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 Letters NOT signed will not
be published.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.
All I see on our
reservation is poverty
It is a given fact that we as a Tribe have to
start thinking about our future as a Tribe. I have worked most
of my life on the reservation. We as a federal recognized
tribe need to open our minds and heart and start planning for
our future. Our economy is comprised of timber and gaming. Our
council needs to listen to the young who are eager to move
forward. We live in an era of technology and we need to
explore other avenues to produce jobs to create a better way
of life for our people. Our tribe has for so long played the
game by reproducing the same ideas and plans. We lose our
traditional value by not using what we already have.
A federal law enacted Title V the Indian Tribal Energy
Development and Self Determination Act & Energy Policy Act in
2005. In Indian country this means we could invest in energy
with wind, solar, biomass, animal waste and geothermal to
provide power to our own communities thus creating jobs. With
what our tribe and surrounding communities we would have
cheaper rates. As it now stands with the tribal government and
the budget has to allow a large flow of money to pay out due
to the electricity we use for our daily work. This bill pays
for three or more programs that is generated on an electric
bill.
We have Twin Lakes Resort for tourism. Why don’t we build a
casino by Omak Lake with a golf course? I drive by daily and
see all races enjoying themselves. If this was fixed with
lawns, camping spaces, jet ski/boat rentals and food. This
could be used for summer and winter events. I have not seen a
casino fail when it is built by a lake. This too would create
jobs for our youth. We could have tee-pee rentals, pow-wows to
show that we have a pride in our heritage. I see this on other
reservations, but all I see on our reservation is poverty.
There is a huge opportunity with grants, loans and guarantees
for Economic Development. We could become financially
sovereign. This seed money would assist in the transition for
our members to seek improvement for a better way of life for
our selves and our children.
Signed, Ferol Best
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Fighting for our survival
against Drugs and Alcohol
Dear Editor:
I would like to say thank you to the committee that organized
“Fighting for our survival” Colville Tribal Drug Conference
held at PSIS on July 26th and 27. I was impressed by how well
the conference was organized and above all the content of
information that was presented not only by professionals but
the most touching presentation by a 17 year old high school
student whose mother is a Meth addict. The panel of
participants that were chosen to share their information of
personal addiction and lost was so touching that I found
myself in tears.
I commend Martin Bohl’s and the Colville Business Council for
allowing administrative leave for both days so that many of us
were able to participate in the conference. The TANF Program
was also instrumental in making this conference a success by
allowing the summer youth workers to attend. Hopefully, the
students walked out with a better perception of how harmful,
deadly, and devastating the effects of drugs and alcohol have
on us, our family, and the community.
I know from my own experience that addiction causes sadness to
those who love us. Our children suffer from seeing us out of
control and often find themselves alone to fend for
themselves. I have stopped drinking alcohol many times but for
some reason found it just as easy to start again. Currently, I
am in a relationship with someone that shares my problem and
together we have decided to make the change to be alcohol
free. We live more productive days and find ourselves working
together to get out of financial debt and take care of family
obligations. We found strength in each other and together we
have been more active in the community and work each day to
live a life of sobriety.
On July 13, 2006 a resolution was approved stating that, “All
CBC Members shall submit to testing on the first Friday
following reorganization, and bi-annually on a random basis
thereafter.” Many Tribal Programs have already implemented
this policy and it’s only right that our elected tribal
leaders follow suit. Personally, I think they should have
taken the lead a long time ago and I question if these test
were ever conducted.
Fighting for our survival against Drugs and Alcohol requires a
commitment by all tribal members. We have all felt the lost of
a loved one due to alcohol and drug related incidents that
ravish the reservation. Our children are being raised by
grandparents or other family members or too often removed and
put in foster homes with people they do not know because their
parents are incapable of taking care of them or have died from
drug/alcohol relating incidents. Parents, please stop
forgetting about the children and make them your first
priority. They need you, your family needs you and the Indian
community needs you.
Sincerely,
Kathy Moses
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This is a letter of
concern, on behalf of my peers
I am writing to you about our Senior/Elders
residing on and off the Colville Indian Reservation.
Dear Councilperson,
___________________, being a concerned Senior/Elder myself, I
would like to let you know, so many of us are having tough
times, health wise, emotionally and financially.
We try to meet our needs on fixed incomes, at the same time
compete with the rising cost of medical, gas, food, insurance
expenses, etc. Our incomes do not even compare with the people
who are now in the job market. Forty to fifty years ago, most
worked hard looking forward to our so called “Golden Years”,
paid into Medicare, thinking our health care would be taken
care of, never ever thinking even at Indian Health Services,
we would be considered a priority patient, due to the degree
of our illness. We understand, the funding is not what it used
to be but most of us were prepared for our later years, not
knowing or expecting the costs would be so drastic.
