St. John Reflects on First Four Months Sober Squad Brings Message
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NOVEMBER 2018 | V O LU M E 20 | N U M B E R 11 St. John Reflects on First Four Months Brett Larson Inaajimowin Staff Writer Wally St. John has been preparing for a life in lead- ership for a long time, and that preparation has paid off during his first months as Dis- trict III Representative. “Thirty years ago I decid- ed I wanted to do something Founding members of Sober Squad — Colin Cash, Bradley Harrington, Gary Benjamin, Lynelle Northbird, and for the people, so I started Wally St. John Billie Jo Boyd — participated in a sobriety walk in Brainerd on October 21. shaping and molding my life, meaning I had to shed the old skin, so to speak, and put on a new way of caring and loving,“ said Wally. “It takes time for Sober Squad Brings Message of Healing, that to happen. It doesn't happen overnight.“ For Wally, that meant learning his traditions, with an em- Hope, and Sobriety to Brainerd phasis on obedience to spiritual teachings. That focus on the Brett Larson Inaajimowin Staff Writer spiritual life is what made the Anishinaabe ancestors happy The Sober Squad movement that started in Mille Lacs is send- walkers — and a smudge walk the following day on the Mille and gave them long lives, Wally said. ing ripples throughout Minnesota, and not just on reservations. Lacs Reservation, where friends and family of those affected Wally's spirituality is intertwined with his duties as a lead- The city of Brainerd was the latest to catch the wave with a by addiction and violence walked to remember their loved er and his method of addressing problems. gathering at Lum Park and a march through the east side of ones and call for justice. “I've seen a lot of danger coming with drug abuse, physi- town on October 21. “People want to feel like they're a part of something, and cal abuse, and sexual abuse in our communities, and as these The enthusiasm was infectious from the start of the festiv- that there's hope,“ said Britany, who said she took part in the things progressed, I pushed even harder to be given the means ities at the picnic shelter, where Sober Squad members and drug scene on the Mille Lacs Reservation before making the and the ability to see the answer,“ Wally said. “Every problem supporters donned free t-shirts, listened to music, made new decision to turn her life around — with help from Sober Squad. has a solution, and sometimes your spiritual beliefs will reveal friends, and heard a rousing motivational speech from found- According to Squad members Curtis Sam and Darryl Smith, the answer to you.“ ing member Colin Cash. Sober Squad has given people in recovery a support network At the top of his agenda as District III Representative is the A crowd of about 200 set off at noon for a long stroll, ac- and community to help their recovery take hold. problem of addiction, and the solution for Wally is spiritual as companied by regular shouts of “Squad!“ and drum songs from During a rest stop at a local school, Randell Sam led par- much as physical. “The biggest problem facing us now is the a troupe of musicians in the back of a pickup. ticipants in a recitation of the Serenity Prayer and a chant of heroin, the methamphetamine, the opioids, and all the abuse The event was organized by Squad member Britany Egan “There is hope! Ask us how!“ while children swarmed the play- that comes with that,“ he said. “You've heard me say it before, and supported by the Mille Lacs Band and Mille Lacs Corpo- ground equipment. but love is the key. The love we know is limited. It comes with rate Ventures. Founding members Billie Jo Boyd, Lynelle Northbird, Gary limitations, expectations, conditions. And it isn't working, so Britany is admittedly new to sobriety, but she was inspired Benjamin, and Bradley Harrington also took part in the Brain- you gotta rise above it and think beyond the physical realm. to plan the event by her participation in the Walk for the Re- erd walk, spreading their healing message to a new community. That is where the answers lie.“ covery in Minneapolis on September 15 — where the Sober For more photos and a Q&A, see page 15. As representative, Wally hopes to create transitional hous- Squad was the top fundraiser and brought a record number of ing to help keep people safe and sober when they leave treat- ment. “Addicts have triggers, and we need to remove those triggers and put them in a safe home,“ Wally said. “It will take time, but it can be done. It's a matter of people working togeth- er. The only thing stopping us is us.“ He believes addressing the problem will take a unified ef- fort from the elected leaders and government officials in every department, because they are all affected, from education to community development, health and human services to tribal police. “Everyone wants our people to be better — the Chief Executive, the district representatives, commissioners, and non-Natives as well.“ Walkers paused at a playground in Brainerd to join hands and recite the Serenity Prayer led by Band member Randell Sam. Wally St. John continued on page 4 Aaniin, Boozhoo! When this edition of the Inaajimowin ar- and pursuing the customs and traditions of white Americans. who want to vote, but will be denied the right to vote. rives in Band member mailboxes, we will be just days away Women were granted the right to vote in 1919, but it was Under Band law, it is the role of the Chief Executive “to from one of the most important elections in our lifetime, even not until 1924 that the Congress passed the American Indian conduct external relations with all other governments and though this is a mid-term election rather than a Presidential Citizenship Act which provided American Indians the right to their political subdivisions” (MLBSA Title 4, Section 6 (c). As race. It is more important than ever that every Mille Lacs vote, mainly because of our high rate of military service during Chief Executive, much of my work is spent dealing with feder- Band member and Native person in Minnesota who can vote World War I. Imagine that – our ancestors fought and died in al agencies and members of Congress, because that is where gets out and votes. World War I when they legally were not even U.S. citizens! the big decisions are made that impact us at the federal level, Why is this election so important? There are many rea- and in St. Paul with state officials. sons. First, in January, a new Governor and Attorney General Over decades, we have worked very hard as a Band to will take office in Minnesota, and both of these positions will ensure that the Mille Lacs Band always has a seat at the be responsible for policies that directly impact Native people. “This is yet another reason table, regardless of who sits in the White House or the State Congressman Tim Walz and State Representative Peggy Fla- why Mille Lacs Band Capitol. As a Band government, we have a tradition of having nagan have visited the reservation many times and are strong friends on both sides of the aisle, and regardless of the out- supporters of tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Re- members should exercise come of these elections, we will continue to fight to ensure publican candidate Jeff Johnson has made statements about we have a seat the table. We support those who support the our treaty rights and co-management of Mille Lacs Lake that their right to vote: to be in Mille Lacs Band. are cause for grave concern. solidarity with our brothers This election season, there are many close races that will Second, we have a state legislative race that impacts impact us as Band members. We have a chance to make a District I and IIA, where Emy Minzel is challenging Sondra and sisters in North Dakota huge impact and make history. I urge everyone to please get Erickson, who is widely considered to be the most anti-Indi- out and vote on November 6 in honor of our ancestors and to an lawmaker in the Minnesota Legislature. The ballot box is who want to vote, but will be protect the future of our children. Miigwech! the opportunity for Band members to speak out against the politics of racism. denied the right to vote.“ Third, the outcome of the national congressional races will determine whether the Democrats or the Republicans are in control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. But that act was not the end of attempts to suppress Each of these bodies has the power to halt or give the green the Indian vote. While the act gave American Indians voting light to federal policies impacting Indian tribes and people. rights, states governed their own voting requirements and On that note, our own Eighth Congressional District, often passed laws that limited this right. In 1965, Congress which is represented by retiring Democrat Rick Nolan, is in passed the Voting Rights Act, which prohibited states from the national spotlight right now because ours is the only race using discriminatory voting practices (further enforcing the in the United States which Republicans believe they might 15th Amendment). flip from Democratic to Republican. A recent New York Times Unfortunately, the Act has been slowly eroded in recent article focused on this race, stating, “No battleground district years, with some states passing voter ID laws which are in America had as big a swing from Barack Obama to Mr.