“Capote” (2005)
Since I’ve always wanted to write for a living, this movie attracted me. The book “In Cold Blood” had to be a pretty gutsy thing to write in the late 50’s and early 60’s, in fact the whole subject of the brutal and unnecessary slaughter of a family in small-town Kansas had to be shocking. As a wannabe writer I’d have been just as grimly intrigued by the story as Capote was. What I find startling about this film is that it is not really a flattering portrait of Truman Capote, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman (who won the Best Actor Oscar). He was incredibly smart, a gifted writer, and very self-absorbed and egotistical. If this film is factually accurate, then Capote basically just used the killers to grind out non-fictional material for a book that would probably influence many future writers. He lies to them, especially the half-Indian, to gain their trust and extract the details of the killings which would earn them the death penalty. That Capote was unable to match the success of “In Cold Blood”, come to think of it I don’t believe he ever tried much after, is telling. It seems he pours his soul into this one work, even growing to care for the killers in a strange way. He also, if I am not mistaken, succumbed to alcohol. I probably sound like a dork in writing this review. But the minds and personalities of writers, especially great ones, fascinate me to no end.
“Pan’s Labryinth” (2006)
My Netflix queue has not missed many Spanish movies, usually Pedro Almoldovar. The Spaniards produce a different breed of cinema, I’ll give them that. Personally I think some of the most distinct films imported from Europe have come from Spain, more so than France or Germany or Britain, and they have definitely been some of the most imaginative. This film directed by Guillermo Del Toro is outstanding. It doesn’t move much beyond a fascist compound in Civil War Spain high up in the Pyrenees. The rest of the setting is a little girl’s imagination. Her mother has married an evil fascist captain, and is also pregnant with his son. The captain wants to kill rebels lurking in the surrounding forest. The little girl sees fairies and all sorts of creatures-- the theory is that she is the immortal soul of a magical princess coming home. While the rebels and fascists duke it out, brutally, she sets on a number of tasks that will help her return, one of which involves entering what looks like some magical realm. Throughout the film, we never really know how much of what she sees is real, as the adults never catch on. There aren’t many movies like this one, and it might seem kind of weird to some people. But it sucks you in, somehow.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Reading Minds
We met on Friday regarding the Special Constitutional Election. There wasn’t a whole lot to talk about, other than that we need to make clear to members what exactly is going on. For the second time in three weeks, I was told that we were off the ball somewhat in terms of educating members on this whole thing. I could help but roll my eyes at that comment, because up until now, just doing anything on this topic, whether a letter, article, or announcement even, has been a chore, a painstaking task of building consensus on an issue in which there would never be any consensus. We’ve never had the full support of Council on this, and about the only way we would ever arrive at consensus would be to bring in new Council members. It has been that difficult.
I’ve been trying to get a grip on what exactly has happened in the last week, especially regarding enrollment. Most of Council seems pretty calm and okay with what is taking place. All we are doing now is waiting, waiting for the BIA to give us the green light and clarify a few major points, one being whether the registration process would need to commence anew, the other a simple date for the election. Whether there is some sort of plan ready to take off once we get those answers I can’t exactly say. I was never privy to the apparent discussions that took place prior to the hasty decision last week. Had not somebody else pointed out that we still had Q & A sessions scheduled next week, I can’t help but wonder if those would have ever been caught at all.
Although I am only a fraction of the way through Barack Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope”, there is already one passage that sticks out. He points out that those in positions of power rarely feel the real consequences of their decisions. I can’t think of a truer notion right now. In communicating with a number of people who’ve waited since 1999 on this issue, the sudden change in plans is apparently sickening. One person I spoke with said she felt like throwing up when word got to her about the change in plans last week. It has been gut-wrenching and stressful, and could grow to be more so later on.
All of that of course makes me wonder how this might have been handled had some of us on Council been directly affected by the whole enrollment mess. What if our kids had gotten the letters notifying of pending dis-enrollment? What if we were the ones whose membership hinged on the election that likely takes place in a few months? I can think of a few more what-ifs.
I’ve been trying to gauge how some of my co-workers feel about all this, to be specific what spurred the decision to change things up. While two Council members have been, to their credit, fairly clear on how they feel, some of the others just seem to be going with the flow, following the lead of those who feel more strongly about the issue, especially the definition of Grand Ronde blood. It seems, quite honestly, that the decision to separate that portion of the amendment was made specifically so that section would fail. Why that would be I can once again only speculate, but my hunches are pretty strong right now. I could always ask, really, but something tells me getting a truthful response is highly unlikely.
