My name is Donald Fred Matt

I am Tribal Council Chair.

I am going on my 16th year on Tribal Council. The last eight of these years have been consecutive. Prior to this, I got my start in 1985. 

I ran for Tribal Council because I always wanted to make a difference for the people in the community and to improve Reservation life.

I grew up in St. Ignatius, and this is the district that I am from. Thirty three years of my life I have spent here.

My other jobs have been mainly in different areas of Tribal government. In Natural Resources, I was a forestry technician and firefighter. 

My Tribal affiliation is Pend d’ Oreille.

I have made a lot of changes over the years to help the Tribes.  One of the biggest in the last ten years has been getting control of health care, the land department, the forestry department and natural resources contracting from BIA. 

Well, I’m getting less active, but in my spare time I do a lot of hunting and fishing.  I follow my kids around a lot; I have seven girls, and over the past 20 years I guess I’ve been following them.  I’m involved in church music ministry and do songs for the church and funerals. 

My fondest memories are seeing kids grow up, the grandkids -- their eyes lighting up. Fishing is a feel good experience and Helena. 

Well, I’m a true Democrat, I think a die hard Democrat, but I try to work with all parties because I think it’s in our best interest.

I have a wife, 7 girls, 12 grandchildren, and I grew up in Mission.

I admire former Tribal Council member Mickey Pablo.  I feel like he was a mentor. I worked under his chairmanship twice, just an intelligent man; he taught me a lot. 

I look for advice from a whole host of former councilmen, co-workers and several elders. 

I would like to see the Reservation in 10 to 20 years going in the direction we are:  trying to return to our original land base, continuing to get land back and continuing to strive for self-governing. We’re one of the most progressive Tribes when it comes to this.

The two biggest issues facing the Tribes today? Right now gaming is an issue, and the biggest is water rights.  

The biggest allies outside the Tribes are the other Tribes within the State of Montana. We do have a TL Association, which I am the Chair of. We try to work together.  The governor of Montana seems like he wants to work with us too. 

One of he biggest issues I’ve had to deal with as a Tribal Council member has been enrollment. 

Personal Achievements: I don’t want to take credit for something we’ve all done.  I think it takes 10 people to get stuff done.  I like to give credit to my colleagues. 

I would like people to know that I am a nice guy who has a sincere interest in making life better on this Reservation. 

My future goals are to retire and go fishing with my grandchildren a lot more. 

In 20 years, I would like to be remembered as a Tribal Council person who was a sincere tribal leader [who] did good things. 

A future leader should have sincere love and be dedicated to what they are doing. 

I have supported tribal youth and their education specifically through youth related sports and extra curricular activities so that our youth will go to college and come back and do good for the Tribes. 

My advice for the youth is to mind your parents.  Have a dream and pursue that dream.  Get a good education; take stock in your homeland and in whatever area you choose; take pride in what you are doing and do a good job, as if you’re the only person, so then people will say that person is really dedicated.