Little Shell Tribe of Montana An unofficial Tribal Member website
"Ayabewaywetung"
"Es 'Sence"
Chief Little Shell
also known as "Little Clam"
This Little Shell Tribe Website is BY Little Shell Tribal Members FOR Little Shell Tribal Members
Bulletin Board Little Shell Tribe Contacts Home News Council Committee Recognition Legal History Genealogy Pictures Resources Culture Our Community
Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of
Montana Federal Recognition Status with BIA SummaryLittle Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of MT (#31)
letter of intent 4/28/78
Techinicial Assist Letter 1 4/18/85
Techinicial Assist Letter 2 4/8/85
ready 3/23/95
active 2/12/97
proposed positive finding published 7/21/00
OFA Press Release Denying Recognition 10/27/09
OFA Final Determination 10/27/09
final determination Denied 10/27/09
The BIA has filed with the Federal Register the Denial of Federal Recognition on November 3, 2009. This begins a 90 day countdown where the Tribe, interested members may request a reversal of the Final Determination. Here is the Federal Register Submission:
OFA Final Determination Federal Register Submission, Nov 3, 2009
On February 1, 2010, if there is no request for Reversal (Appeal) or if the Final Determination has been overturned, it will be come final and non-reversable.
H.R.3120 : To extend the Federal relationship to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana as a distinct federally recognized Indian tribe, and for other purposes. Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of
Montana Federal Recognition Status with US COngress Summary
Sponsor: Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] (introduced 7/7/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.S.1936 : A bill to extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 10/27/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Indian Affairs
Latest Major Action: 10/27/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Council Special Election Announced
The newly appointed Little Shell Chippewa Election Committee will be conducting a Special Election for all seven (7) Tribal Council positions according to Anginette Bromlie-Estey, Election Committee Chairperson.
"According to the Constitution Amendments approved by tribal voters, a Special Election must be held within 30 days" stated Estey. "Therefore, we are providing public notice that Election Day for positions on the Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Council (both 2-year Council seats and 4-year Executive Officer seats) will be held on March 6, 2010."
"To be an eligible candidate, you must be an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe, at least 18 years of age, and not have been convicted of a felony and must pass a background check." added Estey. "The filing deadline to be a candidate for Tribal Council is February 16, 2010."
Bromlie-Estey added, "Potential candidates are asked to provide a letter of interest to file, stating specifically which position, and pay a filing fee of thirty five dollars which will be used to conduct the background check."
Members of the Election Committee, along with Chair Person Anginette Estey are:
Skip Songer, Karlene Faulkner, Jesse Collins, Scott Martinez, Carol Suzey Doney Hofeldt, and Francis E. Flesch.The Election Committee will be providing public information on polling sites, election guidelines, and so forth within the next couple of days.
Address for Candidate Filings and other correspondence for the Election Committee is:
Little Shell Election Committee
2509 N. Montana Ave.
PMB 320
Helena, MT 59601
Latest Little Shell Tribe Related Headlines
For all the archive News, go to the Little Shell News Headline Archive Page
Feburary 6, 2010Feburary 4, 2010
Little Shell Alliance forms committee to oversee election
From the KXLH 25 News Desk
Kay Rossi/KRTV
The Little Shell Alliance that is trying to change their tribe's constitution now has a committee in place to oversee their upcoming election.
The committee is made up of seven members and will be chaired by Anginette Bromlie-Estey from Helena.
James Parker Shield, Little Shell Alliance member, explained, "Those are all tribal members. Some of them are new faces, including hers. They're upset about what's going on and they want to get involved in reforming their tribal government, taking it back to the people."
Parker Shield says the committee will draft the details of the election that a portion of tribal members voted in last week.
The election will ask members to decide on multiple issues, including replacing current leadership.
Little Shell Tribe president John Sinclair has called the election illegal and has threatened to take action against the Alliance.
Sinclair said, "They've used some obscure idea that they have to justify it and they've gotten approximately 10% of the members to agree with it, so I don't know what else we can do. There's no point in getting upset about something that basically we really have no desire to control."
Sinclair says he is working to put together a three-judge panel to host a hearing on the actions of the Alliance.
The Little Shell Alliance is pushing forward with its election, which is set for March 6th.
Feburary 4, 2010
Little Shell Tribal Council member LaSalle resigns
From the KXLH 25 News Desk
Kay Rossi/KRTV
Earlier this week we told you about the Little Shell Alliance's plans for a special election, and today, a change to the Tribal Council was made without a vote being cast, as Council member John LaSalle submitted his resignation.
John Sinclair, Little Shell Tribal President, says he knew LaSalle was unhappy in the council and he says the resignation did not come as a surprise.
Sinclair noted, "They haven't supported this council for quite sometime and we knew that but we were trying to do things legally. We could've gone out and removed him if we wanted to but we're trying to do things legally."
Here is the full text of LaSalle's letter:
(to) John Sinclair
Chairman,LittleShellTribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana
905 Center St.
Havre,Mt.59401John: In my opinion your actions have disgraced the Tribal Council and the LittleShell Tribe and made the Tribe the laughingstock of the state and especially of the other tribes in the state. You have been running the Tribe from behind closed doors and saying the council has made these decisions, when,I for one, didn't know anything about it.
I've never seen a printed agenda,I've never seen a copy of the minutes of prior meetings,let alone be asked to approve them, and the same with any monthly Fiscal Reports.I no longer wish to bang my head against the wall in a futile attempt to help the People,nor do I wish to be tarred with the same brush you are.
Therefore, as of this day,February 3,2010, I resign my seat on the LittleShell Tribal Council. (signed) John H. LaSalle
Webmaster Note:
Sinclair noted, "They haven't supported this council for quite sometime and we knew that but we were trying to do things legally. We could've gone out and removed him if we wanted to but we're trying to do things legally." Why would Sinclair's first action, when someone disagrees with him and his policies, be to "Remove" them? This is the act of Tyranny and that of a dictatorship. And Sinclair wonder's why the tribal members do not support him at all?
Feburary 3, 2010
Upset with tribal leader, Little Shell councilman resigns
From the Great Falls Tribune
Travis Coleman
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterA Little Shell Tribal Council member critical of tribal President John Sinclair has resigned.
John LaSalle, 62, announced his resignation Wednesday, saying he is dissatisfied with Sinclair, who LaSalle said made the Little Shell the "laughingstock" of the state and among other tribes. Sinclair said LaSalle is affiliated with the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance, a group of tribal members united against Sinclair.
LaSalle said he is not a member of the group, but that he agrees with the alliance's stance. Sinclair also alleges that LaSalle wanted to be on the council just to cause trouble and was about to be kicked off for not attending tribal meetings.
LaSalle was voted onto the council in May as a council-at-large member. He previously served on the council in 2000. LaSalle and Leona Kienenberger, another council member voted in last May, have publicly voiced their displeasure with Sinclair.
The tribe is supposed to have a seven-member council. Sinclair said someone will have to be temporarily appointed to LaSalle's spot on the council until a special election can be held to find a permanent replacement.
Webmaster Note: Sinclair knows that "Appointing" is a direct violation of the Tribal Consititution.
ARTICLE I,SECTION V."If a council member or Official shall die, resign permanently, leave his or her district or not be able to represent the district in the best interest of the Tribe or be found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor involving dishonesty in any Indian, State or Federal Court, the Executive Committee shall declare the position vacant and call a district special election to fill the vacancy."LaSalle's resignation letter addresses Sinclair, stating, "You have been running the tribe from behind closed doors and saying the council has made these decisions, when no notifications, printed agendas, tribal financial statements or minutes of prior meetings have been provided, much less been asked to vote on these constitutionally mandated items.
"I no longer wish to bang my head against the wall in a futile attempt to help the people, nor do I wish to be tarred with the same brush you are," the letter states.
LaSalle echoed complaints made by the alliance in a news release, saying that Sinclair was not duly elected in May. Sinclair has previously denied any wrongdoing.
LaSalle also was critical of the tribe's mismanagement of state funds, which has led to the state suspending nearly $900,000 in grants and stimulus funds tabbed for the tribe.
Additionally, LaSalle said Sinclair is not authorized to conduct a three-judge tribunal against members of the alliance, which is running an election on March 6 to oust the current council. Sinclair has said he would like to conduct a tribunal, but has not yet set a date for the proceedings.
LaSalle is supporting the alliance's election while Sinclair and other tribal council members have said the election is illegitimate.
"Our tribe is being run by a guy who is acting as a dictator and has resorted to threats, lies and distortions," said LaSalle in the news release.
Feburary 2, 2010
PRESS RELEASE: Little Shell Tribal Council Member announces Resignation
From John LaSalle, Little Shell Council Member
For Immediate Release
Contact:
John LaSalle
(406) 352-3369Little Shell Tribal Council Member announces Resignation
John LaSalle, a Little Shell Chippewa Tribal council member announced today his intention to resign his position on the Tribal Council in protest over former chairman John Sinclair’s “Corruption and Crimes against our tribe”.
In his resignation letter, LaSalle stated,” In my opinion your (John Sinclair) actions have disgraced the Tribal Counsel and the Little Shell Tribe and made the Tribe the laughingstock of the state and in the eyes of other Tribal nations”. John continued “You (John Sinclair) have been running the Tribe from behind closed doors and saying the council has made these decisions, when no notifications, printed agendas, tribal financial statements, or minutes of prior meetings have been provided, much less been asked to vote on these constitutionally mandated items. I no longer wish to bang my head against the wall in a futile attempt to help the People, nor do I wish to be tarred with the same brush you (John Sinclair) are.”
“I also feel that Sinclair was not duly elected in an election authorized by the Tribal Constitution nor authorized or approved by the Tribal People. It is suspect when you count ballots in secret a day before they were to be counted in the open, publically”, LaSalle said. “John Sinclair is dragging our tribe into the ground with financial mismanagement, crooked elections, and threatening to ‘Try’ any tribal member who opposes Mr. Sinclair rule in ‘Tribunals ‘or ‘Three judge panels’ when such actions are not authorized by the Tribal members and are not part of our own Tribal Constitution.” LaSalle continued, “Our tribe is being run by a guy who is acting as a dictator and has resorted to threats, lies, and distortions”.
“Our only hope is for the State of Montana to recognize the will of the Little Shell People when they voted in March 2009 to affirm that Sinclair and his people no longer represented the Tribe and tribal members authorized new tribal elections. These new elections are now being conducted following the recent Constitutional Amendments to our Constitution and fully authorized by Tribal members.” stated LaSalle. “It is interesting to note that the volume of Tribal members who voted to approve these Amendments far surpass any that were cast in any previous tribal election”. LaSalle continued, “This new constitutionally mandated Election will be at the will of the Little Shell Chippewa People and not that of a self-proclaimed tyrant. It makes me proud that the Little Shell People care so much for our tribe that they would take these actions to clean up the mess left by Sinclair.”, LaSalle concluded.
Feburary 1, 2010
Little Shell opposition sets March 6 election
From the Associated Press via KULR
GREAT FALLS - An opposition faction within Montana's Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians has scheduled a March 6 election, in defiance of the tribe's president and some council members who says the move is illegitimate.
The 4,300 member, loose-knit tribe has been roiled during the last six months by a denial of its petition for federal recognition and the suspension of government grants and stimulus money.Members of the Little Shell Alliance, a group upset with the direction of the tribal government, circumvented the tribal council and President John Sinclair to set up the March election. The alliance says more than 400 tribal members supported the election in a recent referendum.
Sinclair says he's trying to set up a three-judge tribunal to put Alliance members on trial. But he says that could take months and won't be done by the March 6 election.
January 28, 2010
PRESS RELEASE: Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Council Special Election Announced
From the Little Shell Tribal Election Committee
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Anginette Bromlie-Estey
(406) 594-1857Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Council Special Election Announced
The newly appointed Little Shell Chippewa Election Committee will be conducting a Special Election for all seven (7) Tribal Council positions according to Anginette Bromlie-Estey, Election Committee Chairperson.
"According to the Constitution Amendments approved by tribal voters, a Special Election must be held within 30 days" stated Estey. "Therefore, we are providing public notice that Election Day for positions on the Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Council (both 2-year Council seats and 4-year Executive Officer seats) will be held on March 6, 2010."
"To be an eligible candidate, you must be an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe, at least 18 years of age, and not have been convicted of a felony and must pass a background check." added Estey. "The filing deadline to be a candidate for Tribal Council is February 16, 2010."
Bromlie-Estey added, "Potential candidates are asked to provide a letter of interest to file, stating specifically which position, and pay a filing fee of thirty five dollars which will be used to conduct the background check."
Members of the Election Committee, along with Chair Person Anginette Estey are:
Skip Songer, Karlene Faulkner, Jesse Collins, Scott Martinez, Carol Suzey Doney Hofeldt, and Francis E. Flesch.The Election Committee will be providing public information on polling sites, election guidelines, and so forth within the next couple of days.
Address for Candidate Filings and other correspondence for the Election Committee is:
Little Shell Election Committee
2509 N. Montana Ave.
PMB 320
Helena, MT 59601For more information, please contact Anginette Bromlie-Estey at (406)-594-1857.
January23, 2010
Cobell settlement prompts individual research
From the Missoulean
By Duke LaRance
ChoteauI am a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and am listed as a Pembina Descendent on the roles of the Turtle Mountain (ND) Agency. I got totally and unconscionably ripped off in the distribution of the “Ten Cent Treaty” settlement, but that is water under the bridge, and I am not bitter.
Recently, when going through old papers, I found three old statements sent to me by the Turtle Mountain Agency. The first was from the accounting period Sept. 1, 1993 to Sept. 30, 1993 showing a balance of 3 cents. The second was from the accounting period Oct. 1, 2003 to Oct. 31, 1993 showing a balance of 3 cents. The third was from the accounting period March 26, 2000 to June 25, 2000 showing a balance of 0 cents!
Wondering how the Cobell lawsuit settlement might affect me, I did a Google search. As we all know, we can’t trust everything on the Web, except for what I post. I urge anyone who might be qualified to be a recipient to do their own research. The following is a synopsis of items that may pertain to my situation:
There are two different classes (or “bunches,” as we say). The first is the “Historical Accounting Class” which will likely payout $1,500 to each recipient. To qualify, one must have had an open account between June 25, 1994 and Sept. 3, 2009 with at least one transaction during that period.
To qualify for the “Trust Administrative Class” one must have or had an account during the “Electronic Registration Era” from approximately 1985 to the present. This will pay out $500 per person plus a pro rata share of the meager scraps left over after the lawyers’ subsequent feeding frenzy. Most will qualify for both classes.
So it looks like a will be able to buy a very nice car with my $500. And as far as I am concerned, I damned well better also qualify for the larger amount. Somewhere along the way, my 3 cents was looted and I want it back pronto, Tonto! If my 3 cents was looted after the magical date of June 25, 1994, then that very act of piracy was the one required transaction, init? Maybe I’ll be able to buy nice cars for my wife and kids, too!
Duke LaRance,
Choteau
January22, 2010
State keeps Little Shell funds on hold
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Travis Coleman
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterState agencies remain skeptical of the Little Shell Tribe's accounting and said this week that they will continue to withhold almost $900,000 in grants and federal stimulus funds marked for the tribe.
Tribal President John Sinclair said Friday that he was disappointed but he will continue to work with the state to correct the tribe's accounting problems.
"We want to do things right, but we need to get people to do that for us," Sinclair said.
According to the Jan. 20 letter sent to the tribe by attorneys for the state's Commerce and Public Health and Human Services departments, Sinclair didn't adequately answer concerns over the tribe's accounting practices.
Both state departments audited the tribe last year to ensure that state grants were being managed properly, but instead uncovered sloppy bookkeeping that could lead to financial abuse. The tribe had also misspent past grants, the audits state.
Last month, the state asked the tribe to show it was putting viable accounting and administrative systems in place. On Jan. 4, the state received the tribe's response — notations typed in red on the state's letter, according to the Jan. 20 letter.
The Jan. 20 letter states: "No other documents or materials were received, with the exception of a cover letter that stated in closing 'At this point I would like a definite date of the continuation of the grants designated to the tribe, and would request that the governor's office issue a press release publicizing that date.'"
The letter states that the tribe did not clear up confusion on the relationship between it and a Little Shell nonprofit organization, making it unclear which entity the state is contracting with. The origin of the nonprofit agency and its exact purpose also is not clear, the letter states.
Sinclair said the tribe's fiscal manager position would be contracted to Douglas Wilson and Company of Great Falls.
However, Douglas Wilson officials told the state they had not agreed to be the tribe's fiscal manager and did not have the capacity to do that job. Limited spending oversight is among 13 areas the state agencies continue to be concerned about.
Because of this, the state will continue to withhold an $180,000 tobacco-use prevention grant, along with $617,000 in stimulus money tabbed for the tribe. A Commerce Department grant for $70,000 is set to go directly to the purchase of the tribe's new Great Falls facility at 1626 6th Ave. N., not to the tribe or nonprofit.
Sinclair said some of the answers the state needs could come when the tribe sends the agencies its updated accounting manual, which wasn't sent on Jan. 4 by error.
As for the state's other concerns, "I'm still not sure what they want," Sinclair said.
The letter to the tribe comes as a faction of tribal members within the 4,300 member tribe is pushing for the ouster of Sinclair, in part because of the problems with the state funds.
Sinclair plans to hold the tribe's first ever tribunal to put members of the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance on trial for conducting what he has called an "illegal" referendum election, among other allegations.
January 21, 2010
State still holding Little Shell tribe money awaiting financial answers
From the Associated Press via the Great Falls Tribune
From the Associated Press via the Billings Gazette
By Associated Press
State officials say they will continue to withhold almost $900,000 in grants and stimulus funds from Montana's Little Shell Indians after the tribe's president failed to answer concerns over its accounting practices.
Audits last year by the Departments of Commerce and Public Health and Human Services revealed shoddy accounting within the tribe had opened the door to potential financial abuse. In a Jan. 20 letter, attorneys from the two agencies said $180,000 for tobacco use prevention and $70,000 for economic development remain suspended. A $617,000 federal stimulus grant that the state Legislature directed toward the tribe is also on hold. A rival faction within the 4,300 member tribe is pushing for the ouster of President John Sinclair, in part because of the problems with the state funds.
January 16, 2010
PRESS RELEASE: State Holds Little Shell Chippewa Stimulus Funds
From the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Robert Rudeseal 868-5588
James Parker Shield 590-1745State Holds Little Shell Chippewa Stimulus Funds
In a January 20 letter from attorneys for the Montana Department of Commerce and Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe was informed that the Tribal Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency Reinvestment Program funds, known as "stimulus" funds along with Tobacco Prevention funding would continue to be held by the state over concerns about the tribes lack of accounting and management.
The State also raised questions about the relationship between the tribe and its non-profit organization, according to leaders of the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance.
"Mr. Sinclair tried to snow the state government about how he has mismanaged programs and monies that are vital and needed by our people," stated Robert Rudeseal of the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance. "More importantly, as more of this mess comes out, people will be able to connect the dots between how Sinclair is trying to establish a tribal government that operates on intimidation and made-up "tribunals" and secretive financial dealings." added Rudeseal. "The Little Shell people applaud the state governments due diligence and over-sight in this matter."
January 15, 2010
Little Shell Alliance's Initial referendum ballots support special election
From the Great Falls Tribune
By TRAVIS COLEMAN
Tribune Staff WriterAn initial ballot count showed support to amend the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians' constitution Friday, which would pave the way for a special election to replace the tribe's council.
The election was conducted by the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance, a group of tribal members who are dissatisfied with the direction of the tribe under the leadership of tribal Chairman John Sinclair.
The final referendum ballot count will be held Jan. 30 to allow more time for the more than 3,000 ballots mailed out to tribal members to be returned. But the count of returned ballots at War Shield Development on Friday showed members supported amending the constitution, by a margin of 365 votes to 6 votes. The tribe has more than 4,300 members spread out across the state.
Three state legislators — Sen. Joe Tropila, D-Great Falls; Rep. Jesse O-Hara, R-Great Falls; and Rep. Bill Wilson, D-Great Falls — were on hand to observe the election and make sure it was legitimately conducted.
Sinclair has condemned the alliance's election, calling it illegal. He also has announced plans for the tribe's first ever tribunal to put alliance members on trial.
The alliance hopes to change the tribe's 32-year-old constitution, which they say does not adequately address elections, term-limits or offer a remedy for election disputes. Alliance members said its proposed amendments would institute fairness and balance in elections, along with adding a separation of powers for the tribe's judicial system.
"(The amendments also) allow for special elections to happen," alliance Vice Chairman Robert Rudeseal said.
He added that if the amendments are approved, a special election could be held within 60 days. An elder's council would set up the election committee.
Dissatisfaction with Sinclair led to the formation of the alliance in mid-2008. The group has said that the current tribal government was not fairly elected because some candidates were disqualified or disenrolled from the tribe prior to election day, among other complaints.
The alliance also believes the tribe is suffering under Sinclair's leadership after $867,000 in grants and stimulus money were withheld by the state when officials discovered what they said were poor accounting practices by the tribe.
The alliance held a mail-in election in March asking members if the alliance should be in charge of conducting the tribe's elections, which had been delayed. Results supported the alliance.
In October, The Little Shell's 31-year bid for federal recognition — which would allow for health care and housing benefits, among other benefits available only to recognized tribes — was denied by the U.S. Department of Interior.
January 15, 2010
Little Shell Chippewa Tribe Members Count Amendment Ballots
From the KFBB: Montana's News Channel
For more than 30 years now, the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe has been fighting to gain recognition from the federal government. But Friday, the tribe's internal affairs took the spotlight, as members voted whether or not to amend part of their tribal constitution.
Members of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe have dealt with struggles for years. Friday, a group of concerned members gathered in the hopes of changing the tribe's election rules, after a delayed election last year that some call "fraudulent."
"We wanted to basically force a new election and improve and reform our tribal government and how we conduct elections," explained tribe member James Parker Shield.
"These ballots are giving us the go ahead to hold- make an amendment to hold our new election,” noted John Gilbert, Chair of the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance. “And we're doing this with the blessing of the tribal members."
At this point, the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance has the blessing of the 365 members who voted to pass amendments to the tribal constitution that would set specific election rules and separate the branches of tribal government.
Only 6 members of the tribe voted no, however, the tribe is said to have 4,300 members. Disputes over the 2009 election and Chairman John Sinclair's accounting practices have caused contention within the tribe.
"Enough is enough,” said Gilbert. “We've had enough of this bickering, this corruption, all of this. We're all tired of it... This way here we'll get us a new governing body. This bickering will stop. This fighting will come to an end. We have more important things to focus on."
Yet Alliance members say the election issues have little to do with the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe's struggle with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
"Our struggle, internally, does not have any bearing whatsoever on our Federal recognition,” Shield said. “In fact, in Washington D.C., they barely know we exist."
The alliance planned to seal the votes and send them home with a local legislator.
Absentee voters still have two weeks to request and return ballots before the final tally.
January 13, 2010
Little Shell opposition plans election to replace Tribal Council in February
From the Associated Press Via the Missoulean
BILLINGS - Leaders of an opposition faction within Montana's Little Tribe of Chippewa Indians are planning an election to replace the existing Tribal Council.
John Gilbert with the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance says the election will be in February. He says a mail-in referendum tallied Friday supported the move by a 365 to 6 vote margin.
Tribal Chairman John Sinclair says he asked his supporters not to participate in a process he called illegal. Sinclair wants to hold the tribe's first ever tribunal and put members of the Alliance on trial.
The push for political sea change within the tribe comes after state officials withheld $867,000 in grants and stimulus money because of the Little Shell's poor accounting practices.
The landless, 4,300 member tribe is recognized by the state. In October, its 31-year bid for federal recognition was denied by the U.S. Department of Interior.
January 8, 2010
PRESS RELEASE: Little Shell Constitutional Amendment Absentee Ballots return time extended
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
John Gilbert (406) 750-2494
James Parker Shield (406) 590-1745Deadline for Absentee Ballots has been extended by 2 weeks
(Great Falls, MT) Little Shell Tribal members have asked the LSCA to extend the deadline to get in their Absentee Ballots for the Constitutional Amendment Election and the LSCA has responded by extending the Deadline by 2 weeks. What this means is that on Friday, January 15, 2010, at 1pm, there will be a preliminary count of received ballots and to allow in-person voting at 300 2nd Ave S., Suite #2, Great Falls, MT 59401. The New Deadline that the Absentee Ballots must be received is 1pm Saturday, January 30, 2010. Ballots must be mailed to:Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
Attn: Constitutional Amendment Ballot
PO Box 308
Black Eagle, MT 59414-0308Ballots can also be dropped off during normal working hours till Jan 29th and on January 30th before 1pm at:
300 2nd Ave S.
Suite #2
Great Falls, MT 59401Copies of the ballots are available by emailing the Alliance at Contact@LittleShellChippewaAlliance.org, or by downloading copies off of the Alliance Website at http://www.LittleShellChippewaAlliance.org and at tribal member websites at http://www.LittleShellTribe.com and http://www.LittleShellTribe.us.
The Ballots will be counted on January 30, 2010, 1pm at 300 2nd Ave S., Suite #2, Great Falls, MT 59401. The Public is Welcome to view the counting.
January 8, 2010
WEBMASTER NOTE: John Sinclair and Office workers threaten Tribal Members
Word is being passed to this website from Tribal Members that threats are being made against any tribal member who votes in this Constitutional Amendment Election. Beyond the Threats announced by John Sinclair in TV Interviews and newspaper article to "Sanction" and "Hold Tribunals" against anyone participating in this election, basically, a Tribal Member will call the tribal office and ask for a copy of their tribal Member ID Number and are being denied this basic service and told that "If you vote or take part in this election, you will be prosecuted".
As everyone knows, this is a free country and no government official, citizen, or even a visitor to this nation can interfere with your Basic Constitutional Rights. Nor can you be prosecuted, punished, or harmed in your exercise of your rights. The United States is not a Tyranny, nor is it governed by Fascists who rule with the iron fist of Threats and violence. But this has not stopped the Sinclair Administration and his cohorts from resorting to the lowest of the lows and attempt to disenfranchise each and every tribal member of their basic rights. Being a Tribal member does not take away any of the rights protected by the US Constitution and the Montana State Constitution.
This is what Federal law says about your Constitutional rights: US Code TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 13 > § 241,
§ 241. Conspiracy against rights
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured—
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
Saying that, it is ALSO the Right of every tribal member to redress their grievances. To that end, it is even MORE important that Tribal Members vote FOR these Constitutional Amendments. First to ensure that no power hungry despot will ever again revoke your right to a representative government. Second, to ensure that YOU have the right to redress your grievances against the Government or any other legal question by voting FOR a Judicial Branch of our Government that is separate but equal with the Council. These are the things that Sinclair and his Cabal are afraid of.. Power exercised BY the PEOPLE who are Exercising their G_D Given Rights. The root of our Tribal Government belongs TO the People.. In other words, the Council ANSWERS to the People, not the other way around. Period, final, end of story.
