Tim Wheeler, board member and former president, addresses attendees at SEJ' s 18th Annual Conference in Roanoke, Va., Oct. 15, 2008.

Here’s what the SEJ has to say: “As a journalism organization that believes in an open society, SEJ each year welcomes a diverse group of attendees to our annual conference. Attendees include representatives of business, government and environmental groups, as well as working journalists, academics and students.

Because non-journalists are here, you may see or hear presentations or responses to presentations that you might not expect from mainstream journalists. The presentations and any responses do not necessarily reflect the views of SEJ or any of its members.

As our guest, we would ask you to respect our interest in open discussions of environmental issues by thanking all participants in sessions you attend and not disrupting presentations of views you disagree with.”

Meanwhile, I’d like to invite readers to share their ideas with me as I prepare questions for the tribal energy panelists listed below:

THE CLIMATE
Energy Issues on Tribal Lands
Tribal lands are poised to become the lands of choice for renewable energy projects, while some reservations sit atop coal, oil, natural gas and other non-renewables. Multiply the millions of acres at stake — what is happening and what happens will have a big impact. And because their lands are sovereign, they have a great deal of leeway over what they do on those lands, but present unique challenges for journalists who seek to cover them.
Moderator: Jodi Rave, Freelance Journalist, Buffalo’s Fire

Speakers:
Alexis Bonogofsky, Senior Coordinator, Tribal Lands Conservation Program, National Wildlife Federation
Robert Gough, Attorney and Secretary, Intertribal Council On Utility Policy, and Co-chair, Native Peoples/Native Homelands Climate Change Workshop
Tracey LeBeau (Cheyenne River Sioux), Attorney and Senior Managing Director, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, and Co-founder, Red Mountain Energy Partners
Patrick Spears (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe), Board Member, NativeEnergy, and Co-founder and President, Intertribal Council On Utility Policy

Room: 330/331, University Center

Thank you. And be sure to join us here in Missoula, Mont.

Jodi Rave

Note: After 13 years of daily newspaper reporting, I’m now working on a graduate degree in environmental studies and creative non-fiction at the University of Montana.

I’m back to regular posting after taking care of personal business over the summer. It’s all been good, very good. So, thanks for checking in with the Buffalo’s Fire blog. Now that we’re nearing the tail end of summer, I will be back  in the regular groove of spending a lot more time online, doing my part to keep readers informed about what’s happening in Native communities in Montana and around the country.  So, on to some of the latest contest powwow results. Here are the winners of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community annual wacipi held held August 20-22, 2010, at the SMSC Pow Wow Grounds. More than 770 dancers in regalia registered to compete in the contes while thousands of spectators joined in to celebrate Dakota culture.

Pow Wow Winners 2010

Jr. Girl’s Fancy (6-12)

5th Nicole Dasher

4th Emaree Iron Hawk

3rd Shelby Snyder

2nd Eahtosh Bird

1st Tavian Lasley

Jr. Girl’s Jingle (6-12)

5th Raena Lasley

4th Tia Gray

3rd Emmalee Clairmont

2nd Shy Leonard

1st Waskwane Stonefish

Jr. Girl’s Traditional (6-12)

5th Gaby Brinegar

4th Tara Fiddler

3rd Lalani Bullbear

2nd Nicole Nordwall

1st Layla Goodeagle

Teen Girl’s Fancy (13-17)

5th Oke-Tw’sna Roberts

4th Sky Blackkettle

3rd Beedaskah Stonefish

2nd Lacy Rae Fiddler

1st Ashlyn McArthur

Teen Girl’s Jingle (13-17)

5th Miki Brinegar

4th Shay Desrosiers

3rd Shannen Wambdi Ska

2nd Ryanne White

1st Amanda Ironstar

Teen Girl’s Traditional (13-17)

5th Erica Moore

4th Khadijah Morden

3rd Kendra Wilson

2nd Annessa Clairmont

1st Charish Toehay

Jr. Boy’s Fancy (6-12)

5th Xavier Toehay

4th Silas Whitebuffalo

3rd Mu-Juhtheen Roberts

2nd Quentin Cleveland

1st Tyler Thurman

Jr. Boy’s Grass (6-12)

5th Casey Smith

4th Gavin White Eye

3rd Omash Koonce Santos

2nd Therien Paskemin

1st Misun Mills

Jr. Boy’s Traditional (6-12)

5th Brycen WhiteShirt

4th Triston Lasley

3rd TJ Good Nature

2nd Myles Bullbear

1st Talon White Eye

Teen Boy’s Fancy (13-17)

5th Anthony Klein

4th Sonny Means

3rd Courage Cleveland

2nd Jason Taylor

1st Albert King, Jr.

Jr. Teen Boy’s Grass (13-17)

5th Alex Mason

4th Dusty Hanska

3rd Mason Kingbird

2nd Cameron Grady

1st Peanutt Roberts

Teen Boy’s Traditional (13-17)

5th Julian Bravenoise Cat

4th Michael Fish

3rd Nathaniel Peegan

2nd Dwight Littlejohn

1st Zane Tacan

Jr. Adult Women’s Fancy (18-34)

5th Bobbi Lynn Pratt

4th Amber Rose Cleveland

3rd Jocy Bird

2nd Tanksi Clairmont

1st Nahmi Lasley

Jr. Adult Women’s Jingle (18-34)

5th KC Hindsley

4th Winona Kingbird

3rd Grace Pushetonequa

2nd Farica Prince

1st Dorothy CrowFeather

Jr. Adult Southern Buckskin/Cloth (18-34)

5th Chalene Toehay

4th Amanda Harris

3rd Rosie Motah

2nd Lynn Thurman

1st Emerald Keen

Jr. Adult Women’s Traditional (18-34)

5th Terra Trujillo

4th Verlina BlackKettle

3rd Tierra LaBelle

2nd Tara Sandy

1st Amber Buffalo

Sr. Adult Women’s Fancy (35-54)

5th Michelle Lonechild

4th Lisa Meeches

3rd Crystal Cleveland

2nd Lisa Ewalk-Noon

1st Kellie Lebeau

Sr. Adult Women’s Jingle (35-54)

5th Karen Pheasant

4th Rowena Roberts

3rd Dianne Desrosiers

2nd Denise One Star

1st Yvette Goodeagle

Sr. Adult Southern Buckskin/Cloth (35-54)

5th Sharon Roberts

4th Sandy Harris

3rd Delaine Alley

2nd Toni Tsatoke

1st Danita Goodwill

Sr. Adult Women’s Traditional (35-54)

5th Ann Marie Tacan

4th Linda Standing

3rd Rochelle Bullhead

2nd Angelina Hindsley

1st Kellie Mae Downwind

Women’s Golden Age (55 & over)

5th Elaine Medicine

4th Madelynn Goodwill

3rd Vera Kingbird

2nd Carmen Clairmont

1st Anna Mae Pushetonequa

Jr. Adult Men’s Fancy (18-34)

5th Tyler Lasley

4th Marquel Crawford

3rd Kenny Pratt, Jr.

2nd Eric Bird

1st Darrell Hill

Jr. Adult Men’s Grass (18-34)

5th Bryson Rabbit Lonechild

4th Adam Nordwall

3rd Jason Cook

2nd A.J. Redman

1st Buck Spotted Tail

Jr. Adult Men’s Southern Straight (18-34)

5th Josh Smith

4th Buck Wallahue

3rd Jason Lightfoot

2nd Ron Goodeagle, Jr.

1st Kiowa Cozad

Jr. Adult Men’s Traditional (18-34)

5th Keith Tacan

4th Yahsty Perkins Killers

3rd Eli Snow

2nd Wendall Powless

1st Novi Smith

Sr. Adult Men’s Fancy (35-54)

5th Gabe Bullock

4th Jerry Cleveland, Jr.

3rd Dwight Whitebuffalo

2nd Larry Yazzie

1st Michael Roberts

Sr. Adult Men’s Grass (35-54)

5th Joe Lafferty

4th Wayne Fox

3rd Lakota Clairmont

2nd Clifton Goodwill

1st Randall Paskemin

Sr. Adult Men’s Southern Straight (35-54)

5th Everett Moore

4th Wilson Roberts

3rd Sean Spicer

2nd Ron Goodeagle, Sr.

1st Terry Tsotigh

Sr. Adult Men’s Traditional (35-54)

5th Edmond Nevaquaya

4th Terry Fiddler

3rd Gabriel Cleveland

2nd Tony Wahweotten

1st Chaske LaBlanc

Men’s Golden Age (55 & over)

5th Royce Kingbird

4th Zack Morris

3rd Nathan Smith

2nd Ivan Lonechild

1st Wayne Pushetonequa

Men’s Chicken Dance (18 & over)

5th Dale McKay

4th Dakota Schrock

3rd Richard Street

2nd Marty Thurman

1st Rooster Topsky

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The SMSC utilizes its financial resources from gaming and non-gaming enterprises to pay for the internal infrastructure of the Tribe, including but not limited to roads, water and sewer systems, emergency services, and essential services to its Tribal members in education, health, and welfare. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has a charitable giving program which comes from a cultural and social tradition to assist those in need.

Over the past 13 years, the SMSC has donated more than $180.8 million to charitable organizations and Indian Tribes and Native American organizations.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, a federally recognized Indian Tribe in Minnesota, is the owner and operator of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, Playworks, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, The Meadows at Mystic Lake, and other enterprises on a reservation south of the Twin Cities.

For more information, contact Contact:
Tessa Lehto, Communications Specialist
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Phone: (952) 496-6160
E-Mail: tessa.lehto@shakopeedakota.org

Jodi Rave

 On Aug. 10, 16 candidates filed for the chairman position of the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota.  I’ve sat in on tribal council meetings over the years and I’ve reported on past council dealings. I know there are a lot of disgruntled, dismayed and disappointed tribal citizens who are disheartened by the state of tribal politics.

 I’m reposting a recent letter to the editor in the New Town News:

 To the editor;

As fall approaches, another go-around of winner take all politics raises it’s sinister head on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. For many years now, whatever political that gets elected into office on the reservation, rewards itself with new houses, range units, land trades, business start-ups, business deals, jobs, high salaries, new vehicles, travel, loans, donations, grants, etc, and revenge on other political factions. This type of government only benefits a few at a time. The overall tribal population suffers because of it. The factions also ignore or change tribal law to fit their needs.

Many prospective tribal council candidates have realized this fact in the past and have compaigned on constitutional change and cocde of ethics implementation. However, once they got into power and realized that with change they couldn’t get what they wanted, they changed only their minds about change.

I cannot put all the blame on tribal council members for having this type of government. Our ratified constitution is not a balanced, three branch constitution, and was written for us by the United States. Also, we do not have the courage, strength or conviction to demand a new constitution and ethics code. Even though a revised three branch  and a viable code of ethics, with teeth, would force council members, and their factions to live and govern by the rule of the law and for the good of all.

Kyle Baker

Jodi Rave

It is a difficult political environment on Capitol Hill, with a number of members focused on re-election politics, not our much needed legislation. Our legislation efforts are complicated by record deficits, a weak national economy, and the requirement that $2 billion of our settlement be paid for through spending or revenue off-sets. This year, most legislation, excluding emergency spending legislation, has designated off-sets which have become very controversial because each political party has its own views on the acceptable off-sets.

