Wyoming Perspectives; Indian Perspectives

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Hello everyone I'm Jeff. Welcome to Wyoming perspectives. Americans with Irish blood like me sometimes imagine that we have a foothold in two countries the home sought Ireland and the United States. Some Jewish people feel the same way about Israel. But for many Native Americans it's literally true. They are citizens of the United States while they also live on reservations where there are members of sovereign tribes in Wyoming. There's only one home for Indians established by treaty. The Wind River Indian Reservation. With us tonight to answer viewers questions about the issues they face are for members of the two

tribes who resided Wind River. First we have Ivan Posey the chairman of the Eastern Shoni Business Council and until a few weeks ago the tribal liaison between the state of Wyoming and the tribes he met her death next to him is Sarah Robinson formerly a member of the Shoni Business Council now running the tribe's economic development arm NUA and on her left Allison sage. The social worker on the reservation who is currently a member of the Arapaho Business Council and finally next to him is Patrick goggles also a former business council member who will be going to the Wyoming state legislature this year representing District 33. Welcome congratulations to those of you who have just run or have run even today in an election. Thank you. This is a busy political season we might just start off talking a little bit about that. I'm going to say one thing first though to the viewers and that is that they should call in questions for these panelists to Wyoming Public Television. The number to call is 1 800 4 9 5 9 7 8 8. Now let's jump right in and talk a little bit about

politics I think probably Patrick goggles your story is the one that people be most interested in initially here. You've just been elected to the legislature something of a historic moment. Tell me how that came about and what your expectations are. Approximately four years ago I spoke with Dr. Tipton at the time and I had asked him if he was going to run again and he would comment retiring because of his health. And he asked me if I was interested in running and I said Yes yes I am but not against you because I knew it would be you know pretty near impossible to defeat him face to face an election with you know the replacement duct taped him with Jim Allen with the Republican Party myself. I felt two things one is getting a voter registration drive going and getting the precinct to vote. We're very important to winning this election. This election was much larger than me. If you look at you know and talk to many of the residents that voted in District 33 were the message

was resonating across the reservation. And and and. Presuming that it was about time a Native American was elected to represent the interest of the winner in the reservation and also the voters. The precinct number 33. I received votes in every precinct and I especially want to thank all the voters that did vote for me. My strategy now is to go to the caucus on Sunday in the Robinson Democratic caucus. I'm looking forward to serving on the education committee and hopefully the Labor Health and Social Services Committee and at the end of the session Hopefully I will be appointed to the a select committee on tribal relations. Let's talk a little bit about one of the things that did happen in this election I think you were quite involved in this that was the registration drive that took place on the reservation and we know this was an election with a lot of interest nationwide. But again we had a lot of I think of new voters that went to the polls you want to talk a little bit about how that

happened then to the north in the REPL Business Council decided that they wanted to support this election for the national presidency also for the local. Political positions we have that was running and one of our tribal members Mr. goggles was running in with the council really wanted to stand behind him and help him. Be an advocate for the reservation people here and we also had a member of the Shawnee running for a seat in the C seat Mrs. Carroll. So we have we have elections about elections going on because of course you were running for the Business Council opposing you were running for the Shawnee Business Council. Yes. Can you differentiate among these things for us and explain a little bit about how that works. I guess in terms of the separation of how those work and how they need to work together. Share. You know the business council elected on two year terms. And hopefully in the future people will look at that tribal members look at that and terms increase in terms.

Tattooed to four year terms hopefully something will happen. Our role is to look after the. Interest of the Shona tribe which you know people tell us here after actually representing a whole reservation so that's another way that we look at it. History with the state government. There's been some mess as everybody knows there's a history there. Over the water issue in the now I think their window of opportunity is there with Patrick with some of the stuff the liaison has had worked with the governor there and with some other members of the legislature that has given notice to the tribe so I think all these elected officials. Need to come together to look at the issues that affect all of us. I want to talk about the trouble is opposition but first I want to remind the viewers one more time we were getting some calls in now call In Your questions for the members of this panel. Questions you might have about any subject area that fits here. The number to call is 1 800 4 9 5 9 7 8 8. We want to hear from viewers. I have a huge bunch of questions myself but of

