The Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1995-02-03

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Two men shot at White Earth, possible drug ties
By Gary Blair
The community of Naytawaush was
the scene of the latest incidence of
violence to occur on the White Earth
resenation. According to a spokesperson for the Mahnomen County
Sheriff s Department, two people were
shot last Friday evening at about 11:00
P.M. while attending a house party.
The spokesperson, who offered limited information, said three males were
in custody—two adults and one juvenile—and there is an ongoing investigation into the matter.
The PRESS has since learned that
the victims are David Bowers, 31,
from the town of White Earth, who
had recently lived in Minneapolis,
and Phillip Wade, 30, formerly of
Cass Lake, and now living in
Naytawaush.
Bowers is reported to have been shot
with a shotgun that was loaded with
double-0 buckshot. They say the pellets entered his stomach from the side
and one ofthe shots passed competely
through his body. Wade is reported to
have been shot twice with a 30-30
rifle, once in the knee and the other
shot entered the back of his right
shoulder blade.
Sources at White Earth say the
shootings occured during a drug party
at the home of Chris Oppergard, a 19
year old female. Those who were at
the party7 reported that a young male
by the name of Joe "Toes" LaGard
Thompson got into an argument with
a 24 year old male from White Earth
over a 13 year old girl that was sitting
on the man's lap.
Sources who asked not to be named,
say Thompson had accused this individual of trading "crack cocaine" for
sex with the young girL They say at
that point Thompson left the party
with two other males, one a juvenile
ShOOting cont'd on pg 3
Two men shot at White Earth/ pg 1
BHS Pow Wow a huge success/ pg 1
Terry Roy, Sr. elected to MAICC chr./ pg 5
Pipe Keeper's speech before summit/ pg 5
Suit against Wahpeton School dismissed/ pg 3
Voice of the Anishinabeg (The People)
1
Senate subcommittee defers action on
complaint against Finn until his sentencing
By Robert Whereatt
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Saturday, Januan' 28,1995
In a closed-door meeting Friday, a
special Senate subcommittee decided
to defer action on an ethics complaint
against Sen. Harold (Skip) Finn until
a federal judge sentences him March
3.
Before excluding reporters from the
meeting, senators said the presentence
investigation of Finn by federal officials might also necessitate an investigation by senators.
"There's no need to do these things
twice of somebody is going to do it for
us," said Sen. Steven Novak, DFL-
New Brighton, one of four members
ofthe ethics subcommittee.
When the Legislature opened on
Jan. 4, Independent-republican senators initiated the ethics complaint
against Finn, a DFLer from Cass Lake,
in an attempt to expel him from the
Senate. At that time, an IR Senate
leader said they did not want to wait
for the March 3 sentencing, fearing
public criticism for not takin quick
and appropriate action.
The subcommittee of two Independent-Republicans and two DFLers
voted to wait until after the sentencing
before deciding whether to take any
action against Finn.
There is another practical reason
for waiting. Finn has indicated that he
will resign if U. S. District Judge James
Rosenbaum imposes a prison sentence
on him. His resignation would relieve
the Senate of Deciding whether it
should eject one of its own.
The Senate ethics complaint is based
on Finn's guilty plea on a federal
misdemeanor charge of misapplying
funds belonging to the Leech Lake
Band of Chippewa, of which he is a
member.
He pleaded guilty to using his position as attorney for the tribal to misapply $13,000 of tribal funds through a
phone insurance scheme. The funds
did not go to Finn, but to an associate,
Myron Ellis, a tribal council member.
Friday, the subcommittee held its
first meeting on the complaint. Its
chairwoman is Ember Reichgott
Senate con'd on pg 3
The
Fifty Cents
Ojibwe
News
We Support Equal Opportunity For All  People
Founded   in 1988
Volume 6    Issue 32 February 3, 1995
ha
l
A weekly publication.
Copyright, The Ojibwe News,  1995
Word From White Earth By
Gary Blair
Reports of child pornography ring
With the White Earth tribal council
due to be federally indicted for numerous criminal offenses, people wonder,
what else will come out on the reservation?
Recent events surrounding a
Naytawaush drug party that went bad
appear to be only the publicizing of
things that occur on a regular basis.
And with the drug usage on White
Earth at an all time high, it's not
surprising there are now allegations
that a child pornography ring could be
operating on the reservation.
PRESS sources say Laura Meyer,
owner of the Rez Runner gas station
in Mahnomen, recently left town so
fast she forgot to turn off her station's
gas pumps. Those who stopped for
service, say the station's doors were
locked and the lights were off, but the
gas pumps were still on.
They say Meyer has video tapes in
her possession of what she believes is
child pornography involving Native
American foster children. Those who
spoke with Meyer before she left, say
she had spoken with one of the
reservation's council members about
the tapes and later received a death
threat by telephone. They say she was
"real scared." Mever had been work
ing with foster children when she
reportedly discovered the video tapes.
