Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 24, 2006 10:21:37 GMT -5
Understanding tribal government
Understanding tribal government
Vincent Armenta / Commentary
We recognize that it is often difficult to understand the complexities of
tribal gaming and Native American tribes in general. The subtleties of the
various differences between a tribe and a business can be confusing for those
who
don't live it every day, so we believe it's important to invest time
explaining.
In fact, one of the most common misperceptions regarding the Santa Ynez Band
of Chumash Indians is mistaking us as a business. True, we do have a
successful business enterprise, the Chumash Casino Resort, but our tribe is a
government - and therein rests the major difference.
Last year a local politician was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying, "
And it's not fair that a business entity that is no different than Marriott
or Hilton or Trump can do what-ever it wants with no taxes and no regulation."
When a politician is quoted comparing us to businesses, we know that the
concept of tribes as governments isn't reaching the general public. The point is
that we are different than Marriott or Hilton or Trump in that the federal
government recognizes the political status of a tribe as a government.
Incidentally, contrary to popular belief, we do follow regulations - those
that are set up by the federal government. And as for taxes, governments don't
pay taxes, but its citizens do.
Native American tribes were independent, self-governing communities long
before the arrival of the European nations. The government-to-government
relationship between tribal governments and the federal government has existed
since
the formation of the United States. The U.S. Constitution, Article I,
Section 8, Clause 3 states: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among
the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.
The federal government deals with Native American tribes as governments - not
as special interest groups, not as individuals, and not as other entities.
In the same manner as the U.S. deals with states as governments, it also deals
with Native American tribes as governments.
Tribes are also set up internally as governments with tribal government
leaders elected into office by tribal members of voting age. At our tribe, five
individuals are elected into office to serve on the tribe's Business Committee,
which includes the Tribal Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer and
two Business Committee members at large. Tribal elections are held every two
years.
Throughout the nation, tribal governments are organized to work with local,
state and federal governments by building government-to-government
relationships. Tribal leaders take great pride in the relationships they have
developed
with government agencies on a federal, state and local level.
With all of this in mind, it is puzzling to me when individuals in the
community criticize us for not behaving like a business. One individual
approached
me at a Board of Supervisors meeting last year and said, "Until your tribe
starts acting like a business, we will always oppose you."
Unfortunately, it will be pretty difficult for us to change our behavior to
that of a business - since we're a government.
Our business enterprise, the Chumash Casino Resort, behaves like the
successful business that it is, but as a tribe, we are a sovereign government.
That
is something that has historical and traditional significance for tribes
across the nation.
Vincent Armenta is the Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash
Indians.
March 23, 2006
_http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2006/03/23/opinions/032306c.txt_
(http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2006/03/23/opinions/032306c.txt)
*********************************************
_www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com_ (http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/)
Understanding tribal government
Vincent Armenta / Commentary
We recognize that it is often difficult to understand the complexities of
tribal gaming and Native American tribes in general. The subtleties of the
various differences between a tribe and a business can be confusing for those
who
don't live it every day, so we believe it's important to invest time
explaining.
In fact, one of the most common misperceptions regarding the Santa Ynez Band
of Chumash Indians is mistaking us as a business. True, we do have a
successful business enterprise, the Chumash Casino Resort, but our tribe is a
government - and therein rests the major difference.
Last year a local politician was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying, "
And it's not fair that a business entity that is no different than Marriott
or Hilton or Trump can do what-ever it wants with no taxes and no regulation."
When a politician is quoted comparing us to businesses, we know that the
concept of tribes as governments isn't reaching the general public. The point is
that we are different than Marriott or Hilton or Trump in that the federal
government recognizes the political status of a tribe as a government.
Incidentally, contrary to popular belief, we do follow regulations - those
that are set up by the federal government. And as for taxes, governments don't
pay taxes, but its citizens do.
Native American tribes were independent, self-governing communities long
before the arrival of the European nations. The government-to-government
relationship between tribal governments and the federal government has existed
since
the formation of the United States. The U.S. Constitution, Article I,
Section 8, Clause 3 states: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among
the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.
The federal government deals with Native American tribes as governments - not
as special interest groups, not as individuals, and not as other entities.
In the same manner as the U.S. deals with states as governments, it also deals
with Native American tribes as governments.
Tribes are also set up internally as governments with tribal government
leaders elected into office by tribal members of voting age. At our tribe, five
individuals are elected into office to serve on the tribe's Business Committee,
which includes the Tribal Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer and
two Business Committee members at large. Tribal elections are held every two
years.
Throughout the nation, tribal governments are organized to work with local,
state and federal governments by building government-to-government
relationships. Tribal leaders take great pride in the relationships they have
developed
with government agencies on a federal, state and local level.
With all of this in mind, it is puzzling to me when individuals in the
community criticize us for not behaving like a business. One individual
approached
me at a Board of Supervisors meeting last year and said, "Until your tribe
starts acting like a business, we will always oppose you."
Unfortunately, it will be pretty difficult for us to change our behavior to
that of a business - since we're a government.
Our business enterprise, the Chumash Casino Resort, behaves like the
successful business that it is, but as a tribe, we are a sovereign government.
That
is something that has historical and traditional significance for tribes
across the nation.
Vincent Armenta is the Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash
Indians.
March 23, 2006
_http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2006/03/23/opinions/032306c.txt_
(http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2006/03/23/opinions/032306c.txt)
*********************************************
_www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com_ (http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/)