Speaking ones mind does come at a price. May be this is natural wind damage too.
Well blame the kids of course, we had a party 2 days ago.
The children respect this greenhouse as they helped and watch me build it after my third stroke.
I am not intimidated but feel pretty sad.
The children will be to blame or wind damage.
I sympathize with the families and ethnic groups that suffer from racism, I am a half-breed but you would not know to look at me. I have been verbally assaulted in many scenarios throughout life involving race, as I am often labeled a “Wetback”, “Chico”, and other assortment of name calling from all races. All designed to make be feel ashamed and most never know I am a half-breed “white guy” (Swedish mom). To look at me one would think I am of Mexican descent. These comment can come from any race, person or “sexual orientation” people. None care about how they talk to others they do not know.
Understanding and living with racism is difficult enough, I have arrived at a point where I do not recognize when people are treating me different, based on my skin color. It often frustrates me because I forget it is a real factor in our society.
As a person who has suffered racism and reverse racism from my own tribal members I know it is an issue but not as important as Political corruption in governments.
Yesterday I published an article about activties involving Michigan Governers standards for tribal casinos to open in Michigan. I also pointed out how tribal politics has already started with this mask wearing business.
The article led to information about tribal leaders or tribal government officials action in regard to use of Federal resources. Not even a day passed and I start getting contacted by tribal government officials asking me to not talk about things from 20 years ago…uh this incident was a few days ago, not 20 years ago and it is not about me.
I guess the tribal government is worried about how they treated me over the past 20 years. I tried to resolve the matter with the tribal government represetatives. They told me to go to the work rehab program. They additional spread community rumors that I went there because I was not getting what I want.
I want fair play and equal treatment. If they want to talk about how I have been treated over the past 20 years and not last week that is OK too.
I have to talk on here though because I am not masking up for anyone to meet them in person.
God would not want me to be ashamed myself. Besides mask wearing is just a new form of discrimination already being practised quite efficiently
That is the my side of the story. Maybe they should publish their side of things, like firing me because people just can not get over me calling them in a black out drunk 20 years ago.
Have a nice day.
Hannahville Indian Community is a sovereign nation, also considered a sovereign-dependent, as we accept funding and make agreements with the sovereign Federal Governments. One of our dependent requirements of a tribe is to negotiate matters not regulated by the Federal government with State governments where Tribal governments are located. Indian gaming is a classic example of the “memorandums of understanding” tribes make with sovereign states of the U.S union.
COVID has presented a new tribal-state negotiation opportunity for tribal governments. Six of Seven tribes who originally negotiated the 1993 Federal State-Tribal Gaming Compact of Michigan arrive at a agreement to open recently. I was honored to be part of the 1993 historic negotiation event. Since that time our tribe has contributed millions upon millions of cash into state coffers. All payments from our tribe have always been paid on time, and on a monthly basis. Tribal members do not get this type of treatment for allowing the tribal government to operate a casino but that is an entirely different subject.
Today I went to my tribal government to file civil matters with a rigged court and ran into this sign:
Now I can not file any court matters without a mask, this is a blatant form of discrimination.
Yesterday I visited the Indian Health Service and mask wearing young lady demanded a mask be worn my me there as well. Politics (Politricks-thanks Dick Gregory!) were evident here as a mask wearing young lady prohibited me from entering with my significant other, with out a mask. I kindly refused and stood by our vehicle and waited. Within minutes another popular elder was allowed into the Health center to pick something up with NO MASK. A few minutes later the IT guy shows up and is let in with NO MASK. This all happening while the former chief of police was having lunch in the parking lot.
Am I thoroughly confused and disgusted yet?!!!
If COVID is so serious and our tribe succumbs to the States demands, why the discriminatory practice against people who suffer from wearing a mask? I am almost an elder here and felt completely stupid for having to wait for my partner while others received service, with NO MASK.
I would bring this up with the Chief but last time I asked him why IHS is not covering my 30,000 bill from a stroke, his reply, “Well, they pay mine!” I was thoroughly disgusted because he is compensated 2000 grand a week to look after tribal members welfare, like me, why is IHS paying his bills and not mine?
Tribal Politics are alive and well.
Thanks Governor, I can not even get served in my own community due to stupid regulations, not being equally enforced upon everyone!
We just created a new way to discriminate and become even more inefficient in deliver of services to human beings and business ventures.
After another stroke this writer has been mighty crabby! Such is life for an aging Potawatomi, living in the US.
Politics or Politricks as some may say, frazzled my nerves.
I have recovered again…so look out.
Stories of Government corruption ya say?!
I have many in terms of tribal government structures, so hang on to your hat as learn how to use this platform more effectively.
I hope we never return to the normal opeation of government and media fooling the hell out of eveyone.
I will be writing up some controversy soon. LOL.
Stay tuned to your favorite Potawatomi website for in depth stories about tribal life.
I am a Native American and Swedish.
And I say the hell with mask and stop testing for a cold!
I am Leroy, I am for the sovereign Nation of Potawatomi
Returning to college and earning a bachelor in business administration has left me with a desire to research my own opinions. I find myself attempting to verify how true or factual my opinions maybe in comparison to society.
The society I live in is a “Tribal” society and many of the spiritual and ceremonial activities comprise of human contact and are impossible to attend if required to wear a mask.
Today these important activities of tribal and human existence are being threatened by government regulation, worldwide. We are being stripped of human contact and communication over media and government induced fear.