It’s times like these that I wish I could read minds. So we wait. Business continues for us. For some Tribal members and families, things might never again be the same.
I’ve been trying to get a grip on what exactly has happened in the last week, especially regarding enrollment. Most of Council seems pretty calm and okay with what is taking place. All we are doing now is waiting, waiting for the BIA to give us the green light and clarify a few major points, one being whether the registration process would need to commence anew, the other a simple date for the election. Whether there is some sort of plan ready to take off once we get those answers I can’t exactly say. I was never privy to the apparent discussions that took place prior to the hasty decision last week. Had not somebody else pointed out that we still had Q & A sessions scheduled next week, I can’t help but wonder if those would have ever been caught at all.
Although I am only a fraction of the way through Barack Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope”, there is already one passage that sticks out. He points out that those in positions of power rarely feel the real consequences of their decisions. I can’t think of a truer notion right now. In communicating with a number of people who’ve waited since 1999 on this issue, the sudden change in plans is apparently sickening. One person I spoke with said she felt like throwing up when word got to her about the change in plans last week. It has been gut-wrenching and stressful, and could grow to be more so later on.
All of that of course makes me wonder how this might have been handled had some of us on Council been directly affected by the whole enrollment mess. What if our kids had gotten the letters notifying of pending dis-enrollment? What if we were the ones whose membership hinged on the election that likely takes place in a few months? I can think of a few more what-ifs.
I’ve been trying to gauge how some of my co-workers feel about all this, to be specific what spurred the decision to change things up. While two Council members have been, to their credit, fairly clear on how they feel, some of the others just seem to be going with the flow, following the lead of those who feel more strongly about the issue, especially the definition of Grand Ronde blood. It seems, quite honestly, that the decision to separate that portion of the amendment was made specifically so that section would fail. Why that would be I can once again only speculate, but my hunches are pretty strong right now. I could always ask, really, but something tells me getting a truthful response is highly unlikely.
It’s times like these that I wish I could read minds. So we wait. Business continues for us. For some Tribal members and families, things might never again be the same.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Just Like Starting Over
An employee joked to me recently that instead of calling our Oath of Office ceremony “Swearing In”, we should really call it a “Swearing At”. That was probably in light of some of our most recent Council meetings. I doubt that employee really expected anything too ugly to occur on Wednesday, September 12 at 11 a.m. in Council Chambers, but then again, who ever does? It’s a time for celebration, in theory.
I had only been sworn in once before, three years prior obviously. Even then there was a degree of tension. What I remember is one person being ready to go after Angie, Buddy, and myself already, reading off an email from one of our supporters that was none too popular amongst the locals. As if trying to read it off during our swearing in wasn’t enough, the issue had to be revisited at length during our first Council meeting later on that night. Not surprisingly, one of the same people who chose to raise the issue was present two weeks ago, alleging that I or somebody on my behalf had coerced a Tribal elder into endorsing me during the election this year. Ridiculous. Even after three years, the cast of characters remains the same.
It certainly hadn’t changed Wednesday. After being sworn in and taking our Oath of Office a number of people, Tribal and non-Tribal alike, lined up to shake our hands and offer congratulations. Not once but twice I was drawn close to two different individuals who would whisper in a low voice so nobody else could hear, one making an accusation towards me and indicating that if I did it again they would “drop” me, the other taking exception with what I had written in the August issue of “Tilixam Wawa” and more or less saying that if I continued that they would no longer be my friend.
Not the best way to start off my second term.
But realistically, I shouldn't claim to be shocked. As the politics of Grand Ronde have grown more partisan, a point I need to keep repeating, they have also grown nastier. It just seems like the side I am on doesn’t tend to do things like this. Or this:
Just before lunch I was handed a Meeting Request Form signed by four Council members and the subject of which was written rather cryptically. It simply read “Enrollment Issue”, and the meeting request time was for 1:30 that same day, a little more than one hours notice. I asked the Council member who had handed me the request, and he indicated that they wanted to stop the present Constitutional Election and re-submit the language. The language would be the same, but split up into three parts. Specifically, the definition of Grand Ronde blood would be a separate amendment. Also, this was considered an emergency.
After a little research of our Operating Procedures, I informed the rest of Council that even in emergencies, at least 12 hours notice is required for any meeting, unless all nine Council members waive that notice in writing. Typically, 24 hours notice is necessary unless the situation is an emergency. I was later that afternoon handed another Meeting Request Form, this one reading “Operational Procedures”. This too, was an emergency, evidently.
