We were in the Tankosin Firehall Meeting room, the place where we built our constitution. All six of our executive committee were there. So too were Len Pash (advisor), Lenora Crane (Riverbend's chair); and Irena Novak (Battenor County's chair).
Lenora started explaining why they called us together: "We've had several meetings about merging Riverbend with Battenor County. Some ideas were put forth, but nothing is finalized. In our last meeting, someone mentioned Tankosin Nation. So we thought before we move further, we should discuss some ideas with you."
Battenor County completely surrounds Riverbend, so they are a natural fit. Tankosin sits on the northeast corner of the county. While we are an eventual candidate for a merger, we are not as natural of a fit. Maybe Joosemin could bring us into their merged TDG someday. It was nice Riverbend asked.
I asked, "What would this new tier do?"
Len said, "We're not exactly sure yet. We just know we need to continue to build the TDG."
Irena said, "Maybe we need something to help us to gain more skills for TDG governance."
Lenora said, "Riverbend's been supporting a few local causes, but that support needs unanimous approval from the executive committee. Maybe this merged TDG could take the same approach with regional causes."
"Like?" asked Sally.
Len piped in: "Like the Battenor Wilderness Area. There is a lot of dispute about the usage of this federal land. . . . And the Tankosin Nation is laying claim to about 10 square miles. Maybe our regional TDG could find some consensus into the future of this area."
That got my interest: "It is actually 10.65 square miles that was taken away from our original Treaty agreement. I should warn everyone that the Tankosin people will be strongly advocating for the return of this land."
Len said, "Hold on there, Eli. We need to get this merger together and its new council functioning well before it can take on something like this. I'm just giving an example of what may be possible if we join together. This merged TDG might be able to apply some effective political pressure. I'm in favor of this merger because we need new challenges to grow. This merger may go in all sorts of directions we can't yet see."
Lenora added: "I have to agree with Len. We need both effort and patience. In Riverbend, we have supported three projects. We haven't suffered any setback because we agreed on a unanimous decision from the executive committee."
A little pall overtook our meeting with Lenora's mistake. Thelma was assassinated shortly after the Riverbend TDG made its first venture into the real political world. No one spoke but everyone realized. Lenora could only offer a meek apology. It was an awkward moment. Hard to say how it should have been handled.
It was Zach who broke the uncomfortable silence. "I didn't know Thelma. But I think her spirit would want us to move on. . . . Would this merged TDG have direct authority over us—if we merged with you?"
Irena said, "We really discussed this a lot when we were only considering Riverbend and the County. We thought that the third tier should not be an authority over the local tiers. Rather it should supplement their work at the local level."
Len added, "We thought that the training session we did almost a year ago here would be better handled by this third tier."
"OK," I said, "How do we determine who serves in this tier?"
"We should keep to the principles of indirect elections," said Len. "We thought the executive committees should somehow elect or appoint a few of their own members to this third tier."
Zach was a little confused: "You guys keep saying 'third tier'. How do you get that?"
Len answered, "Sorry Zach, I was thinking from Riverbend's perspective. We have two well functioning tiers in our TDG. The lower tier elects on representative for each 35 neighborhoods in Riverbend. Then that tier elects the seven members on the executive committee. . . . So, for us, this merger will look like we are building a third tier."
Irena added, "And Battenor County is different. We have just one tier. Our six representatives are elected from six geographical areas in the county, including one from the village of Yellit."
I had to ask: "Isn't Yellit a separate political jurisdiction from Battenor County?"
Irena answered: "You're correct. In theory, it should have its own TDG. But in our early days, we had a couple of people from Yellit who wanted to be in the county TDG, not start their own. So we decided to include the village with the county TDG. Someday Yellit might want its own TDG. But right now, it seems a nice fit—and no one is asking for a split.
Lenora added, "If I recall, the Tankosin TDG elects six members in a plurality vote. There really is no geographical representation within the Nation."
I confirmed: "Yep. The six members with the most votes serve on the executive committee. And we allow all registered Tankosin people to be members. Not all our members live on Nation land. Some in Riverbend. Quite a few more in Joosemin."
Len corrected me: "All Tankosin under 35 years old, right?"
"Yep, that's right. Thanks for keeping me on my toes."
Len summarized: "So we have three TDGs who have found different ways to function in their communities. I think I speak for both Riverbend and Battenor County in that the new tier that comes with this merger really shouldn't force its way into what is working well in these local TDGs."
Zach paraphrased, "So you guys ain't gonna boss us around?"
Len said, "No, that's not the intent. Rather the three TDGs will be merging to find a common direction for our region. Each local TDG will keep its own local constitution."
I said, "So we're gonna write a new regional constitution?"
Len said, "We'll need something to guide this . . . higher tier . . . for its deliberations and decisions."
Lenora said, "And writing this new constitution will give us the opportunity to learn how to work together."
Zach asked, "How do we select the people to serve on this new tier?"
Len said, "Well everything is up for negotiations. But from what I understand of how the bigger TDG should work, each local TDG will determine its own way to select its representatives to serve on this tier. So the Tankosin TDG will select its own people."
Zach asked, "Without any interference from Riverbend or Battenor County?"
Len said, "I would say that is the plan. Tankosin will decide its own representatives."
Zach asked, "How many representatives?"
Lenora summarized, "When Riverbend and Battenor County first started talking, there seemed to be a consensus that Riverbend would send three representatives and the county would send one. Based on population. But that just might all change with Tankosin Nation coming into the merger."
Len added, "These kinds of details will be worked out with more negotiations. Right now, we need to know if there is interest from Tankosin."
Irena added, "And by bringing in Tankosin, there might be some new ideas worthy of pursuing that we just can't see yet."
"One thing," Lenora asked, "How far has the Tankosin TDG come into becoming a formal non-profit society?"
Justine answered, "I spent some time with Mr. Kennedy from the Riverbend TDG and brought his thoughts into our executive committee meetings. Our constitution is evolving.
Lenora asked, "In what way?"
Justine said, "Before we apply for non-profit status, we have to solidify our constitution. We're increasing our upper age limit, but we don't want to move too quickly. If we let too many older people in too soon, the younger people'll have no say."
I said, "Last year, we raised the maximum age from 30 to 35. Len helped us with that amendment. We haven't seen any problems with older people trying to take over. We've talked about raising it to 40 soon."
Justine added, "I think we'll have quite a few amendments to make in the next few years. I think we need the freedom to make those amendments without having to go through the government."
Len said, "Mr. Kennedy likes this kind of writing challenge. I think he will find words to describe how two incorporated societies and one unincorporated group can create a third incorporated society. That should work for this third tier."
I wondered if Len was talking like this 10 years ago.
I looked at my executive committee members. I sensed no negativity. I said, "I'm speaking only for myself right now, but maybe other members may want to say something. I like this merger idea, and I like that the Tankosin are being considered to join. It will bind us closer. It will be interesting to see what comes of it in a few years.But I see a small loss of Tankosin TDG sovereignty if we officially join with the white culture. If we do go this direction, this merger will need the approval of our members—and that requires a ¾ vote according to our constitution."
Len said, "Eli, the other two TDGs also have their super majority vote to go through. It will take a lot of good work from all three executive committees to make this happen."
"Before we get moving on this," I said, "My executive committee needs to think a little more. Can you guys wait two or three weeks for our decision?"
I looked at Justine and the others to make sure I was speaking for them.
Len said, "That sounds fair."
