The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1993-01-22

              St Paul Native American Community
Gathers to Discuss AIC
By Gary Blair
On January 16,1993, over 150 mem- ,
bers of the St. Paul American Indian
community attended a meeting and feast
at the Minnehaha Recreational Center
in St. Paul. The event was organized by
the newly formed election committee
out of concern for the managment and
future ofthe St. Paul American Indian
Center.
Last fall, community skepticism and
dissent developed when the Center lost
its funding from the St. Paul United
Way for what officials say had become
a pattern of poor management. This
was in addition to the Board's decision
to drop the Center's youth program this
past July and the lack of board elections
for nearly three years. Thingscametoa
head when it was learned that certain
board members had told United Way
officials in a secret meeting that they
didn't want the food shelf program at
the Center anymore. By late December
of 1992, things had become so heated
that the Center's Board of Directors
were asked to resign.
The gathering was called to create
community support and to seek nominations for an election the group plans
to hold has soon as possible. Johnny
Smith, and the Heart ofthe Earth Survival School'sdrum group provided the
evening's entertainment. A prayer was
given by Joe Potter, accompanied by the
traditional offering of tobacco to those
who stood in a circle on the gym floor.
Potter asked those in attendance to try
and avoid blaming people for what's
happened and  to handle things in a
peaceful manner. Food was then served
with the elders given the option of
having their plates brought to them.
David Manuel, who had earlier called
the Press for assistance to help expose
the problems at the Center, set the tone
for the three hour gathering that lasted
until 9 P.M. He said,' 'From now on we
are going to have an alcohol and drug
free board at the Indian Center. We
need to have positive role models. We
are asking people here tonight to volunteer to be board members until we can
have elections, but if you know that
you're not alcohol and drug free, please
don't ask."
Bradley Moyer and Hubert Denny,
who had been appointed earlier to serve
as co-chairs for the election committee,
also took the floor with Manuel. Moyer
also asked forvolunteers to serve on the
Center's Board of Directors until the
elections. Within minutes, Sybil Gund,
Joe Potter, and Elwood Greybuffalo
came forward.
Hubert Denny, who presently serves
on the Center's Board ofDirectors, was
appointed temporary chairperson. Mike
Poolaw has been the regular chairperson and was present at the meeting for
a short time, but it was learned he left to
attend his son'sbasketballgame. Hubert
Denny previously reported to the Press,
"Mike said he would resign if it would
helpavoid trouble," and tonight Manuel
told the group, "Poolaw has resigned.''
Applause was heard as each issue for
change was announced.
On January 18,1993, Manuel phoned
Mike Poolaw and told him that he
[David Manuel] had submitted Mr.
Poolaw's resignation himself. At this,
Manuel said, "Poolawhungupon me."
On January 19, 1993, Moyer hand-
delivered a letterto Poolaw whichasked
for his resignation Moyer told the Press,
"Mike said if there is going to be any
meetings called he would do the calling of
them" WhenaskedifthatmeantPoolaw
was not in fact stepping down, he said,
"That's what I took it to mean."
Manuel said that the letter also stated
that Poolaw is on another American
Indian organization's board of directors which is in violation ofthe St. Paul
American Indian Center's By-laws.
On January 19th, the Press, called
Alvery July ofthe St. Paul United Way.
July said he heard something about the
meeting from Connie Ross who had
called him. Ross, who was at the meeting, told the group, "This is the first
time in the history ofthe Indian Center
that the community has finally come
together." She also said, "We need to
stop blaming the United Way for the
loss of funding. We need to get people
at the food shelf who know how to make
out the reports they want."
Food shelf workers say they are not to
blame. "We have submitted reports. The
problem is with the Center's administration. They don't get the reports in on
time. July said they are willing to work
with the American Indian Center once
things become stable, but, he also said,
"Until we receive something in writing
from Mike Poolaw, we'll still have to
cc»rffldcrhimtlx;chairrjcrsonoftheCentcr's
Board of Directors."
Wellstone Questions Law Enforcement
Testimony in Peltier Case
By Mel Rasmussen
In the continuing story surrounding
the Leonard Peltier appeals hearing
held in St. Paul on November 9,1992
there have been questions raised about
the actions and attitudes of the local
law enforcement community.
On December 18, 1992, Ms. Carol
Johnson, Minneapolis 13th WardCity
Council Woman submitted a
resolution to the Minneapolis City
Council. The resolution was in support
of a new trial for Leonard Peltier. The
resolution was a copy of a similar
nonbinding resolution recently passed
by the city of Boston, Massachusetts.
Because of the heavy lobbying
pressure by local law enforcement
agencies, Ms. Johnson tabled the
resolution rather than have the City
be tagged with the label of being
racist or biased. Johnson's major
concern was the chilling effect that
was brought on by the different law
enforcement agencies.
Subsequently, Mr. Nicholas O'Hara,
Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge
ofthe Minneapolis Federal Bureau of
Investigation wrote a lengthly article
to the Minneapolis Tribune
condemning the right of Peltier to
receive or even be considered for an
appellate hearing for a retrial. The
real question now becomes does this
person have the right to publicly argue
this case under the auspices of his
office.
According to  Senator Paul
Wellstone, (D), Minnesota there is a
concern about this issue. In a letter
dated January 15, 1993. Wellstone
asked William J. Sessions, Director
ofthe Federal Bureau of Investigation
to provide him with information
concerning this activity. Below is the
letter to Sessions.
