Dissenting members of tribe lose out on casino profits
Posted: Friday, January 27, 2006
TAMA, Iowa (AP) -- Dissenting members of the current Meskwaki tribal council say they're being deprived of their monthly $2,000 per capita payment from gambling revenues and fear banishment from the tribe, the Gazette reported in a copyright story.
The more than a dozen members are opposed to the council led by Homer Bear Jr., which won a tribal dispute that shut down the tribe's casino at Tama in 2003.
"The next steps will be disenrollment from the tribe and banishment because of our beliefs," said tribe member Donald Wanatee Sr., 73, who has been cut off from the monthly payment.
Wanatee said Meskwaki leaders are using tribal sovereignty, a sacred political tenet among American Indians, as a way to suppress tribe member's rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Alex Walker Jr., the leader of the tribal council replaced by the Bear Council in 2003, said current tribal leaders are making accusations without filing charges or presenting evidence.
"They set up a kangaroo court and strip us of our benefits when we don't cooperate," Walker said.
The Meskwaki members being sanctioned were members of the Walker council or its associates. They allegedly had documents related to $779,000 in tribal funds that tribal lawyers said disappeared during the Walker regime.
"We believe they have information about where the missing money went," said Jeff Rasmussen, a Minnesota attorney representing the tribe.
A tribal order signed by Homer Bear Jr. claims Donald Wanatee failed to provide documents "related to $779,000 which, in an apparent theft, disappeared from tribal accounts ... under the control of the former Walker Council."
Wanatee was found in contempt and fined $1,000 a day until he provides the documents, and $1,000 a week until he appears before the tribal council. The council ordered that his payments from gambling revenues be withheld until the fines are paid.
Wanatee said the Bear council is withholding the per-capita payments "to shut up people who disagree with them."
Fred Dorr, a Des Moines attorney who represents the Meskwakis who have been denied their payments, said the Bear council "is trying to muzzle everybody" who disagrees with its tactics.
Dorr said the documents sought by the Bear council are "confidential and protected attorney work-product ... and attorney-client information."
Roberta Hale, 55, of Marshalltown, said she lost her per-capita payment in April and accused the Bear council of violating her rights.
"I would like to see the evidence they have against me," she said.
The more than a dozen members are opposed to the council led by Homer Bear Jr., which won a tribal dispute that shut down the tribe's casino at Tama in 2003.
"The next steps will be disenrollment from the tribe and banishment because of our beliefs," said tribe member Donald Wanatee Sr., 73, who has been cut off from the monthly payment.
Wanatee said Meskwaki leaders are using tribal sovereignty, a sacred political tenet among American Indians, as a way to suppress tribe member's rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Alex Walker Jr., the leader of the tribal council replaced by the Bear Council in 2003, said current tribal leaders are making accusations without filing charges or presenting evidence.
"They set up a kangaroo court and strip us of our benefits when we don't cooperate," Walker said.
The Meskwaki members being sanctioned were members of the Walker council or its associates. They allegedly had documents related to $779,000 in tribal funds that tribal lawyers said disappeared during the Walker regime.
"We believe they have information about where the missing money went," said Jeff Rasmussen, a Minnesota attorney representing the tribe.
A tribal order signed by Homer Bear Jr. claims Donald Wanatee failed to provide documents "related to $779,000 which, in an apparent theft, disappeared from tribal accounts ... under the control of the former Walker Council."
Wanatee was found in contempt and fined $1,000 a day until he provides the documents, and $1,000 a week until he appears before the tribal council. The council ordered that his payments from gambling revenues be withheld until the fines are paid.
Wanatee said the Bear council is withholding the per-capita payments "to shut up people who disagree with them."
Fred Dorr, a Des Moines attorney who represents the Meskwakis who have been denied their payments, said the Bear council "is trying to muzzle everybody" who disagrees with its tactics.
Dorr said the documents sought by the Bear council are "confidential and protected attorney work-product ... and attorney-client information."
Roberta Hale, 55, of Marshalltown, said she lost her per-capita payment in April and accused the Bear council of violating her rights.
"I would like to see the evidence they have against me," she said.
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