Native American Press / Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 2006-03-31

              INDEX
NEWS AROUND INDIAN COUNTRY 2
NEWS BRIEFS 3
COMMENTARY/EDITORIALS 4
CLASSIFIEDS 7
No author
something for IRA
MCT Elections
page 5
Vote and Elect John
Buckanaga Secretary-
Treasurer, White Earth
Reservation
page 5
Fond du Lac
Forums: Who do
we send to the US,
Minnesota Capitols?
page 4
What we don't know is
how much we're paying
you or going to pay you
page 4
Press/ON to
publish finanical
information on
tribal Minnesota
page 4
Bemidji Area Race Relations Council hosts forum
about reopening of Red Lake to fishing
VOICE       OF       THE       PEOPLE
By Bill Lawrence
State and Red Lake officials,
representing their respective Departments of Natural Resources
(DNR), met in a public forum
sponsored by the Bemidji Area
Race Relations Council Monday,
February 27, 2005. The event,
"One Lake, Two Traditions: A
Forum on Red Lake Walleye
Management," is described as a
celebration ofthe restoration ofthe
lake to walleye fishing. Red Lake
was closed by mutual agreement
in 1996 after the walleye and perch
population had been decimated
by over fishing and poor management.
Nearly 100 people attended the
forum intent on learning the future
planned for the restored lakes.
Regulations governing the two
lakes, Upper and Lower Red Lake,
differ. The Lower Lake is accessible only to reservation members.
Non-band members are permitted
to fish on the Upper Lake. The
lakes are joindy managed by the
state and tribal DNRs. The Red
Lake Band of Chippewa controls
83 percent and the state has authority over 17 percent.
The season will open May 6
for individuals permitted (tribal
members only) to fish the Lower
Lake and the reservation portion
of Upper Red Lake. The proposed
daily bag limit will be 10 walleye
measuring 18-28 inches with
one trophy fish larger than 28
inches allowed daily. Proposed
regulations would prohibit all
commercial fishing on reservation
controlled lakes.
The limit for Upper Red Lake is
2 walleye daily, measuring 17-26
inches long. One trophy fish larger
than 26" will be allowed daily.
The Upper Lake season opens
May 13.
Chairman Floyd "Buck" Jourdain said, "This is a happy time
for us. . . . Now we have to be
more responsible and we have to
be strict in how we conduct ourselves." He pointed out that the
Red Lake Nation had depended on
the lakes for food and livelihood
since the beginnings.
Red Lake Fisheries Director, Pat
Brown, suggested the tribe would
need to address enforcement issues
and would also be expecting to
participate in the formulation of
regulations for the protection and
conservation of these resources.
He indicated the wisdom of proceeding with regulations and usage
slowly.
Red Lake members who do
not hve on the reservation will be
required to have a transportation
permit, similar to that required for
removal of deer and other game,
for the removal of walleye to their
own homes.
State DNR officials Mike Carroll, regional director and Henry
Drewes, regional fisheries Director, spoke of the joint effort of
restoring the walleye population.
Drewes stated the Red Lake project was the largest freshwater fish
restoration program in the country.
He described the stocking of
walleye into the lakes in 1999,
2004 and 2005. He said "All three
ofthe stockings were successful."
The fact that the population of
naturally reproduced pike skyrocketed in 2004 and 2005 showed that
"we were over a major hurdle	
This was a major effort a huge
undertaking." He continued, "it's
the responsibility of everyone to
sustain a healthy walleye population in the lakes in the future."
Drewes said, "We've been successful beyond our most optimistic
projections."
Carroll expressed gratitude for
the success efforts between the
State and the Tribe that had produced the successful outcome for
the lakes. He congratulated all who
had played a part in the restoration
process. "They shared vision, they
shared honest hard work and now
they share success."
Chairman Jourdain invited attendees to visit Red Lake during a
festival planned for the fish opener
on May 6.
News, Views
From Grand
Portage
By V. Raines
As Grand Portage prepares for
its upcoming primary election for
the Reservation Tribal Council
(RTC) which is scheduled for April
4,2006, it does so amidst rumors of
financial mismanagement, abuse of
authority, nepotism and cronyism,
and discriminatory practices in
hiring and employment.
