Re: BDN, July 8 letter, “Micmac survival,” by Donna Sanipass.

The Aroostook Band of Micmacs were experiencing difficulties long before the federal recognition began. Some Micmacs who were made members after 1991 were told had to have certain documents to reinstate their membership with the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. I thought I had the documents necessary to become a member when I had applied the first time. I know most of us had those documents that are required now, but have been told they are not in our files, and I find myself asking questions like, “Why are they not in our files now?,” and “Where did they go?”

This is not the only reason there is a lot of negativity within the tribe. There are also problems concerning individual constitutional rights such as the tribe’s failure to provide the right to have absentee ballots. Only those members who reside in Aroostook County are allowed to vote at meetings and they are also the only ones to be notified of the agendas, dates and meetings times.

Another reason why negativity seems to be present within the tribe is that other members who held decent-paying jobs in tribal offices were fired, not because they failed to meet the requirements of their specified titles, but because they were also trying to do their jobs honestly and those in power did not like them for trying to be honest.

I have been to community meetings, and in my opinion, resident tribal members have acted in a ridiculous manner. There are heated arguments that on occasion have erupted into physical fights and the issues that were brought before the council got lost in the chaos. Nothing ever seemed to be get resolved and discrimination against lighter-skinned members was always present. So, when we wonder why we are called “dumb Indians,” we need to take a good look at the way we behave.

I agree that we are human beings, so we should prove we are, by working together in a civil manner, regardless of skin color and place of residence. We need to learn to take the good with the bad, work with mutual compromises, and behave like the intelligent, adult human beings that we are. If certain individual members know right from wrong, then I have yet to see it. Linda Knowlton Veazie Nonresident Aroostook Band of Micmacs tribal member