The Native Blog

Watchdogs of Democracy?

Watchdogs of Democracy?: The waning Washington press corps and how it failed the public by Helen Thomas is the book to read! I have just finished reading the book and if anyone is interested in journalism, I would recommend this book. To me it was like getting a history lesson about journalism and it gave me some insight on what reporters do. In the book she wrote "Without an informed people there can be no democracy" Yea, that is such a profound statement!

Helen Thomas has been a journalist for over sixty years and has been a member of the White House press corp since the Kennedy years. If you can't buy the book right now, go to your local library and ask them to order it. 

Potawatomi land hearing canceled

The cancellation notice said the hearing was postponed “pending further discussion with DeKalb County officials, Village of Shabbona officials and other government entities.”

Potawatomi Land Hearing Canceled

First Native Woman competes in LPGA event

Cheryl Mitchell, 27, a Potawatomi from Walpole Island in Ontario, Canada, is first native woman to compete on the LPGA tour.

The story at Indianz.com

DeKalb County orders Prairie Band to stop Construction

The Prairie Band runs into problems with Shabbona land! Dekalb County ordered the tribe to stop construction two weeks ago!

Clinton memo cited 'credible' land claim

Buffy Sainte-Marie's censored records

Buffy Sainte-Marie's music was censored back in the sixties and into the depressing 70's!

Read the article at "Indian Country Today"

'Letter to the Editor' in DeKalb newspaper

"I write this with a very heavy heart RE: Badger Wahwasuck and Mamie Rupnicki attending public hearing regarding Shobney land claim.

I am a very proud enrolled Prairie Band Potawatomi tribal member, considered a senior citizen. I am out-spoken at our quarterly tribal general council meetings and praise our Tribal Council members for their dedication and tireless efforts to move forward for our Nation.

As in any other political settings whether it be local, county, state or national levels, there will always be radicals and negative speaking people but the good always outweigh the bad.

Furthermore, we have more Prairie Band Potawatomi who are looking at this land claim as a plus and excited about the new investment. I am sure if we could, we would challenge this group NOT to represent us. And I hope the DeKalb community realizes that not all of us are at their mentality.

Mege wige! Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.

Marilyn Hale-Wakolee"

Bob Dylan Joins myspace

Bob Dylan is now on myspace Bob Dylan on Myspace and joins us other old guys, me and Eddie and Neil Young!

Bob, there is safety in numbers!

Our Business is none of our business

It seems the radicals against the Shabbona land deal, Potawatomi divided about Shabbona land, say this land deal made by the tribal council is all new to them. Well, the information below shows otherwise:

"Chronology of Events in the Shabbona Project

Feb 4, 1997  Letter from Chairwoman Rupnicki to Bob Sheets and Mary West, that PBPN by Resolution 96-74 agrees to engage to Skyline to serve as exclusive advisor and representative with respect to land claim and future commercial land use, in exchange for 20 year contract to pay %15 of net revenues, or buyout after 7 years.

Resolution 97-18  Signed by Chairwoman Rupnicki and Secretary Juanita Jessepe authorizing hire of MSAJ as lead law firm on land claim.

Resolution 97-63  Signed by Chairwoman Rupnicki and Secretary Juanita Jessepe authorizing submission of land claim research to Dept. of Interior to seek recognition that PBPN is successor in interest, and entitled to beneficial title, to reservation lands."

Secrets in politics have a way of coming out and that holds true even for tribal politics!

Wrong day!

I was wrong on that meeting over in Dekalb County, Illinois...it is this friday the 11th...not today! I don't know what I was thinking!

Below is a great picture of the Little Soldiers Singers, without a doubt, the best drum group in the United States! This photo is on the Dekalb County online newspaper website!

 

The Shabbona Project

"The Shabbona project is in a state of total confusion right now". said one elected tribal official.

The meeting goes down friday, and as it will covered by the local papers in Illinois, it will not be a state secret! So when any articles come out about the meeting, they will be posted on this blog.