I do not argue that we spread diseases among each other and we all know to stay away from other when sick. Today governments are claiming the spread of a disease and requiring a mask to be worn in public. To satisfy the fear induced claims of this government supported health issue, we all must wear a mask.
Mask wearing can cause panic for many. I am one of those people. I can handle the panic most times but when it becomes an issue I almost pass out and have to take of the mask to regulate my breathing as I began to panic. My panic is caused by many years of abuse as well as many other people in the world.
When people panic, accidents happen.
How many accidents are being caused because of wearing a mask or even looking for a mask while driving a car or operating public transportation for others.
These statistics are very important to publish along side the growing numbers of reported deaths from the pandemic.
This information is crucial because many activities requiring mask use are also causing people pain, panic, and death due to adherence of this policy. The deaths in some cases are results of suicide. Many people are scared to visit a hospital in fear of being classified as positive for current virus as they will be subject to prevention methods being practiced by governments and its agencies through out the world.
Wearing masks is causing more issues that are not being reported and people like me are at risk of panic attacks that could result in severe injury to others.
Stress and depression are my personal causes for not wanting a mask but some have experience tramatic experiences in life and have to relive these while wearing masks and is very risky to other health and welfare.
I also believe it is dehumanizing and robbing us all of our spiritual connections to each other
I will be returning to work with the public and provide customer service to the best of my abilities. I really do not need this distraction and if a panic attack hits me I hope I am alone.
My personal opinion, masks are causing accidents and deaths, and I am going to research this deeper.
I also believe mask wearing are robbing us of something deeply spiritual when preventing human contact and faicial recognition.
Our Tribal Constitution was formed by 47 tribal member in the mid 1930’s. A time when there was not much hope for tribal members. They formed their own tribal government with-in the the State of Michigan boundaries and often make government to government agreements with the State.
The tribal government has an agreement with Potawatomi and Indian people that forms the basis for our National Constitution, as some may perceive the document, but non the less it is our forming documents that establishes a relation ship with the people and elected tribal government (s).
The following is an expert of our forming documents:
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE
HANNAHVILLE INDIAN COMMUNITY
MICHIGAN
APPROVED JULY 23,1936
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1936
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE HANNAHVIILLE
INDIAN COMMUNITY
PREAMBLE
We, the Potowatomies residing near Wilson and Harris in Menominee County, Michigan, on lands reserved for the Wisconsin Pototatomies residing in Michigan, in order to form a representative organization, to promote the welfare of our people, to preserve the land for ourselves and our children, and to provide homes for all the Indians of this Community who need them, do establish this Constitution.
No where in the document is it stated the tribal government formed this arrangment.
Just like the US Constitution, ours begins with,
WE the Pottawatomie, not We the Tribal Government, or State Government.
Well 15 months of applying for jobs that interest me I finally get the Food and Beverage Supervisor position with full benefits after a 90-day probation evaluation.
I hope these guys are ready for me again!
If it does not relate to customer service and food quality I probably am not entertaining it.
I was reminded about Facebook policies. Personally I think Facebook posts are the social media jobs to police, which they doing anyway.
There are 14 other supervisors so this should be quite a challenge if nothing else.if I apply Dad’s rules. Being productive is key and I will be contributing to the success of the tribe, even in a small sense.
See you all at the Island Resort & Casino
Recently I wrote an article that received many views and shares. Initially I was excited…then I began to read the comments.
Personal attacks were being hailed upon me by fellow tribal members who said I was fake news and upset with my tribal government.
They were right about the government but the fake news accusation really struck a nerve. I am not a news agency of any government and do not plan to be in the near future.
I do have an opinion and invested by own resources, earned by studying, to express that opinion to the world.
I am not a news agency of any government source and make no claim to be one.
I do share information, sometimes it may turn out to be false. Humans are fallible for some reason we all believe false information and get conned.
After-all, the world is full of “Con games” today and no one knows what the truth is anymore.
We in live in a world controlled by greed and fear. Where social media sites and Tech Giant have become our “truth tellers”.
All for money, power and your resources, and this is not fake news.
That, to me, is greed as their wealth and security continue to reap exponential benefits.
I am not fake news but I do have an opinion.
Have a great day.
When receiving official tribal government mail from the CEO Board of Directors of the Tribal Council Executive Officers, our letterhead includes an emblem surrounded by three words.
Peace, Unity and Brotherhood.
This represents the official motto of the Potawatomi tribal government organization. This organization was established by 46 tribal members, which has now grown to an estimated membership of about 1,000 members.
As our tribal economy is being slowly reopened, we all should consider this a time of understanding. A time of understanding the power of people to influence the governments under which they create, live and raise families in an American culture of many faiths and people of many colors. These people are to enjoy the fruits of earth and its nature.
As the motto of the Hannahville Indian Community government’s is to seek Peace, Unity and Brotherhood, so it should also be for each tribal member and its 900 employees. This can only benefit and unify the local business economy in which we are now idle over panic, fear and undetermined regulation.
Fear can not be the determining factor as we move forward in providing for tribal members and the local Michigan economies in the Delta and Menominee counties. With an estimated payroll of 32 million in payroll and another 14 million in health, paid time off, and other benefits about 75% is distributed to non-tribal members to produce benefits to 900 tribal members and the local economy.
Peace, unity and all people and other entities, like governments, should strive for these principles to guide themselves in uncertain times. This will restore positive energy and human connection that is very much needed in these trying times.
Be safe everyone.