2015 Susanville Indian Rancheria Tribal Business Council Campaign Announcement

There was a time when things were simpler.  We knew how to get what we needed to eat, our homes stood  wherever we made them, and there was no government or greed.  The natural world provided a wonderful classroom for our children; and the elders’ daily example ensured strong generations.  I don’t mean to overstate the obvious, but those times are not so near.

Anger seems to be the order of the day, and apathy feeds the mindset of some of our leaders.  We have become hardened and slanderous, as we have sought to tear down and fight each other.  Our Community is eroding from within, and this is because we are not united in a single purpose.  Sadly, there will come a moment when we pass the point of no return.  We will become unrecognizable, and our fighting may bring similar outcomes that other Tribes in California are facing.

The time for all of us to come together for the good of our people is now, because total erosion is simply unacceptable. The factions that divide us must be erased from the pages of how we do things, because we have our children and grandchildren to think about.  We are the caretakers of our Tribe, none of us can afford to sit here and do nothing, and we certainly cannot continue our divisive infighting.

At the risk of sounding pretentious, I’d like to speak about why I feel I am qualified to be a Tribal Leader, and also about my main ideas of how to move into the future.  Please forgive the length of this letter, but it’s my belief that the responsibility of the Tribal Business Council is a very serious thing, and your vote deserves more than a few paragraphs of the usually tired content.  I want to see our Offices of leadership filled by those who show ability towards critical thinking and expression.

Who Am I? 

My name is Brandon Guitierez.  I was born and raised in Susanville, and I have always been a part of this community.  I am declaring my candidacy for SIR Tribal Chairman, because I am confident that I possess the qualities necessary to be an honest, generous, and strong Tribal Leader.  I am a good listener, and a great communicator.  To me, creative problem solving and critical thinking are not just concepts; I’ve actually used them as a military leader overseas.  It is my sincere hope to earn your vote for the Tribal Business Council, because leadership is something I know well.

I am a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Navy.  I am also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2381.  I served on 2 combat deployments in both branches of the military.  I was awarded numerous Commendations and Decorations – most notably the Secretary of the Navy authorized both of my Achievement Medals for outstanding Leadership.  As a Marine, exemplifying leadership traits were the hallmark of everything I did.  While on my first deployment in the Persian Gulf, I served as an Infantry Squad Leader with the Fleet Anti Terrorism Security Team.  I took my duties very serious, because I was personally responsible for the lives of 14 Marines.  After my first enlistment I transitioned into the Navy, and I continued to occupy leadership roles throughout my tour and 2^nd combat deployment.  In the Military I developed a strong work ethic, intelligence, and moral courage.  Being a Marine and Sailor is a big part of who I am; and I’m proud to say that I was honorably discharged from both branches of service in 2002 & 2007.

While being a “Jarhead” is what I hold dear, equally important to me is my love for our Native Culture.  I am currently working with an elder to become a fluent speaker of my indigenous language, and I am a Sweat Lodge helper.  I am also a Northern Traditional Dancer.  Our cultural value system has been instilled in me throughout the course of my life.  When I was a child the Tribe placed a high priority on ensuring that we received a good amount of cultural instruction.  From those many lessons I was taught about respecting Elders, not taking more than I need, giving back as soon as I receive, and allowing people their turn to speak.  I think there are some that have forgotten those lessons.   The Tribe did its best to ensure that my generation had a decent understanding of what it is to be Native.   Those experiences are precious to me, and I am thankful to all of the people that helped guide me during those years.

Expectations of Leadership 

The term “Tribal Leader” has a very interesting word in it.  That word is Leader.  Over the last few years I’ve paid close attention to those that call themselves Leader.  The conclusion I’ve come to is that they are doing the best they can, but it’s clear that some of them could do much better.  This statement is not an insult, or a slight towards the current Council.  But the time for change has come.  On the subject of Leadership, I feel that I speak from experience.

