Lisa Finley–DeVille: Tribe keeps members in the dark on 'man camps'

Man camps, crew camps, lodges, recreational vehicle parks: No matter what these new living areas are called, the trouble is that the new residents could be sex offenders or others who will bring with them their different values of life on issues such as drugs, alcohol and alternative lifestyles.

Tribal voters need to be better informed. There were no public hearings before the council went ahead with a resolution to place three man camps in the area. How can council members claim their actions are responsible, accountable and transparent when tribal members find out that the council has put communities’ safety at risk?

Tribal members still cannot view online the business council’s minutes or resolutions of either 2012 and 2013. The council may try keep tribal members in the dark, but tribal members have the right under the tribal constitution to bring a resolution to a reservation-wide vote.