Uncategorized

By Trust Board Chairman Chet Brooks
From July 2013 Delaware Indian News

Wanishi Wuli Kishku Nipan – Thanks For This Good Summer Day:

You will remember from April, 2013 DIN that Delaware Trust Board has tirelessly worked for the past many months on revisions to our Trust Document and Master Trust Plan. The final draft of the purposed changes is addressed in this edition of Delaware Indian News. Trust Board Vice Chair Verna Crawford and Trust Members Bonnie Jo Griffith and John Sumpter have all submitted articles in this DIN regarding this purposed change. The Trust Board invites all members to review this purposed document and plan, and submit your suggestions or desired changes to it. We want all the suggestions we can get as the new Trust Document and Plan will have to be approved by referendum vote of our adult voting membership in November.

Town Hall meetings will be held in July seeking input from tribal members on the new document and plan. These are to be held at Chelsea on July 13th, Nowata on July 20th and Bartlesville on July 27th. Food and drinks will be provided at each meeting and door prizes will be drawn. Please plan to attend one or more of these Town Meetings and let your voice be heard. If you cannot attend any of these Town Meetings let us hear your thoughts and concerns about the new Document and Plan by email, letters or phone.

My personal thoughts on this Trust Document and Plan change are as follows: I and all other current Trust Board Members acknowledge and believe that our Constitution and Tribal Council are the Delaware Tribe’s governing document and governing body since 1982. If we did not believe that why would we have continued to make Constitutional Amendments and elect a Tribal Council particularly in the years 1991-96 and unfortunately again between 2004-09? Or why would Council and Trust Board Members take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Delaware Tribe of Indians? The Trust Board knows that it has the very limited authority to act only as “Trustees” in the expenditure of our “Trust Funds.” The Trust Board also knows that our “Adult Voting Membership is the Supreme Authority” in the Delaware Tribe, that the Adult Voting Membership voted to continue our funds in trust in 2011, and that town meetings in 2012 expressed our peoples wish to continue “electing” Trust Board members.

Now, none of the facts stated in the above paragraph should be taken to mean there is no room for change in the Trust Document and Plan. The Tribal Council would gain 15% of the annual Trust interest instead of the 10% the original document provided. In addition, the Trust would pay for its own annual audit, saving tribal administration another $5,000-7,000. Holding Trust elections on even years, same as Council elections, will save $7,000-12,000 every two years. In addition the new plan would increase Community Service, Cultural Preservation, Elder and Veteran Committee funding by 5% each. I see all of these changes as positive. Please respond by letting us know how you see them.
Thanks for your attention and response to the purposed document-plan.

Chet Brooks
Trust Board Chairman
achilenape@yahoo.com
918-397-1161

Our sincere thanks go to the Delaware Powwow Committee for making this year’s event an overwhelming success. It seems that more dancers are coming every year and the numbers of camps are growing. We owe the success of this annual tradition to the Powwow Committee and the many individuals who contribute untold hours to its success.

Recently, several members of the Tribal Council traveled to the Confederated Tribes of the Salish and Kootenai Tribe reservation (CSKT) in Montana, previously known to many of us as the Flathead. They were extremely gracious and welcoming hosts. It would be fair to say they went the “extra mile” to make our trip a success.

The purpose of the trip was to learn from a tribe that already does about a half billion in business revenues and does not rely on gaming for a source of revenue. Additionally, they are preparing to take ownership and operation of one of the nation’s largest hydroelectric plants. They literally do business throughout the world.

The most inspiring part of the trip was to meet members of a tribe that had a “can do” attitude and do not take “no” for an answer. They will tell you that it has not always been easy, but their persistence eventually brought about rewards.

Thanks to the efforts of Jim and Libbi Gray, this trip was an overwhelming success. Furthermore, the Grays are working on an arrangement whereby the CSKT will help us on our future projects. Thank you to the Grays.

It amazed me how hard Chief Pechonick made us work on this trip. Even though this is one of the most beautiful areas of America, she did not give us any time to enjoy the scenery. The Chief and Jim Gray had arranged the schedule so we were putting in 12-hour days. However, it was worth it. As one famous American stated, “I have been to the mountain and seen the Promised Land.” We too saw the Promised Land. I personally saw the power of vision and of persistence. As Chief Pechonick emphasized on our return trip, our Tribe is also capable of similar achievements.

Finally, a topic that cannot be ignored is our relationship to the Cherokee Nation and the Memorandum of Agreement. Cherokee Chief Bill Baker has listened to our concern and is sympathetic. Regrettably, his ability to work with us on the Memorandum of Agreement has been limited because of action taken by the Cherokee Tribal Council.

The Treaty of 1866 authorizes the Delaware to vote in Cherokee elections. The failure by some of our members to do so does nothing but hurt our Tribe. If Delaware’s do not vote in Cherokee elections and support those that are sympathetic to cause, then you are only hurting your Tribe. Do you want Cherokee leadership that wants to work with our Tribe or leadership that does not care? 10,000 Delaware’s can make a difference.