Dear Reader:
As a journalist, I’ve not been afraid to address tough issues and to write those tough stories factually and accurately. In recent years, I’ve written about tribal monetary mismanagement with my own tribe on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Unfortunately, while some of the characters changed during the last election, the story is the same. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, once again, is more than $100 million in debt. The previous administration left the tribe in debt, which I accurately documented. The current administration cleared the debt with oil royalties, but quickly moved the tribe back to deficit spending. One can imagine how it must feel when some people have a lot — thanks to the now depleted tribal coffers — and some people have nothing. The staggering debt is not a secret. It’s just that most people are afraid to speak up, which is why I appreciate the people who say they’ve had enough and want to have a voice about politics-as-usual at Fort Berthold.
I equally respect the people who support constitutional reform, people who believe our tribes and leaders should represent the best interests of the people. The elder committee at Fort Berthold has tried unsuccessfully to amend the tribal constitution.
Here’s a letter from a disappointed Fort Berthold tribal member who left the reservation recently:
Doosha Jodi, saw you at the FBCC graduation this year, that was a great event, many of my relatives walked the stage.
My family just relocated back from the “rez” to Albuquerque and hear disturbing news. There have been more deaths due to the oil trucks and alcohol. Where does the chairman stand on these issues? There are five bars, three drive thru’s selling alcohol and the casino. There is only the Circle of Life for alcohol issues and no funding. I’ve worked with Circle of Life and see the way they’re pushed to the side and hush hushed. It’s sad that “economy” has to take the lead in our lives. The same goes with the new “Tribal Clinic”, the people in charge are doing the least to get by and the real people behind the lines are being walked on and not kept in the loop. No budgets have been approved or no one knows exactly what is going on. It’s a nightmare for hard-working, conscientious personnel.
Now I hear Chairman Levings has a $260,000 home being built for himself on his new paved road in front. While his secretary’s Kathy White Owl-White Tail and Debbie Chase-Nez are pocketing close to $50,000 every pay check. These two women are seen on a daily basis eating and gossiping in the chairman’s office. Personally, my family requested help but were turned down. We had a carbon monoxide leak, my son was 5 months old and they wouldn’t help us with a night stay at the casino. It’s sad that they’re supposed to be in those positions to help the tribe, not themselves.
Just within the past month, the wives of the council and chairman took a vacation to Hawaii while the tribal members are suffering from grief. Travel got shut down in the tribe and now small loans is shut down. The person in charge there was taking money from the small loans account and putting it into another account. Is that for another trip to Hawaii or are they going to a more exotic location this time. In my eyes, I see CORRUPTION in all the halls of that tribal building. You will only receive help if “you know someone or are related”. I’m a direct blood relative of Chairman Wells-Levings and when we were applying for housing, he said to me, “When I came home from school, I had a hard time too.” We applied with the Fort Berthold Housing Authority, were placed on the wait list. After six months, we made it to #3 and a month later, #6 than not on the list at all.
My main goal for returning home was to have my children raised with our grandparents and learn the “forgotten” ways. In my short time home, we discovered many fabulous relatives and learned many traditions. Sadness took my heart when we had to leave. The 2 bedroom trailer we rented for $700.00 from Reggie Olson in Minot, ND was growing mold. We are on the wait list for five of their new housing programs but were told we had to wait two years for a home. So in that time, we came back to finish our school here in NM. What about our relatives at home, where is their hope and escape?
It’s been said that the elders of the community want Chairman Wells-Levings out of office. With all this oil money coming in, why isn’t there more improvement on the programs instead of white wash. There needs to be more attention brought to where that money is going, how much is coming in and who is benefiting. Now I see that Dale Little Soldier is asking for 6.1 million for the casino which never took place. How is it we weren’t involved with Mr. Little Soldier expecting to receive 14% of the revenue of that casino. How much does Spencer Wilkinson, (who is another relative of mine) get from his dealings at the casino. The rooms are all shoddy and fire hazards. For the three months we lived at the casino, I’ve seen multiple fire code violations and no attention being brought to them. Than he lives on granite lane with real granite pillars marking his property and drives a hummer. Wow, it pays to be in the higher up and in league with the chairman.
Sad, sad, sad, the affairs of our home. At this point, I can just see the government kicking back and waiting for our “leaders” to dig a hole for us that we can’t get out of. No more sovereignty there, as if there actually was any.
Laura Sandoval
Jodi Rave