welcome delegates! 2013 tribal assembly. state of the tribe address edward k. thomas president
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome Delegates!
2013 Tribal Assembly
State of the Tribe Address
Edward K. ThomasPresident
“HOLD EACH OTHER UP!”
Hold Each Other Up
Challenges Our People Face are Many– External– Internal
Simple Theme – Cornerstone of Longevity– No federal or state government in traditional
times– Extended family & clans– Our people held each other up!
Report Content
Tribal LeadershipTribal Trust FundProgram AdministrationProperty ManagementPolitical InvolvementExternal ChallengesChanging Times
Thank You Executive Council
Demonstrated Leadership!
Thank YouTribal Hostess & Host
Laverne JohnTom Dalton
Tribal Trust Fund
Tribal Trust Fund
Blended PortfolioPreserve Assets in a Down MarketPerformance Mirror BenchmarkBalance at End of March 2012: $8,937,822Balance at End of March 2013: $11,353,844Nez Perce Settlement– $2.25 million – $225,000 attorney fees
Nez Perce Settlement
Not a “windfall!”Money Tlingit Haida would have earned had our funds been properly managed by the government.Rolled into the Tribal Trust Fund.
Tribal Trust Fund
19881989
19901991
19921993
19941995
19961997
19981999
20002001
20022003
20042005
20062007
20082009
20102011
2013
$4,000,000
$5,000,000
$6,000,000
$7,000,000
$8,000,000
$9,000,000
$10,000,000
$11,000,000
$12,000,000
$13,000,000
$14,000,000
$13,261,213
$11,353,844
Tribal Program Administration
Reduced % of Federal Contracts
Local Tribes Increase Local Program AdministrationHelps Local Administrative CapacityStrengthens Local EconomiesWeakens Regional Economies of Scale
Program Funding Reductions
Sequestration Only Part of the ProblemNational Debt and Deficit SpendingState Oil Money DecreasingCosts Continue to RiseIt is going to be very challenging for tribes to get a reasonable allocation of federal funding after sequestration.
Personnel
Employees– 281 Total Employees– 166 Full-Time– 234 Native– 47 Non-Native
83%
17%
Native Non-Native
Staff Grievance Procedure
1st LevelImmediate Supervisor
• Articulate the Issue• Set Boundaries / Timeframes• Expected Outcomes
2nd LevelDepartment Manager
• Remain Open-Minded• Gather Info From Both• Meet with Both
3rd LevelPersonnel Committee
• Remain Open-Minded• Gather Info From Both• Meet with Both
Final Level
President
• Hear Committee Recommendations• Decision not appealable
Doc
umen
t…D
ocum
ent
Improved Technology
Office Management Systems are BetterData Management More AccurateGenerally Saves TimeKeeping Current is ExpensiveStaff Training is Important but Costly and Time Consuming
Client Relations
Quality Services
Clients are Highest PriorityProgram Requirements are Key– Staff responsibilities– Client responsibilities
Work Readiness RequirementsEligibility Running Out for Some– Sidestepping training & work experience– Used up eligibility leads to homelessness
Client Grievance Progression
1st LevelNo Response To Client
• Phone Call Not Returned• Award Not Issued• Paperwork Not Completed
2nd LevelDepartment Manager
• Gather Info From Both• Meet with Both• Remain Open-Minded
3rd LevelOffice of the President
• Question All Involved• Secure Client Files• Assign to Committee
Political Involvement:
Executive Council / Delegates
• Phone Calls• Emails• Letters
Com
plai
nt p
rogr
essi
on
Minimizing political involvement in client management is important!
Property Management
Property Ownership - 1984
Andrew Hope Building – 2nd & 3rd floorGoldstein BuildingRemote Properties– Yakutat– Haines– Klawock– Sandy Bay
All Were Losing Money for the Tribe
Current Property Ownership
Tlingit Haida Central Council Property ValuesProperty Value Year Acquired
Hope Building – 1st Floor $1,200,000 2011
Hope Building – 2nd & 3rd Floors $2,814,900 1986
VTRC $2,511,300 1991
Thomas Building $2,607,700 2004
Blue Warehouse $148,300 1993
Brown Building $282,800 1997
Nelson Property $365,000 2012
Douglas Head Start $383,800 2004
Undeveloped Village $386,520
OTHER:
Saxman Head Start $400,000 2005
Angoon Head Start $600,000 2006
Total $11,700,320
Property Ownership Principles
Keep Native Property in Native Ownership– Juneau Indian Village– Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall
Acquire Property We Can UseKeep Debt Reasonable & Paid for with Operations FundingKeep Facilities Available at a Reasonable CostKeep Facilities Attractive to Customers
Property Management Activities
Andrew Hope Building – Built 1984– Updated heating system (grant)– Updated doors (grant)– Updated kitchen (investment)– Updated sound system (investment)– Parking lots (grants)
VTRC – Removed Stage in Auditorium
Thomas Bldg – Remodeled Roads Office (program funding)
Political Involvement
Involvement
Alaska Federation of Natives – Convention Committee Chair– Tribal Relations Committee Chair
National Congress of American Indians – Secretary– Federal Funding Committee
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians– Member
Efforts
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)– Thank you Will Micklin & Phil Baker-Shenk– Alaska Tribes would have been excluded
Land into Trust – Carcieri Fix– Congressman Young – Congressman Cole– ANCSA lands– State of Alaska objection
Native VoteExcept in Alaska Language
Future Challenges
Post-Sequestration Federal FundingIndirect Cost Recovery– Head Start – Non-BIA programs– State programs
Client Funding Not Increasing with Rising CostsReduced Competitive Edge in Funding Application– Reduced economies of scale
Future Challenges (cont.)
