"[State Auditor] Stacey Pickering has stated on the media the secrecy of the Choctaws regarding the possibility of a casino being built in Jones County as well as how the county provides police and fire protection for the Choctaws. This attempt to appeal to potential voters has some untruths. The Choctaw Police department enforces tribal law and patrols the reservations. The Jones County sheriffs do not have any jurisdiction on the reservation. The Sandersville Fire department has only had to come on the reservation twice in decades — one being a false alarm. Further, we have several Choctaws and spouses of Choctaws who are volunteer firefighters for Sandersville who go on countless emergency calls in the county. The tribal leaders have made monetary donations to the town of Sandersville as well as donated vehicles to the fire and police departments. We have been very good neighbors contrary to what Mr. Pickering thinks. Also, there has been no racial tension between the Choctaws and the surrounding communities. We grew up together — going to school, playing ball, etc. We do not need that now. The tribe is exempt from paying taxes to the state of Mississippi but in return, the state does not provide any type of funding to the tribe either. Any grant is federally-funded just as some city, county, and state programs are.

There was no secrecy. The objective of the tribal chief and council members is to contemplate ways for our tribe to remain autonomous while preserving our culture. The possibility of another casino was being mulled to generate more revenue — just as corporations come up with new ideas and products to make more money — because it goes back to tribal members for healthcare, education, law enforcement, and other social needs. They had experts doing various studies, including an environmental impact study, to see if this is a feasible idea when this was alerted to the media. No formal announcement was made yet because it was still an idea. These groups that have suddenly banned together and is using the media to urge people to contact their officials in opposition of a casino should use this tactic to combat other problems as well, i.e. drugs and poverty if it is the welfare of the people they are concerned with.

Mr. Pickering is worried about the impact on the coastal communities. We do not live on the coast. We have to worry about our own since elected officials like Mr. Pickering are only concerned about everybody but us. That is why our tribal government rules by the mantra of self-determination. We have to think of ways to make our Choctaw nation and heritage sustainable for our generations because if we do not do it, nobody else will."

Get the Story:
Heather Thomas: Answering questions about the Choctaws (The Laurel Leader Call 5/23)

Related Stories:
Letter: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt local community (5/21)
Mississippi Choctaw council delays action on casino project (5/20)
Church groups line up to oppose Mississippi Choctaw casino (5/19)
Mississippi Choctaw tribal council delays vote on casino bid (5/11)
Mississippi Choctaw tribal council to vote on casino plans (5/7)
Mississippi Choctaws planning casino off main reservation (5/5)