The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1993-01-15

              Inside this edition of the Native American Press
Detox Coalition Meets at Waite House
Treaty Rights Protestors Gather at State Capital
MIGA fs Accountability In Question By Editor and Staff
KTCA TV Presents Dakota Conflict
pew University ofMinnesotaAmerican Indian Director Appointed
Federal Investigator Set Up Office In St Paul For Gambling Abuse
Chief Hole In The Day Speaks Out On Mille Lacs Treaty Agreement
Federal office to investigate Indian
gaming concerns in Minnesota
Photo courtesy ofthe University ofMinnesota
Bruce Meyers at home in his new office at the American Indian Learning Resource Center
New U of M Indian Center Director
Bruce Meyers knows how it
feels to be away from home. A
native of Montana, Meyers came
to the University ofMinnesota in
October as the new director ofthe
university's American Indian
Learning Resource Center
(AILRC). Now, he wants to make
the center a home away from home
for the students—a place where
they can practice and share their
cultural values of respect, humor,
cooperation, patience and
humility.
Meyers, who grew up on the
Chippewa-Cree Reservation near
Havre, Mont., worked two years
for the Portland Area Indian
Health Board before coming to
the university. Meyers, who has a
master's degree in higher
education from Montana State
University, is excited about his
new job. "I am exhilarated and
inspired to be around young
people," he said. "I like to see
young minds blossom, realize their
dreams and hopes and attain their
vision of service to the American
Indian people.
There is a tremendous need for
educated students to return to
tribal communities, government
agencies and social service
institutions as professionals.
Education is the key that unlocks
the doors of opportunities for many
American Indian students. I want
to be in a position that would put
more American Indian
professionals into the work place."
As director of the AILRC,
Meyers can play a direct role in
helping students reach their
academic and career goals. The
center serves about 300 American
Indian students at the Twin Cities
campus, most of them from
reservations. Meyers said 50 to 60
of those students use the center
regularly, while others only visit
when they need services. He wants
more students to become regular
visitors an plans to conduct a
survey on how the center can
improve services to students.
Meyers also wants to recruit
more American Indian students to
the university and improve their
graduation rate. He believes the
AILRC's aim must be to help the
students by creating a sense of
community, belonging and self-
worth for the students, Meyers
emphasized.
" My number one goal is to make
the center more accommodating,
friendly and open to ail students so
they can have a home away from
home on campus," Meyers said. "We
want to foster learning, commitment
and a desi re to succeed i n the students
so they can do the best with their
abilities. It's a challenging but very
worthwhile job."
By Susan Stanich
News-Tribune staff writer
A Federal investigator was sent to
Minnesota to look into what at the
Department of the Interior thinks
might criminal activities by people
suspected of defrauding tribal
gambling enterprises.
The investigator will open the first-
ever Interior investigative office in
this area, said Inspector General
James Richards. Until this week,
investigations for the department were
handled by its Denver office, he said.
The move was prompted by the
department's recent audit-review of
tribal casinos nationally, which found
several that seemed to be victims of
unscrupulous managers who carried
off an estimated $12 million.
Among them was the Bois Forte
Chippewa Band's Fortune Bay Casino, where a company called Creative
Games Technologies Inc., owned by
former casino manager Cyril
Kauchick and former band attorney
Kent Tupper, may have cost the band
$6.4 million.
In 21 months of a 60-month contract, the band paid rentals for the
company' s video gambl i ng machines
totaling more than $2.5 million -
more than three times the estimated
$800,000 cost of buying the equipment outright, the report said.
Although Bois Forte Severed its relationship with Creative Games, it
might end up being liable for another
$4.7 million under the old contract.
Creative games still leases machines
to the Leech Lake and Grand Portage
reservations. Those leases will be reviewed in subsequent audits,
according to the Interior report.
