Photo Credit: Mike Reyes
(LEECH LAKE, MN.) - Despite his hectic schedule, I was able to sit down with Mike Reyes, current candidate for Leech Lake Secretary/Treasurer May 7. A couple of things I noticed right off the bat were his openness to discussing any issue, and that he could use the term family and community interchangeably and it wouldn’t be a stretch. Read on to get to know one of Leech Lakes potential representatives, and what he’s passionate about.
The following has been mildly edited for clarity.
Me: “You work in the fire department, have previous experience in law enforcement, and are a member of the Pike Bay Board; among other things. As an extremely community-driven individual, what is it that you hope to change in Leech Lake?”
Mike Reyes: “It’s a lot different than what state politics do. For the Tribal Council, they're considered the Reservation Business Committee [RBC].What I would like to achieve are changes in the strategic plans that we have. So for drug prevention, you know, making sure that we all come together. Right now, I am the chair of the opiate coalition, and I've been there for eight years…. the biggest thing about the prevention side is to have everybody [working] together. Being on a Tribal Council will help make sure of that. There's always obstacles in place, and we have to find ways around those when you're not at the decision-making level [it’s harder], but we find ways around them.”
“The other big thing is to get something implemented that the people get to vote on by setting up a referendum vote. I think the biggest change that we will have, and we'll probably be the only tribe to ever do this, and I think other tribes will follow suit because we've been talking to other tribes. I want to have a referendum vote so that people get to vote [on] ‘at will’ employment. So people just can’t be let go, and that [would] secure job security, where people could do their job without fear of losing it. Some people might not agree with me. But we'll let the people vote on that.”
Me: “Allowing more community decision-making seems to be something that, moving forward as you said, other tribes are considering.”
Mike Reyes: “But the thing is, there's two different sets of boards. The Secretary/Treasurer and the Chairman are on the Tribal Council board, and the Tribal Council could also do a different referendum that would be across the six bands. That would help change our Constitution.”
“There is a big push for constitutional reform now, and I do support that one hundred percent because we are separate nations. What works for White Earth or what works for Mille Lacs might not work for Leech Lake, Boise Fort, Fond du Lac, or Grand Portage. Each band may have a whole different set of things [in] their Constitution that you know that they wanted, that would affect us differently. Sovereign nations, we should be implementing our own constitutions [from] within. That's the things I think about, like, here, talking about community involvement.”
Me: “You were talking about being a part of programs that educate youth and adults about addiction. I saw you had 15 years working with kids in one capacity or another. How do you intend to raise awareness for drug abuse with especially at-risk youth in Leech Lake? How do you stop them from continuing that cycle?”
Mike Reyes: “So I'm 42, gonna be 43. I started working with the youth at about 16. You know, even when I was a youth, I had mentors, you know, if it was coaching, if it was going out with the coordinators. I was with the police department [too], my job was drug prevention and intervention. I’ve always been around [school] meetings because my mom is on the board.”
Me: “So you have a history of family involved in the community?”
Mike Reyes: “Yeah, my mom's been on a school board [for] over 20 years. In Cass Lake, she's been on the Housing Board and others. I've always said that I was never gonna do this stuff, but working with the kids, and when I talk about prevention, I even think about my kids.”
“I think about the kids that have parents that are addicts. Alcoholics, you know? I'm a recovering alcoholic. Almost 4 years, over now, but to figure out why these communities amass themselves with drugs and alcohol and the traumas they face, and then how do we prepare our kids to go through that?”
Me: “There's also the ones who are already addicted, and I've noticed in talking to candidates in general from all over, that one of the major things is, they say. There aren't rehabilitation centers in the area, and then you have to send them away from their support system. Do you think there needs to be more of an aspect, there, for group support, mental health resources, and addiction counseling nearby?”
Mike Reyes: “Well, you know there's two components to recovery. My thing is like I didn't drink daily. There's two components to me; I go to group, but at the same time, I was going to therapy. I didn't understand, but when you're talking about a man going to therapy, people look down on that; you know, there's a cultural thing, and that was even within law enforcement. You didn't go to therapy. You just masked it with alcohol. That was the honest truth when I first started. You don't have to do that now. People are like ‘man, this has to happen’. Mental health workers and providers are key [too]. It's like a dual diagnostic thing.”
