The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1992-12-11

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Hennepin Detox Appears To Be Working Underground
By Gary Blair
When the Minnesota Department
ofHuman Services issued its "Order
of Revocation" against the Hennepin
County Detox Center on November
24, 1992, those involved in stopping
the abuse of patients at this facility,
felt that, at last, the County was finally
being forced to recognize the problem.
But, just as the American Indian
Community was starting to believe
that the system could be made to work
for them, Hennepin County
Commissioner Peter Mclaughlin,
along with the County Board and the
County Attorney's office, entered into
a secret agreement on December 7,
1992, with Natalie Haus Staflen, State
Commissioner of Human Services,
that will once again attempt to cover
up the abuse of Detox Center patients
that includes rapes, beatings, neglect
and deaths.
Included in their agreement were
the following: Hennepin County
surrendered its detox license and in
exchange, the state allowed them to
keep their Methadone, Cocaine
program. According to an unnamed
state official, Hennepin County's
decision to turn the Detox Center into
a shelter took them by surprise and
forced the State to rescind its previous
Order of Revocation and to give up its
fines of $200,000 against Hennepin
County for un-corrected rule
violations at the Detox Center once
the county decided to surrender its
detox license.
Because of the County's move, the
state may lose any authority that it has
over the Detox Center, control that
includes its ongoing investigations of
patient abuse. Troubling to many
abuse victims is the fact that the
Minneapolis Police Department and
theHennepin County Attorney's office
will be asked to investigate and
prosecute the new abuse charges,
when they wouldn't take their initial
complaints in the first place.
With all the information that's been
complied, the State Department of
Human Services has never once made
any mention of rape or abuse of detox
patients in any of its reports or letters
to Hennepin County Officials.
According to James Loving, Director,
Division of Licensing, State
Department ofHuman Services, in an
earlier interview with the PRESS,
said, "Allegations of rapes and assaults
all go under the heading of neglect."
According to Irene Wade, an
American Indian and one ofthe Detox
Center employees who reported the
abuse, the following is an example of
the mentality of some of her coworkers who still work for the county
at its newly converted shelter. She
said, "Most recently two ofthe nursing
staff took male patients home with
them upon their release from the Detox
Center. They then got them drunk all
over again and then had them involved
in a game of strip poker. The next day
the pair came to work and told other
staff that they also slept with them".
Wade said, "The things they talked
about aren't worth repeating." "They
were reported, but like the abuse,
nothing was done. They were
investigated, but they never lost a
day's pay." Wade said. (County rules
say no former patient contact for up to
six years for medical staff.)
According to Wayne Raske, who
works for the State Department of
Human Services, Hennepin County is
now trying to operate a low-level
Detox Center without a state license.
ThePRESS has learned that the newly
created shelter is still locked to the
public, and clients must have a blood
alcohol level of .10 percent to be
admitted.
As the major media operates in
Minnesota, issues of abuse that affects
American Indians are still being
ignored. According to Kathleen
Messinger, who is now the
spokesperson for the Native American
Community Coalition for Civil
Rights, the group which was formed
to address the abuse of patients at the
former Detox Center, "I was told on
December 8th by a WCCO reporter
that the "Detox stuff is old news." She
said.
It seems that the abuse of American
Indians at the former Hennepin County
Detox Center has also shed light on
what may be an even greater problem
within the American Indian
community. Most recently, Irene
Wade called numerous American
Indian Organizations asking that they
send a staff person to show support at
the news conference that was being
held at the Minneapolis American
Indian Center on December 9th
involving the detox abuse. Wade said,
"I called over 15 Indian programs and
most of them had some excuse for not
coming."
Others in the commumty say these
program directors have become
nothing more than leeches on the
suffering of their own people. Yet,
others say it has to do with fear of
losing their program's funding. Still
others say these programs have
become part ofthe problems found in
the American Indian Community
rather than the solution. And still yet,
others say how can there be any change
in the Indian Community if people
who are suppose to be leaders are
scared to stand up for the people they
are suppose to be serving.
For example, at the press conference
there were a couple of staff from
different Indian organizations present.
ThePRESS watched these individuals
closely, they kept a low profile and
said nothing. Of the Indian
Community members that did attend
the press conference, what was the
real message that they may have
received. Well, as one would expect,
Irene Wade was mentioned as a victim
and not as a hero, which she is. Not
one person talked about her bravery,
instead they concentrated on the
harassment she's received for
reporting the abuse which could have
been addressed in a different setting.
