Tribal Administration
Mission and Vision
Dedicated to excellence in our journey to build the tribe of the future.
Niipi means water. It raises crops from dust, providing nourishment for human souls. It cuts through ancient rock, wearing away the rough edges of hardened hearts. It moves over the land forming paths to travel, showing us the way to bridge two worlds. The journey is a circle: the past influencing the present, the present providing hope for the future, the future fulfilling the vision of the ancestors of long ago.
Guiding Principles:
- Culture – We will foster and cultivate traditional core values and beliefs. We will promote and preserve history.
- Family – We will show compassion for all people. We will invest in the welfare of the elders, the future of the young ones, and the stability of the family.
- Service – We will recognize the inherent worth of all people by treating them with dignity and honor. We will hold ourselves to a high standard of service. We will require performance, efficiency, and professionalism.
- Accountability – We will be accountable for our actions and attitudes. We will be trustworthy and ethical.
- Leadership –We will challenge each other to be loyal and courageous. We will maintain a positive view of change while holding fast to the traditional values that make us strong and united. We will support personal and professional development of employees.
Living the Vision
- Working as a Team – We recognize that it is only with united resolve and mutual respect that we can challenge and motivate each other to achieve extraordinary goals, inspire excellence and build productive working relationships.
- Investing in the Tribe – We recognize that selflessness and responsible stewardship of resources will better enable us to provide serves and create an environment where we can foster the success of the tribe.
- Representing the Tribe – We recognize the need to focus our daily efforts on building a stronger, sustainable tribe for the people. We will conduct ourselves at all times in a manner which embodies the following: “In memory of all our Ancestors who have walked the path of life before us, may we follow with dignity and honor.”
- Looking to the Future – We recognize that milestones of the past teach us and goals for the future direct our path. With every decision, every action, we will keep the best interests of the tribe at the forefront of our consciousness.
Bridging Two Worlds
Shawnee Chief Tecumseh imparted values and wisdom to his warriors that enabled them to prevail on the battlefield of life. Today, we seek to incorporate the philosophy of self-determination to build a foundation for our culture, businesses and government. We must live and succeed in both the cultural and modern worlds. In the circle of our journey together, we must embrace the past, act in the present, and envision the future. We must communicate with the community and business partners our sincere desire to celebrate traditional core values and incorporate them into our business practices. We will implement programs and offer opportunities that support continued progress toward our guiding principles and living the vision concepts. May we all be renewed by healing waters, the power of Niipi, as we make efforts to demonstrate our dedication to the vision set before us.