The Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1989-03-22

              Education Department seeks to
increase number of Indian teachers
The Minnesota Department of Education wants the state Legislature
to provide more funding to increase the number of Indians attending
teacher preparation course and provide financial help for
post-secondary education for Indian students.
On March 13, David Beaulieu, DOE manager of Indian programs,
presented the department's Indian education budget proposals to the
Education Finance Division of the Legislature's Education Committee.
The DOE reports a critical shortage of Indian teachers throughout
Minnesota. The department wants to increase the number of Indians in
teacher preparation programs from last year's seven participants to 45.
The University of Minnesota-Duluth currently has the only Indian
teacher education program. But the Red Lake School District is working
through Bemidji State University, and the White Earth Tribal Council
through Moorhead State University, to create programs.
The DOE wants to enroll older, para-professional Indian adults in the
teacher preparation programs, hoping that some of them could help
adapt the programs to better reflect Indian students' culture and serve
their needs.
Post-secondary financial assistance for Indian students is another area
in which the DOE seeks increased funding. Beaulieu says the
department turned away more than 500 Indian students applying for
assistance last year. He says the funds available have remained
constant, but both the number of students applying for aid and the cost
of post-secondary education have risen.
Koochiching County withdraws as
candidate for hazardous waste site
Koochiching County Commissioners said Monday that they are
withdrawing the county as a candidate for a state-sponsored hazardous
waste treatment and storage facilitiy.
Their decision now leaves only Red Lake County in the running for
the $21 million plant.
However, last week, the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
questioned whether the state needs such a facility since the amount of
waste produced in Minnesota has declined since the Legislature
approved the search process for the facility in 1980.
Industry's original enthusiasm for the plant has subsided and state
officials are expressing serious doubts that the plant will be built in
Minnesota.
Fate of death penalty uncertain
St. Paul (AP) The fate of efforts to reinstate capital punishment,
which was abolished in Minnesota in 1911, is uncertain since a House
panel has defeated a death penalty bill.
After the House Judiciary Committee voted 21-2 Friday, Sen. Don
Storm, IR-Edina, chief author of the Senate bill, said he was undecided
whether to seek a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Normally, when something dies in one house, it doesn't go anywhere,"
he said.
Two Independent-Republicans, Reps. Howard Miller of Redwood
Falls and Warren Limmer of Maple Grove, were the only lawmakers to
vote for the proposal. Seven Republicans and 14 DFLers voted against
the measure, sponsored by Rep. Jim Heap, IR-Plymouth, in the House.
Heap said it was time for Minnesota to join 37 other states that have
reinstated the death penalty for certain heinous crimes after the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled in 1976 that it's constitutionally permissible in
some instances.
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Bemkf, MN 56601
Founded in 1988
Volume 1  Issue 44
March 22,1989
]
1 Copyright, the Ojibwe News, 1989
A Weekly Publication
Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Although the calendar indicates that it is officially spring, most people in northern
Minnesota wouldn't hesitate to argue that fact. This winter's snowfall will need a little
more coaxing than just a date on the calendar before it will leave us.
Photo by Mark Boswell
BSU professor synthesizes chemical which helps in diabetes treatment
^so lowers cholesterol and
hances muscle growth
Dr. Gary Evans, a chemistry
professor at Bemidji State
University, has synthesized a
chemical which has been shown to
lower blood sugar in diabetics and
decrease cholesterol levels in
patients with poor diets.
The chemical, chromium
pi col in ate (pick-oh-LINN-ate), has
also exhibited characteristics in
recent studies which indicate that it
may be a safe substitute for anabolic
steroids.
Evans began studying the
substance while serving as a
research chemist for the USD A. The
work he and colleagues performed at
the Human Nutrition Laboratory in
Grand Forks, ND, proved that the
human body must produce a
chemical called picolinic acid to
maintain good health.
After arriving at BSU, Evans
extended his research to include
chromium. The scientific
community knew that chromium
exhibited certain healthful and
beneficial characteristics, but did not
have the correct organic form for
efficient application.
Evans and research students at
BSU identified and chemically
broke down chromium picolinate,
which is commonly found in
brewer's yeast and animal kidneys.
The extraction process from these
sources, however, proved time
consuming, tedious and expensive.
Evans then developed a simple and
cost effective method of chemically
producing the nutrient.
In collaboration with Dr. Ray
Press of Mercy Hospital in San
Diego, studies were completed that
showed chromium picolinate
lowered both the blood sugar and the
cholesterol in patients who received
the chemical. In effect, chromium
picolinate enhanced the efficient use
of insulin produced by the body.
