The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1993-01-08

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Chief Big Foot Remembered by Wopila Riders
I'll find what I've lost" over the Wounded Knee hills by the
I found pride, understanding, unity, cemetary. They were led by Dr. Arvol
and love on the Big Foot Trail. As an Looking Horse and other spiritual lead-
Indian person, I look at what my grand- ers. Arvol, later, inaKILIradiointerview
By Wawokiye Win
Ninety-six men, women, and youth
and their families rode on horseback
giving thanks to Tunkasila for their
fouryearsontheBigFootRide. Through
visions and dreams, the Lakota Nation
were instructed to have a memorial ride
for Chief Big Foot and his band of
Lakota people.
In history, a beloved Chief was killed
on December 15, 1890; his name was
Chief Sitting Bull. This terrible murder
brought much grief and sorrow. Chief
Big Foot whose actual name is Spotted
Elk wanted to find refuge at Pine Ridge
with Chief Red Cloud. Big Foot's band
traveled a journey from where Sitting
Bull was lolled, 163 miles south to Pine
Ridge Agency. They didn't make it to
Pine Ridge, however, because they were
massacredby white soldiersat Wounded
Knee. Men, women, and children were
left butchered as the soldiers moved on
Much blood lay in the snow that day.
Black Elk said he felt something died
there in the snow; a peoples' dream He
stated," Ipersonally wentouttoSitting
Bull's grave in 1990 on December 15.
I visited his grave and I sprinkled my
tobacco offerings. The sun was just
setting in the west. I felt a lot of emotion
as I thought about him. I remembered
his speech and his words about getting
a white man's education. I promised
Sitting Bull's spirit I would get a white
man's and I would help my children
and people through the words he personally left for me. I understood deeply
what he meant by taking what is good
on the white man'sroad and leavingthe
rest I think of his words about losing
something and if I go back I '11 find what
is good on the white man's road and
leaving the rest. I think of his words
about losing something and if I go back
Inside this edition of the Native American Press
fathers and grandmothers have left me
and it was a lot of love and concern for
people that were the coming generation I'm grateful and thankful and I
want to say Wopila Migwitch to Sitting
Bull's family. The Creator of all again
gifted me with the opportunity to return
to the Big Foot Wopila Ride 1992. I
traveled out to South Dakota on December 25th. I arrived in Green Grass to
visit and rest and to spend Christmas
with the Green Grass children. It was a
joy to watch them open their presents.
We ate Christmas dinner and proceeded
to sing songs on the Sacred drum. We
slept overnight and drove on down to
Kyle, South Dakota, the next morning
where they were having a naming ceremony. My two daughters and I were
honored to be there. Apparently, the
riders were out in the country, west of
Kyle. We went and slept overnight in
Oglala where my husband was born and
raised. I was listening to KILI radio and
I felt at home although I'm not from
South Dakota. I had a sense of being
welcomed by the people and the Spirit.
The next day after breakfast we
caravanned behind the Big Foot Warriors and their families out to Red Water
where the horses stood in a circle. A
woman next to me gave her braveheart
cry to the singers and riders. Two horses
echoed her voice. To me it sounded as if
the horses communicated to us, they
understood exactly what was going on.
Then the Big Foot riders put away their
horses and all the support cars went
back to Kyle to sleep at the community
college.
The next morning, the riders came
toldthepeople,"Wehavetraveled four
years insubzero temperatures with wind
chill factors sometimes being at 60
below. We just want to do the other half
and say wopila to the Great Spirit and to
all the people who prayed for us on this
four-year journey.
Later that evening at Wounded Knee
District School in Manderson, the riders stood in a circle for three hours and
gave thanks in the following manner.
Each rider was given an opportunity to
speak. Some were of different tribesand
even other countries such as Japan and
Sweden. Each spoke of how honored
they were to be part of the ride and what
it meant to them. Many gave thanks to
the other experienced riders for helping
them.
Also, six of the Wopila riders who
rode the first BigFoot ride in 1986 were
honored. Each spoke of the hardships
they endured while on that first ride.
