Monthly Archives: March 2010
Indian suit plaintiff: Settlement a stepping stone
Associated Press Writer
American Indians must urge Congress to quickly sign off on a $3.4 billion settlement of a lawsuit against the federal government for swindling them out of royalties for oil, gas, grazing and other leases, the lead plaintiff said Tuesday.
“We’ve won some really huge victory. Will it fix anything? No, but it’s a stepping stone,” Elouise Cobell of Browning, Mont., said during a meeting on the settlement at Heritage University on the Yakama Indian Reservation. “We have made a tremendous impact on this government and the way our trust has been managed in the past.”
The meeting was one of several planned across the Northwest this week by Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe, and her legal team. The deadline for Congress to approve the settlement was extended to April 16, and Cobell maintains further delays could terminate the deal.
The Interior Department manages about 56 million acres of land and leases it for mining, grazing and oil and gas production. Money collected from those leases is distributed to more than 384,000 individual Indian accounts and about 2,700 tribal accounts.
The June 1996 lawsuit alleged the government had breached its responsibility to manage assets belonging to American Indians and refused to fix a flawed accounting system that led to the loss of billions of dollars.
Under the settlement agreement, the Interior Department would distribute $1.4 billion to more than 300,000 Indian tribe members to compensate them for historical accounting claims, and to resolve future claims. Most lawsuit participants would receive at least $1,500, and many would receive considerably more.
The government also would spend $2 billion to buy back and consolidate tribal land broken up in previous generations. The program would allow individual tribal members to obtain cash payments for land interests divided among numerous family members and return the land to tribal control.
If cleared by Congress and a federal judge, the settlement would be the largest Indian claim ever approved against the U.S. government — exceeding the combined total of all previous settlements of Indian claims.
More than 100 people attended Tuesday’s meeting. Some raised concerns that the settlement doesn’t offer a long-term solution.
“This has been a problem for years and years. We shouldn’t settle for pennies,” said Lia Whitefoot, 56, an enrolled Yakama from Tacoma whose mother died six years ago without receiving payments due from trust lands.
“There’s a sickness, and we’re still ill from it. We’re still going to be suffering from the same things. I may not get one penny out of the settlement, and I still want to see this problem get fixed,” she said. “And I’m not satisfied.”
Bill Dorris, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said participants may choose to opt out of the agreement, but he urged tribal members to be well-informed of their options going forward.
“If this bill dies now, we will never get back to something this good. I believe that in my heart. We have fought for 14 years. We have won many battles in court, only to have them reversed,” he said. “Fifteen-hundred-dollars may not seem like a lot, but I have to tell you, it’s $1,500 more than anyone else has been able to get.”
Yakama tribal member Fidelia Andy, 64, said too many Indians are still waiting for their trust claims to be recognized by the federal government and won’t even qualify for a part of the settlement.
“We’re backed up on so many probates. There are people who should have been in the system years ago, but the government has not been paying attention for 30 years — longer than that, probably 40 years,” Andy said. “It’s a process that’s continued to pile up and it’s Indian-country wide.”
Cobell stressed that the settlement will not solve the overall problem, including issues of Indians receiving fair-market value for land that may be sold and probates that still need to be settled.
“It’s going to be up to us to continue to fight on,” she said. “This won’t be over with this settlement.”
Additional meetings are scheduled Wednesday in Portland and Thursday in S
Reverend Philip C. “Father Allen”
The Reverend Philip C. “Father Allen”Allen age 75, of Mpls., died March 22, 2010. Father Allen, an Oglala Lakota, was born on March 18, 1935 at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He was educated in public schools while living in homes operated by the Episcopal Church, including Bishop Hare Boys’ Home in Mission, South Dakota. He graduated from Black Hills State College in 1959, and Yale Divinity School in 1962. He was conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Yale Divinity School in 1992 for work done to advance the cause of Native American ministries throughout and beyond the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. He spent his ministry primarily in the Indian mission field, including the Dioceses of South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, Utah and Navajoland. He served on numerous national committees for the Episcopal Church, including the National Executive Council and the Coalition for Human Needs Commission, through which he helped implement a new model for Indian ministries. He was instrumental in the discernment, formation and ordination of Native American priests throughout Indian country, including eleven priests in Minnesota. Preceded in death by wife, Helen; brother, Donald; parents, Martin & Blossom. Survived by children, Susan (Vivian), Joseph (Rebecca) and Martha; 6 grandchildren; 5 great- grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Service Saturday, March 27, 2010, 2:00 PM, Cathedral Church of St. Marks, 519 Oak Grove. Visitation Friday, 5:00 PM going all night at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3044 Longfellow Ave. Interment Monday, March 29th, 2:00 PM in Mission, SD. Memorials to grandchildren’s education fund.Please, we need your help right now.
