And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 08:12:58 -0400
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: August 17, 18
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Kenneth Lazore arrested near border
Aug. 17, 1999
ST. REGIS MOHAWK RESERVATION, N.Y. (AP) - A fugitive in a
five-year-old gunrunning conspiracy case was arrested by St. Regis
Mohawk Tribal Police here, and turned over to federal authorities.
Kenneth Lazore was arrested early Saturday morning after a brief chase on
the American side of the reservation, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian
border in northern New York. Lazore had been living somewhere on the
Canadian side of the reservation, beyond the reach of U.S. authorities,
police said. In February 1995, Lazore was sentenced in U.S. District Court
in Syracuse to a five-year prison term for conspiracy to manufacture,
possess and transfer machine guns. He was allowed to report to prison on
his own on the day his sentence was to start but never showed, said Daniel
J. French,
interim U.S. attorney. Lazore was arrested in 1994 in a "buy and bust"
undercover operation by state police and federal agents. He pleaded guilty
to converting 250 assault weapons and pistols into machine guns whose
serial numbers were ground out. Tribal police turned Lazore over to state
police in Massena, who subsequently handed him over to the U.S. Marshal's
Service in Syracuse. � The Canadian Press,
1999
Tuesday, August 17, 1999
Natives vow blockade over raid on casino
By CP
DAKOTA TIPI RESERVE, Man. -- Threats of a rail line blockade followed the
RCMP seizure of 25 slot machines yesterday from an unlicensed casino on a
Manitoba Indian reserve. The raid at the Dakota Tipi reserve follows a
simmering dispute between the band chief and the Manitoba government over
gambling licences. RCMP and customs officials seized the machines during an
8 a.m. raid. No arrests were made but four Dakota Gas Bar employees said
they were detained in RCMP cars while the casino was cleared out. The
officers acted on information that the gaming equipment had been imported
illegally into Canada. Sgt. Steve Saunders of Winnipeg RCMP said members of
Dakota Tipi would have to appeal to an adjudicator to prove they legally
brought the equipment into Canada. Dakota Tipi Chief Dennis Pashe said
yesterday he expects the band will erect a blockade to protest the move. He
also anticipated fighting the seizure in court. Pashe said he has hired
renegade activist Terry Nelson to engineer the reserve's reaction to the
raid. In July, Native Affairs Minister David Newman blamed native protests
at the Manitoba legislature this spring for the government's decision not
to grant licences to two First Nations casinos, one at Dakota Tipi's. The
casino opened last month without a provincial licence.
Dakota Tipi has earned substantial revenue running a large bingo
for the past two decades.
August 17, 1999 Bottom line: First Nation fears future
By NADIA MOHARIB -- Staff Reporter Winnipeg Sun
Chief Dennis Pashe doesn't mind facing criminal charges if it
leads to resolution of the battle over native-run casinos.
Criminal charges were the first step to ending a protracted battle
in Saskatchewan over the operation of native-run casinos. The battle with
the Manitoba government for native-run casinos has lasted more than 13
years with a lot of patience, promises and no progress, said Pashe, who
decided to buck provincial laws to open the casino palace at Dakota Tipi
last month. Governments "are the ones who didn't want to negotiate. After
13 years we ended up with nothing," he said. "This blockade wouldn't have
happened had they negotiated in good faith." Yesterday, dusty cabinets
stood where the slot machines once lured up to 100 gamblers a day from the
reserve and nearby
communities. Police said the raid took place because the slot machines
were smuggled into Manitoba, not because of the running of the casino.
"There's no smuggling as far as this community is concerned," said Pashe,
citing a federal court decision saying First Nations or First Nations
individuals are not subject to customs taxes or duties. He wouldn't say
where the machines came from.
The band spent about $30,000 to set up the casino. Profits were to go
towards "solving our own problems" and an endless list of community
improvements. The band voluntarily shut a casino down in 1987 after
threats of criminal charges. Thirteen years of talks with the province
"didn't even get First Nations to first base on the gaming issue," Pashe
said. Two months ago the province nixed a bid for two pilot casinos in
First Nations communities. Native-run casinos are about rights, said Pashe,
who oversees the reserve and its 150 residents. A casino would bring jobs
and revenue to the community which has 60 per cent unemployment. The recent
short-lived operation employed 10 people, he said. "We know we can raise
revenues, create jobs and make the community better but are denied that,"
Pashe said. A casino is an economic boost, said gas jockey Gary Beardy,
one of four men police detained during the raid.
