Chief delivers message of unity

Observer Staff

1/27/2004 12:00:00 AM

(Editor's note: Saginaw Chippewa Chief Audrey Falcon delivered the following State of the Tribe address at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort during the Jan. 18 community meeting.)

Boozhu! Good afternoon!

Welcome to the Tribal community meeting. It is an honor to stand before you today as your Tribal chief and to be delivering this State of the Tribe address. I would like to begin by saying miigwetch to our Tribal Elders who are here and for the High Spirit Singers and to Joe Sowmick for opening our meeting in a good way. I would also like to thank our Anishnabe Ogitchedaw Warriors for posting the colors and our Anishnabe Kwe-Bonnie Ekdahl and Julie D'Artagnan-for bringing the medicine to our community meeting. Thank you for braving the winter weather to be with us today.

I come to you today with a message-we are all in this together. It is a message about family. A message about change and how to address it and the message on my heart today is a message of trust. Much trust has been bestowed upon my fellow Council members and me by you-the Tribal membership we serve. In my 26 years of service with our Tribe as a health administrator, human resources director, Tribal Council member and now as your Tribal chief, I encourage you to take this message of trust with you.

The mission of this Tribal administration is "to provide the Tribal membership a government where open communication is valued and our cultural traditions of respect for one another is demonstrated through the following Seven Teachings of our Grandfathers-Honesty, Truth, Wisdom, Bravery, Love, Respect and Humility."

A lot of the leaders of the past dedicated themselves to improving the well-being of the Tribe. I want to always remember our ancestors and the sacrifices they made in the past. Their sacrifice and leadership has brought us to where we are today.

My fellow Council members agree that communication is the key. Our Council administration welcomes "a government of the people, by the people and for the people." We are up to the challenge to show our Tribal members how this trust can begin by embracing a traditional concept called "Four Directions of Healing."

The first direction of healing starts with our Council commitment to internal communication. Since taking office, Council has met with the Tribal Health Board, Education Advisory Board, Indian Child Welfare Board and we look forward to meeting with all other standing committees within the Tribe. In December, Council had an opportunity to introduce ourselves to the program directors of the Tribe and we encourage their direct input in all aspects of our operation.

Council is also in the process of forming legislative and compensation committees to assure accountability to the Tribal membership. The trust the Tribal membership has given this administration regarding fiscal responsibility will be honored!

The second direction of healing concerns external communication. This Council administration will encourage open dialogue with the Tribal membership through our quarterly community meetings. Council will further this external communication effort by encouraging all Tribal departments who provide services for Tribal members to have information booths at community meetings and other community events.

We pledge to encourage open dialogue by asking Tribal members to voice their questions and concerns to Council in writing. We ask the members to include their return address and their membership number in each correspondence.

Each Tribal Council has dealt with enrollment issues. Many rumors are out there in the community on actions our Council has taken regarding enrollment. Our administration has not taken any enrollment actions as you can see through the Council minutes provided to the membership. We are waiting to see the ruling from the Appellate Court before beginning how our administration will approach Tribal enrollment issues.

It is true that we need more Tribal members involved with the many issues facing our Tribe. I would like each of you to please consider taking on a commitment within our Tribe. You can be part of the process and be an active stakeholder by being involved in the many levels of service our Tribe offers.

The third direction of healing relates to governmental communication. This Council administration has a commitment to "be the Council who agrees to disagree." We want all Tribal members to know we respect that oath of office on the screen and we know each Council member is represented by a constituency of voters who elected them. Each voter has a voice through the Council member they elected. We will respect that voice. And as your Tribal chief, I pledge to make sure the voice of all Council members are heard.

In this effort, all Council members receive all government communication and we agree that this is the best way we can represent all our people. Our Council wants to keep the doors of communication open to all levels to government-Tribal, federal, state and local...even Union Township. We know there are many rumors out there and this Council administration is making an effort to post all Council actions with the Office of Tribal Clerk in a timely manner. Our Tribe will continue to encourage the service of Tribal members on Tribal, federal, state and local boards and committees by Tribal Council appointment.

The fourth direction of healing welcomes traditional communication. Many years ago, Tribal Councils and clan systems embraced "a government by consensus." It is a traditional teaching I will encourage this administration to adopt. As seen through our sisters today, this administration will encourage all actions of Tribal government and community-based meeting to respect traditional teachings of prayer and ceremony. In practice of providing for seven generations to come, Council will pledge to embrace a cultural mind set of fiscal responsibility that will allow us to look forward to that traditional teaching. Our Tribal administration will make every effort to support our people by attending cultural and traditional community events wherever they take place.

In closing, you will see through the information presented today that our Tribe is moving forward and the State of the Tribe is in good condition. The report form Tribal treasurer Charmaine Benz will alleviate much speculation regarding our financial health. Rest assured, however, that we are all in this together. You can take an active role and be a part of the positive growth our Tribe is experiencing.

We need your input and we welcome the dialogue with our fellow Tribal members. Communication is the key and trust will unlock the door. Please trust the process we have and get involved to make us a stronger Tribe. Remember, we are all in this together. Miigwetch and God bless us all.