PARR Newsletter ARGU Volume 8 Number 9 Winter 2006

AMERICAN RIGHTS GUARDIAN UPDATE
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VOLUME 8 NUMBER 9 WINTER 2006 Bald Eagle

The Only Printed Voice of Opposition to Federal Government Indian Policy in Wisconsin.
Published by Protect Americans' Rights Resources to maintain an informed membership.

     In its effort to build support for an off-reservation casino in Kenosha, the Menominee tribe argues that their ancestors roamed and settled the area many generations ago.
    Hoping to kill the Kenosha plan, the Potawatomi tribe says the Menominee are deliberately misreading the historical and archaeological record and "insulting" the Potawatomi’s heritage.
    Deliberately misreading the historical and archaeological record -- now that’s a whopper! Remember Barbra Crabb’s rewriting of 150 year old Chippewa treaties? That’s OK because non-Indians were short changed. How’s that for a double standard!
    You'd think the Indian Community School of Milwaukee would be satisfied with its guaranteed income of at least $27 million a year for the next several years to teach some 360 students. But it's not, and you'd think the Forest County Potawatomi, which is raking in at least $260 million a year at its Menomonee Valley casino, wouldn't put up a fight over how much it pays to the Indian Community School to educate children from more than a dozen tribes. Cary Spivak & Dan Bice, writing in the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, tell us that Jacqueline Schellinger, a defrocked judge, is the attorney for the Indian school. The Potawatomi casino people feel that her salary in 2003 of $335, 580 is excessive. How does this all affect us you ask? It’s very simple if the Tribe doesn’t pay; guess who’s going to foot the bill to maintain the Indian School? Right - we the taxpayers!

The Down Side of Gambling
By Bob Manzke      The rhetoric spread by the Indian Casinos tells of the many millions of $ they contribute to charity. How they assist the surrounding community with the hundreds of new jobs they create. In essence they present themselves as regular benevolent philanthropists. Just look underneath this phony facade and what you find is downright ugly. There is nothing noble about providing weak individuals with a convenient vehicle to lose their money causing great suffering to their families. Worse off are those that resort to stealing other people's money to support their gambling addiction. There are many people sitting in jail for embezzlement and many embezzled businesses ruined because gambling was so available.
     Folks, there is nothing noble about "Indian Gaming" and no matter how much Whitewash is smeared on it, it still is malodorous. From a Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel article by Tom Kertscher and please tell me what's noble about all this? Kertscher writes: "If it is proven that Mequon's ousted fire chief stole money because of a gambling problem, he could be among the highestranking government employees in Wisconsin ever to be convicted of such a crime.
     "Imprisoned Public Officials Barbara Berger: Sentenced in August 1999 to 12 years in prison for embezzling $197,000 from the Brown County government while working as the county's deputy treasurer. Records from Oneida Casino show Berger pumped more than $1 million into slot machines over four years and suffered losses of $184,000. Veronica Klimek: Sentenced to six years in prison in August 2003 after being charged with embezzling more than $200,000 while working as a clerical assistant in the Marathon County Sheriff's Department. Said she had a gambling addiction. Malini Sathasivam: Sentenced Dec. 20, 2005, to 16 years in prison for embezzling $3 million from the state, four area banks and her own family. The former Fitchburg resident and employee of the state Commerce Department blamed a gambling problem, although a prosecutor contested that, saying the thefts were planned and not impulsive. Source: News reports, court records Recent Coverage 2/1/06: Former Mequon fire chief suspected of taking other funds 1/31/06: Mequon fire chief resigns amid inquiry.
     "Their thefts ranged from $5,000 to more than $500,000, and their sentences ranged from two years of probation to 10 years in prison.” And this is just from various governments. This does not include money embezzled from private businesses.
     Referring to the editorial box on the top of page 1, one would think that with all the $millions of embezzled money passing over the Potawatomi's tables they would at least support The Indian School, after all the school is the genesis of the Potawatomi's Milwaukee gambling enterprise.

