The Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1995-01-27

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Light complected minorities fit image city wants
By Gary Blair
The City- of Minneapolis' Affirmative Action Director Larry Blackwell
says the discrimination in the city's
hiring practices of minorities has a lot
to do with the color of a person' s skin.
Blackwell, a dark complected African-American, told the PRESS, "I
was hired when they Wanted dark-
skinned minorities because then their
thinking was 'it looked better,' " he
stated. "Today it appears they want
the lighter colored ones. Their thinking now seems tobe, 'if they're lighter
then the>7 think more like white people.'
Blackwell continued, "When they
hired Pat Amo [the city's former Indian liaison] they thought because she
was light complected they had someone with that type of thinking. Instead, Pat Amo produced a plan for
the city to work with the Indian community and city officials didn't like
that. They then moved her position
from the Mayor's office to the super
vision of one of their department heads.
She was eventually pressured out of
her position."
He also says the city has been using
other Indian people to select "the right
type of Indians for employment with
the city."
Blackwell says overthe years they've
used a number of different people to do
this. "The ones you always see in the
news," he explained.
Sources say before Valerie Sheehan
was hired as the city's new Indian
liaison she went to Clyde Bellecourt
and ask him if she should apply for the
position. Reports coming from the
Mayor's office say Bellecourt then
called the Mayor and pressured her to
hire Sheehan.
Mike Beaulieu and Leonard Thompson, senior Native American city
firefighters, say when they were hired
they knew it had a lot to do with their
being light complected. "You should
have seen the fire chief s face when we
walked in," Beaulieu and Thompson
told the PRESS. "We knew we were
going to be hired."
Blackwell says the black community is experiencing the same problems as the Indian community. "We
have certain people they also use to
recommend who gets hired."
Ron Edwards, chairman of the
firefighters steering committee, a
group formed by a federal court order
to monitor the city's hiring of minorities in the Fire Department, says he's
tired of talking. "It's time for court
action," he said.
Edward's says leadership in the
communities of color have been acting as if the problems of discrimination don't exist anymore. "Apparently, they have their jobs and
that's all they're concerned with,"
he said.
Blackwell says he's even been told
that someday all the races will be
mixed and there won't be anvmore
discrimination. "Apparently, they
want us to wait until that happens,"
he said.
Calls to the mayor's office for
comment weren't returned by press
time.
NAP/ON responds to derogatory Itr. to advertisers/ pg 4
MORE bands join Mille Lacs treaty case/ pg 1
Court rejects appeal of MN adoption case/ pg 1
BIA Official convicted in corruption case/ pg 2
Word from White Earth/ pg 1
Voice oftiteAnishinabeg (The People)
MIGA president Myron Ellis to have jury trial
for 3rd DWI on Feb. 14
The
Fifty Cents
Ojibwe
News
We Support Equal Opportunity For All People
Founded   in 19B8        Volume 6   Issue 3 1 January 27, 1 995
By Bill Lawrence
The PRESS had recently learned
that Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) president Myron Ellis
has requested a jury trial for his 3rd
DWI charge. Cass County District
Court judge has set the date for February 14, 1995.
In a complaint filed April 27, 1994
by Walker City attorney Harlan E.
Smith, Ellis was charged with his
third Driving Under the Influence of
Alcohol (DWI) offense in ten years.
According to the complaint the incident occurred at approximately 9:05
p.m. on April 8, 1994, in the City of
Walker. Breath tests conducted on
Ellis at the Cass County Sheriff's Office produced a reading of .15. According to Minnesota Law a reading
of. 10 constitutes DWI.
According to the complaint, Ellis's
driving record indicates that he was
convicted for DWI on or about May
6, 1985, and November 9, 1987. In
addition, the complaint also states that
three passenger's in Ellis' car were
also taken into custody on open bottle
charges.
The complaint against Ellis, who is
also a Leech Lake RTC District Representative, contains the following six
charges: counts one through three for
DWI for three separate violations of
Minnesota statutes; count four for
"third DWI in ten years:" count five
for driving over the centerline;" and
count six for "driving allowing open
bottle." Maximum sentences for the
six above charges which together art
classified as a gross misdemeanor are
as follows: counts one, two, three, five
and six cany sentences of 90 days and/'
or $700 fines each and count four
which carries a sentence of one yeai
imprisonment and/or a $3,000 fine.
Walker City attorney Harlan E.
Smith is prosecuting the case and
Walker attorney Larry Kimball is representing Ellis.
A weekly publication.
Copyright, The Ojibwe IMews,  1995
Word from White Earth ByGaryBiair
Rick Clark blaming the PRESS for his problems
According to a primary source, federal indictments will be issued against
the White Earth tribal council and
nunierous collaborators by the end of
next month. The charges will be for
violations of major criminal laws.
