And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: Pat Morris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Mashantucket Pequots protest against tribal money management
By Associated Press, 09/10/99 03:00
MASHANTUCKET, Conn., (AP) Members of the Mashantucket Pequot tribe protested against
tribal leadership and their decision to reduce by half the payments tribal members
receive from the profits of the Foxwoods Resort & Casino.
About 60 tribal members demonstrated Thursday outside of the reservation. The
protesters complained the leadership is flawed, secretive and spends too much money on
frivolous items that only increase the tribe's debt.
''I believe the kingdom is falling,'' said tribal member Lisa Weum, 24. ''What we once
dreamed of is falling down in the middle.''
Protesters said they were upset about the council's recent decision to cut into
education payments for the tribe's youth.
''The tribal council is taking money away from the children that they promised them
they would never touch,'' said Brian Sebastian, a seven-year tribal member and
entertainment manager. ''They're always saying that the youth is our future. Well,
we're out here fighting for them.''
The group cited several other reasons for the public outcry, among them: questionable
off-reservation property buys; a failure to disclose certain financial records;
continued involvement in non-money making ventures, such as investments with the
Norwich Navigators minor league baseball squad, the Norwich Inn & Spa and Pequot River
Shipworks; tolerance of growing gulfs between the upper crust and lesser tribal
members; a decision to pare money to tribal members without making significant
sacrifices themselves; and on-reservation expenditures, such as the new Mashantucket
Pequot Museum and Research Center.
Tribal spokesman Arthur Hennick said the council would listen to the protesters'
concerns.
''The tribal council deeply respects and strongly supports the right of any individual
or group of tribal members to assemble peacefully and to express their views and
opinions freely,'' said Hennick, reading a tribal statement. ''The tribal council will
continue to listen to and work with its membership so that all views and comments are
heard, as is the custom in a democratic government.''
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/253/region/Mashantucket_Pequots_protest_a:.s
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