A New Voice of Dissent Emerges      It appears that a newly formed group has the same goals as PARR has joined the fight.
     Last spring, the group; Enough! Paid for a statewide poll of 405 residents, in which 76% of the respondents agreed that the Legislature should have to approve any new off-reservation casinos. Nineteen percent of those who responded disagreed, and 5% had no opinion. Currently, the governor alone speaks for the state in such matters. And seeing he is a ringer for the Indians, the taxpaying citizens of Wisconsin are not represented.
     Enough! Formed to oppose off-reservation casinos proposed for Kenosha, Beloit and Shullsburg. Enough’s Founder Nemoir and his group has pushed a bill (AB 461) approved by the Assembly and got a hearing by a Senate committee last week.
     "This is a bill that is about good public policy. If these off-reservation casinos are truly wise, allow the Legislature to have a say -- an up-or-down say," Nemoir told a reporter.
     Under the bill, the Legislature would not negotiate with the tribes over an off-reservation casino but would have to approve any new off-reservation casinos authorized by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
     Now, any off-reservation casino must be approved by both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Governor. Under the bill, any off-reservation casino approved by the federal government would have to go first to the Legislature and then to the Governor.
     The group's high-profile lobbyists are former state Sen. Bob Welch (R-Redgranite) and former Governor Tommy Thompson's aides Nate Elias and Tony Langenohl.
     Nemoir dismissed criticism of his group's bill from tribal leaders and officials in communities that want casinos.
     "It's disingenuous for these guys to stand here and say they are being holier than thou," Nemoir said. "They are negotiating both compacts and off-reservation proposals, and throwing around that much campaign cash."
     In 2002, three Wisconsin tribes donated more than $700,000 to the National Democratic Party, which then returned the money to Wisconsin Democrats who used it to help elect Doyle.
     The Menominee tribe has asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to approve the Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha for an off-reservation casino. Tribal Chairman Michael Chapman said senators should find out who is backing Enough!
     He called the group's lobbyists "mysterious influence peddlers." Carol Brown, chief lawyer for the Lac du Flambeau tribe, called the Enough! backed bill "an open ended opportunity to completely reject" all future off-reservation casinos and an attempt to protect tribes with the most lucrative casinos.
     The bill pushed "is unfair to the struggling tribes," said Brown, whose tribe wants to build an off-reservation casino in Shullsburg.
     Roth Judd, executive director of the state Ethics Board, said his office has received complaints about Enough! But concluded the group was compliant with the law. (Many of the excerpts in this article were taken from an article by Steven Walters that appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)
PARR Ed. Note: Kudos to Enough! If any of the readers know how to contact Enough! Please inform us because we would like to compare notes with them.

Embezzling: The Fruit of Gambling      The weed of Gambling bears bitter Fruit! Mequon's Fire Chief has already lost his job because he stole money. If it can be proven that the stolen money was used to support his gambling problem, he could be among the highest ranking government employees in Wisconsin ever convicted of such a crime.
     The eighth annual Statewide Compulsive Gambling Awareness Conference is scheduled for March 30-31 at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha. It is sponsored by the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling: www.wi-problemgamblers.org; (800) 426-2535.
     Imprisoned Public Officials: Barbara Berger: Sentenced in August 1999 to 12 years in prison for embezzling $197,000 from Brown County government while working as the county's deputy treasurer. Records from Oneida Casino show Berger pumped more than $1 million into slot machines over four years and suffered losses of $184,000. Veronica Klimek: Sentenced to six years in prison in August 2003 after being charged with embezzling more than $200,000 while working as a clerical assistant in the Marathon County Sheriff's Department. She said she had a gambling addiction. Malini Sathasivam: Sentenced Dec. 20, 2005, to 16 years in prison for embezzling $3 million from the state, four area banks and her own family. The former Fitchburg resident and employee of the state Commerce Department blamed a gambling problem, although a prosecutor contested that, saying the thefts were planned and not impulsive.
     Since 2003, at least eight Milwaukee area people have been convicted of theft or related crimes that they blamed on gambling problems. Their thefts ranged from $5,000 to more than $500,000, and their sentences ranged from two years probation to 10 years in prison.
     Rose Gruber, executive director of the Green Bay based Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling, said an estimated 5% to 7% of gamblers have a problem, and they can face big risks if they don't stop or seek treatment.
     "All I know is that when somebody becomes addicted, they will stop at nothing to get money to gamble," she said. (Source information: Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel article by Tom Kertscher.)

