Siletz news /, March 01, 2018, Page 13, Image 13

Isaac B photos
Photos by Andy Taylor
Above: Patrick Shawver and Isaac Butler (from left) stand with coaches Lee
Butler, Reggie Butler Jr. and Darin Rilatos during an assembly at Siletz Valley
School. Shawver placed third in the 170 pound weight division.
Right: Isaac Butler receives congratulations from Sam Tupou, school
superintendent/principal.
Congratulations to Isaac Butler of Siletz Valley Early College Academy,
1A-2A state wrestling champion in the 182 pound weight division!
Indian Nations, continued from page 12
of governments. Hundreds of treaties and
laws, and the Constitution itself – all affirm
the inherent sovereignty our Tribes possess.
We should never forget that when
Tribal nations agreed to accept a smaller
land base, the federal government promised
to safeguard our right to govern ourselves.
To enable Tribal governments to deliver
essential services and provide them ample
resources to do so effectively. To help us
manage our own lands and resources for
the betterment of our communities.
That is the trust relationship embod-
ied in the U.S. Constitution. Every mem-
ber of Congress and every federal official
is responsible for carrying out that trust.
It’s not a handout. It’s a contract.
And it is best upheld when decisions
are made at the local, Tribal level, by
values-based governments that know the
circumstances, challenges and priorities
of local communities.
Tribal decision-making not only
benefits Tribal communities, it benefits
everyone.
For example, the Puyallup Tribe
opened up its clinic in the Tacoma,
Washington, metro area to provide care
for the entire community, including non-
Native people. My own Chickasaw Nation
established a cutting-edge Diabetes Care
Center to provide holistic health and
preventative care, providing a model for
clinics everywhere.
Two decades ago, the Confederated
Salish and Kootenai Tribes took over
management of its timber. The federal
government, which manages an adjacent
forest, barely breaks even on its timber
sales. Meanwhile, the Tribes made $2 on
every dollar they spend – profit that they
re-invest in their local communities.
That’s why every American should
make this demand of their own government:
Appreciate and honor the inherent
sovereign rights of Tribal nations.
Respect our right to govern ourselves
and our lands. Respect our unique political
status as real nations with capable govern-
ments, as enshrined in laws, in treaties and
in the Constitution of the United States.
things right by taking action on Indian
Country’s tax priorities:
Top-down government has been tried.
It’s time to go back to working with us.
Those are our priorities. Now, I want
to share three basic principles to guide
decision-making by policymakers to make
those priorities a reality.
The first principle is to honor and
affirm the federal-Tribal relationship.
This goes back to the very beginning
of the United States. Tribal governments
have always worked directly with the
federal government – not through state
governments. That direct nation-to-nation
relationship must always be maintained.
Right now, Congress is thinking about
shifting more authority and funding to
states, on the theory that states can more
efficiently spend those funds. We, too,
believe in local decision making. We’ve
been doing it for thousands of years.
The second principle is to engage
Tribal nations on all matters of national
policy that potentially impact them. Not
only is it the right thing to do. Not only
does it make everyone better off. It is also
the law. The Tribal consultation policies of
federal agencies reflect that fact.
Two recent laws illustrate when the
federal government takes its obligation to
consult seriously – and when it doesn’t.
I want to start with the one that failed
to meet our standard of consultation – the
recent tax overhaul.
For decades, Tribal leaders have advo-
cated for the same set of tax priorities.
We met often with members of Congress.
We offered thoughtful, pragmatic, deficit-
neutral policy proposals. But the bill came
together in a flurry. And when the dust
settled, Indian Country’s top priorities
were absent from the version the president
signed in December.
That is completely unacceptable.
Today, we call on federal policymak-
ers to consult Tribes on all major national
policies and to take that responsibility
seriously. In 2018, that means setting
Affirm our authority to regulate
taxes and commerce on our lands, with
the same degree of freedom that local
and state governments enjoy. Allow us to
use tax-exempt bonds the same way that
other governments do. Exempt Tribes from
federal excise taxes in the same way that
states are exempted.
All we want is a level playing field.
That is only fair and it’s not too much to ask.
Like other governments, Tribes are an
essential part of building a sustainable 21 st
century American economy. And we con-
tribute best when we chart our own paths.
The third principle I want to discuss
is reflected in the other positive example
of recent legislation passed by Congress.
Not only was it a product of meaningful
consultation with, and input from, Tribal
nations, it enacts the proven principle
that Tribal self-determination and self-
governance is the only policy that has ever
worked for Indian Country.
I am talking about the Indian Employ-
ment, Training and Related Services Con-
solidation Act, which expands the Tribal
workforce development program known
as 477 and makes it permanent.
Under 477, Tribal nations and Native
organizations can choose to consolidate up
to 13 federal programs into a single process
with a single reporting requirement, while
still addressing distinct local needs and
priorities. To date, more than 260 Tribal
nations and Native organizations have
taken advantage of 477, enhancing program
efficiency and effectiveness and making
real impacts in the lives of Native people.
Lives like Nicole Manzano’s. At the
age of 25, Nicole had been a caregiver
for her grandmother for many years. Her
grandmother’s death was a huge blow and
Nicole had to deal with her grief while
building a new life with little work expe-
rience. She came to Citizen Potawatomi
Work Force and Social Services, where
477-tethered programs gave her access
to training in résumé building, applying
and interviewing. She got a local full-time
job and assistance with gas vouchers,
clothing and basic food until she became
financially stable.
Stories like Nicole’s prove that enhanc-
ing 477 is smart policy. It affirms that the
program has been a success – and could be
an even greater one. But we shouldn’t stop
there. We should use this model, which
puts Tribal nations and communities in
the driver’s seat where they belong – as a
model to replicate across all other areas
of federal Indian policy.
Put simply, Tribal self-determination
and self-governance works. This is a mes-
sage that we must continue to bring to
those in leadership.
My fellow Native citizens, the most
powerful way to assert our right to deter-
mine our own destinies is on Election Day.
Close elections happen. Just last month,
candidates for one Virginia state house
seat earned the same number of votes. A
tie. They decided the election by drawing
a name from a bowl.
The Native Vote can be the deciding
vote in dozens of close races in 2018. In
fact, the Native vote has the potential to
swing elections for federal, state and local
offices across this country.
We will support the candidates who
respect the inherent sovereign rights we
possess and who recognize the value we
have to offer. Who support Tribal sover-
eignty, self-governance, consultation and
meeting the trust responsibility.
Elected officials must hear our voices
and heed our priorities – because we will
be watching. And we will be voting. As
one of the fast-growing populations in
the country, our vote more and more is
becoming a swing vote that candidates
must engage.
We have our voice and our vote, and in
2018 we will exercise it like never before.
As it has been for thousands of years,
the state of Indian nations is strong and
everlasting.
We will always be here.
Thank you.
March 2018
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Siletz News
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