Chippewa Request Treaty Rights Rallies
Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson is visiting Canada, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria and perhaps Germany and Sweden on trade
missions in September and October. We are requesting that Indian support groups
greet Thompson with demonstrations, to pressure him to respect Chippewa
treaty rights, by linking this respect to economic cooperation with your
country.
The April 1991 Chippewa spearfishing season was marked by a decline in
the number of racist protesters at Northern Wisconsin lakes, because of
federal court action and increased support for the treaties. However,
the remaining "hard-core" protesters were far more abusive in their
language and actions (see Hernandez article ). Despite this, Thompson said
that there have been "no scenes comparable to the ugly scenes of
previous spearfishing seasons." His top aide in the state Department of
Military Affairs, Al Shanks, said that it is "almost to the point where
it could be handled on the local level as far as law enforcement goes."
Without a state-coordinated security effort, the Chippewa may next year
be at the mercy of Northern police sympathetic to the anti-treaty
movement.
In addition, mining projects are now beginning on lands ceded by two
Chippewa treaties. We fear that these mines will contaminate the fish
and wild rice we gather under the treaties. Kennecott, owned by
London's Rio Tinto Zinc has begun to build roads for a coppermine south
of the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation, though it has been held up in
the courts because of the discovery of five endangered species. (See
Grossman article) Noranda of Toronto is filing its intent to mine south of the
Lac du
Flambeau Reservation. Former Governor Tony Earl, a lawyer for Noranda,
will be with Thompson in Czechoslovakia and perhaps Germany.
Ironically, one of their purposes is to sell Wisconsin-made pollution
control devices to former Soviet bloc nations!
We are requesting that you greet Governor Thompson with rallies,
delegations, and media exposure focusing on Chippewa treaty rights.
Banners could read something like: Wisconsin Governor Thompson: Support
Chippewa Treaty Rights" or "Stop Mining on Wisconsin Chippewa Treaty
Lands". PLease call Wisconsin Department of Development trade offices
(such as the one in Frankfurt, Tel. 772029/772037). Even small actions,
if immediately publicized here, could help to show that the treaties
are internationally recognized. Your actions and letters helped in April.
Publicize the Thompson visit in your national media. Contact US print,
wire and electronic media bureaus to cover your actions (especially
Associated Press, United Press International, CBS, ABC, NBC TV and
radio, and Cable News Network). It would help immensely if you directly call
media here in Wisconsin to report on your actions: Associated Press
(608-258-9235 or 255-3679), Wisconsin State Journal newspaper
(608-252-6118); Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Sentinel newspapers
(414-224-2240); and especially Public Radio News (608-263-7985).
Communication should be immediate--by phone or FAX--so we can put out a
press release about your action. We would also like to know ahead of time
what your plans are. Our FAX number is 608-255-2766 (address to
"Midwest Treaty Network"). Please call Dorothy or Anita at 715-588-7687
in Lac du Flambeau or Zoltan or Debra at 608-246-2256 in Madison. If you
have any articles or photos, please send them right away to Midwest
Treaty Network, 731 State Street, Madison WI 53703 USA.
Miigwech, Dorothy Thoms
Vice-President, Wa-Swa-Gon Treaty Association,
Lac du Flambeau Reservation, Wisconsin
Tentative Thompson schedule (contact Zoltan for updates):
SUBJECT TO CHANGE, CONFIRM WITH AGENCY OR HOTEL
TORONTO MTN contact: Jay Mason CASNP (416) 972-1873
MON SEPT 9
Briefing with US Consul General
Meeting with Hammon Mfg. (Guelph)
Business meeting
Investment seminar
Evening business reception
TUES SEPT 10
Meeting with Premier Rae
Canadian Customs tour
Canada-US Business Association lunch/speech
Meeting with Torstar
MONTREAL MTN contact Oscar Hernandez (514) 529-0813
WED SEPT 11
Meeting with Bombardier, Ltd.
Business appointments
Lunch speech at Canadian Manufacturers Association
QUEBEC CITY Meeting with Bourassa, business reception
THURS SEPT 12 MONTREAL
Breakfast investment seminar with Montreal Board of Trade
CZECHOSLOVAKIA MTN contact Czechoslovak Pacifist League
Panska 7, 11669 Praha 1 Tel (422) 227454
TUES SEPT 17 PRAGUE
11am arrival at airport
1-4pm Rest at Hotel Intercontinental
4-6:30 pm Tour
7:30-10 Dinner
WED SEPT 18
11am Meeting with Czech Environment Minister Ivan Dejmal
INTO THURS, SEPT 19:
Meetings with Czech Premier Petr Pithart, Minister -Chair of Federal
Committee on Environment Josef Vavrousek, Czech Agricultural Minister
Miloslav Kubat, parliamentarians concerned with ecology.
4 pm Fly to Bratislava, Forum Hotel
7:30-10 pm Dinner at US consulate Bratislava
BRATISLAVA FRI SEPT 20 Meetings
SAT SEPT 21
8 am-3 pm Visit to Tlumocov farm
6:30 pm Departs Vienna for Stockholm?
SEPT 22-25:
SWEDEN? Contact Svensk-Indianska Forbundet
GERMANY? Thompson plans to take Amtrak European Trip
Contact Big Mountain Support Group (Munich)
POLAND
MTN contacts: Polish American Indian Friends Association
c/o Kysztof Janiak Box 20 64-410 Sierakow Wlkp. Poland
AND skr. poczt. 4, 15-472, Bialystok 21 Poland Tel.? FAX?
SEPT 26-SEPT 30
Trade mission to Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan
OCT 1-2
Visit to Bialystok, Milwaukee's sister city
OCT 3-5
Leading National Governors Association delegation in Warsaw
OCT 6-9
Leading National Governors Association delegation in Budapest and Vienna
MTN contact: Association for Endangered Peoples-Austria
(43)(222)597-1176 (FAX 597-3743)
Hernandez and Grossman articles transmitted as separate files:Wisconsin
updates