The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1993-03-05

              Federal Judge Denies Kauchick's Motion to Quash IG's
Subpoena for American Express records
By Mel Rasmussen
During the month of November, 1992,
the United States Government started
their investigation of possible misuse of
funds at the Bois Forte Reservation.
According to public documents filed
with the United States District Court,
Cyril Kauchick, former casino manager
ofthe Fortune Bay Casino and partner
with Kent Tupper in their video game
leasing firm Creative Games
Technology, Inc., have had some of
their records subpoenaed.
The Office ofthe Inspector General
fortheDepartment ofthelnterior directed
a subpoena to the American Express
company for the credit card account
records relatingtothefinancial accounts
of Kauchick. The issue at hand is to
determine whether Kauchick complied
with federal laws governing programs
receiving federal funds.
In 1986, the Bureau of Indian Affairs
guaranteed a loan agreement between
theBoisForteBandofChippewa Indians
andlTT AETNAFinancial Corporation
which totaled $1,680,779. Thepurpose
of this loan was to provide permanent
financing for construction, furniture,
fixtures, equipment, andworking capital
fortheBoisForteBand'sgamingfaciliry.
Later on in the year an additional
$188,045 was obtained on this loan to
cover unanticipated construction costs
of the band's gaming facility. All of
these monies went from the Band to the
Bois Forte Development Corporation.
The Bois Forte Development
Corporation was chartered by the Bois
Forte Business Committee in 1984. The
purposeofthecorporation was to develop
the tourist-relatedbusincssesassociated
with the gaming facilities and the other
supportingbusinesses thatare associated
with this enterprise. Cy Kauchick was
hired as the Director ofthe Bois Forte
Development Corporation in 1985 and
held this position until June 1, 1992.
On August 24, 1992, Gary Donald,
Chairman of the Bois Forte Tribal
Council, requested that the Bois Forte
Development Corporation's financial
records be audited. An audit was
conducted in September 1992.Thiswas
due to the concerns expressed by the
Bois Forte Band regarding the conflict
of interest by Cyril Kauchick and the
Band attorney Kent Tupper's
partnership in the video game leasing
firm Creative Games Technology, Inc.
This company leased the video gaming
machines to the Bois Forte Band.
According to the Inspector Generals
report the band will pay $6.4 million
over the life and terms of this lease. The
same equipment could havebeenbought
outright for $800,000.
According to this audit it was revealed
the during Kauchick's term of
employment he submitted expense
vouchers to theBoisForte Development
Corporation for reimbursement. The
evidencefoundduringthis investigation
indicated that Kauchick had been
reimbursed by the Development
Corporation for expenses not directly
related to thebusiness ofthe corporation.
An excerpt from the report aptly states
thesituation. "RecordsfromtheaccounL
of Kauchick (Customer), which are the
subject of this subpoena, are likely to
Subpoena/See Page 3
Kauchick is denied motion to quash subpoena
Senate Select Committee to meet in Minneapolis
Paul Ogren meets with Indian community to explore
Governor race
MAIC is under scrutiny for payroll expenditures
Hennepin county detox issues refuse to die
KLIZ Radio of Brainerd airs discriminatory remarks
Thayer announces, "The PRESS is here!
By Gary Blair secret meeting ^^ invoived plans for
It appears that Hennepin County   Indian housing and a new detox cen-
officials have now found a way to   ter for Native Americans without any
Senate Select Committee To Conduct Hearings
on AIRFA In Minneapolis on March 8th
continue their cover-up ofthe patient
abuse at the old county detox center
thatwas once dubbed "The Chamber
of Horrors". It seems they have found
more Indians who are willing to help
them in the cover up. In the past they
mostly had "hang around the fort"
Clyde Bellecourt who has been more
than willing to suck-up and play the
"good Indian" role for them.