course I know that people out there have many things they want to ask but if you could talk a little bit you served as the tribal liaison between the state and the tribes that position appears to be terminated now but talk a little bit about what the job was and how it was set up. Well in the set up between well let me go back a ways. When Sarah was on the council and if she was on a council and Governor Geringer was there an office there and we really want to advocate for a desk within the. Executive branch of state government. So Mike the Montana tribes had. We never really got that. Councils of a 2003 and 2004 Joint Council in the governor with the legislature approached I mean I worked on this together to create a tribalism position. The process was you. You applied for it in they narrowed it down to five names which are. Finally the one that was appointed was the governor and made the final appointment which was me at the time I was I think I repost called in and with that was a good place to work. But I really

feel that. The tribal liaison. Was. I'm not too sure or highway Woodward that but. What we really need to do I think from my experience being there is I think we need good policy. I don't think there's very there's not to be a longer history of how the tribes work of state government and vice versa. And when you're in the middle of that in the United you know you get in that direction for maybe sometimes 13 members the governor and the 12 Business Council members you kind of become a political football at times. But I think the long term strategy and a long term goal I feel needs to be good. State tribal policy. OK a very comprehensive document that deals with water social services. Transportation and I think that's what needs to be done. I think this was a good intentions I have no regrets I did it. It was very good experience for me I gained a lot of. Knowledge at that state level that I think will benefit me by serving the tribe.

Now let's talk a little bit about why it matters why the relationship between the state and the tribes has become or may have become important and significant. Sara Robinson I don't know if you want to jump in on this one or not but you've been through it as as a shoddy business council member. You work in economic development. You know the reservation doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's here in the in the state of Wyoming and what do you think about the importance of that relationship and what needs to be done there. Well I think. Tribal liaison was sort of the first step. And so I think we need to build on that in the form of educating through where Patrick's going to be through the legislator later is through the school boards through the government agencies because what I have found when I was within the initial class the first class of leadership Wyoming which Patrick was also a member of the next year was that leaders within communities throughout Wyoming. Do not know

anything about the reservation and almost call it just this black hole and don't know what to expect or what not to expect. And that to me comes from the US. Patrick Allison and his position within the raffle Council. I haven't myself. All of us who are in positions to work with government agencies or schools are wherever to continually educate them about. Who we are. What we're about what we're doing where we're going and what our dreams and visions are for itself because what I have found just over time and within a mile on experience is that. The people on the outside have a lot of dreams and visions for us and what they think is best for us. And I think we finally have taken that step forward to say we know what's best for us so let us share that vision with you. But we do need

assistance and help wherever it may come. In moving forward in that direction whether it's you know financial Whether it's professional help or whatever that may be. We want to I want to follow up a little bit on the Travel liaison question that we got some phoned in questions beginning to arrive and what you'll find happens is the questions tend to kind of be all over the map sometime so we may switch subjects fairly rapidly here. But I'm going to start with a question that came from Fort Washington from Melissa who asks What are they and I think that means all four of you going to do about methamphetamine use on the reservation and this is an expression of concern what to do for teen parenting. Allison why don't we start with you on that question before you start I'm sorry. Let me just remind viewers this is what we want to get in more other questions from our viewers. Call 1 800 4 9 5 9 7 8 8 and get your questions in. Sorry Allison. Please proceed.

We have a wind river police force on the reservation which is a Bureau of Indian Affairs police works not tribal police force. They have their command center out of Billings area office in. We are in. Collaboration with a drug Defense Department we have a team in place that consists of the state drug team also. So we have one officer from the BFI police force detail to do nothing but drug investigations and in that area right now in the court system you've got to have all your ducks in a row and you've got to have your case concise and exact. Otherwise a judge will throw it out if you misstep. So there they have forensic forensic interview forensic interview with our forensic interview investigation

going on right now. And so they've identified drug dealers and their locations of their house and dealings their transactions. And they want to know too. Curtail it and get ahead of it where it comes from the big drug dealers. They don't want to bust the drug small guys right now. They want to track it all the way up the line words coming from there. They did one in one bust in Washington and that took seven years and so you know it's a process that we're going through. It seems like we're not getting done and that was one of my campaign strategies when I came in two years ago was to stop that. That would be one of the questions would be you know I mean let's talk about how much of a problem there is then we can talk a little more about how we solve it. I do as you like to be sure what I think you know when the river's aeration is a microcosm of the state of Wyoming the state of Wyoming has a methamphetamine problem. I was involved with a methamphetamine conference they held in June and basically it was awareness.

