The Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1995-09-22

              Mpls Indian Centerseeks direction for future
By Gary Blair
"We're interested in improving the
Indian Center's senices and its image in the community," Wally
Storbakken told the PRESS on
Wednesday. "The changes are needed
if the organization is going to survive
the anticipated funding cuts."
Storbakken is the newly elected
president of the Minneapolis American Indian Center's board of directors and he wants more community
members to get involved in the
organization's management.
He says as part of improving things
he'd like to sec a performance evaluation ofthe center's executive director and to have an independent financial audit conducted on the 23 year
old non-profit. "If Frannie (Francis
Fairbanks) is going to retire, then
we're going to need time to do a na
tional search for a new director to replace her. We need to know more
about the true finances of the center,
we can't rely on manipulated figures
and that's what I believe the board is
being given," Storbakken continued.
'The Indian center should be more
involved in the community and I am
not saying that we don't have good
programs already in operation. The
Gold Eagles (youth) program is one
example, but what happens if they
lose some of their funding? We need
community support for the center and
I feel that's very important for its survival," he cautioned.
According to Storbakken, for the
first time this past June the center's
bingo proceeds didn't produce a profit
and some staff were laid-off. In addition, the center's annual maintenance
budget which it receives from the City
of Minneapolis will be reduced from
$125,000 per year to $90,000 start
ing next year.
Storbakken says the Center's Circle
Cafe has been forced to close by October 1st because it's been operating
at a $20,000 annual deficit, funds normally supported by the bingo operation. Also, The Circle newspaper has
been spun-off and no longer receives
financial support from the center. It
was running at a loss of $82,000 per
year and was also receiving bingo
dollars. "All that The Circle now receives from the center is free rent. I
suppose if they got into serious financial trouble we'd help them out
again," he added.
Storbakken sees the lack of community involvement with the center at
the core of many of the problems.
"Much of the community has turned
away from the center because the center has turned away from them. That's
Center cont'd on pg 5
Mpls Indian Center seeks direction for future/ pg 1
MN legislators refuse to answer charges/ pg 1
House Committee votes to tax gambling/ pg 1
Boucha inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame/ pg 1
Lawmakers hear concerns of Indian officials/ pg 5
Voice of the Anishinabek (The People)
J
MN legislators refuse to answer charges of
state complicity in tribal corruption
By Jeff Armstrong
Anishinabe activists demanded
answers to questions that members of
the Minnesota House of
Representatives preferred not to hear
ata Sept. 20 legislative "mini-session"
in Bemidji. But after more than a
century of being denied a voice in
their own affairs, members ofthe six-
reservation Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe are proving difficult to silence.
One-third of the Tribal Executive
Committee of the MCT has been
indicted on dozens of federal charges
ranging from money laundering to
vote fraud. On the two largest MCT
reservations, White Earth and Leech
Lake, indicted or convicted
Reservation Business Committee
members outnumber those who have
not been charged.
"There's great corruption here that
the state of Minnesota is aiding and
abetting," said Roxanne LaRose of
the LeechLake Pillager band. LaRose
accused state officials of propping up
fraudulently-elected tribal leaders in
continuing efforts to negotiate away
indigenous rights. "A lot of people
don't believe we pay taxes. Oh, no.
We pay taxes for everything because
the state ofMinnesota collects it and
rebates it to these crooked officials.
"We've never had an accounting of
our tax money since they started
rebating them to the tribe in 1978 or
'79. We've never had an accounting
of hunting and fishing money that the
state has been paying these corrupt
[Leech Lake] officials since 1973,"
said LaRose, referring to agreements
purporting to suspend treaty rights in
return for payments to RBC officials.
The "agreements" have never been
approved by tribal members.
"We've never benefitted from [the
agreements]," said LaRose. "If you
don't believe me, check your welfare
rolls and your food shelf rolls, and
that' s where our people are," she said.
Pressed for a response, House
Speaker Irv Anderson said the state
has no jurisdiction in tribal affairs, a
timewom rationale to which tribal
members were prepared to reply. "You
guys assume control. Every time we
ask for our freedom, you have us
arrested," shouted White Earth
Mississippi band organizer Joe
Refuse cont'd on pg 3
Fifty Cents
OJibWi
News
We Support Equal Opportunity Far All People
Founded in 1 9B8       Volume 7   Issue 13      September BE, 1 995
i
A weekly publication.
Copyright, The Ojibwe Mews,  1995
Boucha inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame
By Susan Stanich
A Minnesota Ojibwe man who can't
get enrolled in a tribe was welcomed
last week into the U.S. Hockey Hall
of Fame in Eveleth.
Henry Boucha, 44, is the first Native
American, as well as the first man of
color, to be awarded the sport's
highest honor. Along with fellow
Olympian, Ken Morrow, and James
Claypool, Boucha on Saturday joined
the ranks of 90 outstanding hockey
players who have been enshrined at
the nation's hockey center.