Unfortunately, Congress has repeatedly taken our identified off-sets that were deemed widely acceptable to support other bills that were more important to Senate leadership and the administration. And, unfortunately, the administration has been unwilling to designate any of the billions of dollars of unspent economic stimulus funds to ensure passage of our settlement bill. This has forced us to start over repeatedly as our congressional allies have to work even harder to identify other possible acceptable off-sets.

Throughout the session which ended Aug. 5, our attorneys and I continued to work with our allies in the Senate to get attached to a bill the Senate would pass. Before the Senate recessed, leadership brought our case to a vote through a procedure called unanimous consent. This simply means the Senate could pass the bill so long as no senator objects; if anyone objects, the bill does not pass. This measure did not pass as a result of Sen. Barrassos’, R-Wyo., ongoing objection to the settlement.

As I reported in an earlier Ask Elouise letter, Sen. Barrasso hasn’t made a secret of his desire to kill the settlement, going against the will of the tribes in his own state and all but a handful of disgruntled critics. It is becoming more likely that Congress will not pass settlement legislation. Indeed, it is unusual for any settlement or judgment to be conditioned on political acceptance by Congress. The Judgment Fund, a permanently appropriated fund, was created decades ago by Congress to pay for all settlements and judgments against the United States.

It has two purposes: First, to exclude final judgments and settlements against the United States from the uncertainties of the political process, and second, to restore the reputation of the United States, which had become a deadbeat nation. Simply put, politics routinely blocked payment of the government’s debt obligations. Sadly, we seem to be heading that way again. Our settlement agreement was executed Dec. 7, 2009, more than eight months ago, and I know of no reason to believe that our prospects will improve as we get closer to the mid-term elections.

In fact, they are likely to get worse. Nevertheless, after endless hearings and debates in Congress about our case and its settlement, we have gathered a massive amount of support from members of Congress. I am informed that if we ever come to a vote in the Senate that we have sufficient votes to safely beat any filibuster. For this reason, I have carefully considered our options, consulted with scores of beneficiaries, listened to their concerns, and talked to our attorneys before making a decision to extend the agreement for what is likely to be the last time. I’m especially mindful of the fact that the vast majority of beneficiaries want this settlement to work because it is a fair deal. For these reasons, I’ve decided to extend the settlement agreement through Oct. 15, 2010. If you have a question, send an e-mail to: askelouise@cobellsettlement.com.

Thank you and keep your questions coming. – Elouise Cobell Browning, Mont

Whitney Bell, chairman candidate for Three Affiliated Tribes

If you are at the Little Shell Powwow in New Town, N.D. this weekend, the Committee to Elect Whitney Bell is hosting a campaign rally and feed on Sunday, Aug. 15 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. You are invited to come share a home cooked meal with Whitney at Shelter #1 at the Four Bears Park out by Little Shell Powwow campgrounds. Come and listen to Whitney’s speech about why is running for chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes. Whitney is smart, honest, educated and the father of five beautiful children and the husband of Tarina. He is currently the senior accountant for the Three Affiliated Tribes. He has outstanding business skills, including cash flows analysis management, financial planning, budget administration and government accounting. He has also served the tribe as the chief financial officer. Whitney has a plan on how he will lead and serve the people of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. Come here Whitney speak on Sunday. Bring a chair if you can and sit down, listen to Whitney while you enjoy a hamburger and an ice cold coke.

If you would like to reach Whitney, he’s available at ndplainswarrior@hotmail.com.

Here’s some of Whitney’s background on work with he’s done with the Three Affiliated Tribes:

TAT TRIBAL HEADQUARTERS – New Town, ND
Senior Accountant, July 2009 – Present
Chief Financial Officer, June 2007 – July 2009

TAT GAMING COMMISSION – New Town, ND
Gaming Commissioner, March 2000 – June 2007
Chairman of Commission, July 2005 – December 2006

FORT BERTHOLD COMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISE &
FORT BERTHOLD PUBLISHING AND PRINTING – New Town, ND
General Manager, 1997-2000

TAT TRIBAL HEADQUARTERS – New Town, ND
Administrative Assistant, 1995-1997

If you would like to help or volunteer call Jodi Rave at 406-396-8537.

Jodi Rave

Congratulations to all the folks who worked hard to organize this event, as well as all the athletes who trained hard for it. Here are the results from a press release:

Prior Lake, MN – In spite of pouring rain, the fifth Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Lakefront Days Triathlon was a success. Held on Saturday, August 7, 2010, at Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake, Minnesota, the event was part of a celebration of fun that included activities, competitions, shows, food, music and much more during the city’s annual Lakefront Days celebration. Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, an enterprise of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community co-sponsored the event along with the City of Prior Lake, the Three Rivers Park District, and Cleary Lake Regional Park.

 The triathlon drew 293 participants: 161 male and 132 female finishers. All winners are from Minnesota unless otherwise specified.

 “This is the first year we’ve had an Elite Category. At registration, athletes had to declare themselves as Elite or Amateur. We did this to give all who have a legitimate chance of winning, a fair shot to do so. These individuals are in the first heat of the race which allows them to compete without having to pass other participants. We allow a maximum of 30 men and 30 women in this division. This was our first year and we had 27 which we were thrilled with,” said Race Director Renee Engeman. “We also found that as a result, times were significantly faster than last year: three minutes faster for the men and 11 minutes faster for the women.”

 The overall Elite division male winner was Andy Schiesl, 33, of Prior Lake with a time of 1:01:16. Carl Unger, 36, of Prior Lake came in second with a time of 1:01:51. Kyle Serreyn, 19, of Lakeville came in third with a time of 1:03:55.

 The overall Elite division female winner was Diane Hankee, 33, of Hugo with a time of 1:07:47. Julia Weisbecker, 44, of Mendota Heights came in second with a time of 1:08:17. Lydia Novotny, 27, of Hopkins came in third with a time of 1:11:22.

 The overall Amateur division male winner was Joshua Frei, 19, of Rochester with a time of 1:07:51. Andrew Landkammer, 32, of St Louis Park came in second with a time of 1:08:54. Nick Hardt, 30, of Lake Elmo came in third with a time of 1:09:51.

 The overall Amateur division female winner was Kiesha Neitzell, 32, of Victoria with a time of 1:13:33. Danielle Berndt, 20, of Bloomington came in second with a time of 1:15:16. Michelle Rose, 31, of Prior Lake came in third with a time of 1:16:57.

 ”The event was extremely successful thanks in large part to the enthusiasm of our competitors, the cool weather for our athletes, and all of the volunteers that took time out of their Saturday morning to come help out. This was a great event that we hope to continue hosting each year,” said Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Director, Tad Dunsworth.

 The triathlon started at 8:00 a.m. with a 1/4-mile swim at Cleary Lake Beach. The swim was followed by a 13.5-mile bicycle loop through county roads. The third component was a 3.3-mile run through Cleary Lake Regional Park.

 An awards ceremony followed the event with awards to the top three male and top three female finishers and the first place finisher in each of the men’s and women’s age group categories. All participants received a t-shirt and gift bag in addition to a participation medal.

 The triathlon required the cooperation of a number of entities including the Cleary Lake Park Staff, Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Prior Lake Police Department, the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Mdewakanton Emergency Services, the Prior Lake Fire Department, and 76 volunteers along the routes.

 Amateur Age Group Winners
Male
15-19    Kyle Dammen, Austin
20-24    Ben Dupslaff, Savage
25-29    Aaron Lilly, Woodbury
30-34    Joe Rydel, Shakopee
35-39    Greg Hayes, Prior Lake
40-45    Sean Finn, Savage
45-49    Chad Murphy, Prior Lake
50-54    Jeff Melby, Bloomington
55-59    Mike Flynn, Elk River              
60-64    Dr. Jon Falkowski, Apple Valley 

 Female
15-19    Jane Finn, Savage
20-24    Erin Reicks, Minneapolis
25-29    Monique Lindquist, Shoreview
30-34   Shirley Himanga, Prior Lake
35-39    Emily Ertel, Prior Lake
40-44    Tracy Good, Victoria
45-49    Henriette Lemke, Prior Lake
50-54    Catherine Singer, Prior Lake
55-59    Carol Dean, Woodbury
60-64    Terry Johnston, Prior Lake

 About Dakotah!
The area’s premier fitness facility, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness offers a vast array of amenities with something for everyone in their 305,331 square foot facility. Amenities include an indoor track, aquatic center, indoor ice arenas, a double gymnasium, a cardio studio, a cycling studio, group fitness classes, free weights, circuit training equipment, and much more. Dakotah! Sport and Fitness is owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, a federally recognized Indian tribe in the Prior Lake and Shakopee area of Minnesota. The SMSC is also the owner and operator of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Little Six Casino, Playworks, the Shakopee Dakota Convenience Stores, The Meadows at Mystic Lake, and other enterprises on the reservation south of the Twin Cities.

 This press release and other materials can be downloaded from our website at www.shakopeedakota.org.

 

 Jodi Rave

I’m posting this alphabetical and “unofficial list” of Candidates filed as of Aug. 10, 2010 for Three Affiliated Tribes 2010 Tribal Election. I wish all the candidates a good campaign. Time is running short with about five weeks leading to the election on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. The chairman’s position is open for a new leader as well as three districts on the reservation. It’s an interesting time back at Fort Berthold with all the oil activity on the Bakken Formation. The community and entire reservation is changing with the influx of people from all over the country.

Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation

Here is the

Three Affiliated Tribes candidate list

For the record, here’s the unofficial list:

CHAIRMAN:

Whitney Bell
Roger Bird Bear
Elgin Crows Breast
Delvin Driver
Dennis Fox
Mark Fox
Tex Hall
Marcus Levings
Verdell Smith
RJ Smith
Arne Strahs
Ramona Two Shields
Charlie Vigan
Virgil Wilkinson
Roger Whiteall
Bernadine Young Bird

FOUR BEARS COMMUNITY
Judy Brugh
Cami Thorton

TWIN BUTTES COMMUNITY
Barry Benson
Maynard Demray
Gwen Hoestler
Amy Mossette

PARSHALL COMMUNITY
Clorine Linseth
Mervyn Packineau
Eloise Babe Wells
Myron Tony Foote

Jodi Rave

Dennis Gingold, lawyer in Cobell v. Salazar

The Obama admiminstration agreed to settle the Cobell v. Salazar suit in December 2009. At the time, it looked like passsage would be swift. Now, it will be close to nine months since the settlement agreement was signed in the long-running Indian trust land suit filed by Elouise Cobell in 1996.

After six extended deadlines, it’s possible that the Cobell v. Salazar suit might  be extended, again, until September.

Here’s what the National Law Journal reports on Aug. 6:

Dennis Gingold, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, including lead plaintiff Elouise Cobell of Montana, said in an interview today that he and his clients are considering whether to give Congress more time to act. The proposed settlement needs congressional authorization, and lawyers in the case have set at least six deadlines for that to happen since they came to terms in December 2009.

“We have to have some discussions with the administration about how this is going to proceed going forward, and we haven’t done that,” said Gingold (pictured above), a Washington solo practitioner. “If it looks like we actually have a sincere and honest commitment to get it done it September, then it would be foolish not to extend” the deadline, he said. The plaintiffs’ alternative would be to abandon the settlement and either negotiate a new one or return to litigation against the government.

The House of Representatives has twice given its approval to the settlement, including the authorization in broader spending bills, but the settlement has gotten caught up in the Senate. Lawmakers need to find other savings in the federal budget to satisfy self-imposed debt rules, and some Republicans want to impose a $50 million cap on attorney fees.

