Friday, October 31, 2008

PAWCATUCK EASTERN PEQUOTS

THIS LAST SUMMER I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD SCHOOL AT LANTERN HILL RESERVATION OF THE PAWCATUCK EASTERN PEQUOTS.

WE LEFT THE MAIN BLACK TOP ROAD AND TURNED RIGHT HEADED WEST ON A DUSTY DIRT ROAD JUST WIDE ENOUGH FOR TWO CARS TO SQUEEZE BY EACH OTHER. WE TRAVELED DOWN THE DIRT ROAD PAST LITTLE HOUSES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS. IT WAS NOT WELL KEPT UP. WE PASTED A LITTLE FIELD THAT WAS ON A HILL , I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS WHERE THE PAWCATUCK EASTERN PEQUOTS HAVE THEIR POW WOWS. FINALLY AFTER PASSING A COUPLE OF PORTABLE TOILETS, WE STOPPED BY A TRAILER AND SOME PARKED CARS.

WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WE WERE MET BY DR. STEPHEN SILLIMAN, PROFESSOR OF ARCHAEOLOGY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON. WITH HIM WAS ROBERT "BOBBY" SEBASTIAN, AN ELDER OF THE PAWCATUCK EASTERN PEQUOTS. DR. SILLIMAN GREETED US AND PROCEEDED TO TURN THE CONVERSATION OVER TO TRIBAL ELDER BOBBY SEBASTIAN. BOBBY PROCEEDED TO SAY A PRAYER AND SMUDGE US. HE WANTED US TO HAVE GOOD FEELINGS WHEN WE ENTERED THE WOODS TO GO TO THE ARCHAEOLOGY SITE. STEVE THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL US ABOUT THE WORK THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCHOOL HAD DONE OVER THE YEARS AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING THIS YEAR.

WE THEN WENT INTO THE WOODS AND VISITED THE SITES. THE FIRST ONE WAS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAD TWO CHIMNEYS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF A DWELLING. IT COULD BE THAT IT WAS USED AS ONE BUILDING AT ONE TIME AND SOME OTHER BUILDING AT ANOTHER TIME. WE THEN WENT TO WHERE THERE WAS A WALL IN THE SHAPE OF A CIRCLE. THE INTERESTING THING IS THEY HAD FOUND A DWELLING THERE, TOO. LOOKING AT IT NOW YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN IT WAS THERE.

WE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE SITE THAT THE CURRENT SCHOOL WAS DIGGING. IT WAS NOT LIKE THE MOHEGAN FIELD SCHOOL WHERE EVERYONE SEEMED SO MUCH MORE TALKATIVE. THESE STUDENTS WERE MUCH MORE SERIOUS LOOKING. AT THIS TIME I MET TRIBAL ELDER ROYAL "TWO HAWKS" COOK.

AS I TALKED TO BOBBY SABASTIAN IT BECAME QUITE EVIDENT OF HIS DEEP LOVE OF THE LAND WE WERE ON. HE TOLD ME THAT WHERE WE HAD MET HIM AND STEVE WAS HIS TRAILER WHICH HE STAYS IN THE SUMMER TO BE NEAR THE ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD SCHOOL SITE. HE TOLD ME HOW HE WOULD HUNT IN THE WINTER FOR DEER TO FEED HIS FAMILY, AND HOW HE WOULD THANK THE CREATOR FOR THE GIFT OF FOOD HE WAS GIVEN. HE WAS THANKFUL THAT THE DEER HAD GIVEN HIS LIFE SO HIS FAMILY COULD EAT.

THE ELDERS TOLD ME THEY HAVE THE ARCHAEOLOGY SCHOOL PUT THE ROCKS BACK AT THE SAME LEVEL IN THE GROUND AS THEY WERE TAKEN. EVERY ROCK IS PUT BACK. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ELDERS GO OVER THE ARCHAEOLOGY REPORTS AND THE ARTIFACTS. THEY KEEP A COPY OF THE ARTIFACTS AND THE FIELD REPORTS. THEY DO THIS BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON, STORES THEIR ARTIFACTS AND OTHER FINDS BECAUSE THE TRIBE HAS NO PLACE TO STORE THEM.

THE ELDERS AND I TALKED ABOUT THEM GETTING FEDERAL RECOGNITION AND HOW IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE TRIBE. THE TRIBE HAS BEEN ON THE RESERVATION FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, YET THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT DID NOT WANT THEM TO GET FEDERAL RECOGNITION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WERE GAPS IN THEIR HISTORY AND THAT IS WHY THEIR RECOGNITION WAS CHALLENGED. COULD IT HAVE BEEN BECAUSE MAYBE SOMEONE DID NOT WANT THEM TO HAVE A CASINO? THE ELDERS TOLD ME THEY DID NOT CARE ABOUT A CASINO, THE RECOGNITION WOULD HAVE PROVIDED THE TRIBE MEDICAL BENEFITS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THE TRIBE REALLY NEEDS.

AS I DROVE OUT OF THE RESERVATION, I LOOKED AT THE TRAILERS AND THE HOUSES, THE DUSTY ROAD, I WISHED MY TRIBE FELT THE SAME LOVE OF THE LAND LIKE THE PAWCATUCK EASTERN PEQUOTS.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

SKEWED BALLOTS

SOON KEN DAVISON WILL HAVE HIS CASE ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF HIS VOTE HEARD IN THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COURT. HE CONTENDS HIS BALLOT WAS VALID AND LEGAL. HE VOTED FOR THREE POSITIONS AND THE ELECTION ORDINANCE REQUIRED THAT HE VOTE FOR ALL FOUR POSITIONS THAT WERE OPEN ON THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS. HE STATED THAT NOT COUNTING HIS LEGAL BALLOT THAT THE TOTAL VOTE COUNT WAS INCORRECT.

THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE ELECTION COMMITTEE (TRIBAL COUNCIL) STATED THAT EVEN IF KEN DAVISON'S BALLOT HAD BEEN COUNTED IT WOULD NOT HAVE EFFECTED THE RESULTS. HE IS CORRECT THAT EVEN IF ALL THE VOTES THAT WERE NOT COUNTED IT WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION, HOWEVER WHAT ABOUT FUTURE ELECTIONS?

FIRST THE VERY PRACTICE OF MAKING THE VOTER DO SOMETHING THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO DO HAS TO BE A VIOLATION OF HIS CIVIL RIGHTS. IN THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS (UNITED STATES), THE FIFTY STATE GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS YOU ARE NOT FORCED TO DO WHAT THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO DO. THE REASON, IT IS ILLEGAL IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, IS BECAUSE THE VERY PRACTICE OF MAKING SOMEONE VOTE THE ENTIRE TICKET KEEPS MINORITY GROUPS DOWN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS DONE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES OF THE UNITED STATES TO KEEP BLACK (AFRICAN AMERICAN )VOTERS FROM ELECTING OTHER BLACK PEOPLE.

THERE WERE OTHER SKEWED VOTES BESIDES THE SEVEN VOTES THAT WERE NOT COUNTED BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY DID NOT VOTE FOR ENOUGH [POSITIONS ON THE BALLOT TO HAVE THEIR VOTE COUNTED. . THE VERY FACT THAT TRIBAL MEMBERS HAD TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR TO HAVE THEIR BALLOTS COUNTED, SKEWED THOSE BALLOTS ALSO. IF THE VERY PRACTICE OF HAVING TO VOTE THE ENTIRE TICKET WAS NOT IN PLACE, THE ENTIRE VOTE COUNT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT. THE PRACTICE (LAW) SKEWED THE ELECTION RESULTS.

IT IS A BAD ORDINANCE, THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. IT VIOLATES THE INTENT OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBES CONSTITUTION. HOPEFULLY KEN DAVISON'S LAWSUIT WILL PREVAIL. THERE IS SOMETHING MORALLY WRONG WITH BEING FORCED TO DO SOMETHING AGAINST ONE'S WILL. IT IS A VIOLATION OF NOT JUST THE SEVEN VOTES THAT WERE NOT COUNTED BUT ALL MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBERS.

IF SOMETHING IS LEGAL IN THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THEN WHY IS LEGAL IN THE MOHEGAN NATION? I REALIZE THAT WE ARE A SOVEREIGN NATION AND CAN DO WHAT WE WANT AS FAR ELECTION LAWS. IS IT AN UNFAIR A LAW? SHOULD IT BE CHANGED? WHAT DO YOU THINK? MAYBE WE SHOULD TELL THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS AND THE TRIBAL COUNCIL HOW WE FEEL ON THIS ISSUE.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

SPECIAL WEBSITE

AT THE LAST TRIBAL QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE, ON OCTOBER 19, 2008, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THE TWO MOHEGAN WEBSITES (FEATHER NEWS AND BROKENWING EDITORIALS).

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE TWO WEBSITES ARE DOING. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONDEMNING THE WEBSITES. ONE TRIBAL MEMBER SAID HE WAS OKAY WITH A SECURE SITE TO PROTECT THE INFORMATION THAT THE TWO WEBSITES PUT OUT, SO THEY COULD NOT BE ACCESSED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THERE WAS COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THE TWO WEBSITES HANDLED THE SAGAMORE WHO FELL DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE WAY I HEARD IT, BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL, SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT IF ANYONE DID TO HIS FAMILY WHAT HAD BEEN DONE TO THE SAGAMORE HE WOULD GO AFTER THEM.

I BELIEVE, CHAIRMAN BOZSUM SAID THAT THE TRIBE COULD NOT CONTROL WHAT THE TWO WEBSITES WERE PRINTING. I BELIEVE HE REALIZES THAT WE HAVE OUR FREEDOMS OF THE PRESS AND SPEECH. I THINK THE CHAIRMAN UNDERSTANDS WE (BROKENWING EDITORIALS AND THE FEATHER NEWS) INTEND TO EXERCISE THEM.

I BELIEVE AFTER THE DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN BOZSUM OFFERED A SECURE SITE TO THE TWO EDITORS OF BROKENWING EDITORIALS AND THE FEATHER NEWS. A TRIBAL MEMBER IN THE AUDIENCE SAID WHY DO THEY HAVE TO DO IT. WHY NOT SOMEONE ELSE. ANOTHER TRIBAL MEMBER SAID WHO IS GOING TO CONTROL WHAT THEY SAY.

I BELIEVE, BOTH MYSELF AND THE EDITOR OF THE FEATHER NEWS, REALIZE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN READ OUR WEBSITES. HOWEVER, HOW ARE TRIBAL MEMBERS IN PLACES LIKE TENNESSEE, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, AND OTHER PLACES GOING TO GET THE ENTIRE PICTURE OF WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING, IF THE WEBSITES DID NOT EXIST? ARE TRIBAL MEMBERS TO RELY ON A TRIBAL EWSLETTER? DOES THE NEWSLETTER TELL EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN UNCASVILLE? DOES IT TELL THE ENTIRE PICTURE OF BUSINESS DEALINGS OF THE MOHEGAN GOVERNMENT? IS THE NEWSLETTER CENSORED? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ONE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IS THAT THE TWO WEBSITES DO TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. THE FEATHER NEWS TAKES CURRENT NEWS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO MOHEGANS AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. IT IS MORE LIKE A NEWSPAPER. BROKENWING EDITORIALS IS AN EDITORIAL PAGE, EXPRESSING THE EDITOR'S FACTS, IDEAS AND OPINIONS. I DO NOT KNOW IF BOTH EDITORS COULD WORK ON ONE WEBSITE.

AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, SPEAKING ONLY AS THE EDITOR OF BROKENWING EDITORIALS, I AM CONSIDERING THE OFFER BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

THE QUARTERLY MEETING

WHEN I LEFT THE MEETING OF THE MOHEGAN QUARTERLY MEETING ON OCTOBER 19, 2008. I CAME AWAY WITH SOME THOUGHTS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH MY READERSHIP.

FIRST ON THE SUBJECT OF THE BUSINESS DEALINGS OF THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO, I CAME AWAY FEELING WE (THE MOHEGAN TRIBE) ARE IN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF CONTINUED LOSSES. IN MY OPINION, BOTH CASINOS ARE NOT DOING VERY WELL FINANCIALLY. I THINK THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MOHEGAN SUN IS DOING A GOOD JOB UNDER TOUGH ECONOMICAL TIMES. I BELIEVE SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THE LIGHTS WILL BE OUT IN THE CABARET UNTIL SOMETIME IN MARCH, 2009. IN MY OPINION, THE ONLY WAY TO PAY THE $330 MILLION DUE IN 2009 BY THE MOHEGAN SUN IS TO BORROW ANOTHER $330 MILLION TO PAY THE MONIES DUE. HOW MUCH MORE IS THIS GOING TO COST? IS IT INTEREST ON TOP OF INTEREST?

ON THE SUBJECT OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING, I BELIEVE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONTRACTED FOR 88% OF THE WORK. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCING IN PLACE. I CAME AWAY BELIEVING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL TRY TO FINANCE IT IN TWO PARTS.
IT BECAME QUITE EVIDENT THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AT THIS TIME.

WE SHUT DOWN A HOTEL (PROJECT HORIZON) AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $734 MILLION, BUT ARE GOING TO FINANCE BETWEEN AN ESTIMATED $89 TO $100 MILLION? WHAT IS WRONG HERE? HOW ARE THE TRIBAL COUNCIL BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE?

THERE WERE COMMENTS ABOUT BOTH BLOGS, FEATHER NEWS AND BROKENWING EDITORIALS. AS FAR AS THE STORIES ABOUT THE SAGA,MORE LIVING AT FORT HILL, I HAVE ALREADY PUT THE TWO ARTICLES UP FOR THE MOHEGAN TRIBE TO RE-READ. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WHO HAS PROBLEMS WITH WHAT BOTH EDITORS DID, THEY SHOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE SAGAMORE AND TALK TO HIM. I BELIEVE HE WILL CONFIRM EXACTLY WHAT BOTH FEATHER NEWS AND BROKENWING EDITORIALS WROTE.

THE SUBJECT OF BRINGING A GOOD STANDING CASE FORWARD, I WELCOME IT. I WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE BROUGHT IN AS WITNESSES: 1) THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED THE SAGAMORE FALL DOWN, 2) THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATOR, 3) THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE CONTRACT THAT THE SAGAMORE SIGNED, 4) THE HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS, 5) THE SAGAMORE, 6)HIS FAMILY, AND 7) THE STAFF OF FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING. I BELIEVE IF SOMEONE BRINGS A GOOD STANDING AND IT IS FOUND TO BE FRIVOLOUS THEN THAT PERSON CAN ALSO BE CHARGED WITH A GOOD STANDING.

THE TREATS OF GOOD STANDING HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE, ONE TIME, CHAIRMAN BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM, THREATENED IF ANYTHING WAS PRINTED THAT NIGHT AFTER A MEETING HE WOULD BRING A GOOD STANDING CHARGE. HOW DARE ANY MOHEGAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL THREATEN THE PRESS.

I CAME AWAY FROM THE MEETING WITH THE FEELING THAT WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. IN MY OPINION,THE MOHEGAN TRIBE ARE IN FOR SERIOUS AND DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES. WHEN I WENT TO THE MEETING I FELT TRIBAL MEMBERS WOULD SPEAK UP AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. THEY DID NOT. I STILL BELEIVE THE MAJORITY OF THE TRIBE AT THIS TIME DO NOT WANT A GOVERNMENT COMMUNTIY CENTER. I DO NOT THINK WHAT IS PLANNED WILL WORK. I THINK WE SHOULD NOT BE BUILDING A GOVERNMENT BUILDING. WHO BUILDS SOMETHING WITH OUT THE FINANCING IN PLACE? HOW MUCH WILL IT ACTUALLY COST OVER HOW MANY YEARS AND AT WHAT INTEREST RATE? YOU COULD NEVER DO THIS ON OUR OWN PERSONAL HOUSES, SO WHY ARE WE DOING THIS ON THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER? MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Monday, October 27, 2008

MOHEGAN MONOPOLY

WE HAVE ALL AS CHILDREN PLAYED THE PARKER BROTHERS MONOPOLY BOARD GAME. THE MOHEGAN HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE MOHEGAN GOVERNMENT HAVE THEIR OWN VERSION.

WE BUY AND SELL HOUSES LIKE THE MONOPOLY GAME. WE PUT MONEY INTO THEM AND SOMETIMES SELL THEM FOR A LOSS. AN EXAMPLE OF IS 188 WASHINGTON STREET, NORWICH. WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE FOR $250,000.00 AND PUT AT LEAST $7,000.00 IN TO IT AND THEN SOLD IT FOR $240,000.00. THIS HOUSE WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL ROYAL BURIAL GROUND PROPERTY.

WE BOUGHT AND SOLD A HOUSE THAT BORDERS THE SOUTH SIDE OF SHANTOK ON THE WEST SIDE OF SHANTOK ROAD. WE ARE TOLD THAT IT SUPPOSEDLY WAS SOLD SO THAT WE COULD BUY A HOUSE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RESERVATION UP BY BROAD VIEW. SINCE WHEN DO WE NEED TO SELL PROPERTY FOR IN THE TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR RANGE AND NEED TO USE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE OTHER HOUSES THAT BORDER THE RESERVATION? COULD THE HOUSE ON THE SOUTH BORDER OF SHANTOK BEEN SOLD TO A FRIEND OR RELATIVE:?

HERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM, THAT ALTHOUGH WE CAN NOT PROVE IT SEEMS TO HAVE MERIT. THE DEAL IS WE SEEM TO TEAR HOUSES DOWN SAYING THAT THEY WERE IN BAD SHAPE, HAVE LEAD PAINT, OR ASBESTOS . IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF HOUSES HAVE THESE PROBLEMS COMPARED TO THE HOUSES IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. COULD IT BE THAT THIS IS AN EXCUSE? COULD IT BE THAT WE DO NOT WANT THESE HOUSES THAT WOULD NEED MONEY TAKEN FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BUDGET? COULD IT BE THEY ARE TRYING TO COME IN UNDER BUDGET? I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWERS, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE TRIBAL COUNCIL SHOULD INVESTIGATE THESE THINGS.

THERE IS A HOUSE ON THE SERVICE ROAD OF ROUTE 2-A AND SHANTOK ROAD (THE ROAD BEING USED BY CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES. IT IS BY THE BRIDGE EXPANSION WHERE SHANTOK ROAD IS PRESENTLY CLOSED. THERE IS A BRICK HOUSE THERE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE USING. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE TALKING OF TEARING DOWN IN OUR OPINION THIS PERFECTLY GOOD HOUSE.

THE MOHEGAN GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE , SAFE, DEPENDABLE HOUSING (HOUSES AND APARTMENTS.) TRIBAL MEMBERS WHO HAVE LIVED ON THE RESERVATIONS HAVE LEFT. COULD IT BE THE PLACES WERE NOT WELL MAINTAINED? COULD IT BE SOME OF THE HOUSING WAS SUB-STANDARD?

ONE FINAL PROBLEM, (THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ONE) IS THAT WE ARE BUYING AND SELLING THESE HOMES WITHOUT DOING ANY ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK ON THEM.
AT ONE TIME A LARGE PORTION OF UNCASVILLE WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL MOHEGAN RESERVATION. WE ARE BUYING AND SELLING THESE PROPERTIES AND NOT CHECKING THESE PROPERTIES FOR POSSIBLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. HOW MUCH POSSIBLE INFORMATION IS BEING LOST FOREVER BECAUSE OF THIS PRACTICE?

SHOULD THE MOHEGAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO PLAY THIS MONOPOLY GAME?

Saturday, October 25, 2008

SACRED AND HISTORIC SITES

WHAT DOES UNCAS' CABIN, UNCAS' SPRING, UNCAS'' CAVE, FORT HILL AND THE PARSONAGE ALL HAVE IN COMMON? THEY ARE ALL SACRED AND HISTORIC SITES ON LAND THAT THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE DO NOT OWN.

YEARS AGO I WORKED ON A PETITION TO SAVE THESE SITES. WE NEVER SENT THE PETITION FORWARD BECAUSE WE (THE TRIBAL MEMBERS) FELT THAT THE TRIBE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY. NOW YEARS LATER, THE TRIBE IS EVEN DEEPER IN DEBT AND WE STILL DO NOT OWN THESE HISTORIC SITES.

AT THE TIME, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN AND I WENT OUT TO MANY OF THE HISTORIC SITES. HE WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN THESE SITES. NOTHING WAS EVER DONE THOUGH.

MAYBE WITH THE FUTURE EXPANSION, THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT COULD LOOK INTO POSSIBLY PURCHASING SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.

THAT BRINGS US TO ANOTHER ISSUE, MAYBE THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS DUTIES IN THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD INCLUDE THAT THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER SACRED AND HISTORIC LANDS. I REALIZE THAT THIS WOULD POSSIBLY BE A CONFLICT WITH THE LAND MANAGEMENT (UNDER THE TRIBAL COUNCIL.) AN EXAMPLE HAPPENED YEARS AGO WHEN SOIL WAS TAKEN FROM SHANTOK BY THE POND TO PUBLIC WORKS WHICH TECHNICALLY IS ALSO SHANTOK. IF THE ELDERS HAD CONTROL OVER SACRED AND HISTORIC SITES, THEN THEY COULD HAVE PROTECTED THESE THINGS IF IT WAS NEEDED.

THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF HISTORIC AND SACRED SITES THAT WE KNOW OF. AT ONE TIME THERE MAY HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS. I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE TRY TO PURCHASE AND PROTECT THESE SITES.

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: WE RECENTLY CHECKED UNCAS' CABIN AND UNCAS' SPRING, THEY WERE UNDISTURBED AND IN GOOD SHAPE.

Friday, October 24, 2008

OLD RESERVATION BORDERS

ON LOOKING AT A MAP OF THE RESERVATION FROM 1736 IT SHOWS THE BORDERS OF THE MOHEGAN RESERVATION AT THAT TIME. IT IS CALLED THE HUMPHREY AVERY MAP. ON THE MAP IT STATES "IS A PLAN OF THE LANDS RESERVED AND SEQUESTERED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT FOR THE SOLE USE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MOHEGAN INDIAN TRIBE."

THE NORTHEAST CORNER WAS JUST ABOVE WHERE THE MOHEGAN CASINO IS TODAY ON THE MOUTH OF THE TRADING COVE BROOK . THE SOUTHEAST CORNER WAS AT PLACE ON THE THAMES RIVER CALLED WHITE ROCK. AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD THINKS THAT TODAY THAT ROCK IS RED ROCK WHICH IS ON MODERN MAPS ON THE THAMES RIVER. THERE IS HOWEVER A WHITE ROCK ALSO THAT HAS A BRASS BOLT IN IT ABOUT ONE HUNDRED YARDS NORTH OF IT.