Until we get our government fixed and operating for the people again, you still have several avenues to redress your grievances. Sinclair and his Cabal, since they unconstitutionally cancelled the 2008 elections, our council has not been approved or authorized by our Tribal Constitution or Tribal members. In other words we have been without an elected government for over a year now (since Dec 2008). These are renegade tribal citizens who are controlling OUR tribal offices, accessing our tribal bank accounts, falsely representing themselves as our representatives when they are not. You have the ability to file complaints with several State and Federal Agencies for violating your Civil Rights, and you can ask for investigations and prosecutions. Here are some resources you can go to file your complaints against those who are threatening you for simply exercising your Constitutional rights.:
US Department Justice:
FBI Online Tip Line
Click here to find your local FBI OfficeUS Commission on Civil Rights:
Telephone: 1-800-552-6843 or (202) 376-8513
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E-Mail: referrals@usccr.govMontana Attorney General's Office:
You may contact the Montana Department of Justice and Attorney General Steve Bullock's Office by phone, fax, surface mail and e-mail. Please include your mailing address, so that we can provide you with complete information when responding to your inquiry.
Attorney General Steve Bullock
Department of Justice
P.O. Box 201401
Helena, MT 59620-1401
Phone: (406) 444-2026<
BR> Fax: (406) 444-3549 E-mail: contactdoj@mt.gov
January 1, 2010
Letter to the Editor: On the right track
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Little Shell Tribal Council members Leona Kienenberger and John LaSalle
John Sinclair's article in the Dec. 31 Great Falls Tribune for the most part is untrue. As council members we were not informed about the decision that the election attempt by the Alliance cannot be tolerated and they (the council) plan to call a tribunal to deal with the violations. In our opinion, the decision was Sinclair's alone. Furthermore, there is no such thing as "tribunal" or "sanctions" in our tribal constitution. In fact, our tribe is without a judicial system, so we don't understand how Sinclair can "call a tribunal and sanction Alliance members for illegal actions."
Disenrolling and disqualifying of certain candidates from running in the last election are an atrocity. Some of the disenrolled have been members of the Little Shell tribe for years, why were they suddenly disenrolled?
And disqualifying candidates on such charges as campaigning is an absolute crime. Those members were not even afforded a fair hearing which is totally against our constitution or our moral obligations.
If we had had a judicial system in place, this would never have happened.
We believe the Alliance is on the right track in trying to address some wrongs that need to be corrected. We encourage tribal members to fill out the constitutional ballots and mail them in. It is time to reunite our tribe and concentrate on getting the federal recognition that has eluded us for too long.
Leona Kienenberger, Dodson, and John LaSalle, Box Elder
December 31, 2009
PRESS RELEASE: LITTLE SHELL CHIPPEWA ALLIANCE RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS BY JOHN SINCLAIR
From the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
By LSCA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: James Parker Shield Tel: (406) 590-1745
The Little Shell Chippewa alliance is more than a "Splinter group". According to John Gilbert, its Chairman, the Alliance represents the feelings and frustrations of the majority of our tribal members who are sick and tired of John Sinclair's threats, his made up "Tribunals", his "Sanctions", and his attempts to disenroll and disenfranchise citizens from the tribe. We are enrolled tribal members who are fed up with those who claim power and tribal office without any constitutional authority.
Sinclair is very worried about the ballots that were mailed out to tribal members amending our Tribal Constitution, according to Article III, Section XI of that very same constitution which states:
"Any rights and powers heretofore vested in the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana but not expressly referred to in this Constitution shall not be abridged by this Article but may be exercised by the people of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians through adoption of the appropriate by-laws and constitutional Amendments."
Mr. Sinclair claims that only a referendum authorized by him can amend our constitution. Mr. Sinclair needs to actually read our constitution as a referendum is only used to change resolutions passed by the council. The authority to amend our constitution is founded with the Tribal People themselves. Not a council or a deluded tribal member who claims he is the president nor has any constitutional authority to claim such an office.
Sinclair is in opposition to having open, fair, and honest elections and a foundation for a Tribal Judicial System. It is very obvious Sinclair does not want the tribal members to exercise their constitutional right to vote and participate in their own governmental process; instead he threatens and is bound and determined to disenfranchise all tribal members.
It reminds us of the quotation used by President Obama only a few days ago when speaking about the Iranian Government Repression and the Killing of 15 protesters. Obama said "It is telling when a government fears the aspirations of its own people". Sinclair is afraid of the aspirations and expectations of Tribal Citizens and is lashing out at his own people.
It is very important that our people fill out the ballots and mail them back in order to stand up to this act of tyranny and to show that we will not be threatened or frightened by a bully.
Little Shell leader slams Alliance's election attempt
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Travis Colman
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterThe chairman of the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians on Wednesday condemned an election organized by a splinter group of tribal members who want to amend the tribe's constitution.
John Sinclair said tribal attorney Robert Lafountain advised him that the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance's election attempt is illegal and that it violates the constitution the group hopes to change.
Alliance members contend the constitutional amendments election would institute fairness and balance in elections, along with a separation of powers for the tribe's judicial system.
Sinclair asserts that constitutional changes can only come about by a referendum vote called by the sitting tribal council or by a constitutional convention of a majority of the tribe's more than 4,600 members.
In 2010, the tribe will look to continue its effort to gain federal recognition after being rejected by the Office of Federal Acknowledgement in October. But there also has been bickering among tribal members this year, with some forming the Alliance in response to their dissatisfaction with Sinclair.
Sinclair said the tribal council has decided that the election attempt cannot be tolerated and they plan to call a tribunal to deal with the violations. Sinclair added that strict sanctions against Alliance members could follow.
He also is advising tribal members to ignore any mailings from the group.
The Alliance mailed out more than 3,000 ballots to Little Shell tribal members earlier this week. The group hopes to change the tribe's 32-year-old constitution, which they say does not adequately address elections, term limits or offer remedy for election disputes. Alliance members reiterated their past criticism of Sinclair in a letter included in the ballot mailings.
"Our past tribal chairman/president and his counsel (sic) have attempted to remain in office by first postponing the last election by five months and then arbitrarily and illegally disqualifying and 'disenrolling' opposing council candidates in a fraudulent election process in May 2009," the letter states.
Sinclair previously denied any wrongdoing.
The letter also states that the tribe does not have a duly-elected tribal government, which Alliance members say hampers its federal recognition effort and the opportunity to get state funding.
The returned ballots are set to be counted by the Alliance on Jan. 15 at 300 2nd Ave. S., Suite No. 2 in Great Falls.
Sinclair said the tribal council has decided that the election attempt cannot be tolerated and they plan to call a tribunal to deal with the violations. Sinclair added that strict sanctions against Alliance members could follow.
WEBMASTER NOTE: John Sinclair makes quite a few unwarranted and inaccurate statements. As shown in the meeting with the Montana state Government on December 1, 2009 (See earlier article below), Sinclair admitted he has no idea what our tribal laws are or even how do the basics of running our government including writing Tribal Resolutions. But because Sinclair is clueless about our own tribal laws, we will explain some of them here :
1)"Sinclair asserts that constitutional changes can only come about by a referendum vote called by the sitting tribal council or by a constitutional convention of a majority of the tribe's more than 4,600 members."
ARTICLE VI. Section I of the tribal constitution states : "This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the Tribe VOTING AT ELECTIONS called for that purpose." What this mean is that Amendments to our constitution are accomplished by those voting in an election specifically called to amend our constitution.But who calls the election? That question is answered in Article III, Section XI which specifically states:"Any rights and powers heretofore vested in the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana but not expressly referred to in this Constitution shall not be abridged by this Article but may be exercised BY THE PEOPLE of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians through adoption of the appropriate by-laws and constitutional Amendments.".
This means that CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT Elections are originated BY THE PEOPLE OF THE LITTLE SHELL TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS, not Sinclair, nor any council, nor ANY CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. Referendums are only used to get by-laws passed through a stubbern council as detailed in Article IV, section I of our Tribal constitution that states "Upon petition of at least one half of the voters of the Executive board or upon the request of the majority of the members, any enacted or proposed ordinances or resolution of the Executive Committee shall be submitted to popular referendum and the vote of a majority of the attending voters on such referendum shall be conclusive and binding on the committee."
Mr. Sinclair made a bold faced lie to the Great Falls Tribune , KRTV, and to the public at large when he falsely stated that only he and/or his "Council" are the only one who can call for an election to amend our constitution. Mr. Sinclair also states in the article that his personal lawyer, Mr. Lafountain told him this. Any competant lawyer reading our constitution (a copy of which is freely available at all little shell websites) can see that constitutional amendments are originated by the people themselves and not a tyrannical government led by Mr. Sinclair.
2) Sinclair states ”Sinclair said the tribal council has decided that the election attempt cannot be tolerated and they plan to call a tribunal to deal with the violations. Sinclair added that strict sanctions against Alliance members could follow.”
Myself and other tribal members have contacted members of Sinclair’s “Council” and not one of them have been contacted by Mr. Sinclair about these elections, nor any we contacted had voted upon ANY Resolutions that condemn this Article XI constitutional amendment election nor authorized tribunals against tribal members exercising their Article XI constitutional rights.3) Sinclair States”He also is advising tribal members to ignore any mailings from the group”
This is a completely shamefull act of Tyranny by Sinclair. He is demanding that Tribal members NOT EXERCISE Their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS to a REPRESENTATIVE Government and to a Constitution that allows for Redress of Grievances. Only Tyrants and Dictators try to suppress civil liberties of the people they claim to lead. This places Sinclair with other Tyrants and Dictators like Stalin, Pol Pot, Mussolini, Hitler, Lenin, Milosevic, Park, Tojo, Saddam Hussein, Kim Il Jong, Fidel Castro, and Hugo Chavez, Edid Amin, and the list goes on.
Mr. Sinclair needs to stop lying to the Press, to the State of Montana, to the Federal Government, and especially to the Tribal People. He must also take responsibility for his corrupt and illegal actions and must face the Tribal people before a constitutionally mandated Judicial system. He must also face Justice in the US and State courts for what he has done with State and Federal money. He must do this now as he is shaming our people, our tribe, and our way of life. Period.
December 30, 2009
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The State of Montana releases notes about December 1, 2009 meeting between John Sinclair and the MT Government.
From the LSCA Website
By Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
The State released copies of the letter and notes made during the December 1, 2009 meeting between John Sinclair and the State of Montana. Several revelations about how Sinclair mishandled hundreds of thousands of Dollars of Tribal grant monies.
2009-12-16 Letter to Sinclair From MT Govt
2009-12-01 State-LST Meeting Notes
1) The state is concerned that Sinclair has not explained to the state how the Tribal Secretary of the Treasurer position is to be filled if vacant. Sinclair has replied to the state that he is unaware of the Tribal Procedures to replace council members. Our tribal constitution specifically says that if a Council position is vacant then a SPECIAL ELECTION MUST BE HELD to fill the position. Sinclair has violated our laws and Constitution by either appointing someone illegally to the position, in particular direct family members, or he has failed to comply with our laws and has refused to hold a special election and in fact and in reality, Mr. Sinclair has illegally assumed the duties of Secretary/Treasurer himself including taken control of all accounts and monies from the tribal office and put them into his personal control at his home with no accounting, reporting, and transparency. This has allowed hundreds of thousands of Tribal monies to be unaccounted for as noted in the Limited Audit of the Tobacco programs by the State of Montana of which is documented and available here:
Sinclair Tobacco Audit Report Part 1
Sinclair Tobacco Audit Report Part 2
Sinclair Tobacco Audit Report Part 3
2) The State asked Sinclair why his council does not use Resolutions to document decisions, laws, and approvals for financial payments as done with other tribes. Sinclair stated that he DID NOT KNOW HOW TO PREPARE TRIBAL RESOLUTIONS. This is further proof how incompetent John Sinclair is. Resolutions have been used since day one in our tribe, with the exception of his tenure it seems. Sinclair is telling the state that he does not know what our own constitution and laws are and that he is unable to figure them out so he has completely disregarded Tribal Laws, By-Laws, and Constitutional limitations.
3) The State has told Sinclair that the Contracts that awarded the Grant Money from the State strictly forbid using any of it for political purposes. Sinclair has stated that “No Money has been used for Political Purposes”. Anyone who has read ANY of the Newsletters published by the tribe where on the newsletter it states “This newsletter is provided by the Little Shell Tobacco Program”, and has read Sinclair's “Presidents Corner” knows that this statement that Sinclair told the state is a bold face lie. Every article of Sinclair’s is Political in nature, especially the last two that were published in March and April of 2009 where Sinclair published bank accounts and records and made false accusations against Tribal members in which John Sinclair must now face a State District Court Lawsuit that accuses him of Slander. Sinclair made these statements while he was beyond his term of office and was not authorized to spend ANY TRIBAL MONEY as there was and still is no legal and authorized tribal council.
This is just three items showing how incompetent John Sinclair is and how he tries to hide the fact that he cannot account for over 70% of the monies the Tribe has received from the State of Montana. The sorry part of all this is, is the fact that this is just ONE small grant. The tribe has had dozens of Grants awarded to it from both state and federal funds, if you add it all up, it will come to several hundreds of thousands of dollars that John Sinclair cannot account for. This money belongs to the tribal members. Not to Sinclair, not to any “Appointed” council he creates, or even those he decides are “Deserving” of this money. Only the Tribal Members and their Representatives have the power to decide what to do with this money, and the tribe itself is obligated to honor the contracts it enters into with the State and Federal Agencies and the majority of the money must be spent and allocated as per the limitations of the individual contracts. John Sinclair has been caught with his furry paw in the cookie jar and he and his cronies must be held accountable before the Tribal Members. And that is YOU!
Tribal members have two choices. Allow this incompetent person to continue his actions, or stand up for yourself and your Tribe and return our government to whom it belongs, the people themselves. If you take a stand, vote to amend our constitution to allow for special elections called for when those in our government take it upon themselves to commit treason against our people. Vote for a New council that is subservient to the people and not a Self-Declared Tyrant.
Once you allow for a Judicial system in our Constitution, you can redress your grievances, civil rights violations, and other things you feel that Sinclair and his cronies have committed against you or other tribal members. Also, you have the RIGHT and the Obligation to file complaints with Federal and State agencies (FBI, US Attorneys Office, State Attorney General, State and Federal IRS Agencies, Federal and State Labor Boards, Federal Social Security agencies, State and federal Worker’s Compensation services) if you feel that Sinclair has misused these State and Federal Funds, if you feel he has violated State and Federal Non-Profit laws.
No one can do this for you. Simply write a letter, send an e-mail, call these state and federal agencies and file formal complaints against Sinclair and hold him accountable for his actions.
ABOVE ALL.. YOU must make sure your voice will forever be heard in our Government and not suppressed by a Tyrant. You must use your power of the VOTE to replace the corrupt who control the keys to our Governement.. YOU MUST VOLUNTEER and RUN FOR COUNCIL to ensure these corrupt people are held accountable. ONLY YOU can take the reigns of our tribal government and lead our tribe to success. If you don’t then the corrupt will succeed and not only will we NEVER receive Recognition, but our Tribe will forever be shamed and forgotten.
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Little Shell Chippewa Constitutional Amendment Ballots Mailed
From the LSCA Website
By Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
December 28, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
John Gilbert (406) 750-2494
James Parker Shield (406) 590-1745
Robert Rudeseal (406) 868-5588(Great Falls,MT) On Monday, Dec 28, 2009, over three thousand (3000) letters containing Information, ballot, and Tribal Constitutional Amendment language were mailed to Little Shell Tribal Members. The Constitutional Amendments will allow for new fair and balanced Tribal Elections and the foundation of a Tribal Judicial System.
“We need to settle this on-going dispute over our last few tribal elections where the right of tribal members to vote were cancelled, and candidates running against former chairman John Sinclair and his council were either ‘disqualified’ or even ‘dis-enrolled’ from the tribe and where tribal member were not allowed to even ask for an appeal or review of Sinclair’s actions. We decided to go back to the people with these proposed amendments to our tribes Constitution”, stated John Gilbert, Chairman of the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance.
“The language in our tribal constitution clearly provides for an amendment process that is voted on by the people. This process does not need the approval of the Tribal Council, nor is the ballot process under the council’s jurisdiction in any way. Because our last election was clearly fraudulent and because we cannot have the question of John Sinclair’s claim to be our ‘duly elected’ tribal leader, heard in either a federal or state court, we believe it is necessary to amend the language in our constitution to allow for new fair and unbiased tribal elections.
“These amendments provide for a more democratic and detailed election process and provide for a judicial system that will allow tribal members to exercise their rights to redress their grievances.” said Gilbert. “We encourage all tribal members to fill out the ballots and mail them back quickly. This is their chance to take back control of their own tribal government”.
Copies of the ballots are available by emailing the Alliance at Contact@LittleShellChippewaAlliance.org, or by downloading copies off of the Alliance Website at http://www.LittleShellChippewaAlliance.org and at tribal member websites at http://www.LittleShellTribe.com and http://www.LittleShellTribe.us.
The Ballots are due back on January 14, 2010. They will be counted on January 15, 2010, 1pm at 300 2nd Ave S., Suite #2, Great Falls, MT 59401. The Public is Welcome to view the counting.
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Little Shell members ask state to withhold $900K
From the AP Wires the Montana Standard
By MATT GOURAS
Some members of Montana's Little Shell tribe want the state to withhold $900,000 in grant money because of concerns the tribe might mishandle it.
The revelation came Tuesday when a planned look into state issues with the tribe's accounting methods turned into an internal dispute over the legitimacy of the tribal government.
Tribal leaders sought the meeting to reassure state officials they're fixing accounting and control systems. But members of a rival faction within the tribe instead asked the state to continue withholding the grant money until new elections can be held.
"It sounds like a mess, and it has to be cleaned up," said John Gilbert, a former tribal chairman who leads the group seeking new elections.
Gilbert said the tribe is accustomed to having at most a few hundred dollars in its bank account. He urged the state not to give the current tribal government hundreds thousands of dollars.
Before Gilbert spoke, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Chairman John Sinclair told staff from the governor's office, the Commerce Department and the Department of Public Health and Human Services that progress has been made in meeting accounting standards.
He promised more would be done so that the tribe can receive the money, which includes federal stimulus funds funneled through the state and grants for tobacco use prevention and economic development.
Recent state audits suggested the tribe had misspent past grants, and sloppy bookkeeping practices opened the door to potential abuse.
State attorneys and accountants brought up several issues Tuesday, including limited oversight, no clear spending policies and no clear distinction between the tribal government and its nonprofit entity.
Sinclair and an attorney for the tribe assured the state the issues would be resolved and would include new procedures and documentation.
"This is all in process," Sinclair told the state agencies. "We are still trying to get our books in shape."
Sinclair also said the tribal government, which he characterized as a small group of volunteers, is looking for technical assistance in meeting the guidelines.
The tribe recently had a contentious election, followed by federal denial of its request to be recognized as a sovereign tribe. The landless tribe's 4,300 members are scattered across Montana and surrounding states and provinces.
The governor's office made it clear the state agencies are focused on the grant process, not tribal politics.
"At this point we are there to make sure that if we do give funds, they are used properly," said Sarah Elliott, spokeswoman for Gov. Brian Schweitzer.
Joined by other past leaders and current tribal members, Gilbert said they want the governor's office to intervene in the dispute over control of the tribal government, which is headed by Sinclair.
"Hopefully this will make them realize how serious the situation is," Gilbert said in an interview after the meeting. "We want fiscal responsibility here."
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Little Shell tribe, state to talk over problems in audit
From the AP Wires via the Missoulean
By Associated Press
HELENA - A planned look into state concerns over accounting methods at Montana's Little Shell tribe on Tuesday turned into a tribal dispute over the legitamacy of its government.
Several tribal members asked state agencies to withhold almost $900,000 in grant money until new elections can be held.
But Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Chairman John Sinclair told state officials that progress has been made in meeting accounting standards so the tribe can receive the money.
Recent state audits suggested the tribe had misspent past grants and that its sloppy bookkeeping practices opened the door to potential abuse.
State attorneys and accountants brought up several issues Tuesday, such as no clear distinction between the tribal government and its non-profit entity, no clear policies for spending money, and limited oversight
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Little Shell leaders, state officials discuss funding issues
From the Montana News Station
By KRTV
Little Shell tribal leaders met with members of state government today for a meeting regarding accounting concerns within the tribe. At issue is nearly $900,000 in grant and federal stimulus money.
The state decided to withhold the money until the tribe can prove that it has improved its accounting practices and will spend the money responsibly.
No decision was made regarding the money today, but tribal chairman John Sinclair believes it could be straightened out in the next few weeks.
Some members of the tribe believe the money should continue to be withheld; one group of members spoke out today saying that the tribe has held bogus elections and that the money should not be allocated until legitimate elections can be held.
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Little Shell tribe, state to talk over problems in audit
From the Montana News Station
By KRTV
Little Shell tribal leaders met with members of state government today for a meeting regarding accounting concerns within the tribe. At issue is nearly $900,000 in grant and federal stimulus money.
The state decided to withhold the money until the tribe can prove that it has improved its accounting practices and will spend the money responsibly.
No decision was made regarding the money today, but tribal chairman John Sinclair believes it could be straightened out in the next few weeks.
Some members of the tribe believe the money should continue to be withheld; one group of members spoke out today saying that the tribe has held bogus elections and that the money should not be allocated until legitimate elections can be held.
November 18, 2009
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$867K for Montana tribe on hold after state audit
From the AP Wires via the Montana Standard
By Matthew Brown
Associated PressState agencies have withheld $867,000 in grants and stimulus money from a Montana Indian tribe since auditors revealed lax accounting practices had opened the door to potential financial abuse.
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians first ran into trouble with the state in September, when auditors raised questions about how the tribe was spending a tobacco use prevention grant worth $180,000 annually.
The audit found "little relationship" between the program's budget and how the money was spent. Grant money appeared to be used on expenses related to tribal elections and to publish the tribal newspaper. Travel expenses topped $35,000 _ more than twice the budgeted amount.
Separately, in a visit to the tribe's offices in Great Falls, state officials found lax accounting for economic development grants.
With no way to verify how the money was spent, this year's grant for $70,000 was put on hold. Also suspended was a $617,000 federal stimulus grant that the state Legislature directed toward the tribe.
The tribe has been given until Nov. 23 to show it has fixed its accounting procedures.
"These are significant amounts of money," said Martin Tuttle, chief legal counsel for the Department of Commerce. "We want to make sure they go where the Legislature directed _ but only after we feel confident that we can account for them."
The Little Shell, a landless tribe recognized by the state but not the federal government, has 4,300 members scattered across central Montana.
Tribes on Montana's seven reservations already have been awarded a combined $4.3 million in stimulus funds.
Little Shell president John Sinclair said the tribe's small staff had not made a priority of record keeping but planned to improve its practices.
He also said the audit came to erroneous conclusions about how the grant money was spent. For example, Sinclair said the tobacco program logo was accidentally used on the tribal newsletter and election materials but that no grant money was involved.
"It was a stupid mistake," he said. "We need to settle out with these employees that weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing."
State officials have said there was the potential for abuse; they have not alleged it actually occurred.
Sinclair submitted a written response to the state audit last month.
"We found those answers to be inadequate," said Anna Whiting Sorrell, director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
A more critical response came from within the tribe, which recently saw a splinter group form in opposition to Sinclair and some members of the tribal council.
One of that group's leaders, former tribal vice president James Parker Shield, said the suspension of state funds amounted to a "black eye" for the tribe as it pushes to get federal recognition through Congress. He said Sinclair was ultimately responsible for the how the state money is spent.
A Dec. 1 meeting in Helena is planned between Sinclair, representatives of Gov. Brian Schweitzer and other state officials to discuss the issue.
Sinclair Tobacco Audit Report Part 1
Sinclair Tobacco Audit Report Part 2
Sinclair Tobacco Audit Report Part 3
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Money for Little Shell tribe on hold after audit
From the AP Wires via Great Falls Tribune
BILLINGS (AP) — The leader of a Montana Indian tribe says state agencies are withholding almost $900,000 in grants and stimulus funds after an audit revealed the tribe’s lax accounting practices had opened the door to potential financial abuse.
Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa president John Sinclair says a $70,000 economic-development grant and $617,000 in federal stimulus money for the tribe were recently put on hold.
That comes after a tobacco-use prevention grant for $180,000 was suspended in September — when state auditors first raised questions about how the tribe was spending the money.
The tribe has been given until Nov. 23 to show it has fixed its accounting procedures. A Dec. 1 meeting in Helena is planned between Sinclair, representatives of Gov. Brian Schweitzer and other state officials to discuss the issue.
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PRESS RELEASE From Senator Max Baucus: A Promising Future
From the AHN News via Gant Daily
By U.S. Senator Max Baucus
I am proud to recognize and share my appreciation for Montana’s first residents during National Native American Heritage Month in November – and every month of the year.
The tribal communities in Montana are a fundamental part of who we are as Montanans, and I value our government to government relations. They are a vibrant part of our history and play a vital role in ensuring a bright and prosperous future for our state.
A few weeks ago, President Obama pledged that the White House would not forget the issues facing tribal communities across the United States. I second the President’s commitment. I’ve been fighting to ensure Indian communities get the support, funding and attention they deserve, and with the President’s backing there is even more we can accomplish.
We’ve already done a great deal this year. I fought to help make more tribal members eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) so they can get the care they need, when they need it. Senator Jon Tester and I pushed for over $3.5 billion in federal funding to help tribal communities create good-paying jobs and boost tribal economies with resources for improving classrooms and health clinics, cleaning up drinking water and building community development projects like dams and irrigations facilities.
I’ve introduced the Crow Tribe Land Restoration Act to establish a loan program to help the Crow Tribe preserve their land, and co-sponsored the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009 to make sure that tribal law enforcement officials have every tool possible to do their jobs. I included provisions of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) earlier this year. As part of ARRA, we included $2 billion for Tribal Tax Exempt Bonds.
These are only a few examples of the work that’s been done, but there is always more to do. There are still plenty of folks who need help – whether it’s with health care or jobs, education or law enforcement. I am going to keep working hard for Montana Indian communities.
I’ll make sure health care reform is right for Montana’s tribal communities, that they get the resources they need for law enforcement, education, and economic development, and that their voices are heard in Washington.
Montana’s tribes have a rich history and together we will make sure we can be just as proud of their future.
Max Baucus is Montana’s senior U.S. Senator and is chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee
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Obama Leads Conference With Tribal Leaders Marking American Indian Heritage Month
From the AHN News via Gant Daily
Kris Alingod
AHN ContributorWashington, D.C. (AHN) - President Barack Obama leads a conference with tribal nations on Thursday, a day after Congress held a hearing examining the "broken process" of granting federal recognition to American Indians. The Interior Department last week put an end to the two-decade application of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, saying the group did not meet requirements to be acknowledged.
The President delivers remarks to open the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Interior Department. He then holds discussions with leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes, and closes the conference late in the afternoon.
The event is part of Obama's "sustained outreach to the American people," according to the White House, and coincides with National American Indian Heritage Month. It was announced earlier this month, and received with praise by the National Congress of American Indians, which opened its Embassy of Tribal Nations in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.
"I commend President Obama for setting this precedent for his Administration's Nation to Nation working relationship with tribes, "NCAI President Joe Garcia had said. "Tribal leaders are very satisfied that President Obama is fulfilling his promise to meet with tribal leaders on a regular basis during his term in office."
The conference comes a day after a hearing by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs about the government's recognition of tribes.
"Securing formal, federal tribal recognition is vital. Once federally recognized, a tribe has access to federal benefits and programs," Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said in a statement before the hearing. "The acknowledgment process is broken and has been since it was established in 1978."
"Tribes routinely wait decades without getting a decision. Some tribes have been stuck in the federal acknowledgment process since 1978 with no decision," he added, referring to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
The Interior Department had said in its decision on Oct. 27 that there was "insufficient evidence to acknowledge" the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
According to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs George Skibine, the group, which consists of 4,332 members inside and outside of Montana, did not satisfy three of the seven criteria for federal recognition.
