Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Video

Media Credit: Patrick Siller Tribal council elections for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe kicked off with candidate speeches at the Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center, 5665 E. Pickard Road., Tuesday night. The candidates were chosen in a previous run-off election where they were picked out of a basket. [Click to enlarge]

Delores Drews has been a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe for more than 70 years.

She was one of more than 40 attendees at the Meet the Candidates Tribal Council event Tuesday at the Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center, 5665 E. Pickard Road.

The event was a platform for the 24 candidates, spanning three districts, to express their views and goals for the tribe. More than 10 candidates spoke.

Drews said she attended to learn about the candidates' stances.

"I mainly want to make things better for the future and my family," she said.

The general tribal election will take place Nov. 6.

David Sowmick, one of the candidates running in District 1, the Isabella reservation, emphasized the need for secondary education within the tribe.

Tribal children have different learning styles from other children, he said, and these traits should be nurtured.

"We cannot put a money amount on the potential of our kids," he said.

Sowmick said he was encouraged by the number of changes within area businesses, all of which work toward the economic security vital to the tribe.

He emphasized the necessity of communication between members. As a member of tribal council, he said, he would take into account all the input he could.

"Knowledge and respect are useless unless we share them freely," he said.

Frank Cloutier, one of the candidates for District 3, said he understood governmental processes and how they affect day-to-day business. District 3 is members at large, or people not on a reservation.

If elected, he said he would serve, not dictate, the public.

The tribe's success comes largely from its aggressive excellence within its industries, originally in gaming and now expanding to areas such as hospitality.

"We're very good at what we do," he said.

He stressed the need for the tribe to operate as one, to cross boundaries and build alliances.

"Our membership needs to be protected," he said. "It's not about our cash - it's about our blood."

Tribal member Teresa Safi said she was pleased with the quality of the candidates who presented.

"I didn't know what their views were before, but I know them now," she said.

Safi said the tribe has a bright future, and its leadership should reflect this.



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