Issue Item A man walking through the Potawatomi casino in Milwaukee spotted (7) $100 bills lying on the floor. Wanting to do the right thing he turned it in to the casino security. Wisconsin law states that after a certain time, if no one comes forward to claim the money it goes to the finder. Not in this case! State law is ignored and the tribe claims it is their policy to keep all monies found on their property and turn them over to a tribe run charity. And just what charity you may ask? Why the 'reelect Jim Doyle' fund of course.

Sovereignty
By Victor Bellomy      Sovereignty is a legal term under international law. Such as the sovereignty of other world governments. Sovereignty implies accountability and responsibility for maintaining that nation's integrity against all others that have sovereignty. One sovereign nation cannot trespass upon another sovereign nation or its citizens without serious consequences. France cannot vote or hold public office in any other sovereign nation nor can Canadians… nor can the members of any other sovereign nation come here for the express purpose of voting or holding public office in any individual state or the United States, especially to occupy a position of power and for the express purpose of appropriating or spending taxpayers funds...
     Most Indian tribes claim to be "sovereign" nations. This is a myth. Nowhere in the constitution can one find any language that verifies this. One can ask any tribal member if theirs is a sovereign nation and will be told, "Yes we are". They will also tell you that they have their own constitution, so why would they need America's? My concern is the fact that these people can hold public office in the U.S.A., and have a say in how the government tax money is spent, when they pay no property taxes whatsoever.
     They will also bring up the Commerce Clause, which says in article 1, section 8, and clause 2: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes. The drafters of that Clause knew the Indians were not foreign sovereign nations; yet they had to be dealt with by this U.S. government. Now this has to be taken within the time frame of when it was written. This new government did not want 13 different states to be negotiating treaties with any foreign nations and since the tribes were not citizens of the new government, at that time, they were considered a nomadic, marauding, people who had to be dealt with since they were launching raids on the white setters. Therefore, it was only natural that they would include this language in our constitution. Not until 1924 were all Indians made full citizens of our nation.
     Only recently have the courts legislated from the bench to proclaim these tribes to be "sovereign nations," thus turning the constitution upside down. I maintain that tribal people, claiming to be "sovereign nations," and living within the confines of a reservation; should be a political entity only on their reservation... Yes! If Indians move off of their reservation and pay their fare share of taxes, then they should be treated as all other Americans.

Another Tax Dollar Rip-off
By Bob Manzke      Did you ever wonder what happened to all those tax dollars that found their way into Federal Coffers? We found where some of them went. More than 2,200 environmental non-profit groups have received grants from the Environmental Protection Agency over the last decade, including those that lobby and sometimes sue the agency.
     One of the most prominent, the Natural Resources Defense Council, was cited in a recent audit for failing to properly document more than a third of the $33 million that it received in three EPA grants.
    The Natural Resources Defense Council acknowledges record keeping errors dealing with benefits, time sheets and indirect costs. It cited in part erroneous direction from EPA itself about what was required. Asked about potential conflicts between their government watchdog role and their financial connections to EPA, the groups say that grants for specific technical, research and education projects don’t interfere with their advocacy, which they conduct with separate funds.
     “It may be confusing to the public that with the right hand we’re accepting government money and with the left hand sometimes we’re beating up the government,” said Charles Miller, communications director for the Environmental Defense Fund, which has received more than $1.8 million from EPA since 1995.
     “But the government is a complicated beast. Some of the things they’re doing we think are wrong. A lot of the things they’re doing we think are right. We’re using the grant money to further the environmental cause.”
     From another standpoint, the grants have drawn fire in recent years from political conservatives, such as Sen. James Inhofe (R- Okla.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, who last year called environmental groups “simply Democrat political machines.” EPA conducts about half of its work, or $4.3 billion in 2004, through grants, mostly to state, local and tribal governments. Nonprofits account for about 7% of the total, including many ordered by Congress.
PARR Ed Note: Now we understand why the Lac du Flambeau are trying to have the EPA allow them control of the water quality on or beyond their reservation: It would be another Federal tax dollar trough for bellying up to.

