History & Current Environment Scan In completing a scan of the environment, it is important to create a “snapshot” of government formulation as it currently exists in the consciousness of the communities to be involved in the effort to bring about positive changes in governance. And, to understand that this ‘snapshot’ of governance is shaped by the history and experience of the people, the community and their readiness to participate in participating in and shaping governance structures. The group generated data and information to discuss this history as it lives in the memories and stories of participants, along with the current day reality in which the vision of the group will be developed. In this session participants shared information on the history of Ojibway Tribes in Minnesota and their experiences with ‘governance’, Basic Data, Trends that impact the 3E Team’s work, Advantages and Recent Accomplishments that 3E or the Tribes have achieved in the past 2-3 years. These discussions help set the stage for the creation of a practical vision that is grounded in the reality of 3E, the Ojibway Tribes and their stakeholder communities. History Grounding 3E Team Vision 1880s & Before 1900 - 1919 World  WWI Native Ways of Knowing Not Viewed as Legitimate – Put in Box & Introduction of Religion and Education Not Allowed to Go Back to Circle Individuals  Traditional knowledge is valued by our people, individually  Indians as U.S. Veterans in WWI  All responsible to village, clan  Knowledge  Living a traditional way of life  Allotment/Land Stolen  Respect for traditional order  Formal Education & Religion influence worldviews Creating Reservations, Combining Bands ~ Creates Divisions;  Churches & missionaries taking over Community  Sense of belonging to Clan system Family & Churches v Tradition  Keeping community and family balance  Everyone knows their role within the Tribe  Respect for elders Pre-Assimilation: Clan System: Clan, Council, Family; Leadership  Broken promises (Native – Not State, Fed, etc.) & Leaders Flourished; Societies Assimilation Era: Hopeless, Lost,  Traditional Chiefs took care of clans/families Christianity, Boarding School, Split Up, Confused  Annuities  Traditional Culture  Governed by Clans Leadership  1837 Treaty Land  1854 Treaty Bois Fort, Grand Portage, Fond du Lac  1867 Treaty White Earth  Ceremonies outlawed  Leaders informed everyone of changes  First contact with Europeans  1855 Treaty: Mississippi, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs  Accountability of leadership 3E Vision Team History (Continued) 1920 - 1939 1940 - 1959 World  Great Depression  WWII  Korean War  Parents begin to relinquish child-rearing responsibilities Parents Think Traditional Knowledge is Not Valuable,  “Dumb Indian” syndrome….if you spoke Ojibwe you weren’t viewed as Feel Best Thing is for Kids to Receive White Education; smart, picked on & treated bad Alcohol Means of Escape, Symptom of Spiritual Distress  Incest, child prostitution, violence – white men coming onto Rez, & Oppression Individuals forcibly pouring alcohol down women’s throats & raping them  Right to vote as U.S. citizens  Women sterilized  Individual’s feel included  Kids adopted out – parents drinking  Boarding schools  Less self-sufficiency as living/surviving becomes easier in 50’s  Running away from Boarding school and Beyond  Poverty & unemployment for lack of resources  Conflicting values  Kids rounded up forcibly sent to Boarding schools Increased Off-Reservation Population, Looking for Jobs, Military  Dysfunction within community and family Community  Poverty-limited jobs Family &  Ignoring our old Chiefs  Loss of family ties  Punishment for speaking language, want to blend in easier  Alcohol influences individuals and family structures way  Belonging  BIA control – Constitutions were adopted (Native – Not State, Fed, Relocation Era: Angry, Hopeful, Loss of Control,  Controversial “government” changes Survival, Promises; Termination Era:  Anishinaabe leadership disbanded Dislocation/Disconnect, Loss of Identity Leadership  Minnesota Chippewa Tribes (MCT) 1936  Foreign Government system etc.)  