With the annual August congressional recess beginning today, lawmakers will not have another chance to act until mid-September.

Jodi Rave

WASHINGTON — Despite broad support, legislation to finalize $4.6 billion in settlements with black farmers and American Indians stalled in the Senate again Thursday amid partisan bickering.

Lawmakers from both parties say they support resolving the long-standing claims of discrimination and mistreatment by federal agencies. But the funding has been caught up for months in a fight over spending and deficits, with Republicans and Democrats arguing over how to pay for them.

Republicans have repeatedly blocked Democratic proposals and did so again Thursday. This time, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., argued that the settlement in the Indian case needs work and made a counter offer that would change parts of it.

An exasperated Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., responded that it’s not Congress’ role to renegotiate the case, which has been in court for 14 years and which the Obama administration is under a court-ordered deadline to resolve.

“My colleague from Wyoming, I think, wishes he were one of the negotiators,” Dorgan said. “Nobody in Congress was a negotiator … the question is whether we will meet our responsibility.”

In the Indian case, at least 300,000 Native Americans claim they were swindled out of royalties overseen by the Interior Department since 1887 for things like oil, gas, grazing and timber. They would share a $3.4 billion settlement in a class-action lawsuit originally filed in 1996 by Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe from Browning, Mont.

For the black farmers, it is the second round of funding from a class-action lawsuit originally settled in 1999 over allegations of widespread discrimination by local Agriculture Department offices in awarding loans and other aid. It is known as the Pigford case, named after Timothy Pigford, a black farmer from North Carolina who was an original plaintiff.

The government already has paid out more than $1 billion to about 16,000 farmers, with most getting payments of about $50,000. The new money is intended for people – some estimates say 70,000 or 80,000 – who were denied earlier payments because they missed deadlines for filing. The amount of money each would get depends on how many claims are successfully filed.

Passing the funding for the two cases would fulfill a campaign promise by President Barack Obama to resolve long-festering complaints.

John Boyd, head of the National Black Farmers Association, said both parties share the blame of leaving the work undone before the Senate adjourned for it’s month-long August recess.

“It’s just partisan division, one party against another,” he said. “It’s an embarrassment for the American people that they can’t get a bill passed that everybody supports.”

Jodi Rave

IWSN members: Katie Hoyt, Rachel Smith, Skaruianewah Charlotte Logan and Beatriz Reyes

Dear Readers:

It’s true, summer is already winding to a close! It’s been a very busy time of year for me, a time period that has actually kept me from my computer and blogging regularly, mainly because I’ve been in areas where it’s been hard to get an internet connection.

That said, I’m back in Missoula and just spent an amazing weekend with some marvelous women who are dedicated to using science to make their communities a better place to live.

Emerging and accomplished women scientists and like-minded women met in Missoula, Mont., for the second annual gathering of the Indigenous Women In Science Network, a newly formed national organization. About 40 women met Aug. 5-7 at the Payne Family Native American Center on the University of Montana campus to move the group forward and to support each other’s dreams and goals. The group arrived in Montana with an agenda set with informative presentations. In addition, leaders within the IWSN determined it was time to formally select an interim board to help set the organization’s course for the next year.

As an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Indigenous Graduate Partnership scholar, I’m pleased to be a part of the interim Board, which now includes the following people: President, LaBelle Urbance; Vice-President, Ada Bends; Secretary(s) Wendy Running Crane and Jodi Rave; Treasurer, Claudia Long.

We will all do our best to uphold the group’s mission statement:
The Indigenous Women in Science Network creates a community of mutual support for women scientists from all places. Honoring the wisdom of our elders, IWSN promotes the integration of cultural values with science to achieve harmony and balance for all generations. IWSN members are committed to empowering emerging scientists and celebrating women making contributions to science and community.

All the women shared their reasons for joining forces with the new organization. “I see it as growth,” said Dayle Felicia, a graduate student at Montana State University. “I see it as power. It feels really good.”

Sheila Lopez has kindly provided a record of minutes from meetings and summit reports to provide a better sense of the group’s metamorphosis since 2008. That’s the year the founders first met and decided to create an organization to support women in science. The first IWSN first meeting 2008was held in conjunction with the AISES National Conf in Anaheim, CA. The group held a 2009 IWSN summit in Missoula. The women were quick to establish the IWSN’s first conference in 2009, which was held in Portland, Ore. The 2nd Annual IWSN 2010 conference wrapped up in Missoula on Saturday, Aug. 7.

The newly elected IWSN interim board and the communication committee is working on developing a Web site for the IWSN. Meanwhile, I will keep readers updated here on the Buffalo’s Fire. Feel free to share this post with anyone who might be interested in being a part of this science support network for indigenous women.

Jodi Rave

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the funding of 126 new Recovery Act broadband infrastructure projects that will create jobs and provide rural residents in 38 states and Native American tribal areas access to improved service. Broadband access plays a critical role in expanding economic, health care, educational and public safety services in underserved rural communities. Today’s announcement is part of the second round of USDA broadband funding through the Recovery Act. A complete list of projects receiving Recovery Act broadband grant awards today can be viewed in full.

“The broadband projects announced today will give rural Americans access to the tools they need to attract new businesses, jobs, health care and educational opportunities,” Vilsack said. “The Obama Administration understands that bringing broadband to rural America provides a gateway for businesses and key anchor institutions – such as libraries, schools, public safety and community centers – to provide services to thousands of Americans. These projects will create jobs building these networks, and the completed systems will provide a platform for rural economic growth for years to come.”

In all, $1.2 billion will be invested in the 126 broadband infrastructure projects through funding made available through the Recovery Act. An additional $117 million in private investment will be leveraged, bringing the total funds invested to $1.31 billion.

By leveraging Recovery Act funding authorized by Congress, USDA has been able to provide loans and grants of $2.65 billion to construct 231 broadband projects in 45 states and one territory. The remaining authorized funds will allow an additional $1 billion in loans and grants by September 30, 2010. The Recovery Act provided USDA with a total of $2.5 billion to invest in expanding broadband access to rural America.

According to analysis released by the National Economic Council last year, overall Recovery Act investments in broadband are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs in the near term and expand economic development and job opportunities in communities that would otherwise be left behind in the new knowledge-based economy. Recovery Act broadband projects help bring down the cost of private investment, attract Internet service providers to new areas, improve digital literacy among students and workers, and help create new opportunities in employment, education, and entrepreneurship by wiring homes and businesses. With new or increased broadband access, communities can compete on a level playing field to attract new businesses, schools can create distance learning opportunities, medical professionals can provide cost-efficient remote diagnoses and care, and business owners can expand the market for their products beyond their neighborhoods to better compete in the global economy.

For example, Montana Opticom, LLC will receive a $32 million dollar loan and $32 million dollar grant to build a fiber-to-the-premises network in rural communities in Gallatin County, Montana. The company estimates that the project will directly support 650 jobs upfront. These jobs are just the precursor, though: once complete, more than 4,100 local businesses stand to benefit from a network that enables them compete globally—reaching new markets and new information. In addition, more than 18,000 Montanans and more than 50 libraries, health care facilities, schools, and other community institutions will have access to this high-speed service.

In central Michigan, Crystal Automation Services, Inc., has been selected to receive a $7.9 million loan and $18.5 million grant to deploy a hybrid fixed wireless, fiber optic network that will provide high capacity broadband to health care facilities, libraries, schools and community organizations. Fiber optic cable will be used for high-speed transport among the fixed wireless towers and in more densely populated areas. Fixed wireless service will be used to provide economical broadband service over a large six county area.

Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan, grant or loan/grant agreement.

President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so that the country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

More information about USDA’s Recovery Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal government’s efforts on the Recovery Act is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/recovery.

Jodi Rave

Journalism Entrepreneurs: News U at Native American Journalists Association

I just spent the last week in Minneapolis at the Native American Journalists Association  where I partipated in a mentor program designed by UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc.  UNITY recieved a $100,000 grant  from  the Ford Foundation to develop New U, a pilot program for journalism entrepreneurs. It’s part of a national trend of journalists taking news into their own hands.

“One of the best and most effective ways for journalists to evolve in the 21st century is to own their work product. This professional development opportunity will teach journalists the business side of the industry to help journalists of color not only survive but thrive in a changing economy,” said Barbara Ciara, UNITY President.

 New U will be a collaboration with UNITY’s alliance partners, including NABJ, NAHJ, AAJA and NAJA. Doug Mitchell, founder/creator of NPR’s “next generation radio” and Alli Joseph, a producer, entrepreneur, will serve as program managers; Mitchell and Joseph are also the program designers. “The reason the Ford Foundation has funded New U is that there are so few opportunities in entrepreneurship for journalists of color,” said Calvin Sims, Program Officer at The Ford Foundation.

For minority journalists, that’s awesome news. It means that we can own our own businesses and take a more proactive stance in sharing news with the world.Journalists as entrepreneurs comes on the heels of a rapidly changing news industry. Did you know 12,000 to 15,000 reporters have left U.S. newsrooms in the last five years? The mass exodus can be chalked up to a dismal economy. Scores of newspapers laid off staff. Many other newsrooms simply didn’t replace journalists who quit or retired. Annual newsroom revenues are now down by about $20 billion in the last few years.

A recent discussion on the Diane Rehm Show about non-profit journalism points to a news hole of disastrous proportions. News experts estimate that more than one million stories never made it into print because so many journalists are no longer in the newsroom. I am among the missing in print – although you can find me online here at the Buffalo’s Fire. I didn’t get laid off from the newspaper but decided my writing career might fare better outside the newsroom. I wanted to do some in-depth storytelling so I left Lee Enterprises to work on a book about the Cobell v. Salazar lawsuit. I’m also embracing digital storytelling on the airwaves. My new radio program is called Tribal Scene.

Since leaving daily journalism, I’ve had a chance to claim my writing as my own. That means I can use my skills in new ways. In addition to working on the book, I started a business, White Swan Media. It’s a new company, a work in progress. As for the thousands of journalists no longer working at newspapers. Well, we left newspapers, but  we didn’t leave the business of making news. Like many other news entrepreneurs, I’m embracing this new business beginning. As minority news consumers, we need more minority news businesses. “As the information eco‐system continues evolving, the emerging patterns demonstrate that information is being distributed in new ways and that older models are no longer sufficient, or perhaps to certain audiences, no longer entirely relevant,” according to a Native Public Media report titled “New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country:
Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses.”

It’s the digital age. Possiblities abound.

Jodi Rave

Statement by the President on the Passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act

Today’s passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act is an important step to help the federal government better address the unique public safety challenges that confront tribal communities. The fact is, American Indians and Alaska Natives are victimized by violent crime at far higher rates than Americans as a whole. Native communities have seen increased gang and drug activity, with some tribes experiencing violent crime rates at more than ten times the national average. And one in three Native women will be the victim of rape in her lifetime.

The federal government’s relationship with tribal governments, its obligations under treaty and law, and our values as a nation require that we do more to improve public safety in tribal communities. And this Act will help us achieve that. It will strengthen the relationship between the federal government and tribal governments. It will improve our ability to work with tribal communities in the investigation and prosecution of crime, and it authorizes resources for tribes to fight crime more effectively. While many members helped pass this bill, I especially want to applaud Senators Dorgan, Barrasso and Kyl, and Representatives Herseth Sandlin, Kildee, Cole, Conyers, Scott, Rahall, Simpson and Pastor for their leadership on this issue. I look forward to signing the Act into law.

