STATE OF THE TRIBE ADDRESS

January 31, 2009

Good afternoon and welcome to the State of the Tribe Address.
I would like to begin by thanking the Great Lakes Alliance Drum Group and our Anishnabe Ogitchedaw Warrior Society for starting this special day in a traditional way.  I would also like to thank my fellow Council Member, Tribal Chaplain Gail George for her opening prayer.

I would like to acknowledge all our tribal departments and standing committees who provided their information booths for our members.

In an effort to encourage our tribal youth to be more informed, the tribal council has opened this state of the tribe address to our 13 to 17 year old members.  For those Tribal Members between the ages of 13 and 17, please honor your tribe and stand up to be recognized.  (Applause). 

I would like to say miigwetch for many of you who are attending your first community meeting.  We are pleased you want to learn more about your tribe firsthand.  We are stronger when our tribal members get involved.

Our Tribe is facing many challenges, not only internally but within the marketplace.  I believe the best way to start this address is to tackle the hard question that many tribal members have addressed to myself and other Council Members,

Every Council Administration has dealt with the harsh realities of Tribal issues and I would like to bring clarification to the last community mailing.

In the regular scheduled council meeting on January 6th,  a group of Tribal Members advocated for a per capita distribution of $200, 000 after taxes ($275,000 pre tax) to each member and descendent of the 1939 roll.

The State of Michigan and this country are facing challenging times however, the individuals demanding this money sited their own personal hardships and their perception that they alone are responsible for federal recognition of our Tribe as the basis for their demand. The motion made at the Council's last regular meeting would have required that millions of dollars be paid to a select group of members and non-members and would have disenfranchised the majority of the Tribe's members who would receive nothing under the motion. It would have mortgaged our children's future and that of our tribe by depleting the tribal funds that are reserved for the future security of the Tribe

We are all  members of this Tribe.  Many have worked tirelessly for a majority of their lives to bring the type of success we now enjoy.  I will fight any attempt by individuals to lay claim to the resources of our tribe for their own personal gain and I will not ignore the type of injustice that this demand represents.

The magnitude of this potential action is enormous and would have violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. According to bulletin number 05-1 from the national Indian Gaming Commission distribution of gaming revenues cannot be made unless the payments are in compliance with the Tribe's per capita plan. Our Tribe currently is blessed with one of the best per cap plans in the nation where we can distribute up to 75 percent of the net gaming revenues back to the members. 

It is clear that any other distribution outside of this plan would likely violate the act and could result in an enforcement action against the tribe.  The Tribes per capita plan only allows expenditures from the futures trust fund under very limited and emergency circumstances.

These challenging times will test our resolve and our courage.  I am dedicated to meeting these challenges with the same courage and resolve of exhibited by our ancestors and with a commitment to our children and future generations.  We need one another. In these tough financial times, we need to face these challenges together. Tribal Treasurer Simon Jackson's financial report will explain where we stand right now and reflect the importance of our diligence and the necessity of being fiscally responsible. 

With the recent approval where casinos are coming for the Huron Potawatomi and the Gun Lake Tribe, it is no surprise that we have seen we need to be innovative and competitive to even retain our existing market share. We will see presentations from our Migizi Economic Development Corporation and Soaring Eagle marketing that will underscore our current plans.

The Bible offers a description of how Joseph foretold of the hard times ahead and where storage of grain was necessary.  And had our ancestors choose not to invest for the future, we would not have the resources we have to fall back on today. But we, this generation, is entrusted with a charge to take care of the future also. And this council is committed to expanding by diversification to ensure we have not let our ancestors down. 

Our Tribe has made gaming and hospitality successful because we cared about making people feel good about coming here and seeing who we really are. Our uniqueness and talent of our people are found throughout the walls of this whole facility and it's only a small display of what kind of potential and ability we have.  Now it's time to venture out and see what else we can put our hand to and see it prosper. The proverbs of Solomon says commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. The Council continues to work on the vision for further expansion and hope to have an update of those plans in the next community meeting. 

On a personal note, it is an honor and blessing to be your trusted servant and tribal chief.  Regardless of the state of the economy, as long as we can continue to pray for each other and put aside our differences for the greater good, we will continue to be that Tribal Nation that will prosper.  May God continue to bless us all.  Miigwetch!