Tribe must protect its own

To the editor:
    As a Maine resident and a tribal member of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, I was pleased to see Governor LePage signing the Maine Wabanaki-State Welfare Truth and Reconciliation document. I believe this is an encouraging marker for all the tribes of Maine. I also believe each tribe has a responsibility to protect their native children, along with the most vulnerable populations of the tribe, including elders and the poverty-stricken. Poverty contributes to the abuse and neglect of these populations.
    This should be a priority for the tribes, so history does not repeat itself as it has done historically. That being said, this does not mean the tribes and state hold the same historical positions. This is especially true for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. It appears my tribe has become so assimilated to the non-native way of life, they have forgotten their own culture, who they are and who they represent. The state, desperate to make amends, has become more empathetic to the tribe and our needs.
    This role reversal has been hard on many tribal members, instead of the state being responsible for the abuse and neglect of children, elders and high-risk families, it is our own tribe which fails to protect our most vulnerable populations, even in our own place of business. I have witnessed first-hand the abuse and neglect of children, elders and high-risk families. The homeless cannot get places to live because native employees in substantial positions, already having apartments/homes, take the available housing and the homeless remain homeless. They talk about protecting the elders, but let them be victimized in our own establishments. The tribe has failed to protect the children from abuse and neglect within our own programs.
    The Maliseet Tribal Chief and Tribal Council do not want to hear the problems of their members, they just want to look good to the public. Even when it is brought to their attention, they turn their heads, look through rose-colored glasses, and pretend they knew nothing about it. It is ironic they expect more from the state of Maine than they are willing to give themselves. They want the authority for child welfare, but not the responsibility.
Kelli Shannon
Dyer Brook