###

Photo by Adam Sings in the Timber

Congratulations to Adam Sings in the Timber who was recently featured this summer in the New York Times “lens blog” section for his photography.

Familial Bonds Among the Crow
By ADAM STOLTMAN
It often seems as if America has only two frames through which to view its native culture: ceremony and pageantry or poverty and addiction.

“They are both opposite ends,” Adam Sings in the Timber said. “There is so much more in the middle.”

Mr. Sings in the Timber has had ample opportunity to reflect on how Indian culture is portrayed. He is a freelance multimedia and video producer for Reznet, a Native American news, information and entertainment Web site that trains and mentors college students who are preparing for journalism careers. He has also been documenting the everyday life of the Crow Tribe in southeastern Montana. Rather than focusing on extremes, his documentary project — “Apsáalooke Nation: Living in Two Worlds” — offers a window into ordinary experience and the struggle to maintain traditional culture in the contemporary world.

Mr. Sings in the Timber comes from the Mountain branch of the Crow and, as his name makes clear, he has embraced tribal traditions. That has helped spur the project.

“I want my son to have a better understanding of his people,” he said. “This is for him, my grandchildren and my people.”

The Crow (Apsáalooke, children of the large-beaked bird), lived historically as farmers in the Yellowstone River valley. Today, about 75 percent of the Crow population occupies one of the largest reservations in the United States, 2.3 million acres south of Billings, Mont. Many still speak their native language. Crow mythology and religion are observed, as is Christianity.

Every August, the Crow Fair — often called the largest family reunion in the country — brings the six Crow Reservation districts together with other tribes to celebrate and showcase art and culture. “The rhythm of life on the reservation isn’t that much different from the rest of the country, just on a smaller scale,” Mr. Sings in the Timber said. “We have those who live in poverty and those who are upper middle class. The real difference is that we also have our identities as Crows. Those identities stem from our tribe’s culture, language and history.”

Mr. Sings in the Timber began playing guitar and Native American flute at age 12. After his mother bought him a camera, music took a back seat to making pictures. He began shooting and editing video about 10 years ago. In 2009, he graduated from the photojournalism program at the University of Montana.

His work attracted the attention of the photojournalist Maggie Steber. They met after he participated in the Eddie Adams Photographic Workshop in 2007. She became his mentor and they became friends.

Ms. Steber, who has also documented indigenous peoples, was struck by the honesty of Mr. Sings in the Timber’s photographs. She believes more outlets are needed to help elucidate the rhythms and realities of everyday life for American Indians — and not just the struggle that is presented in most news photographs. “It’s a pity,” she said, “that that is what people want to see: the problems, not the common bonds of normalcy.”

Jodi Rave

Lyon’s Statement:

We have been informed that the United Kingdom will not permit the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team to travel to England for the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships, already under way in Manchester.

While we are deeply disappointed we could not bring our talented team to the world championships, there simply was no way we could accede to the recommendation that we accept either American or Canadian passports to travel. The Haudenosaunee passports we travel on – like the game of lacrosse itself which our ancestors invented – are essential to our identity as a sovereign people making our way in the world community.

We are grateful to the United States and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the cooperative and respectful talks that led to their agreement to let us travel in and out of the United States on our passports for this event. We are disappointed the United Kingdom could not see its way clear to join the United States in this gesture of respect.

But let it be known that we did not withdraw from the tournament, and believe we won without ever playing by demonstrating to the world the continuing relevance of indigenous sovereignty in the 21st century. And we salute our team, who endured this struggle with dignity and the understanding that they were standing up for something that will benefit seven generations into the future, as true representations of the living Iroquois spirit.

We continue to work to upgrade our documentation to a level of security consistent with the requirements of an increasingly security-conscious world. Though we are unable to travel to the United Kingdom to participate in the world lacrosse championships, the team and the Haudenosaunee nations will continue to pursue solutions so that we may continue with our global development in many respects.

The FIL World Indoor Box Lacrosse Championships are scheduled for the Czech Republic in 2011, and we stand second in the world in that competition. The Under-19 Men’s Field Lacrosse Championships are scheduled for Finland in 2012, and we intend to be there as well, as we hold the bronze medal in the 2008 games.

Joagquisho – Oren R. Lyons
Honorary Chairman
Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse
Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse
Tshahonnonyendakhaw’ Sports Arena
326 Route 11 Onondaga Nation
Nedrow, New York 13120

Jodi Rave

NEW YORK – Jackson Lewis, counsel for the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team, continues to work through diplomatic channels to try to resolve issues with the British Consulate that will allow the team to travel to compete for the 2010 World Lacrosse Championships.
They are requesting the British Consulate to expedite review and processing of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team’s applications which they have been trying to submit since June 28th when the team’s attorney took all the necessary documents to the British Consulate and was refused admittance.
“We have been trying to gain admittance to the British Consulate to meet in person with officials in New York for the last 18 days,” said attorney Tonya Gonnella Frichner. “It would appear that officials may have made an arbitrary decision without a proper review of the application materials.”
Since then, the Jackson Lewis law firm (www.jacksonlewis.com ) offered its services pro bono to attempt to intervene and help with the process. They are asking British officials to carefully review and evaluate the documentation that the team has submitted in order to satisfy any remaining questions.
Meanwhile, the National Congress of American Indians – representing hundreds of American Indian Tribes in the United States – has sent a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron calling on the government of the United Kingdom to allow entry of the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team to they may participate in the World Lacrosse Championships being held in Manchester, England. (read the attached letter.)
“We strongly urge the United Kingdom to follow the actions of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and clear the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team for international travel on their Haudenosaunee passports,” said NCAI’s President Jefferson Keel in the letter. “As you are aware, the game of lacrosse is indigenous to Native Americans. In the view of Native peoples, denying entry to the game’s historical and cultural emissaries is a troubling scenario.”
The 23 members of the team and their entourage are on standby awaiting resolution in the hopes that they will be able to catch a flight to London in time for the team to play in the tournament.
Last night in Manchester, two former members of the Iroquois Nationals were present during the opening ceremonies and walked in the procession carrying a Haudenosaunee flag. The stadium erupted in a 5-minute standing ovation.
The Iroquois Nationals remain optimistic that they will still be able to fly to England to compete in the tournament.

I’ll keep posting the updates as they arrive.

Jodi Rave

TORONTO, Ontario — With the aftertaste of the G20 still looming, one might mistakenly attribute these words to a citizen protesting

government policies, or as Fox News would put it, the rant of a jobless domestic terrorist. But nothing would be further

from the truth, for these are the words of Robyn, a12-year-old girl from Fort Chipewyan, Canada, who got together with

other children aged 9-12 in her community to protest the Alberta Oil Sands. A journey that comes to us through the short

documentary film Keepers of the Water, directed by Ayelen Liberona and produced by Joseph Johnson Cami and

Natalie Galazka. This 4-minute film is told entirely by an unusually aware and precocious group of Native children who

got up one day and decided they had had enough. But before we send in the riot police, or ship the children off to the

closest Free Speech Zone, we should take a closer look at what drove these children from their youthful innocence to

social protest.

 –Fort Chipewyan is directly downstream from the world’s largest and most environmentally toxic industrial project, the Alberta Tar Sands.

– Native populations are experiencing increased respiratory diseases, rare cancers and cardiovascular problems, suspected to be caused by toxic substances that have leached downstream from Tar     Sands production.

–Industrial development of the scale of the Tar Sands could push the boreal ecosystem over its tipping point and lead to irreversible ecological damage and loss of biodiversity.

– About 90% of the water used to process the Tar Sands ends up in acutely toxic tailing ponds that line the Athabasca River and threaten the health of the whole river basin, Canada’s largest fresh water resource.

– Canada has no national water policy and one of the worst records of pollution enforcement of any industrial nation.

“We should have a voice, our voice should be heard” – Robyn, 12 years old

The media’s coverage and emphasis on the small number of protesters who opted to engage in property destruction

during the G20 summit has made it far too easy, some would even say convenient, to forget many of the issues that

actually motivated people to put themselves in harm’s way and demand change. The Alberta Oil Sands is one of those

issues and should not be sidelined for the spectacle of broken glass. The planet, unlike those storefronts, does not have

insurance and the damage is already irreparable to the Fort Chipewyan community and their 12,000 years of history in

that environment which they know so well.

 “I think the government is going along with it because he has a lot of money coming in and he really doesn’t care about the planet or the earth.” – Robyn, 12 years old

The message transmitted through the eyes and words of the children in “Keepers of the Water” should not be drowned

out in this climate of misinformation and social apathy. Perhaps these children can serve as an example to us all. Let

them be a reminder of the power and importance of peaceful protest.

“Keepers of the Water”, has been nominated for an Emerging Filmmaker Award by the Toronto International

Film Festival. Go here for more about the Keepers of the Water film and the Tar Sands issue.

For more about the director Ayelen Liberona visit www.AyelenLiberona.com

"Medicine Moon," Gertsy Spotted Bear's Hidatsa name

It would have been nearly impossible to breathe during the time of her death. I am still thankful for all the people who showed my family tremendous support. If not for all the love that was so evident from her friends, I might have died of a broken heart. Her death exposed me to a rare moment in life where I experienced pure, unconditional love from hundreds of people — all at once. I’ve always felt absolutely blessed to be my mother’s child. She was my greatest support when I felt like crying. Most of all, she was there to embrace me when life was good. She helped me believe in myself. She did that not only for me, but for all her friends, all her children and all the kids who called her grandma. I’m always meeting people who mention Mom. Good memories, all.

We miss Gertsy.

Love, Jodi, friends and family

Percey Abrams holds up his passport at the JFK Terminal 3 - The Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team is attempting to fly to the United Kingdom/England to play in the World Lacrosse Championships, but is having problems with their native passports.

All the following links were just passed on to me this morning from Valerie Taliman who is helping spread the word about the U.S. State Department’s refusal to honor Iroquois Nation’s passports. The decision has stranded the Iroquois Nationals team and prevented players from participating in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship games. Read on for some of the links that are available. I received a request from a reader in France yesterday to repost one of the stories I had displayed here on the Buffalo’s Fire. Read on for some of the stories, ranging from the Washington Post and NPR to ABC News and Britain’s Telegraph:

1. Wil Haygood, “Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team asks White House to
honor sovereign passports,” The Washington Post, July 14, 2010,

2. “Iroquois lacrosse team hoping for ID resolution - Yahoo! News,” July
13, 2010,

3. Verna Dobnik and Eva Dou, “US rule could keep Iroquois from lacrosse
tourney,” Associated Press Newsfeed (New York, NY, July 13, 2010),

4. “The Associated Press: US rule could keep Iroquois from lacrosse
tourney,” n.d.,

5. Tom Whitehead, “Visa row for Native American lacrosse team,” Telegraph
(UK, July 13, 2010), Morning edition,

6. Samantha Gross, “Iroquois lacrosse team hoping for ID resolution,”
Associated Press Newsfeed, July 13, 2010,

7. Nando Di Fino, “LeBron James Decision Continues to Reverberate - The
Daily Fix – WSJ,” The Daily Fix – Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2010,

8. Kristen Hamill, “Identity, federal policy clash for Iroquois lacrosse
team - CNN.com” (New York, NY: CNN, July 13, 2010),

9. John Wetenhall, “Passport Snafu Leaves Iroquois Lacrosse Team Stranded- ABC News” (ABC News, July 13, 2010),

10. Jim Kenyon, “Iroquois lax players turned away over passport dispute :
News : WSTM NBC3,” TV Broadcast, evening news (Syracuse, NY: WSTM NBC3,
July 13, 2010), .