I was a Non Commissioned Officer in the Marine Corps, and I was a Petty Officer in the Navy.  I know what to expect from good leadership, as I was well aware of what was expected of me as a leader.  I was fortunate to have great Officers mentor my path in the military.  Their examples and counseling provided me with many great tools.  I would like to share my expectations of leadership with you.  These lessons are as relevant today as they were when I lead Marines and Sailors.

Leaders are not born, they are made, and that means that one must know how to follow before he or she can lead.  That person must understand how to use judgment when weighing the options over a tough decision.  An honest leader must also seek justice for the truth when rendering a directive.  In high stress situations leaders are called upon to be decisive, and in those crucial moments initiative makes a good leader dependable.  People in leadership can find themselves in aggressive confrontation, and in those moments tact is how professional leaders defuse situations.  Integrity is another vital trait a person in leadership can show by setting a good example of conduct. Unselfishness is a key element of proper leadership.  Exemplifying these characteristics takes a good amount of courage, because leaders can often become unpopular due to difficult choices.  That is why it’s very important to choose leaders that have enough knowledge to make fair decisions that will sometimes be unpopular.  I believe that type of person can only exude this sort of path by being loyal to his or her people and their cause.  The endeavor of leadership takes great endurance, because those that lead often walk alone.  I know this, because I’ve walked the lonely path of a leader.

Election season is upon us, so you must ask yourself this, has the Incumbent upheld conduct that emulates good leadership traits?  I am his opponent, so my answer is obvious.  I feel that you must demand more than empty promises and 5 paragraph letters.  You must ask yourself if your expectations of leadership have been met.        

Educating Out of Poverty 

Perhaps you can agree that it was not good judgment to shut down daycare service for our children, and then move offices into those spaces rendering the possibility of that program’s return completely abandoned.  There is little justice for our youngest tribal members when the possibility of early education (Head Start) has been ripped out of their reach by those that call themselves Tribal Leaders.  Are they decisive, and do they possess courage by systematically depressing and killing our Tribe’s education services? Daycare, Head Start, tutoring, mentoring, and real college funding are part of those services.  Not to mention we are an Indian Tribe, and the leadership has not taken the least amount of initiative to institute cultural immersion in our afterschool or summer programs.  How can we consider our leadership dependable when their path seems to lead further and further away from our children and elders?  I do not think there is a measurable amount of integrity to be found in those that campaign about doing all they can to help our kids, and then turn around and do the opposite, or even nothing. What do you think, have your expectations of leadership been met?

Is it unselfish to spend close to $1,000,000 of Contract Support Cost settlement money without details, and without giving 1 penny to healthcare provided by our Indian Health Center?  Almost as bothersome is that it’s apparent that $0 out of the million went into revitalizing early childcare/education for our most vulnerable tribal members.  If Tribal Leaders are truly loyal to their people, then priorities must be placed first and foremost on our children, our elders, and of course towards healthcare, which is something that everyone needs.  These are real priorities that should be the most personal to all of us, everything that comes after that is just business.  Leaders make decisions that benefit their most vulnerable people first.  What’s more, real leaders make those choices unafraid of the next election, because real leaders have courage and principles.  It is my opinion that a severe lack or willful dismissal of knowledge for what’s truly important to our Tribe (sustainability in programs that raise our children right), and zero endurance to search for and find options to keep the important things functioning, render some of our Council people undeserving of reelection.

Do not let anyone make you believe that the Tribe is broke, because that is not true.  If we are being honest, it’s clear that the Tribe isn’t bad at managing money; it’s just really good at spending it on things we don’t need, can’t see, or even feel.  In my opinion funds are put into things that are simply wasteful.  That should most certainly be fixed!  The trick is electing people that will search for the things we don’t need and choke them out.  I assure you that I am one of those people.  Our funds must be spent on things that really matter like education (from daycare to college), elders, and healthcare.  We must spend our money in places like this before we do anything else.

Education is the most important service we can provide to our young people and to our community.  I believe that education is the Atom Bomb to poverty.  I am sure you can agree that poverty is a problem many of us have either struggled with, or are currently fighting.  What’s more, poverty breeds alcoholism, drug addiction, domestic violence, and abuse.  Therefore, wiping out poverty should be a goal we all share. We can accomplish that by educating our youth.  After all, we have a certain duty as parents and grandparents.  That is to invest, fight for, and build better lives for our young people.