The unmet criteria were:
* that the tribe has been identified as an Indian entity on a continuous basis since 1900
* that it comprise a unique community since historical times and maintain significant social relationships and interaction with the larger society
* that it maintain political influence over a community of members.
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Little Shell make case in D.C.
From the Great RFalls Tribune
By Ledyard King
Gannett Washington DC Bureau WriterWASHINGTON — A week after rejecting the application for tribal recognition filed by Montana's Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Interior Department officials conceded Wednesday that the certification process is flawed and needs reform.
Criteria for tribal recognition should be clearer, and regulatory steps that can add years to the review process could be eliminated, George Skibine told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Skibine is the Interior's acting principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian affairs, who ruled that the Great Falls-based Little Shell Tribe should not be recognized.
Reforming the process "is going to be one of the priorities of this administration, and we are going to get that done," Skibine said.
He called the decision to reject the Little Shell's application "agonizing" and "excruciatingly difficult."
That was of little comfort to supporters of the tribe, who had waited since 1978 for last week's decision. The tribe received initial approval from the Interior in 2000.
"The process is broken," Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., told Skibine. "I don't think there's any doubt about that. It should not have taken 31 years, 70,000 pages of documents or $2 million in legal fees ... to make a decision."
He and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., have sponsored a bill in the Senate that would recognize the tribe. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., is working on a similar effort in the House.
The tribe was denied recognition because it failed to meet three of the seven criteria the Interior requires. According to the agency, the tribe was unable to show that:
•It has been an Indian community on a "substantially continuous basis" since 1900;
•A "predominant portion" of the petitioners make up a distinct community that has existed since historical times; and
•It has maintained political authority over its members as an autonomous community.
Skibine acknowledged that some of the terms, such as "predominant portion," are vague, but he did not back down from his ruling. The Little Shell Tribe has 90 days from the rejection date to appeal the decision to an independent panel within the Interior Department.
Tribe President John Sinclair, who testified at Wednesday's hearing, said he wasn't sure whether he would file an appeal or pursue a remedy through Congress.
"I don't know if I have a lot of faith in that (appeals) process," Sinclair told the senators as he laid out his frustrations with an agency he said cannot give a straight answer. "They came back to us in 2000 with a positive finding, and they said, 'Strengthen your position.' But they (didn't) say how to do it, so we came back burying them in paper."
Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., asked the agency to come back within three months to lay out some general reforms, not just on how to improve the process but on how to speed it up as well.
"This is not a system that works," he said. "When people get together and file a petition, they should not expect it take three decades for their government to get back to them."
Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com.
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Feds pledge overhaul of tribal recognition system
From the Associated Press via Billings Gazette
By Mathew Brown
Associated PressWith some American Indian groups waiting decades for formal recognition from the U.S. government, federal officials Wednesday pledged to overhaul the cumbersome process but cautioned the changes could take two years to go into effect.
Federal recognition renders tribes eligible for economic assistance, land, housing grants and other government benefits.
Decisions on whether tribes qualify are supposed to be made by the Department of Interior within 25 months. Yet some Indians have seen their petitions languish within the agency's Bureau of Indian Affairs for 30 years or more without an answer.
"We have survived Indian removal, genocide, the Civil War, the burning of our courthouse, Jim Crow laws and their KKK enforcers," said Ann Tucker, chair of the Muscogee Nation of Florida. "We have waited long enough for a broken process to determine our fate."
Members of the Muscogee began their drive for recognition in 1978 and are now among 15 Indian groups waiting for a final determination. Those include five in California, three in Louisiana and others in Michigan, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin and New Mexico.
Another 80 Indian groups remain mired in the early stages of a federal process that can cost millions of dollars to navigate _ far more than some can afford.
During a U.S. Senate oversight hearing Wednesday, the man who oversees the recognition process agreed new rules need to be put in place to fix a process several senators called "broken."
"There is no certainty in that process. That needs to happen," said George Skibine, the Interior Department's acting deputy assistant secretary for Indian affairs.
Skibine said his agency would begin drafting new regulations setting a definitive timeline for petitions to be considered. He said those new rules could take a year to develop and then another year to be adopted.
Wednesday's hearing also highlighted the experiences of Montana's Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa, which filed its recognition petition in 1978. That was the year the current process was established by Congress.
It took 31 years for the tribe to get a negative decision after being told a decade ago that approval was likely.
The tribe was told in October it failed meet three of government's seven criteria. Montana's Congressional delegation has vowed to overturn that decision.
Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, said the government accepts that 90 percent of the Little Shell are Chippewa Indian descendants. To then turn around and deny them tribal status "puts them out there in limbo," he said.
A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat from American Samoa, would streamline the process. The measure would pare down the number of criteria to just two and transfer authority over recognition from the Interior Department to a commission appointed by the president.
Little Shell Chairman John Sinclair said the $2 million spent on his tribe's recognition effort "show that the process is completely run amok."
More than 70,000 pages of documents were generated for the BIA's eventual decision, which Sinclair said amounts to a stack of paperwork 35 feet high.
He said the tribe was penalized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in part because of its nomadic history. Without any land to call their own, members of the tribe wandered the Northern Plains for decades before settling in Montana and adjacent states and provinces early last century.
In the process, they intermarried with European settlers and scattered to multiple towns and rural communities.
"The Little Shell must look like every other tribe or they won't be recognized," Sinclair said. "The fault is in the regulatory process, not with the Little Shell tribe."
The Little Shell's approximately 4,300 members were recognized by the state of Montana in 2000. They have no reservation.
They trace their drive for recognition to the 1860s, when the related Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians signed a treaty with the U.S. government later ratified by the Senate.
In 1892, when the government created a commission to negotiate for a land cessation for some Chippewa, Chief Little Shell refused to accept the terms. His people were later carved out of the agreement.
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SENATE INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FEDERAL PROCESS FOR TRIBAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
From the US Senate Indians Affairs Committee Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced Tuesday the panel will hold a congressional oversight hearing at 2:15 PM on Wednesday, November 4. The hearing will examine Department of Interior efforts to repair the federal acknowledgement process for Indian tribes. It will also review proposals for improving the system.
Securing formal, federal tribal recognition is vital. It establishes a formal government-to-government relationship between the tribe and the U.S. government. Once federally recognized, a tribe has access to federal benefits and programs.
Yet, the acknowledgement process is broken and has been since it was established in 1978. Tribes routinely wait decades without getting a decision. Some tribes, including one tribe which will present testimony at the hearing, have been stuck in the federal acknowledgment process since 1978 with no decision. The prolonged process cost tribes funds urgently needed elsewhere, and denies tribes that are eventually recognized access to benefits and programs, often for decades.
Details follow:
WHO: U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Byron Dorgan, Chairman; Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Vice Chairman, and other members of the committee.
WITNESSES: George Skibine, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior; Frank Ettawageshik, Chair, Federal Acknowledgement Task Force, National Congress of American Indians; John Sinclair, President, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Havre, Montana; Ann D. Tucker, Tribal Chairperson, Muscogee Nation of Florida, Bruce, Florida; and Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Director, Indian Legal Clinic, Tempe, Arizona.
WHAT: Congressional oversight hearing
WHEN: 2:15 PM, Wednesday, November 4, 2009
WHERE: 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
WHY: To review Department of Interior efforts to repair the federal acknowledgement process for granting formal recognition to Indian tribes.
You can watch the Hearing beginning today at 12 noon. OVERSIGHT HEARING on Fixing the Federal Acknowledgment Process
Considered with this hearing is bills designed to remove Recognition duties from the BIA Bureaucrats and place them in an independant commission designed specifically to recognize Tribal Groups.
Bills to be considered at this hearing that are currently within the perview of the Senate Indians Affairs Committee
H.R.3690 Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act
S.381 A bill to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians, to provide a process for the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian and the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian government, and for other purposes.
S.530 A bill to extend Federal recognition to the Muscogee Nation of Florida.
S.1178 A bill to extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe.
S.1735 A bill to provide for the recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and for other purposes
S.1936 A bill to extend the Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, and for other purposes.
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Great Falls City Council Reaffirms Support for Little Shell Recognition
From the KFBB News
The Great Falls City Commission meeting on Tuesday night focused on the Little Shell Tribe. The tribe's 30 year old request for federal recognition was denied last week by the Department of the Interior.
Multimedia Watch The Video The vast majority of those identified with the tribe live in and around Great Falls, so they decided to approach the city to see if they could help. That is because three years ago, the commission passed a resolution to try and help the Little Shell gain federal recognition. On Tuesday night, the commissioners took time to reaffirm that resolution and their support for the tribe.
John Gilbert, past Chairman of the Tribe tells News Channel Five, "What the city of great falls is doing here is a great booster and a great morale booster for us and we appreciate that and we do think it will carry some clout and help us out. So we're very grateful to them."
Great Falls Council Resolution 9871 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE LITTLE SHELL TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS IN MONTANA
Resolution 9871 Agenda Report and Background
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Editorial: Tribal recognition process too cumbersome
From the The Spokesman-Review
Technically, the Little Shell Indian Tribe of Montana asked for federal recognition in 1978, the same year the U.S. Department of Interior adopted regulations governing the Federal Acknowledgement Process.
But tribal elders say their fight to regain status in the U.S. government’s eyes began in 1892, when federal recognition was withdrawn because Chief Little Shell wouldn’t sell reservation land to the government.
Even setting aside the historical record, 31 years is a long time to be left hanging over a question about your status as a sovereign entity – a status 564 tribes now enjoy but hundreds more seek.
The Little Shells’ wait ended Tuesday with Interior’s decision to turn down the tribe’s application for recognition. As a result, some 4,300 scattered members continue to be denied health and housing assistance that is available to Native Americans.
The tribe has two other options. They could challenge the ruling in court, or they could turn to Congress. Like southwest Washington’s Chinook Tribe, which also was turned down by the Department of Interior, the Little Shells are now counting on their state’s congressional delegation to restore their federal standing by law.
That route is not assured of success, and it may not be fast, but it’s likely to be downright swift compared with the Department of Interior’s notoriously plodding process.
It’s been nearly a decade since the U.S. General Accounting Office encouraged the Department of Interior to clarify and expedite the handling of applications for recognition. While the process lists seven criteria to justify recognition, the grounds for determining when they are met are vague enough to lead to conflicting interpretations.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2002, GAO’s director for natural resources and environment, Barry T. Hill, accurately predicted that a lack of uniformity in applying the criteria would lead many tribes to turn to the courts or Congress rather than the regulatory process.
It is past time for the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address those clarity and uniformity problems and to achieve more urgency in handling applications. The saga of the Little Shells and their lengthy – and continuing – quest to regain the status they lost more than a century ago underscores why.
H.R.3690 Indian Tribal Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act
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Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council Statement on Recognition
From the MT-WY Tribal Leaders Council
James Steele, Jr., Chairman of the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council, the unified voice of tribes from two states, was disappointed by the BIA's decision to decline formal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Steele is also Chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
“We are not pleased by this turn of events. We would hope that the matter be reconsidered. Our brothers and sisters of the Little Shell Tribe deserve recognition,” Steele said Tuesday morning upon hearing the news. “We support their efforts to seek recognition through the legislative branch. We ask Senators Baucus and Tester and Representative Rehberg to move quickly for Congressional action.”
Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., has been pushing separate legislation to grant recognition at a federal level for the landless tribe, which has members in Great Falls, across Montana, and in the surrounding areas.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., on Tuesday introduced the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2009, which if passed by Congress, will grant recognition to the tribe.
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Senators respond to Little Shell decision with new effort to recognize tribe Baucus, Tester introduce bill to override ‘broken’ recognition process
From the Senator Jon Tester's Website
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Moments after learning of a decision not to recognize the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians as a federal Indian tribe, Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today launched a new effort to get the Montana tribe the federal recognition it deserves.
Today, after decades of delays, the U.S. Interior Department announced the Little Shell Tribe did not meet the agency’s criteria for federal recognition.
Both Baucus and Tester strongly disagree with the decision.
Immediately after learning the news, they introduced the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2009. If signed into law, the legislation would override the Interior Department’s decision by making recognition of the tribe federal law.
“The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians have patiently waited for formal recognition from the federal government for more than a century,” said Baucus. “I do not agree with today’s decision from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but this is not the end to the Little Shell’s fight. I am proud to co-sponsor a bill to give the Little Shell Tribe the recognition that they deserve. As Montanans and Americans, we recognize their history and heritage in our state and I support them.”
Tester, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has called the federal government’s recognition process “broken.”
“Today’s decision was wrong for a tribe that’s been a part of Montana for many years,” Tester said. “The Little Shell Tribe has worked hard to be recognized by the federal government. I’m disappointed by this decision, and Max and I will keep pushing hard to get the tribe the recognition it deserves.”
Both Baucus and Tester have long fought for federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe.
The Little Shell Tribe is made up of approximately 4,300 members, most of whom live in the Great Falls area. The State of Montana recognized the tribe in 2000.
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Little Shell recognition decision delayed again
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Travis Coleman
Great Falls TribuneDisappointment following a long-delayed decision to deny federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians on Tuesday gave way to hope of a renewed push for legislation to override the acknowledging agency's power.
Montana's congressional delegation has sponsored two bills that, if passed, would make recognition of the Little Shell federal law. The bills also bypass the authority of the Department of the Interior's Office of Federal Acknowledgement, which handles recognizing tribes.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs George T. Skibine made the final decision to reject the Little Shell's recognition bid Tuesday. The department denied recognition to the Little Shell because it did not meet three of the seven criteria needed for acknowledgement, specifically:
Being identified as an Indian entity on a substantially continuous basis since at least 1900;
Comprising a distinct community since historical times, and maintaining significant social relationships and interaction as part of a distinct community; and
Maintaining political influence over a community of its members or communities combined into the tribe.
A long wait
The tribe dates its quest for recognition to the 1860s, when a small band of Native Americans led by Chief Little Shell was cut out of a treaty signed with federal authorities.
Chief Little Shell's descendants were later forced into Canada, where some married into communities of French-Canadian fur trappers. That influence can be seen today in the tribal song, a fiddle jig.
The tribe later migrated south into Montana, with many members settling in an impoverished area of Great Falls known as Hill 57. The Little Shell first filed a federal recognition petition with the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1978, but a decision has been often delayed since then.
Tribal members saw federal recognition as the path to health care and housing benefits, along with other services available to federally recognized tribes. Tribal Chairman John Sinclair said the recognition process has cost the tribe millions of dollars and an enormous amount of effort.
The petition rejected Tuesday was filed after several earlier attempts fell short. The tribe was recognized by the state Legislature eight years ago.
In denying the petition, the Interior Department stated it was able to identify the tribe as an Indian entity since 1935, but not since 1900, as required by its regulations, among other problems.
The agency's 242-page rejection decision said the Little Shell failed to show enough "cohesion" during the early 1900s, after many of the tribe's members had been uprooted and were wandering northern Montana and southern Canada.
Members of the group who ended up in Montana lived primarily in "already existing, largely multiethnic settlements," the decision stated.
"In none of these multiethnic settlements did the petitioners' ancestors constitute a majority, or even a significant percentage of the population," it states.
The decision also states that recent infighting among tribal members on elections and political leadership "did not show active participation or widespread knowledge of political activities among a significant percentage of the membership."
The decision acknowledged 89 percent of Little Shell tribal members can trace their lineage to the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians.
"It kind of hurts, naturally, but it's not the end of the line," said Little Shell elder Roger Salois, 72, after learning of the government's denial.
"It's really hard to describe a feeling like this," Salois added. "You have your community and your place to go. We don't have that. But we're still together, and we're still Little Shell."
The new push
The federal decision was a reversal from when the department recommended acknowledging the Little Shell and its 4,300 members in July 2000.
Although Sinclair was disappointed in and critical of the decision, he said it was something he thought could happen. He added he is ready to move forward.
"This decision proves what many have argued for years — the acknowledgment process is broken. (The department) won't recognize a tribe that everybody in Montana knows to be real," Sinclair said. "Now the tribe looks to Congress to see that justice is done in this matter and that the tribe be accorded its rightful status as a sovereign (entity), with which the federal government deals on a government-to-government basis."
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., citing repeated delays in Little Shell recognition, also called the process broken during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee meeting in February. Tester and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., on Tuesday introduced the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2009, which if passed by Congress, will grant recognition to the tribe.
Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., has been pushing separate legislation to grant recognition at a federal level for the landless tribe, which has members in Great Falls, across Montana, and in the surrounding areas.
There was a hearing on Rehberg's bill in July, with work on it scheduled in the House of Representatives' Natural Resources Committee. If it gets the thumbs up there, the measure would go to the House for a full vote. The legislation also could be wrapped into a larger bill.
"It's going to be a lot harder. We're going to have to fight in the House and Senate," Sinclair said of the legislative option for recognition.
Tribal member Henry Anderson, 78, of Helena, said he felt sorry for the elders who may never see the tribe be federally recognized. He said he will continue to pray that the legislative route works.
"I do hope for the people that it will happen," Anderson said. "I don't know if in my time if it will happen."
Sinclair said the tribe is not ready to give up, adding it needed a decision to rule out this path to federal recognition.
"We need to go past that and go forward," Sinclair said. "It's just a matter of time."
Little Shell timeline
Mid-1700s: Tribal members, following fur trade, migrate from Great Lakes area and settle in Turtle Mountain region of North Dakota near Canadian border.
1863: Little Shell and other Chippewa bands and tribes sign treaty with U.S. government to form Turtle Mountain reservation.
1892: Chief Little Shell refuses to sign deal to sell some reservation land to U.S. government for white homesteaders because government offers just 10 cents per acre. As a result of his opposition, Little Shell members are taken off reservation membership list and lose federal recognition. Tribe begins fight to regain status.
1896: Bowing to pressure from Montana governor and citizens, U.S. government spends $5,000 to deport Little Shell Tribe to Canada. Deal turns out to be fraudulent and many Little Shell tribal members move back to Montana. Tribe so impoverished that members often rely on financial help from prominent Montana residents.
Late-1910s: Tribal member Joseph Dussome continues fight for federal recognition following deaths of third Chief Little Shell in 1904 and tribal member and attorney John Bottineau in 1916.
1934: Indian Reorganization Act passes, and tribe offered land for reservation. President Franklin Roosevelt vetoes offer, citing lack of federal recognition.
1941: Attempt to buy Phillips Ranch for Little Shell reservation fails because of lack of funds. Many tribal members live in abandoned cars, dugouts and cardboard houses.
Mid-1950s: Citizen group in Great Falls donates "Hill 57," to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to serve as base for tribe. Bureau rejects offer because policy at time favors dismantling reservations.
1978: New government policy routes tribal recognition process through the Interior Department's BIA.
1984: Tribe files acknowledgement petition through BIA.
2000: Interior Department scheduled to make preliminary decision on Little Shell federal recognition by Feb. 29.
May 26, 2000: The Little Shell is tentatively recognized as a tribe by the U.S. Department of Interior. A six-month comment period tribal officials called a formality then begins. An extension is later granted, allowing the tribe until July 16, 2001, to submit its reasons for deserving recognition to the federal government.
Feb. 8, 2001: The Montana House of Representatives unanimously approves a resolution backing federal recognition for the tribe.
March 8, 2001: The Montana Senate votes 44-4 to support federal recognition of the tribe.
August, 2001: The tribe again asks for a six-month extension on its final application. Officials say proving tribal community is an issue because tribal members are spread across the U.S. and Canada.
March 28, 2002: A July deadline is set for the tribe to provide the federal government with proof of its existence and that it meets other criteria.
July 13, 2005: With no official decision made in the recognition process, Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., introduces a bill in the House that would grant federal recognition to the Little Shell.
Oct. 27, 2006: Gov. Brian Schweitzer issues a declaration stating that Montana recognizes the Little Shell and urging the federal government to grant recognition to the tribe.
March 1, 2007: Rehberg reintroduces a recognition bill in the house. Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus, both Montana Democrats, introduce parallel legislation in the Senate.
April 26, 2007: In a ceremony at the C.M. Russell Museum, Schweitzer signs a bill granting the Little Shell the use of the historic Morony Apartment building at the Morony Dam site for the next 10 years. "Now you have state recognition and the Morony site," Schweitzer tells tribal members.
Sept. 16, 2007: The tribe is granted its own license plate in the state of Montana.
July 30, 2008: The Office of Federal Acknowledgement receives a 180-day deadline extension for its final determination on the status the Little Shell, setting a new deadline of Jan. 28, 2009.
Jan. 27, 2009: The deadline for a final decision on recognition is pushed back to July 29.
July 7, 2009: The House Committee for Natural Resources sets a hearing on federal recognition for the Little Shell for July 15.
July 27, 2009: The deadline for a decision on federal recognition is moved back 60 days.
Sept. 22, 2009: The decision is delayed until Oct. 26 because of the abnormal issues presented by the tribe, according to tribal officials.
Oct. 26, 2009: The final decision is delayed a day.
Oct. 27, 2009: The federal government denied recognition for the Little Shell.
Source: "A Brief Historical Overview of the Little Shell Tribe of Pembina Chippewa" by Deward Walker Jr.
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Indian Affairs won't recognize Little Shell Tribe
From the Associated Press
By Mathew Brown
Associated Press WriterBILLINGS, Mont. – After a 31-year wait, the U.S. Department of Interior said Tuesday it will not recognize Montana's Little Shell Tribe, a group of landless Indians who have struggled to stay together through more than a century of poverty and dislocation./
The tribe's long campaign for acknowledgment now turns to Congress. Members of Montana's delegation said they would push to circumvent the executive branch decision.
"It kind of hurts, naturally, but it's not the end of the line," said Little Shell elder Roger Salois, 72, after learning of the government's denial.
"It's really hard to describe a feeling like this," Salois added. "You have your community and your place to go. We don't have that. But we're still together, and we're still Little Shell."
The three-decade delay in answering the tribe's application was chalked up in part to "departures from precedent" — a reference to the Little Shell's scattered membership and its history of intermarriage with non-Indians and members of other tribes.
Critics, including U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, blamed the delay on the "broken" bureaucracy that oversees Indian recognition requests.
Tester and fellow Montana Democrat Sen. Max Baucus said they introduced legislation Tuesday to override the Interior Department's decision. U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican, earlier introduced a similar measure in the House.
Federal recognition would bring housing grants and other assistance to the tribe's 4,300 members, who are spread across Montana and neighboring states and provinces.
Members of the tribe are candid about their mixed ancestry: Many also call themselves Metis, a Canadian people with European and Native American roots.
But while their lineage is mixed, they say their identity is not.
"They've got their rules, and you've got to fit into the slot. But we know who we are," Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairman John Sinclair said.
"Why didn't they just tell us 'no' 30 years ago?" Sinclair added.
Nedra Darling of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs said officials had to make their decision based on a strict set of criteria that allowed little flexibility.
"That's what Congress gave us. Those are the regulations they set," she said.
The agency's rejection said the Little Shell had failed to show political cohesion, did not comprise a distinct community and had been identified as Indians by outsiders only since 1935, not 1900 as the law requires.
The tribe has not had a place of its own since the late 1860s, when Chief Little Shell and his band were excluded from a federal treaty signed with related tribes.
The decision Tuesday acknowledged 89 percent of the Little Shell can trace their lineage to the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians.
Chief Little Shell's descendants were later forced into Canada, where some married into communities of French-Canadian fur trappers. That influence can be seen today in the tribal song, a fiddle jig.
The tribe later migrated back south into Montana, with many settling in an impoverished area of Great Falls known as Hill 57.
Salois and other tribal elders say residents of Hill 57 often scavenged for scrap metal to survive. They were rejected by the white community, even as they had no place on the reservations of established tribes.
Members of the tribe also scattered through the remote towns along northern Montana's Hi-Line, a 400 mile stretch following U.S. Highway 2 and the former Great Northern Railway. Despite the geographic hurdle, Salois insisted the tribe's members retain strong connections.
"They might go somewhere, but they're still family. It's the same doggone way," he said. "Just because we're not on a reservation doesn't mean we're not Indians."
The petition rejected Tuesday was filed in 1978 after several earlier attempts fell short.
Nine years ago, Montana formally recognized the Little Shell, allowing it to get grants for tobacco-use prevention and economic development. The tobacco grants were recently suspended because the tribe was not properly accounting for the money.
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BREAKING: Obama Administration rejects Little Shell recognition petition and denies federal recognition.
By Grapevine and OFA
In what can only be a deliberate slap in the face of Native Americans everywhere, the Obama Administration has decided to reverse the Preliminary recognition of the Little Shell Tribe that the Clinton Administration approved in July 2000. As a result, after over 130 years, and 30 years with the most recent petition, the people must continue to endure sub-human status within the United States where if you do not have Federal Recognition, you are not considered a Sovereign nation or even an Indian Tribe.
We can only hope that the US Congress has more understanding on who are Native Americans then the Obama Adminstration does and forwards the bill submitted by Rep Rehberg has before the House of Representatives.
You can call Lee Flemming at the BIA's Office of Acknowledgement and ask him personally why he fought so hard to deny our recognition. His phone # is 202 513-7658 or if his Voice mail box is full, call the main office at 202-513-7659 to register your complaint.
MORE: Statement from Rep Rehberg's Office:
“Although this decision is disappointing, it’s hardly surprising from a federal agency that’s procrastinated for more than 30 years,” Rehberg said. “This decision makes it all the more important to pass my legislation which would circumvent this red-tape once and for all and secure the Little Shell the recognition they have in Montana for almost a decade.”
MORE: Click here for the Official Press Release from the Office of Acknowledgment
Related Articles
From the Billings Gazette
From the Great Falls Tribune
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Little Shell recognition decision delayed again
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Travis Coleman
Great Falls TribuneAnother delay has been issued in the federal recognition quest of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
After meeting Monday, the Office of Federal Acknowledgement pushed back issuing its decision on recognizing the tribe to today, according to Gary Garrison, a Bureau of Indian Affairs spokesman.
Garrison didn't disclose why the office did not release its decision Monday, as was scheduled. He did say that there was a meeting held Monday among federal acknowledgement staff, representatives of Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and other officials. The staff then left for the day around 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Garrison said.
Little Shell Chairman John Sinclair said Monday afternoon that he heard decision could come later that day. Instead, the lack of a decision became the newest setback in a series of delays for Little Shell tribal members.
The tribe, which has about 4,300 members, is recognized by the state of Montana. It first submitted its federal recognition application in 1978. Federal recognition would allow the tribe to be eligible for federal housing grants and other assistance. The tribe dates its quest for recognition to the 1860s, when a small band of American Indians led by Chief Little Shell was cut out of a treaty signed with federal authorities.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs George Skibine told the tribe last month that a decision would be reached by Monday. Skibine said at that time that the deadline was pushed back because the final decision is under legal review — the same reason offered for a 60-day delay announced in July.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., citing repeated delays in the Little Shell's quest for recognition, called the recognition process broken during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee meeting in February.
Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., has introduced legislation in Congress to recognize the Little Shell, circumventing the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Little Shell Tribe recognition decision Delayed by ONE day
By the grapevine and the OFA
From what can only be described as "intense" discussions within the BIA, there is NO decision today on whether the Obama Administration will stand behind Native Americans and extend formal Recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. Word is that the decision has been delayed by 24 hours till October 27th, 2009.