11. Garry McKay, “Iroquois lacrosse team caught in political crossfire,”
Hamilton Spectator, July 13, 2010,

12. Gale Courey Toensing, “Obama administration may thwart Iroquois
Nationals’ tournament travel | Indian Country Today | Archive,” Indian
Country Today, July 13, 2010,

13. “Sudbury Against War and Occupation,” July 12, 2010,

14. Troy Nunes, “Because If There’s Anything Native Americans Love To Do,
It’s Rely On English & American Governments,” Troy Nunes Is An Absolute
Magician, July 12, 2010,
http://www.nunesmagician.com/2010/7/12/1565724/because-if-theres-anything-
native#add-comment.

15. Steven Newcomb, “The Haudenosaunee ‘right of return’,” Indian Country
Today, July 12, 2010,

16. staff reports, “Passport Controversy Puts Iroquois on Hold,” Lacrosse
Magazine, July 12, 2010,

17. Robert Siegel, “U.S. Rule Could Keep Iroquois From Lacrosse Event,”
All Things Considered (NPR, July 12, 2010),

18. Oren Lyons, “‘When we win, you win’,” LTE on Indian Country Today,
July 12, 2010,

19. LAX Power, “Iroquois Nationals’ travel to world cup still in
jeopardy,” Lacrosse News, July 12, 2010,

20. Thomas Kaplan, “U.S. Rules May Bar Iroquois From Lacrosse Event,” The
New York Times, July 12, 2010, sec. U.S.,

21. ICC, “Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team delayed for World Games by
Homeland Security passport fiasco,” News, News From Indian Country, July
12, 2010,

22. EVA DOU and VERENA DOBNIK, “US rule could keep Iroquois from lacrosse
tourney,” NewsOn6.com – Tulsa, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports -
KOTV.com | (Tulsa, OK: KOTV, July 12, 2010),

23. Dave Levy, “UPDATE: England *and U.S.* to Iroquois Nation: Sure, You
Created Lacrosse, But Your Passports Suck,” SportsGrid: Behind the Grid,
July 12, 2010,

24. Barry Paddock, “Iroquois lacrosse team banned from flying overseas:
U.S. refuses to recognize tribe-issued passports,” New York Daily News
(New York, NY, July 12, 2010),
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/07/12/2010-07-12_iroquois_la
crosse_team_banned_from_flying_overseas_us_refuses_to_recognize_tribe.html
.

25. 2010 World Lacrosse Championships, “Immigration Cowboys refuse entry
to Iroquois nations…,” FIL 2010 World Lacrosse, July 12, 2010

26. Iroquois Nationals, “Media Release 7.11.2010,” July 11, 2010,
http://iroquoisnationals.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=
77:media-release-7112010&catid=35:statistics.

27. Fernando Alfonso III, “Passport dispute halts Iroquois lacrosse team’s
trip to world competition in England | syracuse.com,” Syracuse
Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY, July 10, 2010),

Jodi Rave

By THOMAS KAPLAN
The Iroquois national lacrosse team was hoping to spend Monday getting acclimated in England as it prepared for its first game in this year’s world championships.
Instead, the team was stuck in a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, missing the visas needed to travel abroad. And the stakes are bigger than a game: what began late last week as a documentation dispute with the British consulate became on Monday a debate over American Indian sovereignty.
Playing international sports, it turns out, is a lot more complicated when players have to convince the State Department that their passports are legitimate.
“There have been hurdles every step of the way,” said Ansley Jemison, the team’s general manager.
The Iroquois team, known as the Nationals, represents the six Indian nations that comprise the Iroquois Confederacy, which the Federation of International Lacrosse considers to be a full member nation, just like the United States or Canada. The Nationals enter this year’s tournament ranked fourth in the world.
The Nationals’ 50-person delegation had planned to travel to Manchester, England, on Sunday on their own tribal passports, as they have done for previous international competitions, team officials said.
But on Friday, the British consulate informed the team that it would only issue visas to the team upon receiving written assurance from the United States government that the Iroquois had been granted clearance to travel on their own documents and would be allowed back into the United States. Neither the State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security would offer any such promise.
“Lacrosse is our game — we are the originators, we invented the game, there are 60 countries that play our game,” said Denise Waterman, a member of the team’s board of directors. “And now we can’t go to a tournament that’s honoring our game? It’s almost unbelievable that this is happening.”
Spokesmen for the Department of Homeland Security and the British consulate said that they would not comment on specific cases. A spokeswoman for the State Department would only say that the Iroquois team has been offered expedited United States passports, but they declined that offer.
“It would be like saying the Canadians are having travel difficulties and the U.S. says we’ll make you U.S. passports and you can go over,” Ms. Waterman said.
Only a few Indian nations issue their own passports, said Robert J. Miller, a professor at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Ore., who has written extensively about federal Indian law. He said that he had never heard of the United States government objecting to the use of such a document.
Neither has Robert Anderson, who was associate solicitor for Indian affairs in the Interior Department during the Clinton administration and now directs the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington School of Law.
“The tribes will probably say, ‘Hey, we’ve got the authority to do this,’ ” he said.
But the State Department said Monday that federal law does not allow a tribal document to be used in lieu of a United States passport when traveling outside the United States. A spokeswoman said that an October 2008 internal directive emphasized that policy, though it noted that other countries had sometimes recognized such documents.
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on Monday to express his dismay that the players were being prohibited from traveling with their tribal passports.
“It’s a matter of tribal sovereignty and respecting the rights of the Native American population of this country,” he said in a telephone interview.
Representative Dan Maffei, a Democrat from upstate New York, said that the federal government’s refusal to recognize the Iroquois passports had the potential to be an “embarrassing situation” for the United States.
“This is a true issue of principle,” he said. “Whether or not their principle is right is not for us to decide.”
The Iroquois team said that even if its situation is resolved immediately, the players will not be able to arrive in England until Wednesday at the earliest, leaving little or no time for practice before their first game — against England, in the tournament’s opening contest — on Thursday night.
The delay has been an expensive one. It was difficult for the Nationals to raise the $300,000 for their trip to the world championships, and the delay in traveling to England — and the arrangements that had to change as a result — has already cost the team more than $20,000, Ms. Waterman said.
The team was able to secure practice time at Wagner College on Staten Island, where players worked out on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, some members of the team who had never been to New York City used their free time on Monday to visit Times Square.
“We’re making the best of it,” Mr. Jemison said.

The team is scheduled to play the opening game against England on Thursday, July 15, but will not be able to depart until Tuesday night if the issued can be resolved immediately. This leaves the team no time to rest or practice before the opening game, threatening their ability to win. “This delay has now become extremely urgent and it must be corrected by July 12th or all the practice and preparation will be wasted, and these young men’s hopes and dreams of will be trampled,” said Percy Abrams, the National’s executive director. “We’re urging all our supporters to contact the White House staff at 202.456.4771 to urge the Department of Homeland Security to allow us clearance so that our team can compete.”

The delay is also creating an enormous financial burden since travel arrangements for airline tickets, hotels, lodging, meals, and transportation must all be changed, costing the team and family members more than $23,000. The Nationals fund raise all year long for the $300,000 budget necessary for them to compete in the world championships, a distinction that is hard-earned. “Our young athletes are competing at the highest level of competition against other countries,” said Denise Waterman, a member of the team’s board of directors. “They are excellent role models and have worked all year to prepare, so we hope this gets resolved quickly. The great irony is that the game of lacrosse was founded by our people on Iroquois territory, so we hope others can respect the history and origins of game, and not impede our team from competition.”

 Three weeks ago, the Haudenosaunee sent notice to the British Consulate in New York requesting permission for application for visas. The Iroquois Nationals are traveling on passports issued by the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy, comprised of the Onondaga, Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora and Cayuga nations, who have used their passports to travel internationally for more than 30 years. While the passports have been widely accepted in the past, the British Consulate notified the team two days ago that they would only issue visas with written assurance from the Department of Homeland Security regarding clearance. That same day, the U.S. State Department advised the Iroquois National’s legal adviser that they could expedite U.S. passports for the team to travel to Manchester, but will not provide clearance to travel on Haudenosaunee passports.

 “We cannot do that because we are a sovereign nation. We are our own people,” said Waterman. “We are participating in an international tournament, and to play in an international tournament, you have to be a country. We’ve been recognized by this organization as a nation with our own citizens, our own land, and our own sovereignty. We have been sending teams to international competition since 1990 and have never before had a problem traveling to Japan, England and Australia.”

The Confederacy was established as a formal government before the United States and Canada were countries, and is recognized as an independent nation with homelands that straddle the U.S. and Canadian border. The past several years the Confederacy has been in negations with Homeland Security on travel documents, and they are concerned that the current situation may dampen that relationship. Onondaga attorney Tonya Gonnella Frichner, a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, is urgently working to help resolve the issue. “We respect that there are issues with borders and security, and we want to meet all the criteria of any government, but we’re also asking for an accommodation of our own credentials,” she said. “The Iroquois Nationals represent the Iroquois Nation, and they are traveling on Haudenosaunee credentials because that’s who we are representing. It wouldn’t make sense to travel on the on the passports of our competitors. These outstanding athletes – indigenous peoples of North America – should not be blocked from returning to our own territory.”

Oren Lyons, Onondaga Faithkeeper and a former All-American lacrosse goalie, said lacrosse is called the “Creator’s game,” in their culture. “When you talk about lacrosse, you’re talking about the lifeblood of the Six Nations. The game is ingrained into our culture and our lives. This is our game and our gift to the world.” Lyons – an author, former college professor and international advocate for indigenous rights who helped draft the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – has traveled to many countries on a Haudenosaunee passport for three decades, and is hopeful the situation will eventually be resolved in their favor.

The travel delays, however, will likely impact their ability to play at their best due to a lack of rest before the opening game. The compelling story of the Iroquois Nationals will be featured in the next issue of Sports Illustrated. For more information and photos, go to the Iroquios Nationals website.

Other articles can be found at Indian Country Today.

Jodi Rave at University of Montana Law School

Dear Readers:
I’ve been out of my office for several weeks, therefore, the postings have been minimal. I’m tending to matters that will keep me away from my computer for at least another week. If by chance I can post, I will do so but I’m in a lot of areas that do not have cell phone service. Or, it is spotty at best. Meanwhile, I hope everyone is enjoying late spring and the turn of summer. I was able to get online today for the first time today. I’m now sitting in the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation tribal headquarters at a council meeting here in New Town, N.D. The meeting just started, so, this is all for now folks. Thanks.

Jodi Rave

The Department of State has created a new website to enable public input during the U.S. review of its position on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. On April 20, 2010, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Susan E. Rice announced at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues that the United States has decided to review the U.S. position on the Declaration.

The administration recognizes that, for many around the world, this Declaration provides a framework for addressing indigenous issues. During President Obama’s first year in office, tribal leaders and interested non-governmental organizations (NGOs) encouraged the United States to reexamine its position on the Declaration – an important recommendation that directly complements our commitment to work together with the international community on the many challenges that indigenous peoples face.

As part of the U.S. government’s review, the U.S. Department of State, together with other Federal agencies, will be hosting consultations with federally-recognized tribes and dialogues with interested NGOs and other stakeholders. The consultation and meeting schedules will be listed on the website located at www.state.gov/tribalconsultation/declaration. Tribal leaders, NGOs, and others are encouraged to contribute to the review by emailing us at Declaration@state.gov, or by submitting comments via mail to the Department of State at: S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street N.W., Suite 1317, Washington, D.C. 20520. Written comments are requested by July 15, 2010 to ensure that they can be given due consideration in the review.

