The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1992-05-29

              Controversial Fortune Bay president replaced
By Susan Stanich
Cyril Kauchick of Gilbert has been
replaced as president of the
corporation that runs Fortune Bay
Gaming Casino in Tower.
The controversial casino
entrepreneur resigned following an
investigation into his activities as
corporation president and as
part-owner of an outside firm that
leases video gambling machines to
the casino.
The Bois Forte Development
corporation on Friday named Randy
Hella of Esko, former Fond du Lac
Reservation economic developer, as
corporation president in Kauchick's
place.
Fortune Bay is owned by the Bois
Forte Chippewa Band.
Kauchick, a former Orr
schoolteacher, is a well-known tribal
lobbyist in St. Paul and helped
develop Fortune Bay as a tribal
economic development tool in the
early 1980s.
Documents show that the
corporation bylaws were written
by Kauchick's partner in the
leasing company, attorney Kent
Tupper. At the time, Tupper was
the band attorney who then
became the corporation attorney
and a member of the corporation
board.
In 1989, while Tupper held those
three positions and Kauchick was
corporation president, casino
general manager and the band's
gambling lobbyist, the two men
established Creative Games
Technologies, Inc. with at least
four out-of-state investors. Tupper
then resigned from the corporation
board, but both men retained their
other positions as they negotiated
various contracts with their new
business.
Early this year, Bois Forte
investigators found serious
irregularities in the contracts, the
chairman of the corporation board
said in March. Fred McDougall
said Kauchick and his partners in
Creative Games had been running
Red Lake election results
Red Lake Band of Chippewa
voters turned down a proposed
amendment to the tribal constitution
Wednesday. The amendment, had it
passed and been approved by the
secretary of the U.S. Department of
the Interior, would have removed
federal review and veto power over
actions taken by the Red Lake Tribal
Council.
The referendum was defeated by
a vote of 958 to 610. Tribal
Chairman Gerald Brun was in
Minneapolis Thursday and
unavailable for comment, but
Tribal Council Secretary Bobby
Whitefeather said earlier that very
little campaigning took place on
either side of the issue.
However, on an 807-to-397 vote,
Red Lake residents opted to begin
flouridation of the community's
water supply. The flouridation will
be part of a "total water
improvement project" that will be
started this summer, according to
Tribal Administrator Judy Roy.
Incumbents won all but one of the
four district representative positions
on the ballot this year. But, in the
Redby District, incumbent George F.
Jones was defeated by Loraa L.
Fairbanks, one of eight challengers.
Fairbanks garnered 102 votes, while
Jones was second with 52 votes.
Clarence Stately came in third
with 48 votes, followed by Larry
Good with 41, Robert George Head
Sr. with 38, Darrell Auginash with
32, Rupert Downwind Sr. with 22,
Marian J. Prentice with 19 and
Joseph J. Thunder Jr. with 17.
In the Ponemah district, Clifford
C Hardy defeated three other
candidates in a special election to till
out the two remaining years in the
term of Dan Raincloud, who died in
office.
Hardy received 173 votes. James
Cloud Sr. collected 149 votes to
come in second, followed by Jeffrey
Dale Kingbird with 71 votes and
Myron Kingbird Sr. with 38 votes.
Also in the Ponemah District,
incumbent Tom Stillday Jr. defeated
challenger Melvin Whitefeather, 251
to 173.
In the Little Rock District,
incumbent Lawrence Bedeau
collected 172 votes to defeat
challengers Harlan Beaulieu with
100 votes and Joseph E. Dudley
with 23 votes.
In the Red Lake District,
incumbent Fabian "Nickel" Cook
collected 352 votes to defeat
challengers William A. May Sr. with
140 votes and Richard James
Hanson with 108 votes.
District representatives on the Red
Lake Tribal Council are elected for
four-year terms.
Minnesota Chippewa
Election candidates
White Earth Candidates
Friday, April 24th marked the last day to file for candidacy in the June
9th tribal election on the White Earth Reservation.
Six people filed for the Chairman position, and eight filed for the
District III position, both being four-year terms of office.
Candidates for Chairman (Chairperson) are as follows: Darrell
'Chip' Wadena, incumbent, Naytahwaush; John B. Buckanga,
Ponsford; Lowell L. Bellanger; Judith Murray Toppings, Callaway;
Peter W. Charette, Waubun; and Jeremiah R. Watson, also of Waubun.
District III Representative candidates are: Paul (Poncho) Williams,
Ogema; Rena Henry Vizenor, Ponsford; Allen (Brad) Beaupre, Ogema;
Charles Joe Foster, Sr., White Earth; Francis R. Bellanger, White Earth;
Albert Basswood, Jr., Ponsford; Lyman C. Roberts, Ponford; and Mark
Smith, White Earth.
Bois Forte Candidates
The following candidates were certifiedApril 27th. Chairman: Eugene
Boshey, incumbent; Gary W. Donald, former chairman; Marvin Knott;
Harold Goodsky; Wendell Drift; and William Light. Ernie Drift, who is
a student at BSU in Bemidji, was not certified.
The following candidates were certified for the position of District I
Committeeman: Marcella Connor, Roger Whiteman, Sr., Jerome
Whiteman, and Gordon Adams, Jr.
Grand Portage Candidates
The following candidates were certified April 27th for the positions of
Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer, and Councilman.
Chairman candidates: Norman W. Deschampe, Gordon D. LeGarde
Jr., and Andrew Lester Day. The current Tribal Chairman, James
Hendrickson, is not seeking reelection.
Secretary-Treasurer candidates: Dick Hoagland, Cheryl Kauppi (Sherer),
William S. Corcoran, Dennis Morrison, Joseph Porter, and Gilbert Caribou.
Councilman candidates: Duane "Speedy" Porter, incumbent, Curtis
Gagnon, and Barb Dahmen. This position is a four year term.
Leech Lake Candidates
Candidates were certified April 27th. The following persons are
seeking the position of Chairman: Daniel Brown, incumbent, James
Cloud, Jr., Josie L. Lee, Raymond "Skip" Lyons, AI "Tig" Pemberton,
Walter Francis Reese, Richard 'Dick' Tanner, Hartley White Sr.. Alfred
Pemberton is a former Secretary-Treasurer.
District II Representative candidates: Kenneth Lee Brown, Arnold
"Butch" Dahl, Jon "Harry" Greene, Virginia "Ginger" Greene, Jack
Seelye, and Benny F. White. The current District II Representative,
Gladys Drouillard, is not seeking reelection.
District III Representative Candidates are: Myron F. Ellis, incumbent,
Gloria (Allen) Dudley, Donald "Mick" Finn, Simon Howard, Doris
Jones, Richard Robinson, Jr., and Dean Wind.
Fond Du Lac Candidates
The following persons were certified April 27 for the positions of
Chairman: Robert "Sonny" Peacock, incumbent, Vincent "Butch"
Martineau, Ferdinand Martineau, Jr., Edward "Skip" Pellerin, and
Clarence "Chuck" Smith.
Candidates for District III Councilman are: George Dupuis, incumbent,
Theresa LaPrairie, Kevin Olsen, Napolean Ross, and Louella Diver.
District I Councilman candidates are: Clifton Rabideaux, incumbent,
Sandra 'Sandi' Savage, LaVern 'Koon' Shotley, Harvey DeFoe, Roger
Smith, Leonard 'Mickey' Houle, and Carla Houle.
Mille Lacs Candidates
Thirteen candidates have filed for the four tribal council positions at
Mille Lacs. They were certified on April 27th. The following are
seeking the position of Chairperson: Marge Anderson, incumbent,
Reginald Garbow, Arvella Kegg, George V. LaFave, Sr., and
Mushkooub. Incumbent David G. Matrious's position as
Secretary-Treasurer is being challenged by Raymond Kegg. District I
Representative candidates are: Myron V. Garbow, incumbent, Bonita
Nayquonabe, David 'Mosay* Sam, and Kenneth G. Weyaus. Incumbent
Bernida Churchill's District III Representative position is being
challenged by Valerie LaFave.
the casino unimpeded.
Both Kauchick and Tupper have
said that they did not let their
business interfere with performing
their other duties on the band's
behalf. An investigation by the
Lawyer's Board of Professional
Responsibility found that terms of
the company's lease contract were
within the normal range for such
contracts.
