The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1992-07-03

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People cautioned as toxic chemicals are in Upper, Lower
Red Lake from pesticides sprayed on the wild rice paddies
By Larry Adams
According to an anonymous
source, the judicial ditches that
surround Upper and Lower Red
Lake are being used as a dumping
ground for toxic and deadly
chemicals used to control pests and
weeds in surrounding wild rice
paddies.
Malathion, TILT, 2.4-D and
"Agent Orange," or 2,4,5-T, have
been used as herbicides and
pesticides in that area, the source
said.
As a result of the toxic
contamination, the source said that
people, especially children, should
stay out of the water in the "Battle
River," or the eastern lakeshore of
lower Red Lake.
The area in question is located on
the east side of Lower Red Lake on
the Battle and Cormorant Rivers.
"Judicial ditches are ditches that understand why, the water detection
were built in the early 1900's to site devices are 8 to 10 miles away
drain all the wetlands and turn it into on lower Red Lake and right on [the
farmlands, so it could it could be shores of Upper Red Lake," said the
productive property for fanners," the  source.
source said. "Look at all the detection devices
The ditches were all made to stop on the west side of the lakes. All
flooding in the Federal Floodzone those detection devices [are]
areas, such as "the creeks, streams coinciding with the construction
and rivers." This was done in an
effort to prevent overflow of the
natural drainage systems.
Judicial ditches in the Red Lake
Watershed District's (RLWD) Water
Quality sitesand chemical detection
devices are "eight to ten miles away
from Lower Red Lake. "Between
those sites and the Lower Red Lake,
no water quality [sites are] detected,
so that's where all the chemicals and
the siltation goes into lower Red
Lake, [and] builds up the sixteen
feet of silt with all the toxic
chemical contamination," the source
said.
On the map below, both water
quality sites on the Waskish and the
Shotley Branch Rivers leading to
Upper Red Lake "are right on the
lakefront, so they can detect all
chemical contamination of all toxic
chemicals," said the source.
'We'd like to know why, I don't
sites for water quality and siltation
control, all of these are dams,
resevoirs all along [Upper Red
Lake,] to stop the flooding of the
Red River of the North. They
[Minnesota State] have been doing
this for about 80 years," the source
said, referring to all 49 water
detection devices west of Lower Red
Lake.
"But there [are] no reservoirs or
control sites of the east sides of the
Red Lakes, which there should be,
because they get just as much
flooding, that's why there's 16 feet
of silt in Lower Red Lake, and I
don't know how much in Upper Red
Lake," the source said.
West of the Red Lakes,
environmental agencies and the
farmers stop all the toxic chemicals
and let them filter down into the soil.
This is the reason that they allow
the ichemicals to evaporate in the soil
with hot temperatures. This keeps
the toxic chemicals "from going into
those water systems" over there, said
the source.
"Over here, it doesn't stop
anything, it just goes directly into
the Red Lakes. The people, and all
animal [and] plant life absorbs these
chemicals," said the source.
There was information from a
"Commercial Fishery Harvest" chart
from the agenda of a special meeting
held at a Red Lake Tribal Council
meeting on Thursday, January 30th,
1992
The chart coincides with "all the
down parts of when all of the
walleyes and other predatory
gamefish died were exactly the same
times the construction permits were
appropriated from the DNR [and]
the Red Lake Watershed District,"
said the source.
The chart also shows exactly when
the siltation and the chemical
contamination took place. Fish like
sheepshead and other rough fish
increased because they are not
bothered by the chemicals and they
subsist on vegetation.
"What is so important about this
Commercial Fishery Harvest chart
and what's happening in the Red
Lakes," the source said, "all the
down points of when the fish almost
died out completely and everything
that's going on in there, coincides
with what's going on, on land that
makes all the siltation and the
chemicals come into the lake.
"Something has to be done, this
has been let for 80 years. There is no
control over it . . . there [are] no
reservoirs [east of Red Lake,] they
have spent all these billions of
bucks building reservoirs, all the
way up and down the Red River
Valley, on the west side of the Red
Lakes.