Jodi Rave

Robertson could not immediately be reached for comment. Robertson, who picked up the Cobell case in 2006, was praised for his work in the contentious litigation, guiding government attorneys and the plaintiffs’ lawyers toward a settlement, which was announced last December. Lead plaintiff Elouise Cobell first filed suit in 1996. The government has agreed to pay $1.41 billion to class members who sought an historical accounting of royalty money the federal government held in trust.

The government also wants to set up a $2 billion land consolidation fund. Since the settlement announcement, the deadline for necessary authorization from Congress was pushed back several times. Last week, the House approved the necessary funding. The plaintiffs’ lawyers, including a team from Kilpatrick Stockton and D.C. solo practitioner Dennis Gingold, agreed to a June 15 extension to give the U.S. Senate time to examine and vote on the legislation.

At a hearing in April, Robertson expressed frustration about the inactivity on Capitol Hill as he urged members of Congress to approve the legislation. Robertson’s remarks in court were the first he made in public about the settlement. “The need for Congress to act is real,” Robertson said. “Until or unless Congress acts, the lawyers who have devoted themselves to this case for 15 years on both sides are on hold, and, more importantly, all of Indian country is on hold. And I don’t want to be too melodramatic about this, but justice is on hold.”

Judge Hogan, who was appointed to the bench in 1982 and became chief in 2001, will preside over the fairness hearing in the Cobell case, giving class members a chance to support, or dispute, the terms of the agreement.

No date is set for the fairness hearing. Robertson’s retirement does not create a vacancy since he had already taken senior status. Venable partner Robert Wilkins was nominated May 20 to replace Robertson, who was appointed to the federal trial bench in 1994. Robertson practiced at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr) between 1965 and 1969 and from 1972 until his appointment to the bench. He is a former president of the District of Columbia Bar and co-chair of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Blog of the Legal Times: Posted by Mike Scarcella on June 02, 2010 at 12:25

Jodi Rave
*Ms. Rave is an Individual Indian Money account holder and landowner on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. She won the University of Nebraska Sorensen Award for her reporting on the Cobell lawsuit as well as the Nebraska Associated Press award for enterprise reporting for her series on the management of Indian lands. Her writings on the Cobell suit are also included in“The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity,” a book based on award-winning journalism stories from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Additionally, Ms. Rave is the first, and only, American Indian woman awarded a Nieman Fellowship for journalism at Harvard University.

Kimberly Teehee, White House policy advisor for Native American affairs

Jodi Rave at University of Montana Law School

After 14 years of litigation, here’s a list of U.S. Interior Department trust obligation violations uncovered as part of the “gross mismanagement” of Indian trust lands. The breaches of trust were cited in the January 2010 amended Cobell vs. Salazar complaint, a class-action suit that led the Obama administration to agree to a settlement in December 2009.  Here’s a link to the Cobell v. Salazar settlement agreement and amended complaint. The amdended complaint to recover restitution and damages and other monetary relief is dated January 2010.

GENERAL NATURE OF THE ACTION (as printed directly from pages 1-4 of the amended complaint, which is attached at the end of the settlement agreement).

 1. This action is brought to redress gross breaches of trust by the United States, acting by and through the Defendants, with respect to the money, land and other natural resource assets of more than 450,000 individual Indians.

2. Involved in this action are accounts commonly referred to as Individual Indian Money (”IIM”) accounts. As is more fully set forth herein below, IIM accounts include money, which is the property of individual Indians, held by the United States as trustee on their behalf. Such accounts at the time of filing this action reflected a balance of more than Four Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars ($450,000,000.00), and more than Two Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000.00) passes through them each 2 year; the true totals would be far greater than those amounts, but for the breaches of trust herein complained of.

3. Involved as well are funds that were collected or should have been collected by the federal government as trustee for individual Indians (commonly referred to as individual Indian moneys (“IIM”)), and the resources, including land, held in trust for individual Indian trust beneficiaries. Defendants have mismanaged those funds, land, and resources in breach of their trust duties and, thereby, have prevented Plaintiffs from receiving income to which they are entitled.

4. Defendants, the officers charged with carrying out the trust obligations of the United States, and their predecessors, have grossly mismanaged, and continue grossly to mismanage, such trusts and trust assets in at least the following respects, among others: (a) They have failed to keep adequate records and to install an adequate accounting system, including but not limited to their failure to install an adequate accounts receivable system; (b) They have destroyed records bearing upon their breaches of trust; (c) They have failed to account to the trust beneficiaries with respect to their money; (d) They have lost, dissipated, or converted to the United States’ own use the money of the trust beneficiaries; and (e) They either have unlawfully obstructed the appointment of a qualified and competent Special Trustee or unlawfully have prevented the Special Trustee for American Indians, appointed pursuant to the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (“the 1994 Act”), P.L. 103-412, 108 Stat. 4239, codified to 25 U.S.C. §§ 162a(d) and 4001-4061, from carrying out duties and responsibilities conferred upon him by law to correct their unlawful practices and procedures with respect to IIM accounts. (f) They have mismanaged trust funds held or to be held for individual Indians in the following respects:

(1) They have failed to collect or credit funds owed under leases, sales, easements or other transactions, including without limitation, having failed to collect or credit all money due, to audit royalties and to collect interest on late payments; 3 (2) They have failed to invest trust funds; (3) They have underinvested trust funds; (4) They imprudently have mismanaged and invested trust funds; (5) They have made erroneous or improper distributions or disbursements of trust funds, including to the wrong person or account; (6) They have charged excessive or improper administrative fees; (7) They have misappropriated, or failed to take steps to prevent the misappropriation of, trust funds; (8) They have withheld unlawfully the distribution and disbursement of trust funds; (9) They have deposited trust funds above FDIC insurance coverage in accounts in failed depository institutions, resulting in lost principal and interest; (10) They have failed to control, or investigate allegations of theft, embezzlement, misappropriation, fraud, trespass, and other misconduct regarding trust assets and have failed to make restitution or seek compensation for same; (11) They have failed to pay or credit to IIM Accounts accrued interest, including interest on special deposit accounts; (12) They have lost funds and investment securities as well as income or proceeds earned from such funds or securities; (13) They have lost funds through accounting errors; (14) They have failed to deposit or disburse funds in a timely fashion; and (15) They have engaged in conduct of like nature and kind arising out of Defendants’ breaches of trust in connection with mismanagement of IIM Trust funds.

Go the to Cobell v. Salazar settlement agreement and amended complaint for the rest of the story.

Jodi Rave

*Ms. Rave is an Individual Indian Money account holder and landowner on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. She won the University of Nebraska Sorensen Award for her reporting on the Cobell lawsuit as well as the Nebraska Associated Press award for enterprise reporting for her series on the management of Indian lands. Her writings on the Cobell suit are also included in“The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity,” a book based on award-winning journalism stories from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Additionally, Ms. Rave is the first, and only, American Indian woman awarded a Nieman Fellowship for journalism at Harvard University.

Now, on to the print news: The House of Representatives on Friday voted on Friday for tax and job bill that included approval of the Cobell settlement, a class-action suit affecting about a half million Indian landowners.

The 215-204 vote marks a critical marker in the Cobell vs. Salazar suit, which the Obama administration agreed to settle after 14 years of federal litigation. The Cobell settlement was piggybacked with the Pigford settlement, a suit filed on behalf of black farmers. The Sentate still needs to bear a stamp of approval. The senators will return after a week-long Memorial Day recess.

“Today, the House passed an important package of measures that would bring much-needed relief to our nation’s families and businesses during these hard economic times,” said President Obama in statement from the White House. “The bill extends vital unemployment benefits to help those Americans who are fighting to find a good job, and provides tax cuts for individuals and businesses to help support the economic recovery. It helps extend Small Business Administration lending efforts so our nation’s small businesses can get the credit they need to create jobs and grow. And it includes funding to settle the long-standing discrimination claims that African-American farmers have had against the federal government and to resolve the Cobell case, helping address these painful chapters in our history.”

Lead plaintiff Elouise Cobell, a community development director in Browning, Mont., praised passage of the bill.

“Since the U.S. House of Representatives has approved H.R. 4213 – The American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act, which authorizes the Cobell settlement, we want to give the Senate an opportunity to do the same upon its return from the recess,” said Cobell. “In light of the flood of calls received by plaintiffs’ counsel from class members asking that we ensure finalization of this settlement, the parties have agreed to extend the May deadline for enacting legislation authorizing the settlement to June 15, 2010. I look forward to working with the Senate on this legislation.”

“We are grateful to the House for its action today,” said Cobell. “I would especially like to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, House Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall of West Virginia, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Norman Dicks of Washington, Sander Levin and Dale Kildee of Michigan, Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota and Denny Rehberg of Montana for their assistance.”

Cobell is entitled to recover up to $15 million in expenses incurred over the past 14 years in connection with this lawsuit.

The Blog of Legal Times reports : “Senior Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had been hinting at a confrontation with lawmakers if they did not act. In an April 8 hearing, Robertson extended a deadline for the $1.41 billion Cobell settlement until the end of May and said he would invite members of Congress to a hearing if they had not acted by then. That case involves lost royalty funds flowing from the use of natural resources on Indian land. D.C. solo practitioner Dennis Gingold, another lead attorney for the Cobell plaintiffs, also said he was pleased with the House vote. “They got it done,” he said.Three weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried unsuccessfully to attach the settlements to disaster-relief legislation.”

Jodi Rave

Trucks in the Alberta, Canada tar sands

The women of WVE — Women’s Voices of the Earth — passed on this information from their partners at the Indigenous Environmental Network, Northern Rockies Rising Tide, National Wildlife Federation, Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club, UM Climate Action Now, and the No Shipments Network. Here’s what they have to share for people interested in environmental justice:

What: Film viewing and tar sands discussion

When: Wednesday, June 2nd, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Roxy Theater, 718 S. Higgins Av, Missoula, MT

The Alberta Tar Sands constitute the largest portion of U.S. imported oil. They have also been called out in the international community as the most destructive industrial project on the face of the planet. This fall, Missoula could play host to the creation of an industrial shipping corridor that would serve Tar Sands mines for decades to come. Come learn from people with first-hand experience with the Tar Sands operations and their effects on the local communities of northern Alberta. There are many reasons to oppose the proposed corridor, and to be informed of issues across the border is to be more powerful in our fight at home.

Marty Cobenias is a longtime native activist with the Indigenous Environmental Network and currently works out of Minnesota on IEN’s campaign opposing proposed Tar Sands pipelines.

Fort Chipewyan resides just downstream of the Tar Sands mines. The residents of the community, mostly Cree First Nations, Dene First Nations, and Metis people suffer from exceedingly high rates of rare cancers, and have taken a strong stand against the up-river mines.

H2Oil is the internationally acclaimed documentary on the devastating effects of Tar Sands mining on the land and the people, and specifically the challenges that Canada’s First Nations people face in trying to find justice in their struggle against the mines.

For more information, call 406-493-5333.

Jodi Rave

Ricky Martin, Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Clinic/Photo by Jim Craven

A American Indian ceremony, thousands of years old, is being used to help veterans find a path in their recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. The traditional sweat lodge is offered to inpatients three times a month — two ceremonies for men and one for women — and the ritual, historically used by many native cultures before a great undertaking, is proving to be effective therapy, SORCC officials said.

