The Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1989-11-01

              Red Lake tribal rolls
closed since 1980
Ely Bfll Lawrence
Red Lake, Minn. - The News
has recendy learned from several
reservation sources that the Red
Lake Tribal Council has not
admitted eligible Red Lake tribal
members to the tribal rolls since
1980.
According to a former tribal
council member, who served on
both the Old Chief's Council and
the new council, enrollment of
eligible members to the band's roll
was done on a monthly basis.
Normally as a function of each
month's regular council meeting,
approximately ten persons were
admitted to the tribal rolls.
Assuming the ten persons from
one estimate is accurate, this
would mean that approximately
1200 eligible tribal members have
been excluded from the rolls due
to inaction by tbe Red Lake Tribal
Council.
Another source told the News
that Red Lake Tribal Council
action on the rolls was suspended
back in early 1980 because of a
dispute on the council regarding
admittance of persons to the rolls
who were not eligible.
According to Article II, Section
2, of the revised constitution and
By-Laws of the Red Lake Tribe,
the Secretary "shall keep the tribal
rolls, showing all changes therein
as required by this constitution and
ordinance duly approved by the
tribal council." Despite the
constitutional requirements and
repeated requests by tribal
members, the tribal rolls have not
been kept by the Red Lake Tribal
Council
Membership into the Red Lake
Band requires that a person
possess one-fourth degree or more
of Red Lake Indian blood. This
blood quantum may be inherited
from either the mother or father.
Member- ship procedures require
that a letter of application with
proof of birth and Red Lake blood
quantum be submitted to the
Secretary of the Red Lake Tribal
Council, actions require approval,
admittance to membership and
entry on the tribal rolls.
Admittance to the Red Lake
tribal rolls not only brings with it
important tribal benefits but also
includes federal and state benefits
in the areas of education, health
care services, employment
opportunities and others.
Obviously, failure of the Red
Lake Tribal Council to enroll
eligible tribal members precludes
their exercise of many valuable
benefits and services.
According to critics of the Red
Lake Tribal Council, the tribal roll
is only one of many areas where
the Council is mismanaging tribal
affairs. Tribal members have long
complained that the tribal council
has grossly mismanaged financial
affairs, presided over the depletion
of reservation resources, neglected
tribal human resources, and denied
members their civil rights.
Vote in Bemidji LIEC election
November 7, 1989, is election day for the Local Indian Education
Committee (LIEC) in Bemidji.
The Bemidji LIEC serves as an advisory committee to the Board of
Education — Independent District No. 31, and oversees the educational
direction of the Indian Education Programs in the district.
The Polling sites include: the Bemidji Senior High B (Front Entrance)
and the Bemidji Techical College (Front Entrance). Both locations will
remain open from 2:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. so you may vote.
The candidates for the three Johnson O'Malley seats include Roy
Grandbois, Joseph Johnson, Kent Smith, Audrey Thayer, and Barbara
White. Candidates for the two Title IV-A seats include Norma
Beaulieu, Alice Boyd, Milton Hart, Tawana Fairbanks, Ken Litzau and
Yvonne Goodwin-Sanderson. Write in candidates are allowed in this
election for both the Johnson O'Malley seats and the Title IV-A seats.
See page 6 for a sample ballot for this election.
Support groups for
abused Indian women
Support groups for abused women meet every Wednesday from 4:30
to 6:30 p.m. in the St. Columbus Episcopal church basement in White
Earth. The room is handicap accessable. An advocate (Bev) is in White
Earth every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Of interest to residents of the Red Lake Reservation is the Coalition's
"Indian Community Outreach Program" which provides services to both
Red Lake and White Earth Reservations. Advocates go to the
Reservations every Wednesday. Sharon and Armella are available in
Red Lake from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. They will help abused women
and their families in any way they can. They can talk to battered women
and their families on a one to one basis, accompany women to court,
help in getting Order's For Protection (restraining orders), provide
referrals, and assist in locating resources.
Childcare and transportation expenses are reimbursible for program
participants in either of the above locations. The program also
pprovides free childcare and transportation as appropriate.
Sharon or Armella can be reached by calling the shelter collect,
(218)751-0211 or the Red Lake Hospital or (218)983-3285, extension
254. Please leave your first name, a number you can be reached at, or
directions to your home if you would like a home visit. An advocate
will either return your call or come to your home.
Women interested in volunteering as an advocate, driver, childcare
provider or community educator may also call 751-0211 collect or
contact Sharon or Armella in Red Lake at the hospital any Wednesday.
Volunteers are needed and the program will train them and reimburse
them for out of pocket expenses. ,
Red Lake forest fire contained
A fire burning in a remote northwestern region of the Red Lake
Reservation was finally brought under control on Monday after burning
63,000 acres of swamp, aspen-covered highlands and peat. The high
winds and a lack of rain hindered fire fighters' efforts over the
weekend, but with the return of cool weather the fire was finally
contained.
