Native American Press / Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 2008-06-01

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INDEX
Your vote will make
White Earth former District
NEWS AROUND INDIAN COUNTRY
NEWS BRIEFS
COMMENTARY/EDITORIALS
CUSSIFIEDS
2
3
4-5
7
all the difference
page 5
III Representative Buckanaga endorses Goodman
for District III
page 5
White Earth band
member requests
investigation into Bevins
misuse of funds
page 5
Leech Lake Families
Have Real Hope Of
Employment After 4
Years Of Poverty
page 5
Candidate promises
NO SECRETS Press/
ON endorsed Eugene
"Ribs" Whitebird
page 4
Juvenile Problems and Solutions
By Bill Lawrence
As many people may know, the
Gilfillan Center in Bemidji has
closed as a juvenile center for
northern Minnesota. However,
the good news for Indian
Country is that great efforts
are being made to establish the
same facility as a Regional Native
American Juvenile Center. The
proposal Was to be funded by a
$2 million donation from the
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux
Community, $2 million donation
from the Minnesota Legislature
and $2 million from White Earth,
Red Lake and Leech Lake. The
good news is that the project is
going forward and native youth
and local families will have a
more culturally appropriate
program closer to homes. The
unfortunate news is that Leech
Lake is not participating.
Leech Lake's Juvenile Behavior
Problems
For whatever reason, the
current Leech Lake RBC failed
to participate in the three
reservation regional project.
While LL was invited to
participate, all too often no one
from LL would show up at the
on-going meetings and recently
the group went forward without
Leech Lake. It has been reported
that in retaliation out-going
Chairman Goggleye was trying
to undermine and kill the project
for everyone because the project
decided to go forward without LL.
Goggleye is reported as actually
lobbying against project at the
Minnesota Legislature. It is
widely believed that the current
LLRBC has way overspent its
resources. In reality the best
chance for the success is for the
regional facility to be in Bemidji,
with multiple partners.
Of course it is election time
on LL, so instead of finding money
and resources to participate in
the shared, regional resource
for LL youth—LLRBC has
contracted with Sally Morrison
to develop a separate LL facility
on the LL Reservation. The
Morrison contract for developing
the LL facility is reported to be
for $120,000.00, billing LL at
$20,000 per month. The project
recently proposed by Morrison
is for a $36 million facility on
LL. The Spring timing of this
contract and the incredible funds
allocated looks more like a way to
squeeze out more LL dollars to
initially support Goggleye's failed
re-election campaign and now
likely for Mick Finn's current
re-election campaign.
Where is Leech Lake's money
going?
Another questionably timed
contract is for LL Chief Judge
Wahwassuck. This week the
LLRBC met to renew her
contract, which the current
contract is believed to be for
$150,000 year. The moccasin
telegraph tells of Wahwassuck's
fear of not having her contract
after the General Election, which
is only a week away. Chairman-
elect LaRose asked the current
RBC to wait until after the
election for several reasons; (1)
PROBLEMS to page 5
Trial set for
8 Red Lakers
charged with
drug trafficking
25 Red Lakers have
previously pled guilty
By Bill Lawrence
According to information
released by the U.S. Attorney's
office of South Dakota, the
following 8 Red Lake tribal
members will face federal trial
in Minneapolis, Mn. on June 16,
2008. They are: Dana Alphonse
Oliver, Austin Robert Head,
Herbert Melvin May, Robert
Jeffrey Vanwert, Ramon Charles
Sayers, Donald Roman Cook, Jr.,
Loretta May Kingbird, and Janet
Lisa Head.
Of the 34 originally charged,
25 Red Lakers have previously
pled guilty to at least one count
associated with illegal drug
activity. They are as follows:
Augustin Martinez-Miranda,
Gary Lee Strong, Fredrick Alan
Desjarlait, Jr., Nicholas Avery
Strong, Gary Lee Head, Marida
Dawn Seki, William Antone
May, Jr., Joseph Jacob Thunder,
III, Rochelle Lynn Strong,
Ricky Lee Chaboyea, Billy Joe
Mason, Elton Ryan Beaulieu,
Dasheena Jo Strong, Brandon
Lee Strong, Maria Needham,
Tyrone Wayne Beaulieu, Randy
Matthew Sayers, Barbara Ann
Thunder, Delores Jean Huerta,
Leroy Elvis Garrigan, Jr., Fawn
Ashley Beaulieu, Roland Jesse
Roy, Mavis Jean Strong, Michael
TRIAL to page 7
MCT Rights to Travel Challenged
Minnesota Court of Appeals oral arguments were held in St. Cloud,
Minnesota on April 17, 2008 for another Indian country treaty
rights case involving Minnesota Chippewa Tribal members. The
hearing was well attended, and included about thirty, 7-12 grade
students from the Minisinaakwaang Leadership Academy in East
Lake Minnesota. (Photo by Vicki Bibeau)
By Vicki Bibeau
David "Mahkoonz" Davis was
pulled over on US Highway 169
at the Mille Lacs Grand Casino
as he was reporting to work.
