Native American Press / Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 2006-11-02

              INDEX
NEWS AROUND INDIAN COUNTRY
NEWS BRIEFS
COMMENTARY/EDITORIALS
CLASSIFIEDS
Deceit practiced on Leech
Lake Band members: MCT/
TEC Where are you?
page 4
Father of Slain Red Lake
Security Guard responds
to spurious remarks
regarding death of son
page 4
Support for Phil Hodapp
for Sherriff
page 6
Third Dakota
Commemorative
March Honors
Ancestors with
150-mile Walk
page 6
Fetal alcohol
syndrome: Biggest
problem facing Indian
country
page 4
FBI to investigate shooting by Red Lake Police
VOICE      OF      THE      PEOPLE
Ralph G. Diaz, Special Agent in
charge of the Minneapolis Office
ofthe FBI, announced today that
Red Lake Tribal Police Officers
allegedly shot and mortally
wounded Louis W. Barrett, Jr., age
20. The incident occured during
an attempt to serve a Tribal search
warrant in the very early hours of
October 25, 2006, at a residence
located in the Circle Pines area
ofthe Little Rock District on the
reservation.
Barrett was transported to
North Country Regional Hospital
in Bemidji where he died around
7 a.m.
The Minneapolis FBI is
conducting a full investigation
ofthe shooting.
Northern legislative candidate
makes Red Lake a campaign issue
by Tom Robertson
Minnesota Public Radio
A candidate for the District 2B
House seat in northern Minnesota
is turning the Red Lake Indian
Reservation into a campaign
issue. Republican Doug Lindgren
says if he's elected, he'll work to
stop state funding of reservation
schools. And he claims the state of
Minnesota, not the Red Lake tribe,
should control the waters of Red
Lake.
Lindgren's claims have angered
tribal leaders. His DFL opponent,
incumbent Rep. Brita Sailer, says
it's nothing more than divisive
politics intended to distract
voters.
Bemidji, Minn. — House
District 2B is a mix of forests
and farm country. It includes the
towns of Park Rapids, Blackduck
and Bagley, and encompasses the
Red Lake Indian Reservation to
the north. Historically, the district
has been solid DFL territory. But
since 2000 it's flip-flopped between
DFL and Republican control.
Republican Doug Lindgren won
the seat in 2002. He was narrowly
defeated two years later by DFLer
Brita Sailer.
Now it's a rematch. Observers
believe the seat is in play and
could help determine which party
controls the House.
Doug Lindgren
It's also drawing attention
for a politically charged issue
that's become a cornerstone of
Lindgren's campaign. Lindgren
says the state of Minnesota should
not be funding education and
social programs on the Red Lake
reservation. During a recent debate
on Lakeland Public Television,
Lindgren said that should be a
federal responsibility.
"We are spending taxpayer
RED LAKE to page 3
White Earth receives funding for
new tribal administrative building
WHITE EARTH, MINN. - The
White Earth Reservation Tribal
Council recently received news
that funding for a new RTC
Administrative building has been
approved for a groundbreaking
in May 2007.
The $14.5 million building will
feature two stories and 80,000
square feet, and it will be located
west of the Biimaadiziiwiin
Senior Apartments near White
Earth Village.
Non-taxable bonds through
the Eaton Vance Agency in
Boston will finance the project.
Additionally, the tribe received
Proclamation:
National American
Indian Heritage
Month 2006
THE WHITE HOUSE
During National American Indian
Heritage Month, we honor the
generations of American Indians
and Alaska Natives who have
added to the character of our
Nation. This month is an
opportunity to celebrate their
many accomplishments and their
rich ancestry and traditions.
America is blessed by the character
and strength of American Indians
and Alaska Natives, and our citizens
are grateful for the countless ways
Native Americans have enriched
our country and lifted the spirit
of our Nation. We are especially
grateful for the Native Americans
who have served and continue
to serve in our Nation's military.
These brave individuals have risked
their lives to protect our citizens,
defend our democracy, and spread
the blessings of liberty to people
around the world.
