And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
VIA: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Brooke Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From: Frank Ambrose <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>
>Native Americans Dislike Special Plates
>
> Prophetstown funding through plates continues despite boycott
>
> By David Smith, Journal and Courier
>
> INDIANAPOLIS -- Several Native American
> Hoosiers have mounted a formal boycott of a new
> specialty license plate that proclaims Indiana "Land
> of the Indians."
>
> Through a bumper sticker, they are urging Hoosiers
> not to buy the license plate, which is intended to
> raise funds for The Museums At Prophetstown in
> Lafayette.
>
> The new license plate was authorized by legislation
> last year as a means of raising money for the
> nonprofit, private corporation that will operate
> Woodland Indian and pioneer farm museums at the
> yet-to-be-opened Prophets-town State Park in
> Tippecanoe County.
>
> But some members of the Native American
> Council, a governor-appointed body that advises
> the Department of Natural Resources, say they
> weren't consulted before the plate was authorized.
>
> Any proceeds, they say, should go directly to
> groups that promote the welfare, health or
> education of living Native Americans.
>
> "We do not need another museum to tell our
> history. What we need is to look at the plight of
> today's Indians," said Sally Tuttle, an advisory
> council member.
>
> Tuttle supported legislation in this General
> Assembly that would have diverted proceeds from
> the "Land of the Indians" plate to the council for
> distribution to grant applicants on the basis of
> need.
>
> The legislation, which Prophetstown museum
> supporters lobbied against, failed to get a hearing.
> There will not be another opportunity for legislation
> before the new plate is issued next January.
>
> Nick Clark, executive director of The Museums at
> Prophetstown Inc., on Monday denied personally
> lobbying against the bill.
>
> However, Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville, who
> sponsored the bill, said Clark met with him at the
> Statehouse to discuss the issue and undoubtedly
> met with others.
>
> "He explained to me why he was opposed to the
> bill. I believe that's lobbying," Avery said.
>
> A few days later, Avery said, the chairman of the
> Roads and Transportation Committee told him his
> bill wouldn't be heard. Another bill Avery sponsored
> did get a hearing in the same committee, he noted.
>
> Clark said he has received more than 650
> applications for the new plate, which features a
> design drawn by a Miami descendant.
>
> He said the $50,000 anticipated from the sale of
> the plates will benefit all Native Americans, both
> through the efforts of the museum and grants to
> American Indian organizations.
>
> "It's bound to help Native Americans through
> economic development, and through education and
> cultural preservation ... We'll undoubtedly be
> employing Native Americans."
>
> Clark's group also has pledged to re-grant 25
> percent of the proceeds annually to other Indiana
> Native American groups and projects.
>
> That promise wasn't good enough for Michael
> "Little Crow" Brown of Evansville. He said the plate
> is deceptive because people who see it may
> assume that the proceeds go directly to Native
> Americans, not a museum. The museum isn't
> mentioned on the plate.
>
> "The money on the plate is not going to the Native
> Americans," he said. He added that the jobs at
> Prophetstown won't help residents in his part of the
> state.
>
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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