I emailed out a request to schedule the meeting on Enrollment the next day at 1:30, followed by the Operating Procedures. Little did I know that neither of those would occur at those times, but more on that later. I would also get wind later on in the day that there would be a Special Tribal Council Meeting Friday morning to handle the enrollment stuff.
As everybody has heard, the Council meeting that afternoon featured a new election of Chair and Vice-Chair. Cheryle Kennedy replaced me six votes to three. Reyn Leno was awarded the Vice-Chair position over Kathleen Tom by the same margin. Everybody was very gracious and professional about the whole thing, which is how it should be.
In all honesty too, I am not angry or sad about no longer being the Chair. I knew my fate in that regard once the election results were in. Cheryle had to deal with being replaced by me last year, and now the opposite occurred. It would be hypocritical of me to be bitter. These are our Tribal laws.
But I must admit to being bothered by a couple of things. One is that the meeting on Enrollment, to stop the election and re-submit language, was held the following morning while I was speaking at the Tribal meth conference. I walked in at 9:20 or thereabouts and the conversation was being wrapped up. Our Tribal Council Relations Coordinator’s update, which usually occupies that time slot, had been canceled and the agenda amended to incorporate the Enrollment Discussion, and that of the Operating Procedures (although they just added Wednesdays as possible Work Session days, nothing I didn’t expect). A major decision, as we don’t really know how many if any Tribes have ever called off a Constitutional Election, had been discussed and decided in less than 30 minutes, with no Staff Reports and not even a Record of Instruction. And neither Wink, Kathleen, or myself were told it would happen that morning. The following morning, the resolutions to stop the election and re-submit language would pass at a Special Tribal Council Meeting.
Why am I bringing all this up? Why the long, tedious narrative? Well, frankly you almost had to be there to believe how it all went down. It was brazen, efficient, and legal, but also a far cry from how we had been conducting business the last two years. Furthermore, as I have not listened to the recording from that morning, I can’t vouch for how the conversation went, or what led up to it. It was either pre-planned and/or pre-discussed, and I was not a part of those, or the new faction in charge is incredibly efficient. So efficient that what took me, Angie, Buddy, Wink, and Kathleen months to decide was reviewed and re-adjusted in 20 minutes. Clear answers did not come forth during the Special Tribal Council meeting either. It just happened.
So is this just a freak occurrence or a new, in saying new I mean a return to the old, way of doing business? I’d like to give the new-look Council a chance, but stuff like last week makes me apprehensive already.
All I can do really, is just tell people how it appears through my own eyes, and let them draw their own conclusions.
I had only been sworn in once before, three years prior obviously. Even then there was a degree of tension. What I remember is one person being ready to go after Angie, Buddy, and myself already, reading off an email from one of our supporters that was none too popular amongst the locals. As if trying to read it off during our swearing in wasn’t enough, the issue had to be revisited at length during our first Council meeting later on that night. Not surprisingly, one of the same people who chose to raise the issue was present two weeks ago, alleging that I or somebody on my behalf had coerced a Tribal elder into endorsing me during the election this year. Ridiculous. Even after three years, the cast of characters remains the same.
It certainly hadn’t changed Wednesday. After being sworn in and taking our Oath of Office a number of people, Tribal and non-Tribal alike, lined up to shake our hands and offer congratulations. Not once but twice I was drawn close to two different individuals who would whisper in a low voice so nobody else could hear, one making an accusation towards me and indicating that if I did it again they would “drop” me, the other taking exception with what I had written in the August issue of “Tilixam Wawa” and more or less saying that if I continued that they would no longer be my friend.
Not the best way to start off my second term.
But realistically, I shouldn't claim to be shocked. As the politics of Grand Ronde have grown more partisan, a point I need to keep repeating, they have also grown nastier. It just seems like the side I am on doesn’t tend to do things like this. Or this:
Just before lunch I was handed a Meeting Request Form signed by four Council members and the subject of which was written rather cryptically. It simply read “Enrollment Issue”, and the meeting request time was for 1:30 that same day, a little more than one hours notice. I asked the Council member who had handed me the request, and he indicated that they wanted to stop the present Constitutional Election and re-submit the language. The language would be the same, but split up into three parts. Specifically, the definition of Grand Ronde blood would be a separate amendment. Also, this was considered an emergency.
After a little research of our Operating Procedures, I informed the rest of Council that even in emergencies, at least 12 hours notice is required for any meeting, unless all nine Council members waive that notice in writing. Typically, 24 hours notice is necessary unless the situation is an emergency. I was later that afternoon handed another Meeting Request Form, this one reading “Operational Procedures”. This too, was an emergency, evidently.