Many Band members are unhappy with the way the RTC handle
the business of the reservation
and has been for years. Concerns
range all the way from low wages
paid on the reservation, to the lack
of job opportunities. Most jobs
available on the reservation are low
paying, minimum wage jobs that
offer no security or opportunities
for advancement. Unemployment
rate for Grand Portage has been
estimated to 26.5%, as compared
to the national average which
hovers around 4.8%. One of the
latest reports on unemployment at
Grand Portage estimate unemployment to be as high as 26.5%. Asa
result of its isolated location, lack
of transportation and winter driving conditions, many residents on
Grand Portage are unable to find
suitable employment to provide
for their famdies. Many feel that
it is the responsibility ofthe RTC to
bridge this gap, and provide good
paying jobs for Band members
who live on the reservation. A
recent report cited that the median
income for Grand Portage residents
was a low $30,325 with 18.9% of
families living below the poverty
line.
Many attribute this low median
income to a lack of employment
opportunities and as the result
of poor management of the RTC
members who vote on wages to
be paid at the casino, hotel and
other facilities on the reservation
that offer employment. Most Band
NEWS to page 7
Weyaus run for third term contested
Solicitor General may be forced to'resign after certification stand
by Vivian Clark
Messenger Staff Writer
millelacsmessenger.com
A month before the primary
elections, Mille Lacs Band Solicitor General John Swimmer
filed legal action in Mille Lacs
Band Tribal Court to challenge
the joint session's certification of
incumbent Secretary Treasurer
Herb Weyaus.
In light of an amendment to
the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
Constitution last November,
which prohibits convicted felons
from running for office, it was
brought to Swimmer's attention
that Weyaus had been convicted
of what appears to be a felony
level crime while a juvenile.
Swimmer's argument against
allowing Weyaus to run for a third
term because he was convicted of
second degree assault 46 years
ago as a teenager was denied.
Tribal court did not dispute
Weyaus was 16 years of age when
the offense occurred, nor that the
case had been referred from juvenile court to Mille Lacs County
District Court.
But, according to a tribal court
memorandum, the procedure for
wliich Weyaus was transferred to
adult court does not seem to pass
constitutional muster under present-day constitutional standards.
It was concluded by tribal court
that Weyaus was not convicted of
a felony when he pled guilty to
second-degree assault as a minor,
according to the memorandum.
Counsel for Weyaus, Frank
Bibeau, argued the offense in
WEYAUS to page 7
Questions increasing county caseloads
Resources strained as jurisdictional challenges come forward
by Mike Kallok
Editor, millelacsmessenger.com
Mille Lacs County Attorney
Jan Kolb told commissioners on
March 21 that her office may need
an additional attorney to handle
a number of new jurisdictional
challenges.
In January, Indian Legal Assistance attorneys began arguing
that the state and county lack authority to try defendants charged
with civil offenses on Hwy. 169,
according to Kolb.
The latest cases add to the already large work load the county
attorney's office is faced with due
to contention with the Band over
zoning authority on fee land and
prior cases still being decided
that involve predatory offender
registration and failure to appear,
Kolb told commissioners.
New civil offenses being argued
by Indian Legal include driving after revocation, unlawful
transport of a firearm, no proof
of insurance, open bottle and possession of a dangerous weapon.
Federal provisions under Public
Law 280 give tribal governments
authority in matters involving
Band members and civil regulatory law, but the question comes
down to jurisdiction.
While two defendants have
been charged with offenses committed south of the 4,000 acres
of trust land near Vineland, the
county is arguing that Hwy. 169
and the land beneath it is state
property.
"Our position is that it is a
federal highway on land deeded
to the state running through trust
lands, not a right of way running
through a reservation," Kolb
said.
Until recently, the Band has
recognized state and county jurisdiction on Hwy. 169 over all
violations, according to Kolb.
Mille Lacs Band Solicitor Gen-
QUESTIONS to page 7
Abramoff gets nearly 6-year sentence yet remains
free while aiding corruption investigation
By Curt Anderson
Associated Press Writer
MIAMI - Lobbyist Jack
Abramoff and a former partner
were sentenced to nearly six years
in prison on fraud charges but were
allowed to remain free while they
help a corruption investigation that
has embroiled Congress.
U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck
sentenced Abramoff and Adam
Kidan to five years and 10 months
behind bars on Wednesday for
concocting a fake $23 milhon wire
transfer during the 2000 purchase
of SunCruz Casinos.
