Item No. 1:
URGENT ALERT: MAY 17, 1997
EXXON DESTABILIZES CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY
Witnesses/Observers Bail Funds Needed Letters and Calls Wanted
On May 1, 1997 members of the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation in
northwestern Wisconsin began an occupation of their tribal administration
offices charging wrongdoing and influence peddling by Wisconsin Governor
Tommy Thompson and the Exxon Minerals Corporation who have a partnership
with Canadian mining giant Rio Algom. Exxon/Rio Algom are midway through
a permit to develop one of the largest metallic sulfide mines (2,000) feet
deep shaft) next to the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation, endangering their
sacred wild rice beds, surrounding waters, and the entire Wolf River system.
The grassroots tribal members are convinced that Exxon has already
infiltrated their tribal administration and by occupying the tribal
offices have declared NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL. They've called for a
number of agencies to investigate these charges and to root out any undue
and illegal influence affecting their survival. This action, while it has
created some new interest in their concerns, remains extremely tense. The
tribal government, ignoring their constitutional duty to hear the widespread
complaints, have instead issued eviction notices and have filed charges of
criminal trespass. Though no arrests have yet been made those inside have
been summarily fired from their jobs and threats to take away personal
property and land assignments have been issued.
They ask that pressure be put on the Department of Interior, the
Department of Justice and other agencies for a thorough investigation.
Because of allegations of misuse of casino funds the National Indian
Gaming Board is also investigation Mole Lake. Additional concerns of US
EPA collusion is also surfacing.
Please contact the following:
* Tom LeClaire, DOJ Office of Tribal Justice - 633 Indiana Ave. NW,
* Washington DC 20531 PH: 202/616-3205 FAX: 202/514-7805
* Doris Popple, NIGA (Gaming Bd) : 202/632-7003
* Wisconsin Department of Justice, Gary Hamblin: 608/266-1671
* US EPA Office of Environmental Justice: 800/962-6215
* Dept. of Interior, BIA, Ashland WI 54806 - 715/682-4527
* Mole Lake Tribal Government, Rt. 1, Box 625, Crandon WI 54520
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
* Midwest Treaty Network: Walt Bresette, PH/Fax: 715/779-5071
* Indigenous Environmental Network WEB SITE: http://www.alphacdc.com/ien
* (also see LINKS at IEN site for Midwest Treaty Network and Menominee
* Nation); E-mail: ien@igc.apc.org - phone 218/751-4967 FAX:218/751-0561.
* Mole Lake Concerned Tribal Members: 715/367-2902
Item No. 2:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 1997 Walt Bresette, Red Cliff Lake Superior
Chippewa
TREATY LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO BEGIN Because of the may tribal members who
have taken direct action regarding treaty rights a Treaty Legal Defense
Fund is needed. Such a fund, discussed at an Anishinabe Niijii meeting
earlier this year, will be used in support of actions which move forward
the protection of treaties or help clarify treaties as a tool to protect
the environment of Ceded Territory. The fund's account will be set up in
a local bank where people will be able to make direct deposits. Elders
from Red Cliff and members of the Waub Ojeeg Institute for Cultural
Preservation will temporarily oversee the accounting of these funds; a
more permanent fund system will be established in the next months for
Ceded Territory. Until then, people can send contributions to the Treaty
Defense Fund c/o Walt Bresette, Route 1, Box 117, Bayfield, WI 54814 or
phone 715/779-5071. # # # # #
WITNESSES NEEDED AT MOLE LAKE Because of increased tensions on the Mole
lake Reservation, I call upon all sides to open direct dialogue, and to
seek ways for a peaceful mediation and resolution of this situation.
Until such avenues are opened there is a need for trained observers to
monitor the situation so that no Mole Lake members or local citizens face
hostile action. I urge trained witness for Non-violence members to make
themselves available; they can contact me at the northern office of
Witness for Non-violence, Route 1, Box 117, Bayfield WI 54814 or by
calling 715/779-5071.
Item No. 3:
News Release May 9. 1997 by Walt Bresette Lake Superior Chippewa - Red
Cliff
MOLE LAKE OCCUPATION WILL STRENGTHEN ANTI-EXXON ALLIANCE
The horses are out of the barn at Mole Lake. It's time to round them up,
repair the barn door, and resume the battle against Exxon and their
buddies who wish to turn northern Wisconsin into a mining district.
The current struggle at Mole Lake has external factors and implications.
All the charges leveled need to be aired and dealt with. It is premature
to assign guilt or wrongdoing, but the charges must find a proper venue,
not simply denied or covered-up.
This unfortunate situation for the Mole Lake community should not blind
the anti-Exxon allies from continuing the momentum forward. In the end,
the airing of these charges will strengthen the alliance; to ignore them
will weaken our resolve.
Serious charges which may have compromised the Exxon permit process and
the Mole Lake Air Quality permit need to be investigated.
Potential undo influence over tribal leaders by the Thompson-Klauser
administration needs to be clarified.
And Mole Lake's leadership in the alliance needs to be restored. The
charges against the Ackley administration, unless properly aired and
resolved, contaminates the trust needed in the alliance.
What some Mole Lake tribal members have done is express exasperation
against what they believe is outside influence, bad internal policy and
potential illegal activities. They also say their tribal government has
refused to act on these concerns, so they took action themselves.
This is not surprising, nor is it new; it happens regularly around Indian
Country. What is surprising is that similar action didn't occur at the
Wisconsin town of Nashville when Exxon held that building hostage,
refusing to allow duly elected town members to take office.
What is surprising is that despite Jim Klauser's well-known and documented
influence peddling, state citizens have not reclaimed control over their
government.
So while we shouldn't rush to judgment against the Ackley Administration,
let's not find those inside the building guilty either. Reports are
surfacing that arrests may soon occur. By turning this simply into a law
enforcement action ignores serious concerns.
Usually where there is smoke, perhaps there's fire. While in a circle
inside the building one (Mole Lake) elder spoke: "We have a short in our
attic," he said, using a familiar metaphor. "Unless we find where it's at
and repair it now, there will be a fire."
I call upon the Mole Lake Tribal Council, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and
other appropriate agencies to help find the proper venues for the charges
being raised by Mole Lake Members.
I also call upon those inside to allow objective observers to document
this situation. I ask any trained Witness for Non-Violence members to
schedule time at Mole Lake.
The stakes are too high for friends and neighbors to be silent; what
happened at Madison, Town of Nashville and now Mole Lake and Lac du
Flambeau foreshadows other communities in an era of influence peddling by
deep-pocketed mining interests.
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Indigenous Environmental Network P.O. Box 485 Bemidji, MN 56619
Ph: (218) 751-4967 Fax: (218) 751-0561 e-mail: ien@igc.apc.org
web page: http://www.alphacdc.com/ien
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