Recently, we've learned that White
Earth tribal council member Rick
Clark is feeling the pressure of that
reality. The second term council member who ran unopposed last June is
reported to be sniveling about the
Native American Press and Ojibwe
News coverage of corruption on his
resenation. Apparently, Clark is especially unhappy with an article that
described his involvement in the White
Earth voting fraud scheme that was
uncovered late last fall as part of the
federal probe. Additional PRESS stories alleged that he has become one of
that area's wealthiest residents since
being elected.
Interestingly, when one of his relatives recently confronted him about a
house that this person said had been
promised to him by resenation chairman Chip Wadena, Clark reportedly
responded, "Why don't you ask Gary."
Looking like he wanted to cry, Clark
added, "Gary Blair is going to cause
me to go to prison. I never did anything to him to make him write those
things about me."
Apparently, Clark doesn't remember his own campaign promises of
wanting to get into office to help "expose" Chip Wadena, who he said was
"corrupt."
"Vote for me," he was telling his
district's voters, "I want to get in there
so I can find out what Chip is doing."
But, it appears he got a little sidetracked and then gave up the idea all
together. Now he's just as greedy as
the rest of the resenation's council
members.
Although the PRESS' articles
about White Earth have been revealing, it's apparent Clark doesn't
realize that his financial affairs have
been discussed openly in certain
social settings. In fact, I learned
quite a lot one day at a local golf
course. It also appears he doesn't
realize that federal authorities hav*
already subpoenaed his local and
federal bank records.
Nevertheless, Clark still refuses to
admit that Indian people are tired of
getting ripped-off by their own so
called leadership and would rather
blame his poor image on media attacks.
With indictments now expected on
the White Earth and the Leech Lake
resenations, the PRESS' phone lines
have been buzzing for more than a
year. Most of the callers were told to
call (612) 348-1500, the phone number of the FBI in Minneapolis.
So, if Clark is looking for someone
to blame for his impending problems
then he needs to confront the person
he sees in the mirror each morning.
He also needs to realize that White
Earth residents have a right to know
where their money is going.
Ruth Myers, center, is congratulated by Lee and Susan Anteii, at a retention in Rutn's honci w Beteiufcei
3, 1994. Shortly before, Ruth was granted an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Minnesota -
Duluth, for her many contributions to the American Indian community.
Court rejects appeal of couple in Minnesota
adoption case
By Richard CarcIIi
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The
Supreme Court on Monday rejected
the appeal of a white Minnesota couple
who say they wrongly were denied the
chance of adopting three Indian
children, members ofthe Leech Lake
Band of Chippewa.
The justices, without comment, let
stand a Minnesota Supreme Court
decision that said allowing the
adoption would violate a federal law
aimed at preserving the Native
American culture.
Minnesota officials in 1991
terminated the parental rights ofthe
three children's parents, a Chippewa
mother and a non-Indian father,
because of their abuse and neglect.
The children, now ages 7, 9 and 10,
have lived in more than a dozen
homes.
Eugene and Carol Campbell, who
live near the Leech Lake Band
resenation in Northern Minnesota,
were foster parents to the children
when in 1992 they sought to adopt
them.
Under a 1978 law, the Indian Child
Welfare Act, courts are required to
give Indian families a preference in
adoptive and foster-care placements
of Indian children.
A congressional report on the law
said it seeks to "protect the rights of
Appeal cont'd on pg 3
More bands join treaty case
Wisconsin Chippewa want share in Minnesota rights
High court to hear reservation gaming case
By Pat Doyle
Staff Writer
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Reacting to a treaty rights victory
last summer by the Mille Lacs Chippewa, six bands of Wisconsin Chippewa now assert privileges to fish and
hunt without state regulation in east-
central Minnesota.
The Wisconsin Chippewa have
askedU.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathon
Lebedoff to allow them to participate
in future court hearings on the allocation of fish and game among Chip
pewa and non-Indians in the area.
"It puts us in an awkward position,"
said Mille Lacs band attorney Jim
Genia. The band won't oppose the
Wisconsin Chippewa even thought
their intenention could reduce the
natural resources available to Mille
Lacs members.
If the six Wisconsin bands are allowed to intenene, their members
probably would be entitled to share in
the Mille Lacs band's allocation of
game and fish in Minnesota. That
could mean more Indians exercising
treaty privileges to fish or hunt here.
"I think having the other bands in
the case will increase the number of
resources taken by treaty han'esters,"
Genia said.
The U.S. Justice Department supports the Wisconsin bands in their
request. The state of Minnesota opposes it, saying the Wisconsin Chippewa should have joined the court
case earlier instead of waiting until
the Mille Lacs band won its case.
Lebedoff said Tuesday that he will
try to rule on the request soon.