I think you need to get the community aware of what this drug is what it's made of what effects it has. Then I think the next step is to only work with law enforcement agencies but you also need to look at social service agencies and also our court systems our treatment facilities. Two things I want to really address here is our law and order code is inadequate right now to to I really the Tribal Law and Order code when it governs when the river is a patient is is not adequate in addressing methamphetamine. If a person gets busted with meth and methamphetamines. I talked with Chief diagnoses who mentioned a person could get out cheaper if if they was caught with methamphetamines as opposed to getting caught for public intoxication. So something's wrong there. The charts I need to look at the law in order to strengthen that. But also we need to look at the other side of that to where treatment is available for people that

may want to straighten up. I hear this drug is so. Damaging that even people that want to get off it can't get off it. We've been in talks with the state who look at a residential treatment facility at the state training school grounds upon the north and there and those talks are resuming right now because I think when you you need to look at those social issues. I think this is a very good question because I think you need to address the social issues before you look at some of the economic issues. You know you can't create jobs and have people that can't hold them because they have some type of bad habit. But I think you know point out as part of our education process that the law and order code is something that is passed by the business councils by the tribal governments the be I-A of course is a federal agency the Bureau of Indian Affairs which administers law enforcement on the reservation. And then you talked about state programs which are also involved and are brought into the reservation either through agencies set up by the tribes or by state agencies so there's a lot of different things at work here.

Yes as an individual you know it is a tribal member and an apparent on the ground. I believe one of the first place to start is right right in the home you have to talk to your children talk to your grandchildren have talk to your nieces and nephews. The first thing I would do I would tell young people I'm opposed to that type of behavior. It's a behavior. Some people look at as a recreational behavior but nonetheless it's the behavior that leads to destruction self-destruction. So I need to start in the home and you talk to young people about you go to the schools and talk about it and tell them you're opposed to you know our native people. Generations ago didn't use this type of drug. They used the plants you know to heal themselves and to live good lives. So it starts in the home and it and it goes out to our extended families. So we need to do that each one of us go out and talk to our young people and and encourage them to do things good for themselves you know make good choices and leave the hard drugs you know

away you know take them out of their lives. It starts right home so that's one of the first things I would be doing would be talking to young people encouraging them to look at you know education as a way to you know to get an advancement life in some kind of training. But empower the family because in the family that's too much well where where our strength comes from is from our families. So as families you know we can combat it you know. We've got questions piling up which I expected would happen I notice a lot of them are coming out on economic development but I want to I want to ask one that somewhat relevant to what we've just been talking about. This comes from Gordon in Pinedale and it's asking you all to address the tension between the tribes in the state paying for child protection services who should provide such services. I want to start with Alice and sage on this what I know that you've been involved in and by all means let's hear from everybody at the table who wants to speak. And we probably need to introduce some of our audience to the problem that exists at least for the Arapaho tribe in terms of these services.

Well every state in the United States is required by federal law to provide Child Protection Services. So that's a federal mandate that every state must provide for. We're unique in this. This state of Wyoming because we're the only state in the United States where two tribes share one reservation. Throughout the United States each tribe has their own individual reservations so let's really compose a lot of the issues that we have here in where we have to solve really governments northern Iraq for when that Easter Shoni and we have different religions different languages. And so that's how it separates us from the normal state child protection services that's going on that's provided to me. And we clearly have a problem now in terms of working through the tribal agencies and more cells or nations like I said bit in their contract that state all

previous years the current governor and attorney general took out the language where it says. This tribes will fall under state jurisdiction. They always scratch that line and so we was OK with it. But this year they Last year they insisted that that language standard that this was language that had to do with resolving disputes in the contract in state courts rather than tribal court yes. And we told the state well you cannot sue the state of Colorado in the state of Wyoming and you cannot US to sue the state of Northern Rock when the state of Wyoming. If you were going to sue the state of Colorado you would go to federal court and if you can sue the northern Ruppel will go to federal court. So let's talk about shoes and let's see we have a different position on this on the part of the Shoshone Tribe is that correct. Yes this is known as the Shawnee Council at the time. Through their legal. Their legal firm deemed that it was not a threat to their sovereignty. There was no. Waiver sovereign

immunity and I think because of this provision in the contest and I think that the issue was and in my understanding was the applicable law and venue and I know one of the Shawnee tribe attorneys or worked at the age's office and kind of did a mediation process in there and also there was a cause in there that either party could cancel the contract without cause. So I think there are some ways on the contract I guess just differences of legal opinion on how you want to interpret that. I was I was then at the liaison position so I had no Really decision making authority but there's a case where you're getting pulled in several different directions and there you just saw it out of the question from the gentleman from Pinedale. Yes I believe that the two tribes they would probably agree with me they both have a responsibility for child protection services along with the state of Wyoming because these children are referred to are citizens of Wyoming and also members of the two drives. So it's a it's a it's a situation that I believe is resolvable.