My Administration is working to
ensure that American Indians
and Alaska Natives have access to
all the opportunities of this great
land. My fiscal year 2007 budget
proposes more than $12.7 billion
forgovernmentprogramsforNative
Americans. Education is vital to
ensuring all citizens reach their full
potential, and my budget includes
funding to help Native-American
schools succeed and meet the
requirements ofthe No Child Left
Behind Act. The Bureau of Indian
Affairs is providing education for
approximately 46,000 American-
Indian and Alaska-Native children.
To help keep Native Americans safe,
I have also proposed to increase
law enforcement personnel and
improve law enforcement facilities
in American-Indian communities.
My Administration will continue
to work on a government-to-
government basis with tribal
governments, honor the principles
of tribal sovereignty and the
right to self-determination, and
help ensure America remains
a land of promise for American
Indians, Alaska Natives, and all
our citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE
W. BUSH, President of the United
States of America, by virtue
of the authority vested in me
by the Constitution and laws
of the United States, do hereby
proclaim November 2006 as
National American Indian Heritage
Month. I call upon all Americans
to commemorate this month
with appropriate programs and
activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand this thirtieth
day of October, in the year of our
Lord two thousand six, and of the
Independence ofthe United States
of America the two hundred and
thirty-first.
a $300,000 grant from the
USDA for furniture, fixtures and
equipment, and $400,000 from
the White Earth Department
of Transportation, which will
build the road to the building
site, and a parking lot equipped
with security lighting. The tribe
will pay back the bonds through
rent paid by programs and some
gaming revenues.
"At White Earth the programs,
services and government have
grown tremendously, and we
need a new facility to better
provide and coordinate services
for our members," said White
Earth Chairwoman Erma J.
Vizenor. "The financing for a
new facility has been secured
and there is excitement about
the new tribal headquarters. A
wind turbine will be constructed
nearby to provide electrical
energy for the facility."
"The new building will
provide constituents with one-
stop shopping," according to
Secretary-Treasurer Bud Heisler.
Currently, several programs
are located throughout the
reservation and now tlie majority
of programs will be located in
one building.
White Earth Health Services,
which has also grown, will
FUNDING to page 3
Constitutional rights under fire by
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
By Mike Kallok
Reprinted by permission of Mille
Lacs Messenger
On Oct. 19, Mille Lacs
Band Chief Melanie Benjamin
introduced a resolution to the
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
calling for an end to groups who
ttppose sovereignty from holding
meetings at public facilities.
The resolution was unanimously
passed by the MIAC - a liaison to the
State Legislature that represents
the 11 federally recognized Indian
tribes in Minnesota.
The action by the MIAC to limit
the right to peaceful assembly led
to a swift response from members
of local and national equal rights
organizations identified as anti-
Indian in the resolution.
"The crux ofthe matter is we've
got .a state sanctioned and state
funded group that is apparently
trying to limit free speech and free
assembly," Clare Fitz, chairman
of the Mille Lacs Equal Rights
Foundation and Citizens Equal
Rights Alliance, said. "This is the
reason our organization exists."
Both MERF and CERA
claim to advocate equal rights,
but the aim of these groups
is viewed by detractors as an
attack on rights that are afforded
to Native Americans by the
U.S. Constitution, according
to Jackie Johnson, executive
director of the National Council
on Indian Affairs - a tribally
funded organization that works
to protect tribal sovereignty and
interests.
While Johnson stopped short
of labeling the local and national
groups anti-Indian, the challenge
Johnson sees is that tribal
sovereignty is guaranteed by the
U.S. Constitution.
"It's not even a matter that's
up for discussion," Johnson said.
"These rights have been upheld in
the Supreme Court for hundreds
of years."
However, the waters of legal
rights to tribal sovereignty are
muddy, according to Fitz.
There is no guarantee in the
U.S. Constitution for tribal
sovereignty, Fitz said. CERA's
position is once Native Americans
became citizens of the United
States, tribal sovereignty should
have ceased.
Local impetus
In September, CERA and MERF
held three public forums across
Mille Lacs County, at Wahkon
City Hall, Milaca High School and
Princeton Middle School.
"While a surge in anti-Indian
activities is a statewide issue,
problems in the Mille Lacs area
are the most pronounced,"
according to a press release that
outlined the MIAC resolution.