“I mean, you could do whatever you want, and people get sober and they can dry out and everything else, but they mentally keep going back to those traumas. They're gonna want to mask, because they don't want to deal with that. Do the mental health side plus that [addiction recovery programs], and you're going to have a higher recovery. At the same time, there has to be clean communities, otherwise it’s like you went and rolled around in the dirt, then took a shower. Then you had to go back into the dirt to do something; are you potentially going to get dirty again? Yes, there has to be safe places to go back to.”
Me: “So you said you never intended to run for office, and on your Leech Lake candidate information, you said you felt like you needed that experience for people to take you seriously; what made you become passionate about running?"
Mike Reyes: “If there's a problem, I'd rather do something, even if we're crawling. I'll keep moving on. 2012 was the first time I ran, but I went out and I voiced my concerns and my opinions, and I got my first taste and I ran for District 3. Then in 2016 Chairman came up, and I was going to support some candidates, but when it came [down] to the drug issue, I just felt like it wasn’t going to get addressed, so that was a split decision the night before elections. Still, actually, I want to ask my mother for permission. I still do that even today. I'm glad that my mother is still here, and she gives me advice.”
Me: “We've talked a lot about youth, but it's clear from the way you talk about your mother that you have a lot of respect for your elders as well?”
Mike Reyes: “Oh yeah, some of that stuff [respect for elders] is being lost, because a lot of the grandparents are raising their kids. We have to get that back. We have to get that sense of community back; a sense of respect. That's the one thing I always look at is: I don't want to disappoint my mother, my father. I do respect my mother. I'm very fortunate that she does give me advice, and then there's times I have sat there when I am caught up in troubles and you know, she’s my comfort. She will give me the advice that I need through those times.”
Me: “What is your favorite traditional yearly activity that you never miss?”
Mike Reyes: “Netting’s in my family. My uncle nets, he's one of the few netters over here. I've almost died a couple times netting, but I guess that’s my favorite. Even now a thing I enjoy is getting food from the pow wow. I love it, and I will sit down and watch the fancy dancers. That is something that for me is so cool. Oh, and obviously basketball, if you’ve never experienced a Cass Lake [vs] Red Lake game that’s something to experience.”
“I got to see how maple syrup was done last year, but my buddy and people in the coalition, they run a youth AMD program for prevention. They go and tap trees and collect maple syrup, and then their kids help cook it. So I got to be a part of doing some of that. The last couple of years, well, last year was a lot. I mean, pick 'em up and collect them and stuff, it's a lot of work, but I'm just very fortunate that I have people around me that do that, and I get to have this experience here.”
Me: “I went to White Earth’s pow wow for a brief time last year. I know what you mean about fancy dancers. They start dancing, and you hear the voices and drums, and people come out in this beautiful beaded regalia. Wow, it’s a completely different and immersive experience for somebody who's never participated. Then yeah, of course, food. I had a frybread cheeseburger from Josie’s, so good.”
Mike Reyes: “Yeah, I would say the best thing for me would probably just be pow wow. Getting some food and then sitting down and watching the grand entries.”
Me: “Do you have any plans for how you're going to relax once the elections are over?”
Mike Reyes: “I just don't stop. I don't know how I function when I'm relaxing. But it's hard for me to slow down. You know? I kind of want to be involved. You know, I do. To just do my job, go home and that's it is nice, but it's so hard when there's problems out there and you know, again, you have children. So you wanna make sure that they get your time.”
Me: “I want to thank you for your time; good luck on the campaign trail.”
Mike Reyes: “Thank you.”
General elections for Leech Lake and all six Bands of Minnesota Chippewa will be June 9. To obtain information about candidates or voting information visit Minnesota Chippewa Tribe website.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at kristin.h@lead4earth.org and leave a comment below.
0
0
Comments