08/17/2026
I want to directly address the rumors on social media about the meeting the board attended this morning.
First, let me be clear the meeting was not a secret meeting but rather it was intended to be a working meeting. Proper notice was given, and everyone at the table understood that we were there to work on the planning and process for transitioning our government to a three-branch system, in the event that our citizens vote to make that change this fall. I was not in person at the meeting today but I was on zoom because my car was in the shop.
These working meetings were intended to minimize disruption and help ensure that the transition to a three branch system of government can be as smooth and orderly as possible for our team members and citizens. All Board members and team members were notified of the meeting, and no objections were raised at the time regarding the meeting or its purpose
There is an important distinction between a secret meeting and a working meeting. A working meeting is where people come together to understand an issue, identify the questions that need to be answered, and develop the process of getting us from A to B as we undertake this change which is of enormous importance to our citizens.
We are talking about potentially changing the fundamental structure of our Tribal government. That is not something we should approach casually, emotionally, or without doing our homework. Our citizens deserve a government that can sit down, ask difficult questions, disagree respectfully, examine the consequences, and then provide our citizens with accurate information.
Every person at that table should be working toward the same goal of making sure our citizens understand exactly what they are being asked to approve BEFORE they vote. That means explaining what has to change legally and constitutionally. It means explaining what powers move from one branch to another. It means explaining what new positions, departments, courts, staff, and administrative responsibilities may be required. And just as importantly, it means being honest about the financial implications of such a profound change.
We need to know what this transition will cost us not just initially, but year after year. We need to understand where that money will come from and what happens if the projected revenues aren’t there. We need to understand whether additional government costs could affect future employment, existing programs, and the services our people depend upon. We need to be able to trust our election process and enrollment records. These aren’t questions designed to stop change. They’re questions designed to make sure that if we change our government, we do it responsibly.
Transparency doesn’t mean that every discussion has to begin with social media. Transparency means that when we bring something to our citizens, we bring them the truth, the facts, the costs, the risks, the alternatives, and the consequences.
I welcome disagreement and believe it is a healthy and necessary part of the process of governing especially when considering something this significant. Disagreement should lead to more questions, more research, and better information not accusations of secret meetings when a working meeting was noticed and attended openly.
Good governance means we can disagree without creating unnecessary division. It means we can ask hard questions without those questions being viewed as opposition. It means we can do the work necessary to understand the consequences BEFORE asking our citizens to make a decision that could affect the future of our Tribe.
We are tasked with changing the structure of our government, so let’s have the courage to do it properly. Let’s do the work first. Let’s identify the legal requirements, the financial requirements, the employment implications, and the potential impact on services. Then let’s take that complete information to our membership and let them make an informed decision with their vote.
It is my belief that is precisely what these meetings were intended to do and that is exactly what our members deserve.
Moving forward it sounds like we will be doing this work in workshops (much of which will be in closed session). I know I won’t be alone in pushing for those discussions to be open to the public as much as possible. So that we are all aware of what this process and change will look like. Chi Miigwich for reading.
Sue.
