Strong, powerful winds of change are predicted for the Sault Tribe.
Most of us can say, without a doubt, which political party defines our beliefs in the U.S. Government, even if those beliefs change as our needs change.
Some of us adhere to a certain religion while others do not, and some play it safe...just in case.
There are advocates for clean energy with theories based on climate change while others scoff at the whole idea of global warming as well as the need to develop renewable energy forms.
Some prefer not to take a stand on anything unless the winds of change blow their way, but, eventually something occurs to give us cause to rise up and claim our place on certain issues.
For many years, we have defined our position in the tribe by our short history...Bouschor or Payment. They are just two people, with varying histories and stories of their own. As humans, they are constantly subject to change and the powers that cause them to move one way or the other. Their followers are then left not knowing which way to turn because of too much secrecy or an excess of personal opinions and vendettas attached to their agendas.
What is lacking is a purely stated mission and a platform that clearly states goals and ideals. Such objectives would give us something to move towards and to grow on. Policies of government are needed that focus decision-making on the needs of the people and the strength of the tribe first, but require representatives of the government to be accountable and subject to transparency at all levels.
Most of all, we need a sense that what we belong to is one that represents the ideals we would want passed on to our children. Does anyone really want the example of secrecy and corruption, that has become synonymous with the name of the Sault Tribe, to be passed down to become the future of our tribe? Do we really want this to be a continuous part of our history?
This isn't about whether we support Bouschor or Payment. It's about the long process of restructuring our government from one that continues to fail into one that we have a handle on and a part in. Big Winds of change...CHI NODIN.
9 comments:
This sounds like a major step in the right direction. It certainly has my wholehearted support. Thank you, Charles Forgrave
The Bigger picture is certainly about fairness in government
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Whether we are for Bouschor or Payment is still central to this issue.
Bouschor has done everything in his power to keep the membership out of government He had so much power that he even kept the Board of Directors in the dark about his many failed secret dealings.He stopped the constitution from being realized. The needs of the people were the furthest thing from Benard Bouschor's ego. He is supported by a small majority of Director"s and a puppet Chairman.
On the other hand, Payment fought for employee rights and the creation of a real constitution. He fought the corrupt and exposed the accomplices. He asked for accountability from each Board member and administrative manager. He reduced his own pay by thousands.
His inability to move the tribe forward was due in great part to the administrative staff, that he was handed, were Bouschor loyals that fought his every move. The (then) Board of Directors was still influenced by Bouschor. It was an uphill battle. Directors Abramson, Causley, Eitrem McKelvie and Hoffman's unwillingness to cooperate proved to be too much for Payment to overcome
Payment's vision for the tribe didn't carry with it GREED, SECRECY, EGO and CORRUPTION.
However, you have Bouscgor pulling the strings once again.
So, it really is about what these two men represent and which way the wind blows come election time.
Yes a restructor is necessary. But along with that are safeguards that prevent the Board from exercising unchecked authority. Presently they can change whatever they want. That is why all the talk of establishing employee protections is nothing more than lip service or political rehetoric. This is a big failing of payment. He advocated employee protections and then did nothing more than make paper and pencil changes. As long as the board has ultimate authority there will never be any real employee protections. The employees need a union. Forget the hogwash about unions eroding our sovereign immunity. That is just verbage espoused by a Board that does not want to give up control. Let's see if DJ comes through for the employees. If not, she will be out in a few years as well.
Aaron glorifying himself again.
Who would be a likely candidate to run against McCoy in the next election? We need a fresh start...get rid of the virus infecting the BOD. Where is the petition for the latest Romulus deal? Are we over challenging this BOD with their bad business deals?
Aaron would be a good person to be on the Board, if he could go back to the goals he initially had of promoting the well being of the members. It seems that at some point he became consumed with waging war against Bernard and he lost all perspective and ignored the greater needs of the Tribe. That is too bad. He was more concerned about winning that battle and maintaining his position, and he ended up losing it all. However, he does have the intelligence and the ability, if he can just get over the power struggle and games.
It is my opinion that once Aaron Payment came to realize how influenced and corrupt the Board was when he became Chairman, he just decided to go after the heart of the beast. The new constitution would have been the first real bite. But, No one on the Board....especially Abramson, Causley,Eitrem,McKelvie or Hoffman would step forward and support that. They were the body of the beast. You know that wherever the head goes...so goes the body.
Remember Gravelle?
The investigations initiated by Director Gravelle paid off with the prosecution of Paquin.
Remember Paquin?
Abramson, Causley and Hoffman fought tooth and nail to protect him.
Payment was needed....he just didn't have Board members with the same interest.
Bouschor is a crook and payment a joke. Neither is qualified to lead.
Lets be realistic. That qualified, honest, and caring leader is not going to emerge from the woodwork. It has not happened in all these years and it will not happen in the next few months. We need to recognize that the pool is limited and if we want to avoid absolute chaos , such as electing Boushor, McCoy, Causley, Pine, etc..., that we may have to settle for the best of the worst.
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