"This could affect millions of
people in the United States who
have Type 2 or what is commonly
known as adult onset diabetes,"
Evans commented. "They are not
insulin-dependent and rely on the
pancreas to produce the insulin they
need to function normally.
"The introduction of chromium
picolinate allows the body to make
the most efficient use of die insulin
it can produce. In essence, less
insulin will be needed to perform the
function of lowering glucose levels."
Evans also indicated that it might
also benefit those with Type 1
diabetes, the name of the disease
given to cases where the individual
is dependent on insulin introduced to
the body's system. While chromium
picolinate will not eliminate the
dependence, it may require smaller
doses to achieve the same results.
The study also showed that LDL
cholesterol, the so-called-"bad
cholesterol," and the protein that
carried this cholesterol were both
decreased in people who took
chromium picolinate supplements.
This could help lower cholesterol in
people who eat poor diets, Evans
added.
The research was presented on
Mar. 21 at the annual meeting the
Federation of Societies for
Experimental Biology.
Evans conducted further studies at
BSU in collaboration with Dr.
Muriel Gilman, professor of
physical education, and graduate
assistant Guy Otte. The chemical's
effect on muscle development was
the focus of two studies, which
showed that chromium picolinate
accelerates production of muscle
protein and helped convert fat to
muscle.
"Used in recommended quantities,
it appears as if chromium picolinate
achieved the same results as
anabolic steroids and that the
nutrient may be a safe, effective
substitute," Evans said. "Research
has shown no side effects."
As a nutrient which is already
found in certain levels in the body
and not a drug introduced as a
foreign substance, chromium
picolinate is acceptable to federal
regulating agencies.
Evans commented that further
tests are being conducted across the
country and that another study is
about to be initiated at BSU. The
results of the completed Bemidji
State research will be presented at a
regional meeting of the American
Chemical Society meeting in May.
The nutrient is currently being
marketed by a number of companies
in health food stores across the
country. Evans also noted that, as
with any substance, excessive use
could lead to side effects and was
not recommended.
"It is interesting that this chemical
can help diabetics, poor eaters and
athletes," Evans said. "It is possible
because chromium picolinate serves
as an insulin 'booster.'
"Insulin regulates blood glucose
levels, controls the production of
cholesterol and directs amino acids
from the blood into muscle.
Chromium picolinate apparently
potentiates the normal actions of
insulin and allows this very
important hormone to do more with
less."
Because of his expertise in the
area, Keats Publishing Company
asked Evans to author The
Picolinates, a book which will be
published in mid-April and
distributed through health food
stores throughout the U.S.
Indian entertainer prescribes spiritual medicine for audiences
By Paul V. Boswell
International Falls
Daily Journal
Spiritual medicine is what
singer-songwriter Winston Wuttunee
says he gives his audiences. He
prescribes love and positive thinking
which, he claims, can help people
overcome any problem.
"We can expect things to happen
at the right time," he said, "as long
as our heart is in the right place."
Wuttunee, a Cree Indian from
Saskatchewan, distributes his
spiritual message in songs about
Indians, family and personal
strength. His performance at the
Rainy River Community College
theater on Monday was part of
Indian Awareness Week at the
college.
In recent years he has toured North
America, participating in programs
on suicide prevention, drug and
alcohol abuse, family violence and
child abuse—problems that cross
racial barriers and affect all ethnic
groups.
Wuttunee strives to let his
audience knows that everyone has
their ups and downs. "What a person
has to do is making through his
downs," he said. "You don't have to
take your own life, that's when you
can turn to your friends. Make it
through your downs; that's how you
become strong."
Wuttunee said he has gone through
his own troubled times, struggled
with his depression but come out the
other side. "What I found out is all
people really need to know is that
someone loves them. . . someone
loves them."
Several people have come up to
him after one of his performances
and told him they had been
contemplating suicide but changed
their mind after attending his
concert. "That was a very, very
fulfilling thing for me to realize I
was on the right track," said
Wuttunee.
A life long musician, Wuttunee
attends many Indian events in
Canada and the United States,
performing both as a solo artist and
with a group called Rainbow Bridge.
His favorite instrument is a hand
held drum made of Moose hide. The
drum, he said, "takes me many
places and then back home again."
As a youngster growing up on the
Red Pheasant Reserve in
Saskatchewan, Wuttunee was
constantly involved in social
activities and attended many
powwows. He remembers the
people, both old and young, dancing,
singing and telling stories.
