My name is Carole J. Lankford.

I am Secretary, the third officer on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council.  I have been on Tribal Council for twelve years.  I decided to run for Tribal Council because I felt it was time for women to be represented on council.  I grew up in Hot Springs, but I was born in Polson.  I have held Tribal government positions in Fire Management, in Fish and Wildlife and in Administration.

I am Salish and Kootenai.  I have helped the Tribes to move forward in areas in economic development and in corporate and financial development.  In my spare time, I golf and do yard work. I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren and riding my Harley. 

Some of my fondest memories have been the birth of my grandchildren.  I am a Democrat.  I am married with four boys, three stepdaughters and nine grandchildren. 

I admire Vick Stinger our former Tribal Council member.  I look to elders and people for advice.  

I see the Flathead Reservation in 10 to 20 years being clean and pristine and a place where there are a lot of jobs.  Important issues facing the Tribes today are growth, economic development and issues of the younger generation. 

The Tribes’ biggest allies are other Tribes and the people if they are educated on the issues.  The biggest issues I have dealt with as a Tribal Council member have been health care and a shortage of funding.   My biggest personal achievement is being there for the people, and I want everyone to know that I love and respect the people I represent. 

My future goal is to continue my work on Tribal Council and to one day go back to school for business. 

In 20 years, I would to people to remember that I was a Tribal Council person who cared.

A future leader must have qualities that allow them to listen and follow through on what they say, and they should always return phone calls. 

I have supported tribal youth and their education by approving grants for programs, scholarships, etc. 

My advice for youth is to stay clean and sober and get a higher education, graduate high school.  They should preserve, protect and enhance the language and culture.