The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1993-04-02

              "Detox bill" introduced by Rep. Karen Clark
By Gary Blair
A bill to strengthen and change the
laws governing detoxification facilities
in Hennepin County was introduced
this week at the State Capitol. State
Representative Karen Clark, DFL-
District 61A, introduced the revised
edition. If passed, the bill wouldprovide
both the State of Minnesota and
Hennepin County with different
alternatives affecting chemical
dependency services for American
Indians living in Hennepin County.
The Press has learned there is talk
frombehind the scenes that state officials
don't want Hennepin County to receive
another detox center license because of
the problems associated with their last
operationattheold 1800 Chicago Ave.,
So., site.
In November of 1992 the State
Commissioner for the Department of
Human Services (DHS) and Hennepin
County officials held a secret meeting in
which they decided to close the county's
detox center after allegations surfaced
of client abuse that had been occurring
for more than ten years. In exchange for
giving up their detox center license
Hennepin County was granted
permission to keep two of its chemical
dependency programs in operation-
programs not utilized by Native
Americans.
During Representative Clark's
introduction to the part of the bill that
involved proposed changes in chemical
dependency services that would affect
Hennepin County residents, one of her
colleagues became angry. He raised his
voice when he said, "What's Hennepin
County doing?" His remarks followed
Rep. Clark'scommentsabout Hennepin
County'staxpayers being stuck with the
highcost ofproviding shelter services at
$300 per person per day.
Rep. Clark continued her presentation
of her bill and why it was needed. It was
apparent by her tone and tenor that this
was a highly charged issue. She talked
about the need for a wet/dry house and
the need for smaller detoxification
centers. She informed her audience that
50 percent of all people admitted for
detoxification services in Minnesota are
admitted in Hennepin County and that
a disproportionate number are
American Indians. She expressed the
need for culturally-based detoxification
services.
However, Rep. Clark made no
mention in her presentation as to what
had caused the high costs of shelter
services  for  Hennepin   County
taxpayers. She used the word "abuse"
just once when mentioning why the old
Hennepin County Detox Center was
closed. Community organizations in
and around the Phillips neighborhood,
where the old detox was located, now
say the high cost to operate the new
homeless shelterisbeingcontributed to
by using staff members from the old
detox at wages that are higher than
those usually paid to shelter workers.
These are the same staff members who
stand accused of sitting back and
watching the client abuse committed
by fellow staff members.
When asked about this factRep. Clark
said her bill would cut the costs to those
taxpayers considerably. However,
because thebill was attached to another
one involving homeless issues it was
recommeded that it be restructured and
returned for further consideration. One
of the legislators involved in the
discussion commented that the bill
wasn't clear as to what type of training
theclientadvocates wouldreceive. Rep.
Clark explained that she entered the
bill as it was in the interest of saving
time. Those who helped draft the bill
have said the remaining time will be
used to improve the bill's wording. As
it now reads, there isn't any provision
that would hold the state accountable
once they receive reports of client abuse.
According to the Native American
Coalition for Civil Rights, this is the
very reason Hennepin County has so
far gotten away with covering up the
alleged client abuse that involved rapes
by detox center staff and other
unsupervised intakes. Detox center
clients also reported being physically
and mentally abused, having personal
items stolen and being neglected by the
staff.
In an interview with The Press, John
Waldron, acting Ombudsman for the
State ofMinnesota whose office handles
client complaints involving mental
health, mental retardationand chemical
dependency issues, says thisbill will not
address the real problem. He stated,
" As the bill now reads, our office is the
only one at the state responsible for
receiving and investigating these
complaints and we don't have any
enforcement powers.''
He went on to say,' 'What it amounts
to at this point is at the end of the year
we'll release a report that lists all the
complaints we have received and what
steps we took to try and resolve them
Waldron continued, "I've met with
Hennepin County officials and not one
of them was willing to take any
responsibility fortheabuse. Who's going
to hold them accountable if they get
another detox license? Our office won't
be able to do anything about it and we'll
have all the responsibilities. What's the
use of having video cameras and
personal advocates for clients? These
people won't be able to do anything
either."
"What we need is laws that hold
officialsatthe top responsible,'' Waldron
continued. "I'll bet you if there was a
bunch of "nice white people" being
abused at the detox center you'd see
some changes made real fast. But,
because this is not the case, they're
going to pass a bill they know will not
address the problem."
The Press also talked to Chuck Schultz
at the State Department of Human
Services (DHS) to try and find out what
position the Commissioner of DHS has
taken on this matter. The Commissioner
of DHS was at the State Capitol and
wouldn't be available for comment.
Schultz said, "I'll go on record right
now. Before there is any discussion
about issuing Hennepin County another
detox license I promise it will only be
doneafterwe releaseourfind'ngsonthe
investigation surrounding their
operation ofthe old detox center that we
closed." Whenremindedthathisofhce
didn'tactuallyclosethedetoxcenter, he
replied, "I guesss you're right. It was
done as part of an agreement.''