Rumors are that there is some infighting within the BIA due to the process the Preliminary Recognition was granted to the tribe. On one side the Permanent workers within the BIA want to reject the Clinton Administration decision that was made in July 2000 to issues a Preliminary Recognition. On the other side are those who want to ignore the" Political Tiff" itself and base the decision on the merits of the petition itself..
We can only wait patiently to see who will win out and how it will effect the lives of 4300+ tribal members who have been waiting decades to be recognized by the United States Government. It will be sad to relive the past where the 1863 and 1864 treaties where congress wanted to shut out the agreements with the Chippewa Tribes and then later, Little Shell Tribal Members were blindsided by greedy government officials who wanted Millions of acres of land in the Minnesota/North Dakota region and wanted it extremely Cheap.. Chief Little Shell at the time rejected the US Governments offers and went on what is now known as the "Last Buffalo Hunt". While the Chiefs were away, the US Government appointed their own "Chiefs" and signed a fraudalent treaty that is now known as "The Ten Cent Treaty" where the US government took the land for 10 cents an acre. Since then, about 130 years later, we are still fighting with Bureaucrats who care less for the REAL lives of Native Americans then they are the "Bottom Line".
We can only hope and Pray that it is different now and the Bureaucrats have compassion
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Little Shell recognition delayed again
From the Great Falls Tribune
By the Tribune Staff
Another delay has been issued in the federal recognition case of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
After meeting today, the Office of Federal Acknowledgement pushed back issuing their decision for the tribe to Tuesday, according to Gary Garrison, a Bureau of Indian Affairs spokesman.
The tribe, which has about 4,300 members, is recognized by the state of Montana. The tribe submitted its federal recognition application in 1978. Federal recognition would mean the tribe becoming eligible for federal housing grants and other assistance.
The tribe dates their quest for recognition to the 1860s, when a small band of American Indians led by Chief Little Shell was cut out of a treaty signed with federal authorities.
Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs George Skibine told the tribe last month that a decision would be reached by today.
Skibine said then that the deadline was pushed back because the final decision is under legal review. The same reason was offered for a 60-day delay announced in July.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, citing repeated delays in Little Shell recognition, called the process broken during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee meeting in February.
And Rep. Denny Rehberg, seeking to circumvent the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has introduced legislation in Congress to recognize the Little Shell.
From the AP Via the Billings Gazette
By the Associated Press
A long-awaited decision on whether a landless American Indian tribe in Montana deserves federal recognition was put off again on Monday.
The 4,300 members of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians submitted their formal recognition petition to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1978. After numerous delays, the agency had set a Monday deadline to resolve the matter.
But agency spokeswoman Nedra Darling said Monday evening that the decision had been pushed back for at least one more day.
The tribe's drive for acknowledgment dates to the late 1860s, when Chief Little Shell and his band were excluded from a federal treaty signed with related tribes.
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Little Shell Tribe recognition decision due today
From the Billings Gazette
By the Associated Press
A long-awaited decision is due today on whether a landless American Indian tribe in Montana deserves federal recognition.
The 4,300 members of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians submitted their formal recognition petition to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1978.
Already recognized by the state of Montana, the tribe would become eligible for federal housing grants and other assistance if it meets BIA approval.
The tribe's drive for acknowledgment dates to the late 1860s, when Chief Little Shell and his band were excluded from a federal treaty signed with related tribes.
A bill is pending in Congress to circumvent the BIA process if the agency does not make a decision on the Little Shell's petition.
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Walter Lee Allen Jr.
From the Helena Independant Reporter
RONAN - Walter Lee Allen Jr., 61, of Ronan passed away on Monday, Oct. 19, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan.
Walter was born on May 14, 1948, in Bridgeport, Conn., to Gloria and Walter Allen Sr.
Walter attended schools in the Seattle area.
Walter married Georgi Mitchell on June 21, 1993, in Pablo.
He worked his whole career with Burlington Northern Railroad, where he started as a boxcar checker and worked his way up the ranks to become a dispatcher. He continued as a dispatcher until he retired in 1993.
After his retirement he attended South Seattle Community College where he earned degrees in supervision and management and in business management. He graduated president of South Seattle Community College student body, Phi Theta Kappa and was on the United Student Association Board.
Walter loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and boating. He used to run half-marathons. He especially loved his family and was proud of his Native American roots. He was a member of the Little Shell Chippewa Cree Tribe.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Gloria Allen; a brother, Charles Allen; and an infant sister, Margie.
Walter is survived by his wife, Georgi Mitchell of Ronan; his parents, Walter Allen Sr. (Ola) of Bremerton, Wash.; daughter, Margie (Tony Clark) Allen of Helena; stepdaughters, Tricia Finley of Polson, Annie Mitchell of Polson, Jocelyn Finley of Pablo and JoAnn Mahler of Vancouver, Wash.; sons, James Allen of Helena, Walter Allen III (Thaydra) of Vancouver; adopted son, Ryan Allen of Bozeman; and brothers, Robert Allen of Polson and Steve Allen of Polson.
He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a special sister-in-law, Ardith Allen of Polson.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. at the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson with the Rev. Kenny Prewitt officiating. A reception will follow at the funeral home.
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State of Montana Release Full Audit Report on Sinclair's mishandling of the Tobacco Grant Programs
From the Billings Gazette
By the Associated Press
Members of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians are caught up in political infighting as a decision nears on whether the tribe will be federally recognized - but both sides say they don't expect it to change the outcome.
The tribe's recognition petition has languished before the Bureau of Indian Affairs for more than three decades. After several missed several deadlines, the agency last month set an Oct. 26 decision deadline.
But in defiance of tribal Chairman John Sinclair, a faction of tribal members took an initial step this month toward holding an election to challenge his legitimacy.
Sinclair also has been criticized over the results of a recent state government audit that said sloppy accounting procedures had left open to abuse the tribe's $180,000 annual tobacco use prevention grant. The grant was suspended until the tribe proves it can better manage the money.
Yet both Sinclair and one of the opposition faction's lead figures, former vice chairman James Parker Shield, say the infighting is unlikely to sway the bureau's ultimate call on recognition. They said it offers more evidence tribal members are politically engaged.
A Washington D.C. attorney who has been pushing the Little Shell's recognition case agreed.
"What's going on inside the Little Shell is not unlike what goes on inside every tribe," said the attorney, Arlinda Locklear. "In that sense it may be helpful, because there are past cases where the BIA said internal conflict was a proof of political process.
The tribe and its 4,300 members were recognized by the state of Montana in 2000.
The Little Shell's ancestors migrated to the Northern Plains in the 1700s. They were forced to leave in the 1860s after Chief Little Shell and his band were excluded from a federal treaty signed with related tribes.
Its members scattered to Montana and surrounding states and provinces.
In 1978 tribal leaders filed a formal recognition petition with the federal government and in 2000 the government announced it was leaning toward recognition.
A pending bill in Congress sponsored by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Montana Republican, would circumvent the BIA's bureaucracy to award the tribe recognition.
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State of Montana Release Full Audit Report on Sinclair's mishandling of the Tobacco Grant Programs
From the LSCA Website
By the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
This report is in three parts. Part 1 is the audit report itself along with the 2 appendices.
Part 2 is copies of the three Tobacco Contracts along with internal emails that led to the audit itself.
Part 3 is the documentation provieded the state by Sinclair and Boham and was the only resources they were able to use for the limited audit.
These are all in PDF Format and just click on the links below to download the files.
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Little Shell lose tobacco money following audit
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Great Falls Tribune Staff and Mathew Brown of the Associated Press
State officials have stopped distribution of tobacco grant money to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians after an audit revealed problems with the tribe's accounting practices.
The Montana Department of Health and Human Services audit said lax oversight and record keeping allowed for "potential abuse'' of a $180,000 annual tobacco use prevention grant.
The audit summary states that the tribe tried to implement some accounting procedures, but they were not enough and were not consistently applied to ensure the money would be properly spent.
"A lack of documentation for the expenses charged to the Tobacco Use Prevention contracts does not provide evidence to determine whether the funds were used only for Tobacco Use Prevention services," the audit states.
Auditors were concerned that the grant money may have been used to purchase gift cards, pay for expenses related to tribal elections and publish the tribal newsletter.
Half the money was for tobacco programs for the tribe's 4,300 members scattered across Montana and surrounding states and provinces. The remainder was for similar programs for American Indians in Great Falls and Billings.
The agency's public health administrator, Jane Smilie, said the funding for the tribe's internal program could be restored if the tribe improves its accounting.
"We will review their response and determine if our auditors think what has been put in place is adequate,'' Smilie said.
In the meantime, the contracts for the Great Falls and Billings programs will be put out for bid.
The audit stops short of alleging any wrongdoing. Little Shell tribal chairman John Sinclair says he believes no abuse took place. He said the tribe "just screwed up."
"They're supposed to do tobacco activities; they're not accountants,'' Sinclair said.
He said three people lost their jobs after the funding was lost, although one may be rehired.
Sinclair said he e-mailed a letter to the public health department on Sunday in an effort to recoup one part of the grant. He has not heard back from the department.
Little Shell lose tobacco money following audit
From the KRTV Website
By KRTV Staff and Mathew Brown of the Associated Press
The Little Shell tribe is no longer receiving tobacco grant money after an audit revealed problems with the tribe's accounting practices.
The audit says loose oversight and record keeping allowed for potential abuse of a $180,000 tobacco use prevention grant, but there were no formal accusations of abuse.
Tribal chairman John Sinclair says steps are being taken to fix the accounting problems and recoup the money: "I've already sent a draft letter to Health and Human Services. I'm waiting to see if it's acceptable to them. I reassured them that we're going to do everything they ask and use this new accounting strictly. As far as how soon they'll get back to me, I'm not sure."
Sinclair said he also had troubling understanding some of the accounting practices and has asked for grant money to hire a full time bookkeeper.
If the tribe does not get the money back, Sinclair says one employee will be out of a job.
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Tobacco money for Montana tribe cut off following audit
From the Billings Gazette
By Mathew Brown
Associated PressState officials have stopped distributions of tobacco grant money to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians after an audit revealed problems with the tribe's accounting practices.
The Montana Department of Health and Human Services audit says lax oversight and record keeping "allows for potential abuse" of a $180,000 annual tobacco use prevention grant.
Half the money was for tobacco programs for the tribe's 4,300 members scattered across Montana and surrounding states and provinces. The remainder was for similar programs for American Indians in Great Falls and Billings.
The agency's public health administrator, Jane Smilie, says the funding could be restored if the tribe improves its accounting.
The audit stops short of alleging any wrongdoing. Little Shell tribal chairman John Sinclair says he believes no abuse took place.
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Little Shell Chippewa Alliance releases copy of State Audit of the Litte Shell Tobacco Programs
From the LSCA Website
By the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
The State of Montana has released the results of an Audit by the Montana Department of Health and Human Resources regarding the State Tobacco Grants that were awarded to the Little Shell Tribe for the Great Falls and Billings Area. Findings were suprising to both the Government of Montana and to the Tribal members themselves. Approx 70% of the money given to the tribe is unaccounted for. Not only was the money not used for it's intended purposes, but were diverted to other destinations including personal uses. The Audit documents misuse of the Checks by Sinclair, including not having a 2nd signature on the checks as required by our Tribal constitution and By-laws, the bank accounts, checks, statements all going to Sinclairs house in Havre Montana instead of the Tribal Headquarters in Great Falls Montana. That as Chairman, Sinclair decides the uses and dispersment of all the monies instead of the Constitutionally elected Secretary/Treasurer. Some monies were paid out before any receipts were turned in and in some cases were just paid out without any accountability and were not able to be tracked using the documentation provided by Sinclair and Russel Boham. None of the dispersments were approved or even reported to the Tribal Council in accordiance with our Tribal Constitution and Bylaws. One of the examples used in the report was where a request for travel expenses were padded by $400 and no accountability was done to ensure that the money was used for travel and not just requested by the person in the tribal office in hopes it would not be noticed.
Here is the statement by the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance who is making this report available publically:
The Little Shell Chippewa Alliance has been working over the spring, summer, and fall to correct problems with our Tribal Government, part of that has been following an Audit by the State of Montana concerning the handling of Federal and State Grant Monies by Sinclair and his cronies. On Sept 22, 2009, the State of Montana has released the results of the Audit for Public Review. We are making this available to Tribal Members and other entities interested in how Sinclair used this money as his personal Piggy Bank/ATM machine instead of to programs this money was intended to be used for the betterment and enhanced services for Tribal Members. As a result of Mr. Sinclair’s mishandling of Federal and State Funds, the State of Montana will NO LONGER provide any further state funds to the Little Shell Tribe until the tribal government sets up and institutes major changes to they way it handles public money. This includes the Stimulus Money. Tribal members are already demanding a full accounting and the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance will keep working to ensure that the money that was to go to our children, our poor and disadvantaged, our addicted, goes to who needs these funds the most and not to the personal whims of a single person or their co-conspirators.
Click the Link below for a copy of the Audit.
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Interior delays Little Shell decision again
From the Great Falls Tribune
By the Great Falls Tribune Staff and
the Associated PressThe Department of Interior has again delayed its long-stalled decision on whether the landless Little Shell Tribe of Montana deserves federal recognition.
"The only explanation they gave us is that the issues we present are abnormal and they need more time to sort through them," tribal Chairman John Sinclair of Havre said Tuesday.
"It gives me a kind of a sick feeling in my stomach," he said. "I can't understand how it can take so long to make a decision, especially when our people are suffering without it. I'd like to think there might be an end in sight, but there's no guarantee."
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians date their quest for recognition to the 1860s, when a small band of American Indians led by Chief Little Shell was cut out of a treaty signed with federal authorities.
The tribe, which has about 4,300 members, is recognized by the state of Montana. It submitted its federal recognition application in 1978.
The new decision deadline is Oct. 26, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs George Skibine wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the tribe.
Skibine wrote that the deadline was pushed back because the final decision is under legal review. The same reason was offered for a 60-day delay announced in July.
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Tobacco money for Montana tribe cut off following audit
From the Billings Gazette
Mathew Brown
Associated PressBILLINGS - State officials have stopped distributions of tobacco grant money to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians after an audit revealed problems with the tribe's accounting practices.
The Montana Department of Health and Human Services audit says lax oversight and record keeping "allows for potential abuse" of a $180,000 annual tobacco use prevention grant.
Half the money was for tobacco programs for the tribe's 4,300 members scattered across Montana and surrounding states and provinces. The remainder was for similar programs for American Indians in Great Falls and Billing/s.
The agency's public health administrator, Jane Smilie, says the funding could be restored if the tribe improves its accounting.
The audit stops short of alleging any wrongdoing. Little Shell tribal chairman John Sinclair says he believes no abuse took place.
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Interior delays Little Shell decision again
From the Great Falls Tribune
By the Great Falls Tribune Staff and
the Associated PressThe Department of Interior has again delayed its long-stalled decision on whether the landless Little Shell Tribe of Montana deserves federal recognition.
"The only explanation they gave us is that the issues we present are abnormal and they need more time to sort through them," tribal Chairman John Sinclair of Havre said Tuesday.
"It gives me a kind of a sick feeling in my stomach," he said. "I can't understand how it can take so long to make a decision, especially when our people are suffering without it. I'd like to think there might be an end in sight, but there's no guarantee."
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians date their quest for recognition to the 1860s, when a small band of American Indians led by Chief Little Shell was cut out of a treaty signed with federal authorities.
The tribe, which has about 4,300 members, is recognized by the state of Montana. It submitted its federal recognition application in 1978.
The new decision deadline is Oct. 26, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs George Skibine wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the tribe.
Skibine wrote that the deadline was pushed back because the final decision is under legal review. The same reason was offered for a 60-day delay announced in July.
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Interior delays Little Shell decision again
By the Associated Press
BILLINGS (AP) — The Department of Interior has delayed — yet again — its long-stalled decision on whether a landless Montana Indian tribe deserves federal recognition.
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians date their quest for recognition to the 1860s, when a small band of American Indians led by Chief Little Shell was cut out of a treaty signed with federal authorities.
The tribe, with about 4,300 members, is recognized by the state of Montana. It submitted its federal recognition application in 1978.
The new decision deadline is Oct. 26, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs George Skibine wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the tribe.
Skibine wrote that the deadline was pushed back because the final decision is still under legal review. The same reason was offered for a 60-day delay announced in July.
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Group hopes to rebuild Hill 57 sweat lodge
From the Great Falls Tribune
By ERIC NEWHOUSE
Great Falls Tribune Projects EditorFire destroyed a historic sweat lodge on Hill 57 outside of Great Falls last weekend, and community leaders are taking it as a warning and a call to action.
"It was like a part of me died that day," said Peggy Meyers, who stood in support of Mike Gopher and James Parker Shield beside the charred fire pit Wednesday. Meyers grew up several hundred yards from the sweat lodge, and had used it since she was a child.
The sweat lodge beside an abandoned one-room shack near the base of Hill 57 was built by the late Robert Gopher, Mike Gopher's father, more than four decades ago. It burned Saturday night, after apparently being used for a sweat ceremony.
"Honestly, I think it was an accident," Gopher said Wednesday.
Even so, it's a very serious accident because the site is sacred.
"Fire, water, wood and stone — everything we use is sacred," Gopher said.
Shield likened it to a conflagration in a local church.
"In my mind, this sweat lodge is comparable to the big Presbyterian church or St. Ann's Cathedral," said Shield of the Little Shell Band of Chippewa. "It's the stronghold of our traditional Indian culture and Little Shell history, so this is devastating to us."
"I've been sweating here since I was a little girl," Meyers said. "And I remember my elders telling me that this is your church and you have to respect it and take care of it.
Meyers said she consulted with tribal elders and was told not to rebuild the sweat lodge on the same site.
"This is a warning for us because sweat lodges don't normally burn," she said. "There are beer cans and garbage being dumped here, which is a sign of disrespect for our lodge. People come up here every weekend to party.
"This is devastating to us," she added. "I want the community to know that this is a very sacred place because it is our home and we must protect it. Seeing that sweat lodge on Sunday morning was like something was taken away from all of us."
Prayer cloths tied around the trunk and branches of two trees beside the sweat lodge testified to its spirituality. Overhead, two eagles circled, which everyone at the site agreed was a good omen.
"We have to take this as a sign, warning and a call to action," Shield said. "We have to clean up this area and get young people involved here. We've been talking about building a simple community center where we can hold our round dances instead of renting a building at the fairgrounds."
The next round dance, in honor of Dorothy and Jane Gopher, will be Oct. 2-3 at the Family Living Building at Montana ExpoPark, Mike Gopher said.
But the group's mission extends to Hill 57 itself, where landless Indians have lived since the 1890s. It got its name from a huge "57" in white stones that was put in place to advertise Heinz ketchup.
During the 1920s, Indian camps beside the Missouri River "were burned out by city authorities, and the Indians took refuge on Hill 57, where a woman of Indian descent offered them land on which to build shacks," according to a 1964 study by the Citizens Committee on Great Falls Indian Affairs.
In 1954, William D. "Scotty" James, the late editor of the Great Falls Tribune, wrote about the poverty of Indians on Hill 57 and how local citizens buried their heads in the sand when they discovered the magnitude of the problems there.
Combing the archives of the Tribune, Mike Gopher read accounts of a huge sun dance held in 1914 at the base of Hill 57.
Myers said that her youngest brother, a newborn, was buried in a shoebox not far away from the burned sweat lodge.
"We need to have Hill 57 declared a national historic site," Shield said. "And I'd like to see housing up here to re-establish a dynamic Indian presence so that the developers don't take this area over and leave Hill 57 as something you just read about in the history books."
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Tawnee Boham Montana's sole student at National Youth Leadership Conference
From the Great Falls Tribune
By KRISTEN CATES
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterLeadership is a quality Tawnee Boham always has possessed, she just didn't discover how powerful it was until lately.
Boham, a soon-to-be senior at C.M. Russell High School was the only student from Montana who attended the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. at the end of July.
Others were nominated from other schools, but Boham was the only one to follow through with her application and acceptance.
"I was really nervous because I've never been away from home or on a plane by myself," she said.
The daughter of Russell and Sandra Boham, she is also member of the Little Shell Chippewa Cree tribe and is very active in the leadership at CMR, but not in an attention-getting way, according to principal Dick Kloppel.
Boham serves on CMR's school improvement team, working with faculty and staff on a regular basis.
"She is a quiet, thoughtful leader," Kloppel said. "She's one of those people that doesn't talk a lot, but what she has to say is very meaningful."
At the conference with approximately 300 other high school students from around the country, Boham said she learned about the political process. They created a mock Congress where there were lobbyists and other political figures vying for amendments to energy and immigration laws.
"It was a really good leadership experience," she said. "It required a lot of charisma."
Boham also met with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, and Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Montana, briefly to discuss topics concerning her and the legislators.
She said Tester talked with her about Little Shell tribal recognition and Rehberg talked to her about energy development in all sectors of the economy.
Throughout the conference, Boham said she gained a lot of self-confidence and said it was a "grueling but fun" conference. "It was probably one of the best experiences I've ever had," she said.
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Pishkun's panels illuminate the past
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Great Falls Tribune Staff
ULM — Eight new panels unveiled this summer at First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park shed new light on the histories of Montana's Native American tribes and are helping boost park attendance.
"It's important for visitors to better understand Montana's Indian people and their culture in an effort to bring people a little closer together," said Robert Thomson, parks naturalist at the buffalo jump. "We have to remember the history of the tribes is the history of Montana."
Since the panels debuted this summer, many people have come to the park asking to see them, Thomson said.
The eight panels have replaced seven installed when the park's visitors' center was built a decade ago. The information about Montana's seven reservations and its residents was outdated, including facts on populations and how many tribal members spoke the tribes' languages.
Thanks to a $9,500 grant from the Montana Historical Society, the panels were updated and expanded. The update comes in the form of more history on Montana's tribes, including photos and references to important tribal members.
On the Chippewa Cree Tribe panel, for example, visitors discover that the Cree are one of the largest Native American tribes in North America. The panel goes on to explain that the bands and tribes lived in an area spreading from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.
"After the 1885 (Louis) Riel Rebellion in Canada, a group of Cree led by Little Bear settled in central Montana. They eventually united with a group of landless Chippewa under the leadership of Stone Child, cooperating in an effort to gain a permanent settlement of their own. The reservation was named after Chief Stone Child, but a mistranslation of the name by non-Indians resulted in the name Rocky Boy's Reservation," the Chippewa Cree panel reads.
Information for the panel came in part from Blackfeet tribal member Don Fish. Thomson created the panel's narrative text. With less emphasis placed on reservations and more on the tribes, a panel on the Little Shell Band of Chippewa was added to the mix for the first time.
"We always felt that was a bit of a slight," Thomson said of not including an entry for the Little Shell.
That panel reads "the Little Shell are one of the largest tribes in Montana and enrolled members can trace their heritage to the Chippewa people led by Chief Little Shell, as well as to the Cree and the Métis — mixed-blood people of French, Irish, Scots, Chippewa and Cree descent."
The panel tells how Chief Little Shell and his band were taken off reservation membership rolls in 1892, leading to a loss of federal recognition. Scattered and landless, many Little Shell people wandered back to Montana and settled throughout Montana.
In addition to history, the panels also bring visitors up-to-date on the current happenings of the tribes. The Little Shell panel tells that members of the state-recognized Little Shell Tribe now receive limited health and educational benefits but also about the tribe's struggle to become federally recognized.
Thomson added that since the panels were installed in late June, he has heard from Little Shell tribal members happy to have a panel.
"We've gotten a lot of really good feedback from those panels, especially people from tribes," Thomson said.
The park has seen about 3,000 more visitors compared to last year at this time, Thomson said. One of the largest buffalo jumps, or pishkuns, in North America, the park usually draws up to 25,000 visitors a year.
Experts believe the jump site was used from about 900 A.D. to 1500 A.D., and possibly longer, to kill buffalo.
To do this, an elder would sit in the middle of four tepees on a hill and call buffalo. As the buffalo neared, a runner would lead them to piles of rock that narrowed into a channel that led to the cliff's edge. Indians hiding behind the rock piles waved skins to frighten the herd and stampede the buffalo over the cliff.
Displays in the 6,000-square-foot, $2.2 million interpretive center, which opened in 1999, illustrate the significance of the buffalo to the Plains Indian tribes. Below the cliffs, which stretch more than a mile, the soil conceals compacted bison bones almost 13 feet deep.
In addition to the buffalo jump, there are a few more reasons for the attendance boost, according to Thomson. More Montanans are realizing that they pay state park admission when they renew their vehicle registration — which is a recent development, Thomson said. Montanans looking for a family outing on a budget are drawn to state parks because the admission fees already are covered.
"And they know they're going to get a quality experience out of it," Thomson said.
Also, the park has started to advertise the bow hunting opportunities in the park's further reaches, beyond established paths where no visitors are in danger, Thomson said. Hunters stalk mostly antelope and deer. The park issued 23 hunting permits in 2007 and 25 in 2008.
"It's always been legal to do bow hunting ... for years, we didn't advertise it properly," Thomson said. "It's become a huge deal for us."
The buffalo jump visitors' center will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Sept. 25. The panels are located in the storytelling circle at the visitor's center.
One more installment of the park's Jump Talks — which details how the jump was operated — is scheduled this summer. The next event is Aug. 29 and 30.
Also this week is the park's atlatl workshop, which runs from Wednesday to Friday. Participants will learn about the atlatl, a throwing stick used by prehistoric people as a hunting tool, and build one of their own.
To make reservations, call the park at 866-2217. The workshop fee is $30 per person.
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New interpretive sign honors Metis history along Front
From the Great Falls Tribune
By KARL PUCKETT
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterEAR MOUNTAIN — The Metis people — a mix of Native American, French and Scottish ancestry — once lived in small settlements in secluded canyons on the Rocky Mountain Front after fleeing persecution in Canada.
That history is now officially recognized in writing by the federal government at a trailhead here — even if the Metis remain unrecognized as a tribe.
"It's magnificent," 66-year-old Darryl Gray of Great Falls said.
During a sometimes emotional ceremony, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Friday unveiled an interpretive panel in a kiosk at the Ear Mountain Outstanding Natural Area, 25 miles west of Choteau.
The display is just 6 feet by 4 feet, but the Metis who attended the ceremony said presenting their story is a big deal.
Gray, who is Chippewa-Cree, French, Scottish and Blackfeet, called the information panel a "resurrection" of his people's history. It is titled, "The Metis: An Adaptive and Innovative Indian Culture.""We have deep roots here and that's why the South Fork holds such a special place in our hearts," said Al Wiseman, a 72-year-old Metis from Choteau.
Until about 1920, a Metis village of about 100 people and 20 cabins was located just upstream from the trailhead on the South Fork of the Teton River. A Metis cemetery is still located in the area.
"History is not just about Columbus," said Kristal Fox of Harlem, whose father was Metis. "We're a First Nations people, and a lot of people don't know about mixed-blood people."
Fox was one of about 65 to attend the display dedication. Many were Metis, some traveling from as far away as Havre, Great Falls and Helena.
Fox said the public history lesson would help visitors to the area "know who we are."
Fox's husband, Jim Fox, and her son, Vince, played traditional Metis music, which has a Celtic foundation and Indian rhythms and melody lines. When Jim, playing guitar, and Vince, on the fiddle, began playing the "Red River Jig," Wiseman started dancing. The song is considered the Metis national anthem, Jim Fox said.
In 1996, Wiseman first suggested the idea of putting up a sign explaining the Metis history to the BLM, but agency officials said the funding just came through recently.
