Band Members Gather to Discuss Sovereignty With our Sovereignty under attack, Band Members flooded into the RBC Chambers at the LLBO Government Center, filling the room to capacity at an informational RBC meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. The crowded quarters did not hinder their concerns as they expressed their views on the issues at hand. With the Tribal Council present, Chairwoman Carri Jones gave the welcome and proceeded to explain the history of the dispute between the Band and the Minnesota Department of Revenue leading up to the seizure of tribally-regulated cigarettes. She further explained how Governor Dayton is unwilling to change his position as he will only consider a one-solution-approach as adequate to satisfy 11 different and unique tribes. Each tribe and band in Minnesota has unique demographics and traditions & cultures, as well as a wide variety of community structures and different approaches to economics. It is unfathomable that a cookie-cutter approach will work for each individual tribe. The floor was opened to discussion that ranged from sovereign rights, to economics, and to the burdensome taxation of our sacred Asemma. Together, the people present and the Tribal Council came to a general understanding of the next steps to take. Together we stand, as the birds, as the animals, and as the fish in their spring migrations, and it is clear there is only one direction the creator intended us to take. Though there are many possible routes to get our destination, we will must and will continue to fight to protect our sovereignty and our economic future. The Band is preparing the various options available at this juncture and will distribute these options to Band members. As more information is acquired the Tribal Council will hold additional meeting and/or inform the public through KOJB Radio, DeBahJiMon Newspaper, Leech Lake website, and the new Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Facebook page. https://facebook/LeechLakeBandOfOjibwe
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 16:08:28 +0000
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