Native American Press / Ojibwe News (Bemidji, Minnesota), 2009-01-01

              INDEX
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School
Leech Lake writer
Leech Lake Police
D.W. Jones upsets
NEWS AROUND INDIAN COUNTRY
2
employee pleads Guilty to
questions Michaud
Chief Pemberton
Native Elder
NEWS BRIEFS
3
Contributing to Delinquency
of a Child
employment
Comes with Sorted
Past
COMMENTARY/EDITORIALS
4-5
CLASSIFIEDS
7
page 5
page 4
page 5
page 4
Leech Lake
Leadership To
Do List
page 4
Busy Quarter for Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
VOICE       OF      THE       PEOPLE
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Chairman's Report (Nov-Dec
2008)
It has been a busy quarter
and there is much to report as
we end the old year and enter a
new one. There are a lot of good
things happening and there is
lot to report and discuss. The
Secretary Treasurer is putting
together a brief financial report
for the newspaper with a full
presentation of the Band's
financials at the Quarterly
Meeting, January 9th, in Ball
Club, MN.   Full reviews of
everything will be part of the
upcoming Band Assembly
that has been promised. We
need to talk with our band
membership on the proposals
for the Nelson Act Settlement,
discuss blood quantum and
constitution reform, the high
voltage Powerline and Enbridge
Pipeline that want to come
across the reservation, as well
as development issues and
overall needs.
I can say it is a real positive
change from many of the
recent administrations to have
a Tribal Council that truly
works well together. We have
been working together to plan
for the future while we try to
deal with ongoing issues that
need to be addressed. We have
set the goal of again becoming
the reservation that leads and
set the direction that the other
reservations look toward as
an example of progressive
tribal government. We all look
forward to sharing the exciting
direction and work being done.
QUARTER to page 6
Gilfillan Center   New year, new tax in Mankato
reopens
By Bill Lawrence
Beginning the week of
January 5, 2009, youth
clients will be accepted at
the White Earth Band of
Chippewa sponsored Oshki
Manidoo—New Spirit
Center.
The center opens in what
was formerly known as the
Gilfillan Center. The White
Earth Band acquired the
property from the Episcopal
Community. The purchase
is also partially funded with
an appropriation from the
State, as well as matching
funds primarily from
the Mdewakanton Sioux
Community.
The center is licensed by
the Minnesota Department
of Human Services as a
children's residential facility.
It has chemical dependency
certification since substance-
use-disorders have been
identified as a primary
need in those who will be
served at Oshki Manidoo.
It is designed to serve 30
juveniles ranging in age
from 10-18 years.
Director Jill Hewitt is
quoted, "We're a holistic
healing center for youth."
CENTER to page 3
By Joe Kimball, minnpost.com
With the new year comes a
new tax in Mankato.
The Mankato Free Press says
a new half-cent hospitality tax
takes effect today, with the
proceeds going to help pay for
operations at the city-owned
Alltel Center, which hosts
meetings, athletic events and
concerts.
It's expected to raise about
$400,000 a year.
Business owners had opposed
the new tax on restaurants and
ticketed events in the city, but
officials decided it was better
than raising property taxes.
Red Lake man sentenced for
assaulting woman
A 28-year-old Red Lake
man was sentenced yesterday
in federal court for nearly
strangling a woman to death in
February on the Red Lake Indian
Reservation.
On Dec. 22 in Minneapolis,
United States District Court
Judge David Doty sentenced
Kyle Wayne Garrigan, Sr., to
41 months in prison and three
years supervised release on one
count of assault resulting in
serious bodily injury. Garrigan
was indicted on May 20 and
pleaded guilty on June 23.
According to Garrigan's
plea agreement, he admitted
assaulting the adult victim on
Feb. 14, strangling her to the
pointthatpetechiahemorrhaging
appeared on her eyes, behind her
ears and on her neck. Garrigan
also admitted that he struck the
victim an unknown number of
times with his hands, fists and
feet causing bruises to her back,
legs and arms.
Garrigan admitted he strangled
the victim to the point where
she went limp and almost lost
consciousness, and that as a
result of the assault, she suffered
extreme physical pain.
According to a Federal Bureau
of Investigation affidavit, the
Red Lake Police Department
responded to the victim's
residence. Upon their entrance,
officers were met by a woman
screaming that she was being
beaten up. Garrigan followed
the woman into the room, and
was arrested.
This case was the result of an
investigation by the Red Lake
Police Department and the FBI,
and was prosecuted by Assistant
U.S. Attorney Tricia A. Tingle.
Obama vows Salazar will fulfill trust responsibilities
President-elect Barack Obama
introduced Sen. Ken Salazar
(D-Colorado) as his nominee for
Secretary of the Department of
the Interior on Wednesday, vowing to give tribal nations a voice
in his administration.
Speaking from his transition headquarters in Chicago,
Obama promised his pick will
ensure the federal government
lives up to its treaty and trust
responsibilities. Interioroversees
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and
the Office of the Special Trustee
for American Indians, the two
agencies with the most impact
on reservations.