Wiseman said he and his father-in-law, Alfred Gray, who has since died, first talked about it 45 years ago.
Gray was born in the village in 1915. Wiseman's mother was born there as well.
The jagged peaks of the Rockies served as a backdrop as Wiseman, wearing a traditional Metis sash and a colorful red shirt to go with his white cowboy hat and black boots, explained the history of the Metis to the crowd.
At one point, his voice cracked with emotion.
"Long time coming," Wiseman told Nicholas Vrooman just before the start of the ceremony.
Vrooman is a Metis scholar from Helena.
"I wouldn't miss this!" a gleeful Vrooman told Wiseman as they clasped hands.
Vrooman said a string of small Metis settlements used to exist on the Front from Dupuyer to Birch Creek to Dearborn. After suffering racial and religious persecution, Metis sought secluded places to live, Wiseman added. The South Fork of the Teton settlement was known by the whites as "Breed Town," Wiseman said.
"It is incredibly significant for the BLM to mark and honor this community," Vrooman said.
Wiseman thanked BLM officials for keeping their promise to put up the display, especially Rod Sanders, an outdoor recreation planner who took the lead. Sanders said the event was a big day for him personally as well professionally because his father, who was part Native American, recently died, and the interpretive panel was a way to honor to him.
Wiseman gave Sanders a model version of the wooden carts the Metis were known for making. The carts helped the Metis in their travels and came in handy during bison hunts.
Members of the tribe of mixed-blood French/Scottish and Indian people, who evolved during the 17th century Canadian fur trade, began migrating to Montana in the 1870s because of conflicts with European and Canadian immigrants, the interpretive panel says.
In the 1880s, Louis Riel, a devout Catholic and exiled Metis leader, returned to Canada in an attempt to reclaim the Metis homeland. At the time, he was working at St. Peter's Mission in Cascade.
The Resistance, as it became known, ended in defeat, and Riel was sent to the gallows on Nov. 16, 1885.
Today, the Metis are not recognized by the federal government as a tribe, the interpretive panel notes, but their distinct traditions like fiddle playing persist.
"All of us have our history, but when we honor that it makes us especially proud," said Richard Hopkins, who was with the BLM when the project was first proposed and now manages First Peoples Buffalo Jump near Ulm.
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Tester expresses concern over Little Shell delay
From the Great Falls Tribune
From The Great Falls Tribune Staff
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., a member of the Indian Affairs Committee, told a top Interior Department official this week that he is "greatly concerned" about delaying the decision for federal recognition of Montana's Little Shell Tribe.
Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs George Skibine told the Little Shell Band of Chippewa this week that he is postponing for 60 days the decision to formally recognize the tribe. The delay is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Little Shell, which has sought federal recognition for more than 31 years.
"I know how difficult and important these decisions are, but another delay for the Little Shell people is a major setback for them," Tester wrote Wednesday in a letter to Skibine. "Time is not on our side. And, considering the timeline of events over the past 31 years, the Little Shell people deserve a decision — not another delay."
Tester added that he eagerly awaits a decision from the Interior Department no later than Sept. 25. He also invited Skibine to Montana "to see firsthand the issues the Little Shell people face, and to meet its members." In 2007, Tester introduced legislation — his first as a U.S. senator — to grant federal recognition to the Little Shell. The State of Montana has officially recognized the tribe since 2000.
During an Indian Affairs Committee hearing earlier this year, Tester pressed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar about why recognizing the Little Shell has taken so long. Salazar said the federal recognition process needs to be streamlined. Meanwhile, a former tribal attorney for the Little Shell wrote to Tester and Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, pushing for legislative pressure to speed up the process.
"I was once the attorney for the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and, on Sept. 16, 1977, I wrote comments on the proposed tribal recognition rules on behalf of the tribe," wrote James W. Zion, now practicing in Albuquerque, N.M. "I note George Skibine's latest letter to the Little Shell, informing the tribe of more delay. George was there almost 40 years ago, and I heard him giving excuses then.
Zion noted that ample documentation supporting recognition has been provided.
"As a matter of fact, my September 1977 submission on behalf of the Little Shell was nine single-spaced pages of legal argument that clearly outlined the issues for decision," Zion added. "More delay is unconscionable."
He also stated that the Obama administration should join in forcing the issue.
"The Little Shell Tribe is, in fact, a bellwether of American Indian policy. Will the hope that the Obama campaign generated spill over into new policies so that trust responsibility has meaning?" Zion said. "Or will the bureaucracy eat (Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs) Larry EchoHawk alive, as it seems to be doing?"
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Little Shell still waiting BIA decision
From the Billings Gazette
From the AP Press
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has delayed for another 60 days its long-stalled decision over whether to grant federal recognition to a landless Montana tribe.
The roughly 4,300 members of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians are officially recognized by the state of Montana but have been unsuccessful in their decades-long fight for federal acknowledgment.
The latest delay, announced Monday, was needed to continue a legal review of the tribe's case, according to a letter from Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs George Skibine.
He wrote that the case "contemplated a number of departures from precedent" - an allusion to gaps in the Little Shell's documented history and frequent intermarriage between members and outsiders.
Little Shell chairman John Sinclair said the delay was disappointing but not surprising given the federal government's rigid recognition process.
"We have a bureaucratic system where we're kind of a square peg for their round hole," Sinclair said. "We're just hoping for a positive finding at the end."
The Little Shell's ancestors migrated to the Northern Plains in the 1700s. They were forced to leave in the 1860s after Chief Little Shell and his band were excluded from a federal treaty signed with related tribes.
Its members scattered to Montana and surrounding states and provinces.
In 1978 tribal leaders filed a formal recognition petition with the federal government and in 2000 the government announced it was leaning toward recognition.
After years of delay, Skibine in January set a Monday deadline for the agency to make a decision. When that time expired, he set a Sept. 25 deadline.
BIA spokeswoman Nedra Darling said there was no limit on such extensions.
Federal recognition would make the Little Shell eligible for health, housing and other benefits.
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Little Shell recognition decision delayed
From the Great Falls Tribune
By ERIC NEWHOUSE
Great Falls Tribune Projects EditorAfter decades of waiting for federal recognition, the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana has been told to wait for another 60 days.
"We did get a letter from them (the Bureau of Indian Affairs) today, and there's another delay," said Little Shell President John Sinclair on Monday. "We're not sure why — we assume it's to review their findings."
Nedra Darling, a spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, confirmed that the delay was needed to finalize the department's legal review.
"The assistant secretary has the discretion to extend the period for the preparation of the final determination if warranted by the extent and nature of the evidence and arguments received during the response period," she said Monday.
"Because the proposed finding contemplates a number of departures from precedent, the final determination requires a thorough legal review which is not yet complete," she said.
The BIA proposes to render a decision on or before Sept. 25, Darling said.
It's a high-stakes decision.
Recognition would mean that the 4,300-member Little Shell Tribe, most of whom live in Great Falls or northcentral Montana, would be eligible to apply for federal services and funding to build clinics, schools and housing, said Darling.
The federal government officially recognizes 562 tribes.
Newly recognized tribes of 1,500 to 3,000 members can get $320,000 annually in federal start-up funds for up to three years, Darling said. Start-up funding for larger tribes such as the Little Shell is handled case by case.
Most of the recognition agreements were reached via treaties signed decades ago, Darling said.
In 1892, while Chief Little Shell and 112 families were hunting bison in Montana, a government "Indian agent" arranged to buy a portion of their Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota for use by white homesteaders, said Little Shell Executive Director Russell Boham.
Upon returning, Little Shell protested and his band was kicked out, leaving them unrecognized and landless, Boham said. They migrated to Montana, where two-thirds of today's Little Shell remain, Boham said.
The government initially refused to grant the tribe's request to be recognized because some members were Metis, or "mixed blood," he said.
Darling said she can't comment on why recognition for the Little Shell has dragged on for so long. The recognition office was formed in 1978 specifically to handle Indian recognition issues. Although the tribe had been seeking recognition for decades, the Little Shell submitted its formal petition in 1984.
She did say the tribe's petition is large and complex. In every case, she said, delays can result from requests by the government for more documentation and because not all tribes have full-time research staffs. Each petition must meet seven stringent criteria, including evidence of links to a historical tribe, Darling said.
In 2000, the recognition office published a preliminary ruling in the Federal Register stating the Little Shell "exists as an Indian tribe," but requested additional documentation before finalizing the decision, Boham said.
More than 250 Indian groups are still hoping to get recognized through the Office of Federal Recognition. Tribes in Louisiana, New York, California and Wisconsin also are awaiting decisions, while an additional eight petitions are awaiting consideration, Darling said.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, citing repeated delays in Little Shell recognition, called the process broken during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee meeting in February.
And Rep. Denny Rehberg, seeking to circumvent the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has introduced legislation in Congress to recognize the Little Shell.
Sinclair testified on behalf of the tribe before the House Natural Resources Committee, which was hearing the legislation two weeks ago, and Rehberg told the committee that "We have the power to correct a historic injustice."
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Little Shell recognition bid delayed for 60 days
From the Great Falls Tribune
According to the Great Falls Tribune, the Decision to recognize the tribe for Government to Government relations with the US Government has been delayed for another 60 days. No reasons given.
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Little Shell recognition bid seeks Congressional help
From the Great Falls Tribune
WASHINGTON — Obama administration officials say a decision on whether to recognize the Little Shell Tribe is imminent. But after 31 years of waiting, tribal leaders want Congress to step in.
"There is no serious question that the Little Shell people are an Indian tribe," tribe President John Sinclair told members of the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday. "The United States always knew who we are."
The tribe has petitioned the Interior Department since 1978 for official recognition. The designation not only would entitle it to federal Indian programs, such as health, public safety and education, but also confer a measure of legitimacy and pride that its members have sought for more than a century.
But "at every turn, the Department of Interior has promised action, only to postpone it," Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., told fellow lawmakers at the hearing. "We have the power to correct a historic injustice."
Rehberg's bill not only would recognize the tribe but also would direct Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to acquire and put into trust 200 acres for the Little Shell tribe, which has not had its own land since its ancestors left North Dakota in the 1800s.
"It's the right thing to do," Rehberg said. "It's already taken too long."
Little Shell is one of four tribes seeking recognition, including ones in Washington state and Michigan, that took part in Wednesday's hearing.
There are 563 federally recognized tribes. The Interior Department has received letters from about another 250 seeking such a designation, said George Skibine, acting deputy assistant for Indian affairs in the Interior Department.
Skibine asked the lawmakers not to move ahead with the bill because, he said, his agency is expected to render a decision on recognition in the next several weeks.
But tribal leaders and lawmakers criticized the agency's process for determining who gets recognized and who doesn't. Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., called it "broken and unfair."
Agency officials defended their system, saying it is based on a methodical evaluation of seven criteria, including proof that the tribe has been recognized continuously as a body since 1900 and that most of its members comprise "a distinct community."
Already recognized by the state of Montana, the Little Shell Tribe has about 5,000 members and is headquartered in Great Falls. Some have dual membership with the Rocky Boy's Indians and would have to choose which to identify with if Little Shell wins recognition, Sinclair said.
Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com.
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Tribal group gets $5M to battle alcoholism
From the Billings Gazette
DIANE COCHRAN Of The Billings Gazette Staff
$5 million grant from the federal government will help American Indian tribes in Montana and Wyoming curb alcohol abuse among their members.
The five-year award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will fund programs to reduce underage drinking and create sober communities for recovering alcoholics.
The Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council announced Monday that it received the grant, which began July 1.
Serious problem
Alcohol abuse is a continuing and serious problem in American Indian communities, said Gordon Belcourt, the council's executive director.
"Part of the problem is people are using alcohol and drugs to escape," Belcourt said.
The future can seem grim to young American Indians living on reservations with high rates of unemployment and substance abuse, he said.
As many as 13 percent of American Indians are dependent on alcohol, according to the council's statistics. That is more than three times the rate of alcoholism in the general population.
The Tribal Leaders Council will distribute the grant money to its 11 member tribes as prevention programs are developed.
Some of the money will help create sober communities, or housing developments and social networks that forbid alcohol.
"One of the biggest problems we have with people in recovery is their whole social world is now a danger to them," said Craig Love, a consultant who helped the Tribal Leaders Council secure the grant.
Cultural activities
It will also fund efforts to steer children and teenagers away from alcohol, including cultural activities and programs that encourage kids to learn traditional ways from elders.
"We want to create some heroes and mythology for our young people," Belcourt said.
Members of the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council include the Blackfeet, Chippewa Cree, Crow, Eastern Shoshone, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, Little Shell, Northern Arapaho, Northern Cheyenne, and Salish and Kootenai tribes.
In addition to its community-level prevention work, the organization plans to open a drug and alcohol treatment center in Sheridan, Wyo., later this year.
The Inter-Tribal Wellness Center would treat as many as 100 American Indians a year for alcohol and drug dependency.
Contact Diane Cochran at dcochran@billingsgazette.com or 657-1287.
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Hearing set for Little Shell's recognition
From the Great Falls Tribune
WASHINGTON — The House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a legislative hearing July 15 on efforts to acquire federal recognition for the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe, Rep. Denny Rehberg said Tuesday.
Rehberg has introduced legislation to recognize the tribe in each of the last two sessions of Congress since the Department of the Interior has stalled for so long on federal recognition.
"Since April 28, 1978, the Little Shell have wrestled with Washington bureaucrats to get well-deserved federal recognition," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "After more than 31 years, it's become evident the normal channels aren't cutting it.
"Justice delayed is justice denied, and I'm working to find a faster legislative fix," Rehberg said.This hearing is great news and is an important step toward recognition."
The Natural Resources Committee is the committee of jurisdiction for the House since it has no Indian Affairs Committee like the U.S. Senate.
The Little Shell Tribe is made up of approximately 4,300 members, mostly in the Great Falls area.In 2000, the same year the tribe was recognized by the state of Montana, the Department of Interior issued a positive finding for the tribe, making it eligible for recognition.Since then, little progress has been made because of bureaucratic obstacles.Rehberg's bill expedites recognition through the legislative process.
"The state of Montana and Montana's other tribal nations recognize the Little Shell," said Little Shell Executive Director Russell Boham. "It is time that the federal government also extend official recognition.What recognition means for us, in a word, is hope. Hope for the future. Hope that access to federal programs can improve our communities and that self-determination can really mean self-sufficiency for our Little Shell families."
Webmaster Note: Info on the House Committe hearing:
The House Natural Resources Committee, led by Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:
•H.R. 2678 (McDermott): "Duwamish Tribal Recognition Act"
•H.R. 1358 (Stupak): "Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Reaffirmation Act"
•H.R. 3084 (Baird): "Chinook Nation Restoration Act"
•H.R. 3120 (Rehberg): "Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2009"
Subject:
House Natural Resources Committee
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2678, H.R. 1358, H.R. 3084, and H.R. 3120
When:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Where:
Room 1324 Longworth House Office Building
Witnesses:
TBA
The hearing will be webcast live and archived on the Committee's Web site at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/.
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Congressional hearing set for Little Shell Chippewa Tribe
From the Great Falls Tribune
BILLINGS (AP) — A congressional committee will hold a hearing next week into a decades-long attempt by the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe to be officially recognized by the federal government.
The estimated 4,300 Little Shell have no reservation and are scattered across central Montana and beyond. They were recognized by the state in 2000 but have failed for generations to gain federal recognition.
Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg, the state’s only member of the House of Representatives, said he convinced the House Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing July 15 on a bill he is sponsoring to speed up the recognition process.
The tribe’s request is now stalled inside the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The agency has said it will make a decision by June 27, but has missed prior deadlines.
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Youths sought for tribal summit
From the Great Falls Tribune
The Montana Wyoming Tribal Youth Summit will be held July 28-31 at Luccock Park Camp, 9 miles south of Livingston.The summit's purpose is to eliminate the Native American graduation gap by 2018.
The summit will feature status reports on Native American graduation and drop-out rates, youth perspectives, success stories and action planning.
Featured speakers include Ray Daw, Mandy Smoker Broaddus and Dr. Steven Sroka.
Organizers are looking for attendees ranging from key tribal and nontribal decision-makers to youth. The cost for adults is $120, which covers lodging and food. The summit is free for youth.
For more information, contact Kristin Lundgren at 406-252-3839, ext. 14, or Stephanie Iron Shooter at 406-252-2550. Application deadline is July 17.
To register, e-mail Tari Burt at tari.burt@united way.org or call her at 406-252-3839, extension 16. Please include the name, title, business or agency, phone number, address and e-mail for each person registering.
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Tribe holding disputed balloting
From the Billings Gazette
By The Associated Press
Members of the Little Shell Chippewa tribe are set to vote in a new council today, in an election marred by political infighting including the barring of several would-be candidates from the ballot.
Polling places will be set up in Billings, Browning, Butte, Great Falls, Havre and Helena. The estimated 4,500 Little Shell have no reservation and are spread through northern and central Montana.
The election had been delayed since Nov. 4, when the Tribal Council barred four candidates from running.
At least three more have since been barred, including two candidates who also were disenrolled from the tribe.
The Little Shell tribe is recognized by the state but has faced decades of delays from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs over its request for federal recognition.
Several of the rejected candidates were prior council members. One who was disenrolled is a former vice chairman for the Little Shell.
Critics accuse tribal President John Sinclair and other incumbents of manipulating the election to their advantage.
Operating through a splinter group called the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance, they plan to protest today's election.
"They're twisting the tribal constitution for their own political gain in terms of determining who can run against them and who can't," said Gerald Gray, a tribal member who was blocked from running for first vice chairman.
Five members of the Alliance filed a federal lawsuit this week asking a judge in Great Falls to issue an injunction blocking the election.
U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon on Friday denied the request.
Sinclair said he was trying to make the process fair but was forced to take action because he said Alliance members were confusing potential voters, in part by sending out mailings opposing the election.
"When you fight in a tribe like that it's basically family - and family fights are the worst," he said.
The tribe's executive director, Russell Boham, said disenrolled members had failed to pass required background checks.
That included an assessment of whether they had the proper ancestry.
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Disenfranchised faction vows to fight today's Little Shell elections
From the Great Falls Tribune
By TRAVIS COLEMAN
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterThe Little Shell Chippewa Tribe today will hold its elections that have been delayed for six months, a period in which some candidates were either removed from the ballot or thrown out of the tribe.
Some removed candidates tried to block the election through a federal injunction, but U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon denied the request Friday, saying there were "extremely limited" circumstances to justify blocking the election.
Since the injunction failed, ballots will be cast today at polling places across the state and counted on May 23 in Great Falls.
Tribal Chairman John Sinclair is running unopposed for the chairman position, with Alvina Allen and Ronald "Cree" Doney vying for first vice president. Voters also will elect three tribal council members from a field of seven at-large candidates.
The injunction is the latest flap among the tribe's members since before the election's originally scheduled date in November. It was then that a group of tribal members were removed as council nominees for various alleged violations of tribal regulations. Sinclair then pushed the election back.
The Little Shell Chippewa Alliance soon formed. The group was made up in part of removed council candidates who criticized Sinclair's leadership and the impartiality of the tribe's election committee. The alliance plans to protest the election outside of tribal headquarters in Great Falls today.
John Gilbert, a former tribal chairman and head of the alliance, was disqualified from running against Sinclair because he helped send out referendum ballots asking tribal members if the alliance should run its own election for a new tribal council, Sinclair said.
"It's ridiculous," Gilbert said of the reason why he was disqualified. "We're upset. We feel our rights have been taken away."
Sinclair acknowledged that the move to disqualify Gilbert could be perceived by some people as a way to ensure he wins re-election. But he said he wanted Gilbert to run, adding it was the tribe's election committee that made the decision to remove his opponent from the ballot.
"I do understand why he's angry, but he shouldn't have done the thing that got him disqualified," Sinclair said.
Other candidates removed from the ballot include prior council members. Two candidates, including James Parker Shield, a former Little Shell vice chairman, also were disenrolled from the tribe, according to court documents.
"They're twisting the tribal constitution for their own political gain in terms of determining who can run against them and who can't,"' said Gerald Gray, a tribal member who was blocked from running for first vice chairman.
Sinclair said he was trying to make the process fair, but was forced to take action because Little Shell Chippewa Alliance members were confusing potential voters, in part by sending out mailings opposing the election.
The tribe's executive director, Russell Boham, said the tribal members who were disenrolled failed to pass required background checks. The check included an assessment of whether the individuals had the proper ancestry to qualify for tribal membership.
Because the tribe is not federally recognized, no court has authority to resolve the issue between the rival factions. Shield said the plaintiffs will try again to get the injunction heard in court in hopes of blocking the ballot count.
"When you fight in a tribe like that, it's basically family — and family fights are the worst," Sinclair said.
Where to vote
Little Shell tribal members can vote at the following polling places today in Montana:
Great Falls:Westgate Mall, 1807 3rd St. N.W., Suite 35A
Billings: 711 Central Ave., Suite 30
Helena: Lewis and Clark Public Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch
Havre: Human Resources Development Council, 2229 5th Ave.
Butte: Butte Plaza Mall, 3100 Harrison Ave.
Browning: New Eagle Shield Center, 5525 Haul Road
All polls will be open between noon and 8 p.m. except in Helena, where they will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Opinion: Questions about election
From the Havre Daily News
Editor:
Dear Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Members, Is the Little Shell election legal? Little Shell Chippewa Tribal elections are being held on Saturday at six polling stations throughout the state in the cities of Billings, Browning, Butte, Great Falls, Havre and Helena.
Large numbers of Little Shell Tribal members believe the election is unfair and possibly illegal because: The terms of John Sinclair, past president, Ronald Cree Doney and Steve Doney all expired in November 2008. What legal authority are they acting on to set a new election as they see fit?
Sinclair has made official decisions about how, when and where the election is going to be held, when he is no longer an elected — nor an official — spokesman for the Little Shell Tribe.Why have candidates running against former President John Sinclair and his running mates been "disqualified" or "disenrolled" from the Tribe?
The election committee, chaired by an incumbent councilman's sister, accused people of wrongdoing and being convicted of crimes and then removed some candidates' names from the ballot, when the committee cannot prove the individuals have ever committed or been convicted of a crime!Why is the Tribal newsletter being used to spread falsehoods about former Tribal leaders? Have you ever heard of an election where candidates cannot campaign?
Sinclair removed people from Tribal membership for running for Tribal Council because they had not gotten his permission to use the name Little Shell or Little Shell Tribe in any public way.
Sinclair and the election committee did not abide by the Tribe's constitution when holding the Tribal election. There is a two-week delay between election day and May 23 when ballots will be counted. Shouldn't votes be counted immediately after the polls close? What's up? Why was each absentee ballot numbered at the bottom of the ballot? What's up?
Why doesn't the Tribal newsletter contain the candidates "biographical" information and their statements of what they would do to help the tribe? (Candidates provided this information at election committee's request, but it wasn't printed in the newsletter. Why?)
Can we expect a fair and honest election where the election committee chair is the sister of an incumbent council candidate?
Is the election hijacked?
Are Sinclair’s actions hurting the Little Shell's opportunity for federal recognition?
To protest this election, Tribal members should write:
"I protest the May 9, 2009, election as an illegal election!"; sign and date the letter; and mail this statement to:
Little Shell Chippewa Alliance, P. O. Box 1498, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Gerald Gray
Billings
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Little Shell to hold election, but some candidates barred
From the Great Falls Tribune
Associated Press
BILLINGS (AP) — Members of the Little Shell Chippewa tribe are set to vote in a new council on Saturday in an election marred by political infighting including the rejection of several hopeful candidates.
Polling places will be set up in Billings, Browning, Butte, Great Falls, Havre and Helena. The estimated 4,500 Little Shell have no reservation and are spread through northern and central Montana.
The election had been delayed since Nov. 4, when the Tribal Council barred four candidates from running. At least two candidates — including a former vice chairman — have since been disenrolled from the tribe.Critics of incumbent tribal President John Sinclair accuse him of manipulating the election to his advantage. Sinclair maintains he's tried to make the process fair.
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Opinion: Hijacked election
From the Great Falls Tribune
John Gilbert,
past Little Shell chairman and councilman, Great FallsTo all our Little Shell tribal members, you need to get involved and ask questions concerning our upcoming election to be held May 9. It is literally being hijacked. In my opinion, this election is rigged. Just so you know, several very good and competent candidates have been disqualified or disenrolled. This is a very BOLD and calculated action to take by the election committee and others. All the competition has been removed.
Being one of the candidates who was running for the position of chairman and was disqualified by some trumped-up accusation has shocked me, not to mention the insult of it all. For those of you who received your Little Shell tribal newsletter, it is absolutely scandalous and full of outright lies. To see one person running for chairman should open your eyes. This whole bunch needs to be booted out. They are dangerous. We all have had enough of this inside bickering. We need unity and an honest council. We need change!
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Longtime lawmakers say farewell to serving in Capitol
From the Great Falls Tribune
By JOHN S. ADAMS
Tribune Capitol BureauHELENA — Two term-limited state senators from northcentral Montana bid emotional adieus to their colleagues on the floor Tuesday.
Sen. Joe Tropila, D-Great Falls, and Sen. Ken "Kim" Hansen, D-Harlem, are both term-limited and will finish their runs in the Senate when the Legislature adjourns sometime within the next week or so.
Following Senate tradition, both men delivered their farewell speeches Tuesday.
Tropila, who served 24 years in the House and Senate during the past 34 years, said his tenure has been "a good ride."
"I used to have a horse named Ginger, a three-quarter mare, rust colored, (she) was a great ride," Tropila said in his opening remarks. "But this ride here was a lot better than a ride on that horse — and that horse was great."
Tropila was in the House from 1974-80, and then became Cascade County clerk and recorder through 1993, at which time he returned to the House. He returned to the Senate in 2003 after he was term limited in the House.
Tropila said that throughout his legislative career he dedicated himself to what he called "the three C's": cooperation, consensus and compromise. He also used his farewell speech to rail against term limits, which he said has made it more difficult to live by that code.
"I am adamantly opposed to term limits," Tropila said. "I think term limits belong at the ballot box by the voters. If they want you, they'll vote for you. If they don't, they'll vote you out."
Hansen served two terms in the Senate, first in Senate District 46 and then in Senate District 17. He said he first dreamed of serving in the Legislature in 1971, when he worked as a Senate page.
"As a young man, I had dreams. I had a dream that one day I would be back to serve the people of this great state, that one day I would be back to represent northcentral Montana to the best of my ability," Hansen said.
On Monday, Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed the bill that Hansen called the most important one of his career. Senate Bill 8 will allow irrigators, municipalities, recreationists, tribes and other Milk River stakeholders to form a regional authority to determine how water users will be charged to help pay for the state's share of the $154 million repair bill — around $38 million — for the St. Mary's diversion.
Hansen said his primary goal as a lawmaker was to fight for northcentral Montana's rural communities.
"What I really try to do more than anything is I try to bring funding back to northcentral Montana, because quite often we're always at a rural-urban battle in the state of Montana," Hansen said in an interview. "A lot of times the rural areas get left out. That's what I'm here for."
Tropila said he was most proud to sponsor bills in the 1970s to fund the state colleges of technology, the McLaughlin Research Institute and the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind. He said he also is especially proud of his work in 2001, when he helped the Legislature pass a resolution urging the federal government to recognize the landless Little Shell Tribe. That measure unanimously passed the House and received 43 votes in the Senate.
"We're still working on that with the (federal government), but at least we got them some land," Tropila said.