THE NORTHWEST CORNER WAS ON THE TRADING COVE BROOK WHICH HAD A BLACK OAK TREE SURROUNDED BY ROCKS. WE THINK IT IS SOMEPLACE SOUTH OF THE PRESENT DAY WALMART IN NORWICH. THE SOUTHWEST CORNER IS THREE MILES SOUTH AGAIN A BLACK OAK TREE SURROUNDED BY ROCKS. IT IS ALSO ABOUT THREE MILES WEST OF THE WHITE ROCK SOUTHEAST CORNER.

I THINK WITH TODAYS TECHNOLOGY THAT WITH A GPS AND SOMEONE WHO COULD CONVERT THE RODS IN MATH TO AN ACTUAL CO-ORDINATE THAT WE COULD TAKE
AND GO OUT IN THE AREA OF MONTVILLE AND FIND THE NORTHWEST BORDER AND SOUTHWEST BORDER. I URGE THE TRIBAL COUNCIL OF THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS DONE FOR US. READERS IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS PLEASE DO SO?

Thursday, October 23, 2008

WHITE BIRCH TREES AT FORT HILL

WHEN THE MOHEGAN TRIBE BUILT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING MANY YEARS AGO, THE CLEARED THE LAND AND PROCEEDED TO BUILD THE BUILDING.



AFTER THE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED, A FLAT BED TRACTOR TRAILER BROUGHT IN A TRUCK LOAD OF WHITE BIRCH TREES. THE WHITE BIRCH TREES WERE PLANTED COMPLETELY AROUND THE BUILDING. EACH TREE WAS PLACED ABOUT TWENTY SOME FEET OUT FROM THE BUILDING.



OVER THE YEARS, THE TREES HAVE GROWN UP, AND SOME OF THE TREES ACTUALLY HAVE TOUCHED THE BUILDING. TO MAKE THE TENANTS HAPPY. THE TREES HAVE BEEN TRIMMED BACK. SOME OF THE TENANTS FEEL THAT THE NEARNESS OF THE TREES TO THE BUILDING IS CAUSING MILDEW AND MOLD. THE DECKS ON THE BUILDING DO AT TIMES NEED TO BE POWER WASHED BECAUSE OF THE GREEN MILDEW.



EVERYONE SEEMS TO WANT A GOOD VIEW FROM THEIR WINDOWS. WHAT WE ARE ENDING UP WITH IS THE PEOPLE ON THE SECOND FLOOR HAVE A BLOCKED VIEW, WHILE THE PEOPLE ON THE FIRST AND THIRD FLOORS HAVE AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW. WE HAVE COMPLETE AREAS WHERE THEY ARE NO TREES STILL STANDING BECAUSE THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY CUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE AGAINST THE BUILDING. SOME TENANTS FEEL THAT IT IS AN EYESORE.



MAYBE WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BEING PLANNED, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR WHOEVER WAS IN CHARGE, SHOULD HAVE PUT IN SHRUBS OR BUSHES AND NOT PLANTED THESE WHITE BIRCH TREES. I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE WHERE YOU CLEAR THE LAND, BUILD THE BUILDING AND THEN PROCEED TO PUT TREES NEXT TO THE BUILDING. MAYBE THE THE TREES SHOULD GO, AND BUSHES PUT UP INSTEAD? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

SURROUNDED BY PROBLEMS

THE MOHEGAN SUN IS SURROUNDED BY ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

DIRECTLY ACROSS THE THAMES RIVER FROM THE MOHEGAN SUN IS THE FORMER NORWICH HOSPITAL PROPERTY. THE TOWN OF PRESTON I BELIEVE HAVE UNTIL THIS COMING JANUARY TO FIND SOMEONE TO DEVELOP IT. FOR TWO YEARS PRESTON NEGOTIATED WITH UTOPIA STUDIOS TO DEVELOP THE LAND. THE DEAL FELL THROUGH. THEN CAME NORTHLAND, WHO WAS GOING TO BUILD 2 HOTELS, A MARINA, GOLF COURSE, HIGH END HOUSING, AND OTHER THINGS. THE DEAL FELL APART WHEN NORTHLAND'S FINAL PROPOSAL WAS FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF 750 APARTMENTS. THE STATE HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT GIVE PRESTON AN EXTENSION. SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NORWICH HOSPITAL PROPERTY?

SOUTH OF THE CASINO, IS THE TARRAGON PROPERTIES. IT IS REPORTED TO BE ABOUT 1,500 PLUS ACRES. THEY HAD NORTHLAND COME INTO THE DEAL TO PUT NEEDED FUNDS INTO THE PROJECT. NORTHLAND AND TARRAGON ARE NOW SUING EACH OTHER OVER THE PROJECT. HOW IS THIS SITUATION GOING TO END UP?

THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF MONTVILLE JUST VOTED TO DO A BOND ISSUE TO THE TUNE OF TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS ($12,000,000.00). THIS WILL RAISE THE TAXES FOR THE HOMEOWNERS. THIS COULD CAUSE ECONOMIC HARM TO THE TOWN.
WITH BUSINESS OFF BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY IN SOUTH EASTERN CONNECTICUT, HOW WILL THESE EVENTS EFFECT THE MOHEGAN SUN? MAYBE IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE? MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD TALK TO THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT? MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD BUY THE MONTVILLE BONDS? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

THE GATES AT FORT HILL

I REMEMBER YEARS AGO LOOKING IN THE WUSKUSO AT THE PICTURES OF THE BEAUTIFUL GATES LEADING INTO FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING.

THEY ARE QUITE INTERESTING IN DESIGN. THEY HAVE ANIMALS AND PLANTS AND THINGS ON THEM. ONE GATE HAS A FROG, TURTLE AND SOME BULL RUSHES ON IT. THE OTHER GATE HAS A WOLF, DEER AND SOME TREES. THE GATES OPEN INWARD TOWARDS THE FORT HILL HOUSING BUILDING. THEY ARE GREEN IN COLOR HANGING BY TWO PILLARS MADE OF ROCKS.. THE TOP OF EACH PILLAR HAS TWO ROUND BALLS MADE OF ROCK BY MOHEGAN CRAFTSMEN MANY YEARS AGO.

WHEN THE GATES WERE WORKING A FEW YEARS AGO, SEVERAL RESIDENTS ALMOST RAN INTO THE GATES. THEY SIMPLY DID NOT SEE THEM CLOSED. THE MANAGEMENT OF FORT HILL NEVER INFORMED THE TENANTS THEY WERE GOING TO CLOSE THE GATES AT 10:00 P.M. SO WHAT WAS DONE ABOUT IT? REFLECTORS WERE PUT ON THE GATES. SPOT LIGHTS WERE PLACED ON ONE SIDE (ON A COLUMN) LIGHTING UP THE GATES TO BE SEEN.

FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE GATES HAVE BEEN OPEN. I INQUIRED WHY THEY WERE LEFT OPEN. THE FIRST THING I LEARNED THAT IN WINTER THE WORKERS ARE AFRAID THAT THE SNOW WILL GET IN THE WAY AND KEEP THEM FROM OPENING BACK UP. THERE IS ALSO THE FEAR THAT ICE COULD MAYBE SOMEHOW LOCK THEM UP.

THE TENANTS OF FORT HILL HAVE SEEN WORKERS WORKING ALL DAY RIGHT UP TO DARK (NIGHT FALL) TRYING TO FIX THE GATES. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE GATES?

ON INVESTIGATION, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CONCRETE UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE GATES AT THE COLUMNS ARE EITHER ALLEGEDLY DISINTEGRATING BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE CONCRETE, OR THE SALT FROM SNOW PLOWING MAY BE EATING UP THE CONCRETE TOO. THE MOTORS WE ARE TOLD ARE IN THE CONCRETE BELOW THE GATES. ON ONE GATE. WE ARE TOLD THAT MOTOR IS MOVING IN THE CONCRETE, WHICH IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING. THE MOTORS ARE TO BE SECURED AND NOT ABLE TO MOVE. THE HINGE ON THAT SIDE, BECAUSE THE MOTOR MOVES, IS ALLEDGEDLY BENT. THE GATE IS ALLEGEDLY ON ROCK LEDGE AND THEREFORE HAS THE POTENTIAL OF TAKING A LIGHTNING STRIKE. WE ARE TOLD THE GATES HAVE SURGE PROTECTORS TO PROTECT THE MOTORS. WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OF THE SURGE PROTECTORS GETS SET OFF. DO THE GATES OPEN AGAIN OR CLOSE? DO WE THEN NEED A MECHANIC? THE INVESTIGATION ALSO UNCOVERED THAT IT IS ALLEGED, THAT THE WIRES IN THE ELECTRICAL BOX ON THE SIDE OF THE PILLAR, LOOKS LIKE SPAGHETTI (GOING EVERY WHICH WAY WITH NO ORDER.)

THE TWO GATES EACH WEIGH ABOUT 400 POUNDS AND THE MOTORS ARE RATED TO MOVE AN ESTIMATED 1,200 POUND GATES. THE SYSTEM SHOULD WORK. WILL IT EVER WORK, AGAIN? DID THE PEOPLE WHO APPROVED IT, REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING? THE GATES ARE REALLY NICE LOOKING. ARE THE GATES VERY PRACTICAL? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE GATES AT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING?

Monday, October 20, 2008

AUTUMN

RECENTLY I TRAVELED WITH SOME FRIENDS TO NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND FROM UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT

AS WE TRAVELED NORTH ON I-395 WE WERE ENJOYING GREAT CONVERSATION, AND THE SPECTACLE OF COLOR UNFOLDING IN FRONT OF US. THE VIBRANT YELLOWS, ORANGES, REDS AND BROWNS. THE LEAVES ON THE TREES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE ON FIRE. THE TREES BECOMING MORE VIBRANT AS WE WENT. SOON THESE VERY BEAUTIFUL BLAZES OF COLOR WILL BE GONE. THE TREES WILL BE STRIPPED OF THEIR LEAVES EXPOSING THE VERY GARTH AND LIMBS OF THEIR BODIES. THE AIR WAS COOL AND CRISP. THE SUN FELT GOOD SHINING ON OUR FACES AND WARMED UP OUR ENTIRE BODIES.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IT IS A GOOD TO BE ALIVE. SOMEONE SAID, IT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR (FALL) IN NEW ENGLAND. THE THOUGHT OF A POSSIBLE COLD WINTER WITH SNOW CROSSED MY MIND. I THOUGHT THAT WINTER WITH ITS ACCOMPANYING SNOW, IS PART OF THE PRICE WE PAY TO LIVE IN CONNECTICUT.

THE SQUIRRELS ARE SECURYING AROUND, RUNNING EVERY WHICH WAY, GATHERING NUTS AND BURYING THEM. THE BEARS ARE EATING THEIR LAST MEALS PUTTING ON EXTRA WEIGHT FOR THE LONG SLEEP THAT LIES AHEAD. THE SNAKES ARE GOING INTO THEIR BURROWS TO JOIN OTHER SNAKES TO SHARE THEIR BODY HEAT AND SURVIVE. BIRDS ARE FLYING SOUTH TO WARMER TEMPERATURES. ANIMALS ARE MAKING PREPARTIONS ON THEIR NESTS AND BURROWS.

OUR ANCESTORS, (MOHEGANS IN THE OLD DAYS), WOULD DIG HOLES AND STORE FOOD IN THEM TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER. THEY MADE PREPARATIONS FOR THE COLD. PUTTING WINTER COVERINGS TO THE WIGWAMS (TREE BARK OR ANIMAL SKINS). THEY WOULD GATHER WOOD FOR THE FIRES THAT WOULD BE NEEDED THROUGH THE WINTER. MOHEGANS WOULD GET THEIR HUNTING AND FISHING SUPPLIES READY. THINGS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO SURVIVE THE WINTER WERE HUNG NEATLY FROM THE CROSS MEMBERS OF THE WIGWAMS.

