CHAHTA FIRST [10.23.08]
As you know, one of the most important things I am trying to accomplish is the hiring and promotion of Tribal members in Tribal government and at the Resort. To that end I have named Lucinda Jim the Administrative Assistant for Employment and issued the following instructions to department heads:

Mandatory Cooperation with and Provision of Employment Practice Information to Lucinda Jim, Administrative Assistant for Employment

I am writing to request your direct and full cooperation in providing Tribal enterprise employment practice information to Lucinda Jim, Administrative Assistant for Employment, within my administration. I have delegated authority and responsibility to Ms. Jim to undertake a study, at my direction, into certain employment practices within all of our Choctaw businesses and enterprises, and to ascertain that the Tribe’s long-standing and widely published policy of Indian Preference is being exercised.

I strongly support and uphold the policy of Indian Preference, and in all instances in which a qualified Tribal member can be placed in a Tribal job, I want the policy-provided preference to apply to those Choctaw applicants without exception. For those instances in which training can be provided to applicants in order to make them well qualified for Tribal jobs, I want such training to be provided to the Choctaw applicant.

I am calling upon each of you to fully cooperate with Ms. Jim when she approaches you for information about hiring practices and documentation to demonstrate that you are adhering to the Indian Preference policy. I have asked her to provide me with a written report of her findings, and I have asked her further to report to me any deficiencies in cooperation that she may encounter during her research.

Thank you all for your assistance with this important request as we seek to ensure that qualified Tribal members benefit from the jobs and employment opportunities made available to them by their Tribal government and Tribally-owned and operated business enterprises.

EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE ECONOMY [10.23.08]
It would have been very hard to miss the news of the federal government’s recent bail out of Wall Street. The plan, sent to Congress by the Bush administration late Friday, calls for the federal government to buy as much as $700 billion worth of mortgage assets held by banks, Wall Street firms and other financial institutions.

Those securities were backed by home loans, many made to buyers with bad credit or without proof of income. As housing values fell and foreclosures shot to record levels in the past two years, the value of those securities plunged. That in turn caused massive losses in the financial sector.

The gaming industry is reeling from the impact of the declining economy. Major construction projects are halted from the east to the Gulf coast and Las Vegas. In the past few months, casinos laid-off large numbers of workers at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and Pechanga Casino in California. Nevada casinos suffered through a record eighth consecutive month of revenue decline.

In short, times are going to be tight for some time while the economy and the nation’s finances are recalibrated. It is very important that Tribal members educate themselves about the situation and keep an eye on their own finances. Below are a few things you can start doing to help you keep your finances as balanced as possible.

Create a budget that includes all your major expenses (mortgage, car payments, credit card payments, etc). For one week keep track of your daily spending and determine which of your non-essential activities you can either cut down on or eliminate.

If you have it, do everything possible to eliminate credit card debt as quickly as possible. Use cash instead of credit cards whenever possible.

Use energy and resources more wisely. This means driving less, keeping your vehicle tuned up and tires inflated properly, adjusting your air conditioner, taking shorter showers, washing clothes in cold water, etc. There are many opportunities to save money and help the environment at the same time.

CHOCTAW HEALTH CENTER WORKING TO ADDRESS CONCERNS [10.23.08]
The Choctaw Health Center continues to work with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to address concerns stemming from a review of the hospital in the spring. After the review, the Health Center was advised that there were issues which could result in a preliminary denial of accreditation.

Unfortunately, rumors regarding the accreditation process and outcome have been rampant. The Health Center has not lost accreditation. Our Health Center continues to provide good, quality healthcare to Tribal members and none of the issues that it was cited for involved direct patient safety. I personally appeared at the hearing last week in Chicago to address the hearing appeal panel regarding these important issues.

My staff is working diligently with the Health Center administration to prepare for a resurvey as we are hopeful that we will receive conditional accreditation. I am committed to make certain that it continues to be accredited and have committed the resources to make that possible.

I appreciate the cooperation and hard work of the Health Center staff as we take the necessary steps to ensure the successful operation of our hospital.

SNAPAC [10.23.08]
So much of our life on the Reservation is affected by what happens in Washington, DC. I have spent a good deal of time in the capitol and long ago came to the realization that if Native Americans are going to have their voices heard they will have to speak with one voice. (See the piece about the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in this issue.) That is why I have formed the Sovereign Nations Alliance Political Action Committee (SNAPAC). SNAPAC was created to enhance the political power of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and all of Indian Country by focusing the resources and advocacy of Tribes on creating champions for our issues. It will also focus on defeating lawmakers hostile to Indian Country’s agenda. SNAPAC is an organization focused on candidates’ position on Tribal issues, not their party affiliation.