Although he was on the Mille
Lacs Reservation his ticket
was sent to Mille Lacs County
District Court. Davis argued
through his attorney Frank
Bibeau that as an enrolled
member of the Minnesota
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota
courts lack subject matter
jurisdiction to prosecute the
matter, which should have
been sent to Mille Lacs Tribal
Court.
In their briefs and oral
arguments, Mille Lacs County
attorneys continue to argue
that there is no Mille Lacs
Reservation in spite of the fact
there are state highway signs
declaring the reservation, there
is a casino right there, along
with tribal government center,
Reservation school and Indian
hospital and 1000s of acres
of land held in trust. Davis'
arguments point to the fact
that Minnesota state law for the
cooperative law enforcement
agreement cite to the Treaty
with the Chippewa of 1855,
which provides for a 61,000
acre reservation. Davis also
argues that under the 1837 and
1855 Treaties, tribal members
enjoy the rights to hunt, fish
and gather.
The rights to hunt fish and
gather are really the rights
to obtain food, clothing and
shelter, which necessarily
includes the right to travel
to obtain and transport. The
new canoe is the automobile.
As such, any time an Indian
is given a traffic citation on
MCT to page 5
Federal indictments issued
against five
By Joe Kafka
Associated Press Writer
PIERRE, S.D. - U.S. Attorney
Marty Jackley said Wednesday
that five people have been
indicted on charges involving
a scheme to steal federal funds
intended for reconstruction
of a school that was partially
destroyed by fire at Stephan in
2005.
Included among thedefendants
is the former top official of Crow
Creek Tribal Schools.
Charged in connection with
the 55-count federal indictment
are Edwin Lee Patzer, 61, of
Pierre; Scott Raue, 42, of Fort
Pierre; John Nystrom, 53,
of Pierre; Patsy Hawk, 50, of
Mission; and Brady Hastings, 47,
of Huron.
Raue was superintendent
and chief executive of the tribal
school system from 1998-2006,
and Nystrom is an electrical
contractor, Jackley said.
The indictments involve
theft, bribery, fraud and money
laundering, the U.S. attorney
said.
Raue, Nystrom, Hawk and
Hastings pleaded not guilty
Tuesday.
Raue was indicted on two
counts of theft and bribery, and
one count of money laundering.
He is accused of taking bribes
from a construction contractor.
The contractor, Royal Kutz
of Highmore, admitted paying
Raue $30,000 to $70,000 in
bribes from 2003 to 2006. Kutz
has pleaded guilty to bribery.
Edwin Patzer was originally
indicted by a federal grand jury
Oct. 24 on 12 counts of theft and
bribery, and had a trial date set
for August 26. He had not yet
made his initial appearance on
the new indictment.
The maximum penalty for the
theft, bribery and fraud counts
is 10 years in prison. Money
laundering can bring up to 20
years behind bars.
Two other defendants charged
in connection with the case,
Richard Baysinger and Royal
Kutz, have pleaded guilty and
are scheduled to be sentenced
in July.
Baysinger was convicted of
laundering the proceeds of mail
fraud through his bank account
by depositing the money,
withdrawing the funds, and then
giving the cash to Raue. The
charges regarding Kutz stem
CHARGES to page 6
McArthur
Named GM
of White
Earth Gaming
Operations
Eugene McArthur has been
named General Manager of
White Earth Gaming Operations
which includes Shooting Star
Casino, Hotel and Event Center;
Golden Eagle Bingo; and
other related entities effective
immediately. According to Erma
J. Vizenor, Chairwoman of the
White Earth Tribal Council,
McArthur's appointment follows
the resignation of Liz Foster-
Anderson, who held the position
since 2002.
McArthur is the first enrolled
Band member to hold the top
executive position for White
Earth Gaming Operations.
The White Earth Reservation
encompasses 1,296 square miles
in northwestern Minnesota and
has an enrollment of 20,000
plus members. Created in 1867
by a treaty between the United
States and the Mississippi Band
of Chippewa Indians, it is one
of seven Chippewa reservations
in Minnesota and is located
MCARTHUR to page 6
Candidates for Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe chief executive: Incumbent Melanie Benjamin (left), age
52; and challenger Marge Anderson, age 76. Melanie Benjamin has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, is
working towards a master degree, and is responsible for developing the Band's casino prosperity.
Marge Anderson has a high school diploma and has received numerous leadership awards.
Stuck in the Past, or Moving Forward?
By Vincent Hill
Onamia, Minnesota
"All is quiet on the western
front" here at Mille Lacs Lake.
Even the walleye are quiet
and subdued. I'm not sure
whether they are biting, or not:
Conflicting reports from white
fisherman. The liberal media
out of the Twin Cities to the
south had been bombarding
the public with news that, Lake
Mille Lacs, the world's premier
walleye lake, was fished out.