On March 2, 1993, the American
Indian Housing Corporation, headed
by Gordon Thayer and Bob Albee and
supported by Bellecourt and State Representative Karen Clark and others,
mention ofthe past abuse allegations
which include beatings, rapes, and
neglect of former patients. It's just
another example of Indians having
civil rights on paper only. By ignoring
these types of injustices it's the same
thing as telling the larger society that
it is still okay to treat Indians anyway
you please. It's okay because even
their leaders will cover it up for you.
This time the group tried to meet at
the American Indian Opportunity Industrial Center (AIOIC). Over thirty-
five people filled the room which included State Representative Karen
Mclaughlin, Mike Weber, Director of
the County's Social Service Division.
Joe Whalen ofthe the Hennepin County
Chemical Health Division and various board members and staff from the
different Indian organizations within
the community.
Once Thayer realized things weren't
going the way they planned, he retreated to the center's lobby and waited
for Bellecourt to arrive. Thayer was
later overheard telling Bellecourt as
he walked in, "The Press is here."
The meeting was started by
Bellecourt and he wasted no time in
trying to impress the non-Indians. He
immediately jumped on his soap box
By Mel Rasmussen
Monday, March 8,1993, the United
States Senate Select Committee On
Indian Affairs will meet in
Minneapolis. This is one of many
such meetings that have and will occur
across the United States to hear
testimony on the Proposed
amendments to the American Indian
Religious Freedom Act. These field
hearings will help establish the
Congressional Record of gathered
information on the need for the
legislation and will serve to educate
the American public about religious
freedom.
Most Americans take freedom of
worship for granted, but the long
history of governmental and
institutional suppression of the
traditional religions practiced by
native people has been unlike that of
any other religionin tne nation.
Recently, two U.S. Supreme Court
decisions made deep intrusion into
native religions One case denied
protection of a religious site on public
lands. The second case denied
protection to a Native American
church practitioner who had been
fired from his job.
The new legislation under this
amended act will protect areas
considered to traditional Native
American religious practitioners. It
will also extend the rights given to
citizens under the First Amendment
to Native Practitioners who use peyote
as part of worship and will protect the
religious rights of incarcerated native
Americans. Another part of the act
will protect and afford access to eagle
feathers and other animal-based items
used by Native medicine and
traditional practitioners.
The site of this hearing is scheduled
to be at Augsburg College, in
Minneapolis. The location is
scheduled to be at the Foss, Lobeck,
Miles Center, 625 22nd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN from 1:00 P.M. to
4:00 P.M..
According to staff at the Senate
Select Committee the following
witnesses are scheduled to appear
before the committee. However, this
list has changed dramatically over
the last three weeks and is subject to
change. The four panels that will be
presented will be on Overview and
Tubal Statements: Protection of
Sacred Sites, Prisoner's Rights,
Religious Use of Eagles and Other
Animals and Plants, Religious Use of
Peyote.
The speakers for the Overview and
Tribal Statements are as follows: The
Honorable Alfred Pemberton,
Chairman, Leech Lake Tribal
Council, Cass Lake, Minnesota; The
Honorable Gaiashkibos, Chairman,
Lac Courte Oreilles Chippewa Tribe,
andPresidentof theNational Congress
of American Indians; The Honorable
Gregg Bourland, Chairman,
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Eagle
Butte, South Dakota; Mr. Paul O.
Sand, Executive Director, National
Conference of Christians and Jews,
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Mr. P.
Fricke, Professor of Law, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
The speakers for the Protection of
Sacred Sites panel includes the
following members: The Honorable
John Sunchild, Chairman, Chippewa-
Cree Business Council, Box Elder,
Montana; Mr. Flloyd Heavy Runner,
Blackfeet, Montana; Mr. Mario
Gonzalez, Attorney, Oglalla sioux,
Blackhawk, South Dakota; Mr.
Arvolle Looking Horse, Cheyenne
River Sioux Tribe, Eagle Butte, South
Dakota.
The speakers for the Religious Ui*
of Eagles and Other Animals and
Plants, Religious Use of Peyote
include the following members: Mr.