His son, Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls, gave perhaps the most emotional speech of the day as he stood on a point of personal privilege to recognize his father. The Tropilas are the only father-son duo in recent memory to serve together in the Legislature.
"I would be a fool if I had not grabbed the opportunity in front of me today," said the younger Tropila. "So I will turn and say these words: It has been an honor and a pleasure, and at the end of my days I will look back and I will say that this is one of the best things I've ever did. For I had the privilege of serving with a well-respected man on both sides of the aisle, Sen. Joe Tropila. Oh, and by the way, I love you, Dad."
Being that he turns 74 next month, Joe Tropila is unlikely to return to the Legislature. Public officials are barred from seeking re-election if they have already held the office for eight years in any 16-year period.
Hansen left open the possibility of running for the House some day.
"I'm going to leave that door open," Hansen said. "Right now, I want to just go back home and get to work and help on the family farm and ranch and be with my wife."
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Little Shell Alliance decides to disband
From the Great Falls Tribune Letters to the Editor
Members of the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance have voted to disband as a group, effective today, alliance spokesman James Parker Shield said Tuesday.
"Alliance members feel we achieved our primary objective," Shield said. "We were successful in pressing for an election, and the Little Shell Election Committee has announced it will be held on May 9." The alliance was formed after last fall's tribal elections were canceled, Shield said. It declared that the incumbents were in office illegally and mailed out 3,000 letters with ballots to tribal members asking if the alliance should be in charge of running the election for a new tribal council. It also asked if tribal members believed the current council's actions were illegal.
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Tradition upheld
From the Great Falls Tribune Letters to the Editor
As a lifelong resident of Glacier County who has hunted and fished on the Rocky Mountain Front throughout my life, and an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe, I have concern about the wise use of the Badger-Two Medicine area.
I feel strongly that all people need specific places to go where they are able to seek solitude from the stresses of everyday life, where native people may honor their cultural and spiritual practices in keeping with their traditions. My ancestors lived and died in this area. What better place on earth than the Badger-Two Medicine to continue traditional use.
There are only a significantly small number of areas in the world today that have not been negatively impacted by mankind, where people have labored to preserve that special individuality. We are so fortunate that we have one of those treasured places right here in Montana. A few think it is strictly a chunk of real estate to be enjoyed as they see fit. But many of us see it as much more than that. For this reason, I whole-heartedly support the Lewis and Clark National Forest's Record of Decision for the Badger-Two Medicine area travel management plan.
— Larry Salois, Cut Bank
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Native Montana Magazine
From the KFBB News Team.
A magazine targeted toward Montanans unveiled a special edition Wednesday featuring important Native Americans in our state. Native Americans are being celebrated in Native Montana Magazine to showcase their positive contributions to society. The magazine has been in circulation for a year and a half and this special edition features elected officials including the highest elected Native-American official... Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.
Native Montana Magazine is fully supported by advertising and can be picked up for free across the state. Native Montana Magazine publisher James Parker Shield said, "We need to make sure that people understand that we're full participants in the state of Montana and its government and that we have people that are achieving significant milestones not as individuals buts on the behalf of native americans."
Webmaster Note: You can visit and view the magazine at their website: www.Native-Montana.com
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Little Shell Tribal Members overwhelmingly make their Voices heard; Votes out unConstitutional Appointed Council and authorizes newConstitutional Elections for Tribal Council.
From the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance.
Webmaster Note: Updated to Correct Totals that were provided by the LSCA
Little Shell Tribal members participated in a Constitutional Referendum that asked Tribal Members if they felt that the Tribal Council was beyond their Constitutional Term-Limit, and if so, should they be allowed to stay in office, and if an election must be held to elect Tribal Members to the Council in a Constitutional manner in doing so making their vote legally binding upon the council itself.
In an Overwhelming showing, the Tribal Members voted their Constitutional power in the following manner:
Question 1: I believe an election by the people should be conducted by the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance to elect Tribal Council members and Tribal Officers for the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana.
94% Voted "YES", the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance is Authorized to hold Constitutional Elections For Tribal Council.
6% Voted "NO", the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance is NOT Authorized to hold Constitutional Elections for Tribal Council.Referendum Question 1 Passes. Tribal Members authorize a NEW Constitutional Tribal Election
Question 2: I believe the last elected Tribal Council and Tribal Officers of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana are beyond their Constitutional term limits, which expired according to the Constitution on January 1, 2009 and thus all actions taken by them after January 1, 2009 are neither legal, nor binding.
92% Voted "YES", The Tribal Council members are beyond their Term-limit and are therefore no longer Authorized to Speak for the Tribal Members nor act as the Government of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana.
8% Voted "NO", The Tribal Council members are authorized to remain in office.Referendum Question 2 Passes. The Tribal Council has been Constitutionally Voted out of office and it's members are no longer are authorized to operate or represent the Tribal members in any manner.
The Little Shell Chippewa Alliance feels that this is a Historical Vote by the Tribal members who exercised their Constitution Rights under Article III, Section X and Article IV of the Little Shell Chippewa Indians of Montana Constitution. This is the first time in the History of the Tribe, since being reorganized September 19, 1977 that tribal members needed to exercise their Constitutional Power to reign in an out of control Council of whom decided to strip tribal members of their civil right to an elected and representative government.
365 Total physical Ballots mailed in.
Of these, the official Votes for:
Question 1 is:
349 Total Validated Votes, of these:
329 YES Votes or 94.26% of the Q1 Validated Votes (329/349=.9624)
20 NO Votes or 5.74% of the Q1 Validated Votes (20/349=.0574)
Question 2 is:
348 Total Validated Votes, of these:
321 YES Votes or 92.24% of the Q2 Validated Votes (321/348=.9224)
27 NO Votes or 7.76% of the Q2 Validated Votes (27/348=.0776)
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Little Shell Council claims rival group stole identities
From the Great Falls Tribune.
By KIM SKORNOGOSKI
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterThe Little Shell Tribal Council said a newly formed rival group stole tribal members' private information to mail out a referendum asking to oust the current council.
"This is identity theft, and the tribal council will take action to protect our members," tribal president John Sinclair said. "This breech of trust is particularly sad because it appears to have been perpetrated by former tribal officials who are using the information for personal gain."
The tribe's executive director, Russell Boham, said Monday that the issue came to their attention when tribal members called in complaining that they received unsolicited mail.
The council has a database of 4,200 tribal members, which includes names, addresses, birthdates, names of relatives and tribal identification numbers.
"Our assumption is that somebody either from the alliance stole it or somebody in the office gave it or sold it to the alliance," Boham said.
Earlier this month, the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance sent out 3,000 letters to tribal members and a ballot asking if the alliance should be in charge of running the election for a new tribal council and if tribal members agree that the current council's actions are illegal.
Ballots will be counted Saturday and the alliance hopes to use the results to pressure the current board to step aside and allow alliance members not running for office to oversee the election.Formed in January, the alliance insists that the current seven-member board's terms expired on Jan. 1, following the four-year terms laid out in the tribal constitution.
An election was to be held in November, but Sinclair disqualified several candidates, including his rival for chairman.
Former tribal vice chairman and now alliance spokesman James Parker Shield said the accusation that the alliance stole tribal documents is a smokescreen to disguise Sinclair's illegal attempts to maintain power.
"It almost sounds like the ranting of a madman," Shield said. "He doesn't want a tribal government elected by the people."
He added the alliance created its own database by asking people that attended three group meetings to send the names and addresses of relatives who are Little Shell tribal members.
Sinclair said the tribe will have a belated election on May 9 with the nomination deadline of the end of March.
The alliance has a similar timeline for how long it would take to elect new leaders, but believes someone other than Sinclair needs to run the election.
"You can't be the election judge and a tribal candidate," Shield said. "We have to wake people up to what's going on — that their tribal government is being hijacked by a dictator."
Because the tribe is not federally recognized, no court has authority to resolve the issue between the rival factions. The battle has also mired progress toward getting federally recognized.
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Group gathers to celebrate 10-year anniversary of bill that renamed sites
From the Great Falls Tribune.
By MOLLY PRIDDY
For the Great Falls TribuneHELENA — A large crowd gathered in the Capitol on Thursday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the law that removed the word "squaw" from the names of many Montana land features.
State Sen. Carol Juneau, D-Browning, was touted as the driving force behind the legislation by every speaker at the "Old Places — New Names" ceremony.
"It's been a wonderful, wonderful effort to make Montana a better place to live for our citizens by taking this ugly word off our beautiful mountains and streams," Juneau said.
Some of the renamed formations included Ch-paa-qn (Shining Peak) near Missoula, formerly called Squaw Peak; Stands Alone Woman Peak near Glacier, formerly called The Old Squaw; and Too-nah-hin Creek in Cascade County, formerly called Squaw Creek.
After House Bill 412 passed in 1999, it was discovered that 76 features needed name changes.
School children, county commissioners and tribal leaders helped locate landmarks that needed to be renamed, then suggested new names. Even now, some of the 76 new names have yet to be finalized, Juneau said.
One of the first changes was Squaw Gulch near Helena. It is now called Wakina Sky Gulch, a name suggested by students at Wakina Sky Learning Center in Helena.
Juneau said the changes were necessary because of the matriarchal nature of many American-Indian cultures. She illustrated that importance through a Cheyenne proverb: "A nation is not conquered until the heart of its women is on the ground. Then it is done, no matter how brave its warriors or how strong their weapons."
The ceremony at the Capitol began with the lighting of tobacco and a Cree prayer from Henry Anderson, a Little Shell elder. Jennifer Perez Cole, the state coordinator of Indian Affairs, also welcomed visitors to the event.
In her speech, Juneau said the achievements of the 1999 HB412 Committee were especially honorable because everyone worked on a volunteer basis.
"This bill passed without a budget," Juneau said. "They wanted to make Montana a better place to live."
Other members of the 1999 committee, including current Senate Minority Leader Carol Williams and Rep. Diane Sands, both Missoula Democrats, spoke about their experiences.
Williams teared up as she spoke about the committee's efforts over the past decade. She said she hoped a landmark will be named after Juneau in the future.
Sands also became emotional at the lectern when she spoke about the accomplishments made under the law, noting the importance names carry.
"Of all the bills and issues I've worked on, this one means the most to me," she said. "Words do have meaning and words have power."
During the event Sands and Williams presented Juneau with a wool Pendleton blanket and the Soldier Gulch Drum Group played several traditional songs, including a women's honor song, as the lawmakers passed out braids made from sweetgrass to the original committee members.
Rep. Carolyn Pease-Lopez, D-Crow Agency, who delivered the event's closing prayer, said she was thankful for the committee's efforts.
"Words are containers, and they can release good or bad," Pease-Lopez said. "Today is a good day to be an Indian woman."
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Little Shell Chippewa Alliance make copies of Referendum and cover letter available to the Public
From the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance website.
By Robert Rudeseal
LittleShellTribe.com Webmaster
The Little Shell Chippewa Alliance has updated their website and has made available to Enrolled Tribal Members copies of the Referendum and the cover letter accompanying it. You can download, read, and print the documents for your own use or if you have family members who are enrolled in the tribe and need a copy and want to vote, they are encourged to do so.
Cover Letter that Accompanied the Referendum Ballot
The Referendum Ballot Itself!Return the Signed ballot to:
Little Shell Chippewa Alliance
ATTN: Referendum
PO Box 1498
Great Falls, MT 59403
You can visit the Alliance's website for more information and updates.
You can contact the Alliance through email at: Contact@LittleShellChippewaAlliance.org
The Little Shell Chippewa Alliance are Enrolled Tribal members of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. They are just like YOU. They are former Tribal Chairmen, Council Members, Elders, and just plain enrolled worker bees. They are all volunteers who want to see our tribe succeed, to regain our democracy from self-proclaimed tyrants of the tribe who call us "Crackpots" for opposing their views, who cancel elections, and who suspend our Laws and Constitution just so they can stay in power. The Tribal Members of the Alliance wants to return our stolen Constitution and Laws back from the clutches of Tyrants and return it to the feathered nest of the Little Shell People.
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Little Shell group seeks new election
From the Great Falls Tribune.
By ERIC NEWHOUSE
Tribune Projects EditorMembers of the Little Shell Tribal Council and the newly formed Little Shell Chippewa Alliance appear to be pushing for head-to-head elections in May.
The alliance mailed out 3,000 referendum ballots to tribal members on Monday, asking them to answer two questions:
Whether members agreed there is currently no tribal government since no elections have been held to replace council members, whose terms of office expired on Jan. 1;
Whether the alliance should conduct an election to replace members of the tribal council by May 31.
The alliance hopes to have ballots mailed back by March 14, said James Parker Shield, a former vice chairman of the tribe. They'll be counted March 21.
"If the responses for both questions come back as no, our work is done — the people have spoken," Shield said Monday. "But if the responses are yes, we'll go ahead with a new election. We're hoping that the responses will be overwhelming enough to give us a sense of the popular sentiment."
Meanwhile, tribal Chairman John Sinclair said the council had decided on a belated election.
"The constitution calls for four-year terms, but due to circumstances, the council was forced to extend them," he said Monday. "At our last council meeting last Saturday, we set a date for a new election on May 9 and agreed to re-open the nomination process through March."
Sinclair said the alliance is being driven by tribal members who were removed as tribal council nominees last October for undisclosed violations of tribal regulations. But he added that there is no legal recourse the tribe can take to stop them from having an election.
Webmaster Note: Sinclair alleges that the alliance is disgruntled tribal members, that is not true, The Alliance are Enrolled Tribal Members who do not want our tribe to be destroyed by a self-serving member who relishes stepping on the Civil and Constitutional Rights of other fellow Tribal Members. The Alliance was authorized by a Council of Tribal Elders to hold constitutional Elections, the same Elections that Sinclair opposes. The Alliance's ONLY duty authorized by the Elders Council is to hold elections. The Alliance, on its own, in accordance with the Tribal Constitution, decided to hold a referendum of the Tribal Members to ask what THEY want. A tribe run by a Tyrant, or a Tribe run by the people. If the Tribal Members approve and Authorize the Alliance to hold an election, then a new Legal and Constitutional Government is in place that was voted by the TRIBAL MEMBERS and not a handful of Sinclair Loyalist. The Alliance, by order of the People, MUST then Disband.
Mr. Sinclair must answer for and will be held accountable to the Little Shell Tribal People. It does not matter if we are recognized or not, violating our constitutional and civil rights by canceling our constitutional elections and not allowing tribal members to run against him, because he is afraid he will lose the election, is a monstrous act that he must atone for and be held accountable for.
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Native American board meets to discuss top health problems
From the Great Falls Tribune.
Members of Great Falls' Native American community detailed the health problems tormenting their people Wednesday night at the Great Falls Housing Authority.
Community members met with Benefis Health System's Native American Advisory Board to rank the top health problems for Native Americans in Great Falls, including Little Shell Chippewa tribal members.
The information will be used as the basis for several National Institutes of Health grants that Benefis officials are applying for.
The hope is that the grants will provide the funding required to combat the health problems that need the most urgent attention. Officials said the grants require community participation from the conception of the program to the communication of its results.
In September, Benefis created a new strategic development and tribal programs division to coordinate and expand its tribal outreach efforts.
"Benefis is serious about doing something about Native American health," said Darryl Gray, meeting moderator and advisory board member.
At the top of most attendees' lists was diabetes, but most pointed out the need to also address other concerns, such as eye diseases and a lack of affordable dental care in Great Falls.
"I have a lot of relatives with no teeth in their head," said attendee John Gilbert.
Cissy Worth, a tribal communications staffer with Benefis' tribal programs, said mental health issues, including drug and alcohol abuse and suicide, are huge issues in most Native American communities. She said mental health issues directly resulted in the suicide of her 33-year-old brother and can lead to other chronic diseases.
Among the group of 16, the top five health concerns for Native Americans in Great Falls were diabetes, dental care, cancer, mental health and heart disease.
A second meeting has been tentatively scheduled for two weeks at the housing authority, Gray said. Similar meetings have already been held on the Fort Belknap and Blackfeet Indian reservations, with meetings set to be held on the Fort Peck and Rocky Boy's reservations.
"I think this is a wonderful deal," Gilbert said.
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Benefis Health System Native American Advisory Board meeting to discuss Native American health issues
From the Great Falls Tribune.
The Benefis Health System Native American Advisory Board will meet Wednesday to gather input on the top health concerns facing Native Americans. The board is working to identify and prioritize the top five illnesses affecting tribal communities, including Little Shell Chippewa living in Great Falls.
The information from members of the community will be used to apply for a grant through the National Institutes of Health to address the problems identified in the public meeting process.
In September, Benefis Health System created a new Strategic Development and Tribal Programs Division to coordinate and expand its tribal outreach efforts. The grant project, which was developed at the request of tribal leaders, is among several Native American outreach initiatives launched by the new board.
***Webmaster Note: The meeging will be held at the Great Falls Housing Authority Community Center (1500 Chowen Springs Loop) at 6pm to 8pm wednesday, February 25, 2009. ALL Little Shell Tribal Members are encouraged to attend so our voice will be heard!
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Interior head says he'll review tribal recognition process because of plight of Little Shell Tribal Members
From the Great Falls Tribune.
By LEDYARD KING
Great Falls Tribune Washington BureauWASHINGTON — Newly installed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar pledged Thursday to examine the federal process for recognizing Indian tribes after hearing about the decades-long struggle of Montana's Little Shell Chippewa.
At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., criticized the federal agency for constantly delaying a decision and asked Salazar if he could help. The tribe — with about 4,300 members, who mostly live in the Great Falls area — has sought recognition since 1978, Tester said.
"I'd like to see the process work," Tester told Salazar. "I don't really want to see Congress have to intervene for recognition of tribes, but the truth is it should not take 31 years for a tribe to get recognition."
Salazar agreed that three decades is "too long."
"There is no reason why we should have a process that essentially ends in an endless road year after year after year," he said. "We will take a look at the process and see if there are ways we can improve upon it."
Little Shell tribal Chairman John Sinclair said Thursday that he has not had a chance to become familiar with Salazar and his positions, but from what he has heard he believes the new secretary will help the tribe.
"From what I have heard, (he) should be good for the Little Shell," Sinclair said.
He added that he has been in touch with Tester's office regarding the tribe's recognition application and wasn't surprised Tester raised the issue during the hearing.
"Jon Tester is a very good friend of the Little Shell," Sinclair said. "Jon has gone the extra mile for us and we really appreciate his help."
The discussion on the Little Shell's plight was one exchange during an hour-long, friendly session in which Salazar pledged to improve rocky federal relations with Native Americans. Salazar said one of his first priorities would be naming an assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, a job that was vacant during most of President George W. Bush's second term.
"We have to look at what we inherited and try to make changes to make it work better," Salazar said after senators criticized the agency for dragging its feet on water settlements and oil-drilling permits. "Without an assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in place three of the last four years, these issues have simply not been addressed."
It was the first hearing for Salazar, a former senator from Colorado, since the Senate confirmed him last month to run the 67,000-employee agency that oversees federal lands.
During the hearing, Salazar spotlighted four areas where the Obama administration wants to target resources: energy development, education, public safety and economic development.
Senators also expressed their concerns. Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., called the lack of adequate health care in Indian Country "scandalous," and Vice Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said law enforcement on reservations is woefully underfunded.
The Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming is nearly the size of Connecticut, yet crime victims wait up to a day for assistance because only two police officers typically are on patrol, Barrasso said.
"Non-Indian communities would not tolerate such a low level of protection," he told Salazar.
The National Congress of American Indians is asking for billions of dollars in the federal budget, which is expected to be released later this month, including an increase of $120 million to fix dilapidated schools, a $908 million increase in health care funding and $200 million in loans to help finance energy projects.
Salazar made no firm commitments Thursday, but he assured senators he wants to extend a hand to Native Americans.
"There's lots of work to be done," he said. "We all know that you can't wave a magic wand and all of a sudden the issues will be resolved. It's going to take a steady hand and a long-term sustainable commitment to address these issues."
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Little Shell Elders Council calls for Tribal Elections
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
JOHN GILBERT (PHONE 406-268-8080)
ROGER SALOIS (PHONE 406-727-0418)The Little Shell Chippewa Elders Council met in Great Falls on Saturday, January 31st and voted to authorize the newly formed Little Shell Chippewa Alliance to schedule and conduct Tribal Council elections immediately.
Roger Salois, a former Tribal Councilman and head of the Elders Council said, “the past Tribal Council’s term of office expired in January in accordance with Article I, Section IV, of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe’s Constitution.
“Furthermore”, added Salois, “the Elders Council authorized the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance to schedule and conduct the election immediately”.
“The Little Shell Chippewa Alliance is a “grass-roots effort by members from across the state who, in response to our governmental crisis, met in Great Falls on January 24 and again on January 31st, to return our government to its tribal members,” said Roger Salois.
John Gilbert, former Tribal Chairman was chosen to be Chairman of the Little Shell Chippewa Alliance at the January 31st meeting.
Tribal members requesting election ballots are asked to write to the Little Shell Chippewa Election Committee, PO Box 1498, Great Falls, MT 59403
END RELEASE
Webmaster Note: Article I, Section IV of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Constitution states: "Elections shall be held every two years, for each Council member, every four (4) years for the executive officers.". The term-limits of the council members and executive board ended at the end of December 2008, Tribal members in addition to the Elder's Council do not Recognize a council that is trying to stay in office beyond their constitutional Term-Limits. This means that John Sinclair is NO LONGER the Legal and Constitutional President (chairman) of the Executive board. John Sinclair unconstitutionally cancelled the Tribal elections in october 2008. He has further claimed, in a public venue, that he will suspend the tribal constitution in order to remain in office beyond constitutional limits and called tribal members in opposition to his actions "Crackpots". (Comments took place at the 'Information Meeting' at HDRC in Havre, MT on December 6, 2008 called by John Sinclair. and attended by about 25 tribal members). Tribal Members want and demand a legal and constitutional government for their Tribal Leadership and have created a grass roots organization to hold a referendum to do as the Elder's Council authorized.
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Montana Lawmakers discuss jobs, economy for tribal nations at Indian caucus
From the Great Falls Tribune.
JOHN S. ADAMS
Tribune Capitol BureauHELENA — Economic recovery and jobs creation top the Montana American Indian Caucus' legislative agenda, Indian lawmakers said at a news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Nine Indian legislators plus Sen. Joe Tropila, D-Great Falls, represent all eight of Montana's tribal nations, including the Little Shell.
"Each member of our caucus is working hard to create policy and to provide resources to help our respective communities' progress," said Sen. Carol Juneau, D-Browning. "We represent the communities of Montana with the highest unemployment rates, the poorest educational achievement, and many issues that need the attention of Montana. We are being asked to tighten our belts, but many families that we represent have tightened their belts as far as they will go."
Rep. Tony Belcourt, D-Box Elder, said members of Montana's tribal nations are an important part of Montana and should not be overlooked when state and federal governments develop policies aimed at improving jobs and the economy.
"In 2007, there was a study done by the State Tribal Economic Development Commission, and it indicated that a billion dollars was invested into the state of Montana from the seven reservations, including the Little Shell," Belcourt said. "Tribes are a big contributor to the state of Montana."
Belcourt said tribes should stand to benefit from President Barack Obama's proposed economic stimulus plan.
"Tribes have shovel-ready projects. We have had shovel-ready projects for probably 20 years that have been forgotten about," Belcourt said. "So it is nice to see they are actually talking about economic stimulus that is going to involve tribal governments."
Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, said the Indian caucus has a host of bills it hopes will improve the quality of life for tribal members, but he said those bills will benefit all Montanans.
"Even though we do reside on reservations, we are citizens of this state and there are a lot of issues that come to the table in areas of health care and areas of Medicaid and mental health system that not only affect us, but affect Montanans as a whole," Windy Boy said. "I think that as a lot of these CHIP proposals and ... health care proposals come forth in the Legislature, this isn't an Indian issue, this isn't a non-Indian issue, this is a Montana issue."
House Speaker Bob Bergren, D-Havre, said after the news conference that it is important for Montana's Indian lawmakers to stand together to highlight the issues facing the reservations. He added that their work will benefit Montanans on and off the reservations.
He highlighted Belcourt's bill to fund sawfly research as one example.
"Sawflies are costing us tens and tens of millions of dollars on and off reservation," Bergren said.
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Little Shell Recognition delay confirmed to be by Requested by BIA and not Tribe
We at the LittleShellTribe.com website contacted the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Acknowledgement and confirmed that the Decision by the bureau was extended at the request of the Bureau of Indian affairs and was not by the Tribe. The Bureau had recently testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that they were not the "Ones" who requested delays in the Recognition for the past 8 years, but said the delays were at the request of the Tribal Chairman during that time. The Bureau would not give details on the exact reasons for the delay, but did say that they currently have an Assistant Secretary running the Bureau but wanted an Appointed and Confirmed Secretary before any long-standing decisions were made and signed off on. The Extension adds 6 months to the waiting for Federal Acknowledgement of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. The New Date of Decision is projected to be July 28, 2009.
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Little Shell Recognition decision delayed another 6 months
From the Great Falls Tribune.
By ERIC NEWHOUSE
Tribune Projects EditorFederal recognition would allow the tribe to apply for federal health, education and housing assistance and even set up its own tribal headquarters.
"They've delayed it another six months," tribal Chairman John Sinclair of Havre said Tuesday. "And they didn't give us any reason. According to their regulations, they don't have to explain it."
Officials with the Interior Department's Office of Federal Acknowledgment said in October that a decision on recognizing the landless tribe primarily based in Great Falls would come by today. It has since pushed that date back to July 29, Sinclair said.
Frustrated by the lack of federal action four years ago, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., sponsored legislation that would have bypassed the Interior Department and granted the tribe federal recognition. It went nowhere at the time.
"But Senator (Byron) Dorgan (D-N.D.) promised me that if we didn't get a decision from the federal government by Jan. 28, he would let that legislation go through," Sinclair said. "I hope it isn't just hot air."
Rehberg said Tuesday he planned to help the tribe get recognized.
"A six-month extension from the Interior Department might not seem like a big deal, but justice delayed is justice denied," he said. "I'll continue to fight to get the Little Shell Tribe the federal recognition they need and deserve."
The Little Shell Tribe lost federal recognition and was evicted from a reservation in North Dakota in 1892 after its chief refused to sign a deal to sell some of the tribe's land to the federal government, which wanted it for homesteaders.
Many of the tribe's almost 4,000 members eventually settled in and around Great Falls. The group has fought to regain federal recognition as an authentic, self-governing tribe ever since.
Nine years ago, federal officials granted the Little Shell Tribe preliminary recognition, but said it wanted to look further into the tribe's historical and cultural continuity. There's been no federal action on the matter since that time.
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11th American Indian Inaugural Ball events
Bigback Silkscreening just recently received the honor of an invitation to attend and take part in the 11th Annual American Indian Inaugural events from The American Indian Society of D.C., which will be held the week of January 19th, 2009; every four years following. We are the only Native American Business from Montana invited to participate. Our 100% Native American family owned and operated business represents two of our tribes in the State of Montana, the Northern Cheyenne and Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana. We are a Made in Montana business. Our business is registered with Made in Montana, Indian Made, and Members of Montana Indian Business Alliance along with a various other accreditations (please see below). We have been at the forefront of the Montana Native American Business in Montana with a strong representation and advocates for our people.