Politicians for Sale
By Greg Graunke      I have been following the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal and its connection to Congress with a high degree of interest. It seems that a large portion of the money the lobbyist was giving out was from gambling profits from the various casino owning Indian tribes around the country.
     One example I heard was $500,000 to just one environmental group. The string attached was that the president of this particular organization had ties to the BIA and was able to make phone calls to the BIA once a week or so to advance various tribal interests.
     Since the group was in a certain tax exempt group they are not to do political work but when the Senate investigation panel questioned the group leader about this she saw nothing wrong, in fact her statement was that she thought the tribes were just being very “generous.” It is extremely hard to believe that anyone can be that naive.
     Another tidbit: when one of the recipients questioned Mr. Abramoff about a tribe’s “donation” he was told not to worry about it because the tribe can always claim tribal sovereignty if things go wrong.
     Our system of government forbids foreign governments from using money to influence our laws yet the Indian tribes claim to be sovereign nations but are still able to give large sums of money because of a loop hole in the law specifically written for the tribes. Some would question why we at PARR would take such interest in these proceedings. I would like to tell you about a conversation I had with the chief of staff, of then Governor Thompson. We were calling to voice our objection to the Governor signing any extension of the “gaining compacts.” In plain language the tribes were seeking monopoly gambling contracts with the state.
     He told me personally that the tribes had told him that if the contracts were not signed the state anglers could expect a ZERO bag limit come spring. He asked me if I would like that and I thought a moment and said yes. I could think of no better way to bring this issue to the front burner and keep it there for some time.
     History shows that the tribes did get their new monopoly contracts. One more fact that shows the complete irony of this scandal: some of the gifts Mr. Abramoff gave away to the Congressmen were sky box tickets to NFL games, most notably, the Redskins games.

No Limit on Tribal Ice Fishing Snatch
By Greg Graunke      We got this as an FYI letter in the mail and thought we definitely had to share it with you, our members.
     Subject: Regulations for tribal fishing with unattended lines “I thought it might be useful to send out a brief summery of the rules for tribal, off-reservation ice fishing with unattended lines as a refresher to those who may be less familiar with them. I’ve gotten a few questions on the subject recently. These rules are part of the Tribal OFF reservation code. Here it is in a nutshell, “Tribal members are allowed to set lines for ice fishing and leave them unattended. They notify DNR in advance, through GLIF-WIC, of the lakes they may be fishing. They may add lakes and send us an updated list at any time. They can use up to a total of 30 lines per person in up to three lakes at any one time, and must check them at least once every 24 hours. Their lines or tipups must have an identification tag obtained from the tribe. For walleyes and pike, they have no bag or size limits. For muskies they have no bag limit, but have some size restrictions any size; thereafter, at least half of the catch, must be 32 inches or larger. Bass have a bag limit of 10/day, but no size limit the tribe's ice fishing harvest is regulated separately from spearfishing. It does not count as part of the safe harvest and quotas that regulate spearfishing.” This information was given out by the DNR station in Woodruff.
     PARR would like to say that this virtually unregulated killing of fish is astounding, plus the fact that in the DNR’s wisdom they do not even count it against the spring killing of spawning fish. According to tribal records some years see as many muskies killed in the winter as in spring but yet that is not accounted for in the totals. If the same number of dead fish in the spring trips non-tribal fisherman with reduced limits and increased size limits, why not count the winter kills also? There must have been some very shrewd negotiators on behalf of the DNR for this one.

