Post by Okwes on Mar 22, 2007 15:16:25 GMT -5
State takes pride in progress on Indian issues
By GWEN FLORIO
Tribune Capitol Bureau
HELENA — Authorities in Montana have made "unprecedented" progress
in how they deal with Indian people, Attorney General Mike McGrath told
members of the Indian legislative caucus Tuesday. That's because
they've had some legislated encouragement.
<http://gcirm.greatfallstribune.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/news.grea\
tfallstribune.com/stories/localnews/213312682/ArticleFlex_1/OasDefault/1\
4DiscountPharmacy/discount.html/63326230363932343435613565626230?http://\
www.greatfallstribune.com/ads/posterboards/discountpharmacy>
<http://gcirm.greatfallstribune.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/news.grea\
tfallstribune.com/stories/localnews/213312682/ArticleFlex_1/OasDefault/1\
4DiscountPharmacy/discount.html/63326230363932343435613565626230?http://\
www.greatfallstribune.com/ads/posterboards/discountpharmacy> A 2005
law carried by Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, required that state and local
law enforcement officers are trained in cultural issues. It also set up
a complaint system for people who feel they've been subjected to racial
profiling. "There were complaints by Native people that they were
being stopped by the Highway Patrol basically because of their race"
— for example, because they had feathers dangling from their
rear-view mirrors, or their license plates bore the "38" prefix of
Glacier County, where the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is located, said
Rep. Joey Jayne, D-Arlee. Since the new legislation became law, more
than 2,000 law enforcement officers have attended training sessions in
cultural awareness and on the prohibition against profiling, said Kevin
Olson, administrator of the state Law Enforcement Academy. "We don't
believe any state is doing the cultural awareness programs we are and at
the level we are," McGrath said. Some members of the legislative
leadership also attended the first meeting of the Indian caucus. Two of
them followed up on last week's apology by Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred,
who called House colleague Jonathan Windy Boy "chief" and made a joke
about a war club. "I hope we no longer have to deal with the issues
we dealt with last week. I pledge to do all I can to make sure civility
reigns," said Senate President Mike Cooney, D-Helena. House Minority
Leader John Parker, D-Great Falls, added that "we can move far beyond
that, and keep up the push for Indian Education for All, and many other
exciting initiatives." Those initiatives include a continuing focus on
programs such as the training for law enforcement. Missoula Police
Detective Mark Blood, who grew up on the Flathead Indian Reservation,
conducts the training. Highway Patrol Col. Paul Grimstad said he's
applying for federal grants for computer programs that would allow the
state to keep track of the race of people stopped by authorities.
Officers write what they think a person's race is on a ticket when it's
issued, but the information isn't formally compiled, he said. Gathering
such information is crucial, said state Rep. Margarett Campbell,
D-Poplar. "I guess I'm wondering how anyone is about to determine if
race profiling is taking place if you're not able to determine the race"
of those being stopped, she said. The Indian caucus meets weekly
while the Legislature is in session. Montana's legislative delegation of
10 Indian people is the second largest in the Lower 48 states, trailing
only Oklahoma. Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls, is an honorary
member of the caucus because he represents the interests of the landless
Little Shell Band of the Chippewa, whose headquarters is in Great Falls.
Nationwide, there are 61 Indians in state capitols, according to the
Native American Caucus of State Legislators.
By GWEN FLORIO
Tribune Capitol Bureau
HELENA — Authorities in Montana have made "unprecedented" progress
in how they deal with Indian people, Attorney General Mike McGrath told
members of the Indian legislative caucus Tuesday. That's because
they've had some legislated encouragement.
<http://gcirm.greatfallstribune.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/news.grea\
tfallstribune.com/stories/localnews/213312682/ArticleFlex_1/OasDefault/1\
4DiscountPharmacy/discount.html/63326230363932343435613565626230?http://\
www.greatfallstribune.com/ads/posterboards/discountpharmacy>
<http://gcirm.greatfallstribune.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/news.grea\
tfallstribune.com/stories/localnews/213312682/ArticleFlex_1/OasDefault/1\
4DiscountPharmacy/discount.html/63326230363932343435613565626230?http://\
www.greatfallstribune.com/ads/posterboards/discountpharmacy> A 2005
law carried by Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, required that state and local
law enforcement officers are trained in cultural issues. It also set up
a complaint system for people who feel they've been subjected to racial
profiling. "There were complaints by Native people that they were
being stopped by the Highway Patrol basically because of their race"
— for example, because they had feathers dangling from their
rear-view mirrors, or their license plates bore the "38" prefix of
Glacier County, where the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is located, said
Rep. Joey Jayne, D-Arlee. Since the new legislation became law, more
than 2,000 law enforcement officers have attended training sessions in
cultural awareness and on the prohibition against profiling, said Kevin
Olson, administrator of the state Law Enforcement Academy. "We don't
believe any state is doing the cultural awareness programs we are and at
the level we are," McGrath said. Some members of the legislative
leadership also attended the first meeting of the Indian caucus. Two of
them followed up on last week's apology by Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred,
who called House colleague Jonathan Windy Boy "chief" and made a joke
about a war club. "I hope we no longer have to deal with the issues
we dealt with last week. I pledge to do all I can to make sure civility
reigns," said Senate President Mike Cooney, D-Helena. House Minority
Leader John Parker, D-Great Falls, added that "we can move far beyond
that, and keep up the push for Indian Education for All, and many other
exciting initiatives." Those initiatives include a continuing focus on
programs such as the training for law enforcement. Missoula Police
Detective Mark Blood, who grew up on the Flathead Indian Reservation,
conducts the training. Highway Patrol Col. Paul Grimstad said he's
applying for federal grants for computer programs that would allow the
state to keep track of the race of people stopped by authorities.
Officers write what they think a person's race is on a ticket when it's
issued, but the information isn't formally compiled, he said. Gathering
such information is crucial, said state Rep. Margarett Campbell,
D-Poplar. "I guess I'm wondering how anyone is about to determine if
race profiling is taking place if you're not able to determine the race"
of those being stopped, she said. The Indian caucus meets weekly
while the Legislature is in session. Montana's legislative delegation of
10 Indian people is the second largest in the Lower 48 states, trailing
only Oklahoma. Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls, is an honorary
member of the caucus because he represents the interests of the landless
Little Shell Band of the Chippewa, whose headquarters is in Great Falls.
Nationwide, there are 61 Indians in state capitols, according to the
Native American Caucus of State Legislators.