The Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1990-12-19

              District II race ends in tie vote
By Mark Boswell
Staff Writer
White Earth, Minn. - An
apparent tie vote in the District II
Special Election held Dec. 11 left
election officials in an unusual
position that may set a precedent
for White Earth and for all
reservations governed by the
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
After both on-reservation and
absentee ballots were counted, Kelly
Bunker, 31, Nay-Tah-Waush and
Tony Wadena, 31, Nay-Tah-Waush,
both recieved 155 votes.
Following a close third was
LeRoy Kier with 145 votes.
According to Gloria Michaud,
Tribal Operations Coordinator, a
similar tie vote occurred at the Bois
Forte Reservation in 1984 between
Don Hackey and Gary Donald,
candidates for that reservation's
chairmanship.
A run-off vote between the two
candidates resulted in Hackey's
winning the candidacy.
The White Earth District II race
may have a similar outcome, but a
possible protest may be filed that
would jeopardize the possibility of
a run-off between the tie
candidates.
"I wouldn't be surprised if LeRoy
(Kier) protested the election," said
Bunker, a talent search coordinator
for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe,
who also pointed out that Kier's
vote indicates that he is still a
serious contender for the position.
Wadena, manager of a
convenience store in
Nay-Tah-Waush, was concerned
about a possible protest.
"As far as I know the (RTC) is
planning a run-off election." But
Wadena explained that it couldn't
be made official until the seven day
protest period had passed.
Wadena feels that the first
election just narrows the field of
candidates. "It really wasTike a
primary," said Wadena.
"As far as I know he's not going
to protest." Carley Jasken, White
Earth Election Judge, confirmed the
procedure involving a seven day
protest period.
"Then after that the RTC will
have 30 days to set up a new
election unless somebody drops
out," said Jasken, "but we've never
dealt with a situation like this
before."
"My way of thinking," said
Jasken, "and I'm just going
according to the ordinance, and
there's nothing in there about a tie.
Totals for the other candidates
were: Jeremial Watson, 40; Ted
Hoagland, 19; and Rock Keezer,
13.
The special election was held to
fill a vacancy for the unexpired
term of office by Stephen
McArthur, who was removed from
office in October after pleading
guilty to federal theft charges.
McArthur was reelected to the
District II post in May. He was
indicted by a federal grand jury in
July for the theft of $3,000 in tribal
funds. He plead guilty to the theft
of $720 from tribal accounts in
September.
McArthur was released this
month from federal prison and is
serving an unspecified number of
hours of community service as
sentencing.
Kier could not be reached for
comment, it is unknown whether he
is filing a protest.
Aitken under investigation
Former BIA Superintendent
accused of mismanagement
By Mark Boswell
Staff Writer
Cass Lake, Minn. - Former
Bureau of Indian Affairs
superintendent Roger T. Aitken is
being investigated for mismanaging
that federal agency's affairs. This
was according to various news
reports and was oudined in a letter
sent by BIA Area Director Earl
Barlow to Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe Chairman Darrell "Chip"
Wadena.
In the wake of these accusations,
Aitken resigned as superintendent to
become executive director of the
Leech Lake Reservation.
In an interview with the Bemidji
Pioneer, Aitken was quick to
discredit the allegations in the letter
and took a hard line on defending
his credibility in holding the post as
BIA superintendent for six years.
According to the correspondence,
the BIA plans to continue an
investigation of charges against
Aitken that include allegations of
illegal procurement.
The Pioneer reported that Barlow,
now reassigned to Washington D.C,
advises reservation chairmen that
Aitken has voluntarily submitted his
resignation and reports that the
deputy to the assistant secretary of
Indian affairs operations has directed
the Minneapolis Area Office to
investigate charges against Aitken.
Among the charges against Aitken
are accepting or soliciting gifts, food
and entertainment without
authorization, using a non-federal
employee to conduct interviews for
a federal job and failing to act
against an employee who was
abusing the agency's telephone
credit card.
"His execution of his
responsibilities was often done
without regard to the laws, rules and
regulations that govern the BIA,"
Barlow's letter stated. "This
behavior along with a serious lack of
experience, good judgement and
ethics resulted in a dismal record of
management of Bureau ructions and
programs."
Aitken, who was suspended for 14
days last summer while the BIA
conducted the investigation,
defended himself by stating that
Barlow has a hidden agenda in
discrediting him. "It's difficult to be
calm, but I'm going to be patient and
work within the Bureau
administrative system and the
legislative system to protect my
rights...but also I'm concerned about
the RBC, which i work for. I think
this seriously damages the
relationship between die Bureau and
the tribes."
WOUNDED KNEE TO BE CELEBRATED
A traditional Indian ceremony on the 100th anniversary of Wounded
Knee will take place on the Bemidji lakefront at the foot of 3rd Street
on Saturday, December 29 at 5:30 P.M.
Pipe carriers, eagle staff carriers, drum carriers and singers have been
asked to join in the ceremonies. Area sweat lodge caretakers have been
asked to assist those participants who wish to take part in sweats the
night before.
Invitations have been sent to Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth
Reservations and by "moccasin telegraph" to Indian communities elsewhere.
"We wish to honor all who have been killed in their struggle for
human dignity and freedom," said Tom Goldtooth, Co-Chairperson of
the Bemidji-based Circle of Many Cultures.
"There will be a ceremony at Wounded Knee itself at the same time,
where trail riders have retraced the 175 mile trek of the 350 member band
that sought to escape the vengeance of the 7th Cavalry 100 years ago,
fleeing from Standing Rock only to be shot down at Wounded Knee."
The Bemidji lakefront site was chosen because it is near four ancient
burial mounds that were levelled when the town was built.