"We need more than just a
government-to-government
relationship, we need a nation-
to-nation relationship," the
incoming president said.
Salazar, a first-term senator
from a state with two tribes,
hasn't had much experience with
Indian issues during his time in
Washington, D.C. But he also
referenced Native Americans in
his remarks yesterday.
"I look forward to helping to
address the challenges faced
by our Native American communities across the nation,"
said Salazar, who comes from a
ranching family.
The comments from Obama
and Salazar stood in direct contrast to those made by President
George W. Bush and his Interior
nominees. In 2000, when Colo-
radan Gale Norton was named
Sen. Ken Salazar
to the post, and 2006, when
former Idaho governor Dirk
Kempthorne took her place,
Indian issues weren't mentioned
at all.
But controversies, ranging
from the Indian trust fund debacle to off-reservation gaming,
consumed both picks. The Jack
Abramoff scandal, the largest in
Washington in recent history,
sent a top Interior official to
prison for his dealings on tribal
matters.
"I also wantan Interior Department that very frankly cleans up
its act," Obama said. "There have
been too many problems and too
much emphasis on big time lobbyists in Washington."
"That's going to change under
Ken Salazar," Obama added.
Elouise Cobell, the lead plain-
tiffin the lawsuit over individual
Indian trust funds, expressed
hope that Obama and Salazar
will live up to their pledges. Her
case was filed in June 1996 and
has failed to see a resolution under Democratic and Republican
presidents.
"Now it is up to the next presi-
dentand his Interior Secretary to
settlewhatisthelongest-running
class action civil suit against the
government," Cobell, a member
of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana, said in a statement.
Two of Cobell's attorneys -
John Echohawk, the executive
director of the Native American
Rights Fund, and Keith Harper,
a former NARF staffer now in
private practice - are in fact playing a key role in shaping the new
Interior as members of Obama's
transition team. Echohawk
and another ex-NARF attorney
have been dealing with general
Interior issues while Harper has
focused on the National Indian
Gaming Commission.
Besides nominating Salazar,
Obama will choose a new assistant secretary for Indian Affairs
to oversee the BIA, a new Special
Trustee for American Indians
for OST and a new chair for the
NIGC. Salazar, if confirmed, gets
to name two of the NIGC commissioners.
But before those posts are
filled, Salazar will go through
the confirmation process. The
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on which
Salazar served, is expected to
hold hearings on the nomination
in January.
"He understands how to manage federal lands and resources
SALAZAR to page 3
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Gang Activity
Excerpt from The Fatal Link
By Jody A. Crowe
I began to see a direct link
between heavily impacted FAS
kids and gangs. Mille Lacs
was experiencing a staggering
increase in gang activity and
our school was a hotbed of
recruitment. Two major gangs
were establishing territories
and the schools were included
in their turf. We quickly began
to realize our enrollment in the
middle school and high school
was more dependent on what
gang the students belonged to
rather than any other factor.
One family ran one gang and
another family made up the bulk
of another gang, and both were
linked to gangs in Minneapolis
and St. Paul. Our school was
the school of choice for one of
the gangs. Any member of the
opposing gang who was forced
FATAL
LINK
POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS
to go to our school, by their
parents or, because they had
been expelled from the public
school, met immediate threats
of violence unless they left the
school. We were constantly on
guard for fights and retaliation.
Most of our middle school and
high school students were much
more concerned with who they
were aligned with than any
reading or math lesson.
As our school spiraled
downward trying to cope with
the gang influence, I began
to see a pattern. Our heavily
impacted FASD kids were the
enforcers of the gangs. They
were the ones who would fight
at the flash of a sign or at
the command of their gang
superiors. They were the ones
who didn't think about the
consequences of their actions.
Our school was the turf of
one of the gangs and a sixth
grade student was the gang
leader. I watched as high school
seniors deferred to this sixth
grade student. This was a new
experience for me and I was
ALCOHOL to page 5
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Volume 20 Issue 16
January 1, 2009
Leech Lake Chairman LaRose sweeps Tough
Guy Competition - Super Heavy Weight division
Chairman Archie LaRose at the Tough Guy Competition, Winner of the Super Heavy Weight division 2.
for front page, "Proud dads congratulate champs."
L-R Rocky Papsadora, Romando Papsadora, Heavy
Weight champion; Archie LaRose, Champion Super
Heavy Weight Division, and Dad, Bill Croaker.
By Bill Lawrence
I've always known he was
a tough little varmint. But if
janyone else doubted it, Archie's
performance at the December
Tough Guy Competition at the
Northern Lights Casino should
put any doubts to rest.
He didn't ask for my advice
before undertaking what most
would call a fool hardy step. If
he had, I'd have lobbied against
itwith all my might How would
anyone with only two weeks of
preparation time, away from the
boxing ring for too many years,
even think of entering a Tough
Guy competition?? But the
Leech Lake Chairman, known
for his dogged persistence,
stepped right up and took the
challenge.
Over a two day time span
LaRose fought 4 matches. Each
of his 4 opponents was younger
and heavier than he. They were
probably faster too, although
in the end, that did not matter.
Thirty-seven year old Archie,
weighing 214 pounds, faced
Randall Stangler, younger
than Arch at 255 pounds; Joe
Bellenger twenty-five-years old
at 230 pounds; Jeff Jackson 31-
32 years old at 308 pounds; and,
lastly—for the championship
of the Super Heavy Weight
division-he fought Zachary
Jensen, 26 years old, 6'3" tall,
weight 310 pounds.
I'd say this was a heck of an
accomplishment. Now.that it's
over, and he's not only still alive,
but victorious, I have to say with
great enthusiasm -1 AM VERY
PROUD OF YOU!
Archie has announced his
retirement from active boxing
after this momentous victory.
I'm glad of that for two reasons-
everyone should leave on a high
note, and he'd be endangering
one of the Leech Lake Band's
best assets if he tried it again.
He says he has boxing in his
blood. Youth boxing programs
will always be in his heart, and
he can see himself in the future
LAROSE to page 3
SD judge
orders 1 trial
for 1975 AIM
slaying
By Carson Walker
Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Two
men charged with the 1975
slaying of a woman on the Pine
Ridge Indian Reservation can
be tried together, a magistrate
judge has ruled in denying
their requests for separate
trials.
John Graham and Richard
Marshall have pleaded not guilty
to charges they committed or
aided and abetted the first-
degree murder of Annie Mae
Aquash.
They're scheduled to stand
trial together in Rapid City
starting Feb. 24 _ 33 years
after her body was found in the
Badlands near Wanblee.
Marshall was indicted in
August, five years after Graham
and Arlo Looking Cloud were
initially charged.
Looking Cloud was convicted
in 2004 for his role in Aquash's
murder and sentenced to life
in prison. He is cooperating
with the government in its
case against Graham and
Marshall.
Witnesses at Looking Cloud's
trial said he, Graham and
Theda Clarke drove Aquash
from Denver in late 1975 and
that Graham shot Aquash, a
fellow Canadian, as she begged
for her life.
Clarke, who lives in a nursing
home in western Nebraska, has
not been charged.
Graham has denied killing
Aquash but acknowledged
being in the car from Denver.
Prosecutors accuse Marshall
of providing the handgun and
shells that Graham used to
AIM to page 6
4 South Dakota tribes get
$1 million each
Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - An
American Indian tribe that runs
a successful casino outside the
Twin Cities is giving $1 million
to each of four tribes in South
Dakota.
A grant to the Cheyenne River
Sioux Tribe will fund economic
development and community
improvements, including funds
for after school programs.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe will
use its grant to build a tribal
grocery store in Mission.
A grant to the Sisseton-
Wahpeton Oyate will pay for two
new community centers.
The Yankton Sioux Tribe
will build a community center
at Lake Andes. The $4 million
comes from the Shakopee
Mdewakanton (mehd-WAH'-
kuh-tuhn) Sioux Community,
which operates Mystic Lake
Casino in Prior Lake, Minn.
NA tracks descendants
By George Bryson
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An
ancient mariner who lived
and died 10,000 years ago on
an island west of Ketchikan
probably doesn't have any close
relatives left in Alaska.
But some of them migrated
south and their descendants
can be found today in coastal
Native American populations
in California, Mexico, Ecuador,
Chile and Argentina.
That's some of what scientists
learned this summer by
examining the DNA of Tlingit,
Haida and Tsimshian Indians
in Southeast Alaska. Working
with elders at a cultural festival
in Juneau, they interviewed
more than 200 Native Alaskans
who allowed them to swab
tiny amounts of saliva from
their cheeks to capture their
mitochondrial DNA, the genetic
material that's passed from
mothers to children.
Preliminary examination of
those cell particles indicates:
- None of the participants
possessed DNA similar to that
extracted from On Your Knees
Cave man, the 10,300-year-old
Alaskan whose remains were
discovered 12 years ago in a
shallow cavern on Prince of
Wales Island.
- But some participants
appear to be closely linked
genetically to coastal Indian
tribes in British Columbia and
Washington state, in spite of
anthropological studies that
claim flingits were originally
an Interior people, like the
nearby Athabascans.
"We haven't seen connections
inland yet... looking at just the
very first couple of samples,"
said Washington State
University Assistant Professor
Brian Kemp, the molecular
anthropologist who led the
research. "That doesn't mean
we won't. But right now we
only have these long-distant
connections."
Apparently On Your Knees
Cave man only has long-distant
relatives too.
Bones of the ancient Alaskan
were first discovered in 1996
by Alaska paleontologist Tim
Heaton during an archaeological
survey on the northern tip of
Prince of Wales, the nation's
third largest island.
They are among the oldest
human remains ever found in
North America - a 13,000-year-
old woman's partial skeleton
was discovered 50 years ago
TRACKING to page 7