MOHEGANS BASICALLY LIVED OUTSIDE IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER. THE FACT THAT WIGWAMS WERE CIRCULAR OR OVAL IN SHAPE , WITH DOORS OF ANIMAL SKINS ON THE ENDS WITH SMOKE HOLES ON THE TOPS TELLS A LOT ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS. AROUND THE FIRES THAT WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WIGWAMS WERE SLEEPING RACKS, VERY PRIMITIVE BUT VERY EFFICIENT. THERE WERE NO WINDOWS, THEY DID NOT NEED THEM, THEY WERE LIVING IN THE VIEW. THEY WERE A PART OF THE SURROUNDINGS AROUND THEM. THEY WERE CONNECTED TO MOTHER EARTH (THE TREES, THE ROCKS, THE ANIMALS, ETC.). THEY WERE A PART OF THE CYCLE OF LIFE. THEY WERE ONE WITH THE EARTH.

THAT BRINGS US (MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBERS) TO TODAY. HAS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT PUT MONEY AWAY FOR THE COLD HARD WINTER THAT LIES AHEAD OF US? TRIBAL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TOLD BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: YOU BORROW, PAY INTEREST AND BORROW SOME MORE. BIG BUSINESSES , WE WERE TOLD NEVER PAY OFF THEIR LOANS, YOU JUST BORROW MONEY AND KEEP PAYING THINGS OFF. YOU NEVER PAY EVERYTHING OFF EVER.

THE WAY I SEE IT, IT WAS BAD ADVISE. THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, SHOULD HAVE PAID OFF MORE OF ITS' DEBT. WE HAD THE CHANCE TO CUT THE DEBT DOWN AND DID NOT DO IT. IN MY OPINION, INSTEAD OF PREPARING FOR WINTER (HARD ECONOMIC TIMES) LIKE OUR ANCESTORS AND THE ANIMAL WORLD AROUND US, THE MOHEGAN GOVERNMENT NEVER PLANNED FOR THE WINTER THAT IS UPON US (THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE).

COULD IT BE THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT NEVER SAW THE LEAVES CHANGING. THEY WERE NOT PREPARED. THEY AND THEIR ADVISERS NEVER SAW IT COMING? MAYBE THEY NEVER APPRECIATED THE LEAVES CHANGING, AND THE SCOURING AROUND OF THE ANIMALS PREPARING FOR WINTER. THEY NEVER FELT THE COOL AIR WITH THE HINT OF THE COLD WEATHER COMING. MAYBE THEY DID NOT FEEL THE WARMTH OF THE SUN. MAYBE WE (THE MOHEGAN TRIBE) HAVE LOST OUR CONNECTION TO MOTHER EARTH.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

THE HURT SAGAMORE STORY ACCORDING TO BROKENWING EDITIORIALS

AT THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL QUARTERLY MEETING, THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS ABOUT WHAT BROKENWING EDITORIALS AND THE FEATHER NEWS SAID ABOUT THE SAGAMORE WHO LIVES AT FORT HILL.

I HAVE MOVED THE PUBLISHED EDITORIALS FROM THE BROKENWING EDITORIALS ACHIEVES SO THAT TRIBAL MEMBERS WISHING TO SEE WHAT WAS WRITTEN CAN READ THEM.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I EVER TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ANYONE IN THE TELLING OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE MOHEGAN TRIBE. IF ANYONE DISAGREES, YOU ARE WELCOME TO COMMENT AND I WILL PUBLISH YOUR VIEWS.

THE HURT SAGAMORE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2008, MOMENTS AFTER THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CURSED AT THE EDITOR OF FEATHER NEWS, THE HURT SAGAMORE ASKED THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO WALK OVER TO THE GATE THAT LEADS TO THE POWER STATION BEHIND FORT HILL HOUSING. PLEASE LOOK AT PREVIOUS ARTICLE " THE SAGAMORE WHO FELL INTO THE ABYSS."

THE SAGAMORE ASKED THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IF THEY COULD REMOVE SOME BUSHES AND UNDER BRUSH BY THE GATE. THE ELDER SAGAMORE SAID THAT IT WOULD PROTECT VEHICLES. HE SAID HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE MANHOLE COVERS (WHICH ARE ABOUT SIX INCHES TO ONE FOOT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.)

MAY I REMIND YOU THIS IS A 76 YEAR OLD TRIBAL MEMBER TENANT OF FORT HILL. THIS IS THE MAN WHO FELL DOWN IN TO THE HOLE THAT WAS COVERED BY BUSHES.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TOLD THE SAGAMORE, NO HE WAS NOT GOING TO DO THAT. THEY HAD CLEANED THE BRUSH AWAY BEFORE AND IT HAD GROWN BACK. THE DIRECTOR SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MACHINE TO DO IT. THE SAGAMORE TOLD HIM OF A PUBLIC WORKS WORKER WHO OWNED THE MACHINE. THE DIRECTOR SAID HE WOULD NOT ASK TO USE IT OR RENT IT. THE DIRECTOR SAID HE DID NOT HAVE THE TIME NOR THE MEN TO DO IT. HE HAD OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

THERE ARE THREE PROBLEMS WITH THIS SITUATION. THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SHOULD HAVE CARED ABOUT THE WISHES OF THE SAGAMORE WHO NOT ONLY WAS HURT THREE DAYS EARLIER BUT ALSO LIVES AT FORT HILL. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SAGAMORE SIGNED A STATEMENT SAYING HE WOULD ONLY TALK TO LOUIS ZEIGLER AND IF HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SEE THE HEAD OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WAS THIS SAGAMORE TO TALK TO OTHER WORKERS OR THE TENANTS OF FORT HILL. THE THIRD PROBLEM IS NOW AFTER THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS SAID NO, WHO IS THE SAGAMORE SUPPOSED TO TALK TO (BY ASKING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, HE WAS AT THE SAME TIME TALKING TO HOUSING AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATOR.)

WHO DOES THE SAGAMORE APPEAL THIS UNJUST DECISION? HE HAS ALREADY TALKED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. HE ALREADY TALKED TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. DOES HE NOW GO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL? THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATOR BEING THE SAME PERSON MAY BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IN THIS CASE IT SEEMS TO BE THAT WAY.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE SAFETY OF THE TENANTS OF FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT. PUTTING A TWENTY FOOT LONG FENCE ON A RAVINE THAT IS PROBABLY BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET LONG IS LUDICROUS. TO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. WHO IS MINDING THE STORE? WHO IS WATCHING OUT FOR THE INTEREST OF THE TENANTS OF FORT HILL?

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: THE HURT SAGAMORE IN THE ARTICLE "THE SAGAMORE FELL INTO THE ABYSS" WANTED THE READERS TO KNOW HE WAS SHOWING THE ENBANKMENT TO IRENE MILLER AND FRANK GAVAGIN. HE WANTED READERS TO KNOW THAT HE GRABBED A TREE WHILE SLIDING DOWN THE ENBANKMENT, THAT SAVED HIM FROM BEING HURT WORSE THAN HE WAS. HE IS THANKFUL FOR FRANK GAVAGIN FOR HELPING HIM GET OUT OF THE ABYSS.

THE SAGAMORE WHO FELL INTO THE ABYSS

ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 AT ABOUT 4:30 P.M. AT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING, A MOHEGAN SAGAMORE WAS SHOWING TWO PEOPLE THE PROPERTY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE FORT HILL HOUSING BUILDING.

AS HE WAS TALKING HE SLID DOWN THROUGH THE BUSHES INTO A GULLY (AN ABYSS). HE WAS WEARING RUBBER SOLED SHOES. THE SAGAMORE WAS HURT. HE REPORTED THAT HIS CHEST BONES WERE BRUISED.

HE WAS TAKEN BY MOHEGAN AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. HE WAS RELEASED AT ABOUT 12;00 A.M. (MIDNIGHT) AND REPORTEDLY TAKEN HOME BY HIS DAUGHTER.

TODAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2008, THE PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE PUT UP ABOUT A TWENTY-FOOT LONG FENCE WHERE THE SAGAMORE FELL. MAYBE THE FENCE SHOULD BE AS LONG AS THE EMBANKMENT, WHICH SEEMS TO GO BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET.

FORT HILL IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE MOHEGANS LIVING HERE. READERS, WHAT DO YOU THINK? PLEASE COMMENT?

NON-ATTORNEY SPOKEPERSONS

ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008, THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL VOTED TO PASS A NEW LAW AND ORDER CODE FOR THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE. THE VOTE WAS EIGHT IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED. THE OPPOSED VOTE WAS BY COUNCILOR MARK HAMILTON.

THE NEW LAW AND ORDER CODE, SEC. 1-27 Spokesperson Representation. Any spokesperson, including non- attorney spokespersons, may represent parties in Minor Civil Actions.

THE NEW LAW AND ORDER CODE CHANGES THE NAME OF NON-ATTORNEY SPOKESMAN TO NON-ATTORNEY SPOKESPERSON. UNDER THE PREVIOUS LAW AND ORDER CODE A TRIBAL MEMBER COULD TAKE THE BAR EXAM AND SERVE THEMSELVES AND OTHER TRIBAL MEMBERS BEFORE THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COURT. THEY DID NOT HAVE TO BE ATTORNEYS TO TAKE THE BAR EXAM. THEY COULD PRACTICE ON ANY CASE IN THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COURT SYSTEM. THEY COULD NOT PRACTICE LAW IN THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GAMING COURT SYSTEM.

THE NEW LAW AND ORDER CODE SAYS THAT THE NON-ATTORNEY SPOKESPERSON CAN ONLY DEAL WITH MINOR CIVIL ACTIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, TRAFFIC CASES, SUMMARY PROCESS EVICTION ACTIONS AND CIVIL ACTIONS SEEKING MONEY DAMAGES OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00) INCLUDING ATTORNEY AND (COURT) COSTS.

ANY OTHER CASE IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR CASE AND WOULD REQUIRE AN ATTORNEY. I BELIEVE A TRIBAL MEMBER COULD STILL REPRESENT HIMSELF "PRO SE."

WHAT HAS THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL DONE? FIRST PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE BAR AND BECOME NON-ATTORNEY SPOKESPERSONS HAVE NOW HAD THEIR ABILITIES LOWERED. THE NON-ATTORNEY SPOKESPERSONS CAN NOT DO WHAT THEY COULD BEFORE UNDER THE PREVIOUS LAW AND ORDER CODE. THE NON-ATTORNEY SPOKESPERSON TRIBAL MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO HELP THEMSELVES AND OTHER TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE NOW LIMITED BY WHAT THEY CAN DO.

HAS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL TAKEN AWAY FROM THE MEMBERS, A VALUABLE RIGHT?

SOMETHING THAT WAS UNIQUE AND MADE MOHEGANS SPECIAL (NON-ATTORNEY SPOKESPERSONS UNDER THE OLD LAW AND ORDER CODE) HAS BEEN GREATLY LIMITED.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN THE NEW LAW AND ORDER CODE THAT BROKENWING EDITORIALS WILL INFORM READERS ABOUT IN THE FUTURE. MAYBE THE NEW LAW AND ORDER CODE SHOULD BE AMENDED. MAYBE MARK HAMILTON WAS RIGHT. HAS THE MOHEGAN TRIBE BEEN WRONGED? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: YEARS AGO A TRIBAL MEMBER FILED ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL ALLEGING IMPROPRIETIES IN THEIR DUTIES. DURING THE INVESTIGATION PERIOD, THAT TRIBAL COUNCIL BROUGHT A NEW ETHICS ORDINANCE OUT. NOW KEN DAVISON IS BRINGING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ELECTION COMMITTEE (TRIBAL COUNCIL) BECAUSE HE FEELS THE ELECTION ORDINANCE VIOLATES HIS RIGHTS AND THE MOHEGAN CONSTITUTION. WHAT HAS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL DONE, NOW? THEY CHANGE THE LAW AND ORDER CODE ABOUT THE MOHEGAN COURT SYSTEM. IS THERE A PATTERN HERE? IS IT A COINCIDENCE? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING FROM THE MOHEGAN SUN GOLF CLUB

ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 17, 2008, TWO MEN WERE ARRESTED ON WARRANTS FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING ABOUT TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($20,000.00) WORTH OF WIRE AND CABLE FROM THE MOHEGAN SUN COUNTRY CLUB AT PAUTIPAUG.