Dave Sterr, fire management officer with the BIA, said arson is
suspected in the fire that started late on Oct. 22nd. Firemen stopped the
fire's progress before destruction to any buildings occurred, but the
smoke was so dense that an 11 car accident occurred.
Responsibility for fighting the remaining fire has been turned over to
the BIA forestry division, but a helicopter, three engine trucks and two
bombardiers are still assigned to the fire. 115 firefighters from
numerous states were brought in to help at a cost of over $81,000.
Man charged in grandmother's death
Minneapolis, Minn. (AP) - A 21-year-old man has been charged with
first-degree murder in the shooting death of his grandmother earlier this
month on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota.
Lawrence Raymond Burns was charged by complaint Monday in U.S.
District Court in the death of Susan McGraw, 73, whose body was
found Oct. 7 in the Redlake home she shared with Bums.
According to an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Michael Heffron,
Bums told investigators he became depressed after being verbally
abused by his grandmother. The affidavit alleges that Burns pointed a
loaded .22-caliber rifle at his grandmother's head and pulled the trigger.
Burns said he did not think the gun was loaded, according to the
affidvait.
The affidavit says Bums then shot himself in the mouth.
FBI spokesman Byron Gigler said a removal hearing was held
Wednesday in Fargo, N.D., where Bums was treated for his injury.
Burns was expected to arrive later Wednesday in Minneapolis, Gigler
said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Petterson said the case will be
presented to a federal grand jury for a possible indictment.
Rhoades* addendum to Senate Testimony
Outraged and embarrassed by Allery's actions
As a part of an addendum to his
May 15, 1989, testimony before the
Senate Select Committee on Indian
Affairs, Special Committee on
Investigation, Indian Health Service
(IHS) Director Dr. Everett R.
Rhoades discusses the waste, abuse
and fraud that the Office of the
Inspector General, Department of
Health and Human Services
perceives as pervasive in the Indian
Health Service. Rhoades specifically
addressed problems cited in the
Bemidji, Oklahoma, Albuquerque,
and Aberdeen areas.
Rhoades' initial testimony given
on May 15 gave a glowing report of
the accomplishments of the IHS and
downplayed problems. Other
witnesses testifying before the
Committee, however, cited incident
after incident of improper and illegal
activity by numerous Area Directors
and other high ranking IHS officials.
As a result of this testimony,
Rhoades submitted an addendum to
his original statement.
In this addendum Rhoades states
that "it is apparent that the former
Bemidji Area Director wrongly used
a tribal contract to cover meeting
costs that should have been paid by
the meeting participants." He goes
on to assert that "Neither I
(Rhoades) nor the rest of the Council
of Associate and Area Directors had
knowledge of his (Allery's) actions.
Upon learning the true nature of
those actions I was embarassed and
outraged ...."
First point of fact, it is not
apparent that Allery wrongly used a
tribal contract to cover meeting
costs it is a proven fact that Allery
did so.
Second point of fact, Rhoades
speaks with a forked tongue when he
states he had no knowledge of
Allery's actions. Rhoades approved
not only the meeting site on
Mackinaw Island but'also had
previously approved similar meeting
sites in Florida, California, and Bar
Harbor, Maine. Plush spas and all. A
similar outing was sponsored with
Rhoades' endorsement at the Sunrise
Springs Retreat in the Albuquerque
area. Rhoades admitted that "errors
in the type of procurement
employed" were committed and that
two "allegedly forged documents"
were utilized in this procurement.
But in spite of these admissions
Rhoades asserts that "it is my
(Rhoades) judgement that, aside
from the administrative mishandling,
... the Sunrise Springs experience is
not only warranted but. .. essential
to continued progress toward healthy
Indian and Alaska Native people."
So much so he promoted the
Albuquerque Area Director for her
good efforts.
Now all this filters down from on
high (Washington, D.C.) to the local
level (Red Lake). Mr. Allery, now a
convicted felon, sentenced to a
prison term (which was not even
mentioned in Rhoades' addendum),
yet out on bail pending his appeal of
the conviction, is an honored and
trusted employee of the Red Lake
Tribal Council. Attempts were made
to install Allery as director of the
new Jourdain-Perpich Extended
Care Facility, but those attempts
were thwarted when the State of
Minnesota, in a rare display of good
judgement, stood up to Jourdain and
his pack of sycophants and said the
State would not allow the Tribe to
appoint a convict as director of a State
supported nursing home. According to
reports, Allery's disappointment was
compensated by a $10,000 raise in
salary —to $62,000.
