Native American Press/Ojibwe News

New council at Red Lake takes steps toward recovery

September 13, 2002
It was sure a change to be at a Red Lake tribal council meeting where the council members got along and openly made information available to people so that “we, the people” could participate in our own government.

The most recent Red Lake tribal council meeting had very different atmosphere than the Whitefeather councils. Red Lake members attending the meeting got the feeling that the council was happy to see people at council meetings, and encouraged the participation of members.

So far, I’ve got to think that it was worth all the effort that Red Lakers put into recalling the former treasurer and into supporting candidates who knew what it’s like not to be able to participate in our own government, and who want the same things that the majority of tribal members want, including open and accountable government.

I think that the tribal council is making a sincere effort to get to the bottom of the financial disaster left by Whitefeather-King. They have made real progress, and I think that it was a good move to hire Red Lake tribal members Charlie Prentice as manager at River Road Casino, and Donna Perkins as manager at the Warroad Casino. These tribal members replaced recently resigned managers Roy Ferris and Bob Driscoll.

Since Red Lake tribal funds were so badly abused, manipulated, and even co-mingled by the King administration, we will not know the full extent of Red Lake’s financial problems until audits of all funds are completed, including the general fund, but casinos, program funds, and all tribal enterprises.

The audits currently being done by RSM McGladrey, and McGrady and Marx, are just the beginning of solving our problems. The audit of the tribal general fund is the most important, because the general fund interfaces with all of the other funds, and it is also probably the area of tribal finances that was the most badly manipulated by King. But, once the financial picture becomes clearer, the council will be able make definite plans about how to cope with the problems, and come up with a sensible budget, as well as a comprehensive recovery plan for the casinos and other enterprises.

We have enough tribal resources, human, natural, and financial, to come up with good solutions. Most tribal members want to help, to contribute their own knowledge, energies, and ideas to help us get back on our feet and ensure a viable future.

Greens lose credibility by mistreating McGaa
I’m disappointed in the Green Party. The way that Green Party leaders dealt with Ed McGaa will make most Indians not want to have anything to do with a political party for which we had some hope. I’ve lost a lot of respect for Ken Pentel and the leadership of the Green Party.

They were snookered by Wellstone’s moles.

Probably Ed McGaa is personally better off not having to spend the next two months dealing with fringe-mentality Greens who care more about using political campaigns to “make a statement” than they do about working with the electoral process to make real and necessary changes.

By turning their backs on one of their own candidates, the Green Party has both damaged their credibility, and lost the only candidate who stood a good chance not only of helping the Greens maintain their major-party status in Minnesota, but also have forced a discussion on issues which are crucially important to the people of the state of Minnesota.