Letters to the Editor -- Sept. 1, 2012

Dear Tribal members:

I want to thank everyone who participated in the per capita payment petition. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by those who believe in the wording of the petition.

However, there are still some Tribal members who do not realize that per capita was created as a Member Benefit Program. With that in mind I want to say that it seems strange to me that the Tribal Council, from the adoption of the 1999 Tribal government budget to the adoption of the 2010 Tribal government budget, did not seem to have trouble coming up with 25 percent or more of the gaming revenue from the casino being allocated to per capita distribution, also known in the beginning as Member Benefit Program - Gaming.

Yet, the Tribal Council of 2011 and 2012 cannot do the 25 percent allocation because they do not have a "money tree," as was basically stated during the Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, Tribal Council meeting. The Tribal Council does not need a "money tree" to do what is right for all of our Tribal members.

The Tribal Council seems more interested in traveling and making sure that Tribal dollars are spent on other programs that only benefit a small portion of our Tribal membership instead of allocating 25 percent of the gaming revenue dollars to a Member Benefit Program that benefits all of the Tribal membership the same like per capita does. There is something wrong with this picture and it is not the economy as some on Tribal Council try to advocate.

As I see it, no one is asking for something new or different. They just want what was done in the past, which is at least 25 percent of the gaming revenue from the casino being allocated to per capita distribution (Member Benefit Program - Gaming).

Based on everything I have learned since this discussion came up earlier in the year, I do not think that is too much to ask for. If I am mistaken, maybe someone on Tribal Council who fully understands our Tribal government finances can enlighten us.

Leroy Good

Roll #892

Dear Tribal members:

I would like to say thank you to all Tribal members who made this year's Contest Powwow possible. Thank you to the Powwow Special Event Board members for your dedication and hard work preparing for and facilitating the powwow; thank you to Tribal Council for your commitment to promoting our culture and heritage through the powwow; thank you to the volunteers who made the powwow possible at a reduced cost - your efforts are truly invaluable; and thank you to all Tribal members who came to support each other and the Tribe at the powwow.

Not only do we come to enjoy the dancing and drumming, we come to see family and friends, to experience our land and to live the culture we've retained through difficult times in our Tribal history.

Thank you from me and my family!

Charles G. Haller II

Roll #1032