The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1992-11-27

              Todd County Museum Asked to Return Bones for Re-Interment
By Mel Rasmussen
Recently, Jim Northrup ofthe Fond
du Lac Reservation was in the City of
Long Prairie, Minnesota, to conduct
one of his many writing classes for the
LongPrairie High School. While there,
he had an intuition and a drawing to go
and visit the Todd County Historical
Society's Museum. There Mr. Northrup
was given a very upsetting surprise.
According to Northrup, the museum
was being remodeled, but he was able to
ask the curator ofthe museum, Mr. Don
Hayes, if they had any Native American
materials in their collection. According
to the curator, there was some material
and he took the time to display them for
Mr. Northrup. Amongst the materials
were moccasins, bags, and other related
types of materials. Then Mr. Northrup
asked the big question. Do you have any
bones in the Museum. ?. To his surprise,
the answer wasyes. Northrup then asked
to see them.
At this point Hayes moved to an area
ofthe museum and showed Northrup a
large sheet of plywood on which there
were glued such items as meteorites,
agates, fossils, and a human legbone
and some related fragments. Under the
articles were written the names of these
different items in a ball point pen. The
legbone was just labeled as human bone
(Indian). At the top ofthe exhibit board
was the title of this portrayed display
called "Stones and Bones" Northrup
was appalled by the display.
Mr. Northrup then asked Hayes.if
their were any other Indian bones in the
museum? Hayes said yes, he left and
returned with twoshoeboxes. In the first
shoebox was a human skull and in the
second shoebox was a set of bone
fragments.
According to information that
Northrup obtained, the skull was found
at a local construction site in the Todd
County area andbrought to the museum.
Northrup also found out that at some
time inthe recentpast thatthis skull had
been taken to St. Cloud State University
and someone had studied it and
determined that it was approximately
300 hundred years old. The second set
of bones had been given to the museum
by an old trapper a number of years
back.
Northrup asked if the museum was
doinganything orworking with anyone
in returning these bones to the earth for
proper burial. According to Northrup,
Hayes started to do a song and dance
and stated that they were trying to work
with someone but he wasn't sure of who
it was. Northrup then stated that he
would be in the next day to obtain the
name ofthe individual.
The next day Northrup returned to
talk to Hayes about the name. At this
point the curator said that he could not
find the name. Hayes was then given the
name ofEarl Sergeant ofthe Minnesota
Indian Affairs Council and Hayes said
he wculd context himinunediately about
setting up some type of re-internment
program.
According to Northrup, when, he
returned the next day to inquire if they
had contacted Sergeant, Hayes asked
his assistant if she had contacted him
and she stated that she thought he was
going to do it. Northrup felt that this
minuet of words had continued too far
and asked the museum if they were
aware that it was their responsibility to
return these bones for internment and
that they were in violation of State Law.
Hayes answered, accordingto Northrup,
in a very sheepish manner that he was
aware of this fact. It was apparent that
no telephone contact had been made or
would be forthcoming.
The PRESS contacted the Todd
County Historical Museum and talked
to Mr. Don Hayes about the remains.
Mr. Hayes tried to have his assistant
who was in charge of the genealogy
section of the museum, discuss this
issue. Hayes then when on to say, "We
have some bones here, and all they're
classified here as is Indian human bones,
and then we have a skull. But there is no
way of, no identification or nothing on
the skull fragments. So these things are
just sitting here in a box." Hayes went on
and stated, "I want to contact Earl
Sergeant, to find out where they can be
buried and this type of thing. I think
they'll probably go up to Itasca State Park
at the burial site there. But that's about the
only information we have on these things
here."
Hayes mentioned that he had talked to
someone up in Duluth at some time in the
past but they never heard from them After
discussing this point it became apparent
that Hayes had talked to the State
ArcheologisL Hayes wasnotawarethatthe
position had been vacant for over six
months.
Hayes couldn't understand why the
native community was so upset about
thisissue. I asked him how he wouldfeel
if someone went in and dug up his
ancestor's or family's bodies and took
their clothes and jewelry from their
final resting place. At this point he
understood the significance ofthe issue.