Richards wouldn't say which tribes
are the focus ofthe criminal investi-
Gaming/See Page 5
Red Lake wins North Dakota holiday
high school basketball tournament
Holthusen, Smith, Croaker on all-tournament team
Wm Support Equal Opportunity For All People
[
Founded In 1991   Volume Z Issue 3G   January IS, 1993
Ctmmriant. Toe Native American
s*f, taaz
The All Indian Nations High
School Basketball Classic was
held at the Bismarck Civic Center
last month. The tournament is
modeled after the Lakota Nation
All-Indian Classic in South
Dakota.
Area high school teams
included were the Chief
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-shig of Cass Lake
and the Minneapolis Heart of the
Earth high school team.
Other teams incuded Roseglen
White Shield, Mandaree and the
Fort Totten Four Winds high
school team.
In the first round of action, Four
Winds defeated the Bug School
71-65, Mandaree got past the
Heart of the Earth 61-55, Red
Lake pounding White Shield
94-66 and Takini beat Belcourt
62-55.
In the semi-finals. Four Winds
edged Mandaree 79-75 and Red
Lake ousted Takini 57-51 in the
semi-finals to play for the
championship.    .
In the consolation round, Heart
of the Earth defeated the Bug
School 63-52 and Belcourt
shellacked White Shield 79-48.
The standings found White
Shield over the Bug School for
seventh place, Belcourt over Heart
of the Earth for fifth, and Takini
over Mandaree for third place.
In the championship game,
Derek Smith of the Red Lake
Nation Warriors lead his team
with 29 points, which included a
17-for-18   free-throw   line
performance, over the Fort Totten
Four Winds high school team,
83-80.
Kenroy Rainbow of Four Winds
was named the tounrment's MVP.
Randy Holthusen joined Smith on the
all-tournament team. Other players
included Brad Croaker of Cass Lake,
Joseph Dickens of White Shield,
Marvin Staples of Heart of the Earth,
David Decoteau and Jamie Keplin of
Belcourt, North Dakota, Roger
Standish of Mandaree, Travis Albers
and Marcus HollowHorn of Tikini,
Fred Longie Jr. and John Guy of Fort
Totten.
(The NAP didn 't get results of this
story until just recently. If the
coaches or people involved would
ha ve notified the NAP, the story
would have been out earlier.
'Indians' Hang Onto Mascot
But unique treatment of team name may be teaching
cultural respect
Photo by Mel Rasmussen
Treaty Rights protestors and supporters gather at the State Capital to exchange their views
Treaty Rights Groups Meet at Capitol
By Jamie Marks
Becker County Record
Mahnomen High School is one of
only 25 left in the state that makes use
of an Indian name or mascot.
Despite discouragement at the state
education level regarding the use of
Indian names, they are still the
Mahnomen "Indians."
In an attempt to further strengthen
its position, the Department of
Education recently called on schools
to take broader measures to eliminate
stereotypes and promote accurate,
respectful treatment of American
Indians and their culture.
But at Mahnomen High School,
where about 45 percent ofthe students
identify themselves as Indian, they
believe their use ofthe term "Indian"
teaches just that level of respect.
"The way the term 'mascot' is used
in Mahnomen is unique," explained
George Morrow, high school
principal.
Morrow said that while many
schools verbally attack others'
mascots, that is not done in
Mahnomen.
"We don't say negative things about
other schools."
Instead, they make positive
statements about their own team.
"There is very definitely a feeling
that certain names are inappropriate,"
Morrow noted. "I think anything that
is used in a demeaning way is frowned
upon. I think there is also a problem
that whatever you use can be misused."
At times, Mahnomen officials have
found signs made by opposing teams
to be offensive.
A common one, he said, is "scalp
the Indians."
"Rather than looking at that in a
negative way, we tend to use that as an
educational moment," Morrow said.
When approaching their opponents
and explaining that the sign may be
insensitive and offensive to Indian
people, Mahnomen officials have
received no opposition.
He regards the age-old "mascot
attack" as an unwanted part of
competition.
"Instead of attacking another school,
you attack their mascot. If they are the
lions, you grab them by the tail'."
"There's no reason why that has to
be a part of public education."
Several years ago, residents of the
Mahnomen School District debated
the continued use of their age-old
name as well as their symbol - an
Indian wearing a headdress.
