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Monday, May 16, 2011
The Money Train
In 2000 Rama saw the big payday, with there share of Casino Rama funds released. To go to economic development, education, health , culture and enhance the casino. Did it? One thing that went up was the pay for Chief and Council and never stop ed. Until now Severance packages big Christmas bonuses and clothing money came also we did nt have that before. And yes C&C got money to travel but nothing like what they have to day.i would,nt say a thing about wages if we had jobs, if people weren't living below the poverty line, if we had economic development that created work.for all. as was the casino was suppose to do. and if we had homes that people owned and the land with it.We gave up a big piece of land for the casino and will be giving up more with the new deal. and for what. Every thing has change here More policy's that restricted us from being who we are. And every thing is a liability we have put millions into ventures that have failed. And some retail that has been running in the red for years, So if things were different i would say a thing.We could have evolved into a self -sufficient community with a sense of pride and spirit. we have had the money to look after our needs and not have to ask for funding and to diversify and not re lie on the casino funds .Did we?
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Chief and Council have said they deserve their high salaries because they work so hard and their jobs are not easy. They are on the job 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If that were true, then why is their still a need for jobs, affordable housing, and the word Mnjikaning still plastered around the reserve when our name is Rama? I could keep going but if you are reading this, you already know what needs to be done. A community garden would be better utilized than pretty flowers on each corner. The great leaders of our past were great because they consulted with the elders and their people.
ReplyDeleteMoney Train when you put it that way Proud & Progressive we are not.But its true with the casino money that Rama has gotten over the years . so what makes them think there worth that kind of salary?
ReplyDeleteWHAT ABOUT THE TRUST HAND OUT? ITS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN EVERY THREE YEARS!
ReplyDeleteWELL IT'S ALMOST BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE LAST JULY. THIS IS TRUST HAND OUT TIME. WHATS THE HOLD UP?
Next year we can petition to open the trust fund again, and go figure, it just happens to be election year as well.
ReplyDeleteI could have used the trust payment too this summer. Why was there not some formal communication to the members? I'm sure it was something a lot us were wondering about. This is a good question for the next financial update meeting. If we ever have one that is. Was supposed to be held last April. It is June now. Wonder if June community newsletter will be announcing the finance meeting date??
ReplyDeleteYes whenis it and its should be BAND MEMBERS ONLY or did they give Kathy Edney member ship,any one with half a brain can press a button.
ReplyDeleteIn 2008 was an election year and they had the media there for the ground breaking for the new health centre and the new jobs that it was to create well where is it? Sad thing tho people fall for ths shit and vote them in.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the results would be if our current Chief and Council were given a leadership performance appraisal by every band member on and off reserve. I'm just saying if the majority is not happy, which I am guessing is the case, remember that at election time.
ReplyDeletePeople really need to live here to no whats going on, unless you live here and attened all meetings you dont no.
ReplyDeleteTHE OJIBWAY TIMES NEWSLETTER IS A GLORIFIED CAMPAIGN FLYER FOR THE CURRENT CHIEF AND COUNCIL.
ReplyDeleteMEMBERS OFF RESERVE ARE GETTING THE CENSORED VERSION OF WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING.
OFF RESERVE MEMBERS ATTEND COLDWATER MEETINGS IN DROVES, BUT NOT THE OTHER MEETINGS. THERE IS A MEETING ON JUNE 11TH (SEE OJIBWAY TIMES NEWSLETTER) REGARDING OUR FINANCES -- WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE OFF RESERVE MEMBERS ATTEND IN DROVES. DON'T GET OJIBWAY TIMES NEWSLETTER? ASK BAND OFFICE TO PUT YOU ON THE E-MAIL LIST.
POSITIVE CHANGE IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN WE ALL PARTICIPATE AT THE MEETINGS. ASK QUESTIONS, DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL.
Nothings changed since last election time and probably won't by next year, majority is not happy with Chief and Council but the odds are most them will get in again, why???? For the record not one person I voted for last year got in.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the last 2 comments. How did they get in? Part of the reason is Rama does not have its own Election Code. When asked what the status was of this code, the Chief responded with "it is not a priority".
ReplyDeleteFor example, an election code would have prevented the late publishing of the August 2010 Ojibway Times (containing the campaign flyers of the candidates). This newsletter, which usually comes out at the beginning of the month, did not get delivered until 2 weeks into the month. People were already mailing in their election ballots! Therefore, the voters did not get to see all of the campaign flyers, of which flyers are not permitted to be displayed in band owned buildings.
Also, when this newsletter was finally published, it contained a letter from a Councillor. This letter was very damaging to some of the Candidates who were running. If the letter was damaging to the current Chief and Council, it most certainly would not have been published. Very unfair!
Also, like other First Nations, it is quite common that Candidates get elected when they have big families.
The information that members receive through the Ojibway Times newsletter, is very censored. You need to live it, you need to be at the meetings, ask questions at the meetings, be informed and talk to the members living in Rama, to know how to make an informed vote at election time.
I'm sure the Rama website is being censored as well.
The pavlovian response by a few commenters concerning off reserve band members is becoming tiresome. Many off reserve members are very well informed about issues regarding Rama First Nation. It is obvious that given the opportunity some commenters would restrict voting rights to on reserve members only. This will never happen. So pull your heads out of your ass and smell the coffee. The inference that it is the uninformed off reserve members who are to blame for the current state of affairs in Rama is ludicrous and childish. Nobody knows how people vote behind the curtain, and anyone who says they do, is a liar. But, just keep on whining and complaining, making ridiculous assumptions that can never be proven and you will help guarantee that the status quo is maintained.
ReplyDeleteMiigwetch
NO one is blaming the rez people for any thing.there just saying you have to live here to no what your chief and council are doing or not.You sure dont get the whole picture from there news letter or there web. page and very few show up at meetings. Yes there is alot of whining and complaining. And there is very few on or off that will speak up.
ReplyDeleteHow can you give Chief and Council an leadership performance appraisal when you dont here from the council not at meetings or in the news letter, we dont have meetings where you can ask them what they have done since they got in and the Chief is the only one that can speak.
ReplyDeleteTo put it point blank, they don't have to care what everyone thinks of them if they continue to be voted in! Not the way it's supposed to be, but that's the way it is.
ReplyDelete