November 7 Tribal Executive Meeting held in Brainerd, MN
A broad-based group of more than 100 tribal activists headed off a proposal
by the White Earth RBC to authorize individual reservations to decide
whether to allow primary elections. The TEC rescinded Election Ordinance
#5, replacing it with an amended version of Ordinance #4 which schedules
primaries 60 days before general elections and 30 days before special
election.
Origin of the "totalitarian government" can be traced to the passage in
1980 of Constitutional Interpretation 1-80 by which the TEC bestowed upon
themselves the sole right of interpretation of the constitution, a right
that does not exist in that document. Although several TEC members
acknowledged the arbitrary nature of the act, none would introduce a motion
to strike it down. In its defense, the TEC said eliminating the
interpretation would allow federal courts to impose their own definitions.
Franklin (Doc) LaRose said the argument is a ruse, since Anishinaabe people
are forced to individually resist the imposition of civil regulatory laws
in state courts without any offical support. "You're hiding behind 1-80,
calling it sovereignty--but only against the people, not against the
county, state or federal government. Its gotta be amended to say the
people have the exclusive right to interpret the constitution, not the TEC.
Activist Dale Greene agreed: "When we go into court on those damned issues,
we don't have the protection of the Constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe which guarantees our rights. You guys are holding our rights
hostage."
The TEC passed a resoulution to set a special meeting in January on the
subject of 1-80.
Kevin Dupuis of Fond du lac said he is challenging the RBC's regulation of
hunting, fishing and gathering rights in the ceded territiories. Dupuis
said he is also intervening with other Fond du Lac members in the
reservation's treaty rights lawsuit. "We going to represent ourselves. We
already talked to Judge Davis and we can do that. We're going to find out
who's the inherent sovereign.
The TEC did not formally recognize the Leech Lake General Council, but did
agree to hold a special meeting with Council representatives before the
next regular meeting.
Council officer Louis Boyd: "At a meeting in Bena on July 12, 1922, the
constitution and bylaws of the General Council were 'made permanent.' Made
permanent, that means laid down in solid rock. There has never been
nothing, as far as we have found, that rescinded that."
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U.S. District Court Grand Jury has supoenaed all Leech Lake Gaming
financial records for the period January 1, 1992 to July 31, 1996
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The Leech Lake Reservation General Council will hold a cleasing feast on
Wednesday, Novermber 20, 1996. The Feast will be held at the Veterans'
Memorial Pow Wow Grounds Building and will begin at noon.
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Bernard J. Rock, Sr.
Leech Lake Pillager Band
Spotted Eagle Warrior Society
North Central Minnesota Native American Veterans
Outreach and Resource Center