American Indian educators had no
students present at the press
conference. In spite of the mistake
made with Wade, there were more
leadership skills demonstrated at that
DetOX/Page 4
White Earth Planning Department
Conducts Public Hearing
By Mel Rasmussen
Wednesday, December 8, 1992,
may well be a Red Letter day in the
annals ofthe White EarthReservation.
The White Earth Reservation Tribal
Council, through the office of their
planning department conducted a
public hearing. The purpose of the
hearing was to gather information
and input from band members
concerning the applicationfor funding
by the Tribe to ANA (Administration
for Native Americans, Dept. of Labor)
for funds to set up a new law
enforcement agency and tribal court
system. None of the Tribal Council
members attended this meeting, as
usual.
Mrs. Mary Heitsler, head of the
Planning Department, and her two
assistants, Lisa McArthur and Pam
Keezer, opened the meeting. Heitsler
stated that the Council had directed
the Planning Department to seek these
funds for the above purpose. The
reason for this came from the apparent
problems of shared law enforcement
and lack of response upon the
reservation because of a three county
jurisdiction problem. Because of these
issues of lack of coverage, the Council
felt that retrocession was necessary
and the need for their own separate
law enforcement agency was
necessary. Heitsler then opened the
meeting for input from the band
members.   .
The first speaker was Ray
Bellecourt. Bellecourt stated, "First
of all, theMinnesota Chippewa Tribe's
Coristitutiondcesritallowforcriminal
court or civil court at this point. Until
the constitution is amended to allow
this act and the way the system is right
now without a separation of powers
there's no way to enforce this act and
to make a fair system. Without this
separation of powers there is no way
the people on this reservation could
allow this RBC to have a court."
Bellecourt went on to state that this
would be a major problem with the
existing structure. This court would
become self serving and abusive to
those not in favor by the elected
officials or their representatives.
Ms. Wally Ann Warren then
addressed the group and voiced
displeasure with the turnout by the
Band members from White Earth
Reservation. At this meeting
approximately 35 members out of
some 2,500 who live within the
reservation boundaries responded.
She felt that it is important that the
tribal council contact and poll all of
the band members about the need for
a tribal law enforcement agency.
Marv Manypenny then asked
Heistler about the method of
publication of the public hearing
announcement process. Heistler said
that the standard procedure of the
tribe was to publish the announcement
in at least two newspapers near the
reservation. At this point a lively
discussion came about. Band members
felt that this point, even if valid for the
grant process as being adequate, did
not truly address the community or
properly notify them of the public
concerning the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribes (MCT) authority and the Tribal
Government's responsibilities for law
enforcement. Manypenny stated that
the issue of law enforcement of tribal
laws comes from the treaties and not
from the authority of the Minnesota
Chippewa Tribe. Over the years MCT
has taken on the role of law
enforcement for conservation issues.
This has been tacitly accepted by the
8 tribal councils ofthe MCT over the
years. This is in direct violation ofthe
treaty rights that have been given to
the tribal councils and must be
reclaimed.
Again the major issue came up with
the separation of power within the
RBC. It was felt that the RBC has
overstepped their authority as a
business committee versus that of a
Tribal Council which is vested with
the people ofthe Band. It was brought
up that the right of informed consent
was necessary for all band members
and cannot be decided by a few select
members. The consensus ofthe group
was that the people would be heard as
a band and not just by a select few as
this meeting in a public forum so
dictated. Any issue of this magnitude
had to be brought to a referendum for
approval.
Heitsler went on to say that the
input was invaluable and the issue at
hand was the issue of law enforcement
and a court system. At this point
several members from the audience
started to discuss the issue of the
possible misuse by the RBC and what
hearing.
Manypenny discussed the issues   Whit© Earth/Page 5
Photograph by Mel Rasmussen
The New Hennepin County Shelter Located at 1800 Chicago Avenue South
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The
Native
We Support Equal Opportunity Fur AMI Reopls
Founded in 1931     Volume B Issue 31    December 11, ta3S
Copyright, Turn MuUvm Ammrtcun Rress, 133B
Bigfoot International Ride Begins December 15
Photograph by Sarah Penman
Arvol Looking Horse gathers with riders at the beginning ofthe 1991 Big Foot ride.
