The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1993-06-25

              Modern day Government Revenooer's
invade the North Country
By Mel Rasmussen
Reports have been coming into the
PRESS about an invasion of
Government agents in Northern
Minnesota. According toseveral sources
approximately 40 law enforcement
agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Division of Law Enforcement
have come to town. They are headed by
the much feared Richard A. Dickinson,
Senior Resident Agent of Minnesota
based out of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Reports have come in indicating that
these New Age G-men are conducting
a major investigation into the buying
practices of various restaurants, resorts,
grocery stores who may have been
involved in the purchase and resale of
illegal fish from the new age counterpart
«HH fish runners off of Red Lake and
possibly other surrounding reservations.
Attempts were made to several law
enforcement agencies to determine if
they had any information concerning
this federal task force. According to
contacts with the Beltrami County
Sheriff, Red Lake DNR, Minnesota
DNR, there has been no notice of their
arrival. However, our supersleuthsfound
out that the majority of these federal
defenders ofthe faith were holed up at
the Holiday Inn in Bemidji on Tuesday
evening.
Information obtained from the
moccasin telegraph also placed this
august group in the Walker area where
they went through several
establishments and checked on their
fish supplies in their freezers and their
books to determine if there were any
illegal transactions made by any
nefarious and insidious law breakers
who would deface and defile the noble
Walleye. It was also determined that
these same federal desperadoes harassed
and made numerous threatening noises
in their attempts to uncover hot leads
through their methods of coercion and
modem day investigatory techniques.
After the PRESS batted zero in
determining if this group of federal
agents really existed we then contacted
their office in Minneapolis to determi ne
if they were indeed alive and well in the
Northland. Upon reaching the front
desk or telephone receptionist we asked
to speak to the head of this group. We
asked if there was indeed a group of
agents on a sting operation and what
was the extent of its search. We were
greeted withasnicker by the receptionist,
who stated that there were agents in
place and that we would have to talk to
the Assistant Regional director, Larry
Hood, who was conveniently out ofhis
office. We left a message to have him-
contact the PRESS, but as of time of
publication, he has not contacted us.
We then left a message at the front
desk of the Bemidji Holiday Inn for
Senior Resident Agent, Richard A.
Dickinson, to contact the PRESS for an
interview. Much to our chagrin, we
heardfrom AgentDickinson. Dickinson
was asked about the reason for their
being here in Northern Minnesota.
Dickinson stated that the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service hadapolicy of declining
any  comment  of any  criminal
investigation or if there is one. He said
that this was to protect the rights of any
individual and the information and
evidence that may be gathered.
Dickinson would not confirm or deny
that he or his agents were here working
on a case. However, when asked hov
his day was in Walker and when would
they be leaving the Bemidji area. He
stated that he was leaving shortly from
the Bemidji Area. The PRESS had
determined that this group was heading
to Baudette, Minnesota and/or Grand
Rapids, Minnesota, that day, but again
Agent Dickinson would not confirm or
deny this movement of his army of G-
men.
The major issue that we pushed
Dickinsononwastheheavyhandedness
of his agents in their methods of
collectionand intimidation of witnesses,
suspects, and leads. Dickinson stated
that he was notaware of any harassment
that occurred in the investigation anu
stated that if anyone wanted to file a
complaint with his office, that he would
encourage that they do so. If any
individual or business wishes to file a
complaint, they can reach Agent
Dickinson at his office in St. Paul, MN.
The address is 445 Etna Street, Suite61,
St. Paul, MN 55106-5800. The
telephone number is (612) 290-3889.
Stay tuned for further information on
this group of individuals. Alsoforanyof
you bad guys out there, remember to
watch your sixes and keep a low profile.
I don't think they are looking for fish
with holes in their backs either!!!
Ho-Wah!!!
