I’ve just posted a comment from “Max Bet” after receiving a response today, regarding tribal constitutional reform. I don’t know who this person is, where they live or what they do, but this person responded to the my last post about constitutional reform effort underway on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. As I read the reader’s comment to the Blackfeet people’s reform effort, I thought Max could he be talking about any number of tribal leaders or tribal governments that I know or that I’ve reported on. As a tribal citizen, it’s disheartening to see an anything-goes attitude when our councilman are sitting in the council chambers making self-interest decisions that impact the entire tribe’s future.
Thanks for your insight Max.
Here’s what Max has to say: “The problems with the old constitutions are they are unenforceable. The reason for the separation of powers is to hold elected officials accountable to the people. If there is no separation of powers the Tribal Councils have full authority over everything and anything. The idea behind sovereignty is that tribes are allowed to make their own laws and to be governed by those laws. The constitution document is the governing body not the Tribal Council members. The Tribal Councils are not supposed to act as supreme authority over their people they are to enforce the constitution. The average person has no where to take their issues to get a fair hearing. There is no one looking out for the best interest of the Tribes, people get elected and look out for number one and use their position to exploit the resources. Most council persons who get elected don’t have a clue what to do to better their people so they control them. Without Vision the people will perish. There is not one councilman who has an original idea to better their communities. They don’t know how and why should they the people might not need them next election.”
Note: After I read Max’s post, I followed a link that was attached. It led to a Web page about questionable oil activity on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Read for yourself and share your thoughts. The Web site that has been shared has drawn more than 3,400 hits.
Jodi Rave
veromi009
I applaud the efforts to reform tribal governments. I think that is a good thing.
The one worry I have is rushing to embrace the U.S fed model without examining the history of that system. I see a lot of tribes doing this and they don’t ever read about the various compromises and debates that resulted in the current U.S government. In some ways, this is similar to many failed native ventures that seek to mimic “the white man’s ways” without fully studying whatever institution or corporation they are seeking to mimic. It’s the old form over substance trap.
Good luck to the Blackfeet and all those seeking to improve their governing institutions.
Bernie Young Bird
The effort to “reform” tribal governments will not be easy but it can be done. One of the most devastating factors which has damaged the quality of leadership in our nations is the loss of our sacred languages. The culture, values, spirituality and identity are based on knowledge of the language. It is our critical link to our history, our people and our selves.
Our languages are slowly dying and we are dying with it. I am a strong believer and advocate on Fort Berthold to revive and save our languages. I worked for almost 20 years for the Three Tribes and Language Revitalization was a top goal. However, with no official governmental support or funding I and other colleagues who also believed in the cause made slow progress. Further several years ago I became a “political hit” and was wrongfully terminated from my position as Education Director. The cause has faltered and come to a standstill, in my opinion, at least at the government level.
Many individuals, programs, schools, etc. are rallying on their own. There is and has never been a governent effort or declaration to save our languages. Thank goodness for all the advocates and may the Great Spirit guide them to success so we may once again speak our languages. We are dying…literally and figuratively, on Fort Berthold. We must stand up and fight for our survival. We have survived this long,..and we will rise again.
B. Sidney Howard
Dear Jodi: I want to thank you for watching out for us on the Fort Berthold Res. Janet Gunderson was a dear friend of mine and she will be greatly missed. I have recently retired from Dakota Gasification Co. after 20 years. I am currently a caretaker of one of the original 8 sacred medicine bundles, and I want say you are doing a good job and keep up the good work. Sincerely Sidney