Powwows were a time when people
joined together as a single
community, he said. According to
Wuttunee, there is a glaring
difference between Indian music and
non-Indian music. "All other kinds
of music generally doesn't mean
anything. It's just basically for
entertainment. But our music is alive
and the rest of the music is not alive
because it doesn't really give life to
anything.
"Ninety percent of our music is
old music that's been handed down
throughout the generations," he said.
"A very meaningful sound."
Wuttunee is trained in both
classical music and traditional
Indian music. During his years in the
Canadian Army, he played clarinet
in military bands and toured
throughout the world. More recendy,
he taught Indian music at several
different locations, including the
University of Brandon in Manitoba.
He has recorded 10 albums and
has several more in the planning
stages. He has recorded music
covering a variety of genres,
including country and western music
and comedy. Four of his albums are
for children.
His spiritual songs have been used
as themes for major cultural
conferences and one was used in a
Canadian Broadcasting Company
radio series, "Our Native Land."
Wuttunee compositions include:
"North American Warrior", "I am an
Indian", "I've Got Horse For You
Medicine/ page 6
RRCC hosts
weekend pow
wow and feast
As part of a Indian week
celebration, the Rainy River
Community College in International
Falls will be hosting thier First
Annual Traditional Pow Wow and
Feast this Friday through Sunday.
Grand entry will be at 1 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, with a feast at
5 p.m.
The host drum will be the Rainy
River Community College Drum
Group and Randy Councillor will
act as master of ceremonies.
The pow wow is being sponsored
by the Anishinabe Student Coalition
and no drugs or alcohol will be
allowed.
For more information, contact the
Services to Indian People Program
of RRCC at (218) 285-7722.
Red Lake Fisheries Association holds annual meeting
By Wffliam Lawrence
Publisher
Nearly 300 people attended the
Red Lake Fisheries Association's
annual meeting held last Saturday
at the association's facility in
Redby.Minn.
The meeting was called to order
at 2 p.m. by the association's
president, Robert Head Sr.
Manager James Eisenrich
presented the association's 1988
operation results and gave a
cautious prediction for the 1989
season. He said he felt that the
association would probably have
another good harvest of walleyes,
but was concerned about the
market due to heavy pressure from
Canadian producers.
The association's financial
results for 1988 were extremely
disappointing in relation to the
near-record harvest of walleye
pike. In addition to the 923,000
pounds of walleyes caught by the
association's membership, 67,000
pounds of perch, 114,000 pounds
of white fish and 8,000 pounds of
northern pike were harvested. Total
income from the harvest was
$1,525,212. The cost of sales and
operating expenses amounted to
$1,518,201, leaving a net income
from the commercial fishing
operation of $7,011. In addition,
the association earned $19,972
from live-fish operations and
interest income, bringing the total
income for the association to
$26,983.
Perhaps the most disappointing
aspect of the 1988 financial results
was the less than expected fish
payments to the commerial
fisherman of $1,042,921. This
reflects a decrease of $321,256
from the 1988 payments to the
fisherman despite harvesting over
200,000 more walleyes in 1988.
In addition, the association's
operating results reflected accounts
receiveable of $116,300, an
increase of $72,106 over 1987.
Operating figures reflect that the 5
percent royalty payment of
$73,816 stai due and payable to tbe
Red Lake Tribal Council. This
payment is usually made during the
months of September or October of
the current operating year.
During the general session, many
members expressed an overall
frustration with operation of the
fishery. Fishing operations on the
reservation are governed by Vol.
25 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, which sets forth
quotas, net sizes, number of nets
used per person, membership rules
and regulations, and royalty
:.     .     ...■:
payments to the Red Lake tribe.
There was considerable
discussion concerning changes to
these regulations and meeting with
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and
the RLTC to solicit their support.
Some members expressed their
frustration and ridicule with even
getting the council to meet with
them or getting into the council
offices. The board agreed to
discuss this matter at their next
regular scheduled monthly
meeting. The board of directors
meets every last Thursday of the
month at the Redby general office.
The annual election for the
association's board of directors
was held at the meeting and the
following four members were
reelected: Robert Head Sr., 71
votes; Philip Jones, 105 votes;
Hebert May, 72 votes and Rudy
Johnson, 70 votes. Preston Graves,
with 96 votes, was the sole
newcomer to the board, unseating
Delwyn Holthusean who had 68
votes.'Ten other association
members vied for the five seats on
the board.
The News has learned that the
association's manager James
Eisenrich plans retire at the end of
the year.