Cathy Hollowell is sick and tired of hearing from those, people that elected her, that want justice.
She is the enlightened one, after all, and wants to suggest taking a higher road.
She knows that this hatred toward Bouschor and all of the others that supported or took part in the theft of tribal resources has been festering for two decades.
She is aware of the criminal behavior, abuse of power, mismanagement and blatant greed that has been the backbone of the Bouschor era, as well.
She understands that there has never been any protections for the membership against such behavior and it has cause great harm, yet, she wants the citizens to just wipe it out of their minds.
She suggest that everyone just move on.
.
To do so would be to ignore the injustices that have caused so much.pain and suffering
Would that be enlightened leadership or a travesty?
Closure requires validation of the wrong that has been done.
Closure requires justice.
Her guidance toward healing should include the condemnation as well as exhausting all legal remedy.
She should take the lead on putting the "drafted constitution" into law .
Then, let's discuss the spiritual road to healing.
This writer prefers to remain anonymous.
4 comments:
I do understand Ms. Hollowell reason for taking the high road, but the tribe should appeal. The 7+2 gang appealed to court of appeals, then appealed to the Michigan high court, lost both appeals and then went to court where we were harmed from the begining by an unfair judge ruling and a bias jury. The tribe should appeal until we have no appeal left, it is our right just like they had the right. We are the victim here and I feel until we do this to the end, then it may go away, but not before this is to big an issue.Thank you
Being sick and tired of hearing from members who want justice is somewhat a negative stance to take especially for someone elected by unit members. I am sure all board members, tribal members and other interested parties such as the FBI are fully aware of the proven corrupt activities, allegations of corrupt activities and downright unethical behavior that exists within the leadership of the tribe.
Taking the high road is really an unclear and uncommitted choice of direction. The only clear choice that will eliminate corruption is to move in a direction that will prevent it from happening again. So far, I have seen very little that even remotely resembles a preventative initiative from any of the board members. This tribe needs a leadership that takes any and all measures to right all the wrongs that have existed for so long. Remove the cloud of doubt by establishing accountability.
Article I Section 8 of our By-Laws clearly states “It shall be the duty of each member of the board of directors to make monthly reports to the unit from which they are elected concerning the proceedings of the board”. I am assuming that this report would most easily be delivered to unit members through submitting the report to be published in the tribal newspaper. In spite of having the opportunity to present and publish there are board members, in the past and present, which choose not to submit a report. In addition, the By-Laws clearly state the report is to be about proceedings of the board and I have to say that some of rosy colored unprofessional reports are clearly not even close to fulfilling this By-Law requirement.
I wonder if not fulfilling this obligation would qualify for removal. Board members are paid salaries and like any other employee they should be subject to review, but the review they need to keep in mind is at election time. The best alliance for re-election may very well be the people who need justice.
Face it, Payment blew it for the tribe. The stacks upon stacks of the vile statements he made to the defendants was more than enough to convince the jury, and it will be again and again no matter how many appeals are submitted. Payment made racist remarks against these folks and if they were working for any organization off of trust land they could have file discrimination and harassment suits and won ! Tribal land should be a playground for racism and discrimination against anyone.
I am sure that you meant "tribal land shouldn't be a playground for racism and discrimination against anyone".
Do you happen to remember the intimidation tactics of Bouschor and his political staff?
Many people who opposed Bouschor were threatened. It might have been a board member calling the place of employment to tell the employer that they should fire certain employees. Tribal citizens have been accosted in the parking lots outside of tribal meetings and threatened that they better "Back off".
Director Payment was threatened in public, at a tribal meeting, by one of the attorneys for the tribe. He yelled at Payment and told him, "You are dead meat". Then, police chief Paquin did nothing in response to a death threat against a Board Director/tribal citizen. Along with Director Payment, many citizens were incensed. They felt outrage and had no recourse because Bouschor had total power.
Here they were being threatened by non natives who were protected by Bouschor during a time when the membership was demanding that vacant positions be filled with natives first. There were racial overtones, for sure. All of the key administrative positions were filled with non natives. The legal department was also mostly non native and only answered to Bouschor. So, maybe some harsh words were said by Mr. Payment and many others. But, that isn't why the tribe lost the trial. The tribe has been in a deficit for laws that protect the resources and citizens. Each Board member should be fighting for the new constitution.
Bouschopr, Abramson, McCoy, Causley and Rickley aren't going to lift a finger to protect your rights.
So, when someone presents you with a recall petition, or another binding referendum....sign it. Fight for it.
But, don't try to blame anyone for reacting in a desperate way because of the impossible situation the tribe and its membership are in and remain so as long as Bouschor, Abramson, Causley, McCoy and Rickley are in office.
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