Hayes stated that he would pursue this
matter and would keep i n touch with the
PRESS about any new events.
STATE CITES DETOX CENTER FOR FAILING TO
REPORT INCIDENTS OF CLIENT
By and For the Native American Community        |
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)
A detox center that serves thousands
of American Indians has been cited
for 40 state health violations over the
last three years, including failing to
document and report incidents of
client abuse. The Hennepin County
Detox Center also has been cited for
inadequate staff training, for failing
to provide adequate medical attention
to clients, and for failing to treat
clients with "respect," according to
state Health Department reports.
The Detox Center serves about
8,000 people a year, and about 30
percent of its clients are American
Indians. In recent weeks, two staff
members have talked publicly about
problems at the clinic, Detox Center
clients have come forward with stories
of abuse, and two state agencies and
the FBI have begun investigating the
center. The U.S. Civil Rights
Commission also has been asked to
look into alleged discrimination
against Indians at the center.
Callers to hot lines set up to take
complaints about the center have
reported that they were verbally
harassed, struck or kicked while
restrained in handcuffs, or that they
wereleftwithoutneededmedicine. Some
also reported that staff members failed
to document and safeguard their
possessions, resulting in the theft of
money and valuables. "I do believe
there are a few employees that have
verbally abused and/orphysically abused
some clients, not a particular ethnic
population," said Paul Norman, Detox
Center manager. "We have dealt with
afewofthoseparticular persons. Butl'd
also say that staff apparently has known
about things that they haven't come
forward to management with."
free
Native
American
Press
We support Equal Opportunity For All People
A Weekly Publication
White Earth Activist Receives Award
Founded in 1991
Volume 2 issue 29        November 27,1992
Copyright, The Native American Press, 1992
By Gary Blair
When Erma Vizenor received an
award from the Minnesota Alliance for
Progressive Action (MAPA) for her
work in fighting fraud and corruption
on the White Earth Indian Reservation,
she told the group that numbered over a
100 guests, "thisawardisalsoforallthe
members of Camp Justice who helped
in those efforts, and it also belongs to 70
percent ofthe people on the reservation
that didn't vote in the last (Reservation)
election. When they realized their vote
didnt count, they didn't vote," she said.
Vizenor was honored on November
21st at the St. Joan of Arc's church in
South Minneapolis.
U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, who
was the guest speaker for the awards
dinner, was also one of many who
congratulated Vizenor who is now an
Assistant Professor at Moorhead State
University.
Mel Duncan, MAPA's chairman
opened the evening event with the
following words, "We're here tonight to
honor Camp Justice from White Earth."
Vizenor who has always made her home
on the reservation, except for the times
when she was away obtaining higher
education, responded with the following
comments: "Onthe reservation we don't
have a vote." She told how 40 witnesses
fromMAPA came to the reservation on
June 9th to help witness a fair election.
"When we took the ballot boxes, it
became reversed discrimination," she
said. "People from outside the
reservation then said, who do those
Indian People think they are" Vizenor
said, "These people take their voting for
granted."
She continued. "We still have 80
percentunemployment. Wehave people
traveling 40 miles one way for a $4.50
per hour job, contrary to what you may
hear about the casinos. We do not take
a stand on development, whenever we
have a change you can not blame
someone for wanting to work." "We
have an horrendous condition on the
reservation. So when Wadena (Darrell
'Chip' Wadena) claimed victory, we
already knew he would."
Vizenor also told how she and 81
other people from Camp Justice went to
jail for two days. Shesaid, "We all were
later acquitted." "The grandmothers
sewed their Insulin in their clothing,
they were ready to go to jail. These
people put themselves on the line over
this voting."
Her award reads, "Minnesota Alliance
for Progressive Action honors Erma
Vizenor, for her pursuit of truth and
justice with the people of the White
Earth Indian Reservation." vizenor is
also preparing for Priesthood in the
episcopal Church.
Vizenor, as well had many friends
present from the American Indian
community in Minneapolis. Bea
Swanson, who was one of those guests
used a small hand drum to tell a story
about the need for all people to come
together as one. As Swanson pounded
her drum, she spoke about that need.