When asked if there was going to be
anymore secret meetings between the
Commissioner of DHS and Hennepin
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  Detox/See Page 6
Red lake Fishery holds annual meeting at fishery
in Redby, many concerns addressed
By Larry Adams
The Red Lake Fisheries Association
held their annual meeting at the Red
Lake Fishery in Redby last Saturday.
Between 40 to 50 fishermen were in
attendance.The floor then opened up
for nominations among the fishermen
to vote for the Board of Directors.
Nominated were Tom Barrett, Bill
May, Bobby Head, Rudy Johns, Frank
Hill, Myron Kingbird, Philip Johns
and Adrian Beaulieu.
A new board of directors was
elected. Tom Barrett and Myron
Kingbird were voted on as the two
new directors. Bill May was re-elected
as president, with Rudy Johnson as
vice-president. The treasurer is Philip
Johns. The former Board of Directors,
Billy May, Rudy Johnson, Phillip
Johns, Myron Kingbird, Frank Hill,
and Marlene M. Hanson, were on
hand to answer any questions.
The annual Financial Statements and
Supplementary Information [for the]
years ended December 31, 1992 and
1991" was, given out at the meeting.
The report was prepared by the
Krigbaum Ross-Rhoades & Elliot Cer-
tifiedPublicAccountingfirmofBemidji.
Hanson said that $50,000 to $60,000
was used last year to buy the plastic
boxes. Hanson expressed a need to cut
costs where possible to increase the
return to the fishermen.
The "Revenue" of 1992 was reported
to be $3,198,961, compared to
$4,577,038 from 1991. There was no
reason given for thedecline in fish sales.
According to Hanson, the fishery used
$21,000 more for 1992 on expenses.
Hanson also said that the Board of
Directors are working on an $ 1,000,000
Indian Economic Grant. The grant
monies will be spread over a five-year
period at $200,000 a year, said Hanson.
Hanson said that $ 180,000 for will be
used for fishery development.'' It might
be a slow process, we have a floor plan
drawn up that will include reconstruction ofthe delivery area to upgrade the
fishery production,'' she said. This will
be inconvenient for fishery personnel as
well as the fishermen.
Another subject vital to fishery pro
duction was the addition of "two rear~
ing ponds through a five-year period
said Bill May, the fishery president,
said that the initial cost is $26,000.
However, the cost will actually be more
than that. The primary site under consideration right now is theKi-Wah-Say
Wildlife Area, however, that has not
been confirmed yet.
Another subject brought up was the
half-time assistant manager position.
The 6-month position pays $15,000 a
year for a five-year period The job is open
to eligible Red Lake fishermen, said May.
Another concern voiced by May was
"We really have to take care of our lake,
I'm asking the fishermen to respect our
lake, I'm asking to keep our lake clean,"
said May.
Tom Barrett asked when the building
would be in operatioa "The expansion
room will be in the next [west] room, we'll
be able to fillet more perch and walleye,"
said May, of the new equipment to be
ordered for more production. "Itmightbe
a slow process, we have a floor plan all
Fisheries/See Page 3
Families claim repeated abuse by deputy
By Susan Stanich
Duluth News Tribune
The sound of a head cracking
against a squad car roof.
An ill man's limp body slammed
against a squad car and draped over
the trunk to be handcuffed.
The tears of a 12-year-old boy after
his forehead was used to knock on a
door.
These are the images that surfaced
in interviews with two Indian families
when they talked about allegations of
abuse by Carlton County Deputy Gary
Timm.
Timm didn't respond to written
requests asking him for an interview
and his response to the allegations.
He's not the only officer in the Cloquet
area who has a reputation among
Indian people for brutality and racism.
But he is the officer most complained
about.
Indian people say Timm is
vindictive as well as brutal, and that
they chance more trouble if they cross
him. A former Carlton County
prisoner testified in 1990 that the
previous year Timm enlisted his help
in framing a jailer, who then was
fired. The jailer had a reputation for
upholding the rights of prisoners,
particularly non-whites.
Deputy Gary Timm
The first family's story:
One night 10 years ago, as the 16-
year-old son of John and Linda Martin
ofthe Fond du Lac Reservation walked
home along state Highway 210, the
boy was struck and dragged for more
than two miles by a drunken white
driver.
Only minutes earlier, county
deputies had seen tne man driving
erratically and figured he'd been
From KBJR-TV videotapi
drinking.
The driver was the brother of the
county dispatcher and a popular figuie
in what some observers call the
county's entrenched "good old bo/
circle. The deputies decided not K>
stop the drunken driver because If
was almost home.
