Ousted secretary seeks seat on tribal council

A controversial decision to reassign the longtime executive secretary of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to other duties has ratcheted up interest in Saturday's primary election for five tribal ... via Missoulian

[Concerned member]

If someone is "ousted" does not that mean the person no longer has a job? Yet, Mr. Dupuis still retained his pay and benefits and his title. He is still working? What is he complaining about?

[I am a member-not Pitts]

Dupuis should feel lucky he has a job. If people would do their jobs and keep their nose in that job, maybe something would happen on the rez. And as for Moran. He was on the council before and didn't do his job. There are other people who ran for council and should never be on the council or even on the roles. Yes I am talking about Terry Pitts. He's not even Indian. One of his grandparents was adopted into the tribe. He and his wife got into a car wreck and their names were in the paper 24-7 and thats what got him into peoples head. He never once clamed to be Indian when he was in school and never in his life went to a pow-wow or wake or anything dealing with Indians. He uses his teaching as a way of getting him on the council. Big damn deal. There are a lot of people out their that have been teachers and done things for our youth more than him and they didn't say look at me. I hope the people who voted for him take a good look at their whiteman councilman. I know he will be spending many nights reading what it is to be an Indian. Ha Ha.

[Former Student]

You must know a different Terry Pitts than the one that was an excellent teacher, coach and role model for me. Sure he didn't dress or look like a traditional indian, whatever that may mean for people, but he was a cowboy and a little light-skinned but he always encouraged me to stay in touch with my culture and family. He respected anything cultural that may have been going on without question. It wasn't until after high-school that i heard of what may or may not have gotten him on the "rolls", up until then i had no idea he wasn't "indian", which i think is hogwash. He is very caring, generous and willing to help out any person be they white or indian or whatever they may deem themselves and to me aren't those native american (Indian Quailities)that we value so much. That doesn't even mention how close and well raised him and his wife are to their boys.