"What I see is employment for the community. Most have families
they want to feed," said the father of two, who recently moved
from a northern community to Dakota for a job.
August 17, 1999
Police actions 'inexcusable'
It's for self-protection, cops say
By NADIA MOHARIB -- Staff Reporter Winnipeg Sun
DAKOTA TIPI There's a whole lot of distrust. Ever since Dakota Tipi opened
its casino palace in July, without the province's approval, RCMP officers
have frequently visited the community just south of Portage la Prairie.
Patrons -- from travellers to others from nearby communities -- have been
stopped and officers have jotted down licence numbers. Staff at a nearby
gas station installed a video camera to catch visits by police on tape. All
along, police said visitors to an "illegal" gaming house could be charged.
When the RCMP raided the casino early yesterday, they took four attendants
at a gas station across the road into cruiser cars. "They told us we
wouldn't get charged if we co-operated," said gas jockey Gary Beardy,
adding officers told the men they could face charges for obstruction of
justice. Police said later the men were only detained during the seizure
to ensure officers' safety during raid.
>From the car, Beardy watched officers "clean out the casino" of
25 slot machines. About 20 to 30 police officers were on the scene -- one
videotaped the operation which took less than an hour. "I figure they
didn't want us to call anyone," said Beardy, 34. "It's out of hand," said
his co-worker, Robert Shepherd, who figures police detained the foursome to
prevent them from being witnesses. "We were just coming into work. There's
no excuse for them to come in and put us under arrest. We have nothing to
do with what's going on."
August 17, 1999 Charge me, says chief
Pashe dares police after slots seized
By NADIA MOHARIB and CHRIS PURDY -- Staff Reporters
The Dakota Tipi band chief, who accuses government of reneging on its
promises, vows to follow through on his threat to stage a blockade of rail
lines. Dennis Pashe confirmed those plans after yesterday's police raid and
seizure of 25 slot machines from the reserve's casino. "We were expecting
this," a tired-looking Pashe said. "I'm hoping to be charged under the
Criminal Code." Police seized all of the casino's gambling machines during
the raid. Sgt. Steve Saunders said there may still be a few games tables
remaining, but the removal of the slots has virtually put the place out of
business. Pashe says he has the support of the Assembly of Manitoba
Chiefs for the blockade, likely to be at tracks near Portage la
Prairie, and planned to coincide with the Tories' impending election
call. "I don't really care too much about public opinion or public
support. We are just doing what we have to do, what's good for
us," Pashe said. RCMP are aware of Pashe's blockade threats and have
contingency plans in place. "It is no secret," said Saunders. "We
certainly see that as regrettable -- following one illegal act with
another." Yesterday about 8 a.m., RCMP entered the unlocked casino and
within 20 minutes seized 25 slot-type machines and loaded them into a
truck. The 33 officers were prepared for a fight, but there was none, said
Staff Sgt. John Fleming of the RCMP's Customs and Excise Section. So far,
the RCMP investigation has focused solely on customs. The slots were
seized because they were purchased from a casino in Iowa and smuggled into
Manitoba without permission of the province's gaming commission, said
Fleming.
He said multiple arrests under the Customs Act are expected in
the near future. Penalties range from a $500,000 fine to five years
in jail. Criminal charges may be laid after consultation with the
provincial Crown's office. "We're going to finish our investigation and
make sure we've left no stone unturned," Fleming said. Some of the machines
were jingling with money when they were seized, but police don't have
details on how much money or customers the casino brought in during its
month in business. Fleming said the machines will be dismantled to
determine if they were tampered with. He said it's likely the machines were
modified to take Canadian coins. An examination will also show if the
payout percentages had been modified.
Wednesday, August 18, 1999
Chief vows to blockade railway lines
By JASON SCOTT, STAFF REPORTER Winnipeg Sun
Dakota Tipi chief Dennis Pashe says members of his community
plan to blockade rail lines in early September following an
RCMP casino raid. The planned blockade of main rail lines near Portage la
Prairie will "probably be the first or second week of September," Pashe
said yesterday following an Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs meeting. "(The
tracks are) an economic way that the federal and provincial governments use
to move their resources," Pashe said "By attacking and taking away our
casino operation they've affected
our economy." RCMP officers seized 25 slot machines during a raid Monday
morning. Pashe has said the blockade has the support of the AMC. Grand
Chief Rod Bushie did not return phone calls last night.
