Independent Indian - Independent Thinking

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A new website is offering conservative tribal members the opportunity to speak up and speak out about how they really feel, without danger of tribal government finding out who they are.

The Independent Indian Press went online in April 2010 and is already getting attention.

Unfortunately, there are few Indian papers that people can write conservative thoughts freely in.  Most local Indian papers are owned or run by Tribal governments that only allow things to be printed that make them look good.  There are some that are independent, but if they get funds from the tribal government, they also toe the line and don't say much that the tribal council wouldn't like. 

Up until last year, people were able to speak up freely in the Native American Press / Ojibwe News out of Bemidji, Minnesota. The owner/editor, Bill Lawrence, understood the pressures people had on them to remain silent about things going on in Indian Country, so he allowed people to be printed anonymous.  He ususally knew who they were, and why they had to hide their names.  By doing that, he enabled people to come forward with their stories of tribal government corruption and opression. He encouraged them to bring documentation with them, which he happily copied and printed in the paper.

According to the Star & Tribune in 2009,

"Former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota David Lillehaug led a wide-ranging prosecution of tribal leaders in the 1990s, which culminated in prison terms for White Earth Chairman Darryl (Chip) Wadena, Leech Lake Chairman Alfred (Tig) Pemberton and former Leech Lake attorney and State Sen. Harold (Skip) Finn. All three were targets of Lawrence’s reporting.
“Bill Lawrence and the Native American Press performed a valuable service in identifying corruption in tribal government,” Lillehaug said. “Some of his stories provided leads for federal law enforcement, others were dry holes. But when he was right, he was really right.”

"In 2003, the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists awarded Lawrence its Freedom of Information Award for his legal effort to make public audits of Indian casinos, which Lawrence called “state-sanctioned monopolies that should be monitored, open and accountable.”

"Lillehaug called him “a force for transparency in tribal government.”

However, Bill became ill with cancer and after 21 years of publishing, had to close it down.  He passed away February, 2010, in Idaho.

Many were saddened losing Bill. He was a rare, wonderful gem as a human being.  We've also been saddened by the loss of one of the few outlets for free speach in Indian Country.

Bill Lawrence has passed on. The Native American Press / Ojibwe News has printed its final edition. But their legacy and what they taught lives on. 

Bill didn't want anyone to reproduce the paper. He said it was too hard to make any money from it, and with the Newspaper industry on the decline, it will only get worse.

So the Independent Indian Press has gone online, instead, to hopefully fill the hole left behind.  The point isn't to make money, but to provide an outlet for people to speak freely and honestly.
This site is "open to the writings of Tribal Members and those that love them for the purpose of standing up for Conservative Values, the US Constitution and freedom from over-reaching government."

You can visit it, and submit writing, at Independent Indian Press
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Spoke at the Mille Lacs Symposium re: ICWA

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I was asked to speak about ICWA at the Mille Lacs Equal Rights Symposium this last weekend. This was, I suppose, a chance for rebuttal to the slander that occurred last year in Mille Lacs under the banner of the Minnesota Human Rights network. However, I never mentioned last years meeting. Others did that plenty.

Dr. William Allen, the former chairman of the U.S Commission on Civil Rights, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Allen was awesome.

We had the privilege of breakfast with Dr. Allen just before the symposium. We stayed with a Mille Lacs county commissioner who has been a friend of ours for years, (prior to him becoming a commissioner.) He invited Dr. Allen to come over for breakfast prior to the meeting. Bill Lawrence, the publisher of the Native American Press/Ojibwe News and a member of the Red Lake tribe, was also there. I'd written for his paper a few times in the 1990's.

It was incredibly comfortable. Dr. Allen, who is a professor in political science at Michigan State, had some really interesting things to say about the current presidential campaign. I wish I'd taken notes.

Now the Seminar -

I was very nervous. I've written a lot and said a few words at a few different places, but I've never spoken for 45 minutes before. However, although I'm not the best speaker, the reaction after the meeting was overwhelming. A legislator from Minnesota was there and wanted more information. Others came up to speak to me - all very encouraging. One woman was almost crying! I gave out several of Roland's videos. A pastor we knew from western Montana was also there - he'd moved several years ago. He wanted us to spend the night with him last night (but we needed to get home)

One man wanted to give me a deer-hide drum he'd made in exchange for two videos. So we traded.

But the reaction to my presentation is nothing compared to the the speech Dr. Allen gave concerning federal Indian policy, ICWA, and the underlying goals and thought processes behind them. His comments were incredibly insightful. ALSO he is interested in writing more on these issues after he's finished with his current project in January.

Dr. Allen left from the meeting to catch his flight back to Maryland. The girls and I went back to to the Commissioners home, where we spent a couple of hours with him, Bill and their wives sitting on the porch overlooking the lake. Again, I am so grateful for how comfortable the conversation was.

Maybe it's because we've all been attacked together over the years because of our tribal politics. I don't know. Maybe it's because they knew and loved Roland. It's been four years now since he passed, and not everyone we meet knows him anymore.

Somebody wrote this the next day...

Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 1:04 PM

Lisa,
,,, I live in Ramsey, MN.
On Saturday, I was at the meeting in Wahkon, MN and heard you speak. You did a marvelous job. I wanted to talk to you but had to leave right before lunch and couldn't.
I will donate some $ online at your website, but not that I can afford much. But, the work you folks do is wonderful. I don't think anyone there knew of the issues you brought up. It is disgusting and heart breaking. Hopefully, you folks can make a difference and help the kids out.