I emailed out a request to schedule the meeting on Enrollment the next day at 1:30, followed by the Operating Procedures. Little did I know that neither of those would occur at those times, but more on that later. I would also get wind later on in the day that there would be a Special Tribal Council Meeting Friday morning to handle the enrollment stuff.
As everybody has heard, the Council meeting that afternoon featured a new election of Chair and Vice-Chair. Cheryle Kennedy replaced me six votes to three. Reyn Leno was awarded the Vice-Chair position over Kathleen Tom by the same margin. Everybody was very gracious and professional about the whole thing, which is how it should be.
In all honesty too, I am not angry or sad about no longer being the Chair. I knew my fate in that regard once the election results were in. Cheryle had to deal with being replaced by me last year, and now the opposite occurred. It would be hypocritical of me to be bitter. These are our Tribal laws.
But I must admit to being bothered by a couple of things. One is that the meeting on Enrollment, to stop the election and re-submit language, was held the following morning while I was speaking at the Tribal meth conference. I walked in at 9:20 or thereabouts and the conversation was being wrapped up. Our Tribal Council Relations Coordinator’s update, which usually occupies that time slot, had been canceled and the agenda amended to incorporate the Enrollment Discussion, and that of the Operating Procedures (although they just added Wednesdays as possible Work Session days, nothing I didn’t expect). A major decision, as we don’t really know how many if any Tribes have ever called off a Constitutional Election, had been discussed and decided in less than 30 minutes, with no Staff Reports and not even a Record of Instruction. And neither Wink, Kathleen, or myself were told it would happen that morning. The following morning, the resolutions to stop the election and re-submit language would pass at a Special Tribal Council Meeting.
Why am I bringing all this up? Why the long, tedious narrative? Well, frankly you almost had to be there to believe how it all went down. It was brazen, efficient, and legal, but also a far cry from how we had been conducting business the last two years. Furthermore, as I have not listened to the recording from that morning, I can’t vouch for how the conversation went, or what led up to it. It was either pre-planned and/or pre-discussed, and I was not a part of those, or the new faction in charge is incredibly efficient. So efficient that what took me, Angie, Buddy, Wink, and Kathleen months to decide was reviewed and re-adjusted in 20 minutes. Clear answers did not come forth during the Special Tribal Council meeting either. It just happened.
So is this just a freak occurrence or a new, in saying new I mean a return to the old, way of doing business? I’d like to give the new-look Council a chance, but stuff like last week makes me apprehensive already.
All I can do really, is just tell people how it appears through my own eyes, and let them draw their own conclusions.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Face Time with OB
I could not pass up the opportunity to meet with Barack Obama. Presently I am reading his book "The Audacity of Hope", and must say it is one of the most engaging books on politics I've ever read. In many ways I like his approach to issues. He is able to be critical without being offensive, and isn't afraid to admit admiration for people and/or ideas from the opposing party and even be frank about flaws of his own. Also, I admire politicians who not only write their own stuff, but do it well.Although I had only a couple of minutes with him, he did autograph my book. After being told I was up for re-election the following day, he assured me I would win, because a man lucky enough to have a necklace like that must be lucky in other ways. He told me that if I win, he would like to borrow it. I plan on mailing it to him.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Hanging On
I’ve gotten so used to having Angie Blackwell and Buddy West around that in driving up to the Community Center today, a little anxiety crept up on me. Of course I was all too familiar with the election results from the previous evening, since the Tribal Chair is whom our Election Board calls first with the results. Even though I had won, I was also very much alone. And I approached the General Council Meeting today with the same reluctance that as a kid I approached one of my aunts’ dogs who had snapped at me once, so closely in fact that to this day I can recall his hot breath and the sound of snapping teeth.
All afternoon today I waited for that bite.
Buddy had chosen not to come in today, understandable considering the circumstances. I missed him immensely. And Angie left at the onset of Other Business, equally understandable because there were at least one or two people who were likely to be taking parting shots. I missed her as well. Despite the differences I might have had with those two, because honestly we rarely agree all the time with anybody in our lives, having them present conferred a sense of security. Kind of like having two buddies while walking down a dark alley at night. If the bad guys decide to strike, at least you’ve got back-up.
But the bite never came. I felt the breath, but never the fangs. And on a weekend that could ultimately end up being two steps back for the Tribe, for now things feel okay.
Elections and politics in general, have a way of bringing out the dark side in people. In having the good fortune to speak with a well-known regional politician last month, I was told that some leaders motivate (in this conversation he meant campaign) by fear, loathing, and playing upon people’s weaknesses, while others motivate by hope, inspiration, the promise of better days and greener pastures ahead. I’ve come to the conclusion that one is infinitely better than the other, but both are effective. That is what I still have a hard time getting used to.