"The ceremonty is in honor of all who have gone before us on the road to
justice, and to rededicate ourselves to the good of those who come after us."
A ceremonial fire will be lit at 5 P.M. and the ceremonies start at 5:30.
They will include offerings of tobacco and of cloth, songs, and prayers.
SANTA IS COMING
The Bemidji Area Indian Employment Council will sponsor a
"Morning with Santa" on Monday, December 24, 1990, at the Indian
Employment Center in Nymore.
Indian children in the Cass Lake and Bemidji areas will be able to
meet with Santa Claus and also receive a bag of goodies. Santa Claus
will be at the Indian Employment Office from 9 to 11 A.M. on the 24th.
For further information, contact: Dawn Wind at 759-2022.
BINGO RECORDS SUPPOENAED
The records of Sue Bellefeuille, White Earth Bingo Manager, were
subpoepnaed last week by federal investigators looking into allegations
of misappropriation of bingo precedes. Jim Hanberry, Investigator for
the Inspector General's Regional Office in Rapid City, S.D. also met
with tribal authorities in relation to the allegations.
The subpeona was confirmed by Jim Foster, White Earth Reservation
Executive Director.
The questioned transations occurred earlier in the year at the White
Earth Golden Eagle Bingo Lodge at the reservation Humanities Center
in White Earth. Allegedly, money from the White Earth American
Legion Club Post 625, who sponsored 20/20 Bingo at the facility, was
transferred illegally. Wednesday and Sunday night procedes go to the
Nay-Tah-Waush Community Council Friday and Saturday night
procedes go to Golden Eagle.
The American Legion stopped sponsorship of bingo at Golden Eagle
after the alleged incidents, according to Dan Stevens, White Earth
District I Representative.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Fifty Cent?
Founded In 1988
Volume 3 Issue 11
December 19,1990
Copyright, the Ojibwe News, 1990
A Bi-Monthly Publication
Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Top photo: Red Lake Fisheries employees at work processing fish during the record breaking season. Photo courtesy the Bemidj
Pioneer.. Bottom left |>hwV$*d Lake Fisheries. "HOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST WALLEYE. Bottom right photo: Dan King.
General Manager of the Red Lake Fisheries. Both bottom photos weres submitted.
HOME
Red Lake Fisheries has record season
The Red Lake Fisheries
Association's $1,354,536 in bonus
payments made to its members on
December 12th represents a record
in the association's 61 year
history. In addition, the
association's $2,550,909 in fish
sales during the 1990 commenced
fishing season is also a record.
The Red Lake Fisheries
Association was established in
1929 at Redby, Minn., as a
cooperative to market fish for
members of the Red Lake Band of
Chippewa Indians.
As a cooperative it is owned and
operatated by its members who are
Red Lake Reservation commercial
fishermen. As part of its operating
regulation it is required to pay a
5% of gross sales royalty payment
to the Red Lake Tribal Council.
The 1990 royalty payment to the
council is $127,546. Total fish
purchases from its members during
1990 were $2,028,435.
The association's fish production
and sales records indicate that
walleye production declined from
848,226 pounds in 1989 to
393,814 pounds in 1990.
However, what appears to be the
primary reason for this year's
records is the giganic increase of
perch production from 100,364
pounds in 1989 to 769,053 pounds
in 1990.
Also contributing to this year's
record was a stronger fresh water
fish market which saw prices for
walleye improve from $.95 per
pound for whole and $2.74 per
pound for fillet in 1989 to $1.25 per
pound for whole walleye and $3.51
per pound for fillet.
Price for perch increased from
$1.47 per pound for whole and $4.95
per pound for fillet in 1989 to $1.96
per pound for whole and $5.95 per
pound for fillet in 1990.
The 1990 commercial fishing
season marked the debut of new
fisheries general manager, Don King.
King, who is a Red Lake Tribal
member, replaced James Eisenrich
who had been fisheries general
manager since 1958.
King has a B.A. degree from St.
Thomas University in Accounting
and Marketing and has previous
work experience in sales and
marketing with Land-O-Lakes.
In a telephone interview with the
News, King appeared hesitant to take
any credit for the record year, but
did say that he made use of some
new marketing techniques and put in
a lot of hours.
He also stated that he enjoyed
working with the members of the
association and appreciated their
cooperation and support.
One new technique King initiated
that proved to be a success was the
diversifying of sales efforts.
"Instead of selling to only one or
two major customers, we sought out
and sold to about five major
customers. This was a big reason we
were able to command higher
prices," King stated.
When asked about prospects for
next year. King said, "based upon
the decline in the walleye harvest
late in the 1990 season, I expect that
trend will continue in 1991. I am
optimistic that the strong perch
production will also continue into
next year which should pick up the
slack in walleyes."
King also told the News that the
recent bonus payment of 201 percent
was decided by the association's
Board of Director at the December
5th meeting and was paid to about
400 fishermen.
"The bonus amounts to a final
payment for the season," King
explained. "For example, a Red
Lake Reservation and Tribal
Cooperative member earning
$3,000 during the course of the
season would receive a bonus
payment of 201% or $6,030. It is
based on the season's earnings," he
said. "As a cooperative, all share in
the profits in relation to the pounds
of fish each member turned into
the fishery."
In addition to the record bonus
payments, fish production during
1990 was also a new record.
1990 fish production
Species
Walleye
Perch
Whitefish
Northern
Orappie
Goldeye
Bullhead
Sheephead
Smoked
Total
Pounds
393,814
769, OS3
57,499
29,1 60
74.075
2,392
1.070
723,414
2,690
2,052,925
Ride to Honor
Wounded Knee
 Seepage 7 	
Verna Millage
Ecourages Students
Seepage 10