Commodities  Miriam Report 1928  Leadership also lost identity  IRA 1934  Roberts Rules of Order  Bois Forte leaders occupied hotel in DC  109 Reservations Eliminated  Leadership maintained language 3E Vision Team History (Continued) 1960s 1970s 1980s World  Vietnam  Interstate built  Apartheid ends  Dam Construction  Energy Development / OPEC  Energy Crisis Self-Determination; False Sense of Native Pride: AIM, Leonard Peltier Taking Steps to Help Ourselves: Jobs, Control, Broken System Healthcare. Some Did, Others Kicked Back; Welfare Individuals  Crab in a bucket syndrome  Parents choosing to send kids to boarding  We were on welfare  Vietnam war, Veterans service to the school  More local clinics, healthcare U.S. and citizenship  Board school enrollment at its peak  Indians going to college and not making it  Seeking identity for individuals  Controlled leadership  Loss of language  BIE school stand still Family & Community Blood Quantum Requirement for Drugs/Alcohol Prevalent; Families Need Gaming, Corruption & Fear; Money Citizenship – Splits Families Help Tied to “Indians”; Decisions on Who Is and Isn’t Indian  Relocated to cities  Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)  Half tribe disenrolled to get control of  People off-reservation being left out  Cultural revitalization begins mafia gaming machines  Split families  Families banding together  System of spoils  Ceremonies re-established MCT Construction Revised – Revitalization of Language, Culture and Revitalization Governance, Resource (Native – Not State, Fed, Language Loss, Family Votes/Favors Opportunities (‘70s – ‘90’s)  Lack of resources to take care of people  Corrupt leadership Leadership Self-Determination: Revitalization,  Committee system for resources (1040’s  Blood quantum implemented Advocacy, Control by BIA, Divide & etc.) -1990’s)  Indian Religious Freedom Act – 1978 Conquer  Limited decision-making  “Progressive” leaders – divided culture  Loss of direction  System of spoils  “Power” came to light  Indian Self-Determination Act of 1974  Fight for treaty (fishing) rights  War on poverty & CAP programs all about $  Making compacts for Gaming 3E Vision Team History (Continued) 1990s 2000s World  Internet & World Wide Web  9/11  Fall of Soviet Union  Desert Storm Value to Realize Potential – Individuals Feel:  College visits – Tribal support for individuals, intuition, books, fees – “I can’t do it & I don’t have time” priority to develop people  Increased education opportunities  Younger generations experiencing ignorant racism: “You’re Individuals Indian? Can you sing and dance for me?”  Spear fishing controversy; not getting served in restaurants – blatant racism  Per capita comes with casinos  Language revitalization  Residency requirements  Jobs created by gaming – less unemployment Fear of Losing Language – Big Part of Who We Are Community  Continue to pass on traditions Family &  Minnesota Indigenous language symposium  Language awakening Revitalization of Language, Culture and Revitalization  Division of services (Native – Not State, Governance, Resource Opportunities (‘70s – ‘90’s)  Status quo Leadership Fed, etc) Self-Governance: More to Say With Block Grants; Freedom, Competition  Casino brings change  Stone case (PL 280) 1995? 3E Vision Team History (Continued) 2010 - 2015 2016 World  Internalized oppression hating our culture Awakening Governance & Systems Not Working for Us Individuals  MCT becoming restrictive controlling with policies & We Need to Do Something  Hopelessness  Oppressing culture and language  Families in power that oppress others  Spiritual leaders, elders shunned unless government approved &  Anxiety – about being the last language speaker paid  Convoluted communication – exclusive, internalized racism Community Family &  Reclaiming identity “Coming Home”  Purging of Tribal politics in Native Communities  Referendum on White Earth constitution ignored  Lack of knowledge  Money valued over culture  Loss of direction  Tribal government supporting sulfide mining  Charter schools created Developing Relationships With Other Systems (Native – Not State, Leadership Fed, etc) Environmental Scan: Basic Data These are facts, measurable information and statistics about the current reality for MCT  We are still reliant on the federal government  6 Bands make up the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and we know who they are  We know our land base – Counties, acres, allotments, Trust  We have access to our current constitution and amendments  We know many fluent speakers we have  White Earth population = about 18,000 and decreasing. Typical voter turnout = 10%  Minnesota has the lowest native graduation rate in the U.S. but Iron Range has 100% for last 5 years  Government is still our parent because sovereignty is still controlled by Federal government  We are