Aaniin Indian Country,
We have just returned from our journey to Mount Adams for the Camp
Chaparral "Healing of Veterans." Because of the refusal of Leech Lake
District Representative Jack Seeyle to discuss our traveling needs, and the
standoff that has been ongoing here on the Leech Lake Reservation by the
sitting council (a council made up of convicted felons, practicing
alcoholics and a cocaine abuser) against the newly elected chairman Eli
Hunt, we were able to take only one veteran and spouse to the program at
the Yakama Nation. We learned much from our week's participation in the
program and the traditional ceremonies held for the healing of Native
American Veterans and the cross-cultural understanding by the VA employees,
counselors, and service reps who are called upon to work with the Indian
Vets throughout the country.
As we left Cass Lake on August 16th, the Cass Lake Band and Teals Super
Market were refusing to cash the paychecks of Leech Lake employees whose
checks had been signed by Chairman Hunt. Upon the federal felony
convictions of the former chairman Alfred Pemberton and sec/treas Danial
Brown, the federal judge told these two that they could no longer do any
'business/money' dealings for the tribe. At that time, Jack Seeyle and
Alfred Fairbanks (who totes a sidearm to work and flashes it around) were
given TEMPORARY authorization to sign checks for the Leech Lake Band. The
BIA and the TEC (Tribal Executive Committee of the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe) have both recognized Eli Hunt as the duly elected chairman of the
Leech Lake Band. The constitution of the MCT clearly states that the duly
elected chairman HAS THE AUTHORITY to sign checks for the Leech Lake Band,
but the Cass Lake Bank is refusing to recognize our Chairman until they
receive 'authorization/permission' from the convicted felons, practicing
alcoholics and cocaine abuser.
The day we left we also learned that the sitting council of convicted
felons, practicing alcoholics and cocaine abuser (also still 'recognized'
by the BIA and TEC) had called in the National Indian Gaming Commission to
tell them that Chairman Hunt had dismissed 'their' licensed Gaming
Officials and tried to get the casinos at Leech Lake shut down. A
desparate effort to get the Leech Lake people to side with them through
economic extortion.
We also learned that the council had met in secret AGAIN and had passed
another (illegal) resolution. This one to close the Twin Cities Leech Lake
Office in retaliation for the support shown by the Twin Cities enrollees
for Chairman Hunt.
We learned too, that the BIA has turned over petitions calling for the
removal of council members to the council to 'verify the signatures.' (In
reality, for the council to retaliate against petition signers.)
Throughout the power struggle here at Leech Lake, Chairman Eli Hunt has
proven himself to be a true Anishinaabe Leader, looking out for the best
interests of the band members. He continues to model true leadership and
appropriate adult behavior to the sitting council. They continue to get
their 'advice' from non-indian lawyers.
On Friday, August 23, the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa took matters into
their own hands to solve the ongoing power struggle between the tribe's
councilors and the chairman by forming a General Council consisting of the
chairmen from the 12 local Indian councils that represent the communities
of the Leech Lake Reservation, including the Twin Cities. The General
Council voted to assume the legislative authority over the band and
designated the existing five-man Tribal Council as the body to carry out
approved legislation. The Tribal Council will continue to carry out all
duties pertaining to money and business but will no longer be allowed to
pass any legislation governing the tribe.
The General Council and tribal members took action because the tribal
constitution makes the Tribal Council accountable only to itself. Under
the constitution, council members can only be removed by a two-thirds vote
of the rest of the council -- and they will never act to remove council
members because they are protecting each other, with the blessing and
cooperation of the BIA and the TEC.
Hear the voices of the Leech Lake People:
Guy Greene of the Sugar Point Council: "Everybody comes to the meetings
and says what they know about government. To hell with the government.
Listen to the Leech Lake people. Go up to the tribal office and throw
those hood out. If the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Tribal Executive
Committee don't recognize you, to hell with them. The've never helped us.
The BIA has been kicking the people in the face for years."
Martin Jennings, General Council member: "As the people, we are poor. We
don't have the lawyers the councilmen do or their ear of the TEC either.
We have to take some drastic steps, but they have to be legal steps. We
don't want the 'feds' coming in." (Coucil members high priced non-indian
lawyers are being paid with tribal funds.)
Hartley White, Chairman of the General Council: "You mean to tell me that
four people are going to whip us to death. There should be 4,000 of us
against them. I am doing this for my grandchildren's future. I don't care
about it for me. I have a pension. I'LL live. The tribe is like a truck
that is spinning its tires because there is no weight in the pickup bed.
You people are the weight we need. You people need to support this
council."
Dee Fairbanks, Tribal Press Secretary (reguarding attempts by the council
to have the casinos shut down): "These four guys (Tribal Council Members)
are trying to shoot us in the foot. As a sovereign nation, you don't want
to involve the feds in your affairs. Our guys (newly appointed gaming
administrators) were issued temporary licenses. But the licensing
procedure was sabotaged by the band's gaming personnel director and gaming
compliance officer, who are both related to Tribal Council members and who
sat on the paperwork to instigate an investigation by federal authorities.
You can kind of see how this was set up."
So the struggle continues at here in Minnesota Chippewa Country. The
non-indian bank president at the Cass Lake Bank, has joined the high priced
non-indian lawyers to interpret the tribal constitution and make the calls
for the people of Leech Lake to the tune of "Turkeys in the Straw" in step
with the BIA and the TEC. (Did you see that coyote just run by laughing?)
Please note that the Vets' Outreach will be taking a gift to the Tribal
Council: a bag of apples from the Yakama Nation.
We will keep you posted.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Bernard J. Rock, Sr.
Leech Lake Pillager Band
Spotted Eagle Warrior Society
North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans
Outreach and Resource Center