Little Flower wrote:
I know now why the tribal council hasn't
informed the membership of the Beloit Casino
Project. I'd like to know why haven't they held
hearings on the reservation? They held
numerous meetings for the Beloit people and
over 6,000 people were allowed a referendum.
Why weren't the people of Bad River informed
and allowed the opportunity to vote? Have the
tribal council members even read what they
are agreeing to? What part of the agreement
did they not understand? Where were the
tribal attorneys at, that are charged with
looking out for our best interests? Did they
not explain the implications of the IGA? I'm
having a hard time believing that our own
council members have sold us out. They took
care of everyone else's interest and have
forgotten their own people. They have allowed
others to cash in big time at OUR expense!
Old Man wrote:
In response to the Beloit Casino Project, I am
totally appalled that the actual agreement
grants guaranteed payments to everyone but
the Tribe. Is this OUR casino? Seems like
everyone but the Tribe gets rich at our
expense! If anyone still believes the Tribe
will get rich and we'll all be receiving per cap
payments, do some calculating yourself. After
making all the required payments to
everyone and all the loan payments for the
casino and all of Carlson's ancillary buildings,
what'll be left for the Tribe? Look at what's
happening in the economy now. People
aren't spending as frivolously as they were
and are having a hard enough time paying
the bills, how much would they spend at the
casino? If they don't spend enough , how will
the Tribe make the required payments?
According to the agreement, the waiver of
sovereign immunity allows them to sue us for
every cent we have and all potential revenue
along with encumbered tribal lands. How did
we, as a Tribe, allow this to happen? The
inheritance that our ancestors struggled to
provide for the future generations, is not
ours to endanger. They had the wisdom to
provide a permanent homeland for us. We
cannot afford to jeopardize that which we are
to keep for the future generations. I'll be
sending a letter to Washington and I'll be
asking everyone in my family to do the same.
Thanks for getting the info out.
Negani wrote:
OMG, I cannot believe that our Tribal
governing board is sooo clueless about their
responsibilities to actually believe they can
appoint the Vice-Chairman as the Chairman.
Did any of them read the Constitution???
Now "CHIEF" LEMIEUX ACTUALLY BELIEVES
HE IS IN CHARGE AND FOLLOWS THE SAME
RETALIATORY BEHAVIOR OF HIS MENTOR,
GENE BIGBOY.
Two Marks wrote:
After reading the Inter Governmental
Agreement, I had to re-read it several times
to believe what my eyes saw. Its no wonder
Tribal officials have yet to inform members
about this casino project. Any elected
officials that supported this ought to be
thrown out of office. This project, as
proposed will benefit Beloit city, Rock
county, developer Kurt Carlson, and Niizhoo
Akiing, Not the tribe. What tribal leader
would sell out their own people? We've
heard all about the outrageous claims that
the Beloit casino will provide per capita
payments to all. Wishful thinking... The fact
of the matter can be found in the pages of
the Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA).
Don't believe what anyone tells you, read it
yourself. After reading and taking in all that
our tribal officials have agreed to, I am mad
as hell! They've mortgaged our tribal lands,
incurred more debt than the tribe can afford
and now made detrimental agreements
without tribal membership knowledge or
consent. I think tribal members should have
been allowed to vote on the issue and
definitely should have been informed. For
obvious reasons, I have a basic mistrust of
other governments because of the
injustices inflicted upon our people. Its
shameful that I cannot trust our own
government to act in the Tribe's best
interest!
Two Marks wrote:
Did anyone see the April,1 B.R. meeting?
What an april fools joke. Try to tell
someone, anyone what you
witnessed,they will think your nuts. Paying
two chairman's salary at the same
time,over $2,400.00 a week. No wonder
neither one of them thought that there's
nothing wrong. If it looks like a scam and
smells like a scam, IT'S A SCAM.. Neither
one is willing to give up the big bucks so
we seem to be stuck paying for two and
getting one. Can we afford this two for
one sale? There was alot more that went
on, but the old bones are tired, talk more
later.
Awakened wrote:
Everyone's talking about your video. Your
Cheating Heart was so appropriate. It
opened my eyes to the extent that the
greedy will go. I just wanted to say thanks.
Let all of our members know what that
Council has been up to!
Anishinabe Qwe wrote:
hello,i just felt like letting my voice be heard.
i think it is very sad that everything is going
down the way it is. i wish that everything will
get better soon and all the unresolved
issues will go away.
peeler wrote:
yous are totally right, things need to
change. A.S.A.P
concerned member wrote:
i was just wondering how yous got the
survellance tapes from the casino????
nobody is supposed to have access to those
except the authorized personel!!!!
BRANews will never divulge its sources.
What we can say to you is; there are
countless invisible warriors marching
along the path to truth and justice. We are
all auditors of OUR Tribal Government...
And as sure as the sun rises and sheds its
light; we are watching, witnessing, and
we've only just begun to testify.
....the admin
Negani wrote:
We, the concerned tribal membership, need
to make the change happen. Don't forget
that this fall there will be another Tribal
election, and potentially four tribal council
members could be replaced. Time for
organization and preparation to take back
our rights as the people who make up this
nation and without us the nation would
cease to exist. It is time to stop hoping that
things will change and work toward
replacing those individuals who are
currently involved in the chaos, who are
clearly incompetent and only look out for
themselves and their family members.
