hatito cayaaki wiyeefa, Greetings my Shawnee relatives,
As we approach this election season, I feel I need to reach out to each Shawnee Household and humbly ask for your support. As your Chief and working with the Business Council, we've done our utmost to create new and meaningful programs at the Tribal Nation. It is my hope with each newsletter we reach people in need. I truly am excited about what we have created. Below are some of the accomplishments that we have achieved as well as a bit about me…
Accomplishments
· Planning the expansion of the Golden Mesa Casino by adding a hotel, RV park, and an enlarged gaming floor resulting in an estimated $8 million per year lift to the Tribe.
· Indian Child Welfare has intervened in dozens of child protection and family court actions.
· Tribal Courts were launched with an easy-to-use web dashboard for transparency in governance. (see: https://library.municode.com/ok/shawnee_tribe)
· Higher education grants for our young people
Experience Matters
· With more than thirty years of relationships and serving in Indian Country in government, tribal gaming as well as keeping Our cultural values.
· I currently serve as the Chairperson for the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, a 501c4 public advocacy group, as well serving on the Board of Directors for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.
Goals
· This year we will be launching a “Youth Council” so that our young adults can experience Tribal Governance. This is our seed corn for the future and I feel our young people need to be reflected in our Tribal Organization.
· The next few months, the Shawnee Tribe will have dedicated council chambers to facilitate remote viewing of government meetings.
Vision moving forward
· Expand gaming and economic development
· Increase benefits for tribal elders, children, and veterans
· A sustainable agriculture department focusing on food sovereignty, culture foodway education, and forestry products.
· Reclaiming tribal lands which will one day allow us to have a Tribal Housing Program
I hope to earn your vote every day and I believe these past three years are a testament to that work.
Sincerely,
Chief Ben Barnes
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