SPREAD THE WORD

A database is being set up to gather the names of all those who did not receive a ballot in ANY of the last three - four Sault Tribe elections. If you received a ballot to vote in the primary but did not receive one to vote in the general election, or vice versa, we would like to know. If you have been registered to vote, have not moved or moved but notified the tribe of the change of address, please contact me at weave977@yahoo.com.

We also want to know if you have been denied benefits that you feel you were entitled to, without an understanding or reasonable explanation of why you were denied. Your participation is extremely important and your identity will be protected.

To join a group who intends to make some much needed changes within the Sault Tribe, there is a Facebook group called the Sault Tribe Guide, but it is not anonymous.

PASS THE WORD...the next election is less than a year away and it's time to turn the tables in our direction.

In response to a Soo Evening News article regarding the upcoming appointment of a replacement chairperson for the Sault Tribe, a reader wrote this and also sent it to me.

Former Chairman Aaron Payment would be a good choice. After all, the difference in votes for chairman were only a few suspicious hundred in McCoy's favor.

But I do have a sneaking suspicion that Benard would like to return as chairman...that would show all of those voters that dethroned, him for Aaron Payment,.that he still has the power. The Tonky Trump ego will have made full circle from shame to fame. A smarter move for Benard would be to wait for the appointment of his buddy and then take the CEO position that is vacant. Then, he is really back.

Native American Scholar, Martin Rhinehardt has stated that he will campaign against any Board member that prohibits the citizens from deciding who will fill the chairman's seat. You won't hear these politicians Causley, Abramson , McCoy, Pine or Bouschor play the race card and dispute that man.

It is sad to watch how a handful of the tribe's worst can dictate to the membership....over and over and over again.
Hopefully, this next election will be when the membership votes for a new path. The need to bring in the constitution that the present Board wants to ignore. It would make them accountable. That scares them.

SAULT TRIBE INTERNET GROUP ORIGINATOR PASSES ON

       Gary John Bernard, 56, of 823 Wisconsin Ave., Gladstone, passed away Saturday,     July 23, 2011, at the St. Francis Hospital, in Escanaba, following a brief illness. Gary was the founder of the Sault Tribe Group, an internet site that allowed tribal members to voice their opinions. Gary was the reason that so many of us became involved in Sault Tribe politics.

Gary was born July 26, 1954, in Sault Ste. Marie, the son of John and Margaret (Fillippis) Bernard. He was raised in Sault Ste. Marie and was a 1972 graduate of the Sault Ste. Marie High School. Gary is survived by his wife of 37 years, Cheryl (Ford); his mother, Margaret, and his sons, Joshua Bernard, Ryan Bernard and Jason (Wendy) Bernard, all of Gladstone; daughter, Kristin (Matthew) Tuskan of Gladstone; brothers, Ronald (Jackie) Bernard of Sault Ste. Marie, Patrick Bernard of Sault Ste. Marie, Richard Bernard of Louisiana; sister, Nancy Watson of Grand Rapids, Mich.; granddaughters, Isabelle, Mary Lynn and Sage; father- and mother-in-law, Dwayne (Sonja) Ford of Gladstone; and honorary son, Philip Dausey of Rapid River.  

OUTNUMBERED AGAIN

The petition to hold a special election to fill the tribal chair’s seat left empty when the Sault Tribe Chairman, Joe McCoy, decided to take a hike rather than stick around and face any responsibility for his inability to uphold his campaign promises, was voted down this evening at a special meeting.

The tribal attorney, who is under the thumb of the board, recommended that the board turn down the petition for various reasons. Because the petition was submitted to overturn a resolution that was not enacted, the petition code protected the decision of the board. I guess there is no need to wonder why Director Pine made the motion to table it when she did. It was likely just part of a well-orchestrated plan to pull another one over on the tribal members.

According to a tribal member who was present, 32 out of 102 signatures were in violation of some part of the tribal code that requires that petitions do not contain language that is misleading, but the tribal member didn’t note what the misleading language was.

Director Malloy brought it to the attention of the board, the attorney, and the audience that the tribe’s petition code conflicted with the tribal constitution. The attorney did agree that the code could be changed so that looks like a step the members could pursue.