In accordance with the Water Law
Recodificatiion, Minnesota Statute
103 Minnesota State Wetlands and
Public Drainage Systems law,
103G.225, specifically states that "If
the state [of Minnesota] owns
See Toxic/pg 3
By and For the Native American Community
Red Lake tribal administrator
suspended by tribal council
The
Fr
e«
Native
American
Press
In a petition dated June 6, 1992, Administrator was created in July
16 employees of the Red Lake
Agency of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) demanded that the
Red Lake Tribal Council (RLTC)
take immediate action to resolve
alledged abuses of authority.
1989 under the Government to
Government Agreement entered into
between the Red Lake Tribal
Council and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs.
The agreement, which was entered
nepotism and conflict of interest into pursuant to PL-93-638, allowed
committed by Red Lake tribal the Red Lake Tribal Council to take
administrator, Francis Brun. over many of the day to day
According to sources who wish to administrative functions of the BIA
remain anonymous, petitioners on the Red Lake Reservation,
presented the petition to the Red The agreement, which was
Lake Tribal Council at their supposed to be a model for other
regularly scheduled meeting held on tribes to follow, expires on July 31,
June 9,1992.
As a result of the contentious and
emotional meeting, Red Lake Tribal
Chairman, Gerald "Butch" Brun,
obtained council approval to handle
the petition situation himself. Gerald
Brun, who is Francis Brun's first
cousin, is reported to have
suspended tribal administrator,
1992. The Press was told by one
informed source that the BIA does
not intend to renew the Government
to Government Agreement with the
RLTC. Phone calls to the BIA's area
office in Minneapolis were unable to
confirm the BIA's intention on the
Red Lake Agreement.
Francis Brun, who is the second
ALLOWED AN ILLEGAL
SITUATION TO OCCUR AT THE
RED LAKE AGENCY (BIA) FOR
TWO (2) YEARS:
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, AS
RED LAKE BAND MEMBERS,
AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES AT THE RED LAKE
AGENCY DEMAND IMMEDIATE
ACTION TO RESOLVE THE
FOLLOWING:
1. Nepotism occuring in top
managerial positions, (tribal
administrator and administrative
officer).
2. Appearance of conflict of
interests when dealing in personnel
matters.
We support Equal Opportunity For All People
A Weekly Publication
Founded in 1991
Volume 2 Issue 8
Juiy$i992
Copyright, The Native American Press, 1992
3 .   Continuous
harrassment.
employee
Francis Brun, for two weeks with person to have held the position of
pay. Red Lake tribal administrator, is
Sources also tell the Press that the paid an annual salary of $55,000.
16 petitioners were not satisfied with
the disciplinary action  taken by
Chairman Brun and are demanding
that the council fire Francis Brun
from  his  position  as  tribal
administrator.
The position of Red Lake Tribal
The complete text of the petition is
as follows:
PETITION
THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OF
THE RED LAKE BAND OF
CHIPPEWA  INDIANS  HAS
4. Improper supervision interfering
with the emplyee's ability to carry
out the functions ofthe BIA.
v
5. Alienation of employees by local
top management in resolving
departmental issues.
Church protest continues
By Gary Blair
On June 27th, Native Americans
protesting against the Christian
and Missionary Alliance Church
(C&MAC) expanded their efforts
to include another Twin Cities'
C&MA Church. This church also
financially supports C&MAC's
headquarters in Colorado Springs.
The purpose of the protest is to
express dissatisfaction over the
C&MAC's banning of their
traditional worshiping practice of
"smudging" and the dismissal of
their Pastor, Everette
Christiansen, for his refusal to
abate the practice as part of his
church service to them.(Smudging
is the burning of sage and the
fanning of the smoke about one's
body for purification.)
While one group continues the
three-month old Sunday protests
in front of the Rosehill Alliance
Church of Roseville, MN, another
group set up pickets in front of
the Shoreview Alliance Church of
Shoreview, MN.
