In Council woman Deb Pine’s Unit Report on page 24 of the August issue of Win Awenen Nisitotung (Sault Tribe Newspaper) she states, "I would like to thank the following for their unconditional love and support in that good anishinabe way." She then lists several people including myself who did not support her. I would like the Sault Tribe membership to know I did not support Deb Pine. This is an outright lie and should be a testament to her character. If she is willing to lie to you about this, then what else will she lie to us about? I feel justified in calling it a lie because if it were only meant to be sarcastic, it was lost on 99.9% of membership; so what’s the point?
One of the biggest reasons I did not support Deb Pine was due to her unwavering blind support of Bernard Boushor. Recently Deb handed out a document outlining Bernard and her mother’s contributions to the Sault Tribe prepared by Bernard's attorneys to the board in a closed meeting. The Sault Tribe attorney immediately picked up these documents and the board voted unanimously to keep Deb out of participating in the Tribe’s case against Bernard’s due to her conflicts of interests. In Deb’s view she believes because Bernard and her mom brought the tribe so much money we should overlook the money he owes the tribe. I disagree. Unethical behavior, such as stealing Tribal artifacts and robbing the Tribal coffers in the dead of night, cannot be wiped away by any good deeds of the past. One could also argue that while Bernard and Deb’s mother did in fact bring money in to Sault Tribe, they were hired, and paid a hefty sum to do so. Remember this was no beneficent act on their part. It was their JOB!
I will take this opportunity given to me by Deb to state again why I did not vote for Deb:
1. She is the daughter of Jolene Nertoli, one of the 7+2 litigates.
2. She is closely related to Bernard Boushor.
3. In public statements Deb has made it very clear she views Bernard as someone who has helped out the tribe and we should be thankful for him. We believe Bernard is responsible for the loss of Greektown, the evergreen contracts, 7+2 illegal use of funds and more and find it difficult to believe why anyone would support this obviously illegal behavior.
4. Deb and others have received preferential treatment. In July of 2009 the Sault Tribe allowed her and closely related members of her family to post an article and a “Petition to Save Greektown” on the front page of the Sault Tribe website, where it remained for months. This information also appeared in a Greektown Special Section Tribal newspaper July 14, 2009 on page 3B). A shorter version of this article can be seen here.
After the elections I did congratulate Deb after her 2010 Sault Tribe campaign win, she never returned my call. I also recently thanked Deb for thanking me in her Unit report as it now gives me the opportunity to reiterate my reason why I did not support her. Of course, she did not return my call at press time. It is hypocritical for Deb to cite cultural teachings in her Unit report: “Miigwech for putting fourth and setting the example of kindness, respect, truth and love for your fellow Anishinaabe” that she herself blatantly disregards them by not offering others the kindness, truth or respect of her fellow Anishnaabe. Once again this political group she represents cites cultural teachings for political purposes. Shame on you Deb!
I would also respectfully ask Deb not to use my daughter in her unit reports for political purposes. Especially when she is playing politics with me in the same unit report. My daughter was used in another candidate campaign ad I was running against back in 2008. I think this is low to use children for political purposes. This group will stop at nothing to play their immature games. It should only show you their true character or lack thereof. I am proud of my daughters accomplishments and I don't need them being used for political reason by a council woman whom I do not support politically.
Also Deb’s unit report states at the end: "I am also available to you through phone. Please call me at (906) 440-1334. I look forward to hearing from you." Well from my own personal experiences; don't plan on a call back if you disagree with her. She truly is not a representative of all Unit 1 members, only those who agree with her politics (such as letting Bernard off the hook)!
I have attempted to warn the membership about Deb during the elections, but she was voted in anyway. We are already seeing signs of what kind of board member she is going to be. More reasons for people to listen to what we are saying. We are trying to help the tribe for the sake of all members not just the privileged few.
I have asked the Sault Tribe Newspaper to correct Deb's Unit report with my true opinion.
In closing Deb's comments are an abuse of power and display poor lack of judgement and integrity.
Nathan, I posted a comment to your site about Deb that said much of what you say above, right after the election and you refused to post it !
ReplyDeleteHey Nathan
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. I didn't vote for her either......
Can't she be recalled? Someone should strat a petition drive.
ReplyDeleteI post everything. Maybe I posted it after the elections as I took a break. Sorry. Check again.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe she won fairly,,she was fruadly assigned only for a last effort to steal more money.