Ed Benton, Director, Heart of the
Earth Survival School, Minneapolis,
Minnesota; Mr. Stephen Brady,
Senate/See Page 3
were caught trying to hold another   Clark, County Commissioner Peter   PreSS/See Page 3
The Largest WeeMu Native Newspaper In North America
Native
Mfc
Founded in 1991       Volume S   Issue 43      March 5, 1993
U
1333
Religious Freedom Coalition Schedules
Events For Senate Field Hearings
Photo by Jim 'Boat Rocker' Ortiz
Hamline University panel dicussion with comedians, Charlie & Amy Hill. Pictured from L-R Charlie Hill,
Amy Hill, John Poupart, Colin Wesaw, William Borden, Todd Haugen and Joe Johnson.
Humor Conference Features Turtle Island
Blues and Charlie Hill
3y Mel Rasmussen
Prior to the Senate Select Hearings
on Monday, the following
organizations have scheduled
numerous seminars and symposiums
that will provide information
concerning the Native American
Religious Freedom Act. These
organizations are: The Native
American Rights Fund, The Native
Arts Circle, The Coalition for
American Indian Religious Freedom,
Minnesota Indian Bar Association,
American Jewish Committee,
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, St. Paul
Council of Churches, Minneapolis
American Indian Center, All Nations
Ecumenical church, MIGIZI
Communications, Minnesota Indian
Women's Resource Center, American
Indian Advisory Committee-
University ofMinnesota, Minneapolis
NAACP, Augsburg College.
The following events are scheduled.
Thursday, March 4, 1993.
Ecumenical/Interfaith Dialogue, 7:00
to 9:00 p.m., Jewish Community
Center, 4330 Cedar Lake Road, St.
Louis, Park, MN. Evening of Films,
"Understanding the American Indian
Religious Freedom Act and the
Amendments." 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.,
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Auditorium, 2400 3rd Ave. S.,
Minneapolis, MN.
Saturday, March 6,1993. American
Indian Religious Freedom
Symposium, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H.
Humphrey Institute, University of
Minnesota, West Bank Campus, 301
19th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN. Native
American Church of North America
Mid-year Conference, 9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m., St. Paul Council of
Churches, 1671 Summit Ave., St.
Paul, MN. "Understanding the
American Indian Religious Freedom
Act (AIRFA) and the Amendments",
Native American Film Festival, 6:00
to 9:00 p.m., Cowles Auditorium,
Humphrey Institute.
Sunday, March 7, 1993. Spiritual
Vigil - Wiping of Tears Ceremony,
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Minneapolis
American Indian Center, 1530 East
Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN.
Traditional Pow-Wow, 1:30 p.m. to
10:00 p.m., Minneapolis American
Indian Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Ecumenical Talking circle, 2:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m., All Nations Church,
1515 East 23 rd Street, Minneapolis,
MN.
Monday, March 8, 1993. Sunrise
Ceremony/Traditional Prayer
Ceremony, 5:30 a.m., Mounds Park,
St.Paul,MN. Press Conference, 12:30
p.m., Foss Center, Augsburg College,
Corner of Riverside Ave. & 22nd
Ave., Minneapolis, MN. Senate Select
Committeeon Indian AffairsHearing,
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Foss Center,
Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN.
Witness Testimony, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.,
Foss Center, Augsburg College,
Minneapolis, MN. Traditional Honor
Feast, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
Minnesota Indian Womens Resource
Center, 2300 15th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN.
For updated information about
scheduled events, the Upper Midwest
Native American Religious Freedom
Coalition will have a hotline. The hotline
telephone number is 612-870-3679.
By Colleen Bell
Humor Conference Features Turtle
Island Blues and Charlie Hill Laughter
is a survival tactic, and those who can
laugh, last. That was the theme for a
conference on the politics of humor
held last weekend at Hamline University in St Paul.