It is resolvable. The next one we're going port for information is the northern Ruppel case for child protection is the third largest in the state behind Cheyanne detachment in the northern Ruppel. So there's a lot of services needed. Yes several of us all of us going to say was that a part of this issue I think also really resides in the fact that when we look at our court system and that sort of system is really kind of the heart of what our sovereignty is asked as tribes and we all know here that right now it's not functioning the way it needs to know who's you know who you are going to point the finger at. I don't think it it's a it's a whole lot of things and one is it doesn't have enough money to function the way it needs to. When you go into district court and look at the automated systems they have. And then you look sort of at the systems that we have where things are still being done by hand. You know so there's just those kinds of issues where the tribal court is

sort of them in the middle and in the crux. And it really should be a very strong place that we can go to to rely on the state should never be having to question whether or not our tribal court is capable or not of handling our child protection cases. And it's interesting the tribal court has begun taking on some really significant cases including big personal injury cases involving non-Indians and stuff so there's a lot going on there. I'm going to rush aside a little bit you guys are popular we're getting a lot of questions over the over the phones and so we want to move into some new areas here one that I knew was going to come up it is coming up. Is economic development questions and I'm going to start with Sarah Robinson on this what do you folks feel is the best economic development for reservation for this reservation. And how are you developing a workforce for that development. This comes from a call or a letter. Well I think and I can't speak for the entire reservation

because what the rat hole nation and its leadership and the direction that they're moving in for their people is not necessarily where the Shoney's are and where we're moving. And part of that has to do again with what Alison talked about which just. Who we are as people are different but their rapport and romance and their numbers you know are a lot more than what the Shoshone enrollment is. And so even just where we're located you know logistically within a reservation and where we claim our communities are and where we live and reside as a Shawnee people and as a whole people are all different so our directions are going to be different but both tribes do have economic development branches that have been established and that purpose really was to separate business from politics because they don't go together in anybody's world. And what has been happened over time though

to create a labor pool that is a work force. That can get out there you know are through the 4 7 7 programs through the workforce investment. Federally there's a lot of money are not a lot of money but there has been money in the past to do training programs vocational type programs. I think the school districts like Wyoming India and what a rappel school is trying to do now with the new charter school are trying to move in that direction focusing on vocational type trades through our Terrill program. They have set up programs and trainings to address the jobs that are within our location. And again it goes back to. Educating especially our own people about what their skin and their values are.

And where those then go and how far they can take them and I think we need to talk then specifically about some of the industries some of the endeavors that the tribe the Shawnee tribe might want to pursue. But I'm going to leave this in to another question which I'm going to direct that our northern rapper who guesses that is something we know is a lot of people's minds. The casino we have a good question are from Fort Washington asking when will the Casino be open and then we'll ask for the show to go to have a casino too that's in the question as well. Let's start. If you don't mind Alison with you talking about this. We are we have the plans drawn up for a new casino thirty three thousand square foot casino we have our foundation footers in place nor we nor the REPL tribe invested approximate two million dollars of our self financed in that effort. Now we're it's going to cost us another 10 million to complete the building. And that's with the lights. Everything takes your carpet everything including machines. We will probably within a year

we should have it operational. And is that is the objective of the casino is it is it to raise money or is it to create jobs. Probably it's for both but I mean it would be the primary objective is to employ our tribal people people give them jobs so they can take care of themselves. Right now we employ 77 tribal members are in jobs. And once we get our new casino we'll add another hundred fifty more jobs and those will be job said will be some of them will be non-Indian jobs better goggles this is one area where there's a little tension between the state and the tribes particularly the Arapaho tribe in this case. Absolutely. I believe prior to you know we were talking economic development such a broad area. But what has to happen has been underpinning has to be good infrastructure in place in our communities. Water waste water communications highways. There has to be. But we're talking about tribal court has to be a code that fosters that type of development business development.

