Native American Press / Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1996-12-13

              MCT administrator denies accepting
kickbacks from housing contractor
By Gary Blair
The Minnesota Chippewa  lube's
(MC r) Housing ('orporatioo and
Home loan program, B recipient of
siate end federal Rinding, lias come
under increased senium smidchai
of kickbacks and fraud
John P. Smith, a former housing
contractor end emplo) ee ofthe I lome
i o.ui progrsim, alleged tins week that
he made kickback pay incuts t>> Ml  I
executive director Gar) Frazer and
Conner Home Loan program director
I anv Glass. Smith says a federal
investigation is now  underway, m
which he says he too expects to be
implicated
Frazer denied last week that a
-mi check he received from Smith
through lus housing eonsii uetion
business was given foi  woik that
Frazer never performed "That's not
true; I am a carpenter   I used tO WOlll
with mv dad, I took leave tune to do
the work." Iia/er said last week
Frazer receives a salary oi about
$70,000 per year as the MC I 's
executive directoi
Smith said he did not recall the
tribal adininisiiatoi  wielding anv
tools "Frazerdid visit the job site (the
renovation ofthe Home I oan office)
one day, but never did any work "
Nonetheless,    Frazer   does
acknowledge thai theft of funds from
the Home loan program did ,» CUI
However, he did not sav  what the
amount ofthe loss was "Yes he 11 any
( dass) was ripping us oil and we tired
him." Frazer says ofthe tribe's formei
Home loan program dm,
< Ila88 could not be reached lot
comment in press time,
Smith savs ihe kickbacks lo I razei
Housing cont'd on 3
MCT administrator denies accepting kickbacks
An exclusive interview with Judge Michael J. Davis
Landowners intervene in the Fond du Lac Treaty suit
White Earth RBC will not recognize opposition
Chairman of the NIGC, Harold Monteau, is resigning
Voice ofthe People
i
An exclusive interview with Judge Michael
J. DaViS  first news media interview since becoming a federal judge
By Julie Shortririoe
Judge Michael Davis was appointed
a tederai judge bv President Clinton
nearlv three years ago. the first
African-Atneriean to be appointed to
this lifelong position in the state
As the presiding federal judge in the
criminal biaia of forma state senator
Skip linn and former While I arth
Chairman Chip Wadena, and as the
judge on Phase II of the Mille
treaty ease. Judge Davis has been in
the news ouitc a bu latelv on Indian
issues.
tppointment to the
beneh. Judge Davis ha I Ins
policy not to grant media intcrv:.
He believes that his rulings and the
statements he makes from the beneh
sav enough about Ins opinions w ithoul
having to grant media interviews Hut
he made an exception lor this
newspajvi What followsan
Judge Davis' views and background
taed to this wtiter durin
hour!- iew
On Ii 'mi
Judge   Da
Mecateati
with
poll'
received a the
sola in 1
His liackgrniind with I >plc
Judge I>avts'background •'  !   .:  a
•es back I
hew s.andUt
a criminal de
il Rights < entct in Minneapi
"I'vi :
I be,
with India
the Legs
attacks I thought I
Native
Fifty Cents
Ojibwe
We Support: Equal Opportunity For All People
Founded In 1 988
Volume 9   Issue 9
December 13, 199E
1
A   *%ffkli|   public til Inn
Copyright,  Motive American  Presssi,   1996
Davis cont'd or
I o
Landowners intervene in the Fond du Lac
Treaty LaWSUit    A Summary of the landowners' views
By Julie Shortrid^i
On December 1. the fedei
uit CotUl of Appeals grantee
treaty area, and one 11 v i:
treat> area, the nghl to inlet
.:lhc
slhe
lam' egal
government us claiming Ihe right to
hunt, fish and gather off Ihc
rvation on land ceded to the
federal government without hav ■
abide by stale conservation
regulations.
landowners to intervene in the
c denied t
rsdow
appealed Judge k. le » rutin,: m
landowners and their
right to participate in the res:
I du Lac treat ■
and Phase II to ihc Xth <
so choose Plata I ruled that the I
Mate and the landowner* will a|
Ihc Phase I and Phase II decern)
uit
is the second time landoi
had lo appeal lo Ibe Sib C
in order lo be allowed into a I
dispute   I nt alts
landowners lo intervene in the
thus*
^UlCSaBBBBai
rgulaiionv
vkuicmtoocsinciKh.
Kludcd in the MAI
11 Ihc la ryes I pf
ifl the nation.
Treaty cont'd on 8
Norlbwa Lightv in vs,
close I.eech Lake's
Dries on pages 3 & 4.)
Head of Indian gambling panel stepping down
White  Earth  RBC will  not  recognize
opposition coalition's General Assembly
B) Jeff Krmstronj^
Former supporters and opponci
_d White I arth chairman Darrell
(( hip) Wadena hav e formed an uneasy
alliance   aimed   at   forcing   the
resignation ot  interim I
treasurer I rma Vi/er. low
appointee Irene Hvc/da Turney prior
to nest month's special elections.
( harging Reservation B
Committee officials with blatant
violations ofthe tribal constitution, the
coalition called a (icncral Assembly
meeting for all White I.arth members
at 12 p.m.. Dec. 14 at the sports center
in      Wadena's      hometown      of
Naytahwaush
\ i/cnor and Turnev were appointed
by c
McArthur and district rt
kanaga. a re titemac
into r the Jin
victim of three of t
membet
ii charge
fraud In support ot their actions, the
newly  elected  •
constitutional prohibition against
felony conv ictions while in ■
the need to till the ensuing void
The Bureta "i Indian  tffairs
acknowledged the removal ol the
.icted ol!.
i aire, but tailed to rCCOgniZC the
appointment of replacements  That
dev i \ area director
tarn Morrin. has also been appealed
lo an admumirati n the
Inte ailment   ( ontlicting
departmental I Hidings on the interim
ernmcnl have lefl the Kl
federal standing in bureaucratic l>
Accusing the opposition of holding
icil members against their will at
I the RBI will neither attend nor
rccogni/c the (icncral Assembl)
mectin, e   not   goiiii
;p.iie in mob rule." he said
Huckanaga said the group had
Oppose cont'd on 8
The
du-matiof theNaimnal Indur. ( Laming
r«mniwnl«mi .trail BJMMMr)
Han>W M.mlcju. iv resigning eltevtivc
' «iteau   4). told PllaSklCUt
Clinton ofhis decision m a setter I nday
T decided (10 resign) several weeks
*na a metier of getting o erythmg
in line.   Monteau told the < ircat I alls
Tnbunc "I'll jus! wail and see what's
out in the pm ate s*>
Monteau e and a
member of the ("ruppcwa-H ree 1 nhc.
AanssprwtTledchBimuiiiiftrKrcgulstory
panel in I
earlier this
year demanded Mont
K-anngs before the Senate Indian
AfTairs ("ommittce Reid. a longtime
:he Indian gaming Indus'
charged thai tribal casinos were ripe
andal because of lax rcgul.r
ntcau also was criticized in a
Wall  Street  Journal article that
examined the commission's dealings
with a Connecticut Indian tnbe that
opening a casino with back
ith  African businessman
ncr
The article suggested that Monteau
had cut comers on a backgrounds!
lo m mei to build
and manage t -mo
tor ll hi tribe
icau said the storv was false
and that he  was vindicated when
ncr passed a background check
byth. ecticut
recment actions
by the commission have more than
tripled since he took office in 1994.
During the same time period. Indian
gam u es grew from S
billion to S4.4 billion
"I do not think Congress ever
env isioned this kind ol rapid growth"
when it passed the Indian (laming
Regulator. Act. said Monteau. "The
Indian gaming industry is still in its
infancy and the commission must
continue to work with the tribes to
establish strong, consistent federal and
tribal regulator* programs "
Sylvia Gale announces candidacy for Leech
Lake Secretary Treasurer
Erma J. Vizenor announces candidacy for
White Earth secretary-treasurer
By F.rma .1. V'i/cnor
I. I rma J Vi/enor. announce my
candidacy for the position of
Secretary Ireasurer of the White
Earth Reservation I ask lor your
prayers and vote OH January 14 as we
participate in the first primary elect	
in the history of our tribe
During the past four months as your
Secretary/Treasurer, I have worked
hard to serve our people and to clean
up the damage of 20 years oi
corruption and greed within our tribe.
• We now have open government
and public meetings.
• I air elections with primaries have
started.
• ( OfUtitUl ioital ['■Innu if mos, Hi).'
forward under the direction of Leah
rpenter, an attorney enrolled at
White Earth.
