Michael and Steven Thomas are distant cousins of mine. Although I know neither of them personally, I've observed them in leadership over many years. I have listened as they spoke out at hundreds of tribal meetings. I've butted heads with them on occasion. I've laughed with them from time to time, and I've even bear-hugged them at powwows and funerals. That's what families do. With this in mind, what I have to say next will likely raise a few eyebrows.

I believe the Thomas brothers were captives to my tribe's political environment.

Please understand I do not excuse or dismiss anything that culminated toward the financial demise of my community.

In fact, to be blatantly honest, my tribe has been through hell. Every family now struggles because of the financial throes of recent years, yet, despite overwhelming stress in the shadows of organizational restructuring, a growing awareness is taking root. It's the kind of awareness cultivated from deep, soulful reflections of what we've been through and the lessons we might learn from our mistakes.