Ishwashwe Nebowii Kwe wrote:
I took the the time to email and call the U.S.
Dept. of Tribal Justice in Washington D.C
whom presides above the BIA even to
inform them of our injustices...if others
would do the same to bring more focus to
our plight it would probably help to "fix"
OUR PROBLEM. This WORKED with an
Oklahoma tribe.
Ogitchidaa Kwe wrote:
What happened to traditions??....the same
thing that has happened to our language.
There was a prophecy once told of a silver
and gold snake...each was devouring the
other to make a never ending circle...It was
said that the silver and gold snake would
bring the destruction of our ways and
people...This silver and gold snake is the
monies and greed that come with it...what
does our future hold if we sold it already.
What of our grandchildren and great
grandchildren....what will they have? Our
heriditary chiefs of the past went through a
lot to ensure our people have what we
had...do we forget our grandfathers and
what they've done for us just because it's
today and a "new" world. What happened to
honoring our traditions...does anyone know
what it means to be anishinabe...where are
our storytellers and elders to tell us the
stories meant to teach from past mistakes of
others and how to live... We must go back to
tradition if we are to survive this new world
today. Ogitchidaa...peaceful warrior. Lets not
let money be our focus as the corrupt
officials are focused...but on tradition and
bringing it back....TRADITIONALLY who made
our decisions throughout history...do we
allow the chamokamon to tell us who our
leaders are and how to run our tribe...see
how far that's gotten us.
Carrie wrote:
i'm glad to see all this information finally
available for members to read. I'm living in
AZ now but still have strong feelings about
well-being of our tribe.
Ishwashwe Nebowi Kwe wrote:
There is still much we can do to resolve our
issues. Here is a number for the US Dept. of
Tribal Justice in Washington D.C.
(202)-514-8812
US DOTJ
950 Pennsylvania Ave
NW Washington D.C. 20530
This office stands above the BIA and
handles issues such as ours since the US
gov. is unable to do anything because of
our status as a sovereign nation. Our
problems are similar to those of Wounded
Kness 30yrs ago. AIM helped them, maybe
they would help us. We need to go back to
our traditional ways and stop the
corruption. Is it the Anishinabe way to do as
our "leaders" are doing?...or the
chamokamon way?
concerned member wrote:
our problems should be handled in house
and start the impeachment process of said
officials
Negani wrote:
Does anyone want to start organizing
and promoting candidates for the
upcoming election? Last week (7/10)
another closed door meeting was held at
the Chief Blackbird center in the tribal
enrollment office with three tribal council
members present, the tribal operations
manager and lead tribal attorney
attempting to conduct an illegal poll vote
and illegal Council actions. Wake up
people, these are dangerous individuals
who have no thought for the present
generation let alone the future
generations.
Giizhigookwe wrote:
This is the first time I'm hearing or
seeing the site. If I may-I think it's great
that there's a resource, but hope that
there will be an extensive incorporation
of Tribal information and news. I would
like to see a Council member list with
positions as well as programs and
officers in the community. I would also
like to see stats on Bad River i.e.
population, acreage, unemployment,
employment, etc. I think this could be a
wonderful resource and your efforts are
appreciated.
Michelle wrote:
My idea would have to say..we deserve
per capita like the rest of the tribes...it
makes me feel bad that we dont get any
funding..I hope soon or in the near future
we could receive some kind of benefits
Weiss wrote:
I found out a few years ago that my
mother is a Bad River Member and have
been researching about the Tribe and am
quite shocked at the disorganization
regarding the Chairman and the
accusations. Since my mother is a Band
Member, I have been so proud of my
heritage and would like to learn more as
we dont know our family out there at all,
but, I would like to see more
accountability too from the elected
officials and SUPPORT the Band Members
trying to oust this horrible person! What
can we do to support the efforts and
become more involved even though we
DONT live on the reservation? Thanks!
Nessi wrote:
On the real, all of this stuff makes me
sick. Instead of worrying about some
magical casino off in some far way
place, the main concern should be
about our casino we have now. what
about renovating that? then we will
have more jobs for our unemployed
tribal members. Instead of wasting all
that money put it towards our housing.
And what about our elders? If i do say
so myself we are NOT doing enough for
them. And who the hell does ole Eugene
think he is?! I cant wait until Wiggins
wins election, maybe things will get
better.Ha, actually once hes out, i know
things will get better.
Hopeful wrote:
Mike Wiggins seems like the real deal
here. Honest work ethic and a genuine
concern for the people Is like a breath of
fresh air in a stuffy room full of old
crooks. It will be a proud moment when
we actually have a TRUE representative
of the people in office
TDjr wrote:
Over the course of the Bigboy reign I
have seen many families lose jobs one
by one due to "lack of funding" or some
other B.S. reason. Meanwhile, certain
families with the "right" last name have
jobs created for them or have had
several jobs with the tribe over a short
time span (with little to no qualifications
required for these jobs)...Not to mention
some of the privileged even receiving
"pardons" by the council for felony
convictions in order to hold these jobs. I
long for the day when everyone gets a
fair shake at gainful employment and the
foundation for employment is job skills
and hard work, not last names and
nepotism.
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