Native American Press / Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 2008-11-15

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INDEX
Vets Can Lead Fight
NEWS AROUND INDIAN COUNTRY
2
Against Disease
NEWS BRIEFS
5
COMMENTARY/EDITORIALS
4-5
CLASSIFIEDS
7
page 5
Analysis: Obama won
with ethnic, racial
coalition
page 5
5 Things You Never
Knew Your Cell
Phone Could Do
page 4
Winona LaDuke's
home, family
page 4
Gang at Red Lake
Makes News Again
page 4
16 (of a total of 34) Red Lakers sentenced in
reservation cocaine trafficking case
VOICE      OF      THE       PEOPLE
By Bill Lawrence
The effectiveness of the
Headwaters Safe Trails Task
Force has once again been
demonstrated in the sentencing,
in Bemidji, in early November
of 16 individuals in U.S. District
Court, Judge James Rosenbaum
presiding. A total of thirty four
individuals have been indicted
over the past year. Each of the
16 sentenced this month was
charged with conspiracy to
distribute cocaine on the Red
Lake Reservation. The case
against one ofthe 34 individuals
indicted was dismissed. To
date eighteen ofthe original 34
charged remain unsentenced.
All but one of the defendants
indicted as a result of the
investigation plea bargained in
lieu of standing trial. Ramon
Charles Sayers chose to stand
trial and was found guilty.
After numerous delays and pre
sentence investigations, these
16 have been sentenced.
John E. Haak, Special
Assistant United States Attorney
for the District of South Dakota
prosecuted the case. Marty
J. Jackley is the United States
Attorney for the District. The
case was assigned to the South
Dakota US Attorney's office
since the District of Minnesota
Attorney General's Office excused
itself based on the possibility of a
conflict of interest.
Those sentenced are as
follows:
Gary Lee Strong, Redby,
Reservation
voting peaks,
to Franken's
benefit
By David Brauer
Remember the Bush
administration's U.S.
Attorney appointment
scandal? The second-
term dumping ensnared
Minnesota's Tom
Heffelfinger, who was
planning to resign anyway,
but was targeted because he
was "spending an excessive
amount of time" on Indian
issues, according to former
Justice Department official
Monica Goodling.
One ofthe issues swirling
at the time was Native voting
rights; Heffelfinger has said
he didn't get crossways
with the Bushies on that
particular issue, but now
we know why they might've
been worried.
Bemidji Pioneer reporter
Brad Swenson writes that
reservation turnout hit
an all-time high — up 6
percent over 2004, which
in turn was up about 50
percent over 2000. All told,
Swenson notes, 95 percent
of this year's votes went to
Democrats:
... the vote for president
was 2,082 for Democrat
Barack Obama and 123 for
Republican John McCain.
Similarly, in the U.S. Senate
race, there were 1,983 votes
for Democrat Al Franken
and 146 for incumbent
GOP Norm Coleman.
Independence Party
candidate Dean Barkley got
66 votes.
The story explains how
the Native American Vote
Alliance of Minnesota did
it. On the financial side,
Swenson says NAVA"received
not only tribal support but
also funds from Take Action
Minnesota, Minnesota
Civic Engagement Table,
ELECTIONS to page 5
having pled guilty October
22, 2007, to possession with
intent to distribute a controlled
substance, received a sentence
of 144 months in prison plus
3 years of supervised release
on the conspiracy charge. He
also received 60 months in
prison plus 3 years of supervised
release on the possession with
intent to distribute charge.
Sentences to run concurrently.
He remained in the custody of
the U.S. Marshal's Office.
Dana Alphonse Oliver, Redby,
having pled guilty June 16,2007,
to use of a communication
facility—a telephone—to assist
in the commission of a felony,
was sentenced, under the
Controlled Substances Act, to
5 years of probation, the first 18
months of which must be served
in a substance abuse treatment
facility.
The following individuals have
agreed to voluntarily surrender
to begin their sentences on
December 15.
Robert Jeffrey Vanwert, former
Red Lake Police officer pled guilty
June 16, 2007, and received 48
months in prison plus 1 year of
supervised release.
Roman Donald Cook, Jr., no
known address, also pled guilty
to use of a communication
facility June 16. He received 40
months in prison plus 1 year of
supervised release.
Leroy Alvis Garrigan, Jr.,
no known address, pled guilty
January 25,2007, and received 12
months and 1 day in prison, plus
1 year of supervised release.
Herbert Melvin May, also a
former Red Lake Police officer,
pled guilty June 16, 2007. He
received 48 months in prison plus
1 year of supervised release.
Joseph Jacob Thunder, III,
Redby, pled guilty September 14,
2007, to conspiracy and received
sentence of 36 months in prison
plus 4 years of supervised
release.
Alton Ryan Beaulieu, Little
Rock, pled guilty to conspiracy
October 22, 2007, and received
30 months in prison plus 4 years
of supervised release.
Fawn Ashley Beaulieu, no
known address, pled guilty to
conspiracy February 25, 2007,
and received 30 months in
prison plus 4 years of supervised
release.
Tyrone Wayne Beaulieu,
Little Rock, having pled guilty
to conspiracy, received 30
months in prison plus 4 years of
supervised release.
Ramon Charles Sayers, no
known address, stood trial for
charges of conspiracy and use
of a communication facility June
26, 2007. A federal jury found
him guilty of the charges. He
received sentence of 60 months in
prison plus 3 years of supervised
release on the conspiracy charge
as well as 48 months in prison
plus 1 year of probation on the
communication facility charge.
TRAFFICKING to page 5
Leech Lake officials to attend
Native Nation Building Seminar
By Bill Lawrence
Press/On has learned that
Leech Lake Chairman Arthur
LaRose, District Representative
Eugene Whitebird and staff
members have traveled to
Tucson, Arizona, to take part
in an executive education
seminar presented by the Native
Nations Institute for Leadership,
Management and Policy housed
and supported by The University
of Arizona (UA). The seminar
will take place November 18
and 19. Specifically, the Native
Nations Institute (NNI) designed
the seminar to equip Native
leaders and senior managers
with knowledge and tools for
effective nation building.
The seminar is based on twenty
years of community-based
research in Indian Country by
the Native Nations Institute for
Leadership at the University of
Arizona and the Harvard Project
on American Indian Economic
Development. Their goal is
to provide leaders and senior
managers with the technical
skills and practical knowledge
to use on behalf of their people
to govern effectively. Speakers
for the seminar are current
and former leaders of Native
nations from across the county.
They will share their leadership
experiences with attendees.
Seminar faculty: Manley A.
Begay, Jr., (Navaho). He holds
an Ed.D. and is Director of the
Native Nations Institute. He is
a Senior Lecturer of American
Indian Studies Program at UA
and Co-Director ofthe Harvard
Project on American Indian
Economic Development.
Jackie Old Coyote (Crow/
Ho-Chunk), Ed.M. Director of
Education and Outreach at the
Harvard Project.
Ian Record, Ph.D. Manager,
Educational Resources, Native
Nations Institute. Senior
Lecturer in American Indian
Studies Program at UA.
Stephen Cornell, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology and of
Public Administration of Policy
Federal lawmakers lament new gaming regulations
Associated Press
TULSA, Okla. - New federal
regulations on electronic bingo
games will cost Oklahoma's
tribal casinos millions of dollars
more than a flawed economic
study predicted, the head of
the Oklahoma Indian Gaming
Association said.
OIGA Chairman David Quails
said the regulations were a
last-ditch effort by a lame-
duck National Indian Gaming
Commission to act on so-
called Class II gaming without
congressional oversight.
The gaming commission's
regulations also drew strong
criticism from U.S. Rep. Tom
Cole, R-Okla., a member
of the Chickasaw Nation of
Oklahoma.
"I am deeply concerned about
the NIGC's ongoing reliance
on flawed and incomplete
data to justify irresponsible
and unnecessary regulations
on Indian tribes," Cole told
the Tulsa World's Washington
bureau.
"I look forward to a new
commission being appointed
and I sincerely hope they do
not exhibit the same hostility
towards the Indian gaming
industry that is the legacy ofthe
current commission."
