Speech at TEC Meeting

What follows is the text copy of my speech I gave at the TEC Meeting on 28 January 2022.

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 To: Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Members

From: Mildred R. Holmes, Bois Forte Delegate

Re: Delegate - Responsibilities 

It is the responsibility of each Delegate to ensure their understanding of what is involved in the process for current Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Constitutional Convention.  The Constitutional Convention has been meeting since 2018.  

During the first year, community members attended the meetings held on their reservation and within the urban areas of Duluth and Minneapolis.  Much of what has been written and debated on has come from those early meetings.  

Clarification on the following: 

1. Overall Constitution or governing document at the level of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

2. Individual Constitutions or governing documents for each reservation within the parameters of the overall Constitution.

3.  Each reservation’s individual treaty rights can be addressed within their own Constitutions.  There are general treaties, and specific treaties each of which established the individual reservations and the rights, duties and responsibilities of each of the participants in that treaty.

Now, the Convention Delegates are fast tracking as the original Delegates have sifted through and brought together ideas and suggestions for the good of the whole, whilst keeping in mind the individuals.  

One of the responsibilities of the individual members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe was to find out their Clan, ways to discover were disseminated during that portion of the discussion. Why, you are thinking?  We are well aware that not everyone was given the opportunity to learn these ways.  And we, the original Delegates, want the new, or replacement document, to include our identity as a tribe with individual Bands as directed by various Band members.  

It was also discussed and agreed on that certain values and beliefs needed to be included as Articles within the new document: Rights of Nature, land, government, etc.  

Another of the Delegate responsibilities is to be open to suggestions and ideas of others.  There was a process in place to deal with voting and only the appointed delegates have the vote which is one vote per Delegation.  Individual members can attend meetings and join in the discussions as long as they are civil and respectful.  At times, one must agree to disagree which can happen if the process to get consensus breaks down, in which case majority rules.  

As for those who say they didn’t agree to these stipulations, then they aren’t the original appointed Delegates and must therefore catch up within their own delegation.  

What we want now from the general membership of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is further direction regarding Enrollment and membership requirements.  And the removal of the Secretary of the Interior from the approval process of the Constitution and/or amendments needs to take place one way or the other.  This removal was suggested by Secretary of the Interior in 2017.  Now whether that means amending the current Constitution or replacing with a new document is up to each member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. 

We’d like a referendum vote on those two issues, not just amendments or resolutions.  There are other issues which certainly can be addressed by the Delegates in bringing forward a new document or a changed document for ratification by the general members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.  

My personal opinion is that I don’t want to get my fellow Band members hopes up by having meetings to encourage discussion and decisions if “Nothing is going to happen anyway.”  I’ve heard that too many times as I was growing up and lately as these meeting drag on going over and over the same issues.  No, we are not going to start over every time a new person jumps on the Delegate committee as has been the case the past few months.  

“We didn’t agree,” “We need to discuss with community members,” are not valid if the previously appointed Delegates already agreed.  If someone didn’t attend the publicly announced meetings or by publicly announced Zoom meetings, then they cannot say they didn’t know.   When I miss a meeting, I try to catch up with what I missed and if the issue was voted on by the group, I don’t impose my ignorance on the rest just because I wasn’t there.  

I tried to have community meetings to disseminate information decided on at the Convention as educational points for members.  Some are interested in one or another of what is presented.  However, one common interest is the issue of enrollment and blood quantum.  Now, the blood quantum issue was deemed to be irrelevant and an imposed requirement, whether by design or “trying to be helpful” and is no longer an issue for discussion.  The Delegates unanimously agreed that it needs to be eliminated, deleted.  

Enrollment in the MCT is based on being a DESCENDANT of a person on the original roll of April 14, 1941, which is known as the basic membership roll, and the final approval of July 3, 1961 by the Area Director of the BIA.  I am a DESCENDANT of 6 of those on that basic membership roll.  My mother was on that roll as well as grandparents and great grandparent.  

For a member of the Tribal Executive Committee to say that descendants don’t have a say in what happens is not only disrespectful, s/he is also saying that all of the enrolled members who are direct descendants of someone on that roll have no rights, including those on the TEC itself.  I, myself, am 65 and have been hearing this argument all my life.  

All the way back to the first treaty signed with a foreign government, the Chippewa have refused to sign treaties until provision was made for all, including “half-breeds” meaning those children left with the tribe when their non-Chippewa father went back to where ever he came from after making his fortune by dealing with the Indians.  Has this caring and concern for all the children born to an Anishinabe/Chippewa/Ojibway changed in my lifetime?  

One other point I want to make is the reason for all the land being divided and sold is that “half-breeds” were allotted land and Indian Agents weren’t too particular if someone showed up claiming to be half Chippewa to find out if this was true.  We need to stop calling our own people Half one tribe or another.  You don’t hear “Europeans” saying they’re half breeds if their bloodline included non-Europeans.  

Has Clan membership changed?  I was told as a child what my Clan was even if I wasn’t allowed to take part in ceremonies.  I’ve included all those who lived within my village, my reservation, my Band and as well as those of the MCT as family, as Clan cause we are all related or so I was told. 

Where did the idea of denying rights to descendants come from?  Not me.  As far as I’m concerned, all descendants of those on the MCT basic roll have the right to voice their opinion and to help if they so choose.  If they don’t voice their opinion or decline to help, they then agree to whatever is decided on when issues come up for a vote.  

At least, that is my understanding of what we, as a People, as a Tribe, as a Clan member, a Bandmember, and member of the Anishinabeg are to do. 

When I was always being told to be quiet or to shut up, I was amazed as I wasn’t just speaking for myself.  I’d always been pushed by my contemporaries to ask, to find out.  Being less than wise and mostly being on the excluded list from discussion as we were considered “not old enough,” we were left in the dark unless an older person took the time to explain things to us.  I made it one of my life’s policies to explain things to my children as much as I could.  

On the other hand, it could be that I was repeating something that had already been discussed and people didn’t want to tell me that it had already been decided.  How was I to know if people didn’t say?  Now this is one of the reasons there were “runners” or people who went around to let people  know what was happening.  I think this is one of the duties we, as delegates, accepted.  

Yes, we make decisions for everyone with our one vote.  This is why we are working at getting one central document that will address common issues to  all tribe members.  When this is done, we can follow up with our own communities as to the specifics for our own Band/Reservation.  *Last night during our after meeting discussion, it was suggested that perhaps we could write 2, 3 documents that could be presented for the People to choose from.  

So can we, as Delegates, agree to get this central document done so that Individual documents can be written and everything can then be proposed to all of the membership?  

One thing sure, Bois Forte’s document will include issues specific to our locality as well as the ceded territory rights and obligations. We need the overarching issues so ours can be defined within those parameters as well as our treaty parameters. Perhaps treaty parameters needs to be kept separate.  

Well, that’s a discussion for Bois Forte members. Not the whole tribe. 

Chii-Miigwuitch, Thanks