still considered a domestic dependent Nation by U.S. government  MCT = Minnesota Chippewa Tribes – Red Lake is not part of MCT  MCT is recognized by the Federal Government as a conglomerate (a number of different things that are grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities) that has been given sovereign authority, and, each of the Nations who are part of MCT are recognized as distinct Nations  Growing movement around 1855 Treaty Rights  Too many members chose not to participate elections  6 Different treaties created our land bases  Between the 6 of us we are similar, yet different  Poverty prevails based on government decisions (system of spoils)  Members need access to information  Approximately 40,000 members spread throughout the world  Disproportionate shares of resources (within each reservation & among MCT) Environmental Scan: Positive (+) Trends Trends are shifts or changes that are occurring around us and are not done yet. Positive trends are beneficial to our forward momentum, like the crest of a wave that a surfer might ride. They provide lift and support our efforts.  We are passing on more language & culture to our children  More schools are teaching language and culture  Systematic hoops/bureaucracy are increasing  Increased interest in Tribal government by off-reservation citizens  Increased language & culture activities organized by community  Increased desire to take are of Mother Earth/ environment  We are working on bridging the gap between youth and elders  Our reservations function more independently Environmental Scan: Negative (-) Trends Trends are shifts or changes that are occurring around us and are not done yet. Negative trends present obstacles that hinder our forward momentum. They complicate and diffuse our efforts.  Opiate abuse is on the rise & affecting babies being born  Social media is increasing isolation in families and communities  Noticeable disparities in Health, Education, Cancer, Diabetes, Obesity  Constitutional amendments are eroding the power of the people but increasing power of Councils  Dis-enrolling members  Enrolling fewer members  Population is decreasing  Limiting enrollment based on monetary resources  Systematic hoops are increasing (structure)  Tribal Councils enforcing censorship  We are losing our elder’s knowledge and advice  Tribal Executive Committee (TEC) granted themselves more power Environmental Scan: Advantages Advantages are strengths, resources or expertise we possess that position us to make powerful and significant strides.  We have access to social media as an educational tool  We have a personal interest in the decisions we have to make  Mutual experience and understanding  We live this!  Knowledge of past and current  We have a passion – really care about the future  Experienced researchers  We have access to resources: Tribal, funding, people, educational  We are trusted by our communities  Our concern for the people because we are descendants  We are bridge builders  We are risk takers  We have access to natural resources  We have access to land bases  Ceremonial knowledge & practices  Sovereignty & ability to exercise it  We have great teachers and orators  Our success and entrepreneurship is growing  We have determination and resiliency  We are willing to ask the hard questions  We are willing to do the work Environmental Scan: Recent Accomplishments (2-3 year) Recent accomplishments give us a sense of confidence as we look toward our continued achievement.  Referendum @ White Earth had record turnout of voters  Red Lake has an embassy  White Earth digital storytelling & education effort (thecwen.com)  More people coming together – ex: Iron Range, this planning grant  Increased media coverage of Tribal politics  Tribal Executive Committee Secretarial Election upcoming  We are here!  Off-reservation Tribal offices established by: Boise Fort, Leech Lake, Fond du Lac, White Earth, Mille Lacs  Recent elections @ each reservation  Sovereign immunity re-affirmed via court decisions  Land buy-backs, which increases reservation land base  The appointment of Karen Diver to Presidential Assistant to Indian Affairs  Vanessa Northrup election at Fond du Lac  National recognition of American Cancer Foundation – powwow for Hope  Establishment of language program  Reacquired lot leases on reservation land which resulted in increased housing  100 new houses @ Mille Lacs  3 new hotels off reservation  Immersion camps & schools  Fond du Lac purchased Spirit Island