Comments on: Snoqualmie Tribe paralyzed by split, goes to mediation http://snovalleystar.com/2009/09/16/snoqualmie-tribe-paralyzed-by-split-goes-to-mediation Website for the SnoValley Star Newspaper Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:11:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sharon Frelinger http://snovalleystar.com/2009/09/16/snoqualmie-tribe-paralyzed-by-split-goes-to-mediation/comment-page-1#comment-2836 Sharon Frelinger Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:50:43 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=4334#comment-2836 The Snoqualmie Tribe has been in turmoil since August 16, 2007 when Chief Enick was successful in a government coo in taking over the tribe with BIA support. The BIA assisted by taking sides with the Tribe's banking institute about who the legal government was in a previous internal tribal dispute over who is the real Snoqualmie Tribal Government. "The divided government put the tribal administrator and staff in an awkward position as the factions issued conflicting resolutions. The factions also attempted to gain control of the tribe’s finances, approaching the bank where its assets are held, Mattson said." Mattson took sides in the last dispute and didn't honor the Snoqualmie Tribe's constitution. Someone should ask if these people are going to be "Banished" from the tribe as this was the same accusation made against the 2007 duly elected tribal council, who were banished in 2008. Those that were banished in 2008 took the illegal council to Federal Court where those banishment were overturned by a Federal Judge. They were found "GUILTY" of violating the Native American Civil Rights act!!! They should hang their head in shame for their illegal activities. So now that they are doing the same thing why shouldn't they be banished? Who is the legal government!!! The Snoqualmie Tribal General Membership does not even know any more who is running our tribe besides Matt Mattson (who is not a tribal member)! The Snoqualmie Tribe has been in turmoil since August 16, 2007 when Chief Enick was successful in a government coo in taking over the tribe with BIA support. The BIA assisted by taking sides with the Tribe’s banking institute about who the legal government was in a previous internal tribal dispute over who is the real Snoqualmie Tribal Government.

“The divided government put the tribal administrator and staff in an awkward position as the factions issued conflicting resolutions. The factions also attempted to gain control of the tribe’s finances, approaching the bank where its assets are held, Mattson said.” Mattson took sides in the last dispute and didn’t honor the Snoqualmie Tribe’s constitution.

Someone should ask if these people are going to be “Banished” from the tribe as this was the same accusation made against the 2007 duly elected tribal council, who were banished in 2008. Those that were banished in 2008 took the illegal council to Federal Court where those banishment were overturned by a Federal Judge. They were found “GUILTY” of violating the Native American Civil Rights act!!! They should hang their head in shame for their illegal activities.

So now that they are doing the same thing why shouldn’t they be banished?

Who is the legal government!!! The Snoqualmie Tribal General Membership does not even know any more who is running our tribe besides Matt Mattson (who is not a tribal member)!

]]> By: Carolyn Lubenau http://snovalleystar.com/2009/09/16/snoqualmie-tribe-paralyzed-by-split-goes-to-mediation/comment-page-1#comment-2835 Carolyn Lubenau Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:56:39 +0000 http://snovalleystar.com/?p=4334#comment-2835 I find it intriguing that the Bureau of Indian Affairs says there is a "legal government" in place at the Snoqualmie tribe and yet the Portland Office, where Stan Speaks is the area director, does not know today who the members are of the Snoqualmie government. They suggested I call back to Judy Joseph, who is conveniently out of town. Also intriguing, if the Bureau of Indian Affairs says there is a legal government, why didn't the BIA's Judy Joseph refer the question to the tribe's chairman? The tribe's chairman should be the head of the tribal government according to the BIA, and yet the question does not get referred to a representative of the tribe's government, it is deferred to the tribal administrator who is not a member of the tribe or elected by the tribal government to his position. It is a paid position and a position which the Bureau of Indian Affairs defers to instead of the legal government. It's an interesting civics question. I find it intriguing that the Bureau of Indian Affairs says there is a “legal government” in place at the Snoqualmie tribe and yet the Portland Office, where Stan Speaks is the area director, does not know today who the members are of the Snoqualmie government. They suggested I call back to Judy Joseph, who is conveniently out of town. Also intriguing, if the Bureau of Indian Affairs says there is a legal government, why didn’t the BIA’s Judy Joseph refer the question to the tribe’s chairman? The tribe’s chairman should be the head of the tribal government according to the BIA, and yet the question does not get referred to a representative of the tribe’s government, it is deferred to the tribal administrator who is not a member of the tribe or elected by the tribal government to his position. It is a paid position and a position which the Bureau of Indian Affairs defers to instead of the legal government. It’s an interesting civics question.

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