Letter to the Editor:

On February 1, 2010, the current Tribal Council has scheduled a referendum regarding the Tribe’s (ofricials and employees) five-year hold on per capita payments of ten (10) former members of the Alex Walker, Jr. Tribal Council.

While we, the undersigned, pray you will vote to release the per caps, including the funds reportedly held in escrow by same “Tribe,” we ask that you read this letter, including its attachments. Basically, this may be a good time as any to share some personal concerns and observations that are, in our opinion, balanced with published facts.

Most people know how things went in 2003. This was 2,556 days ago or seven years total. Unfortunately, within that same time-frame, plenty of allegations were issued. So the end-result, of the Tribe’s questionable with-holding per caps on mere allegation was never addressed nor resolved. Yet things were done for seemingly the wrong reasons.

Now, after five long years of inaction the current Tribal Council wants the people to officially close the book in some manner. Before that happens, some pertinent facts are in order.

Please consider the following:

Since allegations of theft (“$788,000 is still missing,”) Meskwaki Times, 2/3/06) were never filed in over five years against the former Walker Council, this could be seen as a vote that starts community healing. At the same time, however, and especially in the belief that any person or Meskwaki is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the Tribe’s excessive two million dollar fines or sanctions per individual should be stricken or expunged from the record. (F.Y.I. tribal courts have a $5,000.00 cap on fines) And considering most tribal officials and their employees have gone on with their own lives, this vote — if it’s favorable — should grant the Walker group and their respective families to do the same. Otherwise, we’re back to square one.

Mostly — and we trust you will agree, no Meskwaki should ever be denied their per capita monies. That’s our message. No one should ever experience the emotional and financial hardships endured. Everyone who was involved, on both sides, must put their differences aside. We must not only learn from our mistakes, but we must also accept them for what they once were. But most importantly, we must move on.

WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT ON FEBRUARY 1, 2010. ON BEHALF OF THE WALKER FAMILIES, THANKS.

Oona Walker

Youngbear

Rural Tama