Five Mexican Incursions Into U.S.
Source: The News Max Web Site Author Unknown      Armed Mexican government personnel made five unauthorized incursions into the U.S. in the last three months of 2005, according to confidential Department of Homeland Security records.
     “The incursions involved police officers or soldiers in military vehicles and were among 231 such incidents recorded by the U.S. Border Patrol in the past 10 years, the Los Angeles Times reports.
     “‘It’s clear you're dealing with a large number of incursions by bonafide Mexican military units, based on the tactics and the equipment being used,’ said T.J. Bonner, a Border Patrol veteran and president of the National Border Patrol Council, the agents' union.
     “Bonner told the Washington Times that it was "common knowledge" along the border that some Mexican military units, federal and state police and former Mexican soldiers are paid by smugglers to protect shipments of cocaine and other drugs into the U.S.
     “Incidents in the Homeland Security records include Mexican helicopters flying north into U.S. airspace near El Paso, Tex., for about 15 minutes; five Mexican officials armed with assault rifles entering the country near El Centro, Calif., and returning without incident; and two Mexican police officers observed on the U.S. side of the border near Yuma, Ariz.
     “Details of the incidents emerged "as authorities on both sides of the border scrambled to investigate a dangerous confrontation Monday in Texas," the LA Times reported.
     “A confidential Border Patrol summary of the incident said it began when county sheriff's deputies and state troopers tried to stop three vehicles on an interstate highway southeast of El Paso. The three vehicles made a run for the border, the report said. “One vehicle, a black 2006 Cadillac Escalade loaded with nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana, was abandoned near the border, said Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West. “As deputies approached the river they saw a Mexican military Humvee – equipped with a .50caliber machine gun – on the U.S. side, West disclosed. A second vehicle got stuck in shallow water in the Rio Grande, while the third made it back to Mexico. "The Humvee attempted to push and pull [the stuck vehicle] toward Mexico to no avail,’ the Border Patrol report states. “At that point, Mexican soldiers and civilians began unloading marijuana from the stranded vehicle. About 20 Mexican personnel in military uniforms, with insignias on their caps, pointed automatic rifles at about half a dozen sheriff's deputies and state troopers. ‘They were daring my guys to make a move,’ West said. “The uniformed men burned the vehicle after it had been unloaded, then returned to Mexico.”

Courts Take Everything and Give it to Illegals      This article, written by Wanda, was sent to us from Charlotte Mitchell. Thanks Gals.
     January 31, 2006: America is indeed the land of opportunity for some. Last week, two illegal aliens from El Salvador became the owners of a 70acre ranch near Douglas, Arizona. The former owner, Casey Nethercott, languishes in a Texas prison. He made the mistake of trying to protect the southern border from illegal immigrants such as those who now own his ranch. Oh, by the way: they're not illegal anymore. They have been given special visas as "crime victims."
     In March 2003, Nethercott and Ranch Rescue caught two persons sneaking into the country near the Texas border. Ranch Rescue gave them cookies, water and a blanket, and released them after an hour. But they accused Nethercott of pistol whipping them.
     At trial, he was acquitted of the assault charge, but was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
     While thus indisposed, the Salvadorans sued him. He was imprisoned and unable to defend the suit, so they got a default judgment for half a million dollars with which they were able to take everything Nethercott owned, including his ranch.
     Yes, it's been a dream come true for a couple of Salvadorans. But for Nethercott, the imprisoned, impoverished American, the nightmare is not over. The Salvadorans have since applied for visas to remain here. Sure, why not? They've got a ranch to run!…Wanda
PARR Ed Note: Does everyone agree that liberal judges with this mindset have to go?

