SAULT TRIBE FACTS - If it is not a fact it must be fiction................................

I would like to offer my opinion regarding the resolutions that pertain to drug testing. I support discontinuing the testing. I believe we should only maintain reasonable suspicion. We aren't afforded the luxury of pre-employment testing for two reasons. The first reason being that our population in the Upper Peninsula isn't large enough to support this kind of policy. The second most important reason is it greatly reduces employment of Native Americans. The settlers introduced addiction to the native people. This kind of policy doesn't help that problem it only adds to it. How does denying employment to native people based on generations of addictions a good thing.

Regarding the random drug testing. This policy is an inherent invasion of privacy. When the settlers arrived it started a down ward spiral of devastation to all native people. They gave us addictions in order to take our land, our families and our language. We now fight to regain all of these things. When the Board instituted this policy it was a serious blow to the moral of the people. To be under a magnifying glass by your own people is deplorable. Yes there are problems with drugs and alcohol, but this policy isn't going to fix anything. The U.S. government is unable to win the war on drugs, so what makes us think that a policy like this will have an impact on the problem? It will not! I thought we were all working to help each other and make better lives for ourselves. Was I mistaken? That's what makes us unique from the Corporate world. We are friends and families and we should always try to do what is best for each other. Ever since this Administration took office three years ago nothing positive has happened. Businesses have closed and jobs were lost. Positions have been eliminated and again people have lost their jobs. Drug testing was implemented (more people have lost their jobs). The initiative has been taken away, which basically has taken away Christmas for the working class poor. The Board spends more time arguing and disagreeing, when they should be productive and helpful. As a result they can't get anything productive accomplished. They spend more time and money on past issues. This has hampered them from making good sound decisions towards positive growth. Just watch any televised Board meeting and you will know what I am talking about. Our Board and their constant bickering, airing of their personal problems and backstabbing embarrass many people. We are all adults and this kind of behavior shouldn't be happening. You all have important work to do. Please let's focus on doing it with honor and integrity. I implore you to take a positive step in the right direction and eliminate this policy. We need to start the healing process somewhere let the change in this policy be the beginning of that process. Maybe people will start volunteering to help with events again. We all know that volunteerism is at an all time low. I would say that the constant blows to our spirit have had a great impact in that area. Reasonable suspicion is justifiable as any employer has every right to discipline someone who comes to work under the influence. That also applies to abuse of substances while on the job. Please give the people back their inherent right to privacy. What someone does when they are off the clock should be their own business. If they have a problem then law enforcement will catch up to them eventually. Please show the people that you do care about them and that you're not trying to finish where the settlers left off. Haven't we been degraded and victimized enough. Please lets not do it to each other anymore.Thank you for your consideration of my opinion. I can only pray that you will all do the right thing. Please bring some level of hope back to the people. Our spirits desperately need mending. I don't think that we can take much more negativity.


Miigwich for your time.