They told of how the ride became a
reality and praised the other riders for
their courage and strength. After all the
riders had finished talking, a young
Japanese woman was honored and given
an eagle feather. This young lady was
honored for walking the distance from
Ft. Yates, North Dakota to Wounded
Knee, South Dakota.
All the riders had brought gifts and
they were told to give their gifts to
anyone they chose. Most of the gifts
were given to the elders in attendance.
The riders then danced to several honor
songs by the three drums that attended.
In closing, I would like to say thank
you to the Big Foot riders for their
prayers for the people.
Inspector General Issues Report Loss of Millions in Casinos
Santa Ana Pueblo Markets Blue Corn
Big Foot Riders Remember Wounded Knee Massacre
St Paul Indian Center Board Members Asked to Resign
Native American Community Protests atMetrodome
Community Seeks Board Members
Resignation At St. Paul Indian Center
By Gary Blair
On December 29, 1992, members
of the St. Paul American Indian
community attended another meeting
held at the St. Paul American Indian
Center. This latest meeting was called
by the Center's Board of Directors in
response to a PRESS article dated
December 25, 1992.
The article outlined the reasons
given by the St. Paul United Way for
not funding the Center's food shelf
program this year. It also described
the conduct of two Center Board
members at an earlier meeting that
was held at the Center with an United
Way official to try and save that
funding. Additionally, the article
called into question the St. Paul
American Indian Center's ability to
serve the American Indian community
in St. Paul.
The meeting was called to order at
5:20 P.M.. but, not before Mike
Poolaw, Chairperson for the Center's
Board, took a vote amongst his group
to see whether they wanted the PRESS
to attend the meeting, which they
reluctantly agreed. At 5:50 P.M..
American Indian community
members started to arrive for the
meeting that they had been told had
been changed from 5 P.M.. to 6 P.M..
As the group of twenty people filled
the room, the Board Members talked
amongst themselves. David Manuel,
who was present then asked Chairman
Poolaw, why the meeting time had
been changed.
Manuel, was then quick to take
advantage of the change in agenda.
He said, "We are here because of what
was written in the Native American
Press. Poolaw responded, "That's what
we have been talking about. I want to
let you know that we're going to get
the youth program back at the center.
I've got computer games from where
I work for them to use," he said.
Manuel had earlier told the PRESS,
"They just (the Center's Board of
Directors) dropped the youth program,
we had funding for that, we had a
person teaching drumming and
singing here. Poolaw then asked for
volunteers to serve on an election
committee. Manuel and others agreed
Indian Center/ Page 3
Tiie Largest WoeMu Native Nowwsnapier in North A\morica
■ ■    :             :
1
There Are GOOD INDIANS and BAD INDIANS
By Gary Blair
According to a Hennepin County
employee who asked not to be named,
there are now two types of American
Indians living in the twin cities in
concordance to how Hennepin County
officials see us. There are "GOOD
INDIANS" and "BAD INDIANS."
The good Indians are the ones who
are looking forward to their own
Indian patients at the old Detox
Center. The bad Indians, on the other
hand are the ones who have refused to
overlook the abuse of their people,
and have not been sucking up to
Hennepin County officials over the
promise of their own Detox Center.
According to Kathleen Messinger,
who is the spokesperson for Detox
Coalition, a group formed to address
the patient abuse at the old Detox
Center, the County has now set a
deadline of January 15, 1993, for
submitting funding proposals for the
new American Indian Detox Center.
A center, that supposedly will be
controlled by American Indians. An
offer that many say is the County's
way of getting American Indians to
forget about the abuse and to get them
to focus on the money that will be
connected to this Center.
Messinger also said, The American
Indian Housing Corporation, an
organization interested in developing
a wet/dry house for American Indian
chemical dependents will ask the
County to extend its proposal deadline
date, so they and other groups can
have more time to submit their
proposals. Messinger added, "There
has already been two American
Indians who have submitted one
proposal for the new American Indian
Detox Center. I guess you'd call them
the "good Indians."
