NDN News June 16
Kerchee
Rapid change provides opportunities, challenges
By Lisa Chiu
c. The Arizona Republic
June 15, 2000
Karen Listo has a picture of herself and her two kids taped to her work
computer with the quote: "Whatever it takes, we will get there."
A member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, the single mom from Tucson works full
time as a casino shift manager while going to the University of Phoenix.
"A lot of my classmates have died, some of alcoholism and suicide. Maybe two
to three have gone on to get degrees," said Listo, who is studying business
management. "I'm determined to get a degree and move up."
Moving up -- from welfare to work, from casino cashier to shift manager, tiny
steps and big leaps -- was the mantra of more than 200 Native American women
who gathered for the "Connecting Your Circle" conference on Wednesday at the
Holiday Inn Select Airport in Phoenix to discuss their changing homelands,
families and lives.
The growth of Indian gaming and other jobs off the reservations offer Native
American women opportunities unheard of a generation ago as well as access to
better housing, day care and social services. But some women struggle with
the choices.
"There is a dark side and a light side to gaming," said Wauneta Lonewolf, a
Valley resident and a presenter at the motivational conference. "For the
first time, women are in a position where they have to assimilate into
dominant society, and gaming gives us that opportunity. But at the same time,
we don't have the financial-management skills."
The gathering, which ends Friday, allows women to share ideas and learn from
experts in various fields on topics ranging from the practical, such as
starting a small business, to the personal, such as how to use dreams to heal
your life.
"These women are trying to do all the work at home and in the business world
and at the same time keep the culture alive," said conference organizer Ann
McCommas of AIM Motivational Seminars of Tempe.
McCommas told of one Native American woman who works all day but finds time
every night to sit with her children outside to say prayers, sing and tell
stories.
Retaining her culture is so important to activist Marie Gladue that she moved
back to the Navajo Reservation after 16 years away from home.
"I did the opposite of what everyone else is doing," Gladue said. "I wanted
(my children) to know the Dine culture. And because we are based in the land,
our family has a kinship to it."
Gladue, of Kykotsmovi, now works as a liaison for the Navajo-Hopi Land
Commission. She came to the conference to network.
"When you make connections with these people, there seems to be a lot of
self-empowerment there," she said.
Other women came to the conference for a more practical reason: jobs.
Nita Emerson lives in Crownpoint on the Navajo Reservation in northeastern
New Mexico and helps tribal members move from welfare to work.
She brought more than 40 women from Crownpoint so they could learn how to get
jobs.
They face obstacles like alcohol abuse and domestic violence, Emerson said.
Transportation also is scarce, leaving many women on the reservation with
little means to find jobs or take their children to day care.
"A majority of the women are single parents living in a remote area out on
the reservation with very little job opportunities," Emerson said.
For many, progress has a price.
Clementia Ramon had to leave the Tohono O'odham Reservation in southern
Arizona to attend a welfare-to-work program for six months, leaving her
children behind with family. But she knew it would be worth it.
After 4 1/2 years on welfare, Ramon now supports her family and works as a
counselor for other tribal members on welfare.
"I'm back now, working for my people," Ramon said. "I can relate to my
clients. I just give them a little push because somebody once pushed me."
- - - - - -
Tribe pays $900,000 for local artist's work
c. AP
6/12/2000
MONTVILLE, Conn. (AP) A Thompson man has struck another kind of jackpot with
the Mohegan Indians, owners of the Mohegan Sun casino.
Artist David Wagner sold more than 70 paintings to the tribe for $900,000.
The artwork depicts Eastern Woodland Indians, a series on the Pequot War and
portraits of North American Indian chiefs. The body of work took Wagner about
15 years to complete.
The self-taught artist said the paintings focus on the heritage of southern
and eastern Connecticut.
''There is no other collection like it in the world,'' Wagner said.
Tribal spokeswoman Jayne Fawcett said the members have not decided where to
display the art. Among the possibilities are the former Masonic Temple in
Norwich where the tribe plans a multi-million-dollar museum. The paintings
also could adorn the tribe's new hotel, currently under construction near the
casino.
''We recognized Mr. Wagner's unique ability to portray Indian life in the
area,'' Fawcett said. ''We are very happy to purchase some of his
paintings.''
Wagner, a former builder and selectman, has been painting the landscape of
eastern Connecticut, the nation and world for years. Among his works are
collages depicting the Persian Gulf War, a 1991 attempted coup in the Soviet
Union and a tribute to the late CBS newsman Charles Kuralt, host of the ''On
The Road'' series.
- - - - - -
Indians eye casino outside Belleville
By Karyn Saemann
June 13, 2000
BELLEVILLE -- The Lac du Flambeau Chippewa want to build a $60 million
casino, hotel and convention center in Green County, just south of the
village of Belleville.
Local officials in the town of Exeter and village of Belleville and a member
of the Green County Board confirmed today that they have been in contact with
Richard Schermetzler, chief executive of the Lac du Flambeau, about a
potential casino complex in Exeter.
