Native American Press/Ojibwe News

‘State of the Band’ plays the same old tune – where is accountability?

January 17, 2003
We have published the full text of the “State of the Band” address by Mille Lacs chair Melanie Benjamin in this issue of Press/ON. The mood of this year’s speech appears to be much more conciliatory and constructive than last year’s very combative speech, although she reiterated last year’s call, “We are now fighting for the very existence of our homelands. There are times when we have no choice but to stand and fight. This is one of those times.”

Oral arguments relating to the boundary lawsuit which apparently inspired Melanie’s pugilistic call to defend Mille Lacs last year will be heard next Friday in federal court in St. Paul. Unfortunately, the dispute between Mille Lacs County commissioners and the Mille Lacs tribal government involves questions which – at this point – need to be adjudicated by a neutral third party. That’s why we have courts.

There are a number of other important issues that Melanie didn’t really touch on in her address, including the violence, alcohol and drug abuse, gang problems, and other abuse on the reservation. She is not the only tribal official who is not addressing these problems (except for when it’s time to get federal grants for having social problems), but we’re disappointed in Melanie.

We expected more of her. We also hope that Melanie will take the mantle of leadership in the way that we believe she’s capable of doing, and that she’ll restructure her priorities and call for a constitutional convention to amend the tribal constitution, with emphasis on protecting the civil rights of Indian people and ensure accountability of tribal government. This is something that’s been urgently needed since the tribal constitutions were written.

With a little more than a year remaining on her term, she still has time to approach the really tough issues. We hope she does.

She talked about continuing the reform of the Mille Lacs Corporate Commission, which despite the 30% ‘downsizing’ she refers to, is still overgrown and out of hand.

It was also disappointing that Melanie did not address the issue of tribal government accountability, especially in view of the fact that there has been a petition circulating requesting an accounting of tribal funds, particularly the status of the investment funds and tribal enterprises.

In October 2002, a petition began circulating to require a meeting to disclose the Band’s finances to the tribal membership. According to Press/ON’s sources, the petition is still alive and is being pursued. I’m mystified as to why she did not address the issues that were listed in the petition, which requests:

1. Latest copies of audited financial statements, including balance sheets for band’s general fund, casinos, programs, and all other businesses and enterprises including banks.

2. List of all investments made with band funds in stocks, bonds, property, businesses, or any other ventures. Include totals, amount of initial investment, date of investment, and current value as of October 15, 2002.

3. Current budgets for all band business, casinos, corporate commission, all tribal programs, and the general fund.

4. List of all attorney contracts with fee or salary and expenses arrangements.

5. List of all lobbying contracts with fee or salary and expenses arrangements.

6. List of all public relations firms’ contracts with fee and expenses arrangements.

7. List of all consultant contracts with fee arrangements.

8. List of all campaign contributions to tribal, local, state and federal candidates.

9. Organization charts for all band government, corporate commission, casinos, tribal businesses including banks, and band government programs.

10. List of all employees of the band, by title, job description, current salary, and place of employment.

Melanie has a year left to address these issues. Let’s hope she does.

We have published the full text of the “State of the Band” address by Mille Lacs chair Melanie Benjamin in this issue of Press/ON. The mood of this year’s speech appears to be much more conciliatory and constructive than last year’s very combative speech, although she reiterated last year’s call, “We are now fighting for the very existence of our homelands. There are times when we have no choice but to stand and fight. This is one of those times.”

Oral arguments relating to the boundary lawsuit which apparently inspired Melanie’s pugilistic call to defend Mille Lacs last year will be heard next Friday in federal court in St. Paul. Unfortunately, the dispute between Mille Lacs County commissioners and the Mille Lacs tribal government involves questions which – at this point – need to be adjudicated by a neutral third party. That’s why we have courts.

There are a number of other important issues that Melanie didn’t really touch on in her address, including the violence, alcohol and drug abuse, gang problems, and other abuse on the reservation. She is not the only tribal official who is not addressing these problems (except for when it’s time to get federal grants for having social problems), but we’re disappointed in Melanie.

We expected more of her. We also hope that Melanie will take the mantle of leadership in the way that we believe she’s capable of doing, and that she’ll restructure her priorities and call for a constitutional convention to amend the tribal constitution, with emphasis on protecting the civil rights of Indian people and ensure accountability of tribal government. This is something that’s been urgently needed since the tribal constitutions were written.

With a little more than a year remaining on her term, she still has time to approach the really tough issues. We hope she does.

She talked about continuing the reform of the Mille Lacs Corporate Commission, which despite the 30% ‘downsizing’ she refers to, is still overgrown and out of hand.

It was also disappointing that Melanie did not address the issue of tribal government accountability, especially in view of the fact that there has been a petition circulating requesting an accounting of tribal funds, particularly the status of the investment funds and tribal enterprises.

In October 2002, a petition began circulating to require a meeting to disclose the Band’s finances to the tribal membership. According to Press/ON’s sources, the petition is still alive and is being pursued. I’m mystified as to why she did not address the issues that were listed in the petition, which requests:

1. Latest copies of audited financial statements, including balance sheets for band’s general fund, casinos, programs, and all other businesses and enterprises including banks.

2. List of all investments made with band funds in stocks, bonds, property, businesses, or any other ventures. Include totals, amount of initial investment, date of investment, and current value as of October 15, 2002.

3. Current budgets for all band business, casinos, corporate commission, all tribal programs, and the general fund.

4. List of all attorney contracts with fee or salary and expenses arrangements.

5. List of all lobbying contracts with fee or salary and expenses arrangements.

6. List of all public relations firms’ contracts with fee and expenses arrangements.

7. List of all consultant contracts with fee arrangements.

8. List of all campaign contributions to tribal, local, state and federal candidates.

9. Organization charts for all band government, corporate commission, casinos, tribal businesses including banks, and band government programs.

10. List of all employees of the band, by title, job description, current salary, and place of employment.

Melanie has a year left to address these issues. Let’s hope she does.

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