Many of our Seniors/Elders are still employed because it is so
scary to be out there, not knowing what the next day will
bring.
We are good people, who worked for our Tribe as truck drivers,
carpenters, secretaries, nurses, police officers, teachers,
councilors, etc.
So at this time, I believe, on behalf of our Seniors/Elders of
the Colville Confederated Tribes, any financial help would be
greatly appreciated.
I thank you for taking the time to read this and will wait for
a response.
Until we meet, an enrolled Tribal Senior/Elder,
Lucetta Stafford
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There is hope!
Dear Editor,
There is hope! Thanks and praise for the CBC members who voted
for the drug testing for all the Councilmen and women! It’s
about time. We are amidst a drug epidemic that needs to be
addressed beginning with the top individuals who run the
tribe.
I am appalled and disappointed that it took this long to get
this resolution passed. Shame on you CBC members who voted
against it! I don’t see what the problem is. It’s a simple
pre-employment drug test and random drug testing that all
tribal employees should adhere to, not just the “safety
sensitive” positions. The Council represents our tribe and has
not only our budget, which is worth millions of dollars, but
the future generations in their hands. It’s assurance that
they will make more sound decisions without the risk of having
a skewed thought process due to the affects of drugs. Look at
the latest data and get out of the old school ways. Companies
who implement a drug testing policy have a lower turn over
rate, reduced heath care costs, less opportunity costs, and
are overall more productive.
Secondly, I ask the membership to look at the individuals who
voted against it. Is the betterment of the tribe as a whole
the top priority of each CBC member? It should be. In my eyes,
there is no excuse for voting against it. Do they have
something to hide? Each CBC member should ask themselves when
asked to make a decision, “What is the best solution that will
benefit the tribe as a whole?” If they don’t base their answer
on that question, then they need to step down.
Next, How does drug testing hurt the tribe? It doesn’t! Nor
does it encroach upon any civil right or private lives. The
drugs that are being screened for are illegal and have no
place in the body of anyone, especially a leader! Don’t worry
about how it will affect your voting population. If that’s the
case, then get new friends and followers.
In addition, we are Native Americans. We should be planning
for seven generations ahead, not at the next election! Being
on Council wasn’t intended to be a career, which is why there
are terms for each CBC member. I am not saying don’t run for
multiple terms, but to utilize your tenure to the fullest
I challenge CBC to implement a drug testing policy for all of
our Colville Tribe & Enterprise employees and on all levels.
All positions are “safety sensitive” because each employee
holds a portion of the reservation’s future in their hands!
In closing, I would like to thank all of the CBC members who
voted for the drug testing. You did the right thing! It has
been an issue for years and this is a huge step in the right
direction! You have single-handedly given me hope for my
daughter’s generation!
Sincerely,
Kara Finley-Sanfo
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I cannot Thank You enough
Things in life cannot measure the kindness of
those who have been sponsors for our family to be able to
participate in the Omak Stampede Suicide Race. I would like to
thank these business owners in our community: “J & J Smoke
Shop” off Hwy 97 in Okanogan, Jodi Cook had sponsored us in
the previous years. Jodi has always shown her support and help
toward my family and so many people in our community. “The
Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill” located in Malott. If you want the
best steaks around! Friday night is “steak night” and I can
attest to the best steaks in Washington.
2006 sponsors are Malott Market, a family-owned business. Good
folks who are friendly and open seven days a week. And “Cates
& Erb Logging & Construction” who have contributed to so many
families in our community.
Our dreams become a reality and the generosity of Community
Members who share and give with a helping hand by being a
sponsor. I cannot Thank You enough for what you have done to
help me and other people. What you gave will be given back to
you by supporting your business. We have large franchise
stores in Omak. We need to support our local businesses.
Thank You,
Robert & Ferol Best, Malott
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Thank You
I would like to thank everybody who sent
flowers, prayers and for all the phone calls to help me
through my illness.
Thanks to you, I’m on my way to a good recovery. It’s good to
know that I have such good friends who help my family through
hard times like this. We couldn’t have done it without your
support and prayers.
Thanks again,
Eileen Carson
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In response to Ms. Harris
I am shocked and horrified that a respectable
establishment would associate itself and sponsor such an
inhumane and destructive event where beautiful creatures are
killed and or maimed for the enjoyment of man.