Ricky J. Martin, liaison for American Indian programs at SORCC, said there is a lot of good being done for the body and mind inside the facility’s brick walls, but the chapel and sweat lodge take care of the spirit. And that means the whole person is being taken care of, which is essential to addiction recovery, he said.

Spirituality is an important but elusive element, and Martin believes it is a critical area of need for many veterans.

“Military service, especially during wartime, causes losses of the spirit,” said Martin, “and I often see vets who come here lacking trust. Learning how to trust again is a major impact for the spirit.”

Larry Ramey is a Navy veteran recovering from addiction and the adjustment issues that stem from it. He credits the sweat lodge for much of his success in his two years of sobriety.

As an inpatient in White City, Ramey, who is part Blackfoot, has attended about 25 sweat-lodge ceremonies. Although he has sweated many times before, it was never for the right reasons; spirituality never settled in, he said.

Ramey said the White City lodges have changed his life.

“In recovery, an integral part of it is a higher power, you have to have it,” said Ramey. “This gave me a higher power. It gave me hope in something stronger than myself to stay sober.”

Ramey said the sweat lodges have given him something he could not find in conventional religion.

“With this way, you experience the religion, it’s right there in front of you,” he said, “and that’s what’s so powerful.”

The sweat lodge has been offered at SORCC since 2003. A brochure describes it as a ceremony in which people gather inside a small shelter while red-hot stones, or “grandfathers,” are carried to its center, heating the shelter. The ceremony is in four stages, or “doors,” with each door having a different purpose in the spiritual cycle of the lodge. The first door is the “spirit calling,” the second is for “prayer,” the third is the “doctoring” stage, and the fourth is the “spirit returning.” Each door contributes equally in the self-discovery and spiritual awakening of the participants.

The lodge is conducted by a group of American Indian elders, which is what Martin believes makes the VA lodge special.

“The elders bring forth a place of self-worth, a place where they (the vets) can make rational decisions,” said Martin. “They give these patients something to take with them — respect and honor.”

Richard Ochoa drives over the mountain pass from Klamath County to conduct the VA lodges, which are his “way of life.” Martin said he has never missed a lodge. Ochoa has been the water pourer at the VA for several years, and, although he is not a veteran himself, he enjoys helping the veterans “walk this road.”

“We do this ceremony for spiritual healing, but we are not medicine people or healers,” said the half Klamath, half Yacqui Indian. “All we ask is four days clean and sober.”

While guiding people through the lodge, he pours water over the stones at different times throughout the ceremony, which is all about getting back to the womb of Mother Earth.

“The water I pour is the blood of Mother Earth,” said Ochoa. “The steam cleanses the body and mind. It has different significance for each individual.”

Elder Jim Prevatt, an Army veteran of Shasta descent, believes in the power of the prayers said in the lodge — both for himself and others.

“You think your life is bad, and then you see others that have things 10 times worse,” said Prevatt. “That’s who you pray for, because everything needs to be prayed for. That’s why it’s a good path to walk.”

Prevatt added there are “many different prayers and many different hopes” in each lodge.

Personal empowerment is a key benefit of the lodge, Martin said. He believes the lodge is a continuum that represents the circle of American Indian life and instills trust, honor, respect — “lots of things missing in current society.”

The SORCC sweat lodge is open to inpatients, and, if space is available, to registered outpatients. More lodges will be held in the weeks leading up to the Rogue River Veterans’ Powwow, which is being hosted by the SORCC June 5-6.

F.B. Drake is a freelance writer living in the Rogue Valley. He can be reached at drakerusty@gmail.com.

The Administration strongly supports House passage of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4213. Passage of this legislation will provide much-needed relief to families, including extended access to health care benefits for workers who have lost their jobs and extended unemployment insurance benefits for millions of Americans who are looking for work. It will also provide critical assistance to hard-pressed States while encouraging continued job creation by America’s businesses. The importance of longer-term extensions for various authorities and programs – and the certainty that such extensions bring – has been highlighted by the severe problems caused by interruptions in authorities for these programs.

The House Amendment contains several important provisions, including: (1) an extension of extended unemployment insurance and COBRA subsidies through the end of the year; (2) reform of the physician payment formula; (3) an extension of increased American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) rates that allow for additional Federal support for State Medicaid programs; (4) an extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund to continue support for State-subsidized employment programs for needy parents and youth, among other purposes; (5) an extension of ARRA subsidies so that the Small Business Administration can continue certain lending programs with reduced fees and higher guarantees; (6) additional resources to create summer jobs for youth; (7) targeted pension-funding relief; and (8) extension of provisions that will support affordable housing and create jobs.

The President has long supported comprehensive, fiscally responsible reform of the physician payment formula to improve the quality of care. The House Amendment provision represents significant progress toward that goal, and the Administration strongly supports its passage.

The Administration applauds the Congress for including provisions in the bill to fulfill the obligations set forth in the Cobell and Pigford II settlement agreements. The settlements that have been achieved are historic and provide full and final resolution to two long-running disputes – a case involving the management of individual Indian trust accounts related to Indian lands and claims of prior discrimination brought by black farmers against the Department of Agriculture.

The bill also includes several other important measures supported by the Administration. The extensions to expiring tax cuts include several provisions that will encourage companies to invest in new technologies and create more high-tech jobs for the 21st century, including extending the research and experimentation (R&E) tax credit for another year. The legislation also extends the tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel, providing clean energy companies with the certainty they need to make critical investments in the Nation’s energy future.

Finally, the House Amendment includes revenue-raising provisions similar to those included in the President’s budget, including proposals to close international tax loopholes that currently allow companies to shift profits among overseas jurisdictions to lower their U.S. taxes and a sensible proposal to make certain that investment managers pay taxes on their earnings at rates closer to the ordinary income tax rates paid by other workers in the Nation’s economy.

The Administration looks forward to continuing to work with the Congress on these and additional measures to spur private sector job creation, including measures focused on small businesses (including lending provisions, zero capital gains for small businesses and bonus depreciation) and energy (including retrofits and an expansion of the 48C tax credit for manufacturing).

Jodi Rave

Brownback spoke during an event at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where he and Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, Lois Capps of California and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii joined representatives from the Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and Pawnee nations, Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith said.

All those tribes are based in Oklahoma, except for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, which is based in South Dakota.

Smith said that while most tribes had not specifically asked for a formal apology from the U.S. government, the gesture was appreciated.

“It’s difficult to issue an apology and sometimes it’s difficult to accept one,” Smith said by phone from Washington. “Once you put those differences of the past aside, perhaps the next step is, can you do any better in this round? That’s where our greatest challenge is. The history of the U.S. (toward American Indians) is not a bright record. The real question is, what happens from this day forward?”

Brownback, a Republican, had pushed for the resolution since 2004. Both houses of Congress approved it late last year and President Barack Obama signed it in December. Lawmakers have described the resolution as a symbolic gesture that would help promote a renewed commitment by the federal government to the tribes.

Brownback has said the resolution was not meant to authorize or support any claim against the U.S. government or serve as a settlement of any claim. His office did not immediately return messages Wednesday seeking comment.

In the text, the resolution “acknowledges years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies and the breaking of covenants” by the U.S. government toward tribes and “apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for many instances of violence, maltreatment and neglect inflicted on” American Indians by U.S. citizens.

Creek Nation Second Chief Alfred Berryhill called the apology “a historical step” in the relationship between the U.S. government and the tribes, which he said “maintain ourselves as sovereign” nations.

“We feel as if this took effort on the part of the U.S. government,” Berryhill said. “We do appreciate the effort of the Congress. I know it’s hard for our nation to apologize to anybody.”

The site of the ceremony, Congressional Cemetery, is the burial site for 36 tribal representatives from 12 American Indian nations who died in the region while representing their people, according to the Faith and Politics Institute, a group that helped present Wednesday’s event. Among them are William Shorey Coodey, the author of the Cherokee Nation constitution, who died in 1849, and former Choctaw Nation Chief Pushmataha, who died in 1824.

Jodi Rave

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are moving forward with a plan to pay thousands of Indians across the country a total of $3.4 billion to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit over the federal mismanagement of tribal lands held in trust by the federal government. The lawsuit, which has been a divisive issue in Indian Country, was brought more than a decad ago by Elouise Cobell of the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana. Language providing the money to settle the case has been inserted in a bill that would extend tax breaks set to expire soon. The bill has a solid chance of passing within the next few weeks.

However, questions remain on how it would be paid for, a key hurdle given Congress’ increasing reluctance to pile on more federal debt. The plan has the backing of Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which handles tax legislation. The Cobell suit is very important to Max and folks across the state,” Baucus spokesman Ty Matsdorf said Friday. “He wants to make sure the Native Americans involved in the suit receive the compensation they deserve, and putting this in the tax-extenders bill will help bring resolution to this case. Max is committed to work to make sure that this is passed as quickly as possible.”

The settlement would provide $1.4 billion to more than 300,000 Native Americans — most would get between $1,000 and $1,500 — scattered mainly west of the Mississippi River. The government also would spend up to $2 billion to buy small parcels of reservation land held by multiple owners — tracts that are expensive to manage and do not generate much income. That land then would be turned over to the tribes.

In addition, the agreement calls for the creation of a committee to evaluate ongoing tribal trust issues and the creation of a $60 million scholarship fund for Native American students. The case can’t be closed until Congress approves the money.

Supporters say it’s the best chance to get something back for more than a century of federal mismanagement of money from the commercial use of tribal lands for such purposes as cattle grazing, mineral extraction and timber cutting.

Opponents of the settlement, including key Republicans, say the individual payouts are meager; the legal fees, which could reach $100 million, are too exorbitant; and that the deal has been struck with little transparency. In addition, they are concerned that the settlement, which is supported by the President Barack Obama, improperly seeks to settle claims to the it suit has no authority to resolve and could take away the rights of some Native Americans to sue in the future.

Kimberly Craven, a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe in South Dakota, said she respects the fight Cobell has waged but said too many questions remain unanswered.

“The proposed settlement goes far beyond the original lawsuit, raising and resolving major issues of public policy related to rights of tribes and Indian peoples,” she said recently. “If it was worth battling 14 years to get a proper accounting, it is certainly worth taking the time to fully understand what this settlement really means so Congress can hear from an informed cross-section of Indian Country.”

Jodi Rave

Last year in May, I attended a language summit in Washington, D.C. that made me realize that languages should be our number one priority in our schools and communities. Language revitalization should be mandated in our school systems. I have the deepest respect for the individuals who are working with the youth. I attended a Nwkusm fundraiser a few weeks ago. I believe everyone in the room pulled out their checkbook to donate to the school after hearing the positive stories about language preservation from the students and teachers. Support your local schools!

Jodi Rave

What happens if Congress doesn’t approve the $3.4 billion settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit?

Nothing. No one gets any money. Litigation will continue, at the expense of the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget, and Congress will continue to do nothing about trust reform.

That’s not what Indian Country deserves.

The settlement is the best — and only — deal we’re going to see. The Clinton administration never agreed to a settlement and the Bush administration proposed something so egregious that it hurts to think about it now.

Indian Country deserves better. Indian Country deserves a settlement to Cobell.

Let’s start with the money. The Interior Department has argued, and will continue to argue, that individual Indians are owed very little for the federal government’s failure to conduct an historical accounting of their trust funds.