Because of the abuse at the old
Detox Center, and the lack of response
from hennepin county officials, such
as Commissioner Peter Mclaughlin
American Indian activists have now
focused on Clyde Bellecourt. The same
Clyde Bellecourt, who told a group of
American Indian people who attended
a meeting at Kateri Residence
Program, onDecember 24,1992, \h;,
he was personal friends with
Mclaughlin. Bellecourt also told the
group he was personal friends with
Hennepin County Attorney, Tom
Detox/ Page 3
Native
Wb Support Equal Opportunity For All
FouneSext in 1991     Volume** Issues 3}S       January Br 1993
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Cupurignt, Tub Native American Rremm, 1SBB
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Millions Diverted From Indian Casinos
AP Minneapolis
Non-Indian management companies
and contractors have been able to divert
millionsofdollars from Indian gambling
to their ownpocketsbecausefederal and
state governments don't adequately
regulate the industry, a federal report
states.
The report by James Richards, the
inspector general for the U.S.
Department of the Interior, uncovered
fraud, theft and mismanagement that
cost Indian tribes in several states,
including Minnesota, more than $12
million since reservation casino
gambling was legalized in 1988. He
said in an interview Wednesday that
he'll recommend increasedfunding and
measures to keep better tabs on the
gambling industry.
Richards used the findings to blast the
bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the
National Indian Gaming Commission,
two federal bodies charged with
overseeing Indian gaming Andhe noted
that the survey conducted in September
and October, didn't include all the
country's260 Indian gaming operations.
"There may be more [problems] out
there," he said. "There may be some
ticking time bombs."
Neither BIA nor tribal officials had
seen the report yesterday, and Richards
said it does not name any particular
casinos or reservations. But he said
problems were found in Minnesota and
in districts covered by "almost all of the
[BIA] area offices." One of several
examples of abuse mentioned appears
to be from an incident at Minnesota's
Bois Forte Reservation near Lake
Vermilion.
Last spring, the manager at fortune
Bay Casino there was replaced after
some tribe members alleged a conflict
of interest. The manager, Cyril
Kauchick,andanattorneyforthecasino,
Kent Tupper, held an interest in the
company that leased slot machines to
the casino, said Fred McDougall, a
formermemberoftheboardthat operates
the casino.
Though he wouldn't name the casino,
Richards described just such a case that
he said was investigated, and Bois Forte
tribal membersacknowledgedyesterday
that Richards' office investigated the
case.
He said the casino manager and the
attorney were found to be involved with
the samecompany that leased machines
to the casino. And he said investigators
found that the tribe had paid about $2.5
million to lease machines it could have
bought for only $800,000. Richards
added that the tribe may be legally
bound to pay the leasing company
another $4 million under the lease
agreement.
Phyllis Boshey, a member of the Tribal
council, said yesterday that council
members and others involved with the
casino had asked for the probe because
ofrumorsthathad circulated concerning
the alleged conflict.
"That was one of the things that was
going to be done," she said. "It's our
business. There were rumors of
corruption, and that was one of the
things."
Randy Hella replaced Kauchick last
spring as president of the corporation
that runs Fortune Bay. He said the Bois
Forte Band of Chippewa now owns its
machines and is not involved with
Creative Games Technologies Inc. of
Coon Rapids, the leasing company.
Neither Kauchick nor tupper could be
reached for comment yesterday.
The report cites several other examples
of alleged abuse at Indian gaming
operations. Inonecase,acasino manager
failed to document more than $250,000
Gambling/Page 3
Photo By Mel Rasmussen
Ms. Bea Swanson, Elder and Grandmother joins in the Protest at the Metrodome
Native Americans and Supporters Meet the
Washington Redskins Again
Porky White and Bob Milner Honored At
New Years Pow Wow
By Mel Rasmussen
The New Years Eve Sobriety Pow
Wow at the Minneapolis American
Indian Center was the scene of a
special event. Mr. Porky White,
spiritual leader and respected elder in
the Twin Cities was honored. White
was honored as the Peacemaker of the
year for 1992.