Please know that we will actively campaign against your
establishment and to boycott as long as you continue to
sponsor this disgusting event.
I urge you to rethink this sponsorship, you are, in fact
perpetuating animal abuse and portraying this as okay to do.
Please look into your heart and understand what your company
is doing. Without sponsors this event will die out.
Respectfully
Karen Harris, Newark De
Dear Ms. Harris,
Before you send emails or letters to respectable businesses
like the Colville Tribal Casinos it would be a good idea for
you to complete your homework first in order to understand the
history of the World Famous Suicide Race.
First of all, I am a member of the Colville Confederated Tribe
which conducts the World Famous Suicide Race. I am also a
past, present, and future suicide racer and trainer, and my
father is also an ex-champion suicide racer.
The suicide race is a tradition to the Colville Tribe. You
need to understand that our traditions are important to us as
Native American people. Throughout history our Native American
culture has been stripped of so many traditions. I hope that
you can understand that this race is one of the few traditions
that is left for our people. I am sure that it is not humane
in your eyes and yet many other elements of our traditions
were also viewed as inhumane throughout history. Now look at
our reservations. If you were to visit you do not see much of
the Native American culture anymore. “WHY,” it is because of
people who viewed our traditions as being politically
incorrect. Our people have already been stripped of their
language and other traditional lifestyles. Now you see our
race as being incorrect in your eyes. Just a reminder that the
people who originally took our traditions away from us were
even more inhumane and destructive. Would you also like to
contribute to what they had started by eliminating yet another
of our traditions?
You need to understand that our horses are put through strict
nutritional diets and training programs in preparation for the
suicide race. The horses are raised from babies, bathed,
groomed, and treated like members of the family. You may
believe this race as being barbaric. However, the horses are
included in spiritual ceremonies prior to each race. During
these spiritual ceremonies we are praying for protection as
well as good luck.
Now Ms. Harris, in regards to Monica. You need to know that
her grandfather is Alexander Dick. He is the thirty-three time
winner of the World Famous Suicide Race. His record has not
been broken to this date and she has many family members who
come off the Suicide hill each year in hopes of getting close
to their grandfathers record. During her grandfathers time of
racing he rode one horse through the majority of the races. In
their family recollection it is much talked about how the
horse loved to race just as much as the owner. Her mother
talks about how the horse knew that the race was coming as
soon as he heard the carnival music come into town. Her mother
also talks about the horse being so tame that children could
ride until the horse knew a race was coming. That horse loved
to race so much that Alex Dick had to pull out of the Disney
movie Run Appaloosa Run, because the horse would not allow the
leading actor to win the staged race. You see Ms. Harris if
you understand our traditions like we do, you could just leave
us alone and let us continue with the few traditions that we
have left.
Respectfully,
Gene Allen, Marketing Director
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Thank You Colville
Confederated Tribe
Dear Colville Confederated Tribe,
This summer I had the opportunity to spend a month at the
Junior Statesmen of America Summer School at Yale University.
There I was able to take U.S. Government and Honors Speech,
spending a total of 85 hours in each class.
The classes were taught by college professors who had several
degrees and many years of experience each. Their expertise was
matched by the diversity and dedication of my fellow
classmates, and simply by meeting each of them I was able to
broaden my horizons and shatter many of my preconceived
notions.
After classes each day we took a break and then had a two-hour
debate session, in which we discussed many of today’s current
problems or issues. Through the debates I gained a better
understanding of the world around me, and changed my position
on many of the things I had previously held to be true.
I am writing this letter because I received a $1000 dollar
scholarship from the tribe, paying for one-fourth of my
overall tuition and actually giving me this great opportunity
to experience real education firsthand.
Thank you,
Thomas Miller, Jr.
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Walk
If I get to a quiet place,
all by myself
and close my eyes,
I’m back home,
I’m in the forest,
I can hear the creek
flowing down-hill
on my Grandpa’s old property.
I can smell the pine trees
and hear the birds,
I can feel the wind
blowing on my face,
my feet still feel the dusty road.
When I’m alone
and I let myself feel,
I can remember
the way my Grandpa’s hand felt
before he passed,
it was smooth, wrinkled, weak.
I remember his hair,
that old Indian hair,
shiny and coarse.
I remember my Grandma,
I can see her smile,
the one I now see in my mom.
I remember her old shoes she wore,
they were so worn.
I remember washing her feet,
when I held them
I could see the long walks taken.
I felt her strength.
I saw the muddy water
as I washed that old
dirt road away,
and I remember the promise
to walk just as hard.
by Lisa M. Carson
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