North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
|
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
|
Click PayPal link for direct credit card contribution or PayPal payment options. (No PayPal account necessary!)
Interested in Receiving NDHRC Email Newsletter? |
Programs Announcements Updates Resources November 6, 2002
Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition! Thank you to our new members and contributors. Your support is amazing! In this week’s PAUR Report:
********************************************* 1.) Newspaper Articles on Phelps Visit: UND students protest anti-gay church's protest Kansas group of nine brings 'God hates fags' message By Stephen J. Lee - Herald Staff Writer Full Article: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforksherald/4426560.htm
Anti-gay protest gets little notice at dome By Tom Pantera - tpantera@forumcomm.com The Forum - 11/03/2002 Full Article: http://www.in-forum.com/articles/?id=21995
Kansas protest group fails to show up Forum staff reports The Forum - 11/02/2002 Full Article: http://www.in-forum.com/articles/?id=21934
********************************************* 2.) Star Tribune News Article: American Indians emerging as new force in politics: The Associated Press – Renee Ruble Published Nov. 2, 2002 Star Tribune MILLE LACS LAKE, Minn. - Standing under portraits of chiefs one night a few weeks ago, state Rep. Sondra Erickson told the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe that she believes their reservation no longer exists. Some members of the American Indian band leaned back in their chairs. Others turned to each other, shook their heads and whispered. What the band holds sacred as reservation land, Erickson and some others believe the band lost in a 1913 U.S. Supreme Court ruling and acts of Congress. It was the first nontribal political debate hosted by the Mille Lacs Band, and although none of the candidates was Ojibwe, all acknowledged the growing political and financial muscle of the northern Minnesota band. Tribes around the country, many enriched by casino revenue, are becoming a growing force in politics. Candidates more often campaign at reservations, trying to reach a growing number of Indian voters. "In the last decade, the Native American voice and influence in politics, both economically and locally, has grown exponentially," said Holly Cook, a Red Lake Band of Chippewa member who lobbies for several tribes in Washington, D.C. "They're seeing more and more that our votes are getting stronger," said Tammy Miller, a Mille Lacs band member who organized the debate. The tribes recognize the power of becoming active in "the other government." They're creating offices to nominate and elect tribal members for state and county seats, many never held by an American Indian. "We need to get out there and vote or else no one is ever going to listen to us," said Jesse Claussen, a Lakota, who organized a record high Indian voter turnout in southern South Dakota. In tribal elections, voter turnout rate is typically over 60 percent, but Indian participation drops dramatically in state and federal elections. The trend can be seen from the Ojibwe and Mdewakanton in Minnesota to the Lakota Sioux in South Dakota and the Navajo in the Southwest. "Tribal elections are so personable - you know the people and can see the difference on the reservation," Miller said. "It's just a matter of educating members that their votes also can make a difference in state elections. It's changing a thought process." To make voting less intimidating, Lakota members gave rides and welcomed voters in Lakota at polling places. Mille Lacs handed out a voter guide on Indian issues. And in the Southwest, Navajos were hired by counties to help with voter registration. The Navajo also worked with states to combine elections, allowing members to vote on tribal and state issues on the same day and at the same place. On such days, the Indian voter turnout jumped to about 60 percent, said Carol Perry, who heads the Navajo election administration. "There's a lot of pride when Indian people step forward and do well," said Claussen, who helped organized a record primary vote by the Lakota to oust the mayor, county commissioners and a school board member in Martin, S.D., between the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. Claussen and other Lakota leaders spent months organizing the vote after town leaders dismissed their concerns of prejudicial schools and racial profiling by the sheriff's department. They went to basketball games, tribal feasts and door to door to register Indians, including some who never voted in a nontribal election. When the June 4 primary arrived, Indians accounted for 53 percent of the voter base, up from the typical 15 percent. Among the winners were three recruited Indians, who unseated two incumbent county commissioners and also took a school board seat. "We're hoping that what we did can filter out to other Indian people, to let them know how you can change things in your community by voting," said Claussen, a LaCreek District Civil Rights Committee member. In the 2000 presidential election, contributions from Indian gaming amounted to $2.95 million, mostly to Democrats. So far this year, more than $1.3 million in Indian gaming was given - closely divided among Democrats and Republicans - by individuals, PACs and soft money, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group that tracks such spending. "We're getting more respect as well as getting more influence with gambling dollars," said Al Childs, treasurer of the Prairie Island Mdewakanton Community in south-central Minnesota. The tiny Prairie Island is one of the top ten Indian gaming campaign contributors this year, spending more than $53,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Earlier this year, Prairie Island gained national attention in the congressional debate over the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site. The Indian community supported the Nevada site in hopes it would limit the nuclear waste stored at an Xcel Energy waste site that is only 600 yards from the reservation. With revenues from its Treasure Island Resort and Casino the band runs just south of the Twin Cities, Prairie Island bought full-page ads in the Minneapolis and St. Paul daily newspapers, as well as Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, about Yucca Mountain. The community also had a Washington lobbyist work the issue, and tribal leaders met with lawmakers. "Just a few years ago we weren't able to defend ourselves. We were at the mercy of society," Childs said. "We're finally being heard. It's been overdue for many years." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Renee Ruble may be reached at rruble@ap.org ********************************************* 3.) Nominations Sought For Fargo Human Relations Awards: The City of Fargo, Fargo Human Relations Commission is seeking nominations for its Human Relations Awards to be presented at an annual event honoring the life,work and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 20, 2003. Awards will be presented to individuals (adult and youth) and an organization. Human Relations Award recipients will be selected on the basis of commitment to human relations, leadership by example in the area of human rights and creative and/or non-traditional methods to improve human relations. To nominate an individual or organization, please answer the following questions and provide specific examples of the activities and/or programs the person or organization is involved in: * How does this individual or organization demonstrate a commitment to human relations? * How does this individual or organization demonstrate leadership by example in the area of human rights? * How does this individual or organization demonstrate creative and/or creative and/or non-traditional methods to improve human relations? Nominations should be submitted no later than December 20, 2002 to the Fargo Human Relations Commission, c/o: Dan Mahli, 200 N 3rd Street, Fargo, ND 58102 or e-mail at dmmahli@ci.fargo.nd.us The Fargo Human Relations Commission's mission is to promote acceptance and respect for diversity and discourage discrimination. For more information or a nomination form, please contact Dan Mahli at 476-4144 or dmmahli@ci.fargo.nd.us. The nomination form is also available on the City's website at www.ci.fargo.nd.us/Planning/HRC/index ********************************************* 4.) News Article and Action Steps from the "Building a Human Rights Community: A Conversation with American Indians" Workshop: Workshop Held October 11th, 2002---Building a Human Rights Community: A Conversation with American Indians-- News Article Action Steps--Developed at Workshop********************************************* 5.) Indian Taco Day Today! Please remember that the deadline for "Indian Taco Day" sales is Wednesday, Nov. 6. The meal will be served at the NDSU Alumni Center on Friday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can still purchase tickets at the Multicultural Student Services Office. All proceeds go toward the Native American Student Association. Paul Boswell Director Multicultural Student Services North Dakota State University Office: (701) 231-7314 Fax: (701) 231-8756 ********************************************* 6.) MSUM Women’s Center presents Ann Reed, Minnesota singer and songwriter performance: The MSUM Women's Center proudly presents: Ann Reed, Minnesota singer and songwriter, will be performing at the Glasrud Auditorium on the MSUM campus, Thursday, November 7, at 7:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students (with ID). The concert is open to the public.
Reed offers original music on a variety of themes, but she is most noted for her philosophy regarding women's issues. Reed has won every major Minnesota music award including Artist of the Year, Folksinger of the Year, and the Alumni fine Arts Award. She has performed at world renown folk festivals, including Bumbershoot and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. She has also received recognition from Billboard magazine and the National Association of Independent Recording Distributors, as well as from several non-profit groups, most recently the Girl Scouts. The concert is sponsored by the MSUM Women's Center.
For more information on Ann Reed, visit her website at: For more information on the concert, contact the Women's Center, 236-3792 or womenctr@mnstate.edu ********************************************* 7.) David Whitcom announces the third annual Safe Connections Workshop: Lets talk about Men, Sex, Communication and Community: We hope you join us for this unique and enjoyable workshop – Saturday, November 16th from 11am to 7pm - held in the privacy of the elegant Avalon Center in downtown Fargo. Lunch and door prizes are provided to all participants. For more information, contact David Whitcomb at (701) 777-0071, david.whitcomb@und.edu or visit www.safeconnections.info ********************************************* Do you have a Program, Announcement, Update or Resource that you would like shared on our weekly PAUR report? If so, please send an email to LesaCaskey@NDHRC.org and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you are not a member of NDHRC yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up now! On-line or by mail, it's all set at: http://www.ndhrc.org/membership.htm Not getting the PAUR Report directly in your email? It's so easy to be added to the PAUR mailing list! Email LesaCaskey@NDHRC.org If you have received this email in error, or would like to be removed From the PAUR Report mailing list, please send an email to LesaCaskey@NDHRC.org for immediate assistance. |