Wellstone is asked to produce or resign from Senate Select Committee/ Page 4
Menominee Tribe trys to save wild Rainbow Trout strain on reservation/ Page 5
CALC meeting comes to WhiteEarth/Page 5
NIGA meets in New Orleans for national convention/Page 5
Wildlife Agents invade and harass Northlanders/Page 1
DNR schedules generic Impact statement meetings/ Page 1
The Largest: Weekly Native Newspaper In North
IV a t i ve
American
We Support: Equal Opportunity For All People
Founded In 1991        Volume 3   Issue 7 June 25, 1993
Copyright:, Tne Native American
1993
Urban Coalition of Mille Lacs Enroilees meet
and revive their issues
By Mel Rasmussen
Monday, June 21st was the meeting
date for the Urban Coalition of
Concerned Mille Lacs Enroilees who
are continuing to seek and find
solutions to their lack of recognition
and service by the Mille Lacs
Reservation Tribal Council. Because
of these concerns, a new coalition
came alive at this meeting and will
now seek to address this disparity and
growing problem.
The following individuals were
elected as the new officers for this
coalition: Dave Sams, Jr., Chair;
Kenneth Wade, Vice-Chair; Don
Olson, Treasurer; Roxanne Sivigny,
Secretary. In an interview with the
new Chair, Dave Sams, was asked
what were the goals and issues of this
new group or this revived coalition
from the past. Sams stated that the
group had both long term and short
term goals that they were seeking to
attain.
The goals ofthe new organization
included the following: First, the
group is seeking to circulate a petition
that outline some of their concerns of
breaches ofthe tribal charter. Second,
they are seeking the complete
abolishment of the existing RTC and
to see if they can run a new slate in the
interim. Third, there would be a
constitution change so there would be
an increased recognition of those
communities that are not being
recognized by the RTC. Theses
include the communities ofEast Lake,
Lake Lena, Sandy Lake and the Urban
population. Fourth, the raising of
funds to obtain legal counsel. Tom
Heffelfinger, former U.S.Attorney,
and Miles Lord, former Federal Judge,
have been approached and are being
considered for retainer by the group.
According to Sams there are
approximately 2,500 registered band
members and, according tQ whatc\ ~-,
available source that has the current
figures, there are between 750 to 1,200
Florence Raisch, spokesperson for Minneapolis Elderly Program
Photo by Gary Blair
Mine Lacs/seepage3   Elders look to community for support of
Information hearing set for input on Timber
Harvesting GEIS Draft Report
mismanagement claims against IFS
By Jim Ortiz
Six public information meetings on
thedraft GenericEnvironmental Impact
Statement (GEIS) on timber harvesting
will begin July 13 at the state Office
Building in St. Paul. The purpose ofthe
information meetings will be to discuss
the draft study's major findings,
conclusions and recommendations, and
takepublic commentson thedraft GEIS.
The Environmental Quality Board
(EQB) has set a 90-day public comment
period on the draft Timber Harvesting
GEIS, which runs from June 14 to Sept.
11. During this period the EQB will
accept written comments.
Other meetings include July 14 at
Itasca Community College in Grand
Rapids, July 15 at the Duluth
Entertainment and Convention Center,
July 20 at the Forest Resource Center in
Lanesboro, July 21 in the Beaux Arts
Ballroom on the Bemidji State
University Campus and July 22 at the
Rainy River Community College in
International Falls. All the meetings are
at 7 p.m.
Indicative of a growing concern about
the impact of increased timber harvesting on Minnesota's environment, a
citizens' petition was brought before
the Minnesota EQB in July 1989. The
petition requested the EQB to prepare
a GEIS on the cumulative impacts associated with timber harvesting and forest
management in Minnesota. In December 1989, the EQB unanimously passed
a resolution authorizing the preparation of such a GEIS and designated
itself the responsible governmental unit
for the study's preparation.