"The community weht through a
great deal of debate and discussion on
the name "Indian" and whether or not
it was appropriate.
He said there was overwhelming
support of the symbol by parents,
staff, students and the White Earth
Reservation Tribal council.
By Mel Rasmussen
Saturday afternoon was a replay of
treaty rights issues again. The blaze
orange camouflage colors of PARR
(Protect Americas Rights and
Resources) and STA (Stop Treaty
Abuse) have surfaced again. Instead
of the site being a boat landing in
Northern Wisconsin this
confrontation occurred on the steps of
the state capital in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The protest was organized by the
Save Mille Lacs Association and the
Minnesota Hunting and Anglers Club.
Their keynote speaker was Bud Grant
who has become their spokesperson
concerning Treaty Rights issues and
the alleged agreement between the
Mille Lacs band and the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources.
Approximately 400 protestors
gathered to hear speeches and voice
their anger and frustration about the
rights of Native Americans. Their
calls and chants brought back
memories of the "Fish Wars" in
Wisconsin. The only items missing
were the police lines and the darkness.
One state patrol officer was called
off of the highway and directed to the
steps ofthe capital to provide a backup
for the state security teams. When
asked about his feelings on the
situation, he stated that he respected
the rights of free speech and gathering
but he was concerned by the hostility
and hatred that was emanating from
this group. He felt very ill at ease with
the situation and also related it to the
outbreaks of violence that occurred in
Wisconsin. When asked about what
is in store in the future, more
specifically this spring, he felt that
something dreadful was in the wind
and wasn't really ready for this type of
Treaty Rights/Page 6
Detox Coalition Meets At Waite House
The symbol of the Mahnomen Indians
While Mahnomen is a public school
operated under state statute, it is
located on the White Earth Chippewa
Reservation.
There are definite signs that
Mahnomen may continue to be among
the growing minority of school
districts that continue to use such
symbols.
Currently, three ofthe 25 Minnesota
schools using Indian names are in the
process of changing. Since 1988, the
number of schools using such mascots
has dropped in half.
Morrow said there may come a day
when Mahnomen changes its mascot
- if the people begin to feel it is
promoting stereotypes or demeaning.
"We don't want to promote abuse.
We don't want to promote racism."
By Gary Blair
On January 11, 1992, the Detox
Coalition held another community
meeting at the Waite House. The
Coalition was formed in response to
allegations of patient abuse and neglect
at the recently closed Hennepin County
Detox Center. The meeting was called
to reaffirm past and future plans for the
group, and to reassure the American
Indian Community that the abuse at the
old detox center is still at the top ofthe
Coalition's agenda.
The meeting attracted more than 30
people, including State Representative
Karen Clark, City Councilperson Jim
Nyland, County Commissioner Peter
Mclaughlin's aid, Mike Matson, and
staff and board members of the New
Visions Treatment Center, an inpatient
program for chemically dependent
American Indians. KathleenMessinger,
spokesperson for the Detox Coalition
served as chairperson for the two hour
meeting.
Gerry Stafford, who is a board member
of New Visions, told the group, "We've
been asked to submit a proposal to
operate the new Indian Detox Center.''
Hennepin County has extended its
proposal deadline date from January
15,1993, toaccommodate organizations
who want to apply.
The meeting then drew questions about
what the County is offering the
American Indian community if they
were to develop their own detox center.
New Visions staff plan to attain that
information before they move forward.
Additional discussion focused on a
potential site for the facility.
Then discussion moved to Irene Wade,
one ofthe two Hennepin County Detox
Center employees, who first reported
the patient abuse at the old detox center.
Abuse that was covered up for many
years by the State's Human Services
Department, State Health Department,
Hennepin County officials and certain
members of the American Indian
community. At this point Messinger
spoke up. "This has become an Indian
issue, because Indians are the only ones
complaining about the abuse of their
people. We can't help it if theblacksand
whites haven't shown the same
concerns," she said.
Wade, an American Indian, went on to
tell the group how she's been harassed
at work since she exposed the abuse.
She said, "My office is on the third
Waite House/Page 6