To all Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Tribal Members,

This is a reply to my cousin’s letter regarding the state of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians tribal council, meetings, and information network.

While it would seem that many of us (Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians members) are in the dark about the happenings of the tribe, we are all concerned with its welfare. I have brought this forum to the web as a service to my people, my family, my community, and myself. The key to this statement is “my”; the root being “my responsibility”.

It is not only up to a few people to secure our peoples destiny, but rather it is all of us who are responsible to ensure our peoples future. I had hoped that this web-site would make a difference, and that it would spread through “e-smoke signals” from tribal member to tribal member, but that takes some commitment on your part.

As for the commitment of the “Tribal council”, I understand that they are all volunteers and that time is a commodity not issued alongside cheese. It is frustrating to sit idly by and wait on the government to make its decision, but sometimes that is what is necessitated by the situation, and we need to live with that. Personal note: (I fought with the VA for 15 years over an accident on the USS Inchon which, as a result of injury to my lower back, has left me with three herniated disks, chronic arthritis, and degenerative disk disease).

Notice I didn’t say “agree with that”! This means we have a situation that needs tending to, much like a child or an animal. It is within the power of each and every one of us, as tribal members, to contact our government officials (GRB tribal officials), senators, congressmen, state representatives etc. Not only is it within our power, it is our right. Unfortunately this takes some amount of dedication, because they won’t listen the first ten or twelve times (it’s a government thing), you must be persistent. I would like to keep communication flowing in a respectable fashion, and let our concerns be known to the “Tribal council”. I have spoken about accountability on occasion, and how we are each responsible for our actions. I hold the “Tribal council” accountable for their actions, as I hold each and every one of you to yours.

The lack of action on the tribal council’s behalf does not rest entirely upon their shoulders, that would be a burden which I would lay on no individual, but ultimately that responsibility rest with each and every one of Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians tribal members. If you can participate in tribal meetings, stop by the tribal office to offer assistance, or make a phone call to Ron Yob (Tribal Chairman), Kelly Wesaw (enrollment officer), Joe Genia (don’t know his title), Norman Leo (the tribes office attendee), do so. Hold them accountable to their actions; ask what they have done for our people today? If you don’t like the answer you get it is in your power to change the leadership of our tribe.

Ask yourself some questions. Have you done what you could to ensure that our voice is being heard in Washington? Have you contacted your Senators or the Senate committee on Indian Affairs? Have you stopped by the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians tribal office in Grand Rapids and talked to any one? I have! And like Merle, I haven’t gotten any response from GRB, but I have made offers of creating and hosting a web site for the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, at my own expense, only to be ignored. Communication is key in our endeavors and is one of the requirements of 25 CFR part 83.7 for reaffirmation of a tribe.

Switching lanes here:

Merle has brought up a few good points about the “yearly meeting” that he and Charlie attended, and most of us never knew about in the first place. First off, we are represented by MILS (Michigan Indian Legal Services) who is not a lobbyist group, but rather a group of attorneys who practice tribal law. Their assistance is pro bono and I would assume that they have crossed their T’s and dotted the I’s. This is a huge contribution to the recognition of our tribe, and we thank them. Secondly, there are many individuals who are doing research for the tribe; genealogies have to be thorough because we get one shot at the recognition process other wise we are done for (period). Third comes sovereignty, and lastly hunting and fishing rights.

Recognition; the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians has a long history of being recognized as a tribe. Our ancestors, some of whom were immediate family members to our elders, signed treaties with the U.S. government and ceded territories (land) to them in exchange for cash payments, education, food, and general assistance. Under docket 40, 1977 payment for lands, individuals were recognized as GRB tribal members and received payment from the BIA. Our history dictates immediate reaffirmation; our situation however is not dictated by history, but rather by the U.S. government. I would like to stand behind our “Tribal Council” and be proud of their hard work and dedication, but as Merle has pointed out it is difficult when they are reluctant to let us know what they have done, or are doing. When they fail to accept our offers of assistance they lead us to believe that they are content with allowing the Federal Government to control the situation. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! I have witnessed first hand what this kind of lollygagging can do to a community. The Sault Tribe is now undergoing a restructuring of sorts. Bernard Bouschour has been in control of that tribe for a long time, and is now under the scrutiny of his people. His long reign of government corruption is close to an end, and his people are his judge. I don’t want to see this type of government for our people, and I refuse to sit idly by and let it happen. Together we form a people, a community, a sovereign nation, but individually we are just another Injun.

Sovereignty, a novel idea! When the Europeans first encountered our people (my Polish ancestors included), they treated them as individual governments. Each government was treated as a sovereign nation with individual rights and privileges. As States were formed this government to government relationship became more like the U.S. v State relationship and tribes were then given a status called domestic sovereigns. The definition of a domestic sovereign is what our tribes have today; mainly semi-sovereign status, a part of government under complete control of the larger federal government. While this is true, we are still allowed to have, maintain, utilize, and hold accountable our own government free of control from the state; the semi-sovereign status that we will enjoy as a federally recognized tribe is not what it once was. However semi-sovereignty is better than no sovereignty what-so-ever. This somewhat describes the U.S. governments system today, (Federal, State &Tribal), where state and tribal share the same status (yah right!). It is our goal to achieve Federal reaffirmation for the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, its people, and its members. Along with this reaffirmation comes a responsibility from our government to listen to its people, to serve its people, and to hold its people in the highest regard. To this end I ask the “Tribal Council” to communicate to its people and answer the question what have they done for us today?

Hunting and Fishing:

Our ancestors were farmers, hunters, fishermen, and gatherers. Our right to hunt, fish, and gather medicines within the state of Michigan were paid for long ago with land and blood. Unfortunately in today’s society you have to have a federally recognized tribal hunting and fishing license or a State of Michigan one or you will get a ticket. Tough! When we get recognized we will get hunting and fishing privileges, until then do what you feel is best for you. Like Merle I pay for mine.

In closing I would like to make some comments about what I have learned in the past couple years of my life. Don’t give up on the government, if you do they will forget about you in less time than it takes to say “who”! Keep the lines of communication open to your neighbor, cousin, brother, sister, mom, dad, etc., you’d be surprised who they know. And finally, in times of crisis people need to come together, put away their differences, and focus on the main goal that is good for everyone. I believe that the intentions of the “tribal council” is good, and that they have done more work than they could ever relay to our people, but I think they need to be reminded for whom they were doing this for in the first place. If it turns out that they were doing this for themselves, it will show and the people of our nation should correct them before it gets out of hand.

Kawaubmego

Ossokeh ninii

GRB# MO 048