Tribal community mourns loss of "pillar"

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes lost “a pillar” last week, when Vern Clairmont died July 11 of pancreatic cancer. He was 69.

“Vern’s work during his tenure as the lead finance expert was critical to the vast majority of our successes,” wrote Tribal Chair Tom McDonald, who said Clairmont “was involved and key to every major CSKT development in the last 40 years.”

McDonald and other tribal leaders spoke at Clairmont’s memorial, held Monday at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center on the Salish Kootenai College campus in Pablo. Close to 300 people attended the service, which was preceded by a riderless horse ceremony, and followed by a community dinner.

Clairmont spent nearly 45 years working for the Tribes – much of it as Director of Finance Management.

“His input and expertise allowed the CSKT to carefully plan and execute long-range strategies to stabilize the Tribal government,” wrote McDonald, who described him during the memorial as “our federal reserve chair.”

Len Twoteeth, vice chair of the Tribal Council, said one of Clairmont’s lasting lessons was, “We are not leaders. We are servants.”

Councilwoman Carole Lankford said Clairmont had worked for 12 different chairmen and 60 council members during his tenure. “That is a feat in itself.”

She credited him with laying the foundation for many of the self-governance initiatives that the Tribes have successfully launched over the years. His guidance and insight were instrumental in the Tribes reclaiming the Bison Range, taking over SKQ Dam and forging gambling and water compacts, she said.

CSKT Budget Director Ruth Swaney called it “a privilege and an honor” to have worked with Clairmont for nearly four decades.

“There are not many things this tribe has accomplished that do not have Vern’s mark upon them,” she said.

On a personal note, everyone spoke of his dedication to his wife, Cyndy, and their four children and five grandchildren, as well as his remarkable work ethic.

“He dedicated his life to the Tribes,” McDonald said, thanking Clairmont’s family “for allowing him to be that for us.”

Clairmont also shared his talents and expertise beyond the realm of tribal government, serving on a host of boards and committees, including 30 years on the board of St. Luke’s Hospital –several of those as board chair.

Steve Todd, CEO of St. Luke, called him “the consummate professional – always kind, calm and level headed.”

“He was selfless with his time and was an example of what servant leadership should look like,” Todd wrote, while a statement from the board noted that Clairmont “was instrumental in the successful operation and expansion of St. Luke, to the benefit of both tribal and non-tribal community members.”

A longtime friend speculated that he was going to be “a very busy angel.”

“No one will ever make such a lasting positive impact as Vern Clairmont,” said McDonald. “He was a friend, advisor, strategist, and he treated everyone with respect. That is a legacy.”

For a complete obituary, see page 4.