Bouschor commented that the board would be targeted with numerous petitions if tabled actions were open to petitions. In other words, he recognized the fact that the members would surely utilize such a power and remove those responsible for the financial jeopardy they placed the tribe in due to their failures and lack of ability to do the right thing.

Joe Eitrem made the motion to disapprove the petition and it was seconded by Bouschor. The vote was 7-3 to turn down the petitions.

SUNDANCE PART OF LOCAL TRADITION BUT....

The Sundance / Start of a Local Tradition
In essence, the Sundance is a community vision quest. It is not the pow wow that people expect it to be. It’s a three or four day ceremony of prayer and fasting…a cleansing and healing ceremony where dancers seek renewal and guidance for themselves and their tribe. In Sault Ste. Marie, it is the start of a local tradition by a reverent and passionate group of tribal and nontribal members seeking to renew their tribe’s connection to the Great Spirit.

The dancer’s perform in an arena around a tall center pole that represents the Great Spirit. They dance outward or inward to a double circle of poles connected with rafters and topped with spruce and pine boughs that represent the tribe. It is through the dancers that the tribe’s connection to the Great Spirit is renewed. They dance for a day without anything to drink or eat. At the beginning of the second day, they’re given a small meal and they dance the last three days without anything else.

It is a dance of pain, a payback to the Great Spirit for the gifts sent their way. It involves great suffering and as the fasting and prayer progresses dancer’s pass out and fall, and in their unconscious state receive visions of the direction that they and their tribe should go. The dance ends with purification and gifts exchanged and sacred pipes smoked and tobacco shared, and offerings made to the Great Spirit for the blessings of his guidance.
Local spiritual leader and Sundance organizer Pat McCoy learned the dance while visiting the Sioux on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. He hopes to teach it to his fellow Chippewa, turning it into a local tradition and an annual July celebration. This year’s inaugural Sundance is being held in an arena constructed for it on eight-mile road south of the Soo, between Shunk and Seymour Roads. The public is welcome. The women asked to wear a dress…to comply with the symbolism requirements of the dance.
Thank you, Charles Forgrave

But this morning I received an email forwarded to me regarding claims that AIM (American Indian Movement) were participating in the Sault's Sundance. Here is an excerpt from that message...Lynne Weaver

"Today, there are hundreds of Sun Dances, purification ceremonies, healing ceremonies, Midewin ceremonies every year. Most are conducted by recognized spiritual leaders, such as Rick Two Dogs, Warfield Moose, Richard Moves Camp, and others, but we also know there are those who exploit their own people’s traditions.

The most recent example of this is occurring in Saulte Ste. Marie, Michigan this year. It’s being advertised as a “public event” on Facebook. The American Indian Movement name and logo is being used without permission of the American Indian Movement. Chief Terrance Nelson, and Edward Benton-Benai are advertised on the poster, and neither of these two men are attending, or taking part in any way. Sault St. Marie has never attended American Indian Movement meetings, and are not recognized as part of the council. The reason for the establishment of the American Indian Movement Grand Governing Council and Trademarked logo is to curtail the abuse of our name, organization, and intellectual property rights being used by people we do not know.


The American Indian Movement is not saying that Sun Dances cannot be held in any area or community. Indian people can have all the Sun Dances they want, but the responsibility, the honor in being truthful rests on the organizers, and they should not be using the name of an organization that has nothing to do with their Sun Dance. The danger in this is that some one could get hurt, or sick, and the responsibility would be on the American Indian Movement.

The Sun Dance in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has been planned in a highly irregular manner in spite of our wishes for them to discontinue using our name. Many of the people taking part in this dance were asked to leave the American Indian Movement Sun Dance in Pipestone for bringing alcohol, drugs, and behaving in a non-spiritual way by breaking their fasts, thus encouraging others to do so, bringing in water, food, ice, etc., and other behavior not associated with the real reason to Sun Dance."

For the full message:
http://www.aimovement.org/moipr/AIM1stsundance.html

Lynne Weaver

SAULT TRIBE MEMBERS PUSH TO ENACT THE NEW CONSTITUTION

New efforts have evolved among a small group of Sault Tribe members to push the enactment of the 'New' Constitution. The end process, originally under the control of the Sault Tribe Board of Directors, although some would likely tell you different, is now in the hands of the Sault Tribe members, as it should have been from the beginning.

