Tribal members hear conflicting messages

Editor,

One: The new bank sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is an extraordinary idea since our Tribe provides more than $200 million dollars to Northwestern Montana yearly. Interest made on $100 million of our money is as high as six to eight percent. Owning our own bank can make it even higher, according to the Tribal advisors.

Presently this is a great dream for the Tribe. What about the unseen foreclosures, unpaid loans, uninsured properties, uncollectible collateral, to name a few. Business always has its costs.

Is this going to be another one of those Tribal agencies where some will get loans because of their nepotism rights? Who will be given authority? And can the council override any decisions? And will the council require all employees to bank at the new bank or else?

Two: The Tribal Health is financially failing. Why? Because it provides health coverage to over 10,000 individuals. Strange, since there are approximately 6,800 enrolled members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of which almost half are not covered because they do not reside on the Flathead Indian Reservation, nor do their children, otherwise known as "descendants." And it appears the abuse of the Tribal Health is mainly founded on non-enrolled members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and their descendants. But who is paying the price? Our local membership, as always.

Three: Now we have a flash statement in the Missoulian that the tribal council can and has made decisions who they want to be enrolled and who can't be enrolled.

In fact, the council has complete rights to remove enrolled members at a whim.

If they remove an individual it can affect entire generations and there is no recourse because the council has been given complete

ruling powers and is exempt from federal court action. And the people who consult to the council on enrollment are biased by color and discrimination, not to mention the greed of land and of per capita.

When you vote for council keep these things in mind.

Tish Morigeau

Pablo, MT