PEOPLE'S VOICE to hold public discussion on reservation issues

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.

"We hope to see you there," he stated. "The more voices, the better."