The judge agreed to postpone
the prison reporting dates for the
men to allow them to continue
cooperating in both the Washington bribery investigation and the
2001 killing of former SunCruz
owner Konstantinos "Gus" Bou-
lis. Both deny having any role in
the death.
Ultimately, if prosecutors are
satisfied with Abramoff's and
Kidan's cooperation in the other
investigations, the sentences _ the
minimum recommended under
federal guidelines _ could be reduced.
"They are both trying to atone
for their conduct by cooperating
with the government," said Lawrence LaVecchio, an assistant U.S.
attorney. ~I have every reason to
believe they will continue to cooperate."
Hours after the sentencing,
the Senate voted 90-8 to bar its
members from accepting gifts
or meals from lobbyists, and to
require lobbyists to reveal more
information about their contacts
with lawmakers. Critics are seeking deeper changes, including a
ban on privately funded travel and
the creation of an independent office to investigate possible ethics
violations by senators.
The House has yet to take up
similar legislation, but House and
Senate leaders have made lobbying
and ethics reform a priority in light
of the Abramoff scandal and the
recent bribery conviction of former
Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham,
R-Calif.
In addition to the prison sentence, Huck ordered Abramoff, 47,
and Kidan, 41, to pay $21.7 milhon
in restitution to lenders victimized
by their fraud scheme. Both must
serve three years' probation after
they get out of prison.
Abramoff, dressed in a dark
business suit, said in brief remarks
prior to sentencing that the day was
"incredibly painful" for himself,
his friends and family but that he
intended to make amends.
"I am much chastened and profoundly remorseful over the reckless and hurtful things I have done
in my life, especially those which
have brought me before you today.
,.I can only hope that the Almighty
and those whom I have wronged
will forgive me my trespasses,"
Abramoff said.
Kidan also expressed remorse,
saying his goal in life now is to
become a better role model for his
2-year-old daughter. "There's not
a day that goes by that I don't think
about it and wish it would have
turned out differentiy," Kidan told
the judge.
Both men pleaded guilty to
conspiracy and wire fraud for concocting the wire transfer to make
it appear they were contributing a
sizable stake of their own money
to the $147.5 million SunCruz
SENTENCE to page 7
web page: www.press-on.net
Native
American
Press
We Support Equal Opportunity For All People
A weekly publication.  Copyright, Native American Press, 2006
Founded in 1988
Volume 18 Issue 40
March 31, 2006
Louis Jenkins trailer
Homeless or Hopeless on Leech Lake?
By Frank Bibeau
Just about a year ago, a
small, unassuming grandmother, Louis Jenkins, had
just about completed all the
steps to help provide for a
home for her daughter's family in Inger, Minnesota. The
trailer house is located beside
the county road, next to the
bridge over the Bowstring
River, across from where the
old store was located, just as
you enter Inger from the south.
The trader was in a beautiful
location with direct access to
the river, except now what has
been there for the last year is
the burned out hulk of the
trailer. And worse, it is the
first thing everyone sees when
they drive into the Inger community.
The home was a used trailer house
that Louise purchased from a coworker. "I remember driving to
Cohasset to get the blocks for leveling the trader" Louise recalled.
Louise had saved her money
from working as a night janitor
at the Bug School to help get a
home for her daughter Anna and
grandchddren. She had the trader
moved from Ball Club to Inger so
her daughter could hve near her.
Anna had purchased a new stove
and refrigerator and there was
new tile work that had just been
completed. According to Louise
"they were within about an hour of
moving into their new home when
it caught fire and everything was
destroyed."
The trader had caught fire shortly
after Leech Lake's Community
Service workers had left on April
21, 2005, after working on a water heater and heat pump, which
included soldering with a torch.
According to the report from the
Fire Department the fire started
where the Community Service
workers had just been working a
short time before.
Since that time a year ago, Louise
has attempted to get Community
Services or the elected officials
at Leech Lake to help fix the
problem. Instead, LL Social
Services sought to place some of
the chddren in other foster homes,
however the grandchildren ended
up being split up living with different grandparents. The only elected
official to even discuss the matter
was Secretary-Treasurer Archie
LaRose who accepted a hst of lost
items, but acting alone LaRose
HOMELESS to page 6
IGRA amendments pass first major Senate test
Indianz.com.
