News About the Tribal Council and Trust Board

The Tribal Council has operated with a tribal council member who has attended very few meetings this year. Bill Hatch forfeited his office after his absence at many consecutive meetings.We appreciate his service to the tribe, but could not allow the position to continue to linger without his presence at meetings.

After discussion of whether to put off the appointment yet again for another month, the Tribal Council opted to appoint Tom Moore. I have seen comments insinuating this was done secretively or maliciously to keep people who are interested from being on the Council from being appointed. The way to show your interest in tribal government is to come to the Council meetings. The next meeting is October 3. Meeting dates are given on the tribal web site at https://www.delawaretribe.org/meetings.htm The meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the month, but occasionally the regular meeting is held the week before or after due to a holiday. If we have a special meeting, it is usually announced at the regular meeting prior to the special meeting.

As for the Tribal Council abolishing the Trust Board, there is NO WAY the Tribal Council could do this. If the Trust Board was deemed to have outlived its purpose (to maintain a government-to-government relationship when the Tribe was unrecognized), there is no reason for the money not to continue to be distributed the way it always has been. To say the Tribal Council has other motives is just another attempt at causing strife in the Tribe.

We approve minutes at each Council meeting and have copies of the minutes available at the meetings. The minutes from previous Council meetings are always available in the office and can be emailed upon request, and the archives of minutes on the web site will soon be caught up to date. In addition, minutes are also printed quarterly in the Delaware Indian News, which is also available on the web site and at the tribal office, and by mail to tribal members.

In other news, congratulations! to the Tribe for receiving the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) for $800,000 for property infrastructure updates and a kitchen expansion for the elder nutrition program, and also for a recent Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) grant. Don’t forget to come to Delaware Days September 23-24 at the Delaware Powwow Grounds.

Finally, as always, if you have any questions, comments or needs, please don’t hesitate to email me at ppechonick@delawaretribe.org, contact any of the Council members, or call the office.