Please give me your support so I can fight to make long term investments in our youth.  If we take their education serious throughout their school careers, we will have Tribal members that will replace the current Tribal Administrator, Fiscal Controller, LIHC Chief Operating Officer, Casino GM, and SIRCO CEO.  That’s a goal I think all of us should share.  Supplying the funding necessary to aggressively support the education of our kids all the way through High School – and for some into the Universities is the only way to have OUR Tribal members truly run OUR government and businesses.  Education is how we take control of our Tribe.  A vote for me is a vote to put Indian people first, and to fight poverty with education.

Elders Deserve Love, Respect, & Healthcare 

Another group within our tribal membership that receives heavy attention every election cycle is our elders.  It never ceases to amaze me how they are wooed.  Then the elections happen, the votes are counted, winners are announced, and nothing changes.  That is a big source of frustration for me, because I know that these are the people who protected, raised, and taught us many of the things we know and use today.  So then, how have we repaid our parents and grandparents over the years?  Do we treat them with honor and celebration?

The Eatery is on its march past 10 years of closure.  You may have heard that it will open up real soon, but that’s due to CIMC funding and not our Leadership making it a priority.  It seems that the value of a place for our Elders to congregate in, and eat at outside of their homes is something our leadership doesn’t take serious unless someone else will pay for it.  In my opinion, the Eatery has become a sad symbol of how the Rancheria treats its elder members, only because it’s the most visible indication of their plight.  Native people should treat their elders better.  That means we must provide more than lip service at election time.

In truth, we give them around $10,000 a year for their Council, this funding helps them go on a few trips, but that’s really it.  So, in other words we are saying to them, “Thank you for protecting and raising us, now here’s a few hundred bucks a piece, go somewhere and don’t bother us”.  This is a sad way to be.  What happened to revering our old people?  Anyone whom has ever been to a General Council Meeting is well aware of their unhappiness, and sadly some of us are also aware of how some non-elder tribal members verbally abuse the old people.  That is unacceptable, yet I don’t seen council members intervene when something like that happens.

We seem to cover the basics when it comes to our elder population.  They receive services from our Clinic, and a few other things from the Tribe.  Perhaps that’s enough to some, but I know we can do much more for them.  Part of dignity is not just ensuring that they have proper dwellings and food (spending money on them); it’s also going out of our way to publicly honor our elders both individually and as a group.  We must spend more time with them, and we need to make them a bigger part of our lives.  They deserve our warmth and admiration, after all that’s what Indians do.

In Closing 

At the end of the year, you will have a choice to make.  Will you choose the same thing, and then act surprised when you find disappointment yet again?  Or, will you consider the future and see that there are those among us that have great potential?  I am not talking about myself.  I am speaking about our children.  They need an advocate who knows how to stand up, speak for, and fight to help make life better for their future.  We must elect a person who will fight for that.  If not, will you be satisfied with returning the Incumbent to office and then witness zero change.  I’m asking you to take a chance on me.

I am not special, and I do not possess some form of super intelligence or experience.  I simply love Indian people and my home.  I am tenacious and I was trained to fight for those that cannot fight for themselves.  That is my mentality.  Our cultural principles guide me, and I do not care about personal gain, because I believe in community service.  The Rancheria has always been a part of me, as it is a part of you.  Get behind me and use me as a force for fighting poverty by educating our children.  Let me be a vessel to bridge the gap between the elders and our admiration.  Count on me to prioritize our healthcare before I worry about other business.  Choose someone who puts Natives first.  Service on the Tribal Business Council should not be about power grabs, and devouring all the “goodies” one can.  Service is empathy and sacrifice!  I know a little bit about that.  Through the struggle of failure and success I have proven myself overseas, and in life.

So please, change the way you think, try another way, and vote for me.  I will work my hardest to bring honor, courage, and commitment to the Office of the SIR Tribal Chairman.  Thank you for your time, and vote Guitierez for real leadership.