A new Facebook account created by Nathan Wright, called the "Sault Tribe Guide", has gathered together some key players who have vowed to review both the old and new constitutions and push the project along, regardless of the displeasure of some of the Sault Tribe board members.

It's long overdue that the members have a say in the way the Sault Tribe operates. One of the biggest changes that could have made a difference and prevented some of the disasters that the tribe has faced over the years is the Separation of Powers. This change will distribute the hold the board has over the entire tribe into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial, which will effectively break up the control the current board has over the judicial system and will take them away from the operative side of tribal business. This does leave the board to handle legislative issues.

Other policy changes will be necessary to make it all work. Human Resources will no longer be under the thumb of the board and employees may be less inclined to be intimidated by the powers that be. The Board of Directors may cease to exist in the form it does now. New educational requirements may be in place for those who are selected to become part of the three branches of government.

At any rate, this group is seeking your input to review the new constitution since it should reflect the fundamental needs of the tribe as a whole. If you prefer not to become a part of the Facebook Sault Tribe Guide but would rather contribute anonymously, than you can do so here. I will be posting any meetings, news or changes we hope to implement.

Keep in mind that this isn't a weak effort but one that we are 100% confident that we, as a tribe, will successfully change directions.....join us in being part of the Winds of Change.

WHO HAS A VOICE?

The June 28th Posting of DJ Malloy demonstrates how a simple, small majority can run the tribe.
If we don't question the sincerity of Cathy (McCoy) Abramson's vote, at least two directors from unit one believed that an election should take place to fill the vacant chairman's seat. That equates to forty percent of the Unit one representation. The other units who's representative voted for the election represented half of Unit four and all of Unit five.
The wishes of those citizens, represented, can be disregarded.
It seems to always be the same "elected" that are controlling the destiny of the tribe.
Let's call them the BOOSHINO Family. It is a syndicate.
They control all aspects of the tribe's government and administration
You ask, "How can that be, in a democracy"?
Members have been asking that ever since Bouschor got into government.

If you read between the lines of Malloy's post, you will see that there are honest representatives that are neutralized by the syndicate.
They are just along for the ride.
We need to give them an opportunity to govern the way their voter intended.
At this point, that will only happen when we unseat Benard Bouschor, Cathy Abramson, Joe Eitrem, Kieth Massaway, Deb Pine, Tom Miller and Lana Causley.
Get ready to help.
Be a part of the change.
rj

FROM THE SAULT TRIBE GUIDE....A WORD FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVE

Posted by Director DJ Malloy in the Sault Tribe Guide.

OK ST Members... I have read all of your posts. I took the weekend to try to put everything in perspective. Your hopes and fears are valid and well founded and I believe I know where you all want this to go. However... unless someone can pull a rabbit out of their hat... there is NOT going to be an election. I am prohibited from even proposing it as it has been tabled until after the General Election courtesy of Director Pat Rickley. Because it is tabled, it is an active resolution an is subject to referendum; but to date I haven't seen a petition to do so.

The bottom line is this... without an election we are left with the Constitutional obligation to appoint. The Constitution says the board shall appoint to fill the vacant seat. There has been talk of several people being nominated but there has been nothing presented in writing as to whom is on the list for tomorrow nights meeting. Joe Eitrem has indeed been talked about for over a month, as has Lana. And until there is someone seated, Lana is the sitting acting chair.

Here is a synopsis of the process so far. Constitutional language says: "The Board shall appoint." Tribal Code says: "The board shall hold a Special Advisory to assist in appointing a person to fill a vacancy. This election shall be non-binding." Election Code then prohibits any election activity within 6 months of a Notice of Election. That cycle begins on the last Friday in January. Therefore, when McCoy resigned, he did so at a time that prohibited any Special Advisory Election. Contrived or happenstance... that's the facts. Then.. Cathy A and myself brought forward a resolution to amend the code and several board members supported to allow for an election. IT failed on the first presentation on a 5 to 5 vote. Lana Causley voted to break the tie. She voted against amending the code to allow an election. After the second presentation of this resolution, Director Rickley tabled it "until after the next General Election" rendering it useless. There is an absence of a petition to referendum the tabled resolution that would allow the people to decide whether or not an election would be held. In short... the resolution is dead and this means there will be no election!

Here is what I believe... I believe there are board members who think/surmise/know that Aaron Payment would have won a Special Advisory Election. They don't want Aaron on the board. So they voted against it. The argument was made that Aaron had the next highest votes in the last chair election... that didn't work either. Now we have a chair who has assumed the duties via a resolution to allow business to go on until such time the seat is filled. and ... here we are. If we don't appoint, we are violating the Constitution and Lana will continue to serve out the term until someone is seated. This is why I asked the question... Who do you want? Who can garner the 7 votes needed to assume the chairmanship? Who is the least caustic? Who will be the least obstructive to the change we want to see?

I honestly don't know what is going to transpire tomorrow night. But I know this... we can not go on the way we are. There is no forward movement and we are spending too much time on politics and not enough time on moving the tribe ahead and addressing the needs of the members. Elders need more services, we are top heavy with management, the money is flying out the window in lawsuit judgements, and we still have done NOTHING, in the past year that I've been here, to meet the needs of our people! Land Claim money was spent on property for a transportation garage, (they are to pay rent to the fund... but it's still a misuse of the funds). I could go on and on. We NEED to change the way we are focusing on who is in charge and start paying attention to the tribe we are supposed to be serving! No one is being served by this type of leadership because there is no movement forward. It's no different than stagnant waters; and without a fresh stream to aerate the pool... we stink!

Respectfully submitted, DJ

Find the Sault Tribe Guide on Facebook

MOTION TO APPOINT TABLED

At a regular meeting of the Sault Tribe Board of Directors held at Kewadin Casinos in Sault Ste. Marie, a motion was made by Tom Miller to appoint Joe Eitrem to step in as Chairman of the Sault Tribe.

For whatever Deb Pine's reason to make the motion to table it, the remaining directors agreed. Joan Carr Anderson, Unit 5 director,was absent from the meeting and would have left that Unit short a vote. All in all, it was a good decision to table, but on the other hand it is not good for the tribe's stability to continue this for much longer.

A rumor has been circulating that there will be a motion to appoint DJ Hoffman to fill Joe Eitrem's empty director's chair if Eitrem is appointed to fill the chairman's seat for the next year. Tribal members have mixed feelings because of Hoffman's record while on the board. He did, after all, go out of his way to protect and support Fred Paquin, the former police chief who is now serving time in federal prison for a number of crimes including embezzlement of tribal funds.

He was also a walking nightmare for many tribal employees who were threatened with the loss of their jobs should they not please the former director and he threatened tribal members with lawsuits who spoke out in disagreement against his actions.

But what was also interesting is that he seemed to have fallen out of favor with Bouschor and his close supporters.  It would be interesting to know the reason behind that but it is not likely we will ever know....unless DJ Hoffman himself chooses to tell us. Either way, Hoffman might have a chance to make amends with tribal members and employees if he is appointed, doesn't allow the position to go to his head and does the right thing this time around.

Maybe the next scheduled meeting will start the tribe on another path....hopefully a better one that will allow some positive actions to take place for a change.

MUSIC SPEAKS FOR KIDS

Time	Friday, August 19 at 5:00pm - August 21 at 7:00pm
Location	Our Paradise Bed and Breakfast 2441 East M-28 ( 7.4 miles east of 28 and US 41 intersection) lake side... Marquette, MI
Created By	Shane Murray
More Info	A three day Music festival, Benefit for (Music For All Kids) with and endless amount of music! Bands you know, Solo acts you love. Plus MUSIC For All Kids and And kids taking lessons! perform for you. A list of artist coming soon!

SAULT TRIBE ASSETS FROZEN IN ERROR

According to a Facebook posting in the Sault Tribe Guide by Director DJ Malloy, "The Sault Tribe lost a lawsuit stemming from a dispute over the Bates Garage in Detroit (it was to be the parking garage for Greektown). The lawsuit stemmed from an employee signing an agreement on behalf of the tribe, for "132 Associates, LLC" a limited liability corporation in which we are the sole owners). In signing the agreement, the employee also signed a waiver of sovereign immunity and it has caused a great loss in legal fees and now a loss of 2.5 million dollars. Yesterday, the owner of Bates garage presented the court order to banks in Northern Michigan and in doing so froze our assets in haste and without our prior knowledge. This resulted in a couple of checks presented to one of these banks, to be declared "non-sufficient". Our legal department immediately contacted all the parties and worked out the particulars and identified for them that the money had indeed been set aside and there was no need to freeze the tribe"s assets in every bank we do business with. This resolved the situation and the checks were honored immediately following them contacting the bank. " 

Director Malloy also stated that, "I always think that what you fail to tell people can better be made up via speculation and rumor... I would rather tell you what I have been told than have someone else make up a better story and then have to "react" to it. 

