Clara Caufield. Photo from Native News Project / University of Montana School of Journalism
Tribal Council travel: Is it excessive?
By Clara Caufield It is easy to pick on elected officials, such as our tribal councils. Maybe I do that too often. Yet, my scribbling reflects the concerns and views of fellow tribal members who often suggest topics. “How do you handle it?” one recently asked. “Handle what?” “Telling the truth when the tribal council doesn’t like it?” “I just figure there are ten of them and 11,000 of us,” I laughed. So did he and then suggested “You should write about tribal council travel.” Truth is, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council accomplished some good things in the past few years. Cell phone service is now available in Lame Deer and within a year or so will be across the reservation; several defunct businesses are being revitalized; a new mini-mall is promised; off-reservation lands have been purchased, including at Bear Butte, sacred to us; a significant piece of legislation “The Cheyenne Lands Act” was enacted into law; the land buy-back program was successfully conducted; some old eye sores on Cheyenne Avenue (our Main Street) are finally getting cleaned up and there is a settlement to a long standing lawsuit with St. Labre. Those are good accomplishments, requiring concerted effort over time. Yet, these accomplishments haven’t made life noticeably different for the average Cheyenne on the Reservation. That is why, we would like to see the Council focus more attention to local matters. That is also why so many are concerned about the amount of travel conducted by many (not all) of our tribal council members. Where are the solutions to Northern Cheyenne problems to be found?
The flag of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Photo from Facebook
In Billings, Denver, Wisconsin, Alaska, Las Vegas? And, are the solutions presented in conjunction with rodeos, pow wows and sports tournaments? Washington, D.C. and Helena, Mont., the state capital, are also high on the destination list. That is understandable as our officials conduct government-to-government relationships. We wonder why so many of them have to go on each trip. Could not one or two represent the Tribe? Recently, eight of the ten council members spent a week in Wisconsin at a TERO conference, and this is very typical. Many took their families along, causing another tribal official to wonder if it was a training session or a vacation. The TERO program was glad about that, hoping to generate additional understanding and support for that program, entrusted with gaining additional employment and training opportunities for our people, but most people didn’t like to see so many going. We hear about their fine hotel lodging, great meals and recreational activities (such a going to professional ball games) while on the tribal dime. Some of them actually put photos like that on Facebook. At the same time, when a tribal elder went to the tribal council offices to request gas money to visit a relative in a trauma center, Salt Lake City, Utah, she was told there were “no funds.” That is also very typical, if you can find a tribal council member in the office. In past years, only two council members at a time were allowed to go on any given trip to conduct tribal business. They were then required to make a full written report to the Council and the community. Maybe, if our current Council explained and justified their travel, we would complain less. If travel brings benefits to the Tribe, they should be happy to tell us about it. Many people on the Reservation are bitterly poor – not even having local transportation. That is why hitchhikers are a common site as many are challenged to even get from the outlying districts to Lame Deer for shopping, medical services, tribal or government business or the gas station. When those people see Council members going off for a week or so, on a regular basis for tribal travel, families in tow, it seems extravagant. Yet, because the Northern Cheyenne reservation is remote, some travel is necessary for our Council. We just wonder how much is necessary. Bottom line, we want our elected officials to be accountable about their traveling. We want to know how it is benefiting us – the regular Cheyenne people here on the Rez, many of whom are hitchhiking around. (Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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