The press release calls attention
to the three September forums
held by MERF and.CERA in Mille
Lacs County.
Milaca Schools Superintendent
Dr. Barbara Zakrajsek said she did
field some concerns in connection
with the decision to allow the
MERF and CERA forums to take
place on school property.
Milaca Schools have an open
policy, so, by law, the rental of
space to any non-school group
must be allowed, unless that
group.has a track record of being
disruptive or violent, Zakrajsek
said.
After researching the groups,
Zakrajsek said she found nothing
to indicate disruptions or violence
MIAC to page 3
5 defendants make plea deals in
Kickapoo case
Associated Press
WACO, Texas - Five of seven
defendants accused in a federal
criminal case of taking advantage
of the Kickapoo American
Indian tribe have accepted plea
agreements to minor charges.
The group had faced charges
ranging from stealing hundreds
of thousands of dollars from
the Kickapoo tribe's casino to
laundering money and violating
the civil rights of tribal members.
Possible prison sentences had
ranged up to 20 years.
The so-called "Kickapoo
Seven" were charged in a 25-
count federal indictment in early
2005.
Pleading guilty Tuesday were
Raul Garza, a former tribal
chairman; Isidro Garza Jr., a
former tribal manager; Martha
Garza, Isidro Garza's wife; Timoteo
Garza, son of Isidro Garza and a
former state representative; and
Lee Martin, a former casino
manager.
Raul Garza was the only
Kickapoo tribal member charged
in the case. He is not related to
the other indicted Garzas. The
other defendants were employees
or associates ofthe tribe.
Charges against Joe Ruiz,
a former tribal lawyer, were
dismissed Monday.
The one defendant still facing
prosecution is Isidro Xavier Garza,
who is charged with conspiracy to
obstruct the Internal Revenue
Service.
In pleading guilty Tuesday, the
five accepted charges that carry
up to five years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.
Defense lawyer Jason Davis said
he believed the government "got
PLEA to page 3
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Volume 19 Issue 16
November 2, 2006
Mona Smith's "City Indians" multimedia installation explores realities of Indian life in the city.
Mona Smith's multimedia installation explores
realities of Indian life in the city
"City Indians" exhibit opens with reception at Ancient Traders Gallery on Friday, November 10
"City Indians," a mesmerizing
multimedia installation that gives
voice to past and current American
Indian people of the Twin Cities
ifiev.ro area, opens at Ancient
Traders Gallery, 1113 East Franklin
Avenue, Minneapolis, from 5-9
p.m. on Friday, November 10. The
event is free, open to the public.
The exhibit—surprising,
gritty and engaging—probes
the question, "What is it like
to be in your homeland yet be
disconnected?" Through multiple
media, three realities are explored:
the invisibility of Indian people,
how little they are heard and mid-
20th century relocation policies.
The installation was created by
Mona Smith (Sisseton Wahpeton
Dakota), recipient of the
Community Artist Fellowship
from the Smithsonian's National
Museum of the American
Indian/2007 Native Arts Program.
Smith's "Cloudy Waters: Dakota
Reflections on the Water"
(Minnesota History Center,
2004-2005), part of the Upper
Midwest commemoration of the
150th anniversary of the Grand
Excursion of 1854, explored the
complex connection between the
Dakota people and the Mississippi
River. A video producer/director
and former college teacher, Smith
currently heads Allies: media/art,
which promotes learning from
Indian people through media art.
"City Indians" is an intentionally
non-linear exhibit that parallels
the non-linear worldview of
indigenous people. Presented
with choices—video and still
images, recorded interviews,
ambient surround sound of nature
overlaid with city noise—the
viewer moves among interwoven
stories that create a rhythmic arc
or "video poem."
"You can't control what people
are going to learn," said Smith.
"In the traditional Indian way of
teaching and sharing story, I offer
possibility, an experience that
EXHIBIT to page 3
ARTIST: MONA SMITH
Embracing the paletteof the digital
age, producer Mona Smith (Sisseton
Wahpeton Dakota), uses multiple
media to share the stories of Indian
people.
"I fell in love," Smith says of her
first foray into multimedia installation.
"Cloudy Waters: Dakota Reflections
on the Water" (Minnesota History
Center, 2004-2005) explored the
complex connection between the
Dakota people and the river. "With
installation, the viewer makes
choices. 'Shall I look at this? Listen
to that?' In a calming atmosphere
with surround sound, certain parts
of the visitor's heart and mind open
up. I tried to provide an experience
that expresses a Dakota worldview.
"I've been taught that you can't
entirely control what people are going to learn. In the traditional Indian
way of teaching and sharing story,
installation art offers possibility, an
experience that includes choice."
An only child, Smith grew up in Red
Wing, Minnesota, loving poetry and
acting, she'says, "artful but afraid."
ARTIST to page 3
Dike removal at century-old ranch
site opens Nisqually estuary
By Peggy Andersen
Associated Press
NISQUALLY, Wash. - The
Nisqually Tribe has celebrated the
return of saltwater to 140 acres
of the Nisqually River estuary,
where dike removal restored
critical salmon habitat in south
Puget Sound. The land had been
used for a cattle ranch for more
than a century.
Tribal dancers and drummers
in vibrant black-and-red blankets
and other traditional garb opened
the event Tuesday at the edge
of the estuary, where the river
meets the inland sea. As speakers
addressed the crowd, a 14-foot
tide began slowly filling the
basin. Birds darted overhead and
autumn-brilliant trees rustled
along the shore.
"It's coming to life right in
front of our eyes," said Billy
Frank Jr., Nisqually elder and
head of the Northwest Indian
Fisheries Commission.
About 200 people _ tribal
members, politicians, activists
and workers from various
agencies _ huddled together in
chilly sunshine to celebrate the
return of the sea.
The Blaget family, which had
diked and worked the land since
1898, provided food for people,
said David Troutt, the tribe's
natural resource director. "Now
we're turning it over to make
food for fish."
While Nisqually salmon
runs adapted to changes in the
landscape over the years, "the
more of this stuff the better for
fish," Troutt said. The restored
estuary habitat will provide food
for "everything in the south
Sound. In addition to salmon,
it will feed things that feed the
fish."
Still, the work "is not about
one species or another _ it's
about life," said U.S. Rep. Adam
Smith, D-Wash., whose district
encompasses the project.
"This is huge," said state
Ecology Director Jay Manning, a
co-chairman ofthe Puget Sound
Partnership charged by Gov.
Chris Gregoire with restoring the
troubled sound after 150 years of
pollution and development. "I
hope we can replicate it across
Puget Sound."
Manning described his two co-
chairmen _ Billy Frank and Bill
Ruckelshaus, first director ofthe
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency _ as "living legends who
live up to their billing."
"There's no better example of
how this partnership should work
than right here," Ruckelshaus
said.
"Our sound is hollering for
help right now," Frank said. "If
we don't wake up to this it'll be
too late."
The 140-acre wetland was
named Blaget Marsh to honor the
family. Longtime rancher Kenny
Blaget sold the family's 410-acre
property to the tribe for $2.4
million in 1999.
Most ofthe 840-acre estuary was
diked in the early 20th century for
DIKE to page 3
Casinos owned
by tribes
contribute more
than $26 million
to state
Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. - Casinos
in Arizona owned by Indian
tribes, including the Tohono
O'odham and the Pascua Yaquis,
contributed more than $26.3
million to the state in the quarter
that ended Sept. 30.
The Arizona Department of
Gaming reported Tuesday that
the recent quarterly contribution
represents a 15.4 percent jump
this year from $22.8 million in
the same period a year ago.
The state's 22 American Indian
casinos contributed $25.5 million
to the state during the prior
quarter, which ended on June
30.
The fiscal year for accounting of
gambling's contributions begins
April 1.
Since voter-approved
Proposition 202 went into effect
in 2003, the contributions
by the state's 15 tribes with
gambling have increased in each
consecutive quarter.
Under the tribal-state gambling
compacts, tribes in Arizona send
their contributions to the state
every three months.
Using a sliding scale, tribes pay
1 percent ofthe first $25 million
in net winnings to the state, 3
percent of the next $50 million,
6 percent of the following $25
CASINOS to page 6