THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AMENDMENT

AS THE NEW COUNCIL OF ELDERS, SETTLE INTO THEIR NEW JOBS, IT IS TIME TO PONDER WHAT THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH.

I BELIEVE IT WAS IN NOVEMBER, 2006, THAT A HEARING WAS CONDUCTED BY THE THEN COUNCIL OF ELDERS ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AMENDMENT. THE MEETING SEEMED TO HAVE WENT WELL. THE MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMITTEE WHO HAD WORKED ON IT, EXPECTED IT TO BE SENT FORWARD TO THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP. IT WAS NEVER SENT OUT, THE REASON THAT I WAS GIVEN, WAS THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS WAS GOING TO SEND IT FORWARD WHEN THE CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMITTEE FINISHED WORKING ON THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE (INDEPENDENT COURT SYSTEM).

THE FOLLOWING ARE A LIST OF THINGS THAT MAYBE THIS COUNCIL OF ELDERS SHOULD WORK ON:

THE TRIBE NEEDS AN INDEPENDENT COURT SYSTEM, BECAUSE THE DAY WILL COME WHEN SOMETHING THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, WILL KEEP THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR POWERS AS THE SUPREME COURT.

WE NEED THE ISSUE OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY FIXED. THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY TO TRY AND STOP A TRIBAL MEMBER FROM HAVING HIS LAWSUIT HEARD. A TRIBAL MEMBER SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET HIS DAY IN COURT.

HOW ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION? ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE ALLOWING ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION TO BE OBTAINED BY TRIBAL MEMBERS, WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT INFORMATION WE CAN OR CAN NOT GET FROM THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT. THERE SHOULD BE A LIST AND SOMEONE THAT THE TRIBAL MEMBERS CAN GO TO. THERE SHOULD BE A PROCESS THAT WE CAN USE TO GET THAT INFORMATION. IT SHOULD BE IN THE CONSTITUTION NOT JUST AN ORDINANCE WHICH CAN BE CHANGED FROM TIME TO TIME.

THERE ARE MANY MORE ISSUES IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND CLEANED UP. SOME OF THESE TOUGH ISSUES NEED AMENDMENTS TO THE MOHEGAN CONSTIUTUTION. THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE CAN THEN VOTE ON THEM. I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS HAVE A DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY, TO LEAVE THE THEIR OFFICES IN FOUR YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG, WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.

THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS, SHOULD LOOK IN THEIR FILES, FIND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AMENDMENT AND SEND IT FORWARD. IT IS TIME FOR THE MEMBERSHIP TO VOTE ON IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK?