Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 11, 2007 19:41:20 GMT -5
Tribal chairman to lawmakers: 'My home is your home'
By DALE WETZELBy DALE WETZEL
www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/state/126646.txt
<http://www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/state/126646.txt\
>
Strengthening the relationship between North Dakota government and the
state's American Indian tribes can be as simple as having someone to
dinner, the chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa says.
"The first level is the individual level," David Brien said Friday in a
speech to a joint session of the North Dakota House and Senate.
"Invite a native person to supper. And in turn, the native person should
invite non-natives to their homes, to share in their celebrations and
family activities."
Brien asked lawmakers to support the state Indian Affairs Commission, an
agency he described as a bridge among tribes, North Dakota's governor
and the Legislature, and encourage stronger ties between state and
tribal higher education institutions.
He hinted that some of the state's expected $540 million budget surplus
should be used to help remedy reservation problems.
"I hear you have a big problem in state government today. ... There's
extra money out there," he said, as lawmakers laughed. "And, of course,
we would love to share in some of those dollars."
Since 1985, an American Indian tribal chairman from one of North
Dakota's five reservations has given a speech to the Legislature,
detailing the "state of the relationship" between the state and North
Dakota's tribal governments.
Access to affordable education is needed to help relieve problems of
poverty on Indian reservations, Brien said.
"It is proven that poor persons that have access to quality education
change their life, and become leaders of their communities," Brien said.
"And we must provide adequate educational lifelong learning
opportunities through a wide array of methodologies. ... Education,
really, I think, is a large secret to succeeding for Indian country."
Brien, who was elected tribal chairman last November, presented a small
pouch of loose tobacco to Gov. John Hoeven as a peace offering and
closed his address with several prayers, including the Lord's Prayer.
"My home is your home, new friends," he said. "My community is your
community, in brotherly commitment and in love."
By DALE WETZELBy DALE WETZEL
www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/state/126646.txt
<http://www.bismarktribune.com/articles/2007/01/06/news/state/126646.txt\
>
Strengthening the relationship between North Dakota government and the
state's American Indian tribes can be as simple as having someone to
dinner, the chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa says.
"The first level is the individual level," David Brien said Friday in a
speech to a joint session of the North Dakota House and Senate.
"Invite a native person to supper. And in turn, the native person should
invite non-natives to their homes, to share in their celebrations and
family activities."
Brien asked lawmakers to support the state Indian Affairs Commission, an
agency he described as a bridge among tribes, North Dakota's governor
and the Legislature, and encourage stronger ties between state and
tribal higher education institutions.
He hinted that some of the state's expected $540 million budget surplus
should be used to help remedy reservation problems.
"I hear you have a big problem in state government today. ... There's
extra money out there," he said, as lawmakers laughed. "And, of course,
we would love to share in some of those dollars."
Since 1985, an American Indian tribal chairman from one of North
Dakota's five reservations has given a speech to the Legislature,
detailing the "state of the relationship" between the state and North
Dakota's tribal governments.
Access to affordable education is needed to help relieve problems of
poverty on Indian reservations, Brien said.
"It is proven that poor persons that have access to quality education
change their life, and become leaders of their communities," Brien said.
"And we must provide adequate educational lifelong learning
opportunities through a wide array of methodologies. ... Education,
really, I think, is a large secret to succeeding for Indian country."
Brien, who was elected tribal chairman last November, presented a small
pouch of loose tobacco to Gov. John Hoeven as a peace offering and
closed his address with several prayers, including the Lord's Prayer.
"My home is your home, new friends," he said. "My community is your
community, in brotherly commitment and in love."