"As I've written about the chicanery and disruption on reservations and pointed to tribal governments as the perpetrators, I wondered also if the stories I've heard from elders have deceived me into thinking all our early governments were perfect.

Today, leaders tend to be elected by the white man's way, in that the candidate who has the most money and biggest smile convinces the people they are leaders.

Admittedly, there are some good leaders who are elected by this method. But too many today are enticed by salaries and freebies - the power they gain as tribal chairmen. They hire and fire with little regard to policies and rules they might have made when they were part of the community."

Get the Story:
Dorreen Yellow Bird: New leaders could do well with old ways (The Grand Forks Herald 10/14)
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