COLOR The Absentee ShawneeDecember 2015News Volume 27 No. 43 “Among The Shawnee” The Official Signing of Tobacco Compact INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 - 4 EXECUTIVE REPORTS 12 ELDERS COUNCIL 24 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORT 33 TAKOTA SQUIRE 5 TRIBAL DAY OF ACTION 14 - 15 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 26 AST FITNESS SCHEDULE 35 AST NATIVE LANGUAGE SURVEY 6 ELECTION COMMISSION/TAX COLLECTIONS 16 AST HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATE 28 - 29 U.S. DEPT. OF EDUCAITON 36 BUILDING BLOCKS 7 TITLE VI MENU 22 WELCOME DR. WHELAN 32 STRATEGIC PLANNING TRAINING 39 FOSTER CARE Executive Committee Edwina Butler-Wolfe Issac Gibson John Johnson Leah Bates Kenneth Blanchard Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Treasurer Representative Monthly Executive Committee meetings can be watched online at astribe.com Governor’s Report Hello my Absentee Shawnee people! be the way the Treasurer handles business place again this year, or the year transactions – passive/aggressive. I heard before, should the federal government It looks like the cooler fall weather has the concerns you expressed to the Treasurer shut down and the funding concern reached our area. So, now it’s time to start at General Council and you are right to be become a very real issue to the tribe. pulling out sweaters and jackets. The warm concerned. Let’s visit a moment on why: 4. It is still unclear whether the Finance weather seemed to linger in Shawnee and I 1. She continues to disregard her department has established policies am thankful for the change. For those of you constitutional duties as it clearly and procedures. The Treasurer hired outside of the Shawnee area I hope that you states in our Constitution in Article her Aunt approximately 8 months ago are enjoying mild weather and have begun to XIII – Duties of Officers, Section 4. The for the expressed purpose of ‘creating prepare for the upcoming cold, winter months. Treasurer – ‘…All expenditures shall be policies and procedures’. These policies reviewed and approved or disapproved have yet to be seen. The Month of November by the Executive Committee before The Treasurer indicated during General As many of you are aware November payment…’ This constitutional duty Council that she has improved the financial was Native American Heritage month. hasn’t been met since she began. processes and that she has had to train staff. November was declared Native American 2. A second violation of her constitutional I must admit I just don’t see it. Nor do I see Indian Heritage month by former President duties is: ‘…The Treasurer shall keep the ‘Financial report to the AST people’ she George H.W. Bush in August of 1990 and and maintain an accurate account of all committed to creating and sending out. was sponsored through the American Indian receipts and disbursements and shall As elected leaders we each have Heritage Foundation by founder, Pale report the accurate amounts of each constitutional duties that are set and are Moon Rose. By nationally commemorating account to the Executive Committee to be used to guide us in our work for you, November as a special month for Native at each regular meeting.’ To my our people. It is my understanding that American’s it afforded the opportunity to awareness, she has only complied these duties are set for a purpose and the all Native people to share our culture and with this once since she took Office oath we each took is to be upheld. Under language, traditions, crafts, music, dance and a complete picture of our financial Article XIII, Section 1. of our Constitution and special ways and the different aspects situation hasn’t been provided. my responsibilities are: 1) Call and preside of our lives with those who are unfamiliar or 3. Last year I voiced my concern over all meetings of the General Council unaware of the rich complexities and unique about ‘no’ planning being done with and Executive Committee, as provided for qualities of Native life. programs. Instead the Executive in the Constitution; 2) Duties assigned by Committee and those programs under the Constitution – like Commander in Chief General Council, the Constitution and their direct oversight were given a 3 of the Police Department; 3) Such additional Leadership year trend with the ‘averaged’ budget authorities delegated by General Council During the October General Council it was appropriated to us. The Treasurer or the Executive Committee like program re-stated by you, my people, that we should and Finance sent out budgets this oversight responsibilities; 4) Responsible for make some changes in our finance department. year on November 10 and those of executing policies established by the General I have been working diligently with the you that have worked with budgets Council; 5) A Semi-Annual Report is to be Executive Committee, Human Resources know this is a poor practice and leaves given to the General Council in April and and the Attorney General on getting one elected officials and programs little October; 6) Give an oral report on all activities, particular issue resolved. The issue I refer to opportunity to adjust and prepare. meetings and conferences at the monthly is the Controller. This individual was placed Although this 3 year averaged budget Executive Committee meeting; 7) File an on ‘administrative suspension’ in November practice is one that can be used to agenda with the Secretary; 8) Governor shall 2014 and continues to get paid to ‘just’ stay at prepare for the budgeting process I NOT vote except in the case of a tie. In each home. I do not understand how a person who have stated before that we need to case I have been diligent about upholding is not qualified, didn’t complete requested consider additional factors into our both my constitutional duties and being true training or education to be a Certified Public budgets like: Inflationary factors; to my sworn oath of Office. I am here for you, Accountant and during the course of her work increased population; program growth my people, and am working to the best of my allowed for multiple audit findings to occur and enhancement needs; staffing ability to meet my constitutional duties to do continues to get paid for a full year. Although, needs and cost of living allowances; those tasks you have asked of me to complete I shouldn’t be surprised as this appears to special needs. There was no plan in during General Council and I do it ethically. 2 3 This is not the case of all of our elected leaders Oklahoma the Cattle Program. and that is why you may have seen articles • November 5-6 – Out of Office – Due to The construction of the ASTPD sub-station in the Shawnee News Star, the Countywide heart procedure parking lot will resume on October 28th. News or in our last month’s newsletter. When • November 9 – Return to Work The new daycare parking lot is complete, so an elected leader is considered to not be • November 10 – AST Thunderbird Gaming whenever the building is completely finished, upholding his or her constitutional duties and Commission Meeting the new daycare can open. The Roads Program not vigilant in keeping their oath of office it is • November 11 – Education Meeting also assisted Cleveland County with the not me they are hurting. It is you, the people. resurfacing of three county roads in the Little If an elected leader is being held accountable Expressions Axe area. We have partnered with Cleveland by the Tribe then let me assure you there For those families who lost a loved one County to help maintain the county roads in must be a good reason for it. It isn’t about ‘like this month I offer my sincere condolences to this area for several years. We are working or dislike’ it goes back to constitutional duties you and your family on your loss. to do the same with Pottawatomie County in and laws of the tribe and impact to the tribe. The month of December is a very special areas where our tribal members live. If we want our children to have funds for one to me and my family. It is one that is full Maintenance has continued to help tribal their education, our elders to have a variety of saving grace, love and hope. My prayer members with minor fixes to their homes. We of services offered to them and our tribe to for each of you during the upcoming holiday hope by helping with these minor fixes we can be a leader among the Nation’s then we need season is that you find peace, love and joy keep tribal members from having to spend leaders and their staff to be held accountable with your families. hundreds or thousands of dollars on repairs. and responsible for their actions. The job of a During the summer we serviced several air leader is 24/7 and to me that means being at In Conclusion conditioning units for tribal members. As fall the tribal complex and doing the business of I have 18 months left in Office and I and winter arrives, make sure to check and the tribe, attending meetings and/or events as find each day both challenging and full of change your air filters in your HVAC units so needed, dressing professionally and following possibilities. My door is always open (unless they can work properly. through on commitments. I am in a meeting or at a meeting) and I Thanks to the knowledge and dedication of welcome your visits. program directors under my oversight, reports Meetings and Events for each department will follow this report. Since my last report in the November Help me to make a difference – stand Each program tries its best to take care of the newsletter I have attended the following beside me and Let us Build for the Future needs of our Tribe and Tribal members.