U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, who is a
member of the Senate Select Committee
on Indian Affairs, later told the PRESS,
"we plan to take a look at voting on
Reservations in the next session." He
added, "I plan to take some time off very
soon, I want to go to White Earth and
meet with those Grandmothers who
went to jail."
Photo by Gaiy Blair
Marge Beauleau congradulates George Whalen at his Honor Feast in St. Paul
George Whelan Honored by
St. Paul American Indian Center
Construction Resumed on Red Lake
School Project
By Bill Lawrence
According to Mr. Len Nackmen of
the Minnesota Department of
Education, the suspension of payment
of Capital loan funds for the $6.75
million Red Lake Elementary School
Project has been lifted until December
10,1992. This will give the Red Lake
Tribal Council and the school board
time to work out a 50 year lease for the
40 acres on which the school is being
built.
The project had been halted by the
Minnesota Department of Education
Commissioner Gene Mammenga, due
to the failure of the school board to
obtain a Quit Claim Deed for the 40
acres from the Red Lake Tribal
Council. Provisions ofthe Minnesota
Capital Loan Program required that
the school board obtain a Quit Claim
Deed from the Tribal Council for the
land.
Nackmen told the PRESS that the
Minnesota Attorney General's office
gave the OK to accept a 50 year lease
for the land in lieu ofthe Quit Claim
Deed.
The $6.75 million for the
elementary school project is part of a
total $9.65 million in Capital Loan
Project funds approved by the
Legislature this spring for Red Lake
school projects.
The 83,950 square foot elementary
school is designed to serve from 400
to 450 students in kindergarten to
grade five. Construction is expected
to be finished in time for the 1993
school year.
The remaining $2.9 million will be
used to expand and remodel the existing
elementary school into a 42,700 square
foot middle school to serve grades six
through eight and to pay for the
demolition of the existing antiquated
junior high school building.
By Gary Blair
On November 17th, the St. Paul
American Indian Center held an
appreciation feast in honor of its longtime employee, George Whalen, who
retired thispast June afterfourteen years
of service. American Indians living in
St. Paul say the 66 year old Whalen
wouldalwaystry and helpyou no matter
what the problem was. Mary Beaulieu,
formerdirectorof the St. Paul American
Indian Center told those in attendance,
"He helped start the Center's food shelf
and worked without pay in the early
days."
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c%e sta$ o/j the Native lAmetdean ty/iess wishes a$ o/fyou a safe and joyous holiday Qemembefi
youA jjewtity andf/iiends andyou/t anoestms. Join us iftgWing (/tanks /pit t/im existence and/jo/i you/is.
Whalen was born in Stillwater, MN
and has never been married. He also
has two sisters who live in other states.
He told the PRESS, "I graduated from
the University of Minnesota in 1951,
with a degree in agriculture. My first
job was as an extension agent for
Dakota County. For a time, I taught
agriculture classes at the high school
in New Ulm. Later, I worked for the
Jenny Lee Company and then with
the Swift Company until they closed."
Before coming to the St. Paul
American Indian Center, he also
worked for the Cremette Company.
For ten years he ran the Center's
Nutrition and Community Gardening
programs.He was once asked to be the
Center's director but, declined, saying
that position should be held by an
American Indian. Those in the
funding community told the PRESS,
"Often times we could never remember
the name ofthe Center's director, so
we'd just ask for George Whalen, we
knew he would be there."
Whalen's retirement was brought
about by medical problems. He was
only able to stay for a short time at the
feast because of being ill. He did,
however, stay long enough to thank
those who attended.
Coalition wages expensive war against Indian gaming
By Bunty Anquoe
WASHINGTON - An all-out war
against Indian gaming is being
waged on the public relations front,
financed by phantom, but very
well-heeled benefactors.
Burson-Marstellar, one of the
largest and most expensive public
relations firms in the world, is
coordinating the campaign to curb
the expansion of Indian gaming.
A group called the "Coalition to
Protect Community and States'
Rights" is the firm's "official" client.
The coalition's stated mission is "to
seek clarification of the federal
Indian gaming law so as to restore a
level playing field between Indian
gambling and other forms of
legalized gambling and to protect
communities and states from having
unwanted and untaxed gambling
thrust upon them."