"This is something to tell our
grandchildren and greatgrandchildren about," said White
Earth enrollee Don Goodwin, who led
a pipe ceremony at the 250-person
banquet. "One of our brothers is
making Indian Country very proud."
Boucha was born and grew up in
Warroad (named for the war trail on
which the Ojibwe drove the Dakota
westward), part of a band that until
1941 was enrolled under Red Lake.
But then the BIA disenfranchised the
group; and despite high blood
quantums about 200 Warroad Ojibwe
remain without a tribe," Boucha said.
"They say we are Canadian Indian
and don't belong in any tribes down
here," Boucha said. "But in Canada
they tell the same thing—that we
don't belong up there. There are
Indian people along the border who
aren't enrolled in tribes in either
country. Nobody seems to want us; so
we have to help ourselves" and get
federal recognition as an independent
tribe.
If Boucha shows the same
determination in Washington he
shows on hockey rinks, the Warroad
band should be successful.
The "very gifted athlete" was a hard
competitor and committed team
player. Had tremendous, endurance
and would play uncomplainingly eveW
playing injured, said Richard Roberts,
his eight year Warroad hockey coach,
during an emotional speech at the
Hall of Fame. Boucha also excelled
in football and baseball; and on the
ice, "His vision was unique," Roberts
said. "He could see the play
developing before anyone else, so he
was in the right place at the right
time."
Boucha cont'd on pg 3
Dancers participate in this year's NAC's 3rd Annual Traditional Pow Wow, Exhibition and Artist
Gathering in Mille Lacs. The gathering was sponsored by the Native Arts Circle. photo by JC
Gore's suprise appearance calms meeting
with tribal leaders
Deer, the assistant interior secretary
for Indian affairs, said after the
meeting Wednesday.
The Senate has approved a 15
By Philip Brasher
House Committee votes to tax Indian
gambling revenues
WASHINGTON (AP) _ House tax
writers approved a plan to tax
gambling revenues of Indian tribes,
contending it would raise about $345
million over seven years.
The House Ways and Means
Committee measure that was
approved Tuesday is among the
several provisions in a Republican
tax package aimed at raising more
than $30 billion in revenues to help
balance the.budget by 2002.
If approved by the full Congress,
the Indian gaming tax would take
effect Jan. 1, 1996. The tax would
affect the Mashantucket Pequots, who
operate the highly successful
Foxwoods Resort Casino in
southeastern Connecticut.
Chris McNeil Jr., spokesman for
the Mashantucket Pequots in
Washington, said the tax was unfair.
He added that House Republicans
don't understand how tribes use their
gambling revenues.
"The committee's theory is that
tribes'   operations   are   like   a
corporation's and ought to be taxed
like a corporation, to level the
competitive playing field," McNeil
told The Day of New London. That
shows "a severe misunderstanding of
the nature of tribal government.'
McNeil explained the tribes use
income from enterprises to renovate
utilities, maintain schools and support
fire and police departments on their
reservations.
"That's not what a corporation does
at all," he said. Those costs generally
are paid by state and local
governments."
U.S. Rep. Barbara Kennelly, D-
Conn., along with nine other
Democrats on a motion that would
have blocked Indian gaming revenues
from the bill. Their efforts, however,
fell short in the 37-member
committee.
Kennelly opposed "taxing the
tribes," said her spokeswomen
Maureen Driscoll, "because it was
wrong to take a precedent-setting step
like this without even having a
hearing."
Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn.,
sided with her Republican colleagues,
saying the issue was "solely one of tax
fairness. It treats gambling proceeds
the way it would any other profits,"
said Kennelly spokeswoman Lisa
Pelosi.
McNeil said he expects the House
to approve the tax package, but hasn't
given up hope on the Senate to fight
the taxation. The Clinton
administration opposes it.
The Mashantucket Pequots operate
the only casino in New England. But
the nearby Mohegans, of Montville,
plan to open a casino next fall. The
Narragansetts in Rhode Island and
the Wampanoags in Massachusetts
also have proposed casinos.
Much ofthe Mashantucket revenue
finds its way back into the local
economy, McNeil said.
"The tribe has kept this money in
the state," he said. "If it's taxed, it
will go to the federal government,
never to be seen again."
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Scores of
angry American Indian leaders,
miffed that top-level government
officials didn't attend a White House
meeting, walked out of the session
and missed a surprise appearance
by Vice President Al Gore.
Gore's appearance soothed the
feelings of the tribal leaders who
were still there. But they said he did
not promise that President Clinton
would veto a cut in federal Indian
programs, a commitment the
Indians were demanding.
"The tribes are extremely
frustrated and very angry," Ada
percent reduction in spending next
year on the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
a major source of funding for tribal
governments and social services.
About 150 tribal leaders appeared
for the private, 2 1/2-hour meeting
at the Old Executive Office
Building, part of the White House
complex. Many left midway
through. People who were there gave
varying estimates of how many
walked out, some saying as many as
two-thirds or more.
