Letter to the Editor:

Opinion Letter to Tribe’s Court, Tribe’s Executive Director, Tribal Council and Meskwaki Community:

Regarding the November 13, 2008 Des Moines Register front page story entitled “-Row spotlights rights of American Indians.” Less than-a third of a mile from Meskwaki Tribe’s Police Department resides Tribe’s Historian in a tribally-owned house. Although this occupant is considered a descendant of the community, technically he’s not Meskwaki. To me, that means tribal housing rights are virtually nonexistent. Yet, as the Tribe’s Executive Director’s uncle, this historian, as but one glaring exception, occupies the so-called limited housing space of which the Tribe’s Police Chief speaks.

So why are tribal officials obsessed with James Ironshell when other tribal housing discrepancies are right under their noses? Also, there are contradicting reports 20 to 30 Meskwaki houses have been abandoned at a loss of 3 to 4 million dollars. Further, when the Montana tribal law professor opines the U.S. Constitution doesn’t apply at Meskwaki, perhaps he and Ironshell’s lawyer should review Tribe’s Constitution. The Tribe’s Bylaws, through Article X, Powers of the Tribal Council, Sec. K., expressly mandates that “any such regulation (on property for protection, peace, safety, and general welfare of the Tribe) which directly affects non-members of the Tribe shall be subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior.” Since the 1937 Bylaw hasn’t been lawfully amended by Tribe, Ironshell may be arguably protected. Meaning the Tribe’s highly-paid lawyers failed to complete their homework. While Ironshell is present at the behest of his wife (who also happens to be my younger sister), the historian is no different than a squatter. So, if a tribal judge co-habits with a Meskwaki female, should he enforce an eviction notice on himself?

Therefore, until Mes-kwakis themselves enact change to Constitutionally-exclude all non-members, the Tribe must defer to the Interior Department for proper guidance — not the Tribe’s hand-picked court. Here, a referendum or Secretarial Election is the only key. Without this federal framework, the Tribe’s Executive Director, who provided a house years ago to Eloise Lasley Ironshell, is committing an egregious mistake. Of course, that’s why the Meskwaki hereditary Chief advised Governor Culver and the Iowa Assembly not to recognize Tribe’s court until internal corrections are made. However, when the Tribe’s lobbyist threw donations like parade candy some lawmakers fell on their knees. Ironically, this same money could be feeding Meskwaki families today — most of whom are State of Iowa dependent due to Tribe’s untimely spending spree on construction projects. And Presidential-elect Obama seeks wide-sweeping change? Well, tribal reform would be a god-send. Because true sovereignty rests in Meskwaki language, culture, religion, and history, not a housing dispute that exists personally between tenants and tribal officials. Want a real story? The Register should do one on Tribe’s failure to escrow-release casino royalties to care for the family of an Iraq-bound Meskwaki soldier who is a victim of tribal politics.

Stella Lasley YoungBear

Tama