The tribal court is a place we can go and we can rely upon it. So the infrastructure has to be in place. And that's long term. But that can happen simultaneously as with developing business. So I see the government's role as helping and assisting the tribes in developing that infrastructure not only the physical infrastructure but the governmental infrastructure as well. I was going to try to switch a soda and poesy to catch him taking a cell phone I thought that was just passed and just missed it. So part of the question was and we're not going to just get trapped on casinos here but one of the questions part of the question was is that a part of the Shoshone economic development plans as well a casino another casino. You know we're we're discussing that aspect and we have been for several years now and I'm not sure where we'll go with that. I know we got a report back to our general council which we're going to do and I think we look at the right person look at the Casino be in this part of the puzzle. I think we talked about how much resources we have on reserve base and I think when you look at the terrorism aspect of it. People come in through the

reservation and going through Yellowstone. We have a wealth of natural resources where we can look at develop recreation sites you know for people to come camp and we don't even have those. We need to look at parks for our families and. You know those those types of things and I think once we feel like Mr. goggle said once we leave that basic infrastructure it's easier for us to build on that. And I think our role as a council members and elected officials is to foster that progress and make it easier for not only our tribal entities to create to create business but we'd also ultimately like other companies bigger companies that are from House side the state outside the reservation to come in and see that the reservation is a good place to do business. I may be coming look at manufacturing or some other type of. Companies record or other type of ventures that could benefit the reservation and I think that's something that some of the viewers are trying to imagine is what what would it actually look like what kind of jobs

would we be talking about we. We have a question here which in a way comes it backs into that question it's from the caller to the 30 asking why don't we as Indians have as many jobs as Riverton or Lander job services have. Sir Robin let me swing this back to you and let's talk a little bit about some of the specific kinds of industries or activities that you that you might want to foster that Pagels has raised the need for infrastructure. And that of course doesn't solve creating jobs. But this seems to be a very basic question there is high unemployment. Where are you going to where are you looking to create jobs. Well I think I know where we are on the shiny side. We are looking at. Actually expanding and developing some of the businesses that we already have. You know I mean the Shoshone Tribe has and owns and operates and employs tribal members at the dialysis center which is located in Lander. We have shown the information technology

which is an information technology company which has a huge defense contract now. You know we started with six people about a year and half ago and now there's 12 people who are working there. So we've created jobs there and that i t arena is huge. I mean I think the sky's the limit there. It's we're we can we're only going to limit ourselves you know our construction companies with all the road work that is going on within Fremont County with Toby pass. There's a lot of jobs there but we need to have our ducks in a row. As tribal companies as the tribal councils us tribal organizations to make sure that when we're one step ahead of everybody else so that it's our gravel pits that road bases coming out of and not one that's located 20 miles away and we as a tribe as tribes do have minerals that are strategically located all over and so I

think there's you know there's jobs there because of it. I think Indian Health Service which is located there and then the Shoshone Tribe also owned Morningstar manor which is. A nursing home that's not the correct word bit. You know so I think the health profession is an area that can be expanded on along with a dialysis center. We're going to talk a lot more about this I want to give one more reminder to the viewers though even though I have a stack of questions here please call in with your questions for our panelists. The number to call is 1 800 4 9 5 9 7 8 8 we're going to get to as many as we can. Well we'll keep pursuing for a little bit I think this question about jobs. I sensed by this question a real concern about why this has been true for a fairly long time. High unemployment a lack of jobs on the reservation. Alison sage or Patrick goggles we neither of you like to talk a little bit about that and that you counter that. Well I think one of them goes back to infrastructure where we're 50 years behind everybody else 20 only 27 percent of our homes have phones

compared to 96 percent in surrounding Wyoming. So that's one of the infrastructures that problem that hurts us. We have we have a lot of opportunities that we need to start pursuing We have a tribal college that we need to train our people were working at that. We have a casino Coming up we're going to hire people there. We're going to get 80 certified business company to do Department of Defense contracts. And there's millions of dollars there that we can do. There's some other opportunity with tourism. There's opportunity with lumber the timber with water development. There's a lot there's a lot of programs that we can start utilizing and developing. I have a feeling for a lot of viewers this is all this is all new information that there's a you know there are a lot of folks out there who really don't have much knowledge of the efforts that are being made and the activities that are going on.

Petr goggles did you want to add something that actually I wanted to say the economic opportunities that tribal governments can provide for their memberships you know are close at hand how we went through to call blue sky will be reconfigured here in the near future. That's one avenue I will be looking and researching and making sure that happens because it's a it's a thorough it's a it's a main artery on the reservation for US Highway 130 to wow me. I mean 132 and that will provide construction jobs. I do believe that the workforce is available on our wonderful Indian reservation. Many of our tribe members now travel great distances to work in the many mineral industries many and work on rigs and they travel great distances to go and work and they come back home for some days they will work for seven days. But I do know that there are many young people who are going to this you know this institution such Well the college they're going to training institutes and they're wanting to come back and live here. Housing is a big part of that economic development. I'm the executive director