The Dakota Tipi chief hopes the blockade will pressure the
federal government to negotiate seriously with natives on a wide
range of issues including self-government, child welfare and
education. "The federal government needs to get off its butt and start
implementing legislation," Pashe aid. "They have to quit shuffling us off
to the province," he said. "It's not really a casino issue. It's a
jurisdiction issue and an economic issue."
Pashe said the community is looking at the possibility of replacing
the seized slot machines.
Wednesday 18 August 1999 Aboriginal Peoples TV network
debuts on Rogers Sept. 1
Tony Atherton
The Ottawa Citizen
On Sept. 1, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) will
debut on Rogers Ottawa on Channel 75. The addition displaces the
French movie channel, Super Ecran (distributed to less that 0.5 per cent of
Rogers Ottawa's more than 200,000 customers), which will
henceforth be available only to Rogers' digital subscribers.
Rogers Ottawa manager Carol Ring says existing Super Ecran
customers will be supplied with a digital decoding box at no extra charge
until March. APTN won't be the only new Canadian channel to begin
operating Sept. 1, but it will be the only one that all local cable
subscribers will receive. A channel devoted to newsmagazines, drama and
documentaries in 18 native languages as well as in English and French, APTN
must be carried as a basic cable service by CRTC decree. It will cost each
cable subscriber an extra 15 cents a month.
Wednesday, August 18, 1999
Cable to charge for Aboriginal channel
Viewers forced (?) to pay for mandatory station <<$1.80/year>>??
By BRENDAN ELLIOTT -- Halifax Daily News
Like it or not, all metro cable subscribers will soon be shelling out an
extra $1.80 a year for the new Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
"We're not the bad guys here," said Access Communications president Greg
Keating. "The CRTC has forced us to carry a new television channel in the
fall ... and we're not going to eat that cost, so we're obliged to put some
of it onto the basic cable bill."
Keating, who offers cable television to Dartmouth viewers, admitted he'd
prefer to give his customers a choice. "This isn't the way we like to work,
putting a channel on and saying, `Here you go, 15 cents more a month,
whether you like it or not.'" While Access Communications customers will
see the increase on their October bill, Haligonians hooked up to Eastlink
won't pay the charge of at
least 15 cents a month until Jan. 1. Dan McKeen, director of marketing for
Eastlink, said cable companies can't opt out of providing the new channel.
"Basically, when the CRTC tells you
to put it on, you have to put it on," McKeen said. The new channel will be
launched Sept. 1, and will broadcast programming developed
by Aboriginals for Aboriginals. "(It) will not be a specialty channel. It
will be a first-level, core service for
Canada's Aboriginal people," says information contained on the station's
Internet Web site (http://www.tvnc.ca).
"It will provide a national voice for Aboriginal communities across the
country and, at the same time, become a window on Aboriginal life for all
Canadians." The station will be 90% Canadian content, and will broadcast in
English, French and 15 Aboriginal languages. Network developers also hope
to provide cross-over appeal to other Canadians by showing programs on
traditional Inuit life-style in the Far North, historical biographies on
notable Aboriginal leaders and lessons on survival or traditional medicines.
One caller to The Daily News was angered by the new charge. "What it
boils down to is we're getting another wonderful cultural station, and
paying for it. My question is, isn't that what the CBC is for?" said the
man, who refused to give his name.
HEALING WITHIN THE MEDICINE WHEEL
RAINBOW HEALING OF CUTLER Ontario
cordially invites you to a Wildnerness Weekend Retreat
for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Healing Within the Medicine Wheel through Native American Ways
SEPTEMBER 17 OCTOBER 15
Elliot Lake, Ontario
Sacred fire, medicine walks, shake tent, sweat lodge, healing
circle, singing and drumming, cedar baths.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER CALL
Isabelle Meawasige HBSW at 705-844-2774 (fax) 705-844-1206
or
Leona Jacobs at 705-844-2513
"Let Us Consider The Human Brain As
A Very Complex Photographic Plate"
1957 G.H. Estabrooks
www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html
FOR K A R E N #01182
who died fighting 4/23/99
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.aches-mc.org
807-622-5407