Additional reports say Meyer made
a fast trade of her vehicle for another
just before leaving and relatives say
she's in hiding. However, she has
called certain people on the reservation and told them she's talked with
the FBI about the video tapes. They
say she's willing to talk with the media, but onlv if she can be assured her
whereabouts will be protected "ewly crowned Bemidji Area Schools Princess and Brave (I-r) Ashley Kingbird, Jr. Princess, Lance
Additional    sources    s .:, J;. d.Kc; Lcul. ^I.^L:.,:, "    V.: ,• ! T    ---- ":., S
ramifications ofthe child pornography
ring will involve various levels on the
resenation.
r-noio:... -•.
Indians say no to NSP and others
N.M. tribe rejects nuclear waste plan linked to Prairie Island plant
Bemidji High School Holds First Annual
Traditional Pow-wow
By Tom Meersman,
Staff Writer
Minneapolis Star Tribune
The Mescalero Apache Nation in
New Mexico has rejected a proposal to
store highly radioactive wastes from a
consortium of 31 nuclear utilities, including Northern State Power Co.
Tribal leaders had supported the
project, which they said would create
jobs, training and $250 million in
benefits for their people over 40 years.
But tribal members rejected the idea
in a referendum by a 490-362 vote.
The results shocked many, especially officials from some of the
nation's largest utilities, who hoped
Mescalero lands would become available to store radioactive spent fuel for
as long as four decades.
More then two dozen nuclear utilities will run out of room to store those
wastes in underwater storage pools
between now and 1998, and a permanent federal disposal will not be available until 2010 at the earliest.
The 1994 Minnesota Legislature
gave NSP permission to store nuclear
waste in up to 17 large steel containers
at its Prairie Island nuclear power
plant in Red Wing. NSP officials say-
that will allow the 21 -year-old plant
to operate until 2002, when the utility
will need to find storage outside of
Minnesota to avoid shutting down the
plant.
Mescalero tribal members also were
surprised by the referendum results.
Joseph Geronimo, a grandson of the
famous Apache leader and an opponent ofthe project, said: "Our people
Waste cont'd on pg 3
A Justice issue
Department sets up new unit to work with American Indians
By John Rainbird
Staff Intern
The 1st Annual Traditional Powwow, sponsored by Bemidji Area
Schools and the Indian Education
program, was a hugh success, as there
were more than 2,000 participants
and over 250 dancers that took part in
the festivities last Saturday.
Heading the Pow-wow's M.C.'s
position was: Vince Beyle, Director
ofthe Indian Education Program for
the Bemidji Area Public Schools and
Gerald (Jiggy) Hawk. The arena
director was: Royce Kingbird, who
directed and kept an eye on the arena
for the dancers.
Hosting the Pow-wow, was the Eva-
Bay Singers, ofthe Red Lake Nation,
the 1994, United Tribes Champion
singers.
With 21, drums and over 300
dancers, spirits ran high as many
traditional songs were sung, while
the dancers made their way around
the dance floor.
The Main focus of the Pow-wow
was the Senior/Junior Princess and
Senior/Junior Brave Contest, which
was being held during the event.
'95 Senior Princess
* Winner #504
Leah Kingbird, Traditional Dancer,
11 grade student at Bemidji High
School. Tribal affiliation is: Red
Lake. Parents are Royce Kingbird
and Stephanie Bugg.
Hobbies/interests are: Dancing at
pow-wows, beading, making dance
outfits for herself and younger sisters.
Favorite school subjects are chemistry
and algebra.
* Runner-up #506
Frances Graves, Fancy Shawl
Dancer, 8th grade at Bemidji Middle
School. Tribal affiliation is: White
Earth. Parents are Bruce and Diana
Graves.
• Hobbies/interests are: Dancing
fancy shawl and jingle dress, making
dance outfits and beading. Likes to
attend pow-wows. Involved in
organized sports: plays Softball for
the Red Lake 49'ers, bowling at the
Bemidji Bowling League and plays
basketball for the Bemidji Middle
School. She is also the vice-president
of Mino-Bimaaadiziiwin group.
'95 Junior Princess
* Winner #101
Ashley Kingbird, Traditional
Dancer, 6th grade student at Bemidji
By Greg Gordon
Washington Bureau
Correspondent
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Washington, D.C.
Attorney General Janet Reno announced Monday the creation of anew
Office of Tribal Jusdce that for the
first time gives American Indians and
Alaska natives a central contact point
with federal law enforcement agencies.
The new unit will seek to ensure that
various divisions of the Justice Department hear the concerns of American Indians and take consistent positions on legal issues affecting them,
Reno said.
However, the new office will not be
able to resolve some of the biggest
legal issues hamstringing the department on Indian matters, such as a
1978 Supreme Court ruling that
sharply restricted enforcement of federal civil rights laws on Indian reservations. After the ruling, the Justice
Department phased out investigations
violated the Indian Civil Rights Act,
leaving victims little recourse.
