Members of the Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth reservations,
including tribal leaders and non-native people of the surrounding
communities, are invited to take part in a public discussion on issues that
affect everyone in the the area
The People's Voice open meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 23 at the Peoples Church, Ninth Street and America
Avenue NW, in Bemidji. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. A lunch will be
provided.
The purpose of the meeting is to give all people the opportunity to
speak and listen to issues and concerns of reservation and surrounding
community life.
"All issues are on the table," say organizers, including poverty, high suicide
rate, racist language, crime, education, casino and gaming issues, health
and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, sovereignty, tribal government,
constitutional rights, federal Indian policy, human and civil rights.
Also invited are Governor Mark Dayton, Rep. John Persell (DFL-Bemidji),
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken. State Sen. John Carlson
(Republican-Bemidji) has indicated he has previous commiitments and
cannot attend. "We are awaiting responses from other invited elected
officials," said organizers.
The People's Voice is a follow-up gathering of Native American and
concerned citizens to the Council of Conversation held in Minneapolis on
April 21 at the Division of Indian Works.
It is sponsored by the Native American Justice Task Force, consisting of
Native Americans, concerned citizens, and the Joint Peace with Justice
Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Individuals who have questions or for per-registration may contact Curtis
Buckanaga, 218-407-2801.