Porky was a World War n veteran
and a fourth degree Midewin. Porky
has been recognized by the community
for the work he has done with others.
He has been a teacher for a number of
people of all ages. This has ranged
from teaching people the songs for
the Drum and leading ceremonies at
his sweat lodge in Long Lake. Also
Porky has been a pipe carrier for years
and has instructed many in the proper
care and respect of the pipe to many.
Last year, Porky was given the
McKnight Foundation's 1991 Human
Services Award for his work within
the community. The Peacemaker
award that he received was the first
such award of its kind.
Also Bob Milner, of the Minneapolis
area was awarded a Peacemaker award.
Milner was honored for his involvement
in creating a new organization called
Harmony. This is an agricultural
program for inner city families and
provides a much needed food source
for people in need. He has been active
in housing issues and helped start the
National Coalition on Racism in
Sports & The Media.
After these gentlemen were
introduced and given their respective
awards they were presented to the
community and a honor song was
sung by the Peacemaker Drum. This
was the first year for the Peacemaker
award and according to the Pow Wow
Committee it will become a ongoing
event for future Pow Wows.
By Mel Rasmussen
Saturday, January 2, 1993, was
another red letter day for the
Washington Redskins who had come
to town to play the Minnesota Vikings.
Outside the Hubert H. Humphrey
Metrodome representatives, friends
and supporters of the National
Coalition On Racism In Sports & The
Media (NCRSM) met to protest. The
coalition consists of over 80
organizations that have come together
to fight racism. Their demonstration
was against the Washington football
club and their continued racist
depiction of Indian Culture.
According to Coalition sources their
main thrust was to let Jack Kent Cook
of the Washington football franchise,
Kansas City, Cleveland and Atlanta
know that Indian People are human
beings - not mascots for America's
fun and games.
According to estimate there were
over two hundred demonstrators and
supporters for NCRSM at the
Metrodome. There were no incidents
of violence but there were some very
subdued remarks heard from passing
fans. Such statements as, "Why don't
you give it a break...Give it up...Go
home." Yet there were fans that were
vocal in their support of the
demonstrators.
Clyde Bellecourt stated that he had
been allowed to go into the Metrodome
and give the reporters and media press
kits concerning the demonstration
outside. He said, "They all know what
is going on out here and a lot of them
said that they already did a story on
this but they are doing follow-ups."
According to Bellecourt he said that
the support for stopping this form of
racism has started to spread.
According to Bellecourt, the Vikings
had announced that they will not use
the word "Redskins" in their programs
and press releases.
There were several members from
the Madison Treaty Rights Support
Group present at the rally. Zoltan
Grossman, a member of this
organization stated why they were
there. "We spent a lot of time at the
boat landings in Wisconsin and saw
the racists dress up in chicken feathers
and putting on war paint in order to
show their disrespect for the Indian
culture. Here we have sports fans
supposedly saying they are respecting
the Native cultures and doing the
same thing. We can call what they are
doing is trying to degrade the culture
once more."
Grossman was asked about the racist
organizations that were at the boat
landings. The two organizations in
question were PARR and STA
(Protect America's Rights and
Resources, Stop Treaty Abuse).
According to Grossman, these groups
are being disowned by the non native
communities in Wisconsin and they
are on the run. However, they are
looking for the next confrontation
and are now active in Minnesota at
Mille Lacs and in Ontario where the
Mohawks are starting to spear. So
they are trying to spread their hate
and racism all over the country. The
treaty support group is now active in
working on the treaty issues in
Wisconsin concerning the mining
issues.
Senator Paul Wellstone of
Minnesota addressed the group and
stated, "Let me just say thatl so agree.
The Indian people are people not
mascots. I'm very proud as a Senator
from Minnesota to say that I fully
support each and every one of you
who are here. As a Senator from
Minnesota, but a Senator in
Washington D.C. representing my
state, I will be a very bold and clear
voice in saying it's time to change that
Protest/ Page 3