ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2008, THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS ELECTED SEVERAL NEW TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE BIG UPSET WAS VICE CHAIRMAN KENNETH REELS WAS BEATEN BY NEWCOMER JAMES JACKSON. THE VOTERS SUPPOSEDLY SAID THEY WERE ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED WITH THE PRESENT COUNCIL.
WHY THE CHANGE? WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS FEEL THAT THEIR TRIBAL COUNCIL HAS DISRESPECTED AND DISENFRANCHISED THEM. THE TRIBAL MEMBERS SAY THEY WANT MORE OF A VOICE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.. THE TRIBE, WE ARE TOLD, ARE UNHAPPY THAT THE TRIBAL ELDERS THOUGHTS ABOUT TRIBAL MATTERS HAVE BEEN IGNORED.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT, THE TRIBAL MEMBERS BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE MASHANTUCKET BUSINESSES, THAT COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS, WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COMMENTS AND PARTICIPATION OF THE MEMBERSHIP.
THERE IS TALK THAT THE MEMBERS WANT A INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL BRANCH.
NOW MOVE FORWARD TO OUR TRIBE, THE MOHEGANS, IS THIS NOT A MIRROR IMAGE OF THE SAME FRUSTRATIONS THAT WE EXPERIENCE? DO WE (THE MOHEGAN TRIBE) FEEL THAT OUR FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS ARE BEING IGNORED?
HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE WE GONE TO, AND BEEN TOLD, YOU HAVE A REPRESENTIVE GOVERNMENT, AND WE WILL DO WHAT WE WANT. YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ENTIRE PICTURE. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION. THE FEELING YOU WALK AWAY WITH IS, WE ARE DOING WHAT THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS US TO DO. I THOUGHT THE TRIBAL COUNCIL WAS ELECTED TO DO THE WILL OF THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE. AM I WRONG?
YEARS AGO, TRIBAL MEMBERS, AT THE OPEN SESSIONS OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, WERE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON ORDINANCES, POLICIES AND BUSINESS DECISIONS THAT WERE BEFORE THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. THAT WAS STOPPED AND TRIBAL MEMBERS WERE GIVEN COFFEE HOURS (OFF THE RECORD INFORMAL MEETINGS) TO VOICE THEIR VIEWS AND ASK THEIR QUESTIONS. THE COFFEE HOURS HAVE DWINDLED DOWN TO ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. THE WAY I SEE IT, THE SAME IS TRUE OF MONTHLY MEETINGS.
COULD THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL DOING WHAT IT WANTS AND NOT CONSIDERING THE WISHES OF THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE? COULD THE TRIBAL COUNCIL HAVE AN AGENDA BY CHANGING THE LAW AND ORDER CODE? COULD THE TRIBAL COUNCIL HIRING THE JUDGES FOR THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COURT BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? DO WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT COURT SYSTEM? WHY WAS THE CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION DISOLVED? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IN MY OPINION, THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS ARE RIGHT, THEY LIKE THE MOHEGANS, NEED A GREATER SAY IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS NEED TO LISTEN TO THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE. THE GOVERNMENT EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT. THE ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD REALIZE THAT THEY ARE SERVING A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME COMPARED TO THE LENGTH OF TIME THE TRIBE HAS EXISTED. THE TRIBAL COUNCIL'S DECISIONS WILL HAVE LASTING EFFECTS LONG AFTER THEY ARE GONE.
MAYBE THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS DID AND DO THE SAME HERE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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2 comments:
I think you are missing a few feathers and you should change the name of your site to brokenBrain WHAT DO YOU THINK jeff bozsum in sc
[That is harsh. Many of the members, who are now, behaving the same as the 'old' leaders that they used to complain about in the beginning... That amazes me. Do peoples minds have that short of a memory span?]
So anyways... I remember back when we first had meetings, back at the church, before the Casino completion. We were all 'tightly fit' in the church, and one of the members was debating with one of the leaders about decisions being made, and when the member asked, "Why," or something like that... The leader at the time said, And I quote to the best of my memory... "Because, we are in Indian country, now, people. We can do whatever we want." I was shocked. That statement was under my skin for a very long time. AND they most certainly proved the truth behind that statement when I worked for the casino, and went home, tail between legs, with a near nervous breakdown, told by the tribe, "Just stay home." So, now that leader isnt there anymore. But Many of the members who complained about that leader, are now there... So what he meant at the time was, 'The leaders can do whatever they want...' Now maybe the current government doesnt believe that way... But if they dont, perhaps it is a good idea for to make that very clear in all aspects of what they say and do to the members. Just a thought...
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