In a later response to tribal member questions and concerns Director Malloy said, "The lawsuit stemmed from us not utilizing the garage in the way we had intended. And apparently there was a clause that allowed for the owner to recoup over 2 million dollars if we did not make the planned improvements to the garage. In the course of several signings of this contract, a waiver of sovereign immunity was missed and signature attached to the document creating a liability for our tribe. The tribe has argued that the employee had no authority to sign the document (via resolution or motion) and furthermore, the tribe was immune from suit. We lost on both counts. This is an old situation and I may not have all the fact straight but I am giving you all what I understand to be the case."

For those of you who might be wondering who the tribal employee is that signed the agreement it was Vic Matson, Sault Tribe's CFO. Where else, other than the Sault Tribe, can an employee cost the members so much money resulting in a loss to member benefits and still have a job?! 

Lynne Weaver

STAY THE COURSE

Originally posted in the Sault Tribe Guide

By Tom Biron

Every new effort provides results. The representatives on the board who are actually fighting for us cannot act unless we make it clear what we want them to act on. The corrupt group will act if we dont tell them not to, so we must continue the process until we get it right. 

I think we need to say what it is that we are seeing - straight out - and what it is, is the corrupt group are not good politicians. They are good corruptors so they will take what we offer and corrupt it the best they can. Is that what will bring them and us success? No. But it provides evidence of their incompetence to lead and we can use that as we build our base of support for the board members who are fighting for our rights. We have to stay the course. Not too much longer folks.

The Sault Tribe Guide is a Facebook group started by Nathan Wright. Join us in some productive discussions. Open a Facebook account, if you don't already have one, and look for us..."Sault Tribe Guide"

Lynne Weaver

6 ON TRIBAL BOARD MAKE A MOCKERY OUT OF MEMBERS RIGHTS

A motion was made at the Sault Tribe meeting to TABLE a Special Election until AFTER the General Election.

Yes, you read that right....NO decision on a Special Election until AFTER the General Election. Bernard Bouschor took the night off from this meeting. My guess is that he didn't want his Yes vote to table the special election on record.

This is the list of TRAITORS who voted to TABLE the decision to hold a Special Election:
CATHERINE HOLLOWELL
DEB PINE
PAT RICKLEY
KEITH MASSAWAY
JOE EITREM

And voting to break the tie to table the decision to take the tribal chair decision away from you so she could hold onto that seat was LANA CAUSLEY....a clear conflict of interest. If anyone thinks the group above didn't hold an illegal meeting to discuss tabling the election before hand, it's time to wake up.

The five directors who voted NOT to table a special election to determine who will replace Quitter McCoy were:
CATHY ABRAMSON
DJ MALLOY
TOM MILLER
DENISE CHASE
JOAN CARR ANDERSON

An added note: In a recent telephone conversation (if you can call Hollowell's shrieking a conversation), Cathy Hollowell said she could care less if she's reelected. She made it clear that her agenda was not her constituents but instead she supported Bernard Bouschor, Deb Pine, and Lana Causley.

Prior to the election, both Pat Rickley and Catherine Hollowell misled many of those who voted for them or who spoke favorably to others about them. They lied to you - fooled you and now they laugh in your face. They both play a large part in the mockery that was once known as the members right to vote and I will repeat what many say now..."What was their price?"

One more added note: Aaron Payment had several questions related to the hiring of the new general counsel, who isn't a tribal member. He wanted to know the procedure that was used to eliminate other candidates. Clueless Causley did everything she could to stop him from asking by falsely claiming that Payment's questions couldn't be answered because it would violate personnel confidentiality policies. They were general questions and general questions can be answered without violating polices. If Causley doesn't understand simple personnel policies than what the hell is she doing running the tribe?