It is based on the fact that the Mille
Lacs and Wisconsin Chippewa bands
signed the same treaty in 1837 with
the federal government. In the accord
Treaty cont'd on pg 3
Washington, D.C. ~ The Supreme
Court agreed Monday to resolve a
high-stakes dispute over regulation of
gambling on Indian resenations, a
$6-billion-a-year industry.
The justices said they will decide in
a Florida case whether federal courts
have authority to oversee negotiations
between tribes and state officials about
starting such gambling operations.
Clinton administration lawyers contend that federal courts do have such
authority. But federal appeals courts
have split on that aspect ofthe 1988
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Congress had tried to broker a deal
by overseeing two years of negotiations between several states and the
tribes. But the Senate's Indian Affairs
Committee gave up last year when it
could not write legislative language
acceptable to both sides.
The law gave tribes new freedom to
run big-money casinos, bingo halls
and other gambling activities on their
lands. Resenation gambling has become big business in more than 20
states since the gaming act was passed.
The Supreme Court in 1987 ruled
that states cannot ban gambling on
Indian resenations within their borders, a decision that left Indian gam
ing largely unregulated by the states.
The gaming act requires federally
recognized tribes to negotiate with the
respective states before starting some
types of on-resen'ation gambling.
States are required to negotiate in
good faith, and the law authorizes a
tribe to sue a state in federal court if it
fails to do so.
That's what happened in Florida,
where the Seminole tribe accused
state officials of not negotiating in
good faith. Florida officials contended that the Constitution's 11th
Amendment shields them from such
lawsuits.
Shots fired at Morton home of leader of Lower Sioux band
Memories of Wounded Knee massacre
m3rlc©d"
■ i idi iv^m ,   Looking Horse to testify at international forum
By Avis Little Eagle
Indian Country Today
Eagle Butte, South Dakota — Anol
Looking Horse, Keeper ofthe Sacred
Pipe ofthe Lakota, Dakota and Nakota
Nations will travel to the Netherlands
this month to represent his people
before the Unrepresented Nations and
Peoples Organization.
Last Summer, the Lakota, Dakota,
Nakota Nation Summit VI passed a
resolution supporting application for
recognition with UNPO, which was
approved July 31, 1994.
The organization assists member
nations in addressing the international
community. Member nations use the
organization as a forum to meet with
representatives of governments and
international organizations. UNPO
also assists in conflict resolution, the
defense ofhuman rights and the protection of the environment.
Mr. Looking Horse has been asked
by the secretary general ofthe UNPO
to lead a delegation representing non-
tribal government community members, lineal descendants of treaty chiefs
and spiritual leaders. The delegation
will be in the Netherlands from Jan.
20 through 27 for the fourth general
assembly of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organizations.
Mr. Looking Horse said UNPO organizers have honored him by asking
him to lead the opening prayer. He has
agreed to attend the general assembly
because the allied nations must have
their voices heard in the international
commumty, he said.
"We recognize other nations
throughout mother earth. We are a
nation and everybody has to be aware
of what is happening with our prophe-
Memorycont'donpg5
By Pat Doyle
StaffWriter
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Bullets riddled the home ofthe leader
or the Lower Sioux band over the
weekend in an attack he described as
attempted murder
At least 13 shots were fired from a
high-powered rifle into the home of
tribal chairman Jody Goodthunder in
Morton, Minn. The band owns one of
the largest casinos in the nation, Jackpot Junction.
Good thunder, his wife, 22-year-old
son and his son's girlfriend were awakened about 3 a.m. Saturday by the
shooting on the Lower Sioux Resenation. No one was injured, and no one
has been arrested.
"My son came up from the basement
where he sleeps and said, 'Somebody's
shooting at us,' " Goodthunder said
Monday. "There was a succession of
shots. One of the bullets came right
through a wall and into the bathroom."
Four bullets were found in rooms
where Good thunder and his son sleep.
Another bullet went through the garage door.
Spent cartridges were found on Redwood County Rd. 2, which passes
about 75 feet from the house.
"Somebody apparently drove by and
opened fire," said Redwood County
Sheriff Jerry Luttman, who was looking for suspects. He said the size ofthe
bullet holes and the damage caused by
the bullets indicates that the gunman
fired a high-powered rifle.
"Thev're cowards, to wait until a
person is asleep," Goodthunder said.
"I've got a pretty good idea who they
are."
He said some tribal members are
angry at him for urging police to
investigate a gun battle on the reservation a month ago. "From what I
hear, that's why they came looking for
me. As far as I'm concerned, it's attempted murder."
Goodthunder said Saturday's shooting did not have political overtones.
The Lower Sioux community was divided in the early 1990s by controversy over how to distribute casino
profits.
But Goodthunder said the controversy ended after he and other tribal
leaders agreed in 1993 to share the
profits with more members.
Reprinted with permission of the
Minneapolis Star Tribune.