Meet Unit 1 Candidate Diedrie (D.J.) Malloy in Kinross May 3rd

Coffee Hour Meet and Greet at the Kinross Rec Center on Monday, May 3rd from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The purpose is to offer a free form discussion to allow people in the Kincheloe area an opportunity to meet me, ask questions and discuss their thoughts, concerns and ideas regarding our tribe. There will be free coffee and home made cookies available. By the way these are regular Rec Center hours of operation. So, if you need to bring your children, they will have plenty of fun things to do while you take part in the meeting. Plans are being made to have this same forum in other communites and more information will be provided as the dates and times are set. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! - Diedrie (D.J.) Malloy

Tribal Chairman Executive Assistant let go after 15 years of service for Sault Tribe

Updates to this article appear at the bottom.

We hear the Administrative Assistant (Sault Tribe Member) for the Tribal Chairman was let go last Friday for reasons unknown at this time. There is speculation that it was done in the wake of the separation of the Chairman and CEO duties via the Secretarial Referendum. However it makes us wonder why the Chairman would be denied such support. Has the board truly reduced the Chairman’s position to nothing more than a figurehead at the board table and thereby justify that he doesn’t need support staff?

Official Candidate List

The Sault Tribe election committee has released the official candidate list for this year’s tribal board election.
The directors to be elected are as follows:

• Unit 1 - two members
• Unit 2 - one member
• Unit 3 - one member
• Unit 4 - one member
• Unit 5 - one member

Current Sault Tribe Director Hoffman Responds to Guide to Sault Tribe

Already, with our first edition of Guide to the Sault Tribe, we are making an impact. I want to thank all of you who have e-mailed me and voiced your opinions. Our goal is to advocate for a fair and honest board. Director Hoffman has taken issue with Sault Tribe Guide Vol. 1. Unfortunately, Board Members like Hoffman are unable to distinguish a critique from an attack. Years of membership observations and personal experience speak louder than the defensive stance taken by Hoffman. I can understand his concern about the information I’ve shared with members in my previous emails. After all I am advocating for you to avoid voting for incumbents currently up for election. What should be more apparent, and of more concern to Hoffman and board members, is that I’m sharing the collective voice of frustration from our tribal members.

An Opportunity To Resolve The Charlotte Beach Land Claim

Two groups -- Michigan Is Yours and Racing to Save Michigan -- are seeking to place initiatives on the November ballot that would allow up to 15 new casinos in the state. Michigan's gambling revenue is the fifth highest in the nation. An obvious threat to the current 23 casinos in Michigan, what is the Sault Tribe doing to resolve the Charlotte Beach Land swap for Romulus?

Sault Tribe Guide Supports Malloy For Unit 1

Who we support this election season:

Malloy. She is a voice of the people. She shares some of the same opinions I have outlined above. Please support Malloy. She gives us hope. Please visit Malloy's facebook website by clicking here.
I see other candidates who are running whom I am waiting to hear from and read their platform. I will give them my support if I feel they will push fourth most of the items posted in this e-mail. I wish them all the best of luck.

Recent Referendum Only Throws a Bone To The Tribal Membership

You cannot put a band aid on a gaping wound. And that’s all the recent referendum was about. Politically it looks good, but it does not solve the real problem. It took a small piece of the 2008 proposed constitution and threw it to the membership. I believe the recent separation of powers referendum was politically motivated by an incumbent. And what is more interesting is it occurred right before an election season. It was not intended to truly make things less political. If that was the case then we would need to start by separating the judicial system, which is a more bolder step. The board of directors still has power over whoever they hire. And the current Executive Director who essentially has the same power as a Governmental CEO bows down to the board often. Would you argue with your boss and face being fired? How does that take out the politics? If anything it gives the board more power, thus more politics.

What You The Membership Have Taught Me

From the deepest sincerity of my heart, I want to thank all of you who let me into your homes. Who exchanged e-mails with me. Who talked to me on the phone. Who read what I had to say. I also want to respectfully bow my hand and say miigwech to those who have passed on since the election. Even thought I cannot run, I cannot let them and you down and not say anything. All of you made me a better person. I also want to thank all of my friends, former co workers at the Sault Tribe, members of the Bahweting drum, neighbors and family up in the Soo, I miss all of you. Through your words and knowledge, I see so much now than I ever seen before. I hope we have learned from each other!

Former Sault Tribe Board of Directors Candidate Who Lost by 5 Votes Will Not Run This Election Cycle

Aniin, my name is Nathan Wright. Many of you remember me as the former Webmaster for the Sault Tribe. I sent your almost weekly e-mails and kept you updated via the Sault Tribe website. In 2008 I ran for Unit 1 Sault Tribe Representative and lost by five votes to Bernard Boushor.