FBI Investigation
Tribal Shareholders Shake Down
This from Little Miss Sunshine, Lynne Weaver. I would like to believe that the "pointed finger" goes in all directions as she claims. Information has been given to the FBI over a period of a decade, enough to point the finger at other past and present tribal leaders.
I have yet to have the FBI at my doorstep asking for information knowing I gave them pages of documentation. Of course the FBI also knows I don't trust their capabilities to bring tribal leaders to justice. In the case of the present investigation it is my belief that someone presented information to the FBI as well as other investigative agencies so that the FBI could not push it under the rug.
If, and that's a big if, the FBI is able to convict Fast Freddie it will open the door for investigations of others. I think we would all agree that when Federal Dollars are given and taken there are strict guidelines and responsibilities and they do in fact fall on the entire Board of Directors.
How long has the membership been wanting to inspect our records? I know I have asked several times to exercise my constitutional right under Article VIII- Bill of Rights and Article III-Tribal Records of the Bylaws. In order to be a federally recognized tribe the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians had to assure the United States Government they would allow it's tribal membership all the rights and privileges United States Citizens enjoy.
The Culture Committee was told at the last meeting that they had no right to see their budget figures. One reason, quoted, was that there was personal information in them. I'm sure there is personal information in many records, ie; what individuals are paid by the tribe. But the records can be recorded in such a way that personal information be exempt for inspection. We as tribal members are stockholders so to speak and our leaders are telling us it's none of our business how they spend our money.
Granted I don't need to know employee’s names, addresses and personal information but their wages are not personal when paid with public (tribal) dollars.
The Federal, State, County, Township and Municipal government records are there for the public to review. According to our Constitution, "No member shall be denied any of the rights or guarantees enjoyed by citizens under the Constitution of the United States."
Had we not been denied our Constitutional Rights by the past and present tribal elected officials we may not be in bankruptcy and financial trouble today. I can say with confidence that not one elected tribal official has ever personally reviewed a line item budget of any of our tribal enterprises.
I have yet to have the FBI at my doorstep asking for information knowing I gave them pages of documentation. Of course the FBI also knows I don't trust their capabilities to bring tribal leaders to justice. In the case of the present investigation it is my belief that someone presented information to the FBI as well as other investigative agencies so that the FBI could not push it under the rug.
If, and that's a big if, the FBI is able to convict Fast Freddie it will open the door for investigations of others. I think we would all agree that when Federal Dollars are given and taken there are strict guidelines and responsibilities and they do in fact fall on the entire Board of Directors.
How long has the membership been wanting to inspect our records? I know I have asked several times to exercise my constitutional right under Article VIII- Bill of Rights and Article III-Tribal Records of the Bylaws. In order to be a federally recognized tribe the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians had to assure the United States Government they would allow it's tribal membership all the rights and privileges United States Citizens enjoy.
The Culture Committee was told at the last meeting that they had no right to see their budget figures. One reason, quoted, was that there was personal information in them. I'm sure there is personal information in many records, ie; what individuals are paid by the tribe. But the records can be recorded in such a way that personal information be exempt for inspection. We as tribal members are stockholders so to speak and our leaders are telling us it's none of our business how they spend our money.
Granted I don't need to know employee’s names, addresses and personal information but their wages are not personal when paid with public (tribal) dollars.
The Federal, State, County, Township and Municipal government records are there for the public to review. According to our Constitution, "No member shall be denied any of the rights or guarantees enjoyed by citizens under the Constitution of the United States."
Had we not been denied our Constitutional Rights by the past and present tribal elected officials we may not be in bankruptcy and financial trouble today. I can say with confidence that not one elected tribal official has ever personally reviewed a line item budget of any of our tribal enterprises.
Back to the business at hand! A conviction of Fast Freddie will put the FBI in a very precarious predicament. Do they want to step on certain toes? Their tribal investigative history says no. Is the FBI as interested in constitutional violations as they are money?
