Homecoming Address from Chief Steve Pego
8/13/2015 8:00:00 AM - Tribal Observer

Homecoming Address from Chief Steve Pego

(Editor’s note: The following text is Tribal Chief Pego’s speech during the Thursday, June 23 Community Meeting in the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Entertainment Hall.)

“I want to thank each one of you for the opportunity to serve as your chief and on Tribal Council these past two years.

Being chief has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life this far.  The opportunity to be a part of making our community stronger and more responsive to the needs of its membership is much appreciated. 

A special thank you to each one of my fellow Tribal Council members; it has been a privilege and an honor to this point to serve our community with you. 

This administration has faced some very unique challenges and has addressed each one of them with you, the membership, in mind. 

Our Anishnaabeg Child and Family Services was an area that was not meeting the needs of our members and their families with a greater understanding of our culture or traditional values.  Changes were necessary to ensure we have services that are responsive to the needs of our families. 

Today, we can say that families in distress are being provided supportive and nurturing services designed to address their needs and the needs of the families. 

Behavioral Health is another area that has posed some very serious concerns for this leadership. The intention for this department was to create an opportunity for our members needing treatment, or just a place to address their concerns and/or challenges to go to seek assistance: Assistance that could parallel the culture and traditional values of our Tribal community. 

Too many times, western cultural practices seem to trump that intent.  Treatment only works when you have the support of family, community and tradition; that is what we intend to provide.  We are working on changes that will ensure each and every member needing assistance will get that assistance. 

Per-capita shortfalls and the need to protect the “futures” trust is another area of concern.

I want to thank you for being a part of the information needed for Tribal Council to make informed decisions in regard to the per-capita plan and our future financial stability. 

On the agenda today is time to roll out the results of the community survey and what information had been collected during those efforts.

I am pleased to inform you that your voice was heard and yesterday Tribal Council approved a resolution requiring a diploma or equivalent to recent adult per capita payments. I am sure you will find it as insightful as we have.

Tribal Council is very much aware of what implications changes to the per-capita plan will have on our membership. These are not easy decisions and much consideration will be given to this task.  I assure you one thing we will do is give you time to adjust your realities to better prepare you for any changes that will be made.

Tribal Council has contracted with a familiar face that has many years of experience working with our membership.

Charlene Kerby has been contracted as the services consultant for member benefits, financial services assistance and general assistance for member benefits. She is housed in the At-Large building and is ready to assist members from all three districts.

Charlene can help you manage services, benefits and resources that we have to offer.  It was very nice of Charlene to come out of retirement and help us with this effort.  Charlene has proven time and time again her ability to provide much needed assistance and clarity to membership needs. Please take time to call her at (989) 775-4948 if you need assistance.

Construction has begun on the Native Farmers Market, located on the corner of Leaton and Broadway in front of the Tribal Center. 

Designed by Robert Case Architecture, along with McGuirk as the general contractor, this pavilion will display unique lines and be a show place for our community. 

What an opportunity to bring our community together while providing an opportunity to purchase healthy food, trade art work, craftsmanship, recipes and general fellowship.  Each Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., you can purchase locally-grown produce, purchase Native art and listen to live music. 

The Tribe was granted $200,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture to assist with this project. 

A Native Farmers Market Committee, with Public Relations and Nimkee Public Health, brought it to life creating a wonderful gathering place for our members. Plans for further use will be developed and detailed in upcoming articles in the Tribal Observer.

Very exciting things are in store for our Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.  Currently, work has begun on much-needed repairs to the walkways, casino entrance and boulevard ending. 

We will be creating a “YOU HAVE ARRIVED” sense when driving up the boulevard with bright colors, flag poles and marketing pads displaying our current, exciting, promotional opportunities for our guests and you, the member. 

Studies have been done to assess the condition of the parking lots and problems have been identified.  Tribal Council has approved a three-year phased approach to address these concerns. 

Sections of the parking areas will be demolished and reconstructed from the sub-strait up assuring proper drainage and infrastructure installation.  This project will be phased as to not interrupt business.

Year 2016 will bring about attention to the Casino itself.  Reviews, inspection and inventory of surfaces, windows, doorways moldings, as well as the casino roof will be done.   It is past time to update our property and make it fresh and inviting again. 

As much as we need to do to make these improvements, I firmly believe we still offer one of the most luxurious properties in the mid-west. 

Cindy Brege, interior designer, has been hired to assist us with regaining our “four diamond” rating back from AAA.

Cindy was part of the original design team during the construction of the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and is keenly aware of our culture and traditional ways.  She has a firm grasp of our woodland background and history. She specializes in helping properties regain their rating position while updating the hotel rooms and amenities to reflect the time and style of what our guests have become accustomed to enjoying. 

Mike Simpson and Cindy are creating a road map that will lay out a redesign and update for all of the hotel rooms.  This is a multi-million dollar project and will bring into consideration the mix of room selections we have. Currently, there are 44 types of room styles. 

Consideration will be given to what is most requested and changes will be made accordingly.  Electrical, mechanical and plumbing updates will happen simultaneously to keep us up-to-date with the leading technology. 

Hospitality updates are generally needed every five to seven years to remain current and trendy styles.  Renovating the rooms in phases will allow the hotel to operate with minimum revenue loss during construction.    

Saganing is another bright spot in our future.  I will not talk much about the expansion plans because Ron Nelson, Tribal Council Saganing representative, will be covering the details later. I will tell you that with an expected $10 million in revenue expected, we can’t afford not to. 

Community development is paramount to the future of our community and our Tribe.  The more independent and sovereign we become, the stronger we will be. 

Developing infrastructure that will support the demands of the community for generations to come is at the backbone of everything we do.  Without the proper insight and planning for the future, we run the risk of limiting our potential growth and opportunity. 

Flexing our sovereign rights, and developing an electrical sub-station pulling the needed energy from the National Grid, will allow us to become self-sufficient, savings millions of dollars and eliminate the middle man. 

Just imagine being able to collect, process and transmit enough energy to not only supply Saganing but our community in Mount Pleasant as well.  Not many can do what we have the right to do. 

Supplying water and waste water services to our neighbors is a completely new revenue stream for us and I believe it is one that we can build on just as we are doing in Saganing.

I would like to address the focus of this administration.  The goal is to streamline our efforts while providing services direct to you, the member, in the most appropriate way.

An assessment of space and space needs is currently being conducted.  Underutilization of space has been identified as well as needs for more space.  There is an option of building a new Tribal Center.

Currently, Tribal Council’s offer on the Mid Michigan Community College Pickard Street property has been accepted and we are working on a purchase agreement at this time.   This will allow us to make affordable adjustments while streamlining departments and services.  This will also give us the opportunity to consider the space this purchase would give us. 

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe is strong and debt free.  Migizi enterprises are self-sufficient and growing every day.  We have challenges but they are challenges we can meet.  It is the opportunities we have to run to and embrace. 

We have a bright future together, and together we will walk into that future with our heads held high and our hearts filled with hope and confidence that we are doing what is right for the next seven generations. 

I thank you for your time and attention today, and I hope you have a safe and enjoyable homecoming and powwow.  Miigwetch.”