Changing council

PABLO — “It’s not everyday you lose 58 years of collective history,” said Ruth Swaney, of the turnover in tribal council leadership resulting from the recent Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal council elections.
“It’s a momentous change.”
Three new council members were sworn in last Friday morning, along with two returning members.
James Steele, Jr., handily won re-election in the Arlee district, and was subsequently reappointed to the position of tribal council chair through a unanimous vote of the full council. Mike Kenmile also retained his seat in the Hot Springs district.
Bud Moran picked up the open seat in Pablo, beating out contender Joe Dupuis.
Two incumbents lost seats, in St. Ignatius and Dixon. Sonny Morigeau, who had been the longest standing council member, in office for 32 years, and Ron Trahan, both lost to new comers Terry Pitts and Charlie Morigeau.
Pitts especially promised change and attention to the constituency as part of his campaign.
Tribal members-elect were sworn in by Chief Justice of the Appellate Court, William Joe Moran, who first and foremost asked that the men uphold the terms of the U.S. Constitution.
“Tribal nations are not completely sovereign,” Moran later remarked. Their authority lies, he said, “somewhere between federal and state sovereignty.” Thus the new council was first sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and then the parameters of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
The Yamncut Singers led the ceremony with a flag song, which followed an opening prayer.
All the council members made opening remarks about their hopes for the new governing term.
“I feel real honored to serve you,” Bud Moran told the large assembled crowd. “I’m a member of a team that I think is going to do good things for the membership.”
The theme of unity was repeated throughout the morning.
Tribal Chair James Steele stated, “The three tribes together, that’s what makes us a great nation.”
Pitts remarked with his characteristic sincerity, “The one thing I really appreciate this morning is the spirit of love in the council chambers.”
There was, indeed, a feeling of hope flowing through the crowd. Murmurs in the chambers spoke of the positive change and spirit of hopefulness the newly elected council represents.
But the contribution of the past members was not swept under the rug.
“I want to remember the three, Lloyd, Ron and Sonny,” said council member Carole Lankford. “They taught me a lot about history and culture and what it means to be up here.”
“But the people have spoken,” she added.
And it was the people who were placed at the forefront of the new council members’ speeches.
“I thank you for this opportunity,” said Pitts to the crowd. “I will be honest and upfront.”
Moran echoed the sentiment by saying, “Communication is going to improve. I’ll do my best. My door is always open.”
And Charlie Morigeau put it directly, telling the crowd “Don’t ever forget — you are the power. We are your representatives.”
Tribal councilman Steve Lozar voiced the unspoken for the crowd.
“We just experienced a real difficult election,” he said, “that in a lot of ways tore at our hearts and divided us.”
“My hope is those divisions are just temporary and we look at this time forward as a time of healing, that we live by real respect, not just lip service.”
Lozar, who was elected council secretary, added, “It’s a day of optimism, a day of grace.”
The talk of working together came from seated tribal members as well. Mathias reflected on how the council needs to resolve issues, because they represent the family of the joined tribes.
“When the treaty of 1855 came, that shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “But it did. We have to live with that.”
After the swearing in and initial statements by the council, the Yamncut Singers offered an honoring song for health care workers honored later in the meeting, for the new council members, and for “our council members who are going on to do other things with their lives.”