Linda K. Baker
Tuu tavay Pino Nuche!
When you vote Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, you will be selecting two individuals to represent you and the Tribe for three years. Some have already decided where their two votes will go.
For those still contemplating who to vote for, it is important to consider a broad range of qualities needed for a broad range of decisions to be made. It means reading, comprehending, inquiring and questioning packet submissions to Tribal Council. It means being humble enough to call an individual or department to clarify or explain something not understood. It means delving into unfamiliar areas where additional research and an open mind are needed to fully comprehend a situation.
Tribal Council representation is just that – representation. Direct representation is participation at department events, such as Behavioral Health’s “End Overdose” walk or indirect participation through attendance, such as the recent Veterans Powwow; it is important to show support for the time and effort put forth for addressing issues and for good causes. Representation can be local or regional, such as Southern Ute Boys & Girls Club or Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board; each of these organizations have direct impact and benefits by providing services needed for Tribal members. Tribal representation includes Tribal etiquette, respect and acknowledgement, qualities past leaders carried with them naturally as they moved among our people and other individuals.
Whatever the result of the election, I will continue to make contributions when and where I can for our Tribe. Recognize the bonding qualities important to you, your family, and your relatives from youngest to oldest, because this is how we survived in the past. In closing, consider who you can approach with your concerns as we move into the future.
Toghoyaqh!
Linda K. Baker
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Lorelei Cloud
Mayhk Pinonuchiu,
I am humbly asking for your vote for my re-election to the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council. Serving our community has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and I am eager to continue advocating for our people, our culture, and our future.
When I was re-elected in 2021, I took this responsibly seriously and I have remained true to my words. Over the past three years, I have worked diligently to advance the Southern Ute voice in water conservation and policy, particularly in the Colorado River Basin. As negotiations for the Colorado River Post 2026 Operations are underway, I have ensured that Tribal water rights are a priority. I have actively pushed for protections for No Harm to Tribal Water language in the alternatives being considered by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and advocated for compensation for our unused water as well as accounting for the unused Tribal water that is currently sitting in both Lake Powell and Lake Mead. We were close to securing compensation until Sept. 18, when BOR rescinded their offer, my commitment to this cause remains unwavering.
Through my advocacy, the Tribe secured $3 million from the BOR when the BIA failed to provide funding for its own project. On Nov. 20, I received a call from the BOR Commissioner informing me that for language for No Harm to Tribal Water and accounting for unused Tribal water will be considered in 3 of the 4 new alternatives being modeled now. We must come to a consensus before the end of 2026 about the new guidelines that will affect the next 50-100 years of operations of the river.
I am fighting a system that we were never meant to benefit from in the Colorado River Basin. The laws were written to benefit everyone, but the Indigenous peoples of this land, because we were not supposed to exist in 2024. There are those that want to continue that path and they are part of the roadblock I am battling for you. I am dedicated to ensuring we can use and will use our water that benefits us and our wellbeing. Water is everything; it is life itself.
Our past ancestors and leaders fought for us to be here, and I will continue to fight for our future. Our people are the Tribe’s greatest assets. We are only as strong as our leaders and you deserve to have someone fight for you, our land and water, and more importantly to uphold our Ute culture. Being Ute is something that I have always been proud of and protecting our Ute ways is a priority. I am committed, I am dedicated, and I am devoted to making good on my promise to protect sovereignty, our Ute way of life, our land and water. I stand by you and for you and I humbly ask for your vote for the Southern Ute Tribal Council run-off election on December 13, 2024.
Lorelei Cloud
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James “Mike” Olguin
Greetings,
December 13, 2024, the Runoff election is scheduled to occur to select two candidates to fill two open council seats. We must be willing to evaluate the candidates and determine who is best qualified. Realize that there are only four actual qualifications to run for council, be an enrolled member, be at a minimum 25 years of age, live on the reservation, and have not been convicted of a felony. This is per the Tribal Constitution. There is no mention of education, experience, skills, or abilities to lead. It is safe to say we end up letting the minority of the registered voters decide for the majority as shown on Nov. 3 when less than 40% casting votes resulted in the runoff election as no one received the majority of votes cast. We need to ensure that the people get involved and engaged in the elections, but why don’t they? Only those that do not vote can answer this question. It could be they do not like any candidates on the ballot, and/or do not care who is elected.
