask you to
be sensible and humble in making your decision and to keep in
mind that the strength of our people has always been our
spirit.
Sincerely,
Eric LaDucer
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I ask everyone to vote
responsibly
Vote responsibly,
Our continuation as an independent Nation depends as much on
each individual member and future members as on the Tribe’s
Leaders having knowledge and skills required by today’s
overall environment.
Encourage and teach your children, as our ancestors did, to
use tools available today which will ensure we’ll have future
leaders who can understand and cope with the problems of this
modern world.
Gain knowledge through education, employment and experience.
Learn how our Tribal Government operates so people can’t
mislead you.
A candidate, who claims he can fix the Tribe’s problems by
himself, or points a finger at a council person for a Council
decision, just proves he is unqualified and doesn’t understand
even the basics about Tribal Government. For example, the
current, exceptionally qualified Chairman of M & B has been
trying to force accountability of Tribal dollars and for
mismanagement, but when few undermine exposure and direct
administration otherwise, nothing is accomplished.
When the M & B Chairperson does not want a budget passed
because of lack of information, the majority vote passes it
anyway. Read who votes for what instead of basing your
opinions on rumors.
If there are no facts stated with people’s complaints against
a Council member, it’s because that person is misleading
everyone. Some candidates will complain their opponents are
not resolving the Tribe’s problems. Do they present the
solutions to those problems if they are elected? Why didn’t
some fix them when they were previously on council, if the
solutions are so simple? Bickering among Council ensures these
problems are here forever. We can’t afford such leaders, for
they will tear the tribe apart.
Working together to benefit all was how the Traditional
Indians lived. With qualified, professional Leaders working
together, there’s a chance the Tribe’s income will continue to
support our service programs; the protection and management of
our resources and environment; ensure the resources required
by today’s world are available on the reservation for members
to feed, clothe, educate and shelter their families.
Leaders should at least have education and/or experience in a
field related to Tribal Governance. Their knowledge should be
an asset at the Tribal Government level. Honesty, integrity
and other personality traits are just as important. Our
Leaders need qualifications to correctly manage Tribal
dollars.
We are insuring our Tribes downfall if we continue to vote for
unqualified Council people. It would be like our ancestors
appointing a War Leader during time of war, who had no
experience or knowledge of weapons or war itself. I ask
everyone to vote responsibly, understand what is at stake and
research the truth of matters for all our sakes.
Lisa Kyle
Inchelium
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Let’s stand by them, not
away from them…
My name is Jenette Simpson; I am the daughter
of Alex “Mose” Simpson and Wendy Phillips. My grandparents are
George “Chuck” Simpson & Melva Camp Simpson and Eugene I.
Phillips & Joanne Ferguson Phillips.
I have just lost a friend, Rosanna Gallagher Cate and I just
think that I need to write something to her family. I am sorry
for your loss.
Me and Rose were good friends when she lived here in
Inchelium. She was my neighbor, we had the best times and I
thank the Creator to let me know and be close with a kind,
fun, and loving person. When I was at the services, I couldn’t
find the words to express my sympathy.
I have lost a lot of my friends and family these past few
years. But for some reason I cannot get over the thought that
she is gone. I realize that I am young and maybe a lot of
people might not be able to take me seriously.
I lost my cousin Ryan last July; and I swear that was the
worst experience. He lived with me and I consider him more
than a cousin, more like a son or nephew. The hurt still
aches. I felt like the pain would never go away and I remember
thinking that if there was a higher being why did he take him?
He was so young and had so much more life to live. I felt so
angry and alone. I felt as if it was partially my fault, maybe
if I would of just been there to stop him from getting in that
car or maybe asked him to just stay home that the accident
wouldn’t have happened. There are times when I still feel that
way but I have come to terms that it happened and there was
nothing I could of done about it.
I read a quote not too long ago… Don’t cry because it’s over,
Smile because it happened. Which to me means, Don’t cry
because the one you lost is gone but smile because they were
here and you got to love them, care for them, and be with
them.
I don’t know if this was the right thing to say or do but I
just felt in my heart that I needed to send this so it could
be heard. I would also like to express my thoughts. I feel as
we as a community and the tribe not to point fingers or down
our youth; we need to stand beside them, be there when they
truly need us. Instead of saying they are out of control,
impossible to help. Because no child is impossible to help,
they all just need a little guidance and some encouragement.