. Wc removed the Gaming World
International management company
from the Shooting Star Casino.
. rhere is full disclosure of tribal
linani es and an .itlempl to iei <>v er $22
million   stolen    by    the    Wad
government and Gaming World has
(oinmcnccd.
• We have tackled the Ii"1
ai  White  Earth  by  requesting
tance from in P headquarters in
Chicago to investigate and ibepe up
the program so it is accountable and
fail to all tribal members.
• We ratve amended the White Earth
Conservation 'ode to give hunting
and fishing rights to individuals of
tribal ancestry.
• Wc have determined to reopen
WELSA.
lilt       MOMENTUM      OF
CHANGE must i on te with si
and intelligent leadership Reform Is
absolutely necessary inordei ©ensure
thai the darkness ol corruption and
fraud will nevei harm us again nor
i iif 'he generations to come
rOGETHER we will accomplish
the following goals
• i itablish an effit ieni system ol
ountabilit)     within     tribal
government
en our sovereignty and treat)
rights
• Muild a new ( (institution with ID
independent |udii lary.
• Develop excellent beaJth care and
mu nation must be
healthy and strong again
• I nine Ian. dci cnl and alltudablc
hou  i
• Develop a fir* t lass educational
system of lifelong learning i very
tribal membet has i right to the best
loan free education I will work hard
foi the forgiveness ol student loans
Incurred by Indian people in post
ondary edw ation.
• Promote  employment   and
business opportunities. Every tribal
member deserves a decern standard ol
livinc
• Restore our traditional valui
l.lll.l'i,
• Regain the ownership of our lands
and waters. I intend io re open
Vizenor cont'd on 5
I am announcing mv loi
trie position ol isuret lor
our I eech 1.ike WI K>N
My name is Svlvia (ial old
grandmother ol seven I am a full-
blood enrolled member ol the White
Oak Point Mississippi band of our
MION.
I've resided on the leaervationall mv
life m different communities I've
raised my family hen wim the help ol
some Wonderful people We've netted
fish, made maple svru|i. need and
trapped leeches   I he past six veais I
have supported myself with my
knowledge pi t raftwoii and sewing.
I will be your advocate to have these
important issues brought to the
forefront
1) I stablish treaty ( ouncil
We. as descendants of the I reatv
signers, have to take our
icsponsihilitiesscnoiislv We not only
have the inherent right, but the
inherent responsibilities to our
tdchildren and then unborn to see
that this important document is
upheld.
2) Review Past ■agreements
We need to use oui  lesources to
maintain om sovereign status .is a
people So I propose that we stop and
rev iew these past agreements Such as:
Taxing. Forestry, Hunting, Fishing and
(.lathering We have to stop the
encroachment of state, federal and
county interference with our Treat)
Rights."
3) 1 egad Representation
We need to employ both criminal and
lie.uv law vers for aU the people.
rhere is just too many of out people
not getting the best representation in
all courts
All my relatives,
MkGwetch
Svlvia CJalc
Dee Fairbanks announces run for Leech
Lake Secretary Treasurer
Deai I eech I ake I niollees
I he tune and Opportunity lias come
nn, e again foi anothet election on our
Reseivalion   We've worked haid.ind
have undertaken personal risk, at
times. 111 ouiei to create this opportu
mu to elect a new Secretary I tea
surei
aim a loi ol careful thought and
consideration, I've decided to run foi
this position. As we approach tins
Upcoming primary election, we musl
,,n ii riouslj considei toe opportunity
ami need foi continued change on our
Reservation as well as considering
the need lor careful and well-thought
out change....which will not risk our
economic oi sovereign stability while
we undergo change;
I also ask vnu lo consider how our
Reservation's history will be recorded
and what kind of legacy will we pass
on to our children and grandchildren
as a result of the change. We can nun
this around and make constructive and
positive changes, it will be up to each
one of US and we can begin with this
primal) election
I would be so honored to be youi
Secretary Treasurer so that 1 could
help to enable the reformation and
changes The tune for change is right'
I am asking for your support m the
upcoming Election.
I've worked fot Tribal Governments
for man) years. I've worked from the
outside, as well as the inside I've
studied, as well as taught, about Tribal
Governments.   I've lobbied, advo
cated and I've negotiated for, Tribal
Governments.
I've also analyzed, criticized, and
Dee cont'd on 5