This needs to be emphasized as the people deserve the best suited, experienced, and qualified individuals to stand for and make decisions on behalf of the entire membership. Only the membership can choose those to be seated by voting. We need individuals with a vision and plans to carry out their respective concepts.
I have shared with you my vision and concepts, that can be implemented through plans I am developing, which will be delegated appropriately if seated. Realize too, that Council will have a leading role to act on these, but only through lobbying and convincing them that they are in the best interest of the membership.
My intent is to work hard and diligently beginning on day one. I bring a work ethic that has been developed since I was a teenager and proven in the past 40 years working for the Tribe.
At a minimum all I ask is that you vote, ask your family to vote, ask your neighbors to vote, ask your friends to vote for the best suited candidates to lead us forward and not be stagnant with no progression.
Mike Olguin
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Vanessa Torres
Maiku Pino Nuuchi,
My name is Vanessa Torres, I am seeking re-election on the Southern Ute Tribal Council. First, I want to thank the Tribal membership for their support and trust in me during the last three years of my term on Council. For those who may not know me, I am the daughter of the late Sam E. Pinnecoose (egape) and Georgia W. McKinley. I come from a family of five siblings, married and have a daughter.
During my first term, it was quite a learning experience to educate myself on the different entities and being able to make the best decision for the Tribe and the membership. In my term I have learned, grown, and evolved in my role as a Tribal Council member and continue to still learn. I humbly come before you to seek another term to continue to collaborate with the seated Council. There are projects and hurdles we as a Tribe need to be diverse in and be beneficial to the Tribal government and the membership. At times we need to think creatively, we have been in a stagnant era where change has been minimum. However, we need to challenge one another to be more efficient and effective with our departments and the Tribe.
Our sovereignty is especially important in how we proceed to govern our people within our Reservation boundaries. We continue to face challenges with the Federal, State, and other governmental agencies that fail to communicate with the Tribe on issues that have an impact on our people. Such as: water rights, land resources, protecting our cultural resources, wolf restoration, Indian Child Welfare Act, energy and environmental resources and Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives. We must be included at the table to tell our story instead of others speaking on behalf of us. Too many times the Tribe has not been involved in decision making and continues to be an afterthought, this frame of mind needs to change, and we need to be included. We face obstacles within our own government with housing, hiring, education, policies, and procedures that need to be revised.
The Tribe’s water rights have been a vital topic along the Colorado River, Animas La Plata Project and Pine River Indian Irrigation Program. The Tribe has been stepping up to utilize their own money along with available grant funding to repair the PRIIP. The Bureau of Indian Affairs needs to be held accountable for their lack of responsibility and funding in assisting the Tribe. Our Tribal members continue to pay for Operation and Maintenance fees and at times they receive no water. If we use our water in ALP, we must pay for the O&MN fees which is one of the reasons we are unable to use the water. In addition, there is no funding for infrastructure to utilize the water for both Southern Ute and our sister Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute. Our water continues to flow downstream without the Tribe being compensated, while junior water users take advantage of the water. There have been dynamics with the Bureau of Reclamation and their thought process. We have been advocates in being involved in meetings with Bureau of Reclamation and the other Tribes along the Colorado River to utilize our voices to fight for our water rights that impacts our Tribal members. I have been involved and participated on different speaking panels along with my colleague to emphasize the voices for our Tribe.
I have represented the Tribe on the Ten Tribes Partnership, Tribal Leader’s Forum, InterTribal Buffalo Council and the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives. As Tribal Council, we continue to work for the greater good of the Tribal membership and the Tribe. I am asking you to give me the contingency to remain on Tribal Council to be your voice. I am empathetic, willing to listen to your concerns and voicing my opinion for the benefit and success of our people. I will continue to do my best if given the opportunity to serve another term in making sure we manage and optimize our financial resources in a proper way to benefit the Tribe. I ask for your vote on Friday, November 1, 2024, to continue to work on behalf of the membership and the Tribe.
Toghoyaqh,
Vanessa Torres