August 28, 2007
"A chairperson must be a representative of the Nations members and a Diplomat to the rest. We are Prairie Band before Bingo and Casino. Our enrollment doubled so fast that new members don’t know our past or sovereignty. Now we are always thinking per capita like that’s all we know. Now we are divided even more than before. Now we are talking whether your inside or out, full or mixed, who speaks and doesn’t, who lived here and who didn’t. Regardless of opinions it’s the Nations land that we are trying to protect because without it we would be just one of them.
The federal government has never taken care of every tribal member but allowing Nations to have Casinos, our Nation have carelessly committed to that responsibility. That is the hand you are dealt. The federal government has never solved their problems with us but we accepted those services through 638 contracting. Because of inadequate federal budgets, don’t let them walk away free.
Your nature must protect the land, language, people and tradition as leaders did before gaming profits hit our pockets. So with a task so diverse to plot a course we will help you pray for unity.
As Tribal Chairperson would you support:
Updating the Constitution constantly to reflect required changes that strengthens the community, county, state and federals relations without sacrificing our tribal sovereignty?
Amending the Constitution to allow only 1 term of 4 years for tenure of office instead of the current 2 terms of 4 years?
Amending the Constitution to insert the quarterly meetings as law?
Amending the Constitution to have a primary election and then a runoff of the 2 highest voted candidates?
Withdrawing the Tribal Council Resolution PBP No. 2007-047, Civil Procedure, Title 4, As amended, Section 4-13-1. Tortious Interference with a Business or Governmental Relationship?
The separation of powers between the Tribal Council, Administration and the Courts with the General Council being the governing body?
The Executive Director specifically and program directors in general by having them be totally responsible and accountable for enforcing the everyday administrative duties, policies and job duties for each employee instead of this being a General Council issue?
Seeking Line item Veto Power for your position because without it, you can be seen as ineffective by only conducting meetings and voting in case of a tie?
The creation and enforcement of an Ethics Policy overseen by a mixture of tribal members and professional business non-tribal members?
Reform all tribal programs current policies by having public consultations in creating policy and procedures to promote fairness and equality?
The overhaul and reform our Enrollment Program?
Increasing of education and resources into our Language Department?
Presenting an annual Tribal Budget at the last quarterly GC meeting?
An annual financial audit being finalized and presented by the first quarterly GC meeting?
A tribal member hiring policy based on qualifications, education and experience?
The required participation in all local federal servicing organizations supporting the reservation that an adequate budget is proposed and supported by the PBN instead of spending our own money on federal responsibilities?
The required participation in all local state servicing organizations supporting our reservation that an adequate budget is proposed and supported by the PBN?
To re-acquire the Shabbona land title since the Dept of Interior offered to help for free?
The promoting and educating the PB Individual Indians’ land and money business, as it requires in our Constitution? (Article II – Land, paragraph B. Section 2, and subsection a, and paragraph C).
As constitutionally required, to allocate funds for more tribal land acquisition?
More communications to the tribal public by any resources available to you?
Reporting on fellow tribal councilpersons that commit constitutional, ethical or moral turpitude violations?
Good Luck with any of these questions that you may have to answer. Remember, there are talented and educated tribal members in all fields to ask for their help. We are different than county, state and federal government. We have treaties, sovereignty, language and tradition, Executive Orders, Indian Law, federal trust responsibilities, federal statutes, Supreme Court decisions and a tribal constitution that make us different from the others.
The last bit of advice that I can give you is to learn as much as you can about the10 year- old Cobell v Kempthorne Lawsuit. This lawsuit is about the Individual Indian accountholders, the money generated from their lands for over 120 years and how the Department of Interior cannot account for their money because of a centuries old broken federal system. There are over 2,000 PB accountholders. It also involves trust responsibilities that derive from treaty rights and the slow deterioration of them by our own protector, the federal government.
The most important advice that I can give you is to always speak to the people from your heart and listen to what they have to say and if you don’t, they will know."
Thomas M. Wabnum