But Bois Forte investigators found
that there was as least one more
version of the contract, which
apparently didn't comply with
federal law in being fair to the band,
McDougall said in March.
Neither McDougall nor Kauchick
could be reached for comment.
A press release from the band
council Monday did not mention
whether Kauchick would continue
working for the band as a lobbyist,
or whether the band will continue its
relationship with Creative Games.
The company reportedly offered
band officials a contract revised in
Bois Forte's favor, but the council
apparently has not decided whether
to accept it or reject the company
entirely.
Councilor Doris Isham, the
council's spokeswoman, was out of
town and could not be reached for
comment Monday. No other Bois
Forte officials were available for
comment Monday.
Hella attended Concordia College
in Moorhead and earned a
bachelor's degree in psychology at
the University of Minnesota. He
previously worked for both Bois
Forte and the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe, and has been vice president of
Coy and Associates Inc. of
Minneapolis, a private consulting
firm for tribes nationally, since
1989.
Hella said he's looking forward to
working with the casino near Lake
Vermillion, where a proposed
expansion would add a marina,
hotel-resort complex, golf course
and RV park.
[Reprinted with permission from
the Duluth News-Tribune.]
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Volume2 IssueS
May 29. 1992
Copyright, The Native American Press, 1992
Shooting Star opens to capacity crowd
By Tim Kjos
If every day and night is like
Monday at the Shooting Star Casino
and Motel, the financial woes might
be over for the White Earth
Reservation.
Gamblers and onlookers stood
shoulder to shoulder inside the
70,000 square foot casino, located
on the south side of Mahnomen.
Business was bustling at the slot
machines and blackjack tables
Monday evening. Outside, the
parking lots were overflowing with
vehicles.
Officials of the White Earth
Reservation Tribal Council and
Gaming World International were all
smiles during the grand opening
didication ceremony that night.
It was a black tie affair for some
persons attending the finale to the
Memorial Day weekend celebration.
Others preferred blue jeans and
T-shirts.
But no matter the attire, everyone
had fun.
The largest grin belonged to White
Earth RTC chairman Darrell "Chip"
Wadena. Speaking at the dedication
ceremony, Wadena seemed pleased
that a several-year old dream was
now reality.
He offered "heartfelt thanks" to the
onlookers, and admitted to being
overwhelmed by the finality.
"We approached this night with a
great deal of anticipation and some
apprehension," noted Wadena.
Nevertheless, it's something that we
all looked forward to."
Since it opened last Saturday,
Wadena marveled at the professional
attitude ofthe casino employees.
The $17 million project has been
critized by a faction on the
reservation. In reference to their
concerns, Wadena raised the
question of "what have we wrought.
I don't have any answers, but I do
have a good feeling that what we
have wrought is something that we
all enjoy."
He advised the audience the
casino/motel won't answer all of the
reservation problems, "but it will
give us some leeway in dealing with
those problems in the future. If we
work together, pull together, we can
make this thing a success."
Jerry Rawley, White Earth RTC
secretary/treasure, feels the casino
will bring "much needed growth" to
the White Earth Band.
He said casino profits will be used
to increase economic development
and restore the reservation's land
base.
"We've worked hard here through
out the years to make a better life for
everyone," stated Rawley. "Without
the support that we have of the
people on the reservation and the
people in here tonight, this wouldn't
be a dream that's come true."
Angelo Medure, Gaming World
president and chief executive
officer, praised Minnesotans for
being extremely friendly, and area
construction firms for their highly
skilled employees.
AI Paulson, president of the
Minnesota American Indian
Chamber of Commerce, said over
10,000 jobs have been created in the
state due to Indian gaming.
He said the tribes have collectively
spent over $50 million on human
resources, education, housing,
infrastructure improvements and
business development projects.
In terms of tourism, Paulson, a
White Earth enrollee, said
reservation gaming has boosted the
state's tourism industry, bringing in
$26 million from out-of-state
visitors.
"Gaming, however, is by no means
a single answer to our needs, but it is
a window of opportunity to start
other businesses and to help build a
better future for ourselves and our
children," offered Paulson.
Earl Barlow, area director for the
federal Bureau of Indian Affairs in
Minneapolis, called the opening the
beginning of a new era toward
economic progress for the White
Earth Nation.