The two-day conference program include scholars and performers interested
in the humor of people who are on the
fringes ofthe dominant culture. Much
ofthe conference focused on women's
humor and ethnic humor. One of the
performers was Oneida comedian
Charlie Hill, who has appeared on the
Tonight Show and Arsenio Hall, and
whose comedy exposes stereotypes about
Indians. Also performing were Amy
Hill, a Japanese-Finnish American actor and writer, Judith Katz, a Jewish
lesbian novelist, and storytellers Jane
Curry and Danielle Daniel.
An important part ofthe conference
was the Twin Cities premiere performance of the play "Turtle Island
Blues'', by Listening Winds Theater of
Bemidji. The play looks at American
history-including Columbus, Sitting
Bull, and Leonard Peltier- in a humorous and tragic light. For the audience,
Turtle Island Blues" was a chance to
see American Indian actors performing
Indian roles. It was also a chance for the
audience to notice that white people and
Indian people find different lines and
scenes to be funny. One ofthe conference goals was to make it possible for
people to learn about each other by
understanding their humor. As Vine
Deloria once said, "One of the best
ways to understand people is to know
what makes them laugh."
Although Deloria was not a participant in the conference, he has written
about Indian humor. When John
Poupart, President of the St. Paul Americans Indians in Unity, introduced the
play, he reminded the audience of
Deloria's comment that "it has always
been a great disappointment to Indian
people that the humorous side of Indian
life has not been mentioned by professed experts on Indian Affairs."
Language play and one-liners often
achieve a laugh and are common in
Indian country. Deloria recalls the story
of Popovi Da, a great Pueblo artist, who
was asked why Indians were the first
people on this continent. "We had reservations", he responded. That kind of
humor involves cleverness and creativity.
When humor is about those with more
social power, a certain degree of risk is
involved. Regina Barecca, an English
professor at the University of Connecti-
Humor/See Page 3
Does MAIC Board Truly Represent
Minenapolis Indian Community
By Gary Blair
It appears that there has been a
"party" going on at the Minneapolis
American Indian Center (MAIC).
However, according to Kathleen
Messinger's.statements in the Feb.
19th edition of The Press, the party's
over. Just what the cost to the community has been and who will end up
responsible for the good time remains
to be seen. But, you can be assured that
The Press plans to continue our probe
into who received the $65,000 that the
center's financial records show went
to pay employee wage advances.
On Feb. 2,1993, we visited the folks
at the Minneapolis United Way to see
if they had been aware ofthe problems
uncovered in the Feb. 26th edition of
The Press. Both Barbara Nagle, Director of Public Relations, and John
Blanhna, Fund Director Associate,
met with Gary Blair, Staff writer, Bill
Lawrence, Publisher, and Romaine
Powell, General Counsel of The Native American Press.
We were told that the MAIC receives
$200,000 from United Way that is
divided equally amongst three separate programs administered by the
center. Nagle said she had seen The
Press article and was impressed with
the details that it layed out.
When asked what United Way
planned to do about the funds in question, Nagle said, "We're at the end of
our funding cycle so that issue may
have to wait until MAIC re-applies for
next year's funding." Blanhna said
he'd have to wait until his supervisor
returned next week to see what they
will do. He said, "We do have a
provision that allows for us to look
into matters like this right away."
Nagle said, "We'd first try and work
with them. We'd try and help them
with their accounting." When she
was told that MAIC has a full-time
CP A on staff Nagle quickly discontinued that line of response and moved to
the following question. She said, "If
you learn anymore would you please
let us know what you find out."
It has been learned that certain staff
at the MAIC want The Press to pour
on the investigation. It appears even
more are now willing to come forward. MAIC staff who know about the
wage advancements and who may have
received the money are encouraged to
contact The Press as soon as possible.
The faster we can get to the bottom of
MAIC/See Page 6
To Report Instances, of theft, embezzlement and misuse of your gaming funds, call the U.S. Department of
Interior Inspector Generalfs Hotline at 1-800-424-5081. Your calls will be kept confidential.