My name is Mary Louise Lefthand.

I have been a Tribal Council Representative for three terms.  I worked some 40 years in various positions and looked up to the Tribal Council. I’ve always liked history; one day I decided to run and join council.

I was born and raised in Polson and was there until I was about eight years old.  I traveled all over to different states.  I moved back in 1958 and went to school in Mission.  I am mostly Kootenai and a little Flathead and a little Blackfeet.  My first job was working for the state and county. I worked for seven and a half years as a social worker’s aid in the Bureau of Social Services.

In my spare time I do a lot of reading at home.  I am a Democrat, and I’ve voted for them.

I come from a family of five besides me two boys and two girls; one died as a baby.
I’ve been married since 1951, and I have two daughters.  My oldest daughter has a son, was married and divorced. My youngest daughter has raised a family of three. I have two grandsons. 

Mickey Pablo was a good Tribal Council member; he had good ideas.  I look to elders, to the people, to all of them for advice.  I don’t think things will change. In 10 to 20, years I see us as not being a government.

Important issues: water rights are crucial to our Tribe, and so is Sovereignty; there is always knit picking.  A lot of Tribes rely on the Flatheads.

My biggest issue as a Tribal Council member is dealing with anything that involves the Tribal Council. 

My biggest personal achievement has been living as long as I have and in good health and taking care of myself.  I would like people to understand that I cherish the fact that I am a Tribal Council member. 

My future goal is to be able to see some of the things happen that we started as ideas on Tribal Council.  In 20 years, I would like people to remember that I helped others as much as possible and that I didn’t favor person one more than another.

A future leader should have sincerity and be truthful.  I have always supported schools, and I have supported any activities within the schools. 

My advice to youth is that education is very important, and know you don’t have to stay on the Reservation.