NEW YEAR OFF TO A GOOD START
This entry was posted on 1/25/2007 6:15 PM and is filed under Tribal Government.
It made my heart feel good to see so many Puyallup Tribal Members turn out to the Jan. 20 membership meeting. There were more than 250 Tribal members in attendance. It truly was a good day. I saw many elders, young children, and even our veterans come out to present the colors.
It was a good start to the New Year. It was the second membership meeting in the last five months. Councilman Larry LaPointe said he would like to have these membership meetings quarterly. I agree and believe the entire council will be supportive of this idea. These meetings provide the membership with updates on many important issues. It is a progress report to the membership. It is also an opportunity for the membership to give council feedback on what they see going on. I believe in open communications. At the meeting the following topics were discussed:
1. Per Capita Issue and Modification of Revenue Allocation Plan – Presented by Carlos Delos Santos
2. Tribal Member Assistance Policies and Possible Taxation – Presented by Bill Veliz
3. Permanent Casino Facility – Presented by Frank Wright
4. Youth, Elder, and Community Center development process – Presented by Raul Ramos and Chester Earl
5. Tribal Budget FY 2007 – Presented by David Peterson
6. Income Tax Returns – H & R Block
The staff did a good job in explaining the issues in a clear and concise manner.
After the presentations were concluded, the members had an opportunity to ask questions to tribal council, express their concerns, and comment about how far the Tribe has come in recent years.
Just before the questions began, I took to opportunity to share a little bit of history of the Puyallup Tribe, our humble beginnings (as told to me by our elders), some of the prior battles and the past leaders who fought those battles. I encouraged the membership to come visit the Tribal Council offices to see photos of many of our past leaders. I felt they should be thanked and honored for paving the way to get the Puyallup Tribe where we are today as well as where we will go tomorrow. It is their battles, lessons, and experiences that have led us through today and will continue to guide us for years to come. It was also shared that there were many tribal members, who did not serve on Tribal Council, who also fought and made sacrifices for our people. The words that I shared were the words of my mother, Gloria R. Bean, and the words and lessons from my elders.
I further explained that the Tribal Council has heard their prior membership concerns expressed, and will continue to listen with an open heart and an open mind. More importantly the Tribal Council is prepared to address those concerns. This ensures accountability to the membership. It ensures a clear and transparent government.
The following is a partial summary of questions and concerns expressed by the membership:
• Relocation of Elders Building from inside cemetery walls
• Teaching our young people to respect their elders
• Providing financial education/consultation to our young people
• Kids wasting their money
• Education should come first
• Address the issue of kids having babies at such a young age
• Improved health care at the Puyallup Tribe Health Authority
• Elders having to wait to long to be seen by a doctor
• Income tax issues – kids trust funds
• Status of Riverboat
• Equal Economic Opportunity for all tribal members
• Program based needs
• Veterans recognition
• Increased activities for our children
There are many more issues to list. Please feel free to come and visit with me to discuss them further. My door is always open.
I am thankful for all the support I have received since being elected and sworn in as a Puyallup Tribal Council member. It truly has been a learning experience. I appreciate all the words of advice, encouragement, and criticism that I have received for my elders and the community.
I would like share with the membership, that I am a team player. There have been many positive steps made by the Tribal Council. The Tribal Council acts as one body representing the tribe. No one person can do this alone as an individual. In order for any major action or decision to take place in the tribe, there must first be a minimum of 4 council members, including one Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, present and voting. I must respectfully point out that no one council member can neither be given credit or take credit for council decisions or actions whether they be positive or negative.
I would love to hear from the membership. I can be reached in the following ways:
• Phone – 253-573-7832
• Email – davidb@puyalluptribe.com
• Mail – 3009 E. Portland Ave Tacoma, WA 98404
quote me on this.." I can single handedly accomplish more for our tribe buy my self in a year then all of them put together for 9 years" un quote..