Some of the protestors were Bea
Swanson from the White Earch
Indian Reservation, Everette
Christiansen, who is white, another
Native American woman and her
children.
Christiansen, who had earlier
notified the church of the group's
intentions, held prayer for the goup
before he picked up a sign that
referred to the chruch's ban on
smudging as a racist action.
As cars drove into the parking lot
of the church, Ramsey County
Deputies talked with the group in an
effort to understand the purpose of
the protest and then left shortly
thereafter.
It did not appear that members
already inside the church had a clear
understanding of what was going on
outside. One person stated, "I heard
they want to burn marijuana in a
pipe or something like that."
Another wanted the group to come
inside so they could talk. He was
interested in what they had to say
but didn't like the protest because it
was damaging to the church's
image.
Christiansen reported that the
C&MCA recently flew him to
Chicago where he met with
Eugene Hall, an administrator at the
head office.
Christiansen stated, "I was wined
and dined and then he told me that
there should be dialogue between
the church and the Indian people,
but that this would not take place
because I had screwed things up."
Hall was not available for comment
at press time.
Both Swanson and Christiansen
said they were going to send a letter
to C&MAC's headquarters
requesting a meeting to discuss the
matter. Christiansen said, "I believe
they're still into denial about the
issue. I think they know if they talk
to us, they'll be made to see our side
and that's what they don't want."
Swanson said, "I've talked to other
church gruops and they think
C&MAC is wrong in what they're
trying to do." She added, "This all
goes back to what the first
missionaries did to Indians."
Top photo: Russ Simonsen, of Bemidji, winner of th 1st An. Art Garbow Memorial Golf Tournament
Bottom: R J. Smiley, owner of Mille Lacs Golf Resort, presents Marge Anderson with a donation.
Simonsen wins Art Gahbow Tourney
Russ Simonsen, of Bemidji, with
a score of 72, won the First Annual
Art Gahbow Memorial Golf
Tournament.
The tournament, which featured
three person best ball play, was
held on Sunday, June 29, at the
Mille Lacs Golf Resort in
Garrison, MN.
One hundred sixty-two golfers
participated in the toumey that was
named in honor of former chairman
Art Gahbow with proceeds going to
the Art Gahbow Scholarship Fund.
In addition, Mille Lacs Golf Resort
donated $1,620 of green fees to the
fund.
Prizes were awarded by Marv
Hanson of Grand Casinos Inc. and
Marge Anderson, Chief Executive of
Mille Lacs Trial Council, following
a buffet at Grand Casino
Special recognition should go to
Cheryl Garbo and Ruth Sam for
their hard work in putting the
tournament together.
(See complete results on page 6.)
New book on Custer's Last Stand presents Indians' viewpoint
By Kurt J Repanshek
Associated Press Writer
Cheyenne, Wyo. (AP) - Even before Lt. Col.
George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry
rode fearlessly into the valley of the Little Big Horn in
1876, the bluecoats' bloody fate had been foretold.
It came as a vision to Sitting Bull, the great Sioux
medicine man, during a powerful Sun Dance ceremony
along the banks of the river the Indians called the
Greasy Grass.
"Amidst the pain, out of the swirl of sound and color,
from the domain beyond this Earth, had come the
picture of bluecoat soldiers falling headfirst into the
circle of a Lakota camp. A picture with images so real
he could smell the odor of warm blood. The blood of
soldiers. The blood of horse soldiers."
It was that awesome vision that rallied more than
1,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors against Custer and
his roughly 600 troops on June 25, 1876, a scorchingly
hot, dusty day deemed good for dying by the Indians.
The coming-to-life of that vision is recounted in a
new book published to coincide with the 116th
anniversary of Custer's last stand.
Titled "Soldiers Falling Into Camp," the book was
authored by two members of the Crow and Sioux
nations to relate Indian versions of what happened to
the Seventh Cavalry during that siege.