Indian Political Contributions and Sovereignty      Tribal casinos represent a legal monstrosity that subverts the nation's constitutional order and breeds corruption. ‘Lobbyists, legislators and inside-the-Beltway lawyers are the real stakeholders in Indian gambling,’ says Alexis Johnson, a lawyer based in Arizona, who has served as an adviser to campaigns against the legalization of tribal gambling in several states.
     "’Abramoff is just the tip of the iceberg’. Johnson likens casinos to the infected goods that the British distributed to Indians during the colonial period. ‘His the new smallpox blanket,’ he says. ‘ But everyone is enamored of it because it has got dollar signs all over it.’
     “And tribes have powerful friends. Nationally, between 1990 and 2004, tribal political contributions to federal candidates alone have ballooned from less than $2,000 to more than $7 million.
     “Native Americans also contributed another $30 million in a similar and also successful campaign in 2000. To an extent, of course, Indian tribes have merely learned to work the American political system in ways that non-Indians always have. However, tribal sovereignty skews garden variety self interest into a phenomenon with constitutional implications.
     “Tribal gambling may be the least transparent large industry in the United States. Constitutional protections reach only feebly onto Indian land, where tribal governments enjoy a degree of secrecy that would never be tolerated in any other American community.
     “Gigantic sums disappear from public view as soon as they leave tribal gaming tables. This money is shielded from outside regulation by the principle of tribal sovereignty, upheld by the Supreme Court, which regards tribes as autonomous "nations," enjoying self regulation, immunity from lawsuits and independence from state laws.
     “In practical terms, the casinos are also spared scrutiny by investigative journalism and citizen watchdog groups, which are almost completely absent from Indian reservations.
     “When the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act became law in 1988, no one imagined that it would become a Trojan Horse that would deliver Las Vegas style casino gambling into communities across America.
     “Having saturated local markets, many tribes are now seeking to acquire land near other, sometimes distant, population centers, and converting it to sovereign territory, in an effort to shoehorn casinos into areas where they're often not wanted by local populations.
     “Once land becomes part of a reservation, it typically becomes exempt from local taxes, state labor laws, municipal ordinances, zoning restrictions and environmental review.
     “In one of the most egregious cases, in 2004, the Cheyenne Arapahoe Tribes of Oklahoma filed a 27 million acre land claim, which included all of Denver and Colorado Springs, but offered to drop it in exchange for the approval of a Las Vegas style casino near Denver Airport.
     "‘These efforts are being funded by shadowy developers who underwrite the litigation expenses, lobbyist fees and even the cost of land in exchange for a cut of the profits,’ James T. Martin, the executive director of the United South and Eastern Tribes, told the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in May 2005.
     "’If even one of these deals is approved, the floodgates for this kind of reservation shopping will open throughout the country.’ (Mr. Martin, it should be said, is no opponent of gambling: his organization includes tribes whose main goal is to thwart new competition against their own casinos.)
     “The dazzling lure of casino profits has inspired hundreds of groups, often with doubtful credentials, to seek federal recognition as Indian tribes. Stringent federal standards have defeated the vast majority of dubious applicants. But some do slip through. For example, virtually all members of the reconstituted Mashantucket Pequot tribe, which was recognized on a technicality in 1983, are related to just two elderly women who lived on a scrap of land in the 1930s. The modern tribe is thus a sort of family condominium that reconstituted itself as an Indian tribe, and which has in turn become a corporation that is also a ‘sovereign’ state “It also operates the largest casino in the world on its ever burgeoning reservation in eastern Connecticut.
     “In an age when guilt and romantic fantasy often masquerade as politics, tribal sovereignty has seemed like a cure-all. However, without more public debate than it has so far received, tribal sovereignty and the casinos that are its offspring will continue to transform the U.S. in ways that are impossible to predict, and maybe not always for the better.
     “Many Indians treat scrutiny of the tribal casino industry as an attack on tribal sovereignty, and racist, virtually by definition. Tribal ideologues claim an absolute right to self government without interference from state and federal governments, or any other outside institutions, such as the independent press.
     “This vision of sovereignty serves the self interest of tribal officials and predators like Jack Abramoff much more than it does the welfare of rank and file tribal members, who are the most vulnerable victims of closed door government and official corruption.
     “Nor should any $19 billion industry enjoy a "sovereign" protection from regulatory laws that are meant to protect all Americans -- including Native Americans. But without a clear, nationally agreed upon idea of what tribal sovereignty is really supposed to be, we may one day find ourselves living in a land that has little in common with the goals of today's good intentions, and in which hundreds of "tribes" of Americans are permanently distinguished from their fellow citizens mainly by the special rights that were bestowed on their Indian ancestors, and by the privilege of operating unregulated gambling casinos.”
PARR Ed Note: The preceding is part of an article by John J. Miller, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal.

