Manataba Messenger

Page 4 PLATFORM JERMAINE “BOYDA” FISHER TRIBAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE SPECIAL ELECTION JULY 6, 2021 VOTE FOR JERMAINE “BOYDA” FISHER ON JULY 6, 2021 I’m glad that you have been staying safe and healthy during this pan- demic. My name is Jermaine Fisher, aka “Boyda.” I am asking for your vote to finish the remaining term of the late Johnny Hill Jr. When I ran in 2020 for Tribal Council, my main concern was for the tribal membership, and to date, it hasn’t changed. Our people are the foundation of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Elders: The tribes have always talked about building a rest home for our elders. Many of our elders are sent to live the rest of their lives in a rest home in Phoenix or Lake Havasu City. The Tribal Council needs to set aside monies each year to build the rest home, and if the rest home cannot be built, they should cover the cost to train family mem- bers on how to care for their family friends. Or, the Tribes can create a pool made up of tribal members to care for their loved ones in their own homes until the elder’s health condition reaches a level where they need to be placed in a rest home. Those of you who cared for an elder or someone disabled know the many obstacles and medical problems they face daily. It is difficult to say goodbye when you visit them, and you have to leave. Now, because of the pandemic, you cannot even visit your loved one. You are only allowed to see them when they are near death. Our elders become lonely, depressed, which causes dementia to come on quickly. This is because they have no one to talk to exercise their minds. The Tribes need to set up programs where our youth can inter- act with elders to do puzzles or talk or listen to the elder’s stories about growing up on the Reservation or cultural stories. You know we’re not going to stay young forever. Veterans: We need to look into setting up medical care for our veter- ans at the Parker Indian Health Center. Rather than have our tribal member Veterans go to Phoenix or Prescott for medical care. We also need to set up an office, so the Tribes has all the tribal members Veteran’s important documents filed locally. Land and Water: The Colorado River is sacred to all tribes, and it is our lifeline. We need to use our water for irrigation purposes rather than leasing it to other big businesses. We need to look at creating more farms on the California side, which will create more jobs and income for our tribe. The Tribes need to put the lands that are abandoned or not leased into production. Tribal Jurisdiction: I witnessed other local law enforcement agencies doing traffic stops on the Reservation. My concern is we are putting our membership’s lives in danger. We do not want a repeat of what happened in the past. If these agencies continue stopping non-tribal members on the Reservation, we need to collect some fines for these traffic stops. Other Issues: The Tribal Council needs to follow the Tribal Constitution. The Tribal Constitution requires the Council to hold a Regular Tribal Council Meeting on the second Saturday of each month to hear the membership’s concerns. These meetings could be held out- doors, under the Manataba Park Tin Shed, or in the bleachers. The membership needs to know what our Tribal Council is doing. These are only a few of my concerns, and if elected, I will work hard to see that your issues are handled, and your voice is heard. A good leader has compassion, empathy, stays positive, not vengeful, positive (a negative attitude stops progress), can debate an issue, and shakes hands and leaves the heated discussions behind them at the end of the meeting. Again, my name is Jermain Fisher, aka “Boyda,” and I am asking for your vote on July 6, 2021. I promise to follow the U.S. Constitution, Tribal Constitution, and the employee/enterprise Handbooks.