AAnniisshhiinnaaaabbeegg TTooddaayy A Monthly Chronicle of White Earth Reservation Vol. 24 No. 6 White Earth, Minn. [email protected] Wednesday, June 5, 2019 WERBC holds public meeting on Peter Thompson proposed transfer of lands held in Arlington National Cemetery welcomes WE Veteran trust by the United States for MCT By Kevin Wallevand Forum Communications The White Earth Band of Chippewa held a public meeting May 20 at Shooting Star Casino on the proposed transfer of all right, title, It’s an incredible, historic military honor for a and interest in lands held in trust by the United States for the White Earth family. Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Peter Thompson, a decorated Vietnam War veter - Recently, the Tribal Executive Committee of the MCT decided an and member of the White Earth Nation, will soon that “Band ownership, in fee simple, of trust lands within the reser - be buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery vations of the constituent Bands will both eliminate uncertainty — a first for the tribe. associated with ownership and enable the fulfillment of treaty The White Earth Veterans Association Honor promises premised on reservations for the use and benefit of the Guard and the veteran’s family plan to take a bus for Bands.” Thompson’s June 5 burial at the hallowed veteran’s To achieve that goal a Bill has been drafted that provides that cemetery directly across the Potomac River from the “IN GENERAL . all right, title, and interest in lands held in trust nation’s capital. by the United States for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe on the date On May 8, the honor guard led a special blessing of the enactment of this Act are hereby transferred as follows: (1) for Thompson, who passed away in January. Such lands located within the reservation of a constituent Band of Ask anyone on the White Earth Reservation the Tribe to the constituent Band of the Tribe within whose reserva - about Thompson and they probably knew him. tion the land is located. (2) Such lands not located within the reser - “He was quite the guy, a person who teased a lot, vation of a constituent Band of the Tribe to the constituent Band of joked around,” said brother-in-law Raymond the Tribe whose reservation is closest to the land.” Auginaush. Thompson was a prankster, hard worker and vet - Questions and concerns have been raised about tribal member’s eran with six Purple Hearts as well as three Bronze treaty protected property rights because the lands were reserved for Stars. A young boy from the reservation, Thompson the people, long before the creation of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe joined the Army and went to Vietnam at the age of 17. under the Indian Reorganization Act. White Earth Tribal Council is White Earth honor guard member Robert Durant taking active steps to give notice and information to the members said Thompson had a strong sense of duty. and an opportunity to comment as new information has come to light “He was so proud of what he had done and he about differences in the 1854 and 1855 Treaties. said he was doing this because it was his job . he The important treaty rights issue is in Article 1 of the 1854 really cared about serving his country,” Durant said. Treaty “The Chippewas of Lake Superior hereby cede to the United Thompson was injured six times serving two Photos by Gary W. Padrta States all the lands heretofore owned by them in common with the tours as a teenager in Vietnam, surviving wounds Chippewas of the Mississippi, lying east of the [1854-1855 north- from enemy gunfire, tank explosions and grenade Top : Kevin Wallevand from WDAY-TV recently south. ] boundary-line . The Chippewas of the Mississippi here - blasts. interviewed members of the White Earth Veterans by assent and agree to the foregoing cession, and consent that the “He very seldom talked about what happened Association about fellow veteran Peter Thompson. over there, but you could tell, deep down, he cared Bottom : Thompson, in red, at the White Earth See Land Page 27 Veterans’ Powwow in November 2018 at the See Peter Page 31 Shooting Star Casino. N E 4 D M D 1 G E s R e A T O A k D T R N I a D S TTENTION O t TTENTION L A i N O S P t A Hanging out i P m A E r o T r S e R t S P P e U D READERS with Viktor v This edition of the The White Earth Public Anishinaabeg Today was Health staff had the sent to the printer before honor of meeting Viktor, r the unofficial results of the the Vikings mascot e White Earth Special while they were m S recently at the Ogema o Election for Chairperson S t s were available. Check for school speaking with W u 3rd and 4th grade R updates on the White Earth C C students about stroke l Nation Facebook page or E a symptoms. t s our website at o www.whiteearth.com. Local From