PHOTO BY CLARE JENSEN

Tribal members Kevin Coats (left), 17, and Fred Dillon Jr., 16, discuss their views on the hotly debated “18 Money” topic.

Tribal teen’s views on “18 money” regulations

By Clare Jensen

For the past several years, Puyallup tribal members have been accustomed to receiving a large sum of money when they reach 18 years old.

At an age when the average young adult is graduating high school, moving onto college, finding their first job or joining the military, tribal youth have been fortunate enough to receive this sum of money intended to help them through their adult endeavors.

For some, however, the money has hurt more than it has helped, as the membership has watched all too many of its youth fail with the large amount of money.

Some members have seen the money as an excuse for them not to finish school, while others blow the funds on frivolous expenditures. There have been cases where responsible investment and purchasing have come about, but for many tribal members, the horror stories outweigh the positive ones, which is why the membership is now demanding a change.

For months, tribal adults and elders have been discussing adding stipulations to receiving the money, or rationing it out over time. They feel it is in the best interest of the recipients, and requiring that a teen at least receive a diploma and or financial education seems to be the minimum to ask in order to get a multi-thousand dollar check.

Tribal Council has heard the demand of the adult membership loud and clear, while the tribal youth themselves are just now starting to voice their opinions on the matter.

Puyallup Tribal News interviewed two Puyallup teens who shared their thoughts on the issue.

Youths’ Views

Kevin Coats, 17, and Fred Dillon Jr., 16, have seen all too many times the negative aspects of the tribal “18 money.” It seems like nearly every relative, friend or classmate of the two Chief Leschi School students has received their money once they became legal adults, and shortly thereafter have nothing to show for it. While a couple success stories do come to mind for the young men, they are few and far between.

The two agree there should be some requirements, a high school diploma or equivalent at the very least, in order for a tribal member to receive their money.

The two students are both on track to graduate, and have sound plans for what they will do with the money once they get it during their senior year of high school.

Kevin Coats, for instance, plans to buy a house and rent it out while he finishes up high school and college, a smart way to gain equity in his investment. After graduating, he’ll use his money to pay for college, something else that will pay off in the long run.

Fred Dillon also plans to buy a house and invest the remainder of his fund in a certified deposit to use later in life. He plans to work for a living as a tribal police officer.

These are two cases where tribal youth have taken it upon themselves to be responsible with their money and their future plans. And while they do think requirements are a good idea to get others on track before they receive their money, Kevin and Fred have learned by example.

Just like many other tribal members who grew up knowing they had that money coming to them, these youth didn’t use it as an excuse to slack; they used it as a reason to stay on track.

“It’s been exciting,” Kevin Coats said. “I knew I’d be receiving it, and I knew I wanted to be successful with it.”

Requiring Puyallup youth to stay in school and get their money as a reward for an accomplishment may pave the way for success stories to be the norm, not the rarity.

“The percentage of dropouts is going up,” Fred Dillon noted. “I’ve got people doubting me, and I’m going to prove them wrong.”

Kevin and Fred, along with many other tribal youth, feel that the addition of rules and stipulations forces the current teens to pay for what their predecessors did, although they agree something does need to change in order to avoid the often destructive behavior that comes along with the money.

One thing the two don’t agree with is the suggestion to ration the money out over long periods of time.

“It would be upsetting to have to wait until I’m 40 because of other people’s actions,” Kevin Coats said, adding that if delayed payment was the final determination, it should at least be invested in the meantime. “I want my money to grow.”

At the membership meeting July 19, Kevin Coats spoke his mind to the membership at large. He admitted he is not usually an eager public speaker, but because he felt so strongly about the issue he prepared a speech addressing all his thoughts and concerns for all to hear.

He brought up an innovative idea of investing the “18 money” in the Tribe’s casino if the council or membership decided to delay payment. He felt that would be a win-win situation for everyone, although he wouldn’t be crazy about the idea of having to wait for the money that so many before him had received at 18.

Kevin Coats and Fred Dillon both hope that more tribal youth will speak their minds and lend suggestions to the council and the membership during this crucial decision making process.

“It’s not about the council – it’s about us,” Fred Dillon said.

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