ReplyDeleteDeb Pine is like a hurt, lost, little girl running around saying 'please like my mommy'. That may be ok for the average citizen, but an elected official is to represent the people and the people have spoken ! They want and expect the BOD to hold BB and his cronies accountable. Jolene Pine, Nertoli, or whatever her current name is was only doing her job. Those massive funds she brought in were just BIA allocations due to the tribes federal status and their membership numbers, they were not competitive grants ( maybe a few were). They were entitlement programs and anyone who filled in the forms could have gotten these same funds. Granted, she did her job but that was her job !
ReplyDeleteDeb Pine has no professinal experience to draw on to do her job. Organizing pow wows and designing posters does not make her BOD material. It was a huge huge mistake of the members to elect her, but sadly, we have large family voting groups in this district who are out for self serving means, what they can get from an elected member rather than what is in the best interest of the future of the Tribe.
Deb Pine claims to be a business woman. Perhaps if every tribal member was given over $400,000.00 that was stolen from the tribe we would also be able to make this claim. For Deborah Ann Pine-Nertoli to walk into a meeting of the BOD and hand out an information sheet trying to clear her mother and her mother's first cousin Bernard Bouschor from their theft is not only unconscienable, but it is also an extreme conflict of interest for tribal members. Deb Pine-Nertoli is a big step backwards for this tribe, it is another example of the same old families fighting to keep the money and the power. Deb Pine-Nertoli makes a mockery of the Anishinaabe. She is another indian princess.
ReplyDeleteOk Nathan, sorry I reacted about my message not being posted. I know that you are trying to do good things for our tribe. I still believe the election where BB came out from nowhere and stole your entitled seat was rigged.
ReplyDeletePlease tell me why such idiots have to wave their opinion around. It sounds like a bunch of illterate(look at the spelling errors) upset people are not pointing the finger at the person who really lost us so much money and tribal dignity. Aaron Payment.
ReplyDeleteNathan" I wish you would look into why my Votes all 5 of them were not counted. Trust me we did not vote for her either. It's like certain votes don't make it to Michigan from California. I have question this for more than 8 years and never and I mean never get a reply, even from my unit #1 rep. Nathan there's your votes that would have made a differents ! What does this tell you ? Please look into it. It's not right and I'm not very happy over it. Bill Gates
ReplyDeleteO.K. well I'm a young tribal member...Is this the kind of influence for the young members? What kind of examples are being set for the young generations? To lie and cheat and steal your way to the top? This is not acceptable. People want to talk about old anishnabe teachings...but I'm young and even I know that the teachings tell us to REMEMBER what kind of impact your current actions are going to bring the next 7 generations. People aren't thinking about what the tribe will be in 30+ years...seriously...REMEMBER WHAT THE GRANDFATHERS TEACHINGS TELL US. What happened to our tribe? It used to be that we were fighting FOR each other...not WITH each other. What kinds of crap are younger generations going to be exposed to and deal with when all these people are gone? What about the fact it is burned in my mind that you should follow your elders examples? I don't want to follow these examples, it's up to us,the younger generations and those who truly care about the future of our tribe, to make a change and fight for each other again. No argument will waive my opinion, this is shameful. If you really care about the tribe how can you disrespect and put shame to our names?
ReplyDeleteWhy is Deb Pine still allowed to work in her position making posters that she worked at before being elected to the BOD? Tribal Board members are not allowed to work for the tribe...the resolution does not read that BOD can work on a voluntary status for the tribe. As far as those of us that actually do have to work for a living, not just show up at 1 meeting a week are concerned-she is taking a position away from a tribal member that really needs the money. Hasn't her entire family stolen or fleeced enough money from the tribe? When is someone going to look at this and do something about it!
ReplyDeleteThere is a special meeting being held Monday evening. The topic for the agenda is "Business Proposal/Development". I wonder if this has anything to do with the meeting Chairman Joe McCoy and Bernard Bouschor had Monday evening at the Ojibwe Hotel/Freighters Bar with TED GATZAROS AKA The man who cost Sault Tribe millions upon millions and ultimately Greektown. Now why would Joe McCoy and Bernard Bouschor even give that thief the time of day? Birds of a feather, flock together.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what point 'young tribal member' is trying to make, but, he/she would be well advised to learn that it is essential to speak up when against corruption. 'All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men ( and women) to do nothing'. Apparently not enough good people spoke up during the last election and look who we ended up with ! I do believe if more people knew the true nature of Pine we could have avoided four years of disaster.
ReplyDelete