left are Annalee P news sites should also have Kologi, Eva Brakefield, election information. Carolyn Cossette, Viktor, Tami Sweep, v The 151st Annual White Shirley Holzgrove and Earth Celebration and Pow Bill Stech. Wow is June 14-16! Submitted photo 2 Anishinaabeg Today Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Anishinaabeg Today 11th Annual Mother’s Day Celebration The Anishinaabeg Today (AT) is the offical publica - tion of White Earth Reservation and is published once a month. Editorials and articles appearing in the AT are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or attitude of the AT staff or the White Earth Reservation Business Committee. The AT reserves the right to reject any advertising or materials submitted for publication. The submission of articles, and photos is encouraged, however, they are subject to editing for grammar, length, and malicious/ libelous content. The Editor makes the sole decision of what is published in the AT and will not assume any responsibility for unsolicited material nor will the AT guarantee publication upon submission. Deadlines are strictly enforced! Deadline dates are printed on Page 2 in each issue. The AT is distributed at no charge to all postal patrons living on White Earth Reservation, and by mail to White Earth Reservation members (who request the newspaper - one per household) living within the United States. The cost of a newspaper subscription is $12 per year for non-members (including descendants) living off the reservation. The AT can be read online for no cost at www.whiteearth.com. For more information call 218-983-3285 Ext. 5903, email: [email protected], fax: 218-983- 3641, or write to: Anishinaabeg Today PO Box 418 White Earth, MN 56591 Member of the v Native American Journalist Association v Minnesota Newspaper Association WER Business Committee Eugene “Umsy” Tibbetts Vice Chairman / District III Representative Leonard Alan Roy Photos by Gary W. Padrta Secretary-Treasurer The 11th Annual Mother’s Day Celebration was held May 11-12 at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen. Raymond Auginaush Sr. District I Representative Kathy Goodwin District II Representative Editor Gary W. Padrta Future Issues * Deadline Issue Date June 26 July 3 July 31 August 7 August 29 September 4 September 25 October 2 October 30 November 6 * Deadline and issue dates subject to change Ode`imini-giizis (Strawberry Moon) 5, 2019 Anishinaabeg Today 3 White Earth Reservation Business Committee to establish independent Gaming Commission On Wednesday, May 15, the White Earth interest and responsibility for the conduct of gaming, Reservation Business Committee (RBC) unanimous - Commissioners that report to themselves is problem - ly voted to approve a new White Earth Gaming atic.” Ordinance. A key change in that Ordinance is the Members of the Gaming Commission must hold Tribal Gaming Commission will now be made up of a valid gaming license and will be required to suc - non-elected officials and will be independent from cessfully pass a background investigation, which will the Tribal government. Currently, Tribal Council include a review of the their financial, criminal and members make up the Commission. employment history. Roy welcomes and encourages The new Ordinance states the Tribe will estab - all qualified individuals to apply for the Gaming lish a Tribal Gaming Commission and their duty is to Commission. regulate licensed gaming operations within the juris - Open positions on the Gaming Commission will diction of the Tribe. The Gaming Commission is an be filled through the current hiring policy of the agency of the White Earth Tribal Council and is sub - White Earth Reservation Human Resources ject to the review and oversight by the Council. The Department. The Tribal Council will appoint each Commission will consist of five members that will be Commissioner after reviewing submitted applica - appointed by the Tribal Council. The regulation of tions. Individuals that are interested in applying gaming operations shall be the sole responsibility of should contact Human Resources at 218-983-3285. the Commission. They will accept applications until the positions are “This will provide a checks and balance sys - until filled. tem,” said White Earth Secretary-Treasurer Alan For more information on becoming part of the Roy. “Since the Tribe currently has sole proprietary Gaming Commission, turn to page 14. Hannah Otto shares her story of New York City visit Editor’s note : Hannah Otto of Watertown-Mayer, Minn., recently traveled with her high school band to Need Tires!? New York City. She received a Travel Assistance award from White Earth, which helps enrolled mem - bers that are attending an educational trip through We have a variety of tires for sale! Many discontinued their school.