Well, 2010 is here and once again we have the opportunity to make improvements to our Tribal standings within our home community and the State of South Carolina.  The Tribe has been State Recognized for four  years now.  There has been some progress made but alot more could have been made. 

 

The Tribe now has a good strong knowledgeable Council to govern the affairs of the Tribe.  They need you the members on the roll to come and support their efforts to improve the Tribe and plan the future of this Tribe.  The Tribal attendance at our meetings has been really poor.  If we want to increase our opportunities of getting any type of grant, then we must be able to provide copies of sign in sheets that will show you are supporting the Tribe. 

 

The Federal Government has funds to help our students.  They only pay based on numbers.  This money does not come to the Tribe to be used for anything except aid for student education.  We have to account to the Office of  Indian Education in Washington, DC for every cent of the funds spent.  Unused funds must be turned back in at the end of the school year.  A report of expenses is given each month by the Tribal Treasurer to the Tribal Council.  Also a report is given to the Tribal Members at the end of each quarter. 

 

Folks, we can only offer these benefits to you, we cannot make you come and receive them.  Did you know that with an ID Card from a State Recognized Indian Tribe you can get discounts in alot of places that offer discounts to organizations such as Indian Tribes.  No, I did not promise that you would get discounts from everywhere.   So why not get a new card.  Come and meet some of your family and friends. 

 

I would like to see every person that has called me or sent an e-mail asking about some type of help with food, medical, college assistance and home repair, at the Tribal Meetings in 2010.  You want help, but you must show your support for the Tribe by attending the meetings.

 

Anyone in a leadership position, such as Tribal Chief is subject to rumors being said about them, I am not exempt from rumors, there will be things said about my life style, my income, how I am getting money because I am Indian, there will be others.  Believe me there is no money in this job for me.  I have made it very clear that the Chief would not have a paying position.  The Chief nor the Tribal Council Members can hold a paying position in the Tribe. There can be an exception made to this restriction and allow a Council Member to be hired to perform a job, but only after all efforts to hire a tribal member for the job has failed. If this becomes the sitution, then the Tribal Council will review a Council members Resume and only by a majority vote will a council member hold a paying position with the tribe.  We want to help you get paying positions not create them for ourselves.  I wish I could make every person believe that the Tribe is now 100% true and honest for every member of the Tribe, but some will never believe it.  This is the Original Pee Dee Indian Tribe, but a new Tribal Administration has been elected by the tribal members.

 For those that do not know it, I am retired and my income is from a Military Career and Social Security.  Without supporting my own travel expense, I could not do the job of Chief for this Tribe.  Every Tribal member out there has the opportunity to attend Tribal meetings and ask any questions they have.  Things have changed in the way the Tribal Government is ran. The Tribal Council is now in full control of the Tribe, The Chief nor the Tribal Chairman can do anything without the Tribal Council's approval.

 

I wish to address the issue of "Indian Money".  There is no Indian Money for the Indians here in our community.  Please do not believe all the rumors you hear about such money.  Yes, other Tribes have received big grants for such things as Housing, Education, and Medical Aid, but they have participation from their Tribal Members.  Which allows this to be possible.  We can have the same also.  But only if you will support the tribe by being an Active tribal member.I hear this comment being made about Indians, they only want to be Indian to get money or college funds.  I really do not believe that, If you are Indian and you can receive assistance for a college education then by all means pursue that course. I would hope that a person would not dishonor our Ancestors by using their Indian Ancestry just for their own personal benefit.

 

The Tribe has made an amendment to the Tribal Bylaws pertaining to Tribal members being in good standings to vote in the affairs of the Tribe.  Tribal members must attend the minimum of four Tribal or Council meetings per year to remain in good Tribal standings with the Tribe and have the right to vote in Tribal affairs.  This amendment is necessary to prevent someone from not attending a meeting for over a year then showing up to vote only when they have been asked to do so by a member who is trying to get a vote to go their way. The amendments made ensure that everyone is treated equally. You as tribal member has the right to make suggestions to improve the overall quality of life for our tribe.

Will see you at the Tribal Meetings.

 

Chief Caulder