This type of extensive grassroots
campaign, which is being waged on
the state and national levels, is a
very expensive proposition, said a
spokesman from another top firm of
similar size and stature.
A grassroots campaign of
nationwide scope could cost
$400,000 to a $500,000 over the
course of a year. "These are
expensive services involving people
with very special expertise," he said.
"Even one person working full -time
on one account would cost at least
$150,000 to $200,000 for one year,"
said the spokesman who asked not to
be identified.
Steven Crosby, a senior consultant
with Burson-Marstellar's Los
Angeles office, is the campaign's
central coordinator and works
almost solely on the coalition's fight
to restrict Indian gaming. One of the
coalition's major objectives is to
reopen and change the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act, a 1988 law
which empowered Indian tribes to
enter into gaming as a means of
promoting economic development,
self-sufficiency and strong tribal
governments.
"I spend most of my time on this
account," he said "It's my little
baby." Before Congress adjourned
for the year. Rep. Peter Hoaglund,
D-Neb., introduced legislation that
would effectively destroy gaming on
Indian lands. The bill died, but he is
expected to reintroduce the measure
next year.
Mr. Crosby denied any role in the
bill's development but said the
coalition "will probably be
supporting those efforts (to get the
bill passed)."
Mr. Crosby was vague when asked
who the coalition's actual members
were. He said there's "no real client"
because the coalition is "very broad"
with a membership composed of
"thousands" of people, including
religious groups, taxpayers
organizations, state representatives,
labor associations, racing
associations and horse and dog
breeders.
"The coalition is growing each and
every month," he said. "Our mailing
list is in the thousands. People are
interested in joining because either
they don't want gambling in their
areas or they're people who believe
states should have more say in the
regulation of Indian gambling."
He said he has been working on
the account for over a year, about
the same length of time he has been
employed by Burson-Marstellar.
On all of the documents with the
coalition's letterhead, the only
address and telephone numbers
listed are those belonging to the
firm's offices.
Burson-Marstellar has more than
2,000 employees and 62 offices in
28 countries. In California alone, the
public relations company employees
nearly 100 people in office in Los
Angeles, San Francisco and
Sacramento.
Mr. Crosby said he could not
answer how much it costs to mount
the campaign because he doesn't
"deal with the financial side at all."
He also said he didn't know who
was billed for the firm's services.
"It's not my area," he said. "I don't
deal with finances. Our clients are
the thousands of people that support
the ideals of the coalition."
Mr. Crosby, asserting there's "no
real client," said there's no one
person or core group of people
steering the campaign and its many
phases. When asked who approves
campaign strategies, he replied, "We
get input from everyone. We work
these views through."
Mr. Crosby said the person he
does contract is Jan Anton, the
chairman of the coalition. He would
not disclose Jan Anton's profession
of his precise role in the campaign.
At press time, Jan Anton could not
be reached.
The spokesman from another large
public rellations firms said client
approval on all phases and strategies
on any campaign is standard practice
and called a campaign that does not
or will not specifically identify its
clients "a strange arrangement." The
assertion that a firm does not get
approval on its actions is "absurd,"
he said.
Nevada ties?
Mr. Crosby didn't deny that the
Nevada Resort Association or its
individual members, are clients of
Burson-Marstellar or members of
the coalition.
"But not to my knowledge," he
said. "They do support our efforts,
but are not actively involved."
However, several pieces of
correspondence between Nevada
Resort Association members and
Burson-Marstellar, indicate
otherwise.
The Nevada Resort Association
has proven a persuasive force and
strong influence and is active in
legislative and legal assaults on
Indian gaming.
A Feb. 24 strategy report, prepared
by the firm on how to discredit
Indian gaming and how to mobilize
a plan to counteract a voter initiative
drive to legalize casino gambling in
Adelanto, Calif., was the subject of
an "emergency meeting" of the
casino owners on the same date.
At that meeting, $235,000 was
approved for laying the groundwork
for the two-pronged campaign,
which included media and public
outreach strategies emphasizing
See Gaming/page 3