About
The membership does need to know so we can make and informed decision when it comes to the Membership for a vote. Sounds good. Unless someone tells me different am going to assume the Caddo Nation Gaming is the only economic development (money making) project we have. We have no Smoke Shop, did not want INFCA with Mr. Moore ( bing community) , did not know anything about it or what it could or would do for the Tribe. Needed some communication. Still do. Had heard we were breaking even at the Casino but then found out we owed approximately $20,000 to Midwest Commercial or the man footing the bill. Understand he gets a percentage of the money and so far we have not paid him anything. Believe we are fooling ourselves if we think we can bury our heads in the sand and say "will pay him later". Where are we going to come up with the money to pay him? As far as the Chairman's dreams, agree with her that the elders and young people are our future and need more programs. However, money was taken out of the Elder Fund by this Council, the Higher Education grants have dropped from $1175 to $800 and the Adult Education funds are being used to pay for a building illegally purchased. Have come to what I consider negative, whining comments by the Chairman. These comments could have been made by a teenager who has not got their way. Believe the website and person she is talking about is the Caddo Nation Unofficial site and Anahwake Nahtanabah. Firstly, while there has been some negative comments on this website, for the most part, most can be proved. Remember, almost without exception, there is a paper trail. Ms. Nahtanabah has made it possible for not only the local Caddos, but Caddos out of the area to know at least some of the things that are going on at the Complex. I have utilized this website numerous times and do not apologize for any comment made. Actually, did curse once and did apologize for that. The Chairman should not be doing anything that she could not go to the Blog uk Membership with. If she is doing anything that negatively reflects on or takes away from the Tribe she should step down. Have a real problem with the Caddo Tribe not having a Housing Program except the State Housing Program at Halfmoon Circle. The Chairman has done her best to blame Darrell Smith for the loss of the program. What the Chairman does not want people to know is that she broke the tie vote of the Council to get rid of the NAHASDA Program. Nor does she want people to know that she and Ruby Cozad are the reason we at one time owed HUD approximately $400,000 plus because they knowingly claimed more houses than the Caddo Tribe ever had, thus received more money. They also did not want to give the Housing Authority at Gracemont money for upkeep of these houses. Ruby Cozad and an attorney met with my husband to ask if they had to give the Gracemont Housing Authority this money and were told they had no choice, it was the law. He retired from HUD and knows the regulations. They chose to give up the Housing Program rather than follow regulations. By letter dated February 7, 2002, from HUD, the Chairman received 18 Findings for the Indian Housing Block Grant Programs. Would like to ask the Chairman to respect the April 26, 2003, Membership Meeting as such and let the Membership have their meeting. Do not need or want another letter to be read to us, do not need the crying, begging situation again. Will again ask you who receive this real estate letter to attend the meeting, not to support anyone but to become informed as to what is going on within our Tribe. Most of the things the Chairman addressed in her letter at the January 18 Membership Meeting as being accomplished under her watch were not accomplished by herself and "her people", most were already in existence or in the works when she was elected. I was Vice-Chairman during her first year in office. Am not deaf, dumb or stupid, was aware of the existing programs. This Council the Chairman is talking about has hidden, at least, several instances of employee misconduct that reflected negatively on the Caddo Tribe. I'm sure I am called one of the "concerned Caddo's". You bet I am concerned. We have more money in the budget than ever before, we have more employees than ever before, they are paid higher wages than ever before. Out of a budget of approximately $376,000, understand that approximately $12,000 to $15,000 actually have gone to benefit Tribal members, believe $5000 was put into the Burial Program and $10,000 into the Education Program. Some changes need to be made and believe we can work together to get this done. Sincerely, Laura S. (Butler) Jarvisapp>