By Camille Jackson | Staff Writer, Tolerance.org
Commissioner Elsie Meeks says she's "actually quite ready" to end her six-year term on the beleaguered U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The first Native American to serve on the commission, Meeks says the commission's troubles aren't nearly as grim as what's been reported in the press.
Still, she's ready to go, ending her term April 20 on the investigative civil rights arm of the federal government.
The commission received widespread attention with the forced resignation of commission chairperson Mary Frances Berry late last year.
Meeks says mismanagement is a problem that has haunted the commission for years. Some of the criticism against the commission is warranted, some is not, she says. She, like other commissioners, is concerned recent budget cuts will interfere with the commission's important work.
A member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, Meeks is active educating and developing Indian Country in her back yard, the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota. As the executive director of First Nations Oweesta Corp., Meeks has worked to provide capital, technical assistance and training to start community development financial institutions. In addition, Oweesta focuses on financial literacy.
As she prepares to leave the commission, Meeks took time to answer a few questions from Tolerance.org:
What's going on with the U.S. Civil Rights Commission? Another commissioner unexpectedly quit just a month ago saying the commission should be disbanded and that it is a "national embarrassment."
Things are settling down. It was interesting with (resigned Commissioner Russell) Redenbaugh because he is a Republican. Redenbaugh and (the Republican commission leadership) had been unified in the past. In my mind his leaving was totally unwarranted.
In truth, they were making a big deal about wanting to reform the commission.
To date the changes they've made have been about clarifying policy. Redenbaugh was making the case that there was financial mismanagement, but the truth is the commission's being starved. As expenses inflate, the budget has not. We have more responsibilities. Trying to do what the commission is required to do by statute is very, very difficult. We've tried to make the case for more money every year.
How do you compare Berry's reign with Reynolds in terms of organization? Are criticisms of Berry fair?
No. There maybe could have been some tighter controls, but it really did have to do with just trying to juggle every project. Where do we cut? How do we cut? Now the Republicans are finding out they're going to have to do the same thing.
Redenbaugh told The Associated Press the commission is so poorly managed it should be shut down. How do you feel about that?
Redenbaugh painted a picture that isn't quite accurate. The commission is not in disarray. The Republicans want to look like heroes. They want it to seem like they've rescued the commission. But they did recognize it needs more funding and would like to make the case for more funding.
I think the commission will continue. However, I think their take on civil rights is much different than the Democrats.
In your past six years on the commission, what are you proudest of?
The administration of justice in Indian Country. An important project that turned light on some of our issues was the Quiet Crisis funding report (PDF). I also think that the report that came out of the Florida voting issue was very good.
During my tenure, and not necessarily because of me, we've been told we get reports out in a timely fashion so they still have relevance.
The other thing that I had some influence on is to take our meetings out to the states so that we could hear from the state advisory committees. People who are affected by our issues could really have a voice. For that we got criticism from Republicans about being fiscally irresponsible.
As a woman of color, how do you stay engaged with the work when the atmosphere is tense and negative?
I work on the ground, and my home is the Pine Ridge Indian reservation, and the kind of community development I try to do gives me a first-hand perspective. Also, it's important to remember the difference between strategies and ideologies. I don't consider myself a liberal but certain issues affect minority communities. I am very mission-minded. This helps inform what I do and what I focus on.
But there is frustration. There really is. Because I'm from this community and we have to improve it. I've been at it long enough that I've seen the (partisan) pendulum swing back and forth. Working with our people who are moving down the road to self-sufficiency and decision-making helps. You have to keep your eye on what your mission is. Am I going to make all these changes in my lifetime? Well, no. Can we measure impact and outcomes? Yes. That's how we have to work. And there are always setbacks.
How has economic empowerment through your community development work changed lives?
To me, the big change is that it allows people to become owners and managers. It not only helps them develop assets, but also helps them become decision-makers. They reap the rewards — and suffer the consequences. But if they're never allowed to make decisions for themselves, how will they know?
Native Americans have more land than anybody. We own one-fifth of the land in the U.S., yet we have very little control over that. That is what contributes to poverty.
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DO SOMETHING
:: Learn more about the mission and powers of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
:: If you support its work, contact your U.S. legislators and urge them to fully fund the commission.
DIG DEEPER
Find out more about how The Lakota Fund and First Nations Oweesta Corp. is helping develop Native American communities.
Last updated on April 21, 2005