Wednesday night’s Council meeting was atrocious. I’ve never felt like such a target. Somebody showed up only to try and get a rise out of me and make me look bad. It all felt so coordinated too, and set up. Watching opposing Council members joke and chuckle at me while leaving, clearly enjoying the hatchet job, once again had me questioning my desire to do this another three years. Not only did they want to get rid of me, and really us, but they wanted to give a kick in the rear on the way out. Winning the election isn’t enough. Humiliating defeat, taunting, and smugness have to be thrown in there too.
I don’t know if Saturday’s results mean a lapse or end to the meanness that has become Grand Ronde politics. In losing two people who for the most part stood for what I did, it’s hard to call it a victory. But staving off the sweep for a second straight year has to mean something. As one out-of-towner told me today, the votes I got reflect that Tribal members away from Grand Ronde do care, that the seemingly huge gang of locals and large families who follow the WIF (Wisdom, Integrity, Family) party aren’t going to monopolize every election.
What will be really interesting now is what happens next. Does the movement that has won two straight elections have a purpose or is it strictly about control? More importantly, do they intend to undo what we’ve built? Based upon the reaction that Monty Parazoo’s question about enrollment seemed to draw from at least three opposing Council members, I can’t help but wonder if there will be more passive-aggressive sabotage efforts mounted to derail the amendment. I almost wonder if the two Special Enrollment issues of “Tilixam Wawa” are going to happen now.
Following the meeting, my opponents converged to talk, lowering their voices to hushes as I walked by, clearly not wanting me to hear them. But I heard them still, and not even trying to eavesdrop. They had a large space rented in Sheridan, from what I heard.
“What are we doing?”
“We’re celebrating. And we’re gonna start talking about next year!”
All afternoon today I waited for that bite.
Buddy had chosen not to come in today, understandable considering the circumstances. I missed him immensely. And Angie left at the onset of Other Business, equally understandable because there were at least one or two people who were likely to be taking parting shots. I missed her as well. Despite the differences I might have had with those two, because honestly we rarely agree all the time with anybody in our lives, having them present conferred a sense of security. Kind of like having two buddies while walking down a dark alley at night. If the bad guys decide to strike, at least you’ve got back-up.
But the bite never came. I felt the breath, but never the fangs. And on a weekend that could ultimately end up being two steps back for the Tribe, for now things feel okay.
Elections and politics in general, have a way of bringing out the dark side in people. In having the good fortune to speak with a well-known regional politician last month, I was told that some leaders motivate (in this conversation he meant campaign) by fear, loathing, and playing upon people’s weaknesses, while others motivate by hope, inspiration, the promise of better days and greener pastures ahead. I’ve come to the conclusion that one is infinitely better than the other, but both are effective. That is what I still have a hard time getting used to.
Wednesday night’s Council meeting was atrocious. I’ve never felt like such a target. Somebody showed up only to try and get a rise out of me and make me look bad. It all felt so coordinated too, and set up. Watching opposing Council members joke and chuckle at me while leaving, clearly enjoying the hatchet job, once again had me questioning my desire to do this another three years. Not only did they want to get rid of me, and really us, but they wanted to give a kick in the rear on the way out. Winning the election isn’t enough. Humiliating defeat, taunting, and smugness have to be thrown in there too.
I don’t know if Saturday’s results mean a lapse or end to the meanness that has become Grand Ronde politics. In losing two people who for the most part stood for what I did, it’s hard to call it a victory. But staving off the sweep for a second straight year has to mean something. As one out-of-towner told me today, the votes I got reflect that Tribal members away from Grand Ronde do care, that the seemingly huge gang of locals and large families who follow the WIF (Wisdom, Integrity, Family) party aren’t going to monopolize every election.
What will be really interesting now is what happens next. Does the movement that has won two straight elections have a purpose or is it strictly about control? More importantly, do they intend to undo what we’ve built? Based upon the reaction that Monty Parazoo’s question about enrollment seemed to draw from at least three opposing Council members, I can’t help but wonder if there will be more passive-aggressive sabotage efforts mounted to derail the amendment. I almost wonder if the two Special Enrollment issues of “Tilixam Wawa” are going to happen now.
Following the meeting, my opponents converged to talk, lowering their voices to hushes as I walked by, clearly not wanting me to hear them. But I heard them still, and not even trying to eavesdrop. They had a large space rented in Sheridan, from what I heard.
“What are we doing?”
“We’re celebrating. And we’re gonna start talking about next year!”
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