NPTEC Candidate – Seat 3: Richard Arthur
My name is Richard Arthur. I currently reside in beautiful Kamiah valley for the past 8 1/2 years. I come from the Hayes, Penney and Arthur families.
I am currently employed at the Kamiah Nimiipuu Health as the Transportation Aid. On the Tribe’s side, I worked 10 years at Appaloosa Transit as a bus driver/dispatch, the Administration Department as the Tobacco Tax Compliance Officer, Prosecutor’s Office as a Probation Officer, and the Social Services Department as a Child Protection Case Worker. On the Tribe’s Enterprises side, I worked as a shift supervisor at Itse yeye Casino, Nez Perce Express I & II as a clerk & Inventory Control Clerk and Limestone Enterprise side, as a laborer, flagger, and traffic control supervisor.
I was raised by a single parent. My mother instilled strong family values, faith, hard work ethics, and always to respect others. As a family, we hunted, fished, and gathered together.
I’ve been participating with the annual Mud Springs Encampment since 1975 and the annual Talmaks since 1995. I was actively involved with the Chief Joseph & Warriors Memorial Pow wow.
Currently, I have served on the Tribe’s Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for the past 20 years. I have served on the Enterprise Board twice. I served on the General Council as an Election Judge and Resolutions Committee for many years. I was a certified Parliamentarian for four years on Roberts Rule of order. With your support and vote, if elected, I would like to be Treasurer of NPTEC. My goal is to support the Enterprise Executive Officer in developing enterprises that will be profitable and lead Our Tribe away from the dependency on the Federal Government. We have acquired over 300 acres at Atway Plaza. It’s important to create a master plan. Infrastructure on this property needs to be developed to look on the long-term development plan. Red Wolf’s golf course: We need to construct a new Golf Shop, Restaurant, and adequate meeting room(s) where the current swimming pool and tennis court is located. Where the current building is located at, we need a new casino and possible hotel built. This is a realistic goal. Purchasing the RV & boat ramps should be a high priority. Investing in enterprises in Wallowa Valley needs to be on the Tribe’s Enterprise Strategic Plan. Housing development, cultural center, and retail adventures for the Wallowa Valley that will showcase a rich history, will allow tribal members that option of moving and gaining employment in enterprises in our Tribe’s fisheries department, in that area.
The Kamiah/Kooskia Valley has over 7000 residences. We have an outdated casino and dilapidated fitness center. These two structures need to be rebuilt to provide a better service for our community.
I strongly believe we need to invest in property in Ontario, Oregon. Interstate 84 and highway 95 crossed through this city. This is a one-hour drive from Boise. For the past few years, the Shoshone-Bannock (Fort Hall) and Shoshone-Paiute (Duck Valley) tribes have been pursuing casino gaming in the Boise valley. We are going to miss out on this opportunity. Building a large casino hotel resort and truck stop in Ontario, Oregon would provide financial resources for our Tribe. The Enterprise Board needs more of an authority board and overseeing our enterprises. All monthly business plans (financials) should be signed off by the Enterprise Board before the Enterprise Executive Officer reports to NPTEC. We have missed out on purchasing property and enterprise opportunities because the Tribe’s process to purchase takes too long.
I have experienced attending Congress of American Indian meetings, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indian meetings, Northwest Housing Association and National American Indian Housing Council meetings. I have many years of experience on Capitol Hill in Washington, D. C meeting with members of Congress on both the Senate & House of Representatives. I have met with Federal Agencies on the Regional and National levels. I have sat in on Congressional Committee meetings and have the knowledge to represent the Tribe if needed to testify.
Once we strengthen our enterprises, then we strengthen our culture, language, Health, Education, Housing, Transitional Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, services for our youth, our elders. Our Tribal Reserves, and gathering sites needed to be preserved and protected.
The Dalles Dam Tribal Housing Project. The Dalles pool zone, Nez Perce Tribe needs to purchase land on the Oregon side of the Columbia River to develop possible housing, RV space and space for boats, fishing nets and gear to be stored. More land in the Rapid River area needs to be purchased. The past 40 years nonnative home development has changed the landscape and hampers our way to gather to fish.
Once again, I humbly ask for your support, your vote for NPTEC on seat #3. I will always work with honesty, integrity, and compassion. Thank you.