of the REPL tribal housing currently. We're talking in terms of building 100 houses and next five years we're going to build them ourselves and we're going to employ you know tribal members and and we want to put tribal people in those houses that are affordable affordability has to be a part of the underpinning of economic opportunity as well. We can't price our tribe members out of the housing market. But not all tribe members will be living on the reservation some will be residing at Robert and lander. And that's that's nothing against them. They want to be able to live in a comfortable environment. We're also looking at building homes here in Riverton as well at the college childes area you know and when you talk about that like housing construction you're talking about the kind of vocational training that we've discussed earlier that's taking place in some of the schools. One of our questioners from Ford wash asks how are we going to keep newly graduated college students on the reservation. What can we offer them. Ivan Posey would you like to answer that. Sure I think once again no. I thought my comments were kind of a microcosm army.

I mean I was losing all its college students and you know we've been fortunate enough over the years to work. Have the means to educate any tribal member to show a tribal member that wants to go to school with her. And we've had a tribal members that attended Princeton and Yale and were not you know they go all over the country but I think very few of them come back because of lack of. Economic or. Economic opportunities for them to come back. I think with what Mrs. Robinson mentioned earlier about Shoni Information Technology Corporation you know you go there and most of those young people there which are probably 20 to 25 years years old have got at least got a degree. And it's very good to see that you know but. The Shawnee tribe is also part of the Native American Band bank med we call it bankrupt ration which is a soul the own tribal bank based out of Denver there which is has 13 other tribes and hopefully those resources will come to the reservation soon where we can employ

hopefully Pinker's them. I think my my experience with the poor service I think we need to contract some of the duties from. Contract some of the responsibility from the bureau. And with our natural resource and that's a resource that we have we need to educate foresters wildlife managers and all these are the things to so that they can come back and live close their families. Big job ahead. I'm going to shift to another subject here again just because of the kinds of calls that are coming in. We can always go back to any of these things and again I want you to jump in when you see a need to. Johnny from St. Stephens calls to ask about the issues of water and water development reservation says no pet interest of mine but obviously there been a whole series of events that have led us to the place where we are right now where there is talk about water development but there has been for quite a few years who would like to tackle this one straight off water development on the reservation let me be get a job and I do believe that water storage on the winder in a reservation is a viable option not an

alternative but an option. But I do believe that the winner tribes have to make that decision. It cannot be made by an external. Decision making border our policy but it has to be the tribes themselves that make that decision as to what storage areas that they select. And it has to be with you know working with the tribes not telling them what to do but working with them and helping them develop where it's just in them develop that storage that opportunities you know is near I think why I should say I think I really do believe it's there. This administration governing Friedel has an opportunity to do that. There's been some very specific proposals and there's been talk about investing state money and enlarging relaying that old blue Holz reservoir idea has been talked about again. So there are some ideas out there but they have been out there for quite a while and I don't see them moving forward at this point.

Well I believe I believe one of the tenets to water development on the winner of his race has to be a stable tribal government has to be like i've been suggested earlier that if we start looking at four year terms for Tribal Council members that gives them some longevity to make some decisions and do some long term planning to teach it planning. Did you what. Just on the timing here. You know the last year was a first year that the that the tribes are allowed to get funding to the women Water Development Commission. And I think there was a I think there was three or four projects there. One was of course was enhanced in our water treatment facilities which I think is one of the top priorities. It affects our economic growth of effects health and safety and those types of concerns in terms of. Reliable and and healthy drinking water. You know I know both systems if they are washed the are at their max I think that needs to be addressed first before we.

I really feel that before we look at any other type of story Jerald development. Part of that legislation last year was the state gave I think two and a half million dollars which was contingent on a federal match of 2 1/2 million dollars from a federal source for the irrigation rehab. You know where we got a very old irrigation system they can system and undeliverable So I think you know we like the layers and we want to put the cart before the horse. We can't look at the storage or any of those types of things if we don't have the system that is going to deliver it adequately. You know so I think we need to really seriously look at irrigation we have before we look at any type of development and that way we could actually utilize more of our court awarded water right which we don't fully utilize at this time. We would also want to cover that subject. We've got people ready to move us on to another one so I will say quick call us and say you know we've employed our hydrologist to do development on our for our water and house and plans in the coming in the making

