ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2008, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL COOL, SUNNY, CRISP DAY. IT GOOD DAY FOR THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS TO START THEIR FIRST DAY.
WHEN I TURNED UP CHURCH LANE HEADING FOR THE WHITE FAMILIAR CHURCH AT THE END OF THE ROAD, I NOTICED THERE WERE A LOT OF PARKED CARS. AS I WALKED UP THE WALKWAY, I THOUGHT OF THE HUNDREDS, YES THOUSANDS WHO HAD WALKED THE SAME PATH, MANY TIMES BEFORE ME. I WALKED PAST THE "UNITY OF NATIONS" DRUM GROUP WHO WERE DOING A SMUDGE AND STANDING TO THE SIDE OF THE FRONT DOOR. THEY LOOKED GREAT ALL DRESSED IN THEIR REGALIA.
I ENTERED THE BUILDING, AND MET A DEAR FRIEND. WE TALKED AND BOTH SIGNED THE GUEST REGISTER. WE ENTERED THE CHURCH. EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH WAS FULL OF MOHEGANS AND THEIR GUESTS, I FOUND A SEAT NEXT TO ANOTHER TRIBAL MEMBER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE TRIBAL MEMBER AND I SPOKE BRIEFLY. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL SAT DOWN BEHIND ME, SO I SPOKE TO HIM. I SAID, IS THERE ANYWAY WE CAN GET OUT OF BUILDING THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING? HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT, THAT NO WE COULDN'T. SO I SAID, WE ARE GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD. HE BASICALLY SAID, YES AND THEN HE SAID YOU CAN KILL ME IN A YEAR IF YOU WANT TO. I THINK HE MEANT I COULD VOTE AGAINST HIM WHEN THE ELECTION FOR HIS POSITION COMES UP NEXT YEAR.
THE PROGRAM STARTED, WITH THE FOUR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILORS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE AUDIENCE. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THERE WAS LAURENCE ROBERGE, SHARON MAYNARD, STEPHANIE FIELDING, AND WILLIAM ANDREWS. STANDING TO THE RIGHT WAS MELISSIA TANTAQUIDGEON ZOBEL (TRIBAL MEDICINE WOMAN), AND BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM (PIPE CARRIER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL.) TO THE LEFT OF THE NEW COUNCIL OF ELDERS WAS JOHN HENRY CLARK (THE RETIRING COUNCIL OF ELDERS CHAIRMAN.)
FIRST JOHN HENRY CLARK THANKED EVERYONE FOR COMING, AND THEN INTRODUCED OUR MEDICINE WOMAN. MELISSA TANTAQUIDGEON ZOBEL SAID A PRAYER FOR THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS. THEN BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM PROCEEDED TO SMUDGE THE NEW MEMBERS. AT THIS POINT JOHN HENRY CLARK HAD THE NEW MEMBERS RAISE THEIR RIGHT HANDS AND GAVE THEM THE OATH OF OFFICE. THE "UNITY OF NATIONS" DRUM GROUP THEN PLAYED A SONG.
EACH OF THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS WAS ASKED TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED IN THE CHURCH. WILLIAM ANDREWS, SAID THAT WITH THE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, THAT EVEN THOUGH THAT IS NOT PART OF THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS DUTIES, THAT HE WOULD ENDEAVOR TO WORK WITH THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. STEPHANIE FIELDING SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO BRING LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP TO EVERYONE THAT VISITS THEIR CHAMBERS. SHARON MAYNARD, SAID THAT SHE WOULD DO THE BEST SHE COULD AND HER DOOR WOULD ALWAYS BE OPEN TO ANYONE. LAURENCE ROBERGE THANKED EVERYONE FOR ALLOWING HIM TO SERVE THE TRIBE AND THAT HE WOULD DO THE BEST HE COULD.
EVERYONE ADJOINED DOWNSTAIRS TO THE MEETING ROOM,FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS. ONE TRIBAL MEMBER APPROACHED ME AND SAID WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. HE SAID THE MAJORITY OF THE TRIBE DO NOT WANT IT. I TOLD HIM TO SPEAK UP AT THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING.
ANOTHER TRIBAL MEMBER APPROACHED ME AND SAID THAT HE FELT THAT THE JUDGE IN THE KEN DAVISON CASE, WOULD RULE IN HIS FAVOR. HE SAID HE THOUGHT THE CONSTITUTION WAS CLEAR ENOUGH, AND THAT THE LAW NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. I TOLD HIM THAT I DID NOT SEE THE CASE COMING TO A CONCLUSION UNTIL THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS (SUPREME COURT) RULED ON IT.
AS I GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE OFF, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR MOHEGANS.
EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: BROKENWING EDITORIALS HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHO THE NEW OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS ARE: THE CHAIRMAN IS BOBBY SOPER, VICE-CHAIRPERSON IS STEPHANIE FIELDING, THE TREASURE IS MAYNARD STRICKLAND AND SECRETARY IS MARIE PINEAULT. LAURENCE ROBERGE HAS AUSTIN FISH'S OLD OFFICE. SHARON MAYNARD IS IN JOSEPH GRAY'S OLD OFFICE. VICE CHAIRPERSON STEPHANIE FIELDING IS IN JOHN HENRY CLARK'S OLD OFFICE. STEPHANIE FIELDING'S OFFICE IS PAINTED GREEN.
THE OTHER COUNCIL OF ELDERS ARE TALKING ABOUT PAINTING SOME OF THE OFFICES OTHER COLORS ALSO.
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I full-heartidly enjoyed the video that was sent out with all of the candidates answering quesions. I thought it was very inspirational, and a wonderful way to 'get to know,' the candidates, and I loved what many of them had to say, before the election, so when they announced the winners, I was that much more a happier with the results. I think they should use video communication and send it to many of the Tribal members, especially those who live far away, about many other issues concerning our Tribe. [I wrote this suggestion to them when I voted] Tabutni! Great article here!
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