U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla.,
agrees with the OIGA that
the economic impact on the
industry will be far greater
than the gaming commission
states.
"While I understand the need
web page: www.press-on.net
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and Director ofthe Udall Center
for Studies in Public Policy (UA)
and Co-Director ofthe Harvard
Project.
Miriam Jorgensen, Ph.D.,
M.PR, Associate Director
for Research Native Nations
Institute (UA) and Research
Director of the Harvard
Project.
Joan Timeche (Hopi),
Assistant Director ofthe Native
Nations Institute and Director
of NNI's award winning Native
American Youth Entrepreneur
Center.
Those who would benefit
from attendance include
tribal leadership, council
members, members of
tribal enterprise boards and
business, tribal planners and
economic development staff,
and those working in Native
development.
Session themes - NATION
BUILDING, the enhanced
capacity of Indigenous nations
to realize their own economic,
educational, cultural, and
political objectives through
foundational actions of their
own design.
LEADERSHIP - using vision,
encouragement, and positive
examples to mobilize people
and resources on behalf of the
community.
POLICY - putting in
place effective guidelines for
sustainable, self-determined,
economic and community
development.
SESSION TOPICS:
Session 1 - Overview of the
Nation Building Approach.
Discussion topics: The peculiar
pattern of development in
Native Nations and Sources of
sustainable development.
Session 2 - Why are some
Native Nations more successful
than others? The Standard
Approach to Nation governance
will be defined and contrasted
with the Native Nations Approach
to economic development,
SEMINAR to page 6
for proper technical standards
and oversight," Boren said, "I
am concerned by the lack of
consultation from NIGC with
Oklahoma's tribes."
Both Cole and Boren serve on
a the House Natural Resources
Committee, which has oversight
responsibility for tribal issues.
The NIGC stood by the
regulations as well as the process
used to complete them.
Effective this week, the
regulations were the last two
standing after the commission
dropped two more controversial
proposals intended to draw a
clear distinction between Class
II, or bingo-type games, and
Class III games such as slot
GAMING to page 5
Profits drop at River Rock Casino
Business at the River Rock Casino near Geyserville has slowed along with the rest of the
economy, falling almost 8 percent in the third quarter.
Cutback in consumer
spending as economy stalls
affects gaming industry
nationwide
By Steve Hart
The Press Democrat
Business is down almost 8
percent at Sonoma County's
River Rock Casino, as worried
consumers cut back on
gambling trips, casino officials
said Monday.
"Everyone knows the
current environment is very
challenging," said Shawn
Smyth, River Rock's CEO.
The economy's downturn
"impacted consumer spending
and thus influenced visitation
to the property," he said.
The tribal casino in Alexander
Valley posted $32.3 million in
revenue for the third quarter
ended Sept. 30, compared with
$35 million for the same period
last year.
The U.S. gambling industry
has been hit hard this year as
Wall Street's problems spread
to Main Street. Revenue is
down more than 5 percent for
Nevada casinos and almost 10
percent in Atlantic City.
Shares of casino company
stocks including Las Vegas
Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts
and MGM Mirage are down
sharply.
"The fundamentals for
casino operators deteriorated
significantly over the summer,"
Morningstar analyst Mike
Ford-Taggart said in a note to
investors.
River Rock, owned by the
Dry Creek Porno tribe, has
35,000 square feet of gaming
space with 1,600 slot and video
poker machines. The casino
also has table games and a
restaurant.
After distributions to the
tribe, the casino reported a net
profit of $3.9 million for the
PROFITS to page 5
Longtime
gaming holdout,
Navajos open
first casino
By FELICIA FONSECA
Associated Press Writer
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -Long a
behind-the-scenes player in the
gaming industry, the Navajo
Nation is now set to open its
first casino in the hopes slot
machines, poker and bingo will
bring in much-needed revenue to
the tribe and jobs to its people.
The doors to the Fire Rock
Casino, just east of Gallup,
N.M., will open to the public
on Wednesday. Set against the
backdrop of red rock formations,
the casino represents new
territory for the Navajo Nation,
which only slowly followed the
path trod by so many other
American Indian tribes.