to do some different projects. So we're planning and we're moving ahead and we're just going to take some time to get there and we've got to do it in. Collaboration with the Shawnee tribe. It was benefit everybody. This is the area where there's where there's a huge amount of talk about economic development we could do a power storage generating power for one of our storage sites. Sure and the thing is we we want to develop it and control it so the money comes to us where someone else isn't making money off from our water. So that's why it's taken a little longer but we're going to make it with a little service and it'll make money for us. Right there we're going to jump to a whole different subject a little just to get another one. We have a caller from Sheridan Liz asking are the tribes interested in encouraged by the role of the reservation in wolf recovery. It's a critical area for the wolf recovery process when that I'd like to speak to that topic. This

is someone asking about Wolf habitat on the reservation and whether the tribes would encourage I presume wolves to be reintroduced or allowed to spread into the reservation I think the latter is more correct I think they've already sprayed into the reservation. You know I don't think it is your reintroduction and crossing guards up until the past. Yeah I'm embarrassed but I really think that we need to be at the table in those discussions when they when they have these sometimes like Mr. Ramsey mentioned earlier sometimes black hole middle I mean that's somebody you know a lot of people don't really feel that we need to have a voice but over the last three years I think federal agencies have been more serious about the trust responsibility to tribes and that they need to work with us and and let us know what's going on there so. Reintroduction Well I guess dispersal dispersed so it is it is an issue for us I don't think you know of course we have a large cattle.

We have a large cattle business a lot a lot of ranchers on the reservation so I'm sure they're worse need to be heard much processed but they're here I think that I do hope of course that as per stride was played a major role in the wolf reintroduction process there. I think when the fact when the state of Idaho wasn't interested the tribe stepped in so we would also like to comment about that whole question of introducing or allowing walls on the reservation but it's not that we can allow them because they're already here like Mr. Posey said. They're already been killing our cows on the Elk Mountain Side and so we have to work with the state wildlife department to help them contain these wolves are the ones that are bad and they run in packs and a man don't stand a chance against a pat. One other consideration is the protections you know at the federal level at state level and now at the tribal level. Those are all interests and parties that need to be working together to manage I say manage

whether it be read duction or a management plan to look at Wolves as predators. You bet I'm going to again make another switch here. We have a caller from Dubois crowbarred listed that way asking if the Bureau of Indian Affairs is a partner or a stumbling block. And I think we might use this and expand it a little bit and talk about the Indian Health Service as well. These are two federal agencies that of course work with the tribes on the reservation who wants to start on the way. Oh I think that I will stand to be a. I think to be a has has good people working and sometimes a bad system. I think on a federal level and never has been funded to what it's need has been because I think the reason behind that is that it's an agency that deals with Indians. I was on the taskforce in 2000 2001 that I looked at. We are reorganizing to be-I which happens probably every five six years.

I made the comment that reorganizing the B.A.A. is like rotating for bald tires. And I still believe that. I think it's going to have to go through a whole new and I don't know how you would do that needs it needs to be. Mark closely looked at not only by the select committee and in affairs at the federal level but that you know the Department of Interior and all those need to really look at what is going to meet the needs and what their purpose is in relation to Indian tribes. So I think they they have been a stumbling block for tribes historically. I think. We can we as council members and really need to push that. There is meaningful. We are going to zation not just moving people in different places. And this is really both a local and a national problem and we've got to I think most of us are aware of a historic lawsuit that's still underway regarding the recovery of lost trust

funds collected by the B IRA in trust for tribal members. Nobody knows where they are. I want to echo even sentiments that we have several tribal members working in the B of an affairs when we were agency. We have civil trial members working at the Indian Health Service. And and and we talk about economic development economic opportunity that this is part of the sustainability of this concept that we have Child members working there. My my take on it is like I have and they're working under a situation that's never been fully funded. And plus they have regulations that can't be changed overnight. It takes years sometimes to change regulations and change the relationship between the tribes in the federal government operates. My area's been housing and we've been working on changing how we approve. We get certified Tylor status reports from the buildings every office and there is a federal structure.

You have to work within a structure. You do at times you can't bypass it you have to work within it because of the Federal for do Shiri trust responsibility that the treaty requires the United States to exercise. But there is a system of course by which the tribes can take over some of the functions of the BFI and we have a caller from Fort Washington Clint asking are there are the tribes planning to take over. 638 the irrigation operation and maintenance. And if so what are those plans. Can anybody speak to that. I survive and I am I guess you know the whole relationship with NBA and union health. It was created way back in the early 1900s and it was a relationship that federal trust status relationship was created not by tribes themselves because I think we were doing OK. It was you know by the United States Supreme Court and just historically you know those three cases which within law are called the Marshall trilogy because they were given

