WILLIAM OWENS
FOR
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Jobs
In the past few years we have seen some overwhelming blows to the American economy as a whole, with skyrocketing job losses occurring nationwide. As Vice-Chairman I want to be able to create jobs for tribal members, to provide training and to encourage entrepreneurship and economic development in Southwest Oklahoma. Currently at all of our entities only 42% of the employees are Comanche, 54% of the employees are non-Indian, we can and we will do better. I want Comanches to hold more jobs within the Nation so that they can have better benefits and better wages, this way they do not have to leave in order to support themselves and their families, then our communities will remain strong.
Language
The foundation of our culture is through the Comanche Language and the preservation of our language is essential for the survival of our culture. As Vice-Chairman I will be committed to ensuring, through tribal programs and services, that future Numunu generations will be able to Read our words, Hear our words and Speak our words in the Comanche Language. I would promote the revitalization and usage of the Comanche Language in our Child Care Development Program while educating children in a safe and cultural environment. At our local schools and universities, I like to see them create a Comanche Language course for students.
Community
When we look at our past and how strong our communities were during the early days of Comanches, we see energetic Comanche communities made up of healthy, happy, self-reliant families. I see this as a key to the future of a strong Comanche Nation. As Vice-Chairman I want to dedicate my service to the concept of “One Nation”, Comanches working together for the common good, in its support of strong Comanche communities. Along with our Outreach Centers in Anadarko and Oklahoma City, I want to establish more Outreach Centers where there are large numbers of Comanches, such as in Tulsa, Dallas, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles areas. Then expanding to more areas, covering the United States with Comanche outreach and serving all Comanche members.
Sovereignty
Sovereignty at its heart means “the right to choose.” For our own nation, sovereignty means the right to develop our own system of government, the right to determine our own national identity and the right to control our own destiny within the United States Government. As Vice-Chairman I want our Nation to exercise our inherent sovereignty with the adoption of the three branches of a tri-partite government: the executive, legislative and judicial. It is the exercise of our sovereignty that will enable many of our government programs and services to enhance and improve the lives of the Comanche people.