Reno said the new office will improve communication between the department and tribes. "Because of the
importance of this office, I've expedited its creation and expect it will be
fully operational by early February,"
she said.
Susan Shown Harjo, president of
the Morning Star Institute, a national
organization that promotes the culture and rights of American Indians,
Bemidji cont'd on pg 6
Tribal leaders object to BIA consolidation plans
of allegations that tribal authorities   JUStlCS COnta On pg O
Ho-Chunk settlement excludes law firm
Gaming Corp. suing Dorsey & Whitney for its role in dispute with Wisconsin tribe
From Minneapolis Star Tribune
staff and news services
Gaming Corp. of America (GCA)
may have resolved its fight with the
Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin, but
its lawsuit against Dorsey & Whitney
over the law firm's alleged role in
poisoning the relationship between
the tribe and GCA still stands.
The controversy stems from the Ho-
chunk Nation's decision in July not to
grant the GCA, a Minneapolis-based
casino management company, a li-
merly called the Wisconsin Winnebago Nation, said GCA was "unsuitable to operate in the highly regulated
field of Indian gaming."
The tribe's decision deprived GCA
of its only source of revenues, and
estimated $20 million annually for
each ofthe remaining four years of its
contract with the tribe. The company
helped finance the casino, which
opened in 1993 and is one ofthe five
most successful Indian-owned casinos in the country.
The tribe said in denying the license
that company officials allegedly tried
cials. GCA denied the allegations.
But rather than sue the tribe — a
difficult legal challenge because of
the tribe's sovereign status ~ GCA
sued Dorsey & Whitney, the Minneapolis law firm that represented the
tribe during the licensing procedure.
GCA has continued to negotiate its
dispute with the tribe, and announced
Sunday that it had settled for $42
million.
In its suit against Dorsey, GCA
alleged that Minnesota's largest law
firm played a role in destroying the
relationship between the company and
ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) _ Tribal
leaders are angry over a plan to
streamline the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, saying the proposal would do
nothing more than hurt needy
American Indians.
"I don't think one red cent _ no pun
intended _ will come back to Indian
Country through this streamlining,"
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Chairman Gregg Bourland said.
Bourland was one of 10 tribal
leaders from the Dakotas and
Nebraska who met with federal
officials in Aberdeen Wednesday.
The they denounced plans by the
agency to cut its budget by 50 percent
and possibly move or merge some of
its 12 regional offices. The bureau
provides senices ranging from
education to police protection for the
hundreds of Indian tribes across the
country.
Cutting its budget would hurt some
strugglingtribes and violate promises
Congress made with the tribes in
treaties, the tribal leaders said.
Bourland said he doubted the savings
would be passed on to the tribes.
"Why not just give back to us what's
rightfully ours, including the Black
Hills? Then you guys can go
streamline until you're blue in the
face," Bourland told government
officials.
The streamlining plan would cut
$300,000 from the budget of the
14,000-member Turtle Mountain
band of Chippewa in North Dakota,
tribal Chainvoman Twila Martin-
Kekahbah said.
"This gets down to a very negative
impact on our senices," Martin-
Kekahbah said. "If the intent of the
president was to hurt tribal members,
then he will allow this streamlining
to continue. It will hurt many tribal
areas including education of our
children, law and order, child welfare,
forestry and agriculture."
Standing Rock Sioux Chairman
Jesse Taken Alive said he objected to
beingforced to accept the plan without
guarantees of benefits for the tribes.
"It's like saying you can look at this
new vehicle or house. You may not
get them, but you can go ahead and
make the monthly payments anyway,"
Taken Alive said.
And Bourlaiid promised the
Cheyenne River Sioux would not
approve.
"This isn't like the old days when
they could put loaded guns to our
heads and make us sign, even though
we couldn't read it," he said.
Bureau officials had little comment
after the session. Acting Deputy
Commissioner Hilda Manuel said only
that it was "good for them to get their
points across."
Top tribal housing officials charged with embezzlement
about $10,000 in money and credit      Yankton, of Fort Totten, allegedly
from the agency. The funds were used   used the gasoline for his personal
cense to operate the tribe's casino near   to buy confidential information about   Op+flp rnnVr\ nn nn ?
Wisconsin Dells, Wis. The tribe, for-   the licensing and lied to tribal offi-   ocluc WJFUU UH py O
FARGO, N.D. (AP) _ Two top
officials with the Fort Totten Housing
Authority have been charged with
embezzlement, U.S. Attorney John
Schneider said Wednesday.
Silas Ironheart, 52, former
chairman of the board ofthe housing
agency, is charged with embezzling
to renovate Ironheart's home in St.
Michael, Schneider said.
Roger Yankton, 48, former
executive director of the agency7, is
charged with embezzling 2,200
gallons of gasoline and $4,100 in
money and credit.
vehicle between November 1992 and
January 1994.
Schneider said Yankton used the
$4,100 to make repairs to his mother-
in-law's home.
The Fort Totten Housing Authority
senes the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe.