July 19, 1998 Native American Press/Ojibwe News
Mobilize for next TEC meeting
"The first element of sovereignty, and the last which may survive
successive statutory limitations of Indian tribal power, is the power of
the tribe to determine and define its own form of government. Such power
includes the right to difine the powers and duties of its officials, the
manner of their appointment or election, the manner of their removal, the
rules they are to obderve in their capacity as officials, and the forms and
procedures which are to attest the authoritative character of actis done in
the name of the tribe."
---excerpt from Felix Cohen's handbook of Federal Indian Law.
Since the tribal elections, Leech Lake Reservation residents have had the
opportunity to, under authority of a new chairman, Eli Hunt, attend and
speak at meetings of the Reservation Business Committee. Recent issues
being discussed are the felony convictions of certain RBC members and the
termination of certain top administration employees.
Even though the tribal members at the RBC meetings numbered in the
hundreds, and were unanimous in support of these decisions made by the new
chairman, the four incumbent RBC members failed to carry out the wishes of
the people they are supposed to represent and have since acted against the
chairman in carrying out his promise to the people of having an honest and
open government.
The main prroblem is that tribal people cannot broaden our
government or make the necessary changes unless we get rid of the present
IRA tribsal constitution. To do this, we must come together as a nation,
with the involvement of all six reservations.
In the election protest at White Earth, the Tribal Executive
Committee has taken the position of supporting the incumbents of the
Reservation Business Committee and not recognizing the new chairman. Also,
this tribal committee has taken it upon themselves to say that only they
can interpret the constitution to mean whatever they need it to mean to
keep the people separated ion the six reservations. All six reservations
and all tribal people who vote absentee must come together to question this
Tribal Executive Committee. Where did they ghet full govening authority?
Have the people ever amended the constitution to authorize this?
Now, in fact, we not only have convicted felons acting in offical
capacity on our RBC's in Leech Lake and White Earth, but we also have these
same convicted felons sitting on the Tribal Executive Committe, claiming
only they can interpret the tribal constitution.
If tribal members everywhere care anything about the future of our
people and the status of our nation, revove the convicted felons from the
Tribal Executive Committee, along with the rest of the TEC members for
failing to act against those convicted of crimes against the people. This
Tribal Executive Committee and their attorneys with all their legal tricks
of the trade have made this present constitution useless as far as
protecting the rights and sovereignty of our people.
In fact, the TEC is involved in a conspiracy to deny the
Anishinaabe nation our inherent right to self-government. Our grandfathers
signed treaties to insure these rights. This TEC/RBC, and all who aided
and abetted them, must be held liable for their acts.
Now is where the people of our nation can demand that the federal
government uphold their "trust responsibility" and deal with these
individuals.
There are federal laws in place to protect our inherent
rights/treaties. The federal government does have an obligation to protect
our treat rights, so the TEC should be dealt with for acting beyond the
scope of their authorities under the present constitution.
The Tribal Executive Committee and its RBC's have been denying our
inherent and treaty rights. They have violated federal laws put in place
to protect these rights. Tribal members everywhere must be informed and
allowed to have input into restoring our national status and developing a
better government for all of us.
Please, tribal people, attend the upcoming TEC meeting; our future
depends on it. We must choose between rebuilding our nation or allowing
the TEC to lead us into termination. The TEC and its complicity
administration has not announced the date of the next meeting, which they
will likely keep secret as long as possible. Call tribal administrator
Gary Frazer today, and keep calling until he discloses the date of the next
TEC meeting.
Gary Frazer 218/335-8581; fax no. 218/335-6562
Roxeanne LaRose
PO Box 604
Cass Lake, MN 56633
Bernard J. Rock, Sr.
Leech Lake Pillager Band
Spotted Eagle Warrior Society
North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans Outreach and Resource Center
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