The “Raising” of Trish Keliinui as a Peters family clan mother is coming up this weekend and it continues to be the brunt of jokes. This time it’s because Trish supporters are mooching off the Thanksgiving feast that is coordinated by the Meeting House Committee and the Elders. It’s a blatant effort to legitimize Trish’s ascension to a post that is nowhere to be found in our culture. That fact has been verified by our traditional leaders.
So last week, the committee’s budget got a $2,000 boost. Because the Coronation will be held on the same day (coincidentally. Last time they made a run at bootlegging off Ancestors Day), because more money was needed for Trish’s overflow crowd. Well, her event is not a tribal “tradition” where we pay the check. It is an event they are having to celebrate her winning an election to a post without definition, job description, or legitimacy. She can celebrate it any way she wants to…at her expense.
Expect to see pictures of the event on Magpies campaign flyers.
With that said, the right thing to do is to have a fundraiser to reimburse the Tribe for badly needed money that could be used elsewhere. Like feeding families or turkey giveaways.