Department of the Interior FY 2014 Increase at 4% over FY 2012Bureau of Indian Affairs increase Only 1.2%– .8% without indirect cost being counted
Advocacy
Meeting with DOI Secretary JewelNCAI Tribal Budget BriefingTestify to House Appropriations CommitteeBegich Staff – Alaska Safe Families and Village Act– Strengthen tribal law enforcement
AFN – Senator Murkowski’s Cross Deputizing Program– Include Southeast Alaska tribes
CHANGING TIMES
Statute Changes
Special Statute Drafting CommitteeChange Our Statutes with the TimesStrengthen Tribal Status Among GovernmentsStrengthen Standards in Tribal Judge Elections without Being too LimitingExecutive Council Adopted Title VI Replacement with Amendments
Business Development
Must Broaden Income Base to Perpetuate GrowthCannot Depend on Program ManagementYou Heard Richard Rinehart Yesterday– Appreciate him offering his skills and energy to our
business development efforts
Contracting Opportunities More CompetitiveInvestigating Expanding Involvement in Gaming
Future Tribal President
I Will Not Seek Presidency Next YearI Love Serving as President– Time has been kind to me– Best for the long-term interest of Tribe– A year for succession planning
I look forward to a productive year of working with you & Executive Council on our issues and concerns.
Recommended Policy Change
Constitution– More dependable– Not change with political tides
Standing RulesQualifications of Candidate Important– Political– Administrative / Management skills
Proposal #1
Currently:– President political & CEO
• Authority to delegate
Proposed:– President political & CEO
• Authority to delegate
– Optional: President can be political• Hire a CEO to manage tribal operations• Would not be required to live in Juneau
The Same
ALL T&H PRESIDENTS PRIORTO RAY PADDOCK JR.
OPERATED AS I PROPOSE
Clarence Jackson lived in Kake when he was President before Ray
Proposal #2
Declare Candidacy for President & Executive Council 10-Days Prior to Tribal Assembly on Election Years to Have Name on Ballot– Delegates learn candidate qualifications– Gives candidate more opportunity to make case– Delegates have more time to evaluate all candidates– Improved participation by new delegates– Quality candidates elected– Write-in candidates allowed
Delegate Per Community Formula
Historical Methods
Tribal Citizens Over 18 Registered to Vote– 1 delegate per 100 registered– 56 delegates in 1976
I Proposed in 1985 – Get rid of voter registration system;
duplicative & confusing– Strengthen enrollment system & count all
over 18 for determining delegates
In Mid-1980s: 1 Delegate Per 150 Over 18
Proposal
Determine Delegate Allocation to Each T&H Community
Based Only On Tribal Citizens with Good Addresses
Historic AllocationCommunity Delegates Total
RegisteredGood
AddressesBad Address
Total Percentage New Delegate
NumbersChange of Delegates
Anchorage 11 1,540 1,075 465 30% 8 -3Angoon 3 344 334 10 3% 3 0Craig 3 373 367 6 2% 3 0Haines 3 373 344 29 8% 3 0Hoonah 3 459 442 17 4% 3 0Hydaburg 2 247 231 16 6% 2 0Juneau 33 4,923 3,650 1,273 26% 25 -8Kake 3 407 394 13 3% 3 0Kasaan 1 29 29 - 0% 1 0Ketchikan 9 1,252 1,119 133 11% 8 -1Klawock 3 375 364 11 3% 3 0Klukwan 1 73 69 4 5% 1 0Metlakatla 3 323 288 35 11% 2 -1Pelican 1 22 22 - 0% 1 0Petersburg 3 345 334 11 3% 2 -1San Francisco
6 763 619 144 19% 5 -1Saxman 2 159 156 3 2% 2 0Seattle 30 4,404 2,677 1,727 39% 18 -12Sitka 8 1,163 1,061 102 9% 8 0Wrangell 4 454 438 16 4% 3 -1Yakutat 2 261 227 34 13% 2 0
Totals 134 18,289 14,240 4,049 106 -28
Comparing Years 1984-2012Community 1986
Delegates2012
DelegateDelegates
after ChangeDifference from 1986
Anchorage 7 11 8 1 Angoon 4 3 3 (1)Craig 2 3 3 1 Haines 2 3 3 1 Hoonah 6 4 4 (2)Hydaburg 3 2 2 (1)Juneau 14 32 24 10 Kake 4 3 3 (1)Kasaan 1 1 1 - Ketchikan 7 9 8 1 Klawock 2 3 3 1 Klukwan 2 1 1 (1)Metlakatla 2 3 2 - Pelican 1 1 1 - Petersburg 3 3 2 (1)San Francisco 3 6 5 2
Saxman 2 2 2 - Seattle 13 30 18 5 Sitka 11 8 8 (3)Wrangell 4 4 3 (1)Yakutat 2 2 2 -
Totals 95 134 106 11
136%
57%
131%
42%
This proposal does not remove citizens from Master Enrollment
A database of citizens with good addresses will be used for future
delegate allocation
PointsT&H is a representative form of government – If we do not know if a tribal citizen is in our
community we can not say we represent him/her
Our democracy is compromisedThe number of citizens with bad addresses is growing– The number of bad addresses is more than any
one of our T&H Communities
The issues and policies we consider today are not significantly more
complex than in 1986 to warrant so many more delegates
There are 42% more delegates now than we had in 1986
This proposal is a practical and fair approach to delegate
allocation
It provides credibility to representation by reducing
the unknown!
What is really the best forthe Tribe?!
Your decision will impact the tribe for generations to come!
In Honorable Memory of Clarence Jackson, Sr.
GUNALCHÉESH!HOWA!