Photo By Mel Rasmussen
Jimmy Ironlegs Weaver Observing the Presentation by RBC Staff
By Wawokiye Win
The Big Foot Memorial Ride is an
international event which made it's
mark in the pages of modern Sioux
history. What started out as a small
event in December of 1986 has brought
national attention to what is known to
the people as "Sitanka Wokiksuye".
The ride is a 270 mile trek across
some of South Dakota's most barren
land in freezing temperatures. This
trek on horseback is held in honor of
Chief Big Foot and his people who
were massacred by the 7th Cavalry on
December 29, 1890.
The origins of the Big Foot Ride
date back to over a hundred years ago
when the Sioux (who prefer to be
called Lakota) were mighty warriors
who roamed freely on the Great Plains,
hunting and fishing wherever they
pleased. This stopped when gold was
discovered in California. Because the
Lakota fought vehemently to stop the
wagon trains from crossing their land,
the U.S.' government asked them to
sign a peace treaty which gave them
guaranteed and undisturbed use of
their lands as long as the grass grows
and the rivers flow. This was the
Treaty of 1868. However, this promise
was shortlived when General Custer
discovered gold in the Black Hills in
1874. The government made several
attempts to buy the Black Hills from
the Sioux but was rejected.
On June 26, 1876, General Custer
made the mistake of attacking a
peaceful spiritual camp in Greasy
Grass, Montana. A large number of
Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe had
gathered together for a Sundance.
Thinking the camp to be small, Custer
attacked in full force, only to be
annihiliated. In retaliation, Congress
ordered all Sioux to report to
reservations by the following January.
It was at this time that the Sioux were
chased across their lands and herded
onto reservations. Sitting Bull had
fled to Canada and asked for refuge
but was denied. He then returned to
what is known as the Standing Rock
Reservation
At this time, there was a spiritual
revolution started by a Paiute named
Wovoka. He promised that if they did
the Ghost Dance " Wanagi Wacipi"
the land would roll up with all the
white people in it and the buffalo
would return and they would live as
they did before the white man came.
This gave the desperate people hope
and many participated. However, the
government became afraid of an
uprising and blamed it on Sitting Bull
and Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse turned
himself in at Fort Robinson but was
killed on charges that he tried to resist
arrest. The order to have Sitting Bull
arrested was given. He resisted arrest
and was shot point blank in the face.
His people ran south to Big Foot's
camp.
Big Foot had received an invitation
from Chief Red Cloud to come to his
agency and he would offer him
protection. Cold, starving and
desperate, the people started for Red
Cloud's agency a hundred and fifty
miles to the south to Pine Ridge.
Many were sick, weak and not dressed
for the weather as they made their
way south under freezing
temperatures. The cavalry surrounded
them at Wounded Knee Creek and on
December 29, 1890, in the early
morning hours the band was asked to
relinquish their weapons, including
knives and awls. History becomes
vague at this time as to what exactly
happened on that fateful day. What is
known is that when the smoke cleared,
over 3 00 Sioux lay dead and wounded
on the cold open prairies of their
beloved land. Their bodies lay
surrounding the flag of truceBig foot
had set out in an attempt to surrender
before the killing started, those that
survived were now stripped of their
weapons and unable to protect
themselves they were at the mercy of
the 7th Cavalry; triggerhappy and
out for revenge
Men, women, children, and even
infants lay frozen in the snow, later to
be buried in a mass grave at Wounded
Knee. Black Elk, a Sioux holy man,
said,'' A dream of a people died in the
snow that day and the Sacred Hoop
was shattered." He also said that it
would take seven generations to bring
it back. Today, we are the sixth
generation and our children are the
seventh generation.
The first Big Foot Ride took place
on December 23, 1986, and was co-
founded by Birgeil Kills Straight, Alex
White Plume, Rocky and Ricky Afraid
of Hawk and Jim Garrett. The riders
started out from Bridger, South
Dakota, which is located on the
Cheyenne River Reservation, and rode
to the site of the Wounded Knee
Massacre. Since that time, the ride
has taken place almost yearly and
every year the number of riders has
grown significantly. The, most
prominent one was held in 1990.
See Bigfoot/Page 3