The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community needs your assistance.
We are in dire straights and our future as a tribe is in jeopardy.
JOIN OUR CAUSE (facebook) or DONATE TO OUR CAUSE or PROMOTE OUR CAUSE
Bringing Dakota culture back to its birthplace in Minnesota and protecting the sacred sites of the Dakota Oyate (Nation) in that area.
Donations Go To…
Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Positions:
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Protect and preserve sites sacred to the Dakota Nation around the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, located in the Twin Cities area.
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Revitalize Dakota culture and the use of the Dakota language in its place of origin.
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Promote better understanding between non-natives and the Dakota People by providing accurate information about Dakota history in Minnesota.
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offering opportunities for all to learn about Dakota culture.
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Establish a home base for the descendants of the Dakota people who lived in the Mendota area and never granted the U.S. tribal status promised to them
FUND RAISING:
Many generations ago, our elders prophesized that a time would come when their descendants would return to the birthplace of the Dakota Nation to protect its sacred sites and bring Dakota culture back to its place of origin. This place is the Mendota area, the joining together place, of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers in the heart of the Twin Cities. We are the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community, and we are here today fulfilling that prophesy as best we can in the place where our direct ancestors lived.
We have run out of funds to maintain our tribal community center in the town of Mendota, MN beyond May, 2010. We are asking you to help us out in our immediate need by donating whatever amount of money you can afford to help keep us intact so we can do the work we are dedicated to. Please read the Open letter to all peoples of good heart about the current situation of the MMDC. on our home page, http://mendotadakota.com/mn/ to better understand our situation.
Over the past 15 years we have spent many thousands of volunteer hours fighting for the preservation of sites sacred to the Dakota People and brought back Dakota ceremonies, language, and culture to the birthplace of the Dakota Nation. We have gone to schools and cultural organizations throughout the Twin Cities area to educate our neighbors about the true story of the Dakota People in Minnesota and promote acceptance and healing between our people and the general American public. And we have brought together once again the scattered descendants of the Mdewakanton band of Dakota people who had once lived in the Mendota area.
To learn more about us, please view the following links: WHO WE ARE, OUR IMPACT, our MISSION STATEMENT. Also feel free to explore our ARCHIVES by clicking on CATEGORIES of interest.
Our Mission:
We bridge the gap between Indian and non-Indian communities. Our commitment to sustaining Dakota language and culture is our organization?s driving force. Our programs and events are open to the public. We encourage all people to learn and participate. We work collaboratively with tribal, city, county and state governments, Native and non-
Native non-profits, and grass root organizations on issues and initiatives that pertain to and affect Dakota and other Native peoples.
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Preserving the Culture: Consistent with our mission, several programs and activities focus on the preservation of Dakota culture. These include:
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Conducting weekly Dakota language classes free of charge and open to the public.
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Conducting monthly traditional craft classes free of charge and open to the public.
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Hosting the annual MMDC Welcome Home Traditional Pow-Wow (2nd weekend in August).
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Hosting annual World Peace and Prayer Day and Winter Solstice ceremonies at Camp Coldwater
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Participating in an annual traditional Sugar Bush Camp
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Initiating and hosting the annual remembrance ceremony to honor the Dakota ancestors who were interred in the Fort Snelling concentration camp after the 1862 Dakota Conflict
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Hosting Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) meetings. Protecting the Culture: We believe that a critical component of ensuring that the Dakota culture will exist for future generations is protecting the culture today. These protective activities are crucial our mission. Current activities include:
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Participation in the National Trust of Historic Preservation Twin Cities Local Advisory Committee
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Exercising Treaty rights, such as pass and re-pass rights at Camp Coldwater and fishing rights under the 1805 Treaty
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Partnering with the Pilot Knob Preservation Association to protect an historical site from being developed into a commercial office-building complex. Promoting the Culture: We believe that promoting the Dakota culture is important on many levels. First and foremost, promoting the culture ensures that accurate historical and contemporary information about the Dakota is present in relevant dialogues and is available to Dakota and non-Dakota alike. Promotion initiatives also provide the foundation for improved relationships with our non-Dakota relatives. Towards these ends, activities to promote the Dakota culture include:
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Educational Outreach to local schools to share the Dakota culture, crafts, regalia, and artifacts
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Maintaining a website for the MMDC providing historical and cultural information to visitors We work collaboratively with tribal, city, county and state governments, Native and non-Native non-profits, and grass root organizations on issues and initiatives that pertain to and affect Dakota and other Native peoples. Examples of these collaborations include:
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Working with the Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition to protect a site that is sacred to Dakota people and of cultural significance to the people of Minnesota
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Partnering with the Pilot Knob Preservation Association to protect an historical site from being developed into a commercial office-building complex.