ARRESTED WAS ROBERT E. KUNKEL, 23, OF 133 MATHEWSON STREET, JEWETT CITY, AND ROBERT D. FONTAINE, 25, OF 86 BATES ROAD, CANTERBURY.

IT WAS REPORTED THAT KUNKEL WAS STOPPED IN HIS CAR FRIDAY EVENING IN JEWETT CITY. IT IS ALLEGED WHEN HE WAS STOPPED, THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS BAGS OF HEROIN FOUND. HE WAS CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AND POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS.

FONTAINE WAS ARRESTED ON A WARRANT AT HIS HOME ON FRIDAY.

BOTH MEN ARE BEING HELD ON $150,000. 00 CASH BONDS AT THE CORRIGAN-RADGOWSKI CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

QUARTERLY MEETING

THE MOHEGAN TRIBE'S QUARTERLY MEETING IS OCTOBER 19, 2008, BETWEEN 12:30 P,M, TO 2:00 P.M. IN THE TRIBAL MEETING ROOM, IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE BUILDING OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING, THE NEW LAW AND ORDER CODE OR ANY OTHER ISSUE OF IMPORTANCE, PLEASE COME AND VOICE YOUR OPINION? COME SEE YOUR GOVERNMENT IN ACTION.

THAT DAY OCTOBER 19, 2008, FLU SHOTS, WILL BE PROVIDED AT 11:30 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. AT THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. THE FLU SHOTS ARE AVAILABLE TO TRIBAL MEMBERS AGES 14 AND UP.

Friday, October 17, 2008

TRIBAL MEETINGS

A WHILE BACK AT A QUARTERLY MEETING, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL HAD VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THE MOHEGAN GOVERNMENT MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO THE TRIBE ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. IT WAS QUITE INFORMATIVE. THE TRIBAL COUNCIL SAID THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE MEMBERSHIP HAD REQUESTED.

THE WAY I REMEMBER IT, AT THE END OF THE MEETING, CHAIRMAN BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM WENT TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. TOM "THROWS HIS HATCHET" EPPS, SAID HE HAD SET THERE THE WHOLE MEETING AND HE HAD SOMETHING HE WANTED TO SAY AND ASK A QUESTION. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OF GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TOM EPPS AND THE TRIBAL COUNCIL THE MEETING ENDED. TOM EPPS NEVER GOT TO ASK HIS QUESTION.

THE TRIBE WAS ANGERED BY THE ACTIONS OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. THE TRIBAL COUNCIL USING GOOD JUDGEMENT HELD A SPECIAL MEETING THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS, WHICH THEY HAD BEEN DENIED TO DO ON THE PREVIOUS SUNDAY.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE SAYS, ARTICLE IX - POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL, SECTION 3 , THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CHAIR OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: (i) to preside over the meetings of the Tribal council:

ARTICLE IV- GOVERNING BODIES SECTION 3, Meetings of the Tribal Council shall be held and conducted as follows: (a) The Tribal Council shall hold regular meetings which shall be called by the Chair or upon written request of a majority of the members of the Tribal Council then in office.

MY INTERPRETATION IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL CAN CALL FOR THE MEETINGS AND OPEN AND CLOSE THEM AT HIS WILL. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ALLOW QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED. THEY CAN SET THEIR OWN AGENDA FOR THE MEETINGS. THEY CAN HAVE AS MANY OR AS FEW MEETINGS AS THEY WISH. IN MY OPINION, THE CONSTITUTION ONLY CALLS FOR ONE MEETING PER YEAR TO INFORM THE MEMBERSHIP ON THE FINANCES OF THE TRIBE.

THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT USED TO HAVE A COFFEE HOUR EVERY WEEK, THEN WE WENT TO TWICE A MONTH. THEN WE WENT TO ONCE A MONTH. NOW WE DON'T HAVE THEM EVERY MONTH. THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE WE WENT FROM MORNINGS, TO AFTERNOON AND MORNING COFFEE HOURS. WE ENDED UP GETTING LOW ATTENDANCE IN THE AFTERNOON COFFEE HOURS. MAYBE GOVERNMENT WORKERS (TRIBAL MEMBERS) WANTED TO GO HOME INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE AFTERNOON COFFEE HOURS.

THE SAME SITUATION GOES WITH MONTHLY MEETINGS, WE USED TO HAVE EIGHT (8) MONTHLY MEETINGS AND FOUR (4) QUARTERLY MEETINGS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MONTHLY MEETINGS WERE STOPPED BECAUSE OF THE SAME THING (LOW ATTENDANCE) .

KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF TRIBAL MEMBERS WHO NOT WORK FOR THE MOHEGAN TRIBE AND HAVE TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. BY NOT HAVING MONTHLY MEETINGS AT NIGHT WE ARE DENYING THESE MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. EVEN IF ONLY A FEW PEOPLE SHOW UP, SHOULD THEY BE DENIED THEIR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE?

THAT BRINGS US TO ONE FINAL THOUGHT, THERE IS NO WHERE IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE MOHEGAN TRIBE'S CONSTITUTION OR ANY LAW, IN THE LAW AND ORDER CODE OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE, THAT GIVES ANYONE THE RIGHT TO TELL ANY MEMBER WHAT THEY CAN SAY OR PRINT. WE HAVE THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYONE TELL ANYONE TO LEAVE A MEETING BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY MAY HEAR OR PRINT.

THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL IS THAT AFTER THE MEETINGS , HOW MANY SPOUSES, CHILDREN, ADULTS, FRIENDS, TELL NON-TRIBAL MEMBERS WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT WAS SAID AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE UPSET BY THAT.

I BELIEVE WE NEED MORE MEETINGS. WE NEED TRIBAL COUNCILORS (WHO ARE REPORTED TO BE MAKING BETWEEN $280 TO $308 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR PLUS OTHER BENEFITS) TO SIT THERE AND ANSWER ALL OF THE TRIBAL MEMBERS QUESTIONS BEFORE ADJOURNING THE MEETINGS. SHOULD WE CARE HOW LONG IT TAKES? WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN A TRIBAL MEMBER GETTING HIS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ADDRESSED?

HOPEFULLY, SOMETHING LIKE WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT QUARTERLY MEETING AWHILE BACK WILL NOT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER

ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008, SIX TRIBAL MEMBERS TOOK THE BUS TOUR TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER CONSTRUCTION SITE.

ON THE RIDE TO THE SITE, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DIRT PORTION OF CROW HILL ROAD, I SAW TRENCHES BEING DUG THAT WILL CARRY OUR ELECTRIC AND SEWER LINES TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDING. THERE WERE PILES OF DIRT AND ROCKS (A TYPICAL CONSTRUCTION SITE DEBRIS.)

WE WENT AROUND THE SITE, TO THE SOUTH END WHERE WE LOOKED IN AT THE CONSTRUCTION. THERE IN FRONT OF US, WAS TWO LEVELS OF STEEL BEAMS, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING. TO THE EAST WAS THE FORMS FOR THE EAST FOUNDATION. TO OUR SOUTH WE WERE TOLD WILL BE THE FIELD THAT CAN BE USED FOR SPORTS BY TRIBAL MEMBERS. I BELIEVE THE AREA IS SOMETHING LIKE 75' X 150' ( A NORMAL FIELD IS SOMETHING LIKE A 100' X 300'. THE TOUR PARTICIPANTS WERE TOLD THAT THEY WILL WORK ON THE EAST WING AND THEN GO BACK TO THE CENTER SECTION AND THEN MOVE OVER AND WORK ON THE WEST WING. THE BOTTOM SECTION IN THE CENTER WILL HAVE PARKING SPACES FOR ABOUT 16 OR 17 CARS. WHOSE PARKING SPOTS ARE THEY GOING TO BE?

WHEN WE GOT BACK, I WENT AND FOUND A GOVERNMENT WORKER WHO I ASKED ABOUT THE BOND ISSUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER. I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS SET BUT THE GOVERNMENT WAS WORKING TO GET THE BEST DEAL POSSIBLE. I ASSUME WE ARE WAITING TO GET A BETTER INTEREST RATE. I THINK IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE BONDS YET.

ALTHOUGH THE WORK IS PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE, THE FINANCING EVIDENTLY IS NOT IN PLACE YET. THEREFORE, THE TRIBE COULD HAVE OUR GOVERNMENT STOP THIS CONSTRUCTION, IF WE SO DESIRED. CAN WE AFFORD IT? SHOULD WE DO THIS? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WE ARE RAISING THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT DEBT FROM ABOUT AN ESTIMATED $102 MILLION TO AN ESTIMATED $200 MILLION. WE ARE DOUBLING OUR DEBT. IN TWELVE YEARS WE WENT FROM NO DEBT TO $102 MILLION AND NOW IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES WE ARE DOUBLING THE DEBT WITH THIS ONE PROJECT.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2008 AFTER THE QUARTERLY MEETING, YOU CAN TAKE THE BUS AND VIEW THE NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITE.

A SACRED FIRE

ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2008, ABOUT 20 MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBERS GATHERED FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW FIRE PIT FOR THE MOHEGAN TRIBE. THE TRIBAL MEMBERS GATHERED AT FORT SHANTOK, ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF SHANTOK BROOK JUST EAST OF THE DAMN. AMONGST THE 20 MEMBERS WAS THE ENTIRE COUNCIL OF ELDERS AND TRIBAL COUNCILS. NOTICEABLY MISSING WAS FIRE KEEPER TOM "THROWS HIS HATCHET" EPPS AND CHARLIE "TWO BEARS" STRICKLAND.

THE CEREMONY STARTED AT AROUND TWELVE NOON, WITH THE TRIBAL MEMBERS PRESENT IN A CIRCLE AROUND THE NEW SACRED FIRE PIT (HEARTH). AFTER THE MEMBERS FORMED A CIRCLE, THEY WERE SMUDGED BY BOB SOPER THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS AND FIRE KEEPER JAY "TWO TREES" IHLOFF.

THEN BOB SOPER THANKED EVERYONE FOR COMING. CHAIRMAN SOPER THEN TURNED OVER THE CEREMONY TO BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM TO SAY A PRAYER. BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM THEN SAID A PRAYER AND TURNED THE ACTIVIES OVER TO JAY IHLOFF (IN HIS OWN WORDS A FIRE KEEPER IN TRAINING).

JAY IHLOFF AS HE WAS STARTING THE FIRE, TOLD THAT THERE WERE 13 STONES (ROCKS) THAT REPRESENTED 13 GENERATIONS OF MOHEGAN PEOPLE. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS HAD PICKED OUT THE THIRTEEN STONES. THIRTEEN STONES WERE DIVIDED IN TO FOUR DIRECTIONS, NORTH, EAST, SOUTH AND WEST. THERE IS ONE EXTRA STONE THERE TOO, IT WAS FOR THE CREATOR. JAY EXPLAINED THAT YOU START BY FACING EAST AND GO AROUND THE FIRE TO OFFER THE FIRE TOBACCO. AFTER THE FIRE WAS GOING, EVERYONE TOOK THE TOBACCO SUPPLIED TO OFFER THE FIRE TOBACCO. THE CEREMONY THEN ENDED.