The Chippewa band has failed to gain approval of a casino in Lake Mills and
Columbus. A referendum is scheduled in July regarding a hotel-casino complex
near Lambeau Field.
Belleville Village President Paul Ziehli said he was contacted because the
site would have to hook up to the village's sewer and water system. The town
of Exeter already shares a fire and EMS service with the village and a
neighboring town.
Ziehli said details remain sketchy. He said the Village Board discussed the
proposal Monday night.
Schermetzler was not available for comment.
"We need more information,'' Ziehli said.
"It's pretty much preliminary at this point,'' agreed Exeter Town Chairman
Bill O'Connor.
O'Connor said the tribe approached the township about a month ago, seeking
40-45 acres for the project.
O'Connor said no specific site has been chosen.
He said the success of the proposal really depends on Belleville.
"If Belleville doesn't go along with it there is no need to go further,'' he
said.
O'Connor said the proposal is exciting.
"We just never gave it a thought to be honest,'' he said. "That was something
I never thought about in my wildest dreams. That was just the farthest thing
from anybody's thoughts.''
O'Connor said the proposal could be put before the Town Board for a vote or
could be taken to residents via a referendum.
Green County Board member Ray Francois said the board would also have to
approve the project.
Exeter Town Board member Ted Fahey said he's not ready to voice support or
opposition to the project.
"It's way too early,'' he said.
However, an aide to state Rep. Rick Skindrud, R-Mount Horeb, said he has
spoken with a Belleville area resident who is opposed.
The resident, whom The Capital Times attempted unsuccessfully to reach, told
aide Alan Colvin that citizens were beginning to pass petitions and to
otherwise organize against the plan.
- - - - - -
Remains of 25 Indians brought from Milwaukee
c. Associated Press
6/15/2000
KESHENA, Wis. -- The Milwaukee Public Museum has returned the remains of 25
Menominee Indians for reburial at the tribe's reservation.
The retrieval includes objects associated with the original burials, tribal
authorities said.
Tribal Chairman Apesanahkwat thanked the museum for its help in returning the
remains under the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
Act.
``We want to underscore the fact that digging up these people was a
desecration and an act against humanity,'' Apesanahkwat said. ``There was no
scientific information gained by digging these people up, nothing that we
could not have told ourselves.''
The remains were taken from burial mounds on the reservation during
excavations in 1919-21, he said.
Dave Grignon, the tribe's historic preservation officer, said some of the
remains date back 1,000 to 2,000 years.
He believed some scientific studies were done on the bones.
``I don't think they have been on display. They have been in the storage
area,'' Grignon said.
None of the remains recovered from the Milwaukee museum involved full human
skeletons, he said.
The bones were reburied on the reservation Saturday with traditional burial
rites, including a ``ghost feast,'' the tribe said.
Last November, the tribe regained the remains of 21 Indians from the Neville
Public Museum and the Outagamie County Historical Society.
Grignon said the tribe believes another 400 remains are located throughout
the country.
- - - - - -
High court hear arguments on Indian water rights
By Jennifer Crowe
c. Reno Gazette-Journal
June 15th, 2000
The Nevada Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether state officials
have authority to cross Indian land to regulate water rights on the South
Fork Indian Reservation near Elko.
The dispute stemmed from a judicial decree granted in the 1930s, which allows
the district court’s water commissioners to distribute water rights from the
Humboldt River. The South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe had subscribed to
the same rules as others for 50 years, but in 1998 asserted its sovereign
immunity which would preclude the water commissioners from regulating their
water rights. The tribe’s policy change occurred about the same time as new
leadership was elected.
In September 1999, the tribe arrested a water commissioner as he tried to
gain access to the tribe’s headgates to regulate the river’s flow. Since the
tribe is at the headwaters of the south fork of the Humboldt River, it can
take as much water as it wants, depriving downstream owners of the water they
are entitled to, said deputy attorney general Paul Taggart.
Taggart also said the tribe has been manipulating the headgates without
permission of the water commissioners — in direct defiance of the water
rights decree — and is storing some of that water on private property that is
not accessible by the state.
“What the tribe is doing is wrong,” Taggart told the seven Supreme Court
justices. “They cannot accept the benefits of state water rights and then
ignore the burdens of those rights.”
Decisions from the Nevada Supreme Court are typically issued several months
after arguments have been heard, but it’s possible this case could be decided
sooner because of the immediate water implications.
Ray Rodriguez, lawyer for the tribe, argued the state doesn’t have any legal
authority over the tribe. He said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that
Indian tribes cannot be subject to suit unless Congress grants a waiver
specific to that case.
Rodriguez balked at the state’s argument that using the water rights for 50
years was an implied waiver of sovereignty.
“It’s up to Congress to decide, not the courts,” he said. “Absolutely no
act of Congress whatsoever has waived the tribe’s right to immunity.”
Taggart said either way, this case will set precedent on whether Indian
tribes must comply with the laws regulating the land they purchase. Other
states that are facing similar issues are watching this case, for some
indication on where the courts are leaning, he said.
“We’re talking about water law versus Indian law, probably two of the most
complicated areas of law there are,” he said.
- - - - - -
Classes in Salish resume on June 19
c. Spokane.net
6/15/2000
After a two-year hiatus, the Spokane Salish language classes will be offered
to the public beginning June 19.
It's a joint effort between Eastern Washington University and the Salish
Kootenai College branch campus in Wellpinit.
Classes will be taught on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit. They
will be open to everyone.
The Salish language is noted for its descriptive nature.
"It's a way for people to learn about where they live," said Peter Campbell,
interim director of American Indian studies at EWU. At the request of
students, he requested the language classes be offered again. " (The Salish
language) shows our relationship to the river and the land and the
environment in which we live."
Pauline Flett had taught Salish for years at EWU. A couple of years ago, she
began spending more time working on a Salish language program for the Spokane
tribal cultural center.
Classes run June 19-July 30.
Call 258-9202 for more information
- - - - - -
Smoke shop may sue over essay
Tort claim says Orofino administrator's statements hurt business
Julie Titone - Staff writer
c. Spokane.net
6/15/2000
OROFINO, Idaho -- Claiming harassment and damage to their business, owners of
the Orofino Smoke Shop are seeking compensation for being singled out in a
controversial essay.
Their threat of lawsuits against the city of Orofino and others could worsen
already tense relations between local government officials and the Nez Perce
Indian Tribe.
The essay in question was written last winter by Orofino City Administrator
Rick Laam. It was criticized by tribal and human rights leaders for inflaming
racial tensions.
Laam predicted that bloodshed would result if the Nez Perce Tribe doesn't
stop imposing regulations on non-Indians who live on the reservation.
As an example of the jurisdictional problems that arise, Laam pointed to the
smoke shop on U.S. Highway 12, owned by Doug and Lorna Marsh of Lewiston.
Because Lorna Marsh is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, the couple contends
its business doesn't need city and county liquor and business licenses and
building permits.
"We purchase and are issued a business license and a tobacco retail license
by the Nez Perce Tribe," the Marshes said in a written statement this week.
"We pay sales tax (based on cigarette sales) to the Nez Perce Tribe. ... When
we did our remodeling project, we acquired a building permit from the Nez
Perce Tribe and they hired a licensed inspector to inspect our property."
When the shop sold beer, it had a state liquor license. According to Laam,
the state wouldn't give the Marshes another liquor license because they
didn't have city and county licenses.
The couple has applied to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to have their business
lot declared federal trust land. The city opposes that because the land would
be exempt from zoning regulations.
In his essay, Laam raised the question of whether emergency services and
utilities would be provided to the little "island" of de-annexed land.
"Does the city continue to provide fire protection, police protection or
ambulance services when no property taxes are paid by the Marshes to support
those services?" Laam wrote.
The Marshes contend they will always pay for emergency services. The
suggestion that they might not have emergency services is one reason they
have filed a tort claim.
Tort claims must be filed before governments can be sued, providing a chance
for out-of-court settlement.
According to the Marshes' claim, Laam's essay "in essence makes it `open
season' on the property of claimants and their employees, customers,
tourists, etc., by publicly indicating that Orofino and Clearwater County may
or will not provide police, fire and ambulance services."
Noting that the essay includes a reference to possible bloodshed, the Marshes
claim that the essay amounted to "intentional intimidation and harassment."
The tort claim estimates that $20,000 a year will be lost because of the
essay, and seeks an undetermined amount of money for damage caused by
slander. It seeks $50,000 for loss of mental, emotional and physical
well-being by the owners, their employees, customers and tourists. It also
seeks $50,000 in punitive damages.
The claim was filed not only against Orofino and Clearwater County, but also
against the North Central Idaho Jurisdictional Alliance and its other 21
members. All are local governments or taxing districts.
None has responded to the tort claim, said John Tait, the Marshes' attorney.
Alliance executive director Dan Johnson and Orofino Mayor Dan Pittenger would
not comment on the claim because of possible litigation.
The alliance was formed in 1996 to fight an employment ordinance and other
tribal regulations that affect non-Indians living within reservation
boundaries. The tribe contends that its treaty with the federal government
entitles it to govern, and governance includes regulations.
The smoke shop is mentioned on two pages in Laam's 25-page essay, which he
wrote as a way of explaining the alliance and its cause to residents of
Orofino. The essay was officially adopted by the alliance in March.
The tort claims were filed May 18. The Marshes haven't wanted to publicize
the dispute, their attorney said.
"At this point, we are not suing anyone and we hope the matter can be
resolved without litigation," the couple said in their statement.
Rick
*******************************
I'm desperately trying to figure
out who all the Latin use is
supposed to impress.