We accept this honor with extreme excitement and anticipation. We are working hard to prepare for this event, however, find our selves short funded and are looking to our fellow tribes to encourage and invite your participation through sponsorship of our invitation. We are inquiring with great anticipation of you joining us in tribes supporting tribes in a show of unity amongst our nations. You will be listed as such through our promotional commemorative t-shirt (which is currently available and will be on hand during the events) crediting the contributions made to our invitation along with being listed as funding agents in all public announcements, news releases, publications, or informational concerns, logos or identification info provided will be utilitzed in the manners indicated. A messge received from the President of The AISW of Washington D.C. informed us that "The 2009 American Indian Inaugural Ball brings together and celebrates Native Leaders, organizations, artists, musicians, and professionals from across the country. This year we will award our second "Lifetime Achievement Award" to a member of the Indian community to honor their significant legacy and contributions".
We see this opportunity as a life time honor and appreciate the possibility of representing our Tribes, our State and our Nations. We received recognition and were awarded the Montana Indian Equity Fund through the Entrepreneur Montana program in 2007. We have been conducting business for 7 years in Montana and five prior years in the State of Washington and Oregon with a total of 12 years on our powwow highway. We were chosen based on the quality of our products, work and standing in our Indian community.
I am including a budget and schedule of events for review in consideration of our quest for sponsorship and representation. Thank you for your interest and consideration. We are most thankful for all consideration and assistance in helping us to realize this great honor extended to us in welcoming in our 2009 President Elect Obama and staff.
Anticipated Budget:Expenses
Fees/License
*Gasoline
Accommodations
**Meals/Misc
$500.00
$361.10
$499.00
$125.00
1
2.5
4
4
$500.00
$902.75
$1,996.00
$500.00
TOTAL: $3,898.75
* Gasoline according to AAA gas/trip calculator
**Meals/Misc. Include Tolls &/or Parking Fees, Daily Meals
Accommodations according to event group rates
All Inaugural Week Events below are held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, unless otherwise stated:
Monday, January 19, 20089:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Tribal Strategy Session on the Next Congress & New Administration
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
NCAI and NIGA board meetings
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
11:00 a.m. – Midnight
Inaugural Ball Pow Wow
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Tuesday, January 20, 2008
8:00 p.m.
American Indian Inaugural Ball
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Wednesday, January 21, 2008
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
American Indian Society of DC Inaugural Brunch
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
All Day
Time for personal meetings with Congressional Delegations
Capitol Hill
Thursday, January 22, 2008
Noon
NCAI State of Indian Nations Address
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Ave. SW
Best of All,
Robert, Michele and Cheyenne Bigback
Butte, Mt 59701
406-782-2713 406-565-9221
A.I.C.U. POWWOW
Email AICU Powwow
Email BigBacks Silk-Screening
http://www.bigbacksilkscreening.com
BigBacks Silk-Screening Online Store
Mapquest Location of Storefront
Visit Robert, Michele & Cheyenne at our: Website
Locally Owned & Operated CCR Registered, GSA Vendor SBA, MBE, DBE Certified, HUB Zoned 100% Native American Business
Custom Orders Stock Orders Retail, Wholesale Teams, Schools, Groups,Organizations
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OPINION: Greetings from Louella Fredricksen
The Holidays are over and I hope everyone had a great time with family & friends.
For the Little Shell members, there is more waiting, waiting and waiting. Our elections should have been held and the Council swearing in ceremony in another week.
I do not know what this year will bring for our members, but I do hope it is all good.
The final determination on our Federal Recognition should be January 28, 2009. I have a feeling that this is the year it will happen for us and the ruling will be in our favor. Keep a positive outlook and say a lot of prayers.
I hope we can get back to our Elections, which are our rights as Little Shell members. Keep watching the newspapers and websites for any new developments.
Louella Fredricksen
Candidate for Tribal Council
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Identities and land inextricably bound
From the Billings Gazette for the Missoulian
By ROB CHANEY
Missoulian"We're a people of a place."
To understand Indians, you must understand land, says Iris Pretty Paint. For 30 years, she has been instructing teachers throughout Montana on how to grasp that idea. The effort has taken her from elementary school classrooms to the tribal nations' seven colleges and the state's University System.
"What that means is our land is the bond that ties us to our philosophy," Pretty Paint said. "It's what sustains our teachings and our way of life, our kinship systems. The land is what helps us interpret our identity. It serves as the central force of our value system, our language, our stories, how we see the world, our sacred sites, what they communicate to us, our creation stories. We come from that land."
That's why large chunks of the Montana Tribal History Project explore how each reservation's people collided with government land rules. To mainstream readers, it seems like getting stuck in the "begats" of the Bible, the "Abraham begat Isaac" genealogical lists in many Old Testament books.
On the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, there's the saga of Rabbit Town. The families there homesteaded ranches outside the reservation before 1900, just as white settlers were homesteading inside the reservation.
In an effort to prevent white-Indian disputes, the reservation agent arranged to buy out both groups and move the Cheyenne families onto the reservation and the white familes off.
Bureau of Indian Affairs records show a $90,000 allocation to buy the white reservation lands and $1,000 to pay for the Indian-held homesteads outside the reservation. And the late-coming Cheyenne families were not eligible for food rations or other assistance from the reservation.
Their community became known as Rabbit Town. It exists to this day along the Tongue River, according to the "We, The Northern Cheyenne People" tribal history. The book notes that they keep separate from the rest of the reservation community, living like rabbits that "stay within their homes and only come out when something is happening."
Indian land struggles also continue today. The Little Shell Band of the Chippewa, a tribe of more than 4,000 with offices in Great Falls, has sought federal recognition for more than a century. The state recognizes the Little Shell as a tribe, and the U.S. Interior Department gave it preliminary recognition in 2000. Members of Montana's congressional delegation have pushed to speed the process for full recognition.
But the Little Shell people remain landless. They didn't even get in the initial Montana Tribal History Project funding. That got fixed last year, when the Legislature made a new allocation for Little Shell researchers to begin their own history.
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Moving in unexpected ways
From the Helena Independant Record
By ROB CHANEY
MissoulianROCKY BOY — About the only thing Ken Morsette couldn’t print in the Stone Child College’s print shop is the college’s own tribal history book.
Not for lack of equipment. There are new machines to print artworks with 200-year archival ink, machines to make banners and T-shirts, and binders to enclose catalogs and magazines as well as copying presses. An established Cree Indian artist, Morsette knows the demands of the printing world.
“Word’s getting out of what we’re capable of doing here,” he said. “There are some UM (University of Montana) professors who are looking to outsource printing work here. Now we’re looking at contracts where we’ll need a few more bodies to come in and help.”
Stone Child is another translation of the Chippewa Indian leader who gave Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation its name. The place literally leaps out of the prairie, a volcanic extrusion of timbered mountains 140 miles from the Rocky Mountain Front. It lies between the relatively major cities of Great Falls and Havre, on a road where it’s common to pass more antelope than cars.
The Chippewa and Cree tribal members who live there belong to what used to be two of the largest Indian nations on the continent. How they wound up on Montana’s smallest reservation, and how one band known as the Little Shell Chippewa never got a homeland at all, highlight a big reason for compiling the tribal histories.
Two years ago, Stone Child College and the state’s six other tribal colleges took on the Montana Tribal History Project. Their mission was to provide the backbone material in Montana’s Indian Education for All program a constitutionally mandated duty the state’s schools had ignored for almost four decades.
But as anyone who’s looked up their family tree knows, history projects have a tendency to change lives. In the tribal colleges’ case, the Montana Tribal History Project was like a membership to an academic health club. They came away with new strength and more flexibility to serve their people.
Morsette has draft pages of “The History of the Chippewa Cree of Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation” stored in his computers, although publication stalled for months in disputes among tribal leaders. The hardware Stone Child College bought with its history project funding is already making an impact.
“The council is realizing how important education is,” Morsette said. “We create all these jobs.”
Surprise bonus
Across Montana, the Tribal History Project has produced similar unintended benefits for the colleges that undertook it. At Fort Belknap Community College, students are learning video production with the cameras and editing programs purchased for producing elder interviews.
At Fort Peck Community College in Poplar, researching the tribal government helped topple a controversial council chairman and spark the first redrafting of the reservation constitution in almost 50 years.
“This has been a big boost for the pride of our college and the pride of our people,” Chief Dull Knife College President Richard Little Bear of Lame Deer told state legislators last summer in Helena. “It was the first time many of us had done anything like this. We learned how to do research at various museums, and developed writing skills for people who were afraid to write. We learned to edit books. Community colleges often do not have enough personnel to do everything. We ended up doing a quality job in the very short time we had.”
There was also an air of challenge. As Fort Peck Community College President Jim Shanley put it, “People put us in positions where we’re going to fail, and then say: ‘See, you people can’t handle those things.’ We weren’t going to let that happen.”
Far-flung project
Montana’s seven tribal community colleges are spread around the rim of the state. To reach them all requires a journey of nearly 1,300 miles. Shanley skipped last summer’s legislative update on the tribal histories where Little Bear spoke. Leaving his office in Poplar for a two-hour meeting at the Helena Capitol typically involves a three-day trip. By air, it’s the same distance as traveling from Boston to Washington, D.C.
The colleges serve anyone wishing to attend, but they live for the more than a dozen American Indian tribes that call Montana home. Indians make up Montana’s largest racial minority, about 66,000 of the state’s 1 million residents.
At 6 percent of the total, they’re also Montana’s only noticable minority. And they’re hard to notice, because more than two-thirds of them live on those isolated homelands.
Giving reservation communities a sense of forward motion is a big part of Margarett Campbell’s job at Fort Peck. One Thursday afternoon last October, the college’s vice president drove 56 miles from the campus in Poplar to pick up students in Culbertson and Brockton so they could see a truck show in Wolf Point, 20 miles in the opposite direction. She often mounts “search-and-rescue” trips to find absent students and cajole them back to class.
Campbell also serves in the state House of Representatives, where she will be House Democratic floor leader in the 2009 session. She’s one of seven tribal members in the Legislature.
“Five of those seven Indian legislators had close connections with their local tribal colleges,” Campbell said. “They lobbied that those were the intellectual centers of each tribal community. That set in motion the decision to have the colleges handle the job.”
College with many hats
Those community colleges already have significant jobs. Serving between 200 and 1,000 students, each provides a mix of academic muscle and social glue. Blackfeet Community College historian and former president Carol Murray put it simply: “Our institution is open the most hours and longest hours of any institution on the reservation.”
Like community colleges throughout the nation, Montana’s tribal colleges specialize in rapid response to student needs. When the Wyoming oil fields needed truck drivers, Little Bighorn College — located 44 miles from the Wyoming border — expanded its commercial driver’s license training.
The colleges also serve as a safety net for those seeking four-year degrees.
“There’s a lot of culture shock,” said Ed Stamper, Stone Child’s director of foundations and research. “These kids have never been off the reservation. No one’s there to tell them what to do. So they end up back here finding some success and then going on to achievement. We train people to get four-year degrees. They take their first two years at Stone Child as a block and then enter the university as a junior.”
Many see their community college as a community center. They may take or teach the occasional class, work on its staff or use the campus as a meeting place on reservations that often have no restaurant or hotel. Most campuses have a mix of Native and mainstream instructors and professors, making them one of the few multicultural places on otherwise racially isolated reservations.
And the colleges are a financial center. Separate from the tribal governments, they have their own sources of federal dollars from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security Administration, Department of the Interior and Department of Education.
“This is the one place on many reservations for real free thought,” said Salish Kootenai College President Joe McDonald. “It’s not under threat from the tribal council or chair. It’s a place where people can take a breath.”
Making waves
Tribal colleges and tribal governments typically keep an arm’s-length relationship. The Tribal History Project got mixed receptions on different reservations. Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribal council members participated in Fort Belknap Community College tribal studies professor Sean Chandler’s video interviews.
Rocky Boy’s leaders created three unrelated “cultural committees,” each believing it had editorial control of the Stone Child College history book.
At Fort Peck, researching tribal history at the college put a spotlight on the reservation council actions.
The college campus in Poplar appears to cover about two city blocks. In fact, it owns dozens of buildings scattered in this community of roughly 1,000 people. On a tour of his domain, Shanley walks in a short-stride shuffle that covers a surprising amount of ground in hurry.
He pops into a former house that’s been turned into a hazardous materials disposal classroom. In a warehouse on the edge of Poplar, he opens a door to reveal a nearly finished medical office. When Fort Peck Indian Reservation’s health center needed a new pharmacy building, Fort Peck Community College carpentry students built it as a class project inside their warehouse.
Shanley has led Fort Peck Community College for a quarter-century. The last five of those years have been politically tumultuous, with tribal council Chairman John Morales elected and removed from office twice. It was also the time when college historians were interviewing people all over the reservation about their experience with tribal government, and what they remembered about the old constitution’s drafting in 1960.
“He had factionalized the government,” Shanley recalled of Morales’ administration. “He was advocating for change, but he was very authoritarian. He thought the tribal chairman should have complete authority.
“Opposition to him helped push the constitutional convention, and that sprang out of the history project. This is one of the first democratic machinations that has occurred on the Fort Peck Reservation.”
Shanley led the way into the tribal government office. The council chamber was dark but full of people, as an out-of-state energy company representative displayed a PowerPoint map of the reservation’s potential oil drilling sites.
“Prior to 10 years ago, you could ask people on the street and they’d say, ‘Constitution? We have a constitution?’ ” Shanley said. “Now we have a more educated voting public in terms of how the structure is supposed to work. Now we’re going to have better citizens.”
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Opinion: HRDC Meeting by Leona Kienenberger
To Members of the Little Shell Tribe:
A Little Shell meeting was held at the HRDC Building in Havre, Montana at 1:00 pm, December 6, 2008. John Sinclair and Alvina Allan were the only two council members present. John informed the members, who were present, the reason for his postponing the election, “for two reasons,” he said: One was because of the disqualification of three candidates, and the second reason “he couldn’t divulge even to the council until after our federal recognition”. He also alluded to the fact that it could take up to four months before any of the members would know what is going on. It was agreed that the three candidates whom the Election Board (which consists of two members) disqualified, would appeal to an unbiased board consisting of seven people. John was hesitant to agree with this, but it was pointed out to him that it would not be fair for the candidates to go before a council whom they were running against. The three disqualified candidates will petition the council for a hearing and hopefully, we can move on and carry out what our Constitution mandates.
Leona Kienenberger
Candidate for Council
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Tribal Member meetings and gatherings scheduled
There was an ad in the Havre Daily News stating there is a Little Shell Council meeting for Election issues on Saturday Dec. 6 @1 P.M. at HRDC BLDG.
Pass the word, we need a good turnout of our members.
Also there is a scheduled Little Shell Winter Gathering, Saturday, Dec 13th at the Family Living Center, Montana Expo Park, Great Falls MT.
Feast - 5:30 (bring salads & desserts)
50/50 raffle and door prizes
Make your own Xmas ornaments
Tribal merchandise available for purchase
Other activities as confirmed
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE TRIBAL OFFICE AT 406-452-2892
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ATTENTION ALL LITTLE SHELL TRIBAL MEMBERS
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ATTENTION ALL LITTLE SHELL TRIBAL MEMBERS
If you are not able to attend the meeting in Havre then we would like to request that you still use your voice and let it be heard.
You can email, fax, snail mail your thoughts and concerns or statements you want heard/read by the elder panel and other attending members.We need these before the Nov. 29, 2008 meeting.
Please pass this info on to other members and relatives.We need and want involvement from you as a member of the tribe.
Visit www.littleshelltribe.us or www.littleshelltribe.com for information.
Please use "ANY" of the above methods mentioned and send to;
Caroline Fleury
ATT: Elders
PO Box 38
Black Eagle, Mt 59414
Fax #406-727-9245
cfleury@bresnan.net
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ATTENTION ALL LITTLE SHELL TRIBAL MEMBERS
THERE IS GOING TO BE AN
IMPORTANT MEETING
TO BE HELD
NOV. 29TH , 2008
AT 1 P.M. AT THE EAGLES IN HAVRE MT.AN ELDER PANEL HAS BEEN CALLED
TO SETTLE THE ISSUES WITH
JOHN SINCLAIR, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL
AND THE ELECTION COMMITTEEPLEASE PASS THE WORD
MARK YOUR CALENDARS TO ATTEND
BRING ANY ISSUES YOU WISH TO PRESENT
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An open letter to the Little Shell Community Council, Election Committee, and Tribal members
I think it is about time that someone stands up and asks some pertinent questions of our tribal council. First of all, why was the election postponed when our tribal constitution plainly states that we have an election every four years for executive positions and every two for council- at- large? Where are the minutes recording that the council approved the postponement? Too many people have complained to me about postponing the election when NARF warned that for us to maintain a tribal status, we must adhere to our constitution and by-laws. Not holding the election at the specified time without the consent of the people can only jeopardize our federal recognition because, technically, we are without a council.
Another question that needs an answer is why were four persons disqualified, one of whom was not even a candidate? Why did they not get notification from the election committee? Are there still three members on the election committee? Why did the four candidates have to read that they were disqualified in the Great Falls Tribune? Why weren’t they notified in person and given the reason? Did the council act together in disqualifying them? Do we still have a complete council? All repeated inquiries to these questions have been ignored by all concerned. I know a lot of our people are frustrated and want some answers; it is their right. A meeting to possibly iron out the problems and get some answers has been scheduled for 1:00 PM , November 29, 2008 at the Eagles in Havre, Montana. Please attend this very important meeting and voice your concerns. A panel of elders is scheduled to discuss the issues and hopefully come to some kind of agreement as how to approach and dissolve these affairs.
I would like to request that all tribal council members, chairman, and the election committee attend this gathering.
A tribal member,
Leona (Doney) Kienenberger
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Letter from Council Candidate Louella Fredricksen to ALL Little Shell Tribal Members
“LITTLE SHELL PUSH BACK ELECTIONS”
This article in the Great Falls Tribune, Sunday October 19, 2008 is very disheartening. Tribal members are calling and writing, (and we wholeheartedly agree with them) we have been working for our recognition for over 100 years. This is nothing new and appears to be at the very least a lame excuse to delay our elections until spring.
The disqualifications of Caroline Fleury, Darrel Rummel and myself, Louella Fredricksen give our tribe another black eye. This should have been addressed to us, by the election committee, instead of making untrue insinuations, planting seeds of doubt as to our integrity and trying to ruin our reputations by putting our names in the paper. This is called “defamation of character.” If it had not been for our “moccasin telegraph” we would not have known of the press release to the paper. Wouldn’t that have been nice to be sitting there reading the paper while having your morning cup of coffee and then WOW, here is your name, telling the world that you have violated some trumped up regulations and are disqualified as candidates? This is not the proper way to approach things. These are “back door tactics” at worst.
It is also unfair to the other candidates who filed for positions on the tribal council and paid their $100.00 filing fee. There should have been information or notifications sent to them. (On Oct 21st the other candidates finally received a letter) These actions by Kathy Mart, the election chair and the rest of the election committee, along with our Tribal Council, are not right. You should learn how to resolve conflicts, not create more. Treat your members with respect. Do not defame them.
In this letter John states the language in the Election Ordinance was too vague to remove those involved. If that is the case, why did he send a press release to the paper saying there was disqualification of candidates? The Election Ordinance No.2006-001 which is posted on the Great Falls website does not have any language stating mailings could not be done. John states the lists however they were accumulated, give unfair advantage to other candidates. My list is composed of my children, cousins, extended families, friends, previous council members and people who attended our social a year ago. I would venture to guess the other candidates have informed relatives and friends, and if they haven’t that is their decision. You cannot take away our right to do this. And on another note, John Sinclair, you participated in doing this very same thing when you campaigned for office a few years back.
John also states in his letter to potential nominees that there was “tampering and harassment “to Election Officials. I did not call and harass any Election Official, and ask them to step forward to state this.
Another statement from John is that any questions and complaints must go through the Council in writing. As most of them are candidates themselves, is this not a conflict of interest? Where is our Judicial System???
When there was to be a meeting with the Election Committee, why were not all candidates informed and invited to attend if they were able to? I should have been informed, especially when you were going to discuss something I had not even done.
I mailed out campaign material, and that is all. I’ll venture to guess you get calls and campaign mail all the time? I know I do. And it was asked if there could be mailings and was told there should be no harm in doing so.
I also stopped by a neighbor’s house and handed him campaign material and said “Be sure & vote.” This is not door to door electioneering.
Last, this is also not fair to our tribal members who had planned on voting in this election. Now they are left wondering where their absentee ballots are, and what is going on. And come Nov 8th there will be more questions. Our Election Ordinance No. 2006-001 states our Elections for Officers shall be every four years and for Members at large every two years. In November this time frame is up. Is this a “violation”?
I am sending this same statement to the Election Committee and the Tribal Council to formally ask that they retract my disqualification. I will be waiting for an answer on this issue.
At this time, everything should be in place for this election. I ask that the elections go forward, and with my name on the ballot.
We are having a (potluck) gathering of tribal members Saturday Oct 25, 2008 at 1 PM at the Westgate Mall, 1807 3rd ST NW, Great Falls, MT., to discuss the election issues. The Council and Election Committee have been invited. We need to resolve these issues, as I said before, “learn to resolve conflicts, and do not create more.”
Let your voices be heard. Write or call our tribal office, council members, and the election committee and inform them of your thoughts on this issue, whatever they may be. You can also post on both Little Shell Member websites. www.littleshelltribe.com and www.littleshelltribe.us
.Louella Fredricksen
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John Sinclair sends letters to select candidates using Council Stationary
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Little Shell Tribal members to hold Potluck Gathering. All Members urged to attend!
We believe this to be important. This is to let you know there is a Potluck Gathering for Little Shell Members on Saturday Oct 25th, 2008 at 1PM, at Westgate Mall, 1807 3rd ST NW, Great Falls, MT. Mark your calendars!
Good Food, Good Friends and discussions of the Little Shell Elections. We hope you can attend.
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Little Shell Tribe pushes back elections
From the Great Falls Tribune
BY TRAVIS COLEMAN
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterThe Little Shell Chippewa Tribe's elections have been moved from Nov. 8 to the spring.
Tribal officials chose to move the election to allow them to focus on their quest for federal recognition, for which a decision is due from the Office of Federal Acknowledgement on Jan. 28, said Russell Bohan, the tribe's executive director.
Bohan said the move also allows more candidates to vie for the seven seats on the tribe's council. Bohan said he did not know who is running for council.
In addition, the tribal council acted on the recommendation of the Little Shell Election Board at a council meeting Oct. 4, voting to remove four candidates from the ballot: James Parker Shield, Louella Fredrickson, Caroline Fleury and Darrell Rummell.
A news release from the tribe says the four were disqualified for violating tribal regulations. Bohan declined to specify what the candidates did.
"It was something the committee felt was a violation of tribal regulations," he said.
Shield said earlier this week that he withdrew as a candidate weeks ago and was unsure why his name was included in action. He added he withdrew because his schedule had become too busy.
The other disqualified candidates said Friday that they have not been told what rules they broke. Rummell said the tribe cannot disqualify a candidate without providing a reason.
The three said they want tribal members to contact the administration to voice their opinions on the election and their removal.
The Little Shell Tribe is made up of approximately 4,300 members, mostly in the Great Falls area.
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Little Shell Candidate Profiles
The LittleShellTribe.com if proud to present the following Tribal Candidate Profiles that were submitted to us for all Tribal members consideration: (Note: These Profiles are not posted in any particular order)
Bruce Landrie
Question -1. What has been your involvement in the Little Shell tribe in the past 5 years?
I have been involved for more than 5 years. Some of my involvement has been installing a network in the office at Great Falls, adding equipment, helping train past council on software usage, backups, updates..ect. Have helped via phone or in person when possible/needed to solve problems, providing general tech support. I have been at most all events – gatherings, council meetings, powwows, when possible. I built the first LST website; started with providing info and forms to family and grew from there to where it is today, www.littleshelltribe.us ; providing a tribe - members – public, information gathering forum to speak freely, and share thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Helping members of the tribe to understand the internet and its use as well as potential for growth from it by walking them through some processes when necessary. Helped in redirecting members and public to the appropriate contact (council/office) for their use if they could not find it on the website. I also helped out with the setup of the tobacco office in Billings, moving desks and office equipment to its current location. Installed office equipment and did initial maintenance setup of PC and printer/fax and follow-ups when asked and possible. I have also helped local area reps Diann Granthan, and Moon Charette in area meetings and gatherings in setting up and distributing fliers or other information to local area members.
Question - 2. What priorities or goals would you work on for the Little Shell tribe during your term?
a) Federal Recognition.
b) I would like to see more use of the technology available for the benefit of our tribe and its members.
c) A judicial system
Question - 3. What steps will be taken for you to reach the above priorities/goals during your term?
a) My hope for the Tribe is to complete our Federal Recognition process, have regular scheduled open council meetings through out the state and involve more of the members. I would like to see a council that works for common goals for the betterment of the entire tribe. Health, education, housing, economic development
b) Create a customized online database of information for members use, and office. Better access to technology through use of programs available that would benefit members. Adding audio capabilities as well as streaming audio and video of gatherings, meetings, events, interviews and more for members that live to far away to make the journey. Through these means it also becomes an educator as well.
c) Solicit/create an arbitrary panel from members who volunteer or use of outside neutral parties to create a bias judicial system.
Question - 4. What is your knowledge of the programs that the Little Shell tribe has been awarded or involved in?
Tobacco Grant, Buffalo hunt, Drum, Montana and Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council, NARF, Urban Native American Homeownership Initiative, Montana Business Indian Alliance, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Little Shell license plate, State/Tribal Economic Development Commission grant, The Little Shell Tribal History Project.
Question - 5. What is your knowledge of the Federal recognition status? What if the tribe does not receive recognition – what would be the next step you would take?
a) To date we are not yet a federal recognized tribe. The latest information is the testimony of John Sinclair representing the Little Shell tribe before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in regards to S.724. Chairman Dorgan, Vice Chairman Murkowski, Senator Jon Tester, and members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs all testified in support of S.724, a bill that would confirm the federal relationship between the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and the United States, and address related issues. Our history shows, our nation is persistent and patient, but it is difficult in understanding why we still remain unrecognized, even though the Department of the Interior issued a favorable proposed finding on the our petition in 2000. We have waited on the department for more than one hundred years. We now wait for Congress to take action and act favorably on S.724 and allow the bill to move forward.
b) I feel the next step and only step would be for all council to meet and discuss what avenues/options are left open and discuss the next best way to proceed.
Question - 6. What is your experience with the media, such as television, radio and newspaper interviews?
I have worked with and been interviewed by the Associated Press (News Wire/Paper/Internet), Dr. Pam Buntee, (anthropologist), Sandra Kennedy (Office of Federal Acknowledgement), Max Media Montana (Television News). Accumulate and collaborate with other staff. I have worked in TV for over 13-years and had the privilege of meeting, and greeting dignitaries from around the U.S. and abroad; Conrad Burns, Brian Schweitzer, Dennis Reberg, Judy Martz, Jon Tester are a few. I also deal with local constituents, from police chief to mayor. Vendors, like Microsoft (Michael Kuntz) and other leading names interviewing via in-person or satellite conference – internet video conferencing.
Darrel Noreen Rummel
Born to Loran L. and Adyline DeBray Rummel at Landusky, MT
My two brothers are Loran LeRoy and Howard V Rummel.
I have five children and nine grandchildren.
Places that I have lived are Landusky, Ruby Gulch, Malta, Lewistown, Havre, Missoula and Great Falls.The schools that I attended were in Ruby Gulch, Malta, Great Falls, and Missoula.