I BELIEVE, THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM SAID, THAT WHAT WAS BEING DONE WAS THE POLITICALLY CORRECT THING TO DO, AND THAT IT WAS THE PROPER PLACE FOR THE SACRED FIRES TO BE.

THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW FIRE PIT LOCATION IS SO THAT FAMILY MEMBERS CAN GO THERE ON THE DAY OF A LOVED ONES BURIAL AND SIT BY THE FIRE. THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS HAVE STATED THAT ON THE BURIAL DATE, THE SACRED FIRE WILL RUN FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET WHEN THE FIRE WILL BE ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO SLEEP.

SOME SPIRITUAL PEOPLE IN THE TRIBE BELIEVE THAT THE SACRED FIRES SHOULD START WHEN A TRIBAL MEMBER PASSES AND BE ALLOWED TO GO TO SLEEP WHEN THE LOVED ONE IS PUT TO REST. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND, THE LOVED ONES FAMILY IS SUPPOSED TO ASK THE FIRE KEEPERS TO START A SACRED FIRE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 2 CASES OF SACRED FIRES BEING STARTED WITH OUT THE LOVED ONES FAMILY REQUESTING IT. I THINK THAT IT IS NICE THAT THE FIRE KEEPERS WANT TO DO THIS WITHOUT BEING ASKED. SOME TRIBAL MEMBERS HAVE SAID THEY DO NOT LIKE THIS PRACTICE.

IN THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY START THE SACRED FIRE BEFORE SOMEONE PASSES AND CONTINUES UNTIL THE PERSON IS LAID TO REST.

IT WAS A NICE, SIMPLE CEREMONY. IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR MOHEGANS.

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: I REALIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY SPIRTIAL SUBJECT THAT I DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT, HOWEVER I TRIED TO TELL THIS STORY THE BEST I COULD.

CASINO OF THE WIND OPENS AND WE STILL LOSE

IN AUGUST, 2008 THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO OPENED ITS NEW CASINO OF THE WIND. EVEN THOUGH IT OPENED. IT DID NOT STOP THE SLOT LOSSES.

THE MOHEGAN SUN SLOT REVENUES FOR SEPTEMBER COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE WAS DOWN 13.3%. THE NET FOR SLOTS FOR THE MONTH WAS 67.0 MILLION DOLLARS ($67,000,000.00), THERE WAS 6,739 SLOT MACHINES IN OPERATION. THE MOHEGAN SUN SENT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT 16.8 MILLION DOLLARS (16,800,000.00.)

FOXWOODS WAS DOWN 15.9% IN SLOT REVENUES COMPARED TO THE SAME MONTH THE YEAR BEFORE. FOXWOODS NET SLOT REVENUES FOR SEPTEMBER, 2008 WAS 56.8 MILLION DOLLARS ($56,800,000.00) ON A REPORTED 8,268 SLOT MACHINES. FOXWOODS SENT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT 14.1 MILLION DOLLARS ($14,100,000.00). ATLANTIC CITY CASINOS AVERAGED A DROP IN SLOT BUSINESS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER OF 18.6%.

TALKING ABOUT THE CASINO OF THE WIND, MITCHELL ETESS CEO OF THE MOHEGAN SUN SAID, "I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY THAT IT DID GIVE US A BUMP. IT MIGHT SOUND ODD, BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE OUR DECREASE AND THE DECREASE IN ATLANTIC CITY AND AT FOXWOODS, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE CASINO OF THE WIND DID HELP."

BARRY CREGAN, INTERIM PRESIDENT OF FOXWOODS SAID, "WE ARE PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENT'S OF OUR WORK FORCE AND ARE CONFIDENT THAT, AS NATIONAL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS RESTORED, WE ARE WELL POSITIONED FOR A ROBUST FUTURE."

WHAT IF THE ECONOMY DOES NOT COME BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS? WHAT ABOUT THE INCREASED COMPETITION FROM TWIN RIVERS IN RHODE ISLAND, THE CASINOS IN NEW YORK AND EVENTUALLY THE POSSIBILITY OF CASINOS IN MASSACHUSETTS?

IN MY OPINION, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THE MOHEGAN TRIBE SHOULD STOP THE BUILDING OF THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH WE CLEARLY CAN NOT AFFORD. IT IS ONLY GOING TO HURT THE TRIBE'S CREDIT.

WE DO NOT NEED TO GO FROM AN ESTIMATED ONE HUNDRED AND TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($102,000,000.00) DEBT AT THE MOMENT TO OVER AN ESTIMATED TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR ($200,000,000.00) DEBT. THE ESTIMATED PRICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER IS BETWEEN EIGHTY NINE MILLION AND ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($89,000,000.00 TO $100,000,000.00).

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE DEBT FOR THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING WILL BE BEING PAID OVER THIRTY YEARS ENDING IN THE YEAR 2045.

TRIBAL MEMBERS THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR DEBT AND THE DEBT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE NEED TO STOP THIS NOW.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

SEE YOU THERE

OCTOBER 16 AND 30, 2008 (THURSDAYS) AT 3:00, GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER CONSTRUCTION TOURS. THE BUS LEAVES THE EAST ENTRANCE OF THE THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. PLEASE CALL SHERRIE LAVIGNE AT 1-800-MOHEGAN TO RESERVE A SEAT ON THE BUS.

OCTOBER 19, 2008, SUNDAY, 12:30 P.M. TO 2:00 P.M. THE QUARTERLY MEETING, IN THE TRIBAL MEETING ROOM.

OCTOBER 25, 2008, SATURDAY THE ANNUAL HAYRIDE AT FORT SHANTOK, 1:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.

OCTOBER 28, 2008, TUESDAY, THE ELDERS CIRCLE, FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING AT 10:00 A.M. (55 AND OLDER), FOLLOWED BY LUNCH.

NOVEMBER 12,2008, WEDNESDAY, TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP COFFEE HOUR, FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. IN THE TRIBAL MEETING ROOM.

NARRAGANSETTS ARE GOING TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

IN 1978, THE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED NARRAGANSETT INDIAN TRIBE OF RHODE ISLAND, TOOK INTO TRUST APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN HUNDRED (1,800) ACRES OF LAND GIVEN TO THEM BY THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. THE TRANSACTION (SETTLEMENT) ENDED THE TRIBE'S LAND CLAIMS AND ESTABLISHED THEIR RESERVATION. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRIBE GAVE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JURISDICTION TO THE STATE.

THE CASE THAT IS GOING TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, INVOLVES 31 ACRES OF LAND NEAR WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND. THE NARRAGANSETTS WANT TO PUT THE 31 ACRES INTO TRUST. IN OTHER WORDS THAT WANT TO MAKE IT PART OF THEIR RESERVATION. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE LAND WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE USED FOR TRIBAL HOUSING. THEN THERE WAS TALK OF USING IT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EVEN POSSIBLY A CASINO IN THE FUTURE.

HARRY STALEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE RHODE ISLAND STATEWIDE COALITION SAID, "IT COULD HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT IN SO MANY WAYS."

ATTORNEY GENERAL RICHARD BLUMENTHAL OF CONNECTICUT, JOINED OTHER ATTORNEY GENERALS IN SUPPORT OF RHODE ISLAND, BELIEVE THE LAW IS CLEAR THAT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, SHOULD NOT TAKE LAND INTO TRUST FOR FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES BECAUSE IT VIOLATES THE INDIAN REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1934. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID, "QUITE SIMPLY, (A DECISION AGAINST THE STATES) COULD ELIMINATE ANY LIMIT ON THE PROPERTY THAT COULD BE TAKEN INTO TRUST ANYWHERE, ANY TIME, IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, OR IN ANY OTHER STATE, BY A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE." HE FURTHER SAID, "THE IMPLICATIONS WOULD BE HUGE AND HISTORIC."

ARGUMENTS WILL BE HEARD ON THE CASE, BEFORE THE SURPEME COURT ON NOVEMBER 3, 2008.

IN MY OPINION, THIS CASE HAS NO BEARING ON THE MOHEGAN TRIBE BECAUSE THE TRIBE IS ENTITLED TO PUT UP TO 700 ACRES OF LAND INTO TRUST NOT COUNTING FORT SHANTOK. TO DATE I BELIEVE THE MOHEGAN TRIBE HAS ONLY PUT INTO TRUST AN ESTIMATED 400 ACRES. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE CASE TURNS OUT. BROKENWING EDITORIALS WISH THE NARRAGANSETTS WELL IN THEIR LAWSUIT.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

RARKING LOT PAINT JOB AT RIVERVIEW GARAGE

IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, 2008, WE DID A STORY ON THE RIVERVIEW PARKING GARAGE LOWER LEVEL. WE TOLD HOW IT WAS CLOSED SO THAT NEW PARKING LINES COULD BE PAINTED. THE LINES WENT FROM WHITE TO YELLOW.

BELLOW ARE PICTURES WE TOOK ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2008, SHOWING THE PAINT WEARING OFF WHERE THEY ARE BEING USED FOR STOP SIGNS.

IS THE PAINT INFERIOR? WAS IT A BAD JOB? IS IT FROM THE TREMENDOUS USE THE PARKING LOT IS GETTING? WHAT DO YOU THINK? MAYBE THE COMPANY THAT DID THE WORK SHOULD FIX IT?

PHOTOS: NEW PAINT JOB IN CASINO PARKING LOT






S & P LOWER FOXWOODS CREDIT RATING

IN AUGUST, 2008 MOODY'S INVESTMENT SERVICE ANNOUNCED THAT BOTH THE MOHEGAN SUN AND FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO COULD BOTH FACE A DOWNGRADE IN THEIR CREDIT RATINGS. LAST FRIDAY, S & P LOWERED THE MASHANTUCET PEQUOTS CREDIT RATING FROM BB+ TO BB- . STANDARD AND POOR'S RATING SERVICE SAID, THE DOWNGRADE IS A REFLECTION OF AN INCREASE IN THE TRIBE'S DEBT LEVERAGE.

STANDARD AND POORS IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID, "WHILE WE EXPECT THAT THE CURRENT LEVERAGE IS FAIRLY CLOSE TO PEAK, WE ANTICIPATE VERY LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN THIS METRIC IN FISCAL 2009, AS CONDITIONS IN THE CONNECTICUT MARKET WILL LIKELY REMAIN CHALLENGING."

BOTH CASINOS HAVE BEEN DOWN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS, EXCEPT FROM A SLIGHT PUMP UPWARD IN MAY WHEN THE MASHANTUCET,S OPENED THE NEW MGM GRAND HOTEL AND CASINO AT FOXWOODS. THE NEW MGM HOTEL CASINO HAS ADDED SOME REVENUE TO FOXWOODS. HOWEVER THE INCREASED EXPENSES ARE USING IT ALL UP.

FOXWOODS IS CURRENTLY PLANNING TO LAYOFF 700 EMPLOYEES WITH IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO STOPPED CONSTRUCTION OF THE EARTH TOWER (PROJECT HORIZON HOTEL) AT AN ESTIMATED SAVINGS OF 734 MILLION DOLLARS ($734,000,000.00). THE MOHEGAN SUN, HAS SAID IT DOES NOT PLAN TO LAYOFF ANY WORKERS. INSTEAD THE MOHEGAN SUN HAS AN ATTRITION POLICY (A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN THE WORK FORCE WITHOUT THE ACTUAL FIRING OF PERSONNEL , AS WHEN WORKERS RESIGN OR RETIRE.