The GEIS examines the impacts of
timber harvesting and forest management onMinnesota's environment and
on relevant sectors of the state and
regional economies. The study was
charged to consider all forest lands and
resources within the state's boundaries
to determine statewide cumulative impacts. This included commercial forest
lands (timberlands), reserved, and unproductive forests. Emphasis was on
the examination of cumulative impacts
of timber harvesting and forest management activities occurring on all
timberlands in Mnnesota This includes,
to the extent possible, all public forest
lands owned and/or managed by federal, state, county, or municipal
governments as well as forest land owned
by industrial and nonindustrial private
interests.
The GEIS assessed three levels of
statewide timber harvestingactivity that
were prescribed by the EQB. These
levels were the basis for incremental
analyses on the potential impacts of
timber harvesting and forest management: 4.0 million cords. This is the level
of statewide timber harvesting activity
that occurred in 1990, the most recent
year for which data were available atthe
time the study was undertaken. 4.9
million cords. This is the level of
statewide timber harvesting activity
estimated to occur by 1995 if all announced or considered forest products
industry expansions fully materialize 7
million cords. This is the estimated
maximum sustainable annual volume
of timber growth available for harvest
statewide for all tree species in the year
2000.
These three pre-established levels are
referred to as the base, medium, and
high scenarios, respectively. Note that
these are not recommended levels of
harvest nor should their development
and analysis be considered a plan.
Rather, they are levels the study was
asked to analyze to determine what the
impacts would be if the harvests were to
occur.
Forest land on reservations is considered private forest land because it is
owned by Native Americans and held in
trust by the Unites States. Forest land on
reservations is managed cooperatively
by the USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs
and the Native American owners. Native Americans have exercised an
increasingamountof responsibility over
the management of their forest land.
The role ofthe BIA in timber management on Native American lands held in
trust has changed during the past several decades. One major force has been
a trend toward more self-determination
for Native American tribes. The Indian
Self-Determination and Education Act
of 1975 contains provisions important
to forest management on Native American lands, including giving tribal
governments authority to contract directly with the USDI for services that
the tribes desired. The rationale for this
was that as tribal contracts increased,
the BIA's contracting role would decrease. Nonetheless, the Secretary of
the Interior has retained the right to
Timber/See Page 3
By Gary Blair
After months of behind the scene
reports to the PRESS, this week Native American Elders served by the
Indian Family Services, Inc. program
finally said, "Go ahead and write our
story, we've done all we can. We're
tired of getting the run around.'' Earlier this month the PRESS attended a
meeting with the Elders and former
staff of IFS. Florence Raisch, spokesperson for the group, had called earlier
that day to say she would bring those
who were willing to talk. She also said
there are more, but many, are too
scared to come forward. They're
scared, they'll lose the little service
they now receive.
Armed with letters and notes they'd
taken over the past months, the group
told the following story. "We have
concerns about the lack of services we
are supposed to be receiving and when
we tell the program director we're
called "complainers". We go to the
board of director meetings to tell them
thatwe'renotbeingrespected. Weare
told,' 'You have to earn your respect.''
to do? Many ofthe elders have serious
health problems and need to get to
their doctor on a regular basis." In
addition to the comments by Raisch,
it's been learned that the Elderly are
suppose to receive regular home visits
by IFS staff to monitor their health
and well-being and this also not happening. Elders are suffering because
they are not receiving the care they
need.
IFS is a program that was started ten
years ago to meet the social needs of
the Native American Elders and handicapped persons living independently
in Minneapolis. The program operates at 1305 East 24th Street,
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its transportation vehicles are provided by
Hennepin County and its main funding comes from the Minneapolis
United Way. Most recently, Raisch
said, the group contacted that agency
and were told they were just a small
group of complainers. She said they
were told those remarks came from
IFS staff.
Former IFS personnel say the
agency has a high rate of staff turn-
the program is being run you're fired
with no reason given," said Richard
Janis, a former van driver who was at
the meeting. Elders at the meeting
said Janis was well liked, he always
helped people to and from their homes.
