Tuesday, December 2, 2008

TRIBAL MEMBERS CONCERNS

AWHILE BACK, A TRIBAL MEMBER APPROACHED ME AND SAID HE NEEDED TO ASK ME A QUESTION. WE WALKED OUT IN TO THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT SO THAT WHAT THE TRIBAL MEMBER ASKED COULD NOT BE HEARD BY ANYONE ELSE.

THE TRIBAL MEMBER SAID, BEFORE I ASK THE QUESTION, THE TRIBAL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SOMETHING. I SAID OKAY, ASK.

THE QUESTION WAS, YOU WANT THEM GONE? I ASKED WHO? THE TRIBAL MEMBER SAID THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. I ANSWERED NO.

THE TRIBAL MEMBER SAID SOME OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL? I AGAIN ANSWERED NO. THE TRIBAL MEMBER LOOKED AT ME WITH A PUZZLED LOOK.

I SAID, WHAT I WANT IS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL TO DO IT RIGHT. I WANT THE TRIBAL COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY THE TRIBE.

THE TRIBAL MEMBER THEN ASKED ABOUT THE ALLEGED TRIBAL LOAN OR SALARY ADVANCE FOR FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000.00). THIS IS THE LOAN OR SALARY ADVANCE THAT LEAD TO A ETHICS INVESTIGATION INVOLVING THE HEAD OF A DEPARTMENT IN THE MOHEGAN GOVERNMENT AND THE THEN CHAIRMAN OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL. THE TRIBAL MEMBER SAID IT WAS RUMORED THAT ONLY 2 PAYMENTS HAD BEEN MADE OR THAT THE INTEREST WAS ONLY BEING PAID.

I TOLD THE TRIBAL MEMBER, I WOULD TRY AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE LOAN.

SEVERAL TIMES THE EDITORS OF FEATHER NEWS AND BROKENWING EDITORIALS HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE ALLEGED LOAN OR SALARY ADVANCE. EACH TIME TRIBAL OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THEY WOULD FIND OUT FOR US. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE ALLEGED LOAN OR SALARY ADVANCE. AS THE EDITOR OF BROKENWING EDITORIALS, I RECENTLY ASKED THE C.O.O. OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE LOAN AND WAS DENIED THE REQUEST.

BROKENWING EDITORIALS TOLD THE TRIBAL MEMBER ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON GETTING HIS QUESTION ANSWERED. I INFORMED THE TRIBAL MEMBER THAT I DID NOT THINK WE WOULD EVER GET AN ANSWER. THE TRIBAL MEMBER'S RESPONSE WAS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL WILL NEVER TELL US. THEY ONLY TELL US WHAT THEY WANT TO.

THIS QUESTION ABOUT THE ALLEGED LOAN OR SALARY ADVANCE, HAS BEEN ASKED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE. I BELIEVE, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL SHOULD RELEASE THE INFORMATION.

A TRUE DEMOCRACY (FREE GOVERNMENT) ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SEE ITS BOOKS AND ANSWERS ALL QUESTIONS. IT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN KEEPING SECRETS. THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT WILLING TO TELL US ABOUT THESE MATTERS GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE.

A TRUE DEMOCRACY DOES NOT TELL IT MEMBERS, NOT TO TALK OR WRITE ABOUT WHAT IS SAID. TRIBAL MEMBERS HAVE A RIGHT TO INFORM EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THE TRIBAL COUNCIL ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE, AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE. BY NOT INFORMING THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE ABOUT SUCH LOANS, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL, IN MY OPINION, ARE SHIRKING THEIR DUTIES. MAYBE TRIBAL MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON THIS ISSUE? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: PLEASE CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE,"AN OPEN LETTER TO PHIL CAHILL."

1 comment:

Autumn Rain Eyes said...

Just As I wrote in One Of My Very Favorite Blogs, 'Feather News': "First of all, I am going to leave my name when I sign this, because, [For one, I am sick of the scare tactics] AND Two, Just as I have from the day one, I have spoken my truth in this Tribe, oftentimes, not being appreciated for it, but than again, many have not appreciated me, that must be 'partly' why I am home on total disability, vs. doing something valuable for my fellow members within our 'family business...' That aside: I believe that: If it doesnt want to be told or heard or air'd in public, than it shouldnt be done... What I believe IS everyones business, is the [newsletters] and [whatever other newsletter] a tribal members wishes to write. Our tribe should be an open book, [in most issues...] We must do things right, and not be afraid to let others know what those things are... 20 years from now, the truths will come out anyway, in history books, so why not just do it all fairly from the beginning, which perhaps in many cases, we may have not, already in the last lot. One must wonder, why are 'they' afraid or uncomfortable with 'news reports/letters saying too much... Well, run the Tribe and Casino as an Honest 'Native American,' should... This is the reason we have these 'rights.' Lets not abuse them. 'The world is watching,' and they should be. We have been given a 'gift' others dont have. Others have a right to see the results, especially the less unfortunate Tribes among us. So, thats what I think. Keep up the News. The truth sets us all free. Tabutni. Thank You. Autumn Rain Eyes. PS One of these days I'd love to drive my 'Old clunker of a car, that makes very loud noises, and is is falling apart, has chipping paint, has 'Salvage' stamped on the Title, [and I cant buy a new one because 'due to my disability,' I just dont have enough income...] Gosh Forbid I ask for a Tribal Loan for something like that, I am being denied and appealing ER services! Anywho, I'd like to drive my 'Classic Junker,' right up along side the "Car that someone bought with a loan," AND say to that person, "Excuse me, Do You have any Gray Poupon?" LOL! Sorry, I couldnt resist...