The local "racist" white men,
of course, are to blame for this
tragedy! The truth of matter is
that walleyes in Mille Lacs Lake
are alive, well, and thriving,
despite a cycle of heat and
a lower water level. Mother
Nature, or Giche-Manitoo, has
sent abundant snow and rain
this year; and next year will be
a marvelous fishing year!
Liberal Brett Larson with
the local Mille Lacs Messenger
newspaper just pushed through
MILLE LACS to page 7
Jindahl's
counsel
involved in
high-risk
venture
By Robert Travis Scott
The Times-Picayune
BATON ROUGE, La. - Before
becoming executive counsel
this year to Gov. Bobby Jindal,
Alexandria lawyer Jimmy
Faircloth was a key figure in a
high-risk business venture that
is sparking new controversy in
a Louisiana Indian tribe still
shaken after becoming the
victim of a national scandal.
From 2005 to 2007, Faircloth
advised the Coushatta Indians to
invest $30 million in a formerly
bankrupt Israeli technology firm
called MainNet, which so far
has shown no financial return
for the tribe and is dependent
on monthly installments of
Coushatta cash. The company
also hired Faircloth's brother, on
the attorney's suggestion, after
the tribe began investing.
The Coushattas, flush with
money from their casino
operation in Kinder, gained
unwanted national publicity
three years ago as one of several
Indian tribes caught up in the
Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal
on Capitol Hill. The Coushattas
said they paid Abramoff about
$32 million to help promote and
protect their gambling interests
and got very little in return.
Now some in the Coushatta
tribe say they worry again about
outsiders tapping their valuable
resources.
Faircloth says he did an
outstanding job representing
the Coushattas, that the tribal
council made the investment
decisions and that the company
may yet turn out to be a profitable
venture.
"The entire tribal council
voted in favor of the MainNet
investment, and to my
understanding all but one
member ofthe council continues
to support the investment,"
Faircloth said in an e-mail.
"As an attorney, my job is to
advise my client ofthe potential
benefits and risks, and then
to fully support, defend and
protect the client's decision.
Every decision made by the tribal
council was made following a
thorough evaluation ofthe risk,
benefits and alternatives."
VENTURE to page 6
NOTICE OF
GENERAL ELECTION
for June 10,2008
All Minnesota Chippewa Tribes (except Red Lake
Band) have the opportunity to select their future
leaders at the Election June 10. Press/ON urges you
to get out, vote for the candidate of your choice. If
you don't vote you give up your birthright.
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
General Election Results
May 21,2008
Red Lake Representative
Donald "Dudie" May
Total
%
471
55.41%
Geraldine "Jaye" Brun
125
14.71%
Leeland "Lee" Lussier, Jr.
179
21.06%
Donna Sumner
75
8.82%
Total Votes
850
Ponemah Representative
Glenda J. Martin
220
46.41%
Clifford C. Hardy
93
19.62%
Williamette Hardy-Morrison
27
5.70%
Roy Nelson, Sr.
67
14.14%
Donna J. Whitefeather
67
14.14%
Total Votes
474
Redby Representative
Allen Duane Pemberton
308
50.99%
Vince Brown
61
10.10%
Rodney Prentice, Jr.
24
3.97%
Judy Roy
146
24.17%
Michael G. Stillday
20
3.31%
Gloria Whitefeather-Spears
45
7.45%
Total Votes
604
Little Rock Representative
Richard Barrett, Sr.
216
56.84%
Kathy Spears Dudley
55
14.47%
Gary Jourdain, Jr.
35
9.21%
Charles Prentice, Sr.
47
12.37%
Lydell Jon Roberts
27
7.11%
Total Votes
380
The above election results are unofficial. The bolded names are
the winner or two top vote getters in each race. Ponemah will
have a run-off election.
Minn. Indian tribe buys up land
to restore prairie
By Patrick Condon
Associated Press
PRIOR LAKE, Minn. - A
30-acre field where corn and
soybeans were once grown is now
covered with Canada wild rye, big
bluestem, Golden Alexander and
compass plant _ the same grasses
and flowers the pioneers saw as
they pushed westward across the
American prairie in the 1800s.
This small patch of prairie next
to a condominium complex in
suburban Minneapolis did not
suddenly appear on its own.
Instead, it was painstakingly
restored at great cost by the
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux
tribe.
Flush with cash from its nearby
casino, the tribe has bought up
about 125 acres of farmland and
wetlands just outside the big
city over the past few years and
has returned them to the way
they looked before the white
man herded the Indians onto
reservations.
By the end of the year,
the Shakopee Mdewakanton
(pronounced SHOCK-ah-pee
mid-ah-WAHK-tun) hope to
begin restoring 450 more acres
PRAIRIE to page 6