The dedication also featured a
traditional pipe ceremony by George
Fairbanks of Ponsford, Native
American dancers, a flag-raising
ceremony and a headdress
presentation to Wadena.
The City of Mahnomen and Otter
Tail Power Company each presented
paintings to be hung in the casino.
The ceremony culminated with a
10-minute fireworks display by
Vitale Fireworks of Pennsylvania.
[Reprinted with permission from
the Detroit Lakes Tribune.]
Desecration of burial mounds in Ottertail Cnty
By Grant Goltz, Project Director
Leech Lake Heritage Sites
Program
On Thursday, March 19, 1992,
Levi Williams of the Leech Lake
Heritage Sites Program and I
accompanied Earl Sargent of the
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council on
a field review of the cemetery site
located at the OTC Residential Park
in Ottertail, Minnesota.
The State Archaeologist's Office
had received reports of development
activities occuring on and
immediately adjacent to the
previously identified burial mounds
within this development. The
purpose of our investigation was to
see if development in violation of
MN ST 307.08 was occuring and
document our findings for the State
Archaeologist's Office.
The mounds in this cemetery were
originally identified and surveyed by
T.H. Lewis on November 6, 1883.
At that time they were described as
consisting of "63 mounds and
several others which were too much
defaced to be surveyed".
Of the original 63 mounds
surveyed, 23 are located within the
boundaries of the OTC Residential
Park development. Mounds 21
through 26, 28, and 30 through 37
are in excellent condition and
readily visible. Mound 27 and 45
through 51#are in an area that was
formerly cultivated and are not
readily visible, with the exception of
mound 47 which can faintly be seen.
These latter mounds were located by
me in 1986 using soil coring. At that
time they were monumented with
aluminum survey markers on re-rod
by Mr. David A. Anderson of
Anderson Land Surveying, Inc. of
Fergus Falls, who was doint the
survey for the proposed
development.
Upon arrival at the site, it was
immediately apparent that
development activities had occured
on some of the mounds. A walkover
search of the mound areas indicated
that most of the survey markers had
disappeared.
None of the readily visible mounds
have been extensively damaged.
Mound 35 has a concrete driveway
apron constructed within 10 feet of
the south end. Mound 31 has three
open tree planting holes which are
now filled with garbage at the north
edge of the mound.
The rest of these mounds have had
no physical damage, although some
have picnic tables or other portable
items stored on them. Most are in
yard areas and could easily be
damaged by routine landscaping
activities.
Of the less visible mounds, most
have suffered some level of damage.
Either by the planting of trees and
shrubs, excavation for drainage lines
and wells, and by surface
construction as described above.
At the time of the land survey for the
proposed development of this
property, all of the mounds were
identified and placed on the survey
plat by the land surveyor. Thus, the
developer, Carr Enterprises, Inc., has
been aware of the existence and
location of the mounds from the
beginning of this project. The
destruction and damage caused by the
road construction and tree planting
appears to have been knowingly
committed by the developer.
We were informed that buyers of
lots in this development are not
informed of the existence of the
cemetery sites until two to four
weeks after they have completed
their purchase.
Maps provided to lot purchasers
by the Ottertail City Clerk do mot
accurately depict the mound
locations. We spoke with Ms.
Arlette Carlson, Ottertail City Clerk,
who indicated that the City felt that
everthing had been handled
adequately and seemed surprised
that we felt that there were
problems.
We also received information the
developer may be planning to
construct a road through either lot 27
or 28 of block three to gain access to
the undeveloped land at the
northwest corner of the
development, this could likely
damage mound 21,22, or 23.
It is my recommendation that the
developer, Carr Enterprises, Inc., be
contacted as soon as possible and a
meeting arranged to discuss this
matter with them. Not only have
they directly acted in apparent
violation of MN ST 307.08, but
thfough their failure to inform
purchasers of lots they may have
contributed to other violations.
a management plan to assure
continued protection of the cemetery
should be developed.
Action needs to be taken
immediately to suspend further
activities on lots 4 and 6 in block
three, to prevent further damage to
mounds 48,49, and 51.
[ Reprinted with permission from
Field Investigations: OTC
Residential Park Ottertail County.]
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