In July 2008, after 12 years of litigation, the government conceded to $409.8 million and a month later, Judge James Robertson determined that $455.5 million went unaccounted. We all know that’s pennies on the dollar to what’s really owed.

However, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Robertson’s decision. That means, right now, there is no money anywhere in the case — zero dollars.

More significantly, the appeals court said Interior can conduct the historical accounting any way it wants and can take as long as it wants. So when the process is complete, probably in about four to five years, the government is going to once again tell individual Indians they are owed very little.

The Cobell settlement, on the other hand, guarantees that every account holder will get money for the historical accounting. And it can happen this year — not somewhere down the line.

Now let’s talk about damages. The settlement will resolve past trust mismanagement claims, an issue that was not part of the original complaint when the case was filed in 1996.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in US v. White Mountain Apache Tribe appears to provide solid grounds for a damages lawsuit. But it’s not wise for anyone — individual Indians or the government — to mount more litigation.

And if we did wait for a damages case, the dollar amount will probably not be significant, as shown by an independent study commissioned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The study found that the largest award for individual Indians was $52.4 million.

In that case, involving trust assets on the Hoopa Valley Reservation in California, it took 30 years for the individual Indian plaintiffs to receive their money. Yes, you read that correctly: Thirty years.

The Cobell settlement, on the other hand, guarantees that every account holder will get money for past trust mismanagement. And it can happen this year — not somewhere down the line.

The damages issue is even more important since the Supreme Court, at the request of the Obama administration, will rule on a trust case for the first time since US v. White Mountain Apache Tribe. The Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona filed an historical accounting lawsuit and a trust mismanagement lawsuit and the government wants to kill the damages case simply because it doesn’t want to deal with it.

Tribal interests have lost nearly every single case before the Supreme Court since 2000. The writing is on the wall for US v. Tohono O’odham Nation. The same can’t happen for the Cobell settlement.

Finally, a few words about politics. Republicans in Congress are raising questions about the settlement, and they are saying they are motivated by concerns in Indian Country.

But it’s too late for Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Washington), the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee, to act honorably. In 2006, he introduced a bill to authorize scientific study on our ancestors and he did so without consulting a single tribe — not even the one in his Congressional district.

Last year, he objected to the inclusion of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in the national health reform bill. Indian Country can’t rely on Hastings to act in its best interests on Cobell or any other issue.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), the vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, deserves some slack since he’s only approaching his third anniversary in Congress. In that time, he’s taken some favorable stances on law enforcement, health care and education in Indian Country, and he has spoken well of the two tribes in Wyoming.

Yet Barrasso has never taken steps to reform the Indian trust or to address basic Indian trust issues. At best, his “letter” to Indian Country is misplaced, especially since the two tribes in his state have pending trust cases.

And you probably noticed that neither Hastings nor Barrasso proposed to increase the settlement amount. The figure — $1.412 billion for individual Indians, plus $2 billion for a land consolidation program — is just not going to get any higher.

Lawmakers with more experience from both sides of the aisle rightfully welcomed the settlement when it was announced last December. It’s time for the rest of their colleagues to do the same and for Congress to authorize the settlement once and for all.

If you have any thoughts about the Cobell settlement agreement, share them here at the Buffalo’s Fire.

Jodi Rave

Trace Wellman was a guest on Tribal Scene Radio.

Jodi Rave

Winona LaDuke of Honor the Earth as well as the Women Donors Network are hosting a cultural exchange and panel discussion on environmental justice concerns in Montana. Here is the Women Donors Network press release announcing all the details.  The environmental tour public invitation begins June 4 on the Blackfeet Reservation with a free concert featuring the Indigo Girls. The group then moves to the Flathead Reservation for a community panel discussion on issues such as the Canadian tar sands.

Eriel Deranger, an Athabasca Chipewyan from Alberta, will discuss the environmental impacts oil sand development has had on indigenous people. The Canadian tar sands is of growing concern in Montana, considering a pipeline and equipment transportation plans underway in the state to help Canada sell and move oil into the United States using Montana roads and byways. The Northern Rockies Rising Tide network has been at the forefront to educate Montana citizens about the Mammoet Kearl trucking operation across the state. Here is a link to the Rising Tide tar sand petition in opposition to moving the the tar sand equipment through the state.

Listen to an interview with LaDuke and the Indigo Girls about the Montana tour on Tribal Scene Radio, May 14 show.

Again, here is the link to press release with details on the  June 4 and June 5 activities being sponsored by the Women Donors Network and Honor the Earth.

Fact Sheet on Honor the Earth and Women Donors Network Community Events:

Friday, June 4
Buffalo Feast and Cultural Exchange
With Blackfeet Confederacy drum group, Jack Gladstone, Indigo Girls& Winona LaDuke
6:00 p.m.
Browning Elementary School,
112 First Ave. Southwest
Browning, Mont. 59417

Saturday, June 5
Environmental Justice Panel
With Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations of Northern Alberta, Rainforest Action Network’s Freedom From Oil Campaigner; Gail Small, Native Action, Executive Director, Francis Auld, CSKT cultural preservation; Rich Janssen, CSKT Acting Director of Natural Resources.
Topics: Alberta tar sands oil, transportation of oil, coal extraction, coal bed methane and the connection between natural resources exploitation and poverty.
Moderated by Winona LaDuke
Short performance by Indigo Girls
1:30 p.m.
Johnny Arlee/Victor Charlo Theatre
Salish Kootenai College
58138 U.S. Highway 93 (theater first turn on right as you enter campus from south)
Pablo, Mont. 59855

For More Information:

Jodi Rave
406-396-8537
jodi.rave@buffalosfire.com

Jodi Rave

(HELENA) – Montana ranks first in the nation for entrepreneurs and is a top spot for economic growth according to a new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The report – Enterprising States: Creating Jobs, Economic Development, and Prosperity in Challenging Times – looks at the success of state-driven economic development by evaluating state policies, practices, job creation and other economic outputs. It says federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars have helped jumpstart the U.S. economy, but that state efforts will become increasingly important for driving continued economic growth over the next decade.

Montana is noted as a state on the move – with a first place ranking for the category of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Performers and makes the top ten for Overall Growth Performers.

“This is excellent news, but it’s no surprise,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “As a state, Montana is a leader. By nature, Montanans are leaders. We are entrepreneurs – we make smart choices – we do more with less and we make it work. Like the report says, our successes are significant and they’re getting noticed.”

Enterprising States gives nods to the state’s Entrepreneur Development Program, Indianpreneurship programs and Montana Technology Innovation Partnership – all administered by the Montana Department of Commerce.

The report also acknowledges Montana’s streamlined permitting and regulatory processes for new and expanding businesses and the state’s tax and regulation policies implemented to spur the development of new and innovative energy technologies.

Enterprising States Excerpts:
Bolstered by growth in the energy field, especially in renewable wind energy, Montana is well positioned for new job creation. In most cases this job growth will be driven by small to medium-sized knowledge-based enterprises that are attracted to the state for its high quality of life and access to the vast outdoor recreational opportunities.

Montana is a national leader in the field of entrepreneurial activity, garnering a top position for business climate and entrepreneurship in multiple indices. Business start rates and other measures of entrepreneurial activity have remained above national average in the state over the past decade. Montana has worked to create and encourage an environment that sustains such momentum, enacting policies and structures tailored to support business growth and well-being.

While Montana’s energy and mining clusters added a combined 8,400 high-paying jobs to the state since 2002, Montana’s greatest source of national dominance came from the collection of arts, entertainment, recreation, and visitor industries, perhaps a sign that the rest of the nation is beginning to discover the Big Sky country. Montana is also beginning to see the emergence of smaller clusters in chemicals, apparel and textiles, and fabricated metal products.

• Thomas R. Acevedo, Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
• Derek J. Bailey, Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
• Robin A. Butterfield, Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
• Robert B. Cook, Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
• Deborah Jackson-Dennison, Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
• Alyce Spotted Bear, Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education

Here are the bios for the key Indian education administration posts:

Thomas R. Acevedo, Appointee for Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
Thomas Acevedo is the CEO for S&K Technologies, Inc. a company wholly owned by the Salish & Kootenai Tribes, of which he is a member. Mr. Acevedo previously served as the Chief of Staff for the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut and the Chief of Staff for the National Indian Gaming Commission. He has served on the boards of several national Indian organizations throughout his career. Mr. Acevedo is a graduate of the University of Montana and of the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Derek J. Bailey, Appointee for Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
Derek J. Bailey was sworn in as Tribal Chairman of the Grand Traverse Band on December 11, 2008. Chairman Bailey is the fifth Chairman since the Grand Traverse Band was federally reaffirmed in May 1980, and the youngest in the Tribe’s history. He is currently the Chairman of the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, and most recently selected as the Chairman of CORA (Chippewa/Ottawa Resource Authority). He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, graduating from Grand Valley State University in 1998.

Robin A. Butterfield, Appointee for Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
Robin Butterfield is a Senior Liaison within the Minority Community Outreach Department of the National Education Association. Before working at NEA, Ms Butterfield was the Professional Development Specialist at the Center for School Improvement within the Bureau of Indian Affairs, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ms. Butterfield worked at the classroom level in tribal and public schools in Wisconsin; coordinated the Salem-Keizer Indian Education Program at the district level in Oregon; served in the position of Indian Education/Civil Rights Specialist for the Oregon Department of Education for nine years; and worked at two different regional educational technical assistance centers, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory and the Gonzaga University Indian Education Technical Assistance Center III. She is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska with ancestry from the White Earth Ojibwa Tribe of Minnesota. Ms. Butterfield received her B.A in English/Secondary Education from the University of Puget Sound, her M.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin/Madison, and her Administrative Certification from Portland State University.

Robert B. Cook, Appointee for Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
Robert B. Cook is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (Oglala Lakota) and serves as the Principal of Pine Ridge High School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Mr. Cook has over twenty years of teaching and administrative experience in American Indian education, serving in both tribal and public schools. He is a member of the Technical Review Panel of the National Indian Education Study, a member of the South Dakota Indian Education Advisory Council and recently completed his term as President of the National Indian Education Association. Mr. Cook graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Secondary Education and received his master’s degree in Education Administration from Oglala Lakota College.

Deborah Jackson-Dennison, Appointee for Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
Dr. Deborah Jackson-Dennison is the Superintendent of Window Rock Unified School District No. 8 located in the Navajo Indian Nation and is an enrolled member of the Navajo Tribe. She has also served as Superintendent of Schools for Ganado Unified School District No. 20 also located on the Navajo Indian Nation. Dr. Jackson-Dennison has provided over 24 years of service as an educator, 11 as a classroom teacher at both at the high school and college levels, and 13 as a school administrator, including 8 as a school district superintendent. She earned an Associates degree from Dine College in 1981, a B.A. in Education from the University of New Mexico in 1986, and both her Masters and Ed.D. degrees in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University in 1997 and 2001.

Alyce Spotted Bear, Appointee for Member, National Advisory Council on Indian Education
Alyce Spotted Bear is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Spotted Bear, a former Tribal Chairman, has worked at all levels of Indian education, including as a teacher, principal, school superintendent, federal programs administrator, and college instructor/administrator. Ms. Spotted Bear is currently the Vice President for Native American Studies at the Fort Berthold Community College in North Dakota. She earned her bachelor and master degrees in education from Dickinson State College, and Pennsylvania State College, respectively, and completed coursework for a Ph.D. in Education at Cornell University.

Special congratulations to Alyce Spotted Bear, my aunt, my inspiration.