DNR out of Control
By Bob Manzke      This is the sad story of Cedarburg police sergeant John Stroik's encounter with Navajo Jim Doyle's arrogant DNR.
     He just wanted to feed the wild turkeys on his land and spend time with his six children, watching from a nearby stand as the birds pecked at cracked corn tumbling from a gravity feeder he made from PVC pipe, painted camouflage and attached to a tree?
     "We sometimes get upwards of 20 at a time," Stroik said "I built a little seat that my daughter can sit on, and so when I'm on my knees, our heads are at the same level." But now the Cedarburg police sergeant and hunting safety instructor is in Sheboygan County Circuit Court on a citation for illegally feeding wildlife.
     Stroik says he's the victim of an elaborate ruse, a massive stakeout based on deceit. Stroik was trying to arrange a ride along with a DNR warden Mike Clutter. Stroik was attempting to get more insight to use with his hunter safety work.
     Under the guise of setting up the ride along, Clutter was sneaking around Stroik's six acre woods. Clutter was trying to get the goods on him, so he could nail him for shooting over a bait pile. Clutter went so far is to offer free beer to his fellow wardens who helped him get the goods on Stroik. It almost appears that Clutter nurtures a vendetta against Stroik. After all this Stroik has pleaded not guilty to a citation, which carries a fine of $323 for illegally feeding wildlife.
     Stroik summed it all up this way: "If you have that amount of time and energy and finances, then you have a lot more resources than we have" in the Cedarburg Police Department, Stroik said. "I'm going to jeopardize a 25year (law enforcement) career, with five years to retirement, to eat dog food in my house surrounded by a SWAT team?" He said in an interview: "It's like the Old West."
     Couple this with the incident where a woman was nursing her baby, and a DNR warden broke down her door. Then throw in the piers fiasco and you have an arrogant DNR out of control.

National Affiliation of the Habitually Offended
By Larry Parks      This article deals with the minority group “National Affiliation of The Habitually Offended.” PARR Vice President Larry Parks concerned about the inequality of the condemnation of High School logos, wrote a letter to Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent of schools and advocate of changing logos that offend Indians. Following is her reply...
Dear Mr. Parks:
I apologize for not getting back to you in a timelier manner regarding your request for a written response from Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent, regarding the Warrior logo of the K-8 school on the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation. The State Superintendent has asked me to reply to you.
     You had asked if the State Superintendent's request to discontinue the use of American Indian logos and mascots was intended to include all of Wisconsin's public schools. If all schools are included, you felt the Lac du Flambeau School with an American Indian image should be included with the rest of the schools in the state.
     Communities may choose to represent themselves in many ways, including by using a particular mascot, logo, or nickname.
     In some cases the representation describes characteristics of the community itself, while in others, the representation describes characteristics the community finds admirable in something or someone else.
     The first case is self representation, and it reflects the views of those described from an insider's perspective.
     The latter case is based on an outsider's perspective, and as such, it could possibly reflect a biased view that differs from that of those whose characteristics are being "celebrated" in some way. When the representations and images reflect a racial or ethnic group, common courtesy requires consideration of and deference to those depicted because one cannot choose to be a "Norseman" or an "Indian" in the same way that one might choose to be an "Oredocker" or a "Lumberjack." Self representation is an important right in any community, so when a community like Lac du Flambeau chooses to use an American Indian image, it is more akin to a community like Stoughton using a Norseman than to another non-Indian community choosing an "Indian" mascot, logo, or nickname to represent itself.
     While the concept of self representation may apply to the Lac du Flambeau School, engaging in a local discussion as suggested in the state superintendent's letter may be useful. Individuals at the local level are in a position to clarify the meaning of their logo and mascot and the impact the images have on local students and on students in other districts that are in contact with Lac du Flambeau.
     Thank you for taking the time to share your views. It is important that each of us stays informed and involved as we work to ensure the success of each of our students…
Special Assistant to the State Superintendent. - William Conzemus
PARR Ed Note: Does this explanation clarify the whole situation for you?