by Chief Justice John Marshall who really set forth precedent and that policy for how the United States government was going to deal with Indian tribes and that's where you get the terms domestic dependent nations and ward and Guardian relationships. And for a long time we as tribal people allowed for that to be the scenario that we allowed them to you know sort of envelope us in and we just went along with it. But as we have become stronger more educated more in tune what we want what we want as tribal nations then now we're stepping forward and saying. That very thing. Well why don't you then let us take those programs. The problem though which I think everyone at the table has already stated about the irrigation project is that. It is in such

disrepair because it has not been managed. And dealt with by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. If the tribes were to 6:38 that and take that it would cost the tribes a lot of money to put that system into a into a. To have. An irrigation system where water delivery could happen. All of us who irrigate from that and I think there's a lot of us sitting here at that table you know we do pay our own them charges just like all the non Indian Air gators who use that system. But when I look at my system which is up in that Malta flood area which is that is really at the sort of the foot hills of the Wind Rivers and then I drive down here to this pavilion area and look at their delivery system as compared to what I'm operating out of. I see a

lot of discrepancy there. And so those are some of the issues that the federal government and the bureau have never address. Yes should the tide take it sure I think they should. Any chance we get to take over a portion of our own services that are being directed to our own people. I always think we can do a better job. But what are you going to do with a faulty system you know. And let's talk a little bit about that in a different context but it's another federal service that really comes under a treaty obligation that's the Indian Health Service and say Can you talk a little bit about what's happening there because I know there's funding issues and and service issues as well. Well right now that the way the governmental system works the budget system is two years ahead. So what's happening today happened two years ago. And now with the war in Iraq a lot of the federal money are being cut from the Bureau of Indian Affairs the Department of Interior for indigent

services and they're going to Iraq. All right. You know from there. So we're losing a lot of money and it's really affecting us are our numbers are increasing our Nomen numbers and the money is decreasing. So it's really putting a lot of attention on even the state of Wyoming because they've got to pay for Medicare because our members are state state tribal or state members and county members. And so there's a lot of stress that the federal government is putting on us by cutting back on in and I'll service you know at some point we may want to think about taking over our own health care system and that in fact is another of the questions that's come in and that is the idea of putting a hospital or building a hospital on the reservation. I got to tell you all we're running very short of time but I do want to give you all a chance to do a conclusive answer. So why don't why don't we move to that right now. We've had a couple people call in. Clearly from off the reservation and ask you know sort of what can we do. These are obviously

non-Indian callers don't really know much about the reservation. We want to do something we don't know what it is. I want to let you take that and put it into a larger question that is we always asked politicians you know what what's your vision for the future what's what's the good thing what's the good change or the direction you want to move in. So as public servants I want to ask you individually all four of you what you want to do. What do you see the future for the reservation holding and where you want to move it towards young people and for its residents. Let's start with Ivan Posen we'll go right around the table. We don't have much time us OK. My vision for the wonders of ation is that where you become more self-sufficient and. Have a sustainable economy a healthier economy a healthier community. Where we address the social issues such as methamphetamines alcohol substance abuse and those types of issues where we could overcome those so we could have a good place for people to live. You know we're very resilient people and it shows that where we're operating in the government now that really wasn't created by us and we're

catching up to a system now where. There are younger people need to realize that they're a part of that system. But on the belts around the table I hate to cut you short but I've got more to say Sara Robinson please. Very brief this early out of time. I would just echo what I haven't said but I think a lot of it where we need to go comes through education and knowing the importance of it and I mean the other thing that I would like to see is for our people to be empowered and for them to feel that empowerment and know that. What they bring themselves to the table in whatever situation it is that they have a lot of value. I'm sorry to rush you through all since a very briefly please. Well we have 3000 children under 18 we've got to provide the education system for them that's appropriate to get them trained and get them through college so they can start taking care of themselves and their families. Petra goggles you get the last word here very quickly. My vision is that the tribe and the young people are able to retain a culture of

speak our language and have good homes have healthy communities in which to raise their children. I want to thank our four guests for joining us and for answering and debating to some degree the questions that have been called in by our viewers. Hopefully I think we've helped our viewers and everybody else become better acquainted. We're neighbors in this community of Wyoming and hopefully from this we can work together toward solving some of the problems that we discussed. We hope all you viewers will tune in regularly to wildly public television for shows like perspectives. We're talking about history. We're talking about government about schools many other things. Thanks again for joining us will be back with the governor December 16th for a one on one conversation with him. Good night and again thanks to all of you. Funding for this program is made possible in part by a.

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