Honorable William J. Sessions,
Director. Federal Bureau of
Investigtion. U.S. Department of
Justice. 10th & Pennsylvania Avenue,
N.W. Washington. D.C.
Dear Director Sessions: As you may
be aware, proceedings were recently
held in the Eighth Circuit Court of
Appeals in St. Paul to determine
whether Leonard Peltier should be
granted a new trial on the conviction
for which he is now serving time in
Leavenworth prison. I have followed
efforts to seek a new trial for Mr.
Peltier with great interest over the
years.
On December 18, 1992, the
Minneapolis City council debated a
resolution calling for a new trial for
Mr. Peltier. The resolution was
eventually withdrawn without a vote,
in part due to objections raised by FBI
and local law enforcement personnel.
Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge
Nicholas O'Hara subsequently wrote
an editorial, published in the
Minneapolis StarTribune on January
6, 1993, outlining his views about
the case and arguing against a
new trial for Mr. Peltier. I have
attached a copy for your review.
I have received inquiries from
several   constituents   asking
IG HOTLINE NUMBER FOR TIPS 1-800-424-5081
St. Paul Indian Community Meets Over AIC Issues
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Wellstone Speaks Out About Peltier Case
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whether it is appropriate for law
enforcement officials to engage in
public discussion about a case that
is still pending before the courts. I
would appreciate it if you could send
me any written guidelines or
regulations of the Bureau which
address this issue, so that I might
convey that information to my
sonstitucnts who have inquired.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely. Paul David Wellstone,
United States Senatoi.
In a followup interview with Ms
Carol Johnson, she stated that she felt
that his actions were correct jn finding
out the role of law enforcement
agencies in public hearings of this
sort. She also stated that she had
received a copy of a memo
Hennepin County Sheriff Don
Omodt to his deputies authorizing
them to attend this meeting on
county time. Omodt states in his
memo dated December 17, 1993,
"While no testimony will be taken,
you are asked to show solidarity
and support of these slain agents
by attending the above council
meeting in room 307 of the
Minneapolis City Hall (old
courthouse). Pocket placards,
uniforms, etc., are appropriate but
not essential. Your attendance is.
auth/Don Omodt, Hennepin Co.
Sheriff."
This action seems questionable
as it condones a possible misuse
of county time for political means
by a select group of employees.
Photo by Mel Rasmussen
Mike Carter, student at the St. Paul Open School heads up the development oj a Gang Alternative Conference
Youth Gang Alternative Conference To Meet
in St. Paul
By Mel Rasmussen
Next month in St. Paul there will be
a conference concerning gang
violence in the Metropolitan area.
According to Mike Carter, a student
from the St. Paul area and coordinator
ofthe event, there is a driving need to
address this issue and find some
solutions.
Carter became involved with this
issue from a incident that impacted
his life. The conference was a spinoff
from his community problems class
at the open school in St. Paul. He has
a personal reason for his involvement
because he had a close friend named
Edward who was killed in a gang
related incident in St. Paul several
months ago. Carter was upset with
the lack of coverage and blase attitude
that came from'the media concerning
the death of a human being.
Carter stated that the City of St.
Paul scens to helpful in this issue and
has been encouraging the
development of this conference.
Mayor Jim Scheibel's office was
contacted and asked about the city's
involvement. According to a
spokesperson from the Mayors office
there is an enthusiastic feeling for
this program. Representatives from
the St. Paul Police Department and
the Mayors office will meet with the
conference organizers on February
1st.
Carter hopes that the program will
be a success and that some answers
will come from this conference. He
wants people and students from both
Minneapolis and St. Paul to attend. It
is his desire that they become aware
of this growing problem and that the
conference will shake them up and
into action. He hopes to show some
type of alternative to gang violence.
He stated, "It's not OK for them to
hurt people. It's not OK for the rap
music to glorify it and say hey you're
a fool for listening to this music and
it's OK. It's not OK for the parents to
beat on their kids. And the only way
the kids can get what they need is by
joining gangs. And if they think that
kid is weakhearted and they kill them,
that's not OK. We need alternatives."
Guest speakers include Mary Kay
Boyd, Jaine Banks who works in the
Juvenile Center ACOP program in
St. Paul. Also Sergeant Molston and
Bill Sherrettfrom St. Paul and Rick
Moss and Spike Moss from
Minneapolis.
The conference will be February 23,
1993 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm at Harding
Auditorium in St. Paul. The major
agenda for the conference is the need
for alternatives for gangs and will be
of a multicultural nature. For further
information contact the Open School
at 293-8870.
President Clinton's New Cabinet Appointments For His New Administration
CLINTON APPOINTEES - Pictured
from left, are members ofthe clinton
Cabinet, top; Les Aspin, Jr.; Bruce
Babbitt; Zoe Baird; Lloyd Bentsen;
Jesse Brown; Ronald M. Brown; and
Warren Christopher. Bottom: Henry
Cisneros; Mike Espy; Hazel O'Leary;
FedericoPena; Robert Reich; Richard
W. Riley and Donna Shalala. Most of
these people have been confirmed by
Congress, however, there are a few
still facing the gauntlet of confirmation
for their offices.
r
ASPIN
Defense
BABBITT
Interior
BAIRD
Attorney General
BENTSEN
Treasury
J. BROWN
Veterans Affairs
R. BROWN
Commerce
CHRISTOPHER
State
CISNEROS
HUD
ESPY
Agriculture
•' tKt
PEN A
Transportation
REICH
Labor
RILEY
Education
SHAl At A
HHS