Until Gore arrived, the tribal
leaders said they were left to vent
their anger at numerous lower-level
officials from government agencies.
"They bring in agency people,
department people, who can't do
anything for us except decorate the
room," said one ofthe officials who
left, Vernon Mestes, a Cheyenne
River Sioux tribal council member
from South Dakota.
"I said I have no reason to be here.
We came here for hard-core
answers."
Tribal officials said they expected
to meet with Clinton's chief of staff,
Leon Panetta, and budget director,
Alice Rivlin. Panetta did not attend.
Rivlin stayed briefly.   Gore's
Gore cont'd on pg 6
Court of appeals weighs girl's, tribe rights
Mashantucket Pequots fighting proposal to
tax Indian gaming revenue
By Allen G Breed
WINCHESTER Ky. (AP) _ The
attorney for a 12-year-old Standing
Rock Sioux girl asked a state appellate
panel to go along with judges in seven
other states and favor the child's
interests over the tribe's in a custody
case.
Tribal attorney Bill Perry argued
before the three Court of Appeals
judges Tuesday that Kayla American
Horse remain a ward ofthe tribe. He
said the Indian Child Welfare Act of
1978 gives the tribal court exclusive
jurisdiction over Kayla's custody.
But Jim Moore, who represents the
Ashland native who raised Kayla from
infancy, said supreme courts in seven
states have recognized that there are
circumstances in which the act should
not apply. He said one is when the
child is not being removed from an
existing Indian family, which is what
he said the act was created to protect.
"There's no existing Indian family
to protect," he said. "This is not the
situation that this act was designed to
protect."
But Judge Paul Gudgel, the
presidingjudge at Tuesday's hearing,
said he felt the act was created to
protect the "tribal interest" in the
custody of its children.
"It's a little troubling to me that we
would have state courts creating out
of whole cloth a doctrine" that negates
a federal law, he said.
To Lord Rye Burchett, Kayla's
caregiver since 1984, Gudgel'swords
were a signal that she has a long fight
ahead of her.
"They know that I have no legal
rights to her," said Burchett, who has
since moved her family to Manchester,
Girls cont'd on pg 3
Wisconsin tribe blasts proposed tax on casinos
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The
Mashantucket Pequots are lobbying
hard against a proposal by
Republicans in the House of
Representatives to taxx Indian
gaming revenues.
The tribe, which runs the highly
successful Foxwoods Resort Casino
near Ledyard, Conn., said the plan
_ being debated today by the tax-
writing House Ways and Means
Committee _ would essentially tax
tribal government.
"The U.S. does not tax other
governments," said Chris McNeil
Jr., who represents the
Mashantuckets on Capitol Hill.
Connecticut Rep. Nancy Johnson,
a Republican member ofthe House
and Ways Committee, supports the
tax proposal. Barbara Kennelly, a
Democrat who also sits on the
committee, has strong reservations
about the idea.
"I don't know how this would
affect (the tribe's) agreement with
the state, and I'm not for increased
taxes on anybody," she said.
The Pequots give a cut of their
casino revenue to the state, in
exchange for the exclusive right to
operate slot machines.
The gambling tax is part of a
grab-bag bill that tinkers with scores
of other tax provisions, and is
designed to raise $30 billion over
seven years.
For tribes such as the Pequots, the
plan could mean a tax rate of at least
34 percent on certain income. The
Pequots pay no tax on casino profits,
while privately run casinos are
Tax cont'd on pg 6
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (AP)
_ A proposed 34 percent tax on Indian
casinos would hurt gaming operations
that have helped cut welfare costs and
boost rural employment, a Wisconsin
tribal leader says.
The House Ways and Means
Committee was expected to take up
the proposal today as part of a package
of two dozen changes to raise $30
billion over seven years.
Chloris Lowe, president ofthe Ho-
Chunk Nation, said some revenue
from the proposed tax would go to
extend corporate tax credits to hire
the hard to employ and reimburse
employee tuition costs.
"Our casinos are taking people off
welfare," Lowe said in a news release
Sunday. "The best welfare reform is
jobs.
"According to Department of Health
and Social Services statistics, Aid to
Families with Dependent Children
costs in rural (Wisconsin) counties
with Indian casinos are down 31.77
percent in four years. This compares
with a 8.66 percent drop in the rest of
the state."
The proposal would allow for taxing
the casino operations the same as
businesses run by nonprofit
organizations. Such businesses with
net income over $75,000 face a tax of at
least 3 4 percent on non-exempt income.
"The proposal is unfair because it
would single out Indian governmental
revenues while exempting state
government gaming enterprises,"
Lowe said.
He noted that the Ho-Chunk Nation,
formerly the Winnebago tribe,
employs 2,450 people, more than 75
percent in gaming operations.
Lowe said a University of Wisconsin
study showed "21 percent of our casino
workers came straight off AFDC and
nearly 30 percent more were
unemployed before working at Indian
casinos."