Navajos twice voted against
legalizing gambling on the
reservation, in 1994 and 1997,
over concerns it would bring
increased social ills and drain
the pockets of impoverished
Navajos, before it was approved.
Billboards along Interstate
40 in western New Mexico
declare, "your odds are about
to change."
"We're just barely getting
started, but I sense that a lot
of tribes are afraid of Navajos
getting into gaming, being as
large as we are," said Navajo Vice
President Ben Shelly.
The casino is expected to
generate $32 million in annual
revenue for the Navajo Nation,
about a fifth ofthe annual tribal
budget, which doesn't include
federal money. In 2006, gaming
brought in more than $25 billion
to the 225 tribes that have casino
or bingo operations in 28 states,
according to the National Indian
Gaming Association.
"Some people like it because
it's going to be a source of
employment and revenue for
the tribe," said Harry Walters,
a Navajo historian and cultural
anthropologist. "On the other
hand, it's also addicting; the
people are going to be losing
money."
Low-stakes gambling has
always been a part of American
Indian culture. For the Navajo,
CASINO to page 6
Anschutz looks for oil on
Montana reservation lands
Associated Press
GREAT FALLS, Mont.
-Officials on the Blackfeet
Indian Reservation are
partnering with a Denver-based
company in looking for oil on
reservation lands along the
Rocky Mountain Front.
Anschutz Exploration Corp.
is putting up the money for
the exploration. The tribe's
investmentis covered by putting
up the land for exploration
wells, said tribal Chairman
Willie Sharp Jr.
If the sites show potential,
Anschutz plans to use
directional drilling to better
access potential oil reserves.
Last Wednesday, Anschutz
crews wrapped up work on a site
about three miles east of East
Glacier. Work was scheduled
to begin on Friday at a second
site, about 33 miles north of
Browning.
Site manager Ken Clare
says the cores look good, but
it could be weeks before they
know if they found substantial
oil reserves.
Jim Halvorson, a petroleum
geologist with the Montana
Board of Oil and Gas, said
Anschutz plans to drill about
7,000 vertical feet into the two
areas on the Front, and then
horizontally about 11,500 feet.
That method is being used
because it makes it possible to
drain more of a reservoir's oil
from a single location.
It's not known how much
of an impact the exploration
could have on wildlife along the
Front and in Glacier National
Park.
Environmental groups have
argued drilling on the front
should be banned to protect
wildlife habitat, but officials
in Browning say the project
has the potential to change
life economically for tribal
members and reservation land
owners.
"What about the Indians?
Talk about an endangered
species," said Ron Crossguns of
the BIA's Oil and Gas Division.
Tribe building its own wireless
network
Associated Press
FORT YATES, N.D. - Standing
Rock Sioux officials say their
reservation along the North
Dakota-South Dakota border is
in a communication dead zone
with phone service that is spotty
at best. They plan to change it.
The tribe is building a wireless
network to serve at least 16,000
customers.
"It's a very ambitious project,"
said Dwight Schmitt, president
of the new wireless company,
Standing Rock Telecom. "I feel
it was a logical step for the tribal
council to take."
The multimillion-dollar
venture is entirely privately
funded, Schmitt said.
Geraldine Agard, who lives
in Fort Yates, has heard stories
of people dying from exposure
because they could not make
phone calls from the side of the
road. She has a son and two
grandsons who cannot call their
parents if they're in trouble, lost
or simply need a ride.
Emergency 911 calls get
rerouted or don't work, and calls
to nearby towns or other areas
result in long distance charges
on land lines, residents say.
"Our people were having a
lot of issues," said Avis Little
Eagle, the tribal council's vice
chairwoman. "We don't have
those things that a lot of people
take for granted."  •
Seventeen new towers or
antennas are to be in place by
spring 2009, so customers can
subscribe to the service and
put wireless modems in their
homes to receive the Internet.
Cell phone signals will be able to
bounce off the towers and bring
the dead zone back to life.
Schmitt said the tribe
considered putting in land lines,
but found that a wireless network
costs much less.
The tribe began working with
the Federal Communications
TRIBE to page 6