Timm/SeePage3
Clark introduces new Detox Bill To State Legislature
Spearers meet in Sawyer to discuss Mille Lacs Opener
Carlton County Deputy is identified as biased
Red Lake Fishermen elect new Board of Directors
BSU receives grant for gifted students
Wellstone hires new constituent advocate
Writer defends Bug School in letter to Editor
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Photo by Mel Rasmussen
Pictured from left to right, Skip Pellcrin, Fond du Lac, Jim Northrop, Fond du Lac, Cliff Skinaway, Sandy Lake
Band members from Minnesota & Wisconsin
meet to plan Mille Lacs Opener
By Mel Rasmussen
Spearers from Minnesota and Wisconsin met March 26th at Sawyer,
Minnesota, to plan their strategy for
the spring spearfishing season. Hereditary Chief, Chief
Hole-In-The-Day, Cliff Skinaway, of
the Sandy Lake Reservation met and
asked for the support of the other
signatory parties involved with the
1855 and 1837 treaties.
Band members from Red Cliff, Rice
Lake, Mille Lacs, Lac du Flambeau,
Lac Courte Oreilles, Bad River bands
discussed the political and legal ramifications of the spearing season that
will open in Minnesota. After much
consideration and input by the group
it was decided that the hunting and
gathering rights ofthe people have to
be brought to the forefront. Spearers
have taken the position that no authority such as the State ofMinnesota,
Federal Government, Tribal governments or DNR can deny the people
their treaty rights.
The reason for this action is to
display the point that treaty rights are
for the sovereign nations which are
the people and not an artificially induced form of tribal government. The
current tribal structure was set up to
administer a corporate structure and
business. There has never been a relinquishing of the rights of the
individual and their rights to sovereignty and to treaty rights.
Tribal judge Mr. Andy Gokee from
the Red Cliff Band stated that the
spearing issue this spring is critical to
the protection of the treaties. He felt
that the Mille Lacs Reservation Business Committee overstepped their
authority by negotiating with the State
of Minnesota. He indicated that the
ensuingcourt case will provideaprime
opportunity to overturn the Voight
Decision and enable the bands to
regain their complete sovereignty as
is accorded to the people in the treaties.
According to the group there will
be a need for such groups as the
Witness Program and the various
treaty rights support groups to help and
assist the spearers this spring. The spearing group will have letters sent out in the
immediate future to all ofthe bands and
interested support groups. Their major
concern this spring is to ensure that
there i s no violence or negative confrontation on the lakes. As these veterans of
the Wisconsin' 'Fish Wars" have stated
before, that no violence will be tolerated
or allowed by their supporters.
Forum on Native American Issues in
Western Hemisphere held in Madison
By Mel Rasmussen
The Wisconsin State Historical
Society in Madison, Wisconsin was
the site for the Fifth annual forum of
the Madison Treaty Rights Support
Group, (MTRSG). The focus of this
forum was titled Drawing
Connections: Native Issues in
Wisconsin and the Western
Hemisphere.
Since 1988, the MTRSG has held
annual forums to organize support
for Native sovereign and cultural
rights, around such issues as mining,
mound and burial protection, and
Anishinabe spearfishing. This forum,
on the UN International Year of
Indigenous Peoples, makes links
between the situation of Wisconsin
Indians and Indians throughout the
hemisphere. Guest speakers came
from across Wisconsin and elsewhere
in North America and from both
Central and south America.
Opening the event was Walt
Bresette, Red Cliff Band member and
co-founder of the Lake Superior
Greens and advisor to the Midwest
Treaty Network. His comments were
well received by the group as he
discussed the trends of problems and
abuse that are occurring within the
Native Arnerican community. Some
of the more salient points covered
were issues concerning Religious
Freedom, Sovereignty, Land Issues,
Native Women Issues, and
environmental problems.
Of the entire session the most
moving presentations came from two
persons. Nicolas Chango, Salasca
Quichua from Ecuador and Ms. Ana
Valenauela, of the International
Mayan League from Guatemala. The
stories and facts presented by these
people provided a moving insight
about the cultural and economic
genocide that has occurred within
their countries.
Because of theirpresentations, many
of the panelists were shocked and
dismayed by the compression of time in
which these issues of genocide and
horror occurred. What it took in 500
years of oppression and genocide in this
country against the Native American
community has occurred in these
countries within less than 20 years.
Further discussion occurred with the
entire forum about the treaty rights
issues concerning spearing at Mille Lacs
Lake this spring. The Madison Treaty
Rights Support Group has in the past
been instrumental in providing the
Witness Program at the landings and
with political and legal support for the
protection of the rights of the Native
American community. Without their
support in the past the issues of the
Native American community
throughout the nation would not have
been addressed.
For further information on the
MTRSG, they can be reached by letter
or telephone. Their address is 731 State
Street, Madison, WI 53703. Their
hotline number is 608-249-2390.