May 9, 2000
 
MR. MARLIN WESTON
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, PORCUPINE DISTRICT
OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE
P.O. BOX H
PINE RIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA 57770

DEAR MR. WESTON:

AFTER THE MEETING WITH THE TRIBAL COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON, I TOOK THE TIME TO REVIEW THE ARTICLE THAT HEIDI MILLER PUBLISHED IN THE RAPID CITY JOURNAL TWO SUNDAYS AGO. I MUST ADMIT THAT IT IS A VERY GOOD ARTICLE. SHE HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AT SUMMARIZING THE DRAFT AUDIT REPORT AND PRESENTING THE ADIT FINDINGS.

WHEN SHE SAYS THAT RECORDS OF NINE RESERVATION DISTRICTS WERE AUDITED, SHE SHOULD HAVE EXPLAINED HOW THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE GROUPED BY DISTRICTS AND DEPARTMENTS. OUR AUDIT INCLUDES ONLY THE DISBURSEMENTS MADE BY THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE DISTRICTS PLUS THE ALLOCATIONS MADE TO THE DISTRICTS. WE DID NOT AUDIT THE DISBURSEMENTS MADE BY THE DISTRICTS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.

PLEASE FIND ATTACHED A COPY OF PAGE SIX OF THE DRAFT AUDIT REPORT WHICH SHOWS THAT YOUR DISTRICT OVER-SPENT IT’S BUDGET BY $161, 082.86.

EVEN THOUGH THE AUDIT REPORT IS IN DRAFT FORM, IT IS 99% ACCURATE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TYPOS THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED AND A COUPLE OF FINDINGS THAT NEED TO BE REVISED. OTHERWISE, IT IS PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO.

I WILL BE GLAD TO GO OVER THE CONTENTS OF THIS LETTER WITH THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I KNOW THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE AUDIT REPORTS IS NOT VERY PLEASANT. YET, IT IS INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FINANCES OF YOUR TRIBE.

I WOULD RATHER YOU BE MADE AT ME NOW FOR TELLING YOU THE TRUTH THAN TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE MAD AT ME FOR NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. I WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO REMEMBER ME FOR HAVING HAD THE COURAGE TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH AND FOR HAVING FACED THE REJECTION THAT GOES WITH IT.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME ANY TIME. FOR THE TIME BEING, I CAN BE REACHED AT 605-343-0402, EXTENSION 23.

PILAMAYA,

JAIME C. AROBBA