PHOTO BY MEGHAN ERKKINEN

Tribal youth Kevin Coats read a speech at the July 19 membership meeting in regards to implementing new restrictions on when and under what circumstances tribal youth can receive their per capita sum.

Tribe gathers to discuss ‘18 money’

By Meghan Erkkinen

Many Tribal members turned out for the membership meeting July 19 to discuss a topic that is close to the hearts of many in the Puyallup Nation: members’ “18 money” – that is, the sum of per capita payments that youth receive on their 18th birthday.

The subject is a grave one for members of the Tribe. Some feel the large amount discourages young members from graduating from high school or continuing their education. Others feel the money encourages negative behaviors, such as drug use or impulsive spending.

At the last membership meeting in January, members expressed their concerns, saying the Tribe should provide conditions that need to be met before youth can receive the money, to allow children to succeed.

“Our planning has to be infinite. That’s our existence, that’s who we are,” said Tribal Councilmember James Miles, who offered an introduction to the meeting. “There can be no greater resource than our children.”

The tribal government offered several options for addressing the issue, emphasizing that no decision has yet been made.

One option is to divide payments over several years. For example, at age 18, a member could receive 10 percent of their trust assets; at 21, 40 percent; and at 25, 50 percent. Or, the payments could be stretched longer – say, until a member is 30 years old.

A second option would be to add educational requirements to be met before payments are doled out. The requirement could be as simple as earning a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED). Or, the trusts could be set up so a high school graduate would receive 50 percent of his or her trust, another 25 percent after the completion of a two-year degree, and a final 25 percent after the completion of a four-year degree. If the member does not go to college, the remaining funds could be distributed between the ages of 25 and 30.

A final option would be to make financial counseling a requirement for trust beneficiaries, to teach the young members about financial planning, budgeting, saving, and so on.

The tribal government stressed that each tribal member would still receive all of his or her trust money, only possibly on a different time schedule. The latest age at which a member might receive the last of his or her funds, based on the Tribe’s models, is age 30.

Most of the members present seemed to agree that a high school diploma or GED should be a requirement before receiving some or all of the funds, and James Miles, representing the council, said they will move forward with this proposal.

For further requirements or changes to the trusts, the Tribal Council will review surveys filled out by members expressing their own views on the matter. The surveys are due back to the council Aug. 31.

After the presentation by the tribal government, members had the opportunity to get up and speak on the subject.

Member Lorraine Joseph got up and spoke about her fear for tribal youth.

“I dread the time and the place my grandchildren become of age,” she said. “They’ll never have what we have today if they’re not taught the right way.”

She spoke of drug abuse and other problems that plague youth, and encouraged the Tribal Council to take action on these matters.

Danelle Reed-Inderbitzin said she held her hands up to the council for addressing these problems.

“I believe that all the different models…are all viable, possible, positive solutions,” she said.

To the youth, she directed other comments.

“We don’t want to penalize you,” she said. “We’re doing this because we care about you and about you becoming old…We want to give you every best opportunity to be successful.”

But many youth who got up to speak did not feel that way. Several said they felt the Tribe was punishing them for the actions of others.

“I don’t think I should be penalized for those who didn’t do good with their money,” said 17-year-old Susan Dillon, who said she plans to graduate from high school and go to college. “I am going to prove for you guys that I am going to do good with my money.”

The council plans to review members’ surveys and comments before deciding how to succeed. They could either put the possible solutions up for a membership vote or proceed with a decision as a council.

“It’s not intended to handcuff anyone, but to lead our community to a brighter future,” said Councilmember David Z. Bean.

At the meeting, the membership also requested monthly meetings with the council and government. The council said it would set the next membership meeting within a month.

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