When asked what's behind the high
staff turnover and the decline in services we were handed a copy of a letter
by Janis from his attorney. The date of
the letter was June 1, 1993 and was
addressed to IFS Board Chairperson,
Paul C. Clabo, an attorney with the
Legal Aid Society ofMinnesota. The
letter contained the following.
Dear Mr. Clabo: I am writing you in
your capacity as Chairman ofthe Board
of Indian Family Services.
Mr. Richard J. Janis consulted me
concerning incidents involving his employment with IndianFamily Services.
By memorandum dated March 23,
1993, addressed to the Board of Directors of Indian Family Services, Mr.
Janis complained that he had not been
paid overtime work he had performed.
This is described in his memorandum,
a copy of which is enclosed. Mr. Janis
Raisch said,' 'What are we supposed   over. "If you say anything about how   Udderly/See Page 3
Prairie Island wins appeal on NSP storage
project but other issues await silently
Red Lake Man pled guilty to unconsented
sexual contact
Minneapolis, Minnesota A twenty-
five year old man pled guilty today
in United States District Court to
unconsented sexual contact with
an intoxicated woman.
Appearing before U.S. District
Judge Diana Murphy, Mark Heath
Little admitted that following a
party he engaged in sexual contact
with a woman knowing that she
was too intoxicated to know what
was happening or to refuse
participation in any sexual
activity. The incident occurred
February 9,1992 following a party
at Little's trailer house on the Red
Lake Indian Reservation.
Little faces a maximum potential
penalty of three years in prison.
Judge     Murphy     ordered     a
presentence report. Sentencing is
expected in six to eight weeks.
Little remains in custody without
bond pending sentencing.
The case is the result of an
investigation by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the
Red Lake Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney
Jeanne J. Graham prosecuted the case.
By Mel Rasmussen
On May 28,1993, the United States
Court of Appeals rendered its decision
on the controversial issue of the
storage facilities located at the
Northern States PowerNuclear Power
Station adjacent to the Prairie Island
Mdewakanton Sioux Reservation. The
court overturned the ruling of the
Minnesota Public Utilities
Commission in granting the Northern
States Power Company (NSP) a
certificate of need to build a
radioactive waste storage facility at
its Prairie Island Nuclear generating
plant.
The court ruled that the commission
erred in determining that NSP need
not obtain the proper legislative
authorization for itsproposed facility.
The court also ruled that the proposed
facility was determined to be in the
public interest and because it was
classified as one in which permanent
waste was to be stored that a
supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement might be necessary.
In essence, the Prairie Island Band
won their court case to stop further
construction of a nuclear storage
facility atNSP's Prairie Island reactor
site. This is the same site that is
currently sitting in front of the
potential flooding that is currently
occurring upstream on the Mississippi
and Minnesota rivers and is moving
downstream.
On June 10, 1993, the Prairie Island
Tribal Council wilhdrewits participation
in the Federal Program to site Nuclear
Storage Facilities on Reservations and
formally voted to withdraw its
application for Phase II ofthe Monitored
Retrievable Storage (MRS) program.
Upon survey of its tribal membership
the council determined that their
membership was overwhelmingly
\
opposed to any storage on or near the
Prairie Island Reservation. The Tribe
felt that the MRS program was not in
their interest and that the Tribe was
concerned about the health effects of
nuclear storage on and near their
reservation.
However, the struggle fortius issue is
far from over. Willie Hardacker, one of
the legal members who argued the issues
on the tribe's behalf stated that the fight
is not over. NSP still has the right to
appeal this hearing, and by doing so it
in effect delays the legal battle into the
future. Meanwhile during this ongoing
struggle theconstruction atNSP'sPrairie
Island will continue on as usual. There
would be no compelling reason for the
company to stop construction of their
storage facility. In essence, it is a paper
win only. According to sources, NSP is
continuing to have their stainless steel
Prairie/See Page 3