While previous books have been written from the
Indian viewpoint, this is believed to be the first actually
authored by Indians.
Published this month by Affiliated Writers of
America, Inc., of Encampment, Wyo., the book
presents a trilogy of stories, from the Sioux, Crow and
white viewpoint, woven into one tale recounting what
happened to Custer and his men.
Like the Academy Award-winning movie "Dances
With Wolves," the book gives one a look at life
through the Indians' eyes. Through stories handed
down from their forefathers, the authors present an
intriguing and captivating account of the darkest day in
the Seventh Cavalry's history.
"Truly, this victory was meant to be," they write.
"These soldiers had come here to die. Whatever else
might have crossed their life paths before now, they
had meant to come to this place to die."
In relishing the victory, the Sioux and their ally, the
Cheyenne, thought the conquest over Custer and the
210 men under his direct command might be a
.precursor to their driving all whites from their lands.
"Other whites must learn of the power of the Lakota.
As on this day, these soldiers did," the authors wrote.
"Soldiers who had fallen on the grassy river meadow,
in the trees along the river, and on the dusty slopes
above the river crossing as they ran in retreat.
"Soldiers who had fallen on the ridges and slopes
above the Greasy Grass. Soldiers who fought in
confused litde groups, like ducks brought down by the
hail. Floundering here and there, as if knowing that the
only end to this day was death."
One point the authors try to drive home is that the .
Indians' victory wasn't simply the result of superior
numbers.
Some previous accounts have said that between 2,500
and 5,000 Indian warriors swept down on a badly
outnumbered Seventh Cavalry that had been split into
four segments, leaving Custer with 210 men, who were
aU killed.
In the book's afterword, the authors say that while
there likely were between 4,000 and 6,000 males in the
Indian village, most of those were either too young or
too old to take part in the battle.
Doug McChristian, the National Park Service
historian at the battlefield, said current estimates put
the warrior force that attacked the Seventh Cavalry at
1,500-2,000.
The authors, however, say "a more workable number
is around 1,200."
"The Seventh Cavalry was outnumbered, but they
were initially better armed in terms of the long-range
effectiveness of their rifles and the number of rounds
of ammunition per man," the authors write.
What often has been overlooked, or "purposely
ignored," they continue, is the fact "that the Seventh
was simply outfought."
"Custer may have overestimated the fighting abilities
of his troops, but he most certainly underestimated the
ability of the Lakota warrior."
Aiding Custer's troops in the fight were Crow scouts.
Their version of the battle is told by Frederick Voget
Lefthand, a member of the Crow nation who relies on
accounts of the battle handed down by tribal elders,
including Jack Litde Nest.
Little Nest was a well-known storyteller among the
Crows; his grandfather was the father-in-law of a
half-breed scout for Custer who died in the battle.
The Sioux version is recounted by Joseph Marshall
III, whose heritage is primarily Sicangu Sioux and who
was told stories of the battle by his maternal
grandfather.
Providing the cavalry's synopsis is Robert Kammen,
a researcher and writer of events in the American West.
Kammen brought Lefthand and Marshall together
after a Wyoming rancher told him that he considered
many of the accounts written about the battle to be
wrong.
"After hearing Freddie Lefthand's version of what
happened, I looked up Joe Marshall. . . who had made
a study of the batde at the Little Big Horn," Kammen
said in an afterword to the book. "Neither man having
met before, it was very exciting to find the details they
narrated to me of that batde were a carbon copy of one
another."
The book's title is derived from Sitting Bull's vision,
which brought the warriors' intensity to a frenzied
pitch prior to and throughout the battle, according to
the authors.
"... when he (Sitting Bull) spoke of this vision, a
new certainty flowed through the people like a prairie
fire driven by a relentless wind," they wrote.
Custer scoffed when Bloody Knife, one of his scouts,
warned the colonel of the vision and suggested that the
Sioux "have strong medicine."
"Well, we have stronger medicine," he told his aides.