WHAT WILL THE STANDARD AND POOR'S CREDIT RATING FOR THE MOHEGAN SUN BE? COULD WHAT HAPPENED TO FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO, HAPPEN TO US? MAYBE WE NEED TO WORK ON LOWERING OUR DEBT? MAYBE IT IS NOT A GOOD TIME FOR THE MOHEGAN TRIBE TO BE SPENDING AN ESTIMATED EIGHTY NINE MILLION DOLLARS ($89,000,000.00) ON THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Sunday, October 12, 2008

"COLUMBUS DAY"

THIS YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, COLUMBUS DAY WILL BE OBSERVED ON OCTOBER 13, 2008. THE HOLIDAY IS TO COMMEMORATE THE FOUR VOYAGES OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS TO THE AMERICAS. IS IT A GOOD DAY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS? SHOULD NATIVE AMERICANS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY WITH THE OTHER CITIZENS OF COUNTRIES IN THE AMERICAS?

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (COLUMBO IN ITALIAN) WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN BORN IN GENOA, ITALY AROUND 1451. HE DIED ON MAY 20, 1506. HE WAS AN ITALIAN NAVIGATOR, COLONIZER, AND EXPLORER. HE BELIEVED MICHAEL ANGELO'S IDEA THAT THE WORLD WAS ROUND. HE FELT IF SOMEONE TRAVELED WEST THEY COULD GO THE FAR EAST (INDIA AND SURROUNDING AREAS). COLUMBUS FIGURED THAT GOING BY SHIP WOULD BE FASTER AND LESS EXPENSIVE THEN THE LAND ROUTE THROUGH THE MIDDLE EAST. THE LAND ROUTE WAS CONTROLLED BY THE ITALIANS AND THE ARABS. HE THOUGHT THAT IF HE COULD GO WEST AND GET THERE, HE COULD CUT OUT THE MIDDLE MEN (THE ITALIANS AND THE ARABS.)

COLUMBUS WENT TO QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN WITH THE IDEA. SHE ACCEPTED HIS IDEA. IN EUROPE IT WAS A TIME OF IMPERIALISM, ECONOMIC COMPETITION BETWEEN COUNTRIES FOR THE WEALTH OF THE WORLD, TRADE ROUTES AND COLONIES.

ONE FALSEHOOD THAT IS OFTEN TOLD IS THAT COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA. THIS IS NOT TRUE. FOR ONE THING THE VIKINGS UNDER LEIF ERICKSON AND OTHER VIKING CAPTAINS HAD BEEN TO THE AMERICAS FIVE HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE ( AROUND 1000 A.D. ). THERE IS ALSO ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS, RECORDED HISTORY, ORAL TRADITION AND CULTURAL COMPARISIONS THAT PROVE THAT PEOPLE HAD VISITED THE AMERICAS FROM AFRICA, ASIA AND EUROPE BEFORE COLUMBUS.

COLUMBUS LEFT FOR THE FAR EAST TRAVELING WEST IN THREE SHIPS ON AUGUST 3, 1492. ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 12, 1492 AT AROUND 2 A.M. , ONE OF THE CREWMAN FROM ONE OF THE SHIPS SPOTTED LAND. THE LAND WAS REALLY AN ISLAND (SAN SALVADOR) IN THE BAHAMAS.

COLUMBUS FOUND THE NATIVES TO BE FRIENDLY AND PEACEFUL. THE NATIVES HE NOTICED HAD MANY SCARS ON THEIR BODIES. HE BELIEVED IT WAS FROM OTHER NATIVE PEOPLES COMING TO THIS ISLAND TO TAKE THESE ISLAND PEOPLE CAPTIVE (SLAVES).

IN HIS JOURNAL COLUMBUS SAID THE FOLLOWING ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE: "THEY OUGHT TO MAKE GOOD AND SKILLED SERVANTS. I THINK THEY CAN VERY EASILY BE MADE CHRISTIANS. THEY SEEM TO HAVE NO RELIGION. I COULD CONQUER THE WHOLE OF THEM WITH 50 MEN, AND GOVERN THEM AS I PLEASED." HE TOOK ALL THE GOLD AND VALUABLES HE COULD FIND. COLUMBUS KIDNAPPED 25 NATIVE AMERICANS TO TAKE BACK TO SPAIN. ONLY 7 OR 8 OF THE CAPTIVES MADE IT TO SPAIN ALIVE.

HIS SECOND TRIP TO THE AMERICAS, DEPARTED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1493 WITH 1200 MEN AND 16 SHIPS. THE MEN WERE GOING TO COLONIZE THE NEW LANDS. WHEN COLUMBUS GOT BACK TO THE ISLAND, HE DEMANDED GOLD AND VALUABLES THAT THE NATIVES DID NOT HAVE. COLUMBUS THEN HAD HIS MEN GATHER UP HUNDREDS OF NATIVE AMERICANS. THEY WERE TORTURED AND KILLED. HE EVEN HAD THE HANDS AND FEET OF MANY OF HIS CAPTIVES CUT OFF TO GET THEM TO TALK. MANY WERE SENT BACK TO EUROPE. SO STARTED THE FIRST GENOCIDE IN THE AMERICAS. WHAT COLUMBUS DID NOT REALIZE IS THAT THESE NATIVE PEOPLE HAD THEIR OWN TRADE ROUTES AND TRADED WITH NATIVE AMERICANS ON THE MAIN LAND. THAT IS WHERE THE GOLD AND VALUABLES THAT HE WAS SEEKING HAD COME FROM.

THE SPANISH BROUGHT WITH THEM DISEASES THAT THE NATIVE PEOPLE HAD NO IMMUNITIES TO. THE ISLAND WHICH ORIGINALLY HAD AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND (250,000) PEOPLE, WERE REDUCED BY DISEASE TO A POPULATION A FEW HUNDRED WITHIN A PERIOD OF ABOUT SIXTY (60) YEARS.

COLUMBUS MADE TWO MORE VOYAGES TO THE AMERICAS. THE SETTLERS OF THE ISLANDS WERE UNHAPPY WITH HIM , BECAUSE HE HAD PROMISED THEM GREAT WEALTH WHICH THE ISLANDS DID NOT HAVE. HE HUNG HIS OWN SAILORS TO KEEP CONTROL OVER HIS CREWS. HE WAS BROUGHT TO COURT FOR HIS ACTIONS IN SPAIN.

A WHILE BACK, A MOHEGAN CULTURAL OUTREACH WORKER TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT COLUMBUS TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CONNECTICUT . HE TOLD THEM ABOUT HOW COLUMBUS HAD CUT OFF THE HANDS AND FEET OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GET THEM TO GIVE HIM TREASURE. THE TEACHER OF THE CLASS WAS OFFENDED AND WROTE A LETTER TO THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT. THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT DISCIPLINED THE WORKER FOR WHAT HE HAD SAID. MAYBE HE DID NOT SAY IT POLITICALLY CORRECT BUT WHAT HE DID SAY WAS THE TRUTH.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS NO ONE TO BE LOOKED UP TO. HE WAS AN EVIL MAN. HE STARTED SLAVERY BY THE EUROPEANS IN THE AMERICAS. HE TORTURED AND KILLED OUR PEOPLE (NATIVE AMERICANS). HOW DARE HIM SAY WE DID NOT HAVE RELIGION. WHO GAVE HIM THE RIGHT TO FORCE NATIVE AMERICANS TO BE CHRISTIANS? HE DID NOT MAKE THEM CATHOLICS OR CHRISTIANS, BECAUSE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IT WAS AGAINST THEIR BELIEVES, TO ENSLAVE ANOTHER CATHOLIC. HE WANTED TO MAKE THEM SLAVES NOT CHRISTIANS.

SO THIS OCTOBER 13, 2008, WHEN MANY AMERICANS ARE CELEBRATING COLUMBUS DAY, NATIVE AMERICAN (FIRST PEOPLE) SHOULD REMEMBER WHO AND WHAT HE REALLY WAS. COLUMBUS WAS AN EVIL, BARBARIC MAN WHO STARTED THE FIRST GENOCIDE IN THE AMERICAS.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

MIANTONOMO SACHEM OF THE NARRAGANSETTS

MIANTONOMO WAS A GRAND SACHEM OF THE NARRAGANSETT TRIBE. HE WAS THE SON OF CANOMIUCS. MIANTONOMO WAS BORN SOMETIME BETWEEN 1565 AND 1600 A.D. HE DIED IN 1643. HE BECAME THE SACHEM OF THE NARRAGANSETTS IN 1636.

MIANTONOMO WAS A FRIEND OF ROGER WILLIAMS AND OTHER ENGLISH SETTLERS OF RHODE ISLAND. IN 1637, HE AND UNCAS WITH THEIR MEN AND ENGLISH SETTLERS PARTICIPATED IN THE MASSACRE OF THE PEQUOTS AT MYSTIC FORT.

MIANTONOMO, UNCAS AND THE ENGLISH SIGNED A PEACE TREATY IN 1638. IT WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP ARMED CONFLICT FROM HAPPENING BETWEEN THE MOHEGANS, THE NARRAGANSETTS AND THE ENGLISH SETTLERS.

THE ENGLISH SETTLERS WERE SUSPICIOUS OF MIANTONOMO. THE ENGLISH SETTLERS HAD MIANTONOMO COME TO BOSTON IN 1640. MIANTONOMO WAS SUPPOSEDLY CHARGED WITH DISLOYALTY TO THE ENGLISH SETTLERS. HE DEFENDED HIMSELF WITH THE ENGLISH.

DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, THE CONNECTICUT SACHEM SEQUASSEN A RELATIVE OF MIANTONOMO WAS SUPPOSEDLY KILLED BY THE MOHEGANS. MINATONOMO ALLEGEDLY WENT TO THE ENGLISH AND ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO GET REVENGE ON UNCAS FOR THIS AND OTHER THINGS.. THE ENGLISH SUPPOSEDLY TOLD THEM THAT NARRAGANSETTS COULD DO WHAT THEY WANTED. LATER THE ENGLISH WOULD SAY IT NEVER HAPPENED.

IN 1643, MIANTONOMO LEADING AN ESTIMATED 500 TO 600 NARRAGANSETTS WENT TO ATTACK THE MOHEGANS. SUPPOSEDLY WHEN THE NARRAGANSETTS GOT TO THE AREA OF PRESENT DAY NORWICH, MOHEGAN WARRIORS SPOTTED THE NARRAGANSETTS AND SENT WORD TO UNCAS. UNCAS WAS EITHER AT FORT SHANTOK OR FORT HILL. HE GATHERED WHAT MEN WERE IN CAMP AND SENT OUT RUNNERS TO BRING MORE MOHEGAN MEN TO THE BATTLE.

THE NARRAGANSETTS AND MOHEGANS MET AT THE "GREAT PLAINS." EACH ARMY A GREAT DISTANCE APART LOOKING AT EACH OTHER. UNCAS ASKED FOR A PARLAY WITH MIANTONOMO. THEY MET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT PLAINS WHILE THEIR ARMIES LOOKED ON.

SACHEM UNCAS SUGGESTED HAND TO HAND COMBAT BETWEEN HIMSELF AND MIANTONOMO. UNCAS SUPPOSEDLY STATED THAT THE WINNER WOULD TAKE THE LOSERS ARMY CAPTIVE. MIANTONOMO, REALIZING THAT HE HAD THE MOHEGANS OUT NUMBERED SAID, "MY MEN CAME TO FIGHT, AND THEY SHALL FIGHT." WITH THAT UNCAS FELL TO THE GROUND AND THE MOHEGANS ATTACKED SHOOTING ARROWS AND CHARGING WITH TOMAHAWKS.

