Editor,

Regarding the letter by Rollanda Sitko in the Whidbey News-Times on May 1 entitled “Can’t afford to support tribal casino suing city,” the City of Oak Harbor was warned by archaeologists that there is a burial ground in the area of Pioneer Way.

You can’t expect the tribe to know where all their ancestors are buried.

Remember, this was once their land, and I mean all of it.

The city failed to heed this very important issue and warning.

How would you feel if the grave site of your loved ones was moved or vandalized without your permission? I would be livid if it happened to me.

So, you’re going to punish yourself by not taking advantage of the Swinomish’s fine restaurant which, by the way, is usually a losing entity of the operation.

When you revealed that you did not know there was a burial ground, I took that to mean you must have selective reading as it was reported that the site was there.

I have known Brian Cladoosby as a good man as well as the other council members. What happened is not Cladoosby’s sole decision. There is the entire council.

Being a sovereign nation means a government within a government. The tribes try to be self-sufficient with their entities.

People like you have absolutely no knowledge of tribal affairs.

What you don’t understand is the casino employees are probably 60 percent non-Native American. Employees are most likely 20 percent from Oak Harbor, at least under my administration.

Should they dismiss those employees that would be a real problem. I know this because I was their general manager for four years.

I am a caucasian from Las Vegas who retired to Oak Harbor.

William Ludlow

Oak Harbor