The $20 billion Indian gaming industry faces additional
oversight and scrutiny under a
controversial bill approved by
a Senate committee on Wednesday.
A crowd of more than 100,
some of whom hired line holders to secure seats, packed the
small Senate Indian Affairs
Committee room as members
debated the first major overhaul
of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act since 1988. It took
nearly 45 minutes to go through
three amendments before the
measure, sponsored by Sen.
John McCain (R-Arizona) and
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North
Dakota), was endorsed.
"The ayes have it," McCain,
the chairman of the committee,
said unceremoniously after a
voice vote on S.2078, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
Amendments of 2005.
McCain introduced the bid last
November in order to increase
federal regulation of Indian gaming and restrict off-reservation
casinos. A substitute he brought to
the committee yesterday maintains
those goals but some significant
changes have been made to the
original proposal.
The first change affects the
National Indian Gaming Commission's power to review gaming and
gaming-related contracts. After
hearing complaints of a "bottleneck" that could be created as a
result ofthe new authority, McCain
and Dorgan clarified the types
of agreements that are subject to
federal approval.
For example, contracts between
tribes will not fall under the act,
a provision that benefits wealthy
tribes like the Mohegans of Connecticut, who are financing Indian
casinos elsewhere in the nation.
"We've actuaUy encouraged tribe-
to-tribe cooperation," said Dorgan,
the vice chairman of the committee.
McCain and Dorgan also added
language to delay the effective date
ofthe NIGC's new authority until
the agency consults with Indian
Country on new regulations.
A second major change comes
to the provisions affecting the acquisition of new lands for gaming.
Under Section 20 of IGRA, tribes
can open casinos on land that is
currendy not part of a reservation
as long as they meet one of four exceptions or go through the two-part
determination process that requires
state and federal approval.
McCain originally sought to
eliminate almost every part of Section 20. The substitute approved
yesterday only gets rid ofthe two-
part determination process — used
for three off-reservation casino
since 1988 — and the land claim
settlement exception — used for
TEST to page 3
Revamped
Mescalero
Apache resort
has yet to make
a profit
Associated Press
RUIDOSO, N.M.- The Mescalero Apache Tribe's renovated
$144 million casino-resort has
been mired in red ink since it was
opened a year ago.
The Inn ofthe Mountain Gods
Resort and Casino reported
March 15 that it had lost money
for the fifth consecutive quarter,
the Albuquerque Journal reported
Sunday in a copyright story.
The resort lost $20.1 million between Nov. 1, 2004, and
Jan. 31, 2006, according to the
resort's financial statements filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The losses have been caused
by a lack of visitors this winter
along with higher operating costs
and debt incurred to finance the
resort, the newspaper reported.
Questions linger over whether
the losses are growing pains or
PROFIT to page 7
S.D. tribe hopes for economic
push from defense contract
By Jenny Michael
Associated Press Writer
MISSION, S.D. - It's the sort
of operation one could easily
overlook in a big city: 15 to 30
people making and testing circuit
boards for a Defense Department
contractor.
But for the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, home to some
of the poorest people in America
and a staggering unemployment
rate, the planned facility could
be the seed that blooms into
economic development and new
opportunities for the young.
The project to create the Advanced Electronics Rosebud
Integration Center received $1.8
million in the defense spending
bill President Bush signed Dec.
30. The Rosebud reservation is
being helped by a partnership with
an Alabama company and federal
rules that favor disadvantaged
businesses.
"It's an exciting time for us,
and I just hope that it'll work,"
said Rodney Bordeaux, tribal
president. "I'm pretty optimistic
that it will work."
Todd County, home of much
of the south-central South Dakota reservation, has long been
considered one of the nation's
poorest counties. According to
the 2000 U.S. Census, nearly half
the people in Todd County live in
poverty.
Phil Two Eagle, director of the
tribe's Resource Development
Office, estimates that 80 percent
ofthe members on the reservation
are unemployed. School officials
estimate that about 15 percent of
each freshman class drops out of
high school.
The push for the center began
in 2004, when Barth Robinson,
a tribal member who works for
Radiance Technologies of Hunts-
ville, Ala., contacted Two Eagle.
Robinson, who is the son of a
diplomat and grew up overseas, is
now the project manager. He said
that for him it was "just time to
migrate back" to the land where
his mother was raised.
But at the same time Radiance,
which produces a variety of de-
TRIBE to page 3