Eliminate Reservations
Taken from the February Reservation Report, Summed up by John Fulton Lewis      Eliminate Reservation Poverty by Eliminating Reservations" - This is the recommendation of author and historian John J. Miller in an analytical Wall Street Journal editorial page commentary January 27, 2006. He pulled no punches as he described the degradation, poverty and abject hopelessness of so many American Indian reservations throughout the nation. Miller's comments followed, though of course coincidentally, the January '06 RESERVATION REPORT account from Minnesota Indian newspaper Editor Publisher Bill Lawrence in which the Bemidji, MN, resident described his findings and conclusions after touring a number of reservations throughout the West as well as in his own state. Wrote Miller: "In the American imagination, grinding poverty is often a picture of urban slums full of broken families, abandoned apartments and back alley drug deals. But an equally valid portrait might focus on the rural squalor of the rez. Of the 10 poorest counties in the U.S., seven of them are contained wholly or largely on reservations in Arizona, North Dakota and South Dakota."
     He adds: Despite a defense offered by "victimologists" that this is because the mean, old U.S.A. gave Indians the poorest possible land for reservations, that suggestion is belied by the example of Buffalo County in South Dakota - the nation's absolute poorest county - where "2,000 people live", where "more than 30% of the homes are headed by women without husbands" and where "the median household income is less than $13,000" and "the unemployment rate is sky high."
     Yet, "to the east of Buffalo County lies Jerauld County, which is similar in size and population" where "only 6% of its homes are headed by women without husbands, the median household income is more than $30,000, and the unemployment rate hovers around 3%. The fundamental difference between these two counties": Crow Creek Indian Reservation is in Buffalo County and is a "pocket of poverty in a land of plenty."
     Miller, like Lawrence, argues that reservation Indians would be better off if they owned a piece of the land and their own homes instead of being entitled only to communal sharing. He failed to make note than 80% of American Indians live and work off reservations and are part of the assimilated mainstream of U.S. life many of them doing quite well, thank you America.
     But Miller does not miss a beat when he describes the infatuation of Indian tribal leaders for their "sovereign" status as independent nations but still enjoying annual education, health and welfare appropriations from U.S. taxpayers, benefiting from full U.S. citizenship and…when off the reservation at least…the full protection of the laws that serve our nation.
     The Census reports that intermarriage between Indians and those who are not is widespread and "pervasive" with "more than half of all Indians" now in such unions. Miller says racial purists in the tribes see such mixed marriages as a kind of "ethnic cleansing" tragedy even if it is "based on love rather than hate."
     Then he asserts: "the real tragedy is that reservations, as collectivist enclaves within a capitalist society, have beaten down their inhabitants with brute force rather than lifting them up with opportunity. As their economies have withered, other social pathologies have taken root, Indians are distressingly prone to crime; alcoholism and suicide. About 60% of Indian children are born out of wedlock. Indian kids are perhaps five times as likely as white ones to live in some form of foster care. Their schools are depressingly bad."
     Miller sees little likelihood that casino profits will have much long term impact on the lives and livelihoods of reservation least of their worries. The time has come to abolish reservations for the good of the people who live on them. Indians His conclusion: Lobbying reforms won't do Indians much good. "The Abramoff rip off should be the least of their worries. The time has come to abolish reservations for the good of the people who live on them.

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