Founded in 1988
Volume 2 Issue 8
November 1,1989
i
' Copyright, the Ojibwe News, 1989
A Bi-Monthly Publication
Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Nay-Tah-Waush  burglaries trigger
Neighborhood Watch program
By Mark Boswell
Contributor
A missing car battery.
A missing rifle .
A stolen pick-up truck.
These are the kinds of things that
"just happen" in small communities
like White Earth, Nay-Tah-Waush,
and rural Mahnomen. Typiqally, the
response from overburdened law
enforcement in the area has been
luke-warm at best. Forced to cover
such a large area, law enforcement
becomes a shadow of what it is in
other communities that can afford a
dependable and effective police
force.
Until recendy, communities such
as these have resigned themselves to
relying on an emasculated, and
oftentimes non-existent law
enforcement. That may be changing
in the small White Earth reservation
village of Nay-Tah-Waush.
A group of citizens concerned
about the current law enforcement
situation in the village, township,
and county met on Oct. 15 to discuss
ways of improving this situation.
Alternative methods of combating
the wave of burglaries and
vandalism were discussed.
In attendance at the meeting were
the Mahnomen County Attorney,
Gerald Paulson, Brad Athmann, a
Deputy Sheriff for Mahnomen
County, and Darrell "Chip" Wadena,
Chairman of the White Earth
Reservation Tribal Council. The
meeting was chaired by the
president of the Nay-Tah-Waush
Community Council, Lois Olson.
Other members of the Community
Council and members of the Twin
lakes township Board were also
present.
According to Olson, the
Neighborhod Watch program has
not been organized just yet. "We
haven't gotten it going," said Olson,
"we're meeting on Monday night to
work out the details. There's alot
more to it than just saying you're
MAY TAH WAUSH
-***•?.
Nay-Tah-Waush residents are organizing a neighborhood watch program.
going to do it."
According to Olson about 50
people stayed for the meeting
organized in response to the
burglaries. "We've had a good
turnout at meetings," said Olson, "so
we should have alot of interest when
we finally do set up the watch
program."
The Myles Olson family was also
a victim of the recent wave of
burglaries. Their experience is
similar to other robberies in the area;
the gasoline was siphoned out of
their car. "At least they didn't cut
the line to drain it," Olson said.
A news release made available
after the meeting stated: "Concerns
aired were the response time on calls
to the sheriffs office, the probability
of charges being filed and the case
being brought to court,
plea-bargaining, threats to those
filing complaints and to their
families, some of the rumors about
the county commission and the
sheriffs department, the availability
of drugs, the environment and
attitude of county personnel, and the
overall image of the county system.
"It was also mentioned that some of
the victims of robberies have taken
matters into their own hands and
retrieved the property stolen from
Photo by Mark Boswell.
them, while more often than not, no
charges are filed, no investigatioon
takes place, no case is brought to
court, and when they are there is
often little or no meaningful
sentence."
"The new County Attorney, Gerald
Paulson will be working closely
with us in organizing our
community watch," said Olson.
Paulson, who was only recently
appointed to the position as
Mahomen County Attorney said,
"We've got a fellow from Becker
Burglaries/see page 9
Sub-standard housing
in Bemidji discussed
By Mark Boswell
Contributor
A workshop on low income
housing and housing discrimination
in Bemidji was held at Calvary
Lutheran Church in Bemidji on
Wednesday, Nov. 1. The workshop,
sponsored by the Minnesota
Housing Partnership (MHFA),
Beltrami County Affordable
Housing Coalition, Bemidji State
University Social Work Club,
Bemidji Tenants Union and other
organizations, was a panel
presentation that discussed a wide
variety of housing and
tenant/landlord issues.
Presentors at the workshop
included Jim Solem, Commissioner
of the Minnesota Housing Finance
Agency, and Chip Halback,
Executive Director of the Minnesota
Housing Partnership, a state-wide
advocacy group for low income
housing. Highlights of the meeting
included explanations of the current
state housing programs available
throught the MHFA and other state
agencies.
The conference addressed the
regional needs for affordable
housing, local response to those
needs, and the resources available
from state government to increase
the production and management
capacity of existing and potential
non-profit housing providers.
Entitled "Building capacity for a
Non-profit Housing Sector in
Minnesota", the conference was one
of a series of five such gatherings
being held around the state during
October and November. The
remaining conferences will be on
Nov. 6 in Rochester and Nov. 9 in
Duluth.
Other issues examined at the
workshop included: Discrimination
and zoning; landlord/tenant issues,
local housing programs, transitional
housing organizing advocacy grousp
around housing issues, and student
housing concerns.
A housing study completed
HOUSing/ see page 11
A major exhibit of Native American art, organized
by the Origins Program at Minneapolis, will open at
the Bemidji Arts Center oo Nov. 9. See page 7 for
related story. Photo by Dale Kakkak.
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