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Collaborating with the University of Minnesota on several native-related projects
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Teaming up with the City of Mendota and the Mendota VFW in organizing the Mendota Days community celebration
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Working with Ospaye (a.k.a. Friends of the Friendly), a group of people ineligible to be MMDC members who are dedicated to supporting MMDC and its efforts
We believe we are here to play an important spiritual and cultural role for all people who live here in the land of our ancestors. Please help us to continue on! Pidamaya ye. Thank you!
MENDOTA NEEDS YOUR HELP. WE ARE A PROUD DAKOTA COMMUNITY!
Urgent open letter to all peoples of good heart about the current situation of the MMDC.
From the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community.
BE DAKOTA EVERY DAY!
We are the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community, and we are here today fulfilling that prophesy as best we can in the place where our direct ancestors lived.
Many generations ago, our elders prophesized that a time would come when their descendants would return to the birthplace of the Dakota Nation to protect its sacred sites and bring Dakota culture back to its place of origin. This place is the b’dota (mistranslated by the French as Mendota), the joining together place, of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.
For the past 15 years we have been doing this by:
Successfully fighting for the preservation of the sacred spring (Mnihdoka Wakan) known as Coldwater Springs (Go here, COLD WATER SPRINGS to learn more)
We have done all this with a good heart and unwavering commitment for the past 15 years and we have plans to do much more.
But now our sources of funding have dried up and we have come upon a hard time in Mendota, the home of our ancestors.
We plan to be here for more than seven times seven generations, but right now we need your help!
We have lost the community center, for a parking lot. We are still in Mendota in a small office. We will continue our work and fulfill our mission. (See MISSION STATEMENT)
WE HAVE SPENT YEARS CONTESTING AGAINST POWERFUL, WELL FINANCED FORCES THAT WANTED TO DEMOLISH SACRED Sites IN THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA for ECONOMIC GAIN. WE HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE FIGHTS AND WANT TO CONTINUE AS EFFECTIVE, VIGILANT DEFENDERS OF THE SACRED LANDS OF OUR ANCESTORS.
We have nourished a renaissance of Dakota culture in this area, freely made available to peoples of all races and colors.
We are in the process of applying for grants and developing the long-term financial stability that will allow us to purchase our community center in Mendota.
We need your FINANCIAL support right now TO KEEP GOING!
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Use this link: DONATIONS to go to the page on our website from which you can choose the amount and type of donation you wish to make. Whatever level you can afford to help us at will be greatly appreciated! We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are 100% tax deductable. In supporting us financially you will be helping our efforts to fulfill the prophesies of our elders which motivate us to keep on going no matter what the obstacles!
If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at (651) 452-4141, or send an email to mmdc01@comcast.net
There is one more thing we need to ask of you. Whether or not you are able to contribute anything right now, PLEASE take two or three minutes and send the link to this page, http://www.mendotadakota.com to all your friends and ask them to please send it to their friends as well. If you are on facebook or any other social networking sites, please send our homepage link to your friends there as well. In this way our message will spread.
PIDAMAYA,
THANK YOU! THE MENDOTA TRIBAL COUNCIL.
DOWNLOAD this letter as a PDF file HERE
DOWNLOAD this letter as a DOC file HERE
We will be posting some great informative videos featuring Jim Anderson, Sharon Lennartson. They will be available on Youtube and our website, please check back in a few days. Also you can login or register to join our e-mailing list. (newsletters and mailing list can be controlled from your profile once you have registered.)
Fire Talks at ColdWater 3-6-2010
First Nations United: To ensure the prosperity of the First Nation people and to bring about unification of all tribal nations through redefining our identity and connecting with our past!
FIRE TALKS!
Fire represents power, strength, life, and sustainability. First Nation people have used this life source in their ceremonies as a way of connecting us to the creator. Our ancestors gathered around fires and discussed many important issues that effected their tribe, community, and family. This connection to fire still remains for the First Nation people of Turtle Island. First Nations United would like to invite you to participate in FIRE TALKS! This is a bi-weekly intertribal gathering to develop a dialog about reclaiming the sacred site know as “Coldwater Spring.” Bring your ideas, history, and knowledge of this sacred site. _________________________________________________________________________
Location/Logistics: Coldwater Spring is south of Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. From Hwy 55/Hiawatha, turn east (toward the Mississippi River) at 54th Street, take an immediate right (south) & follow the frontage road for a half mile past the pay parking meters, through the fence gates, & past the aqua brick building where you can park. This gathering is outside so please dress appropriate for the elements. A fire will be provided and some refreshments.
When: 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Contact Information: George spears Chi-Noodin (612) 269 -5083
Gary Spears Migizi (952) 974-3257
