Transcripts

SPEAKER: Tribal members who have been occupying a tribal government office since last Friday were scheduled to meet with tribal leaders today. But the tribal council said it would not meet with anyone until the group leaves the building. Members took over the office to call attention to their charges of election fraud and mismanagement on the reservation. Donna Nicholson joins us now with that story. Donna?

DONNA NICHOLSON: Well, Gary, I just received an update from some of the people working with the White Earth Reservation members. And they say that about 30 protesters were arrested by Becker County Sheriff's officials at about 4:30 this afternoon.

They also told me that several members chained themselves to furniture in the tribal government office. Now, I should also say that none of this has been confirmed by Sheriff's officials. But before that, it seemed as business was running as usual at the tribal government office on the White Earth Reservation, despite the fact that a reported 100 protesters continued to occupy the office on the Northwest and Minnesota Reservation.

Protesters say they stayed out of the way of employees who reported for work today. Tribal members took over the building late last week in an effort, they say, to restore democracy to the Indian-run government. Members want to reorganize the government and to rewrite the tribe's constitution. Marvin Manypenny has occupied the building since the protests began last Friday.

MARVIN MANYPENNY: Here we tried to initiate change and then we're called terrorists and all this and that. And we're not terrorists to people here. We're an oppressed people and we want a voice on what's going on here. If we don't do something, we're going to be destroyed.

DONNA NICHOLSON: The takeover began after allegations of fraud during the September 1990 election, which members say helped Secretary treasurer Jerry Raleigh win re-election. Tribal members submitted a list of demands last week to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

They include the suspension of the secretary and treasurer and a full investigation into the election. But members also want to remove the current tribal council and replace it with an interim government. Some members charged leaders with, among other things, taking the ownership of hunting and fishing rights away from the people. Marvin Manypenny also charges that the tribal council has kept reservation members in the dark about how tribal and federal funds are being used.

MARVIN MANYPENNY: We want, public disclosure. We want public meetings. There haven't been public meetings here for going on six years where we know what's going on and what governing officials are doing.

Despite today's reports of the arrests, the protesters vow to return to the building until either the US Justice Department or the Bureau of Indian Affairs acts on their grievances about the government. But a Bureau of Indian Affairs official says the dispute is an internal affair that they cannot get involved with.

Meanwhile, the White Earth Tribal council issued a press release today saying it would be inappropriate for government representatives to, quote, "meet with people who are illegally occupying tribal buildings." Gary.

SPEAKER: So as it stands now, you've received reports that, in fact, some of the protesters were arrested today.

DONNA NICHOLSON: Right. And I should also say that those reports haven't been confirmed by the Benton County Sheriff's Department, but had heard word that, yes, there were some arrests.

SPEAKER: Now, are some of the people still in the building then?

DONNA NICHOLSON: Apparently, some are still in the building and are chained to some of the furniture in the building. And the people I've talked with said that they want this to be a peaceful protest. And that they say that no matter how many times they're arrested, they'll go back until someone listens to and acts on their list of demands.

SPEAKER: And the tribal council people say as long as there's somebody in the building, we're not going to talk.

DONNA NICHOLSON: They say as long as they're illegally occupying the building, they're not going to talk. And I should also say I tried to reach someone with the tribal council, but was unable to this afternoon.

SPEAKER: OK. Thank you, Donna. A report from NPR's Donna Nicholson.