Tag Archives: Tribal Government

They just do no want to hear from you.

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The Tribal Chief and his government are not treating tribal members who oppose oppression, discrimination and predatory behavior perpetuate by a Federally funded court system, equally or ethical.

Civil rights guarantees provided by tribal law and the U. S. Constitution to tribal members is systematically being stripped as non tribal members and tribal members alike overlook tribal law.

During my last term in political office I was jailed and labeled a stalker over drunk phone calls about tribal member rights and benefits being exploited.

The Michigan State Bar Association members practicing law often check to see if a court disposition is approved by the Tribal Chief and not by hierarchy of tribal and U.S. law.

During this session I told the sitting Judge I agreed with his decision but before it could be made official the defense attorney promptly gets up and says, “Let me go check with Ken (Tribal Chief).

He quickly returned and said it was ok with Ken the Chief.

Now I understand what Michael Manning meant when he told me, “Leroy, they just don’t wanna hear from you…”

That is not a fair and level playing field.

Corruption continues on the reserve where tribal members who oppose tribal chief are oppressed and labeled by an unfair system meant to provide for tribal members.

45.6583592-87.3449525

Hannahville Indian Community Rewards Tribal Government and Management

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Hannahville Indian Community – Government and Executive Payroll Increase

After months of unproductive hours of payroll investment for tribal government services and management of operating resources during the recent shutdowns, the tribal government has rewarded top management and government officials with a 10 percent increase in payroll costs for many highly compensated people for wages and salaries of this area. This may well cost tribal members an additional 5 million investment payroll costs amounting to 10 million in salaries and payroll for primarily government and management contractors.

The CFO of the tribe (non-native) is guaranteed a 3-year contract along with several other primary and key officials that work directly for the executive office of the Tribal Chairman, Kenneth Meshigaud. Meshiguad employees nearly 150 personal for government and gaming management operators. Of this 150 about 45 people are tribal members from the reservation.

70 percent of the tribal government and gaming operators of the Chairman’s government and gaming operators are not tribal members. This has created the US vs. them scenario where tribal members and employees are pitted against each other especially in social surveys conducted for studies meant to represent Indian people.

It is apparent that government operators are not employing Indian People in key areas such as the Federally funded health department which employs 90 percent non-native people. This figure is mostly comprised of white women, as the US Census labels this population of people.

Tribal members will be given a 1250 bonus for the year as part of this government and management increases.

The tribal members’ government invested in themselves again and the corruption seems to have no end in sight for tribal members attempting to secure some of these lucrative positions.

As this writer continues to fight for tribal law, white women are getting civil recourse in a court that finds this type of behavior frivolous when I report civil harassment by the Chief’s brothers and cohorts.

Corruption continues as tribal members’ resources are being squandered on a population not intended to be the primary beneficiary of Indian Government efforts.

History has not change much.

I am a Survivor: “White Women on the Reservation”

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Yesterday I received a visit from my Uncle. When I was a kid being raised in Florida my adopted parents and family, would announce to us the we received a letter from our Indian relatives. I never recall my parents call any from here, brown people.Being raised in Florida did subject colored people to choice names but black people suffered the most.

Since returning to the reservation in 1988. I have experienced my “racism” from a tribe I thought was home. Most springs from treatment from a white women struggling for power on the reservation.

I was hired by the Chief in 1999. I recall him remarking about how well my resume was written. He asked me if I wrote the piece. At that time I was very young and really wanting to please everyone. I rarely recognized insults. As I look back now, that was an insult to me.

Within a few years the Chief hired a new legal counsel, who was a white women. She made him feel more comfortable, as she worked for him. She often stated this to me as I began to build a working relationship with her.

She considered herself a “white women” and I had no problem characterizing her in this way. I never felt it was a racial slur or sexist reference. I never thought she felt that way either. After much thought I have discovered many derogatory statements and stigmas she would make to me. These terms echo in many tribal governments today!

“You people”

“Your People”

“Are you people qualified”

“Your people are a liability”

“Indian People are historically alcoholics”

The list goes on…but I was the one who would sit down with her and discuss the community issues with her. She started working for us after waiting a few nights in her car. As a young person I never thought much of it but she was just starting in Tribal government too.

As time went on she was the major influence with “my people” and soon eliminated me, as she felt my leadership was not appropriate. She continued to make an example of me and allowed a foreign entity take my home.

I was soon lost in alcoholism.

I gave her the first copy of the 25 CFR “Indians”, she was shocked I had it and I made motion as a tribal council member to get her a room full of law books. I wish I would not have been so nice to this new white women on the reservation.

Today if one says “white women” in a tribal council meeting, it is almost akin to being racist. I do not understand as most white women make a disticntion with out a man or other races help.

Why do I write about this? I got jumped on social media about it as if I was being mean.

I do not hear any one saying we should stop saying “Black Women”.

Masked Tribal Politics

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I ventured into our tribal convenience store, who pareters with BP oil, and our store doors have the sign on to wear a mask. I tried to wear one in Menards when this whole mess started and literally became disoriented and became very irritable. My cousin promised me he would come shopping for me as long I am not going. He had a miserable time as well.

I am not sure if mask-wearing produces the anxiety and disorientation I experience when prolonged coverage over my mouth and nose. The next time I went to a different lumber yard and was asked why I was not wearing a mask. I said I am practicing my sovereign rights as a Potawatomi. The guy gave me a high five and walked away quite satisfied with my reply.

As I was saying the trip to our convenience store was another eye opener of the negative tribal politics involved with mask wearing on the reservation. Last week I had a mask waived at me by the cashier, a tribal member, with nothing said and it created a confrontation. I went back days later to offer my apology’s. I did so and the person seemed happy and explained she has to do it but does not like it as part of the job.

I paid for my items and returned to this same clerk who was cashing out a couple with no masks.

I stood behind them in disbelief as the clerck would not even look at me.

She knew she was targeting me because of my stance on mask wearing and made an issue of it with me days earlier. Why not this couple?

I was completely upset and could not believe she never attempted to ask them to mask up or offer two mask to them.

She never told them I do not have to take your business without mask but rudely told me that and caused a scene in the store that day.

What a joke. I feel stupid for even apologizing.

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