The following press release is from the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MAIC) which is sanctioned and funded by the State of Minnesota. The Council consists of tribal members only and was intended to be an official liaison organization between Minnesota's legislature and tribal governments within the State.

It is interesting to note that the MAIC is asking the State of Minnesota to bar her own citizens from using public facilities to openly discuss their views and concerns. If these activities are truly racist, file a law suit! What ever happened to freedom of speech and press? Perhaps tribal leaders are unaccustomed to the principal of open debate on Indian reservations?

Subject: Tribal Leaders Call for End to Anti-Indian Groups Using Public Facilities

 Contact:
Patty Dunn
651-292-8062
Cell: 612-597-2162

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 19, 2006

TRIBAL LEADERS CALL FOR END TO ANTI-INDIAN GROUPS USING PUBLIC FACILITIES

Official stance taken against growing anti-Indian movement

ONAMIA, Minn. – The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) unanimously passed a resolution today calling for an end to anti-Indian groups’ use of public schools, other government property, and VFW or American Legion facilities for their meetings and activities.

“The Mille Lacs Band is all too familiar with anti-Indian activities.  If anything, the problem is getting worse,” said Melanie Benjamin, Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, who introduced the resolution.  The Mille Lacs Band is one of the 11 federally recognized American Indian tribes in place in the State of Minnesota, which are all members of the MIAC.

 While a surge in anti-Indian activities is a statewide issue, problems in the Mille Lacs area are among the most pronounced.  The recently formed Mille Lacs Equal Rights Foundation – which has connections to the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, a national anti-Indian organization – has been particularly vocal.  The organization held public forums in a community hall, middle school, and high school in September to discuss so-called “federal Indian policy issues” before the upcoming elections.

 Anti-Indian groups’ use of public facilities is one of the many issues that concerns the MIAC.  The resolution passed today also addresses the need to notify state and federal officials about hate crimes, a coalition to combat the anti-Indian movement, and coordination with national organizations on strategies to oppose anti-Indian activities.

“The Indian Affairs Council is very concerned about the rise in activity against tribes and tribal members,” said Kevin Leecy, Chairman of the MIAC.  “As the official liaison between state government and the State of Minnesota tribes, we are taking on a leadership role in condemning anti-Indian activities, bringing these activities to the public’s attention, and doing everything we can to put an end to this sort of intolerance.”