Who I Am

Elect Bev Thompson SWO VICE CHAIR

Experience *  Integrity  *  Honesty

Hello,

My name is Beverly Thompson, I am a candidate for the office of Vice Chairperson for the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.

Many of you know me, but for those Oyate that do not know me, here is a brief introduction.

I was born and raised on the “Rez” and my family moved back and forth to the “Rez” because of the lack of employment opportunities.

I have been with Michael Thompson for many, many years, 50+ years.  I am a mother of 5, a kunsi of 20 with number 21 on the way and a great grandmother of 15.  Like all of you I love and am proud of my family very much and want the best for them.  That is why I am putting Education, Job Creation, Job Training, Better Health Care, Housing, Land Purchase, and Energy Development, as the main points I want to focus upon as your next Vice Chairperson.

The future of the Tribe is very important to me, my family, to you and your families.  Our future lies in our youth for they are our future.

I am the District Chairperson of the Lake Traverse District, an honor that I never take for granted.   Having the support and faith of the families in the district and being able to voice their problems to DCA and come up with solutions, is difficult but rewarding.  I have also been very involved in sitting on boards and committees, too numerous to mention.  Being involved in the community, and making sure the needs of underrepresented Oyate are heard at every level is one of my main concerns.

I am not a career politician.  I have not spent my life running for Tribal office, but I focused on raising my family and building businesses to take care of my family.  I am a concerned elder, worried about the future of our Tribe and whether we have a plan for the future.  It is not about building monuments but about making sure our children and children’s children have access to education, job opportunities, and housing on our reservation.

“Speaking Out for What’s Right and Point Out What’s Wrong”

I attended college late in life, like many of you I focused on raising my family first.  My area of study was Business Economics.  I have a strong background in Accounting and Finance, I would be happy to share my college transcripts for review to show you the classes that I completed.  My children have all attended college, my grandchildren are attending college, my eldest great grandchild is in college, to my family,  education is a priority and I hope to make it accessible to all Oyate.

Negotiated the North Dakota State Gaming Compact

Some Oyate know and some may have heard the rumors, but it is true.  My son Theron and I negotiated the North Dakota Tribal - State Gaming Compact in 1992 at no cost to the Tribe.  I will be handing out the original resolution issued by Council and the resolution of Tribal Council accepting the Compact.  Because of that compact, the Tribe was able to escape the confines and limitations of the South Dakota compact and the limitation on 250 gaming devices.  We need to be utilizing the millions of dollars that the North Dakota casino generates to fund Education, Job Creation, Job Training, Better Healthcare, Housing, Land Purchase, and Energy Development for our people.

We need to create a plan and outline where our revenues should be going, a certain few should not be making decisions that affect thousands of Tribal members.

My dream is that every young man and woman has the support of the Tribe to reach their full potential.  This to me solves many of the problems we have on the reservation.  We need to make education and the access to funding for education a priority.  A self-fulfilled person does not easily fall prey to the pitfalls of society and an educated people will have a better and more prosperous future.

Accomplishments/Boards

·         Alcohol and Drug Free Award

·         Grandparent of the Year Award

·         Member of the Governor’s Task Force for Long Term Elderly Care - South Dakota

·         Women’s Economic Development Board Member (WEDCO) - Minneapolis, MN

·         Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Reservation Election Board, Chairperson

·         Sisseton-Wahpeton Community College Board of Directors, Acting Chairperson

·         EPA Committee, Lake Traverse District Representative

·         Reservation Planning Commission, Lake Traverse District Representative (interim representative)

·         Tiospa Zina School Board, Lake Traverse District  Representative (interim representative)

·         Judicial Committee, Lake Traverse District Representative

·         First Gaming Board for SWO (Agency Bingo and Dakota Sioux Casino)

·         Senior Congressional Page – Washington, DC

·         Owned and operated a multi-state service company with contracts with IHS, HUD, BIA, University of Minnesota, Public Hosptials, and Numerous Tribes, 

·         Negotiated the Tribal-State Gaming Compact with the State of North Dakota

·         Funded and assisted in the negotiation of Tribal State Gaming Compact in the State Kansas 

Elect Bev Thompson SWO VICE CHAIR

Experience *  Integrity  *  Honesty