I have worked at so many different jobs it would be a long list. I did complete an Ophthalmic Assistant Course and worked for two Ophthalmologists for several years, which I enjoyed very much. I am currently working part time at a fun job selling sewing machines, fabric, patterns, books and notions. I also sew store displays and assist with classes.
I became actively involved in 1987 as an area representative for Great Falls and Chairman of the area representatives, state wide. In 1992 I worked in the Tribal office as a Grant Director. As a member of the Cherish Our Indian Children Project, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, I traveled to most of the reservations in MT. I have experience as a Council member and also as Vice Chairman of the Tribal Council.
In 1994 as chairman of the election committee, I initiated the absentee ballot and voting at more than one site. I designed and started the membership Photo ID's. I have sat on many committees and have been a board member for NADC, a member of the Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council, and of the State/Tribal Economic Development Commission.
Federal Recognition has always been a priority of mine, and now for five generations of my family. Since the 1930's Re-organization Act, when my grandparents Louis and Mary Lafournaise DeBray hosted meetings in their home and my mother attend meetings around the state, we have worked and waited for this very important cause. I have helped the anthropologists working on our recognition petition to the BIA in various ways. I was fortunate enough to travel to Washington D.C. and meet with the Patton and Boggs Attorney's group regarding the Tribal recognition and the Re-organization Act. I also attended meetings with our State delegates for Congressional recognition.
My goal for the Tribe is to complete our Federal Recognition process, have regular scheduled open council meetings through out the state and involve more of the members. I would like to see a council that works for common goals for the betterment of the entire tribe. Health, education, housing, economic development (tribal and individual) and many other issues that face our members will be a top priority of mine.
Yesterday I read on the Internet that the hearing on the Congressional recognition will be September 25, 2008. I would have liked to hear this from our council. As a member of the Tribe I would also like any information before it is in the media.
I worked for the Tobacco Program and had a working knowledge of that program. I have heard there is a new program for childcare. I hope it will include the State Indian Child Welfare. I have visited the office many times and volunteered to help Toni Jo and Russell with the programs, Morony Dam project and the Columbia Falls land development.
My experience with the media has been interviews on radio, and television. I personally know reporters at the Great Falls Tribune. When working in the tribal office I sent out many new releases and meeting notices.
The first step that I would take as Tribal Council Chairman would to initiate training for each council member and any one that might be interested in running for a council position in the future. I believe a judicial system is a must. I have along list of ideas that will take time, but will be worth the effort for the Little Shell people.
Louella Fredricksen
TO ALL LITTLE SHELL MEMBERS
I am running for the position of 2nd Vice Chair of the Little Shell Tribal Council in our upcoming election on November 8th, 2008. This is to give you an idea of what I have been involved with on behalf of our Little Shell Tribe.
In the summer of 1999 I was hired by NARF to set up a database program of our enrollment under the authorization of Pat Maki. I was paid by a $2500.00 grant.
After the grant ran out I continued working in the Little Shell Tribal Office for the next eight years as a volunteer. Upgrading the enrollment database as more members are enrolled or deceased is an ongoing process.
I was on the Finance Committee and helped Tobe’ Whitaker with the financial reports.
On July 12, 2003 I volunteered to be on the Election Committee for the Special Election that was held on August 9, 2003. I worked on this election committee with James Parker Shield, Carol Doney Hofeldt, Shirley Gardipee and Bud Sinclair We had a very well run election, with no complaints or protests. We had a huge gathering of people and a wonderful potluck was served. Pam Bunte, our Anthrapologist and her crew, Sandra Kennedy and Anne Coyner came from California to observe the election.
While upgrading our Little Shell database, I became knowledgeable with enrollment blood degrees and various other criteria of the enrollment of our tribal members.
I was appointed to the Enrollment Committee at a Council meeting in Helena, by Chairman John Sinclair and The Little Shell Tribal Council. I then started the enrollment application process of members, with the help of Darrel (Koke) Rummel, and we worked together to get more members enrolled.
I made the CD’s and finalized the print out of our enrollment that was sent to The Office of Federal Acknowledgment in Washington D.C., for our Federal Recognition Petition.
At different times I helped on various activities of the Tobacco Abuse Prevention Program.
In 2006 I ran for and won a position on the Tribal Council.
Before retirement I worked as an Office Manager and Bookkeeper for over 30 years, and also worked for the State of Montana, Brands Enforcement Division. I know I have enough experience to work with the Tribal Council, for the benefit of our Tribe. I am also a Board Member for War Shield Economic Development Corporation. I would really appreciate your vote and support in our elections this year.
Our Federal Recognition is of the upmost importance. When we achieve that status, next would be programs for Health, Education and Housing and Economic Development.
Until we get our Federal Recognition, my goals will be to get a good Judicial System in place, open council meetings, have area representatives again, be more available to our members, have more activities and pot lucks and last, get our members active in our tribe again.
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Final Determination of Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana to be delivered January 28, 2009
From the US Dept of the Interior (DOI) Office of Federal Acknowledgment
Final Determinations Pending: 1
Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of MT (#31) (letter of intent 4/28/78; ready 3/23/95; active 2/12/97;
proposed positive finding published 7/21/00; comment period closed 1/17/01; extended at request of
petitioner to 7/16/01, to 1/12/02, to 7/16/02, to 1/16/03, to 7/14/03, to 1/10/04, to 5/9/04, to 9/7/04, to
2/1/05, and to 2/5/05; response period closed 4/6/05; final determination projected to 1/28/09)Status Summary of Acknowledgment Cases as of September 22, 2008 (PDF)
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C.M. Russell Museum celebrates Native American Week
From the Great Falls Tribune
The C.M. Russell Museum culminates its celebration of Native American Week with special activities Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
Award-winning Blackfeet Indian singer, songwriter and storyteller Jack Gladstone will perform from noon to 1 p.m. followed by games and crafts.
The Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana will sell Indian tacos.
Visitors can view a new exhibition, "Native America in Art," featuring artwork from the permanent collection by more than 25 artists from the 19th through 21st centuries.
Native America in Art examines the ways in which American Indian life has been portrayed in paintings, prints and sculpture by both Indian and non-Indian artists.
For more information on Native American Week at the Russell Museum, contact the Education Department at (406) 727-8787 ext. 347.
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Senate business meeting and recognition hearing
From Indianz.com
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a Business meeting and Hearing on Sept 25, 2008. You can view the Webcast. The proceeding lasted about 90 minutes. The committee approved S. 3355, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, with Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) voting no. The hearing focused on four federal recognition bills. They are: S. 1058, the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan Referral Act; S. 724, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2007; S. 514, the Muscogee Nation of Florida Federal Recognition Act; and H.R. 1294, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2007. Audio clips can be downloaded below:• Introduction • Testimony
Committee Notice:
The Honorable Jim Webb, United State Senate, Washington, D.C. The Honorable Tim Kaine, Governor of Virginia The Honorable Jim Moran, House of Representatives (VA-8), Washington, D.C. • Business Meeting • Testimony | Q&A
Mr. Lee Fleming, Director, Office of Federal Acknowledgment, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. The Honorable Anne Tucker, Chairwoman, Muscogee Nation of Florida, Bruce, Florida The Honorable John Sinclair, President, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, Great Falls, Montana The Honorable Ron Yob, Chairman, Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, Grand Rapids, Michigan Dr. Helen C. Rountree, Professor Emeritus, Old Dominion University, Department of Anthropology, Hampton, Virginia
BUSINESS MEETING to consider S. 335, to be followed immediately by a LEGISLATIVE HEARING (September 25, 2008)Webmaster Note:Following is the Written Testimony of Little Shell Tribe Chairman John Sinclair:
TESTIMONY OF THE HON. JOHN SINCLAIR, PRESIDENT
THE LITTLE SHELL TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA
INDIANS OF MONTANABefore
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Hearing on S.724
September 25, 2008Chairman Dorgan, Vice Chairman Murkowski, our good friend Senator Jon Tester, and honorable members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of S.724, a bill that would confirm the federal relationship between the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana and the United States, and address related issues.
My name is John Sinclair and I have the honor of serving as President of the Little Shell Tribe. I follow in the footsteps of my father and grandfather in that honor and appear before you today in the same work at which they labored – the long effort to confirm federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe. S.724, introduced by our tireless champion Senator Tester, would accomplish this long sought goal for the Tribe. I urge the committee to act favorably on S.724. The bill is consistent with Congress’ and the Department of the Interior’s historical commitments to acknowledge our people and establish a land base for them. This bill is necessary since our experience with the acknowledgment process administered by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment, Bureau of Indian Affairs, shows that the Department either cannot or will not bring that process to conclusion. And the terms of S.724 show it to be a reasonable approach that would address, and thereby expedite, issues related to confirmation of the Tribe’s federal status.
THE HISTORY OF THE LITTLE SHELL TRIBE
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians is the successor in interest to the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota. We were buffalo hunters who lived and hunted around the Red River and the Turtle Mountains in North Dakota in the early 1800s. The Pembina Band was recognized by the United States in an 1863 treaty that was ratified by the Senate. See Treaty of October 2, 1863, 13 Stat. 667. After the treaty, some members of the Pembina Band settled on reservations in Minnesota but our ancestors followed the buffalo herds into western North Dakota and Montana, eventually settling in Montana and in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota.In 1892, the United States authorized the creation of a commission to negotiate for a cession of land from the Turtle Mountain Chippewa and provide for their removal. Chief Little Shell and his followers walked out on the negotiations and refused to accept the terms of the eventual agreement. Some of Little Shell’s followers moved to Montana and joined with other members of the Pembina Band who had settled in Montana; our collective Pembina ancestors came to be known as the “Little Shell Band.” When our traditional means of livelihood died with the buffalo herds, our ancestors were left to eke out an existence in a number of shantytowns across Montana. We became known as “the trash-can Indian,” or “the landless Indians.” Forced to live in communities which did not welcome us, our people faced severe racism and discrimination throughout Montana, some of which continues today.
For one hundred years now, Congress has known of and attempted to address the plight of the Little Shell people. In 1908, Congress first appropriated funds to settle our people on a land base. 35 Stat. 84. Congress appropriated funds again in 1914 and, again, every year thereafter until 1925 – all to provide a reservation land base on which to settle the “homeless Indians in the State of Montana.” The acquisition was never made and the Tribe never recognized.
In the 1920’s, newspaper articles chronicled the plight of our people. Our leaders pleaded for help for the destitute Little Shell people. Tribal leader Joseph Dussome asked Congress, “Are we not entitled to a Reservation and allotments of land in our own County, just the same as other Indians are?” Two weeks later, the Department of the Interior rejected our leader’s plea:
The Indians referred to are Chippewas of the Turtle Mountain Band. They were under the leadership of Little Shell who became dissatisfied with the treaties of the United States and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewas. He accordingly refused to accede thereto…The disaffected band, by its failure to accede to the terms of the treaty and remove to the reservation is now unable to obtain any rights thereon for the reason that the lands of this band are all disposed of, and the rolls became final[.] … There is now no law which will authorize the enrollment of any of those people with the Turtle Mountain band for the purposes of permitting them to obtain either land or money.
Letter of Asst. Secretary Scattergood, dated December 14, 1931. Three years later, however, Congress enacted the Indian Reorganization Act [IRA], which provided a mechanism for groups of Indians like ours to organize and apply for land. In December 1935, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs took steps to organize our people under the IRA. The Commissioner proposed a form to enroll our people, stating:
It is very important that the enrollment of homeless Indians in the State of Montana be instituted immediately, and it is proposed to use this form in the determination of Indians who are entitled to the benefits of the Indian Reorganization Act.
BIA Letter, December 23, 1935. This effort resulted in the Roe Cloud Roll, named after Dr. Henry Roe Cloud, an Interior official who played a large part in the project. Once the roll was complete, the Field Administrator clearly stated that the purpose of the roll was to settle our people and bring them under federal jurisdiction:
The landless Indians whom we are proposing to enroll and settle on newly purchased land belong to this same stock, and their history in recent years is but a continuation of the history of wandering and starvation which formerly the Rocky Boy’s band had endured.
Out of the land purchase funds authorized by the Indian Reorganization Act, we are now purchasing about 34,000 acres for the settlement of these Indians and also to provide irrigated hay land for the Indians now enrolled on Rocky Boy’s Reservation. The new land, if devoted wholly to that purpose, would take care of only a fraction of the homeless Indians, but it is our intention to continue this program through the years until something like adequate subsistence is provided for those who cannot provide for themselves. The first step in the programs is to recognize those Indians of the group who may rightfully make claim of being one-half degree, which is the occasion for presenting the attached applications. The fact of these people being Indian and being entitled to the benefits intended by Congress has not been questioned.
Roe Cloud Roll applications, 1937. The Department of the Interior never fulfilled this promise. The limited resources available to acquire land were expended for tribes already recognized. In 1940, Senator James Murray requested Interior to fulfill its promise of land for the Little Shell Band. Assistant Commissioner Zimmerman responded that his office was “keenly aware of the pressing need of the landless Chippewa Cree Indians of Montana. The problem thus far has been dealt with only in a very small way. I sincerely hope that additional funds will be provided for future purchases in order that the larger problem remaining can be dealt with in a more adequate manner.” Unfortunately, the federal government’s efforts to assist the Little Shell Tribe gave way during the termination era of the 1950’s to the termination policy, and, as a result, the land promised for our people was never forthcoming.
RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT [OFA]
When the Department of the Interior adopted regulations establishing an administrative process to acknowledge Indian tribes in 1978, once again the Little Shell people had hope. We hoped that the Department’s process would finally bring to conclusion the Tribe’s long effort to achieve federal recognition. The administrative process has turned out to be just another cruel hoax on the Little Shell people. We began work on through this new process in 1978 and, thirty years later, it still has not been completed.For years after its initial submission, the Tribe researched its history and community to establish the seven mandatory criteria under the regulations. We had numerous technical assistance meetings with the staff and responded to requests for additional information. Finally, nearly twenty years later in 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs declared that the Tribe’s petition was ready for active consideration.
However, a “ready for active consideration” designation does not mean that the OFA will commence its review; it only means that you get into line. Active consideration begins only when the Bureau of Indian Affairs has time to commence active consideration. In our case, that was 1997, two years after the petition was declared ready for active. At that point, we hoped that we were at least on the road toward completion of the process. Once again, we were wrong.
On July 24, 2000, the Bureau of Indian Affairs finally issued the proposed finding on the Tribe’s petition. The proposed finding found that the Tribe had met all the seven mandatory criteria and should be recognized - but this was not the end of the process. It merely triggered the next step – which is public comment on the proposed finding and review by the Bureau of Indian Affairs of those public comments as part of its final determination.
The Tribe takes very little comfort in the favorable proposed finding. Although the Department found that the Tribe met all the mandatory criteria, the Department “encouraged” the Tribe to submit more documentation. No significant evidence was submitted in opposition to the favorable proposed finding. Unlike many other cases, neither the State of Montana nor any local government submitted adverse comments on the proposed favorable finding for the Little Shell Tribe. But the Department made clear that it preferred that the Tribe submit additional records for certain time periods before the 1930s. We took the Department’s suggestion to heart, submitting approximately 1000 pages of additional reports and appendices supported by several boxes of documentation.
We are still waiting for the Department’s final determination on the Tribe’s petition. The Director of OFA advised a federal court in June 2005 that OFA expected to issue its Final Determination on Little Shell in February 2007. See 8th Declaration of Lee Fleming, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council v. Norton, Case No.1:01CV00111 (D.D.C.) This did not happen. Then, OFA advised the Tribe in writing to expect the commencement of active consideration on the final determination on August 1, 2007. This did not happen, either. Instead, OFA granted itself extensions, advising the Tribe to expect active consideration on the final determination to begin by August 1, 2008, with a final determination to be issued by the end of 2008. Once more, this did not happen. On July 24, 2008, the Tribe received another letter from OFA, granting itself yet one more extension. Now, we are told to expect a final determination by January 28, 2009. Of course, nothing prevents the OFA from granting itself another extension, so the Tribe has no confidence that this new deadline is any more firm than the earlier deadlines.
Over the past 30 years, the Tribe has been fortunate to have the services of the Native American Rights Fund on its petition. Without NARF’s assistance, it would have been impossible for the Tribe to participate in this protracted and expensive administrative process. NARF has spent over 3,400 attorney hours over the last fifteen years on our petition. Consultants and graduate students put in thousands and thousands of additional hours. Tribal consultants, such as historians, genealogists and graduate students, donated substantial amounts of time pro bono or worked at substantially reduced rates in compiling large portions of the petition. Even with this generosity, the total cost for consultants and associated expenses over the last fifteen years exceeds $1 million dollars.
The lengthy process also imposes an immeasurable human cost, with the recognition battle passing from one generation to the next. The demands of providing for my people without the protection of federal recognition, a protection that has been promised for one hundred years, has been daunting, to say the least. And it is just heartbreaking to think that, after all we’ve been through with this administrative process, the Department could at the end of day even decide not to confer federal acknowledgment, to reverse its own favorable proposed finding.
Enough is enough. It’s time for Congress to step in, to accept what the Department itself found in its proposed finding – that the Little Shell Tribe is entitled to federal recognition. It is unconscionable that nine years after it found that the Little Shell constitutes an Indian tribe, that in the face of no significant opposition to that proposed favorable finding, that the Little Shell Tribe is still waiting. One entire generation of Little Shell people has passed away, including my own father, as we wait for administrative action and we have no confidence that the new deadline will be met.
The Constitution of the United States gives the Congress the privilege and right to recognize tribal governments. The Congress has considered the needs of the Little Shell people time and time again. Congress should not wait any longer, and should not force the Little Shell people to wait any longer, for the completion of a seemingly never ending administrative process. It’s time for Congress itself to issue the final determination on the status of the Little Shell Tribe and enact S.724.
THE REASONABLE AND NECESSARY TERMS OF S.724
First and foremost, S.724 takes the final step that has been interminably delayed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - even though it has essentially acknowledged that the Little Tribe is real and should be recognized - and that is the confirmation of federal recognition for the Tribe. This has been promised to the Tribe, both by Congress and the Department of the Interior. There is no rational reason for further delay. Since the Department does not seem capable of bringing its deliberations to an end, the Congress should do so by recognizing the Little Shell Tribe through legislation.I must underscore that the State of Montana, affected local governments, and all recognized tribes in the State of Montana support the bill to recognize the Little Shell Tribe. The circumstances here truly are unique. The Department of the Interior has already issued a proposed favorable finding on the Tribe’s petition and there is no government opposition to recognition of the Tribe. In this case, the enactment of federal recognition legislation only makes sense.
In addition, S.724 does more than simply confirm federal recognition. It addresses many of the issues newly recognized tribes and local communities struggle with for decades after formal federal recognition – the establishment of a land base and a tribal service area. It is well documented that it takes years and sometimes more than a decade for the Department of the Interior to take land into trust for newly recognized tribes. For example, it took eight years after the Jena Band of Choctaw Tribe was recognized before Interior took that Tribe’s cemetery and governmental offices into trust. Further, many tribes suffer from the years it takes for the Department to establish a service area for the newly recognized tribe. For example, after completion of administrative challenges to the Department’s final determination acknowledging the Cowlitz Indian Tribe in 2002, the Cowlitz Tribe still does not have a BIA service area. Thus, even if the Department of the Interior does issue its final determination next year (which is doubtful given the Tribe’s experience with OFA), the Tribe could be forced to endure many additional years in legal limbo as it struggles to establish and land base and service area.
S.724 addresses these issues. It defines a service area for the Tribe consisting of four counties where our people live. It also directs the Secretary to acquire trust title to 200 acres located within the service area to be used as a tribal land base. With these terms, the Little Shell people are put much closer to the actual delivery of federal Indian trust services and benefits.
Can any reasonable person believe that the Little Shell people haven’t waited long enough? The enactment of S.724 would finally end the uncertainty regarding the status of the Little Shell people. The enactment of S.724 would finally provide for the establishment of a land base for the Little Shell people, something the Department of the Interior promised one hundred years ago. And the enactment of S.724 would provide certainty for the local governments that support recognition of the Little Shell Tribe, by defining the Tribe’s service area and the location of a land base.
CONCLUSION
As our history shows, the Little Shell people are persistent and patient. But I have difficulty in explaining to my people why we still remain unrecognized, even though the Department of the Interior issued a favorable proposed finding on the Tribe’s petition in 2000. We have waited on the Department for one hundred years. Now it’s time for Congress to act. The Little Shell people implore this committee to act favorably on S.724 and allow the bill to move forward.
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'Native America in Art' on display at museum
From the Great Falls Tribune
By Great Falls Tribune Staff
A new exhibition, "Native America in Art," opened at the C.M. Russell Art Museum on Monday, the first day of Native American Week.
The exhibition features artworks from the museum's permanent collection by more than 25 artists from the 19th through 21st centuries. Many of the works of art in the exhibition have not been seen in years.
"Native America in Art" examines the ways in which American Indian life has been portrayed in paintings, prints, and sculpture by both Indian and non-Indian artists.
On Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., families can experience Native American culture at the museum. Special events include Blackfeet singer, songwriter and storyteller Jack Gladstone from noon to 1 p.m., followed by games and craft activities. Also on hand will be members of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana selling Indian tacos.
Admission, activities and games are free and open to everyone.
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Senate committee to take up four recognition bills
From Indianz.com
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee will take up four tribal recognition bills at a hearing on Thursday.
The hearing focuses on S. 1058, the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan Referral Act; S. 724, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2007; S. 514, the Muscogee Nation of Florida Federal Recognition Act; and H.R. 1294, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2007.
The witness list follows:The Honorable Jim Webb, United State Senate, Washington, D.C.
The Honorable Tim Kaine, Governor of Virginia
The Honorable Jim Moran, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Lee Fleming, Director, Office of Federal Acknowledgment, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
The Honorable Anne Tucker, Chairwoman, Muscogee Nation of Florida, Bruce, Florida
The Honorable John Sinclair, President, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, Great Falls, Montana
The Honorable Ron Yob, Chairman, Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Dr. Helen C. Rountree, Professor Emeritus, Old Dominion University, Department of Anthropology, Hampton, Virginia
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Star party, Native music, dance on tap at Interpretive Center
From the The Great Falls Tribune
By JENI DODD
Great Falls Tribune Staff WriterIt's a busy weekend at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, with activities both celestial and earthbound.
STAR PARTY
Jupiter, star clusters, galaxies and the moon are some of the things you can explore at this month's star party, tonight at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
The party runs from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Interpretive Center parking area.
Members of the Central Montana Astronomy Society will be on hand with telescopes and to help explain the sights.
METIS MUSICIANS, NATIVE DANCE
The Interpretive Center celebrates Native American Memorial Week with a special presentation on Saturday. Jim and Vince Fox, Métis musicians, and the Great Falls Public Schools Indian Education Department dance group will perform at the Interpretive Center Theater at 1 and 3 p.m. The performances mark the beginning of Native American Memorial Week.
Métis music combines traditional European music styles with Native American instruments and rhythms, producing a unique musical genre.
The Foxes performed at the Interpretive Center during the Lewis and Clark Festival in June. The father-and-son team plays Métis guitar and fiddle and recently recorded an album with Philip Aaberg. Vince Fox is nationally recognized and has won awards for his work on the fiddle.
The Great Falls Public Schools Indian Education Department dancers feature students and parents. The group presents a series of traditional and contemporary Indian dances in full regalia.
Dancers are accompanied by a traditional drum group. In between dances, members offer some history of the dances, details on the attire the dancers wear, and will describe the role of music and dance in Native cultures. The group includes the Teen World Championship Chicken Dancer and Miss Little Shell.
Each presentation lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Admission is free.
In addition to the music programs, the Title VII Indian Education Parents Advisory Committee will set up a food stand on the Interpretive Center grounds from noon until 4 p.m., offering Indian tacos and other refreshments for sale. Proceeds from the stand will support the Indian Education for All programs in the Great Falls area, including the annual children's powwow.
"We are happy to welcome back these great performers from this summer," Supervisory Interpreter Jeff LaRock said. "Their programs are so dynamic, and the musicians and dancers offer some incredible performances. These are two fantastic programs, so we hope that a lot of folks will come out and celebrate with us."
Support for the Native American Memorial Week program is provided by USDA Forest Service and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Association Challenge Cost Share program.
Call the Interpretive Center at 727-8733 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic for more information.
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Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana Election Information:
The Election will have polling places in Great Falls and Havre and will be posted on this website once they have been desginated. If you cannot vote in Person, you MUST Call the Tribal Office and request an Absentee Ballot. Or, If you like, you can download a copy of an Absentee Ballot Request form in either Microsoft Word(Click Here) or Adobe Acrobat(Click Here), fill out the Fields, print, sign, and include a Stamped Self-Address Envelope and send it all to the main office at:NOTE: The Absentee Ballot REQUEST must be returned to the Tribal office no later than 5pm October 14th.
Little Shell Chippewa Tribal Office
Attn: Absentee Ballot Request
PO Box 1384
Great Falls, MT 59403All 7 seats on the Little Shell Council are up for Election this year. The Schedule is as follows:
Elections Day: November 8, 2008
Ballot Count Date: November 15-16, 2008
Notice of Results: November 17, 2008
Protest Period (filing fee $250.00): November 17–27, 2008
Swearing In Ceremony: January 17, 2009Here is the Current List of Candidates running for a seat in the Little Shell Tribal Council
(listed in Alphabetical order as they will be listed on the Election Ballot):Alvina (Gardipee) Allen
Desiree (Dirden) Bell
Ronald “Cree” Doney
Steve Doney
Caroline (Murphy) Fleury
Louella (Campbell) Fredricksen
Gerald Gray Jr.
Carol (Doney) Hofeldt
Leona (Doney) Kienenberger
Bruce Landrie
Randy Randolph
Darrel (Koke) Rummel
James Parker Shield
John Sinclair
Webmaster Note: I have purposely removed which seat each candidate desires as our constitution does not allow candidates to collect votes for a particular seat from the Tribal Population. Only the TOP 7 Vote Getters will be seated on the Tribal Council, and only the Tribal Council, in Secret Ballot, will elect the Executive Committee Members of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2nd Webmaster Note: There is a nasty rumor going around (possibly from the tribal office itself) that candidates are only running for a particular office and not for the council in general and that is how they will be listed on the ballots. This is false. Our Constitution prohibits the tribal population from voting for the Executive Committee seats that consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. ONLY the newly elected Tribal Council can vote for the Executive Committee members and it is done so as a secret ballot. The way our system works is that each candidate runs against ALL the other candidates for the Tribal Council, only the TOP 7 vote getters are elected to the Tribal Council as a whole. Once those 7 council members are decided, then the Tribal Council goes into a secret session and they then vote for the 4 Executive Committee seats.
While it is true that particular members will mention the council or Executive Council seat they wish to serve under, they in fact are running against all candidates instead of the one or two who wish the same seat. This nasty and incredulous rumor is being put out there by candidates or supports of candidates for the sole purpose to confuse and miss-inform the Tribal members and is in fact a violation of our Constitution and by extension Federal and State Election Laws. Our Constitution places us under the jurisdiction of the United States Constitution and the Laws of the United States, being a Tribal Group, although Sovereign in many ways, we are still subservient to the US Government and it's laws, and as such, we are protected in our civil AND Constitutional Rights that some so-called leaders of our tribe who think that the "Rules do not Apply" to them, will try to circumvent. So, keep a watch for any violations of your civil and constitutional rights by those who wish to make you subservient to their iron lust for power at any costs.