So please let’s stand by them, not away from them…
Thanks,
Jenette J. Simpson
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Ask yourself
To the Tribal people members of the Colville
Confederated Tribes. I hope you have read the information that
is being sent out regarding not only the Wells Dam settlement
that was in the February 1st Tribune stating that council
decided for the membership in the interest of the needy and
elders, yet refers payment will be much smaller. Would this
really affect the needy, elders or was this just a royal rip
off. Read this article and see how one council person tries to
pass the buck, stated not involved.
Myself I would think if you are sitting at the Council meeting
and/or have access to the minutes/information you would be
aware each and every negotiation or situation that affects the
membership.
I have read article after article not only from the council,
papers and flyers etc. regarding the Possibility of Mining.
Ask yourself is this for the good, would this help bring in
more jobs, business etc. What is the real Possibility if
Mining was decided to be a go that it would affect the waters,
land, wildlife etc? Would the benefits for the future be it
one year or ten years down the road be worth it for our youth
who shall be the ones that should speak out on what they want
of their tribe one day they may be the person sitting as our
decision makers.
I have had several phone calls myself from concerned members
regarding the Wells Dam settlement; the 181-Dam Settlement,
Gaming increased considerably, one question raised was what
happen to the payments to the people prior to the Gaming
compact.
The elders that I have heard from state they want their money
they make plans to use it and it is taken away. Comments:
Who’s robbing us blind, who is Sovereign Nation the tribe or
the council. Who works for who, who are the decision makers,
council should down size to 7, possibly replace or have a
total recall of council, people should vote on committees who
goes where not the council deciding without the members input.
Progress can be a great asset is so many ways; I believe in
the people and hope for the betterment for the whole
membership and our future. Keep your council person in check,
hold him/her accountable ask question, speak out there is
another who wants to but holds back, its time we the people
stand our ground, its our land the council work for us. I move
forward, change our Tribe to reap the benefits, let the needy,
the elders have their future days in enjoyment, it’s up to
them how they use or spend what is theirs, and I will end with
that.
Concerned Colville Member,
Nancy A. Atchison
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I know how lonely my
sister really is
Dear Editor,
My name is Garron Quill; I have a sister by the name of Joyce
Quill and she is rather restricted to her living quarters.
I was wondering if there would be any Tribal members that
would go to visit her. I live in Portland and try to get up
there as much as I can. The reason I am so concerned is that I
just lost my wife to the Lord on January 21, 2006 and now I
know how lonely my sister really is.
Her address is: 502 North East 130th Street, Seattle,
Washington, 98125. And telephone number: (206) 362-3074.
We always talk about visiting people in prison. Well, Joyce is
in like a medically restricted prison. Her diabetes keeps her
from doing a lot.
May God Bless,
Garron Louis Quill
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Being away from our
reservation doesn’t take away our love for the land
Dear Tribal Tribune;
My name is Laurie E Sison, I am a tribal member, and my family
are descendents of the Billy Simpson and Amy Nanamkin.
I have lived off of the reservation all of my life. I do not
know that I will ever live on the reservation, but I would
love to be able to come there and get to know the family that
is there as well as our people and culture.
I am writing because I have heard, in the last month or so,
many things that have bothered me about the views that on
reservation people seem to have about off reservation people.
I recently went to the Grand Coulee Star online site and read
a story that talked about how those of us off the reservation
don’t care about what the mine would do since we don’t live
there. It also said that ‘we’ would rather have the money than
worry about the environmental impact of a mine.
I do not know if this was speculation or if this person spoke
to some people who live off rez, but speaking for myself and
my (large) family-many of us who live off rez-we DO care and
we don’t want the money instead of preservation of the land.
It is a sad thing to hear that I have been lumped into a
category when nobody ever spoke to me about this topic. It is
even sadder since I stood up in anger at the meeting in Auburn
and spoke words from my heart about how this mine issue is not
good. I am also sad because this person does not know that my
daughter, my sister, and myself were interviewed by newspapers
and television stations in Yakima in opposition to the mine.
My daughter had words with Kanie against the mine and what it
stands for.
But, one thing that all of you on the rez need to remember is
that many of us would love to live there, we would love to
know you and stand beside you at Pow wows, we would love to be
there for you to share your pain and joys because we are all
part of each other.
I know that it may be hard to realize that since we live so
far away that things happening there do matter to us, but,
please don’t judge us until you have asked us what we think
and how we feel. I strongly believe that we should not have a
mine-no matter what the studies show now. I am also against
the mine because of how my Auntie Georgie (deceased) and Uncle
Steve Iukes feel about it. We all need to remember that being
away from our reservation doesn’t take away our love for the
land and the people who still live on it.
Laurie Sison
Auburn WA
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