THE NARRAGANSETTS SUPPOSEDLY DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE RUNNING FROM THE MOHEGANS. ONE GROUP FORGED THE SHETUCKET RIVER AND ESCAPED. THE OTHER NARRAGANSETT GROUP HEADED BY MIANTONOMO ENDED UP BY THE YANTIC FALLS AND YANTIC RIVER (INDIAN LEAP.)

WHEN UNCAS GOT THERE, HE SAW MIANTONOMO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GORGE. UNCAS OR ONE OF HIS MEN (POSSIBLY TANTAQUEDGEON) SUPPOSEDLY JUMPED THE GORGE AND GAVE CHASE TO MIANTONOMO. HE WAS CAPTURED EITHER BECAUSE OF A BROKEN LEG OR THE HEAVY ARMOR HE WAS WEARING THAT HE HAD GOTTEN FROM AN ENGLISHMAN.

MIANTONOMO WAS TAKEN BY SACHEM UNCAS AND THE MOHEGANS TO HARTFORD. THE ENGLISH DECIDED THAT MIANTONOMO SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH BY THE MOHEGANS IN THEIR TERRITORY. MIANTONOMO WAS ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY UNCAS OR ONE OF HIS MEN (TOMAHAWK BLOW TO THE HEAD) SOMEPLACE BETWEEN HARTFORD AND PRESENT DAY NORWICH.

THE ENGLISH BY HAVING UNCAS KILL MIANTONOMO HAD TO REALIZE THAT THE MOHEGANS AND NARRAGANSETTS (WHICH WERE THE TWO LARGEST AND MOST POWERFUL TRIBES) WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO UNIFY TO ATTACK THE ENGLISH. MAYBE THE ENGLISH THOUGHT THE TWO TRIBES WOULD HATE EACH OTHER AND NOT EVER TRUST EACH OTHER AGAIN. THE TWO TRIBES WOULD NEVER BE A PROBLEM ANYMORE..

HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY BURIED WHERE HE WAS CAPTURED IN NORWICH. LEGEND HAS IT THAT NARRAGANSETTS WHEN PASSING THE SPOT OF HIS CAPTURE WOULD PUT STONES TO COMMEMORATE THE PLACE. YEARS LATER, IT HAS BEEN SAID A FARMER TOOK THE STONES AND USED THEM FOR THE FOUNDATION OF A HOUSE.

TODAY THERE IS A MARKER OF THE PLACE OF MIANTONOMO'S CAPTURE. IT SAYS SIMPLY MIANTONOMO 1643 ERECTED 1841. THE MARKER WAS PUT THERE BY NORWICH ON JULY 4, 1841. THE MARKER IS ON ELIJAH STREET.

STATUES

YEARS AGO, THE STATUE OF THE BEAR WITH AN ARROW IN ITS BUTT AND THE LITTLE NATIVE AMERICAN BOY, STOOD BY THE MOHEGAN SUN GASOLINE STATION. AT ONE TIME THE STATUES OF A MOHEGAN FAMILY (FATHER, SON, DAUGHTER AND WOLF) STOOD IN THE CIRCLE IN FRONT OF THE WINTER ENTRANCE TO THE EARTH CASINO. AROUND THE FAMILY STOOD FOUR MOHEGAN CHIEFS.

THE TRIBAL COUNCIL HAD THE BEAR AND CHILD STATUE MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE MOHEGAN DAY CARE CENTER. TODAY THE STATUES STAND THERE, MINUS THE ARROW THAT WAS IN THE BEAR'S BUTT. THEY SAY THE ARROW HAS BEEN GONE NOW FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. SO WHERE IS THE ARROW? ARE WE GOING TO REPLACE THE ARROW? DOES ANYONE KNOW? DOES ANYONE CARE?

THE NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILY AND THE FOUR CHIEFS WERE REMOVED BECAUSE OF CONTRACTION ON THE EARTH TOWER (PROJECT HORIZON HOTEL). THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GAMING AUTHORITY (TRIBAL COUNCIL) ARE STOPPING THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE EARTH TOWER. THE NEW PLAN SUPPOSEDLY CALLS FOR MAKING A BRIDGE TO CONNECT THE WINTER GARAGE TO THE WINTER ENTRANCE.
SO ARE THE CHIEFS AND THE NATIVE FAMILY THEN COMING BACK, AFTER THE BRIDGE IS INSTALLED?

HOPEFULLY THE STATUES WILL COME BACK BY THE WINTER ENTRANCE. MAYBE THE BEAR WILL FIND HIS ARROW. I BELIEVE THESE STATUES ARE SOMETHING OF BEAUTY AND SOMETHING THAT VISITORS TO THE MOHEGAN SUN ENJOY SEEING. BRING BACK THE STATUES.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

THE PUT

I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I BELIEVE, A PUT IS A TERM USED SO THAT IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN A CONTRACT DO NOT HAPPEN, THAT THE BUYER CAN REQUIRE THE SELLER. TO BUY THE PROPERTY BACK FROM THE BUYER.

A FEW YEARS AGO, THE MOHEGAN TRIBE PURCHASED POCONO DOWNS RACE TRACK SO THAT PART OF IT COULD BE TURNED INTO A SLOT MACHINE CASINO.

THE MOHEGAN TRIBE PURCHASED FROM PENN NATIONAL THE RACE TRACK FOR AN ESTIMATED TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS ($280,000,000.00.) THE TRIBE COULD SELL POCONO DOWNS BACK TO PENN NATIONAL IF THEY DID NOT GET A CASINO (GAMING) LICENSE BY JULY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR. PENN NATIONAL WOULD PAY THE MOHEGAN TRIBE THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY NOT COUNTING THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE MOHEGAN TRIBE PLANNED TO DO. JULY, CAME AND THE TRIBE HAD NO LICENSE. THEY COULD SELL THE PROPERTY BACK TO PENN NATIONAL OR MAYBE MAKE SOME KIND OF DEAL. THE TRIBE TOOK AN ESTIMATED THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS ($30,000,000.00) FROM PENN NATIONAL, TO BE PAYED IN INSTALLMENTS OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

THE MOHEGAN TRIBE AT THIS POINT HAD SPENT AN ESTIMATED SEVENTY THREE MILLION DOLLARS ($73,000,000.00) FOR THE TEMPORARY FACILITY (1200 SLOT MACHINES IN THE OLD RACE TRACK AREA.) FULL SPEED A HEAD BY MOHEGAN SUN AT POCONO DOWNS. WE SPEND AN ESTIMATED TWO HUNDRED AND THREE MILLION DOLLARS BUILDING THE NEW PERMANENT CASINO (SLOT PARLOR). THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GAMING AUTHORITY IN CONNECTICUT, APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS ($30,000,000.00) FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANER UP OF THE FACILITY. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE AREA IN QUESTION WAS COVERED UP BUT NOT CLEANED UP. THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT THE THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS. SOME SAY IT WAS NEVER USED. SOME SAY THE MONEY WAS SENT OVER AND CAME BACK. SOME SAY IT WAS JUST PUT INTO THE FUNDS USED AT POCONO DOWNS. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FUNDS? THE GAMING (SLOT) LICENSE COST THE TRIBE ANOTHER FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($50,000,000.00.) IF YOU ADD UP THE FIGURES YOU COME TO SOMETHING LIKE SIX HUNDRED TO SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($600,000,000.00 TO $700,000,000.00.) THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE, I BELIEVE WAS A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF BETWEEN FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AND FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000.000.00 TO $550,000,000.00) THAT WOULD MAKE BETWEEN THIRTY AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR . I DON'T THINK IT HAS EVER CLEARED THAT MUCH MONEY.

THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT ,WHEN THE MOHEGAN SUN DID THE DEAL, IT WAS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TRIBE WOULD PAY A ONE TIME LICENCING OF FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS AND WOULD GIVE FIFTY FIVE PERCENT (55%)OFF THE TOP TO THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. IT ENDED UP THE STATE AND THE TOWNS TOGETHER ARE GETTING ABOUT SIXTY TWO PERCENT (62%) OFF THE TOP.

HERE IS THE THING ABOUT THE DEAL, PENN NATIONALS BUYOUT WAS FOR THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE RACE TRACK. SO IN OTHER WORDS IF IT WAS ONLY WORTH SAY 175 TO 200 MILLION DOLLARS WE WOULD HAVE LOST AT LEAST A HUNDRED AND FIFTY TO TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000.00 TO $200,000,000.00.) IN MY MIND TAKING THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS ($30,000,000.00) WAS NOT A GOOD DEAL. ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT PENN NATIONAL DID NOT HAVE TO PAY US FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH WE HAD ALREADY DONE ($73,000,000.00).

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT BUSINESS AT POCONO DOWNS IS UP ABOUT TWENTY PERCENT (20%) ABOVE LAST YEARS FIGURES. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE POCONO DOWNS IS PAYING THE INTEREST ON ITS LOANS. UP TO NOW WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO IN CONNECTICUT HAS BEEN PAYING THE INTEREST. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRIBE IS STILL NOT PAYING ANY OF THE PRINCIPLE.

NOW YOU KNOW THE STORY OF THE PUT. DO YOU THINK POCONO DOWNS IS A GOOD DEAL? DO YOU THINK THE MOHEGAN TRIBE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO PENNSYLVANIA? SHOULD WE GET THE POCONO DOWNS CASINO PROFITABLE AND SELL IT OFF? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING

FOR YEARS, TRIBAL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TOLD AT MEETINGS, THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO TRIBAL MEMBERS. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT MEETS THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 5:30 P.M. AT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING.

LAST MONTH, FOUR MEMBERS OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE, WENT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING TO PARTICIPATE. IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. THE CHAIRMAN AND THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CONDUCTED A VERY CORDIAL MEETING. IT WAS QUITE INFORMATIVE.

WE PUBLISHED IN BROKENWING EDITORIALS THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING WAS TO BE HELD AT FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008.

WHEN I ARRIVED AROUND 5:30 P.M., I WAS TOLD THE MEETING HAD BEEN MOVED TO THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. A THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEMBER ARRIVED AND WAS TOLD THE MEETING HAD BEEN MOVED. HE HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. WHY WAS IT MOVED? COULD IT BE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REALLY DID NOT WANT TRIBAL MEMBERS TO ATTEND? HOW COME AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF BEING TOLD TO COME TO MEETING, AND WE DO. NOW THEY MOVE IT?

MAY I REMIND YOU, FORT HILL HAS A CONFERENCE ROOM WHERE THE MEETING HAS ALWAYS BEEN HELD . WE ALSO HAVE THE GATHERING ROOM WHICH CAN HOLD APPROXIMATELY FIFTY OR MORE PEOPLE. BOTH ROOMS WERE DARK AND NOT IN USE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IF THE ROOM IS NOT GOING TO BE USED AS A CONFERENCE ROOM FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING , THEN WHY CAN'T IT BE CONVERTED TO THE NURSES-HEALTH AIDE AREA? THIS WAY WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER APARTMENT FOR THE ELDERS OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE TO USE INSTEAD OF A NURSES AND HEALTH AID STATION.

MAYBE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED PEOPLE OF THE CHANGE. I HAD GONE TO WATCH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DO ITS BUSINESS (TRIBAL BUSINESS) IN THE OPEN SESSION. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY THE CHANGE OF VENUE? DOES ANYONE KNOW?