The General Welfare Exclusion Act (GWE) passed and was signed into law by President Obama in 2014. If you are an Elder, you are probably more aware of this legislation. Our Elder’s Pension qualifies under this umbrella and as a result we now are no longer taxed for this benefit. That is a personal savings … More General Welfare Exclusion Monthly Payment
I want to thank everyone for last nights comments. When Tribal Members say they want input before decisions are made, this is what that process looks like. Perhaps it is naïve of me, but my approach is a change in the language of an ordinance is a starting point in that conversation. That is also … More TERO
The biggest topic and the most difficult considering the emotional impacts to identity, so why not come first out of the gate. I promised more writing in the Tilixam Wawa Candidates Statements, so this is number two of this summer’s series (counting the Wawa). While I am not going to talk about this topic in … More 2023 #2: Enrollment
(This will be appearing or has appeared in the 2023 Tilixam Wawa Campaign Statements) Six years ago I was blessed with my first opportunity to serve our people and three years ago that honor was renewed for another term. This very limited 600 word piece cannot hit every topic so more can be found at … More 2023 #1: Tilixam Wawa Campaign Statement
When I sat down to write about this topic, each time it kept going into multiple pages and caused me worry that it was too lengthy and wordy for even me to get to the end. It is difficult to work through all of the interconnections and thought processes for budgeting. So, breaking it down … More Budgets & Per Capita: Part I
A version of this appeared in Tilixam Wawa March 2021 I grew up the fourth of five boys. My oldest brother is ten years older than me and over eleven years senior of my younger brother. We had our own garden and almost anything that needed fixing or creating was done by ourselves. The decade … More Good Enough For An Indian
If I was to go to our Tribal Members with a sure-fire business opportunity, an opportunity supported by documentation, facts, and figures that would make us $5,000,000 I am certain the response would be, “Awesome! That sounds great.” Or perhaps if we were not promptly moving along with the opportunity we would hear from our … More Improvise, Adapt, Overcome: Cedar Plank Buffet and Spirit Mountain Casino
Now that I have your attention, this is really about budgeting. Money tends to grab attention better than budgeting, so I went with it for the title. Besides, the budgeting process usually results in money being spent so the title is accurate. First, I want to state that unlike the federal government, we cannot print … More Let’s Talk Money
For those familiar with the Broadway play Hamilton, there are two competing philosophies presented. These are represented by the two main characters themselves as well as the two main songs they sing. Here is a link to the songs if you are unfamiliar with the play. The first is Aaron Burr, Sir and here is … More Communication: A Double-Edged Sword
Seven generations ago for the timeline of this map. Remember this when one says they support a life centered around the seventh-generation principle. Consider the generation of people moved to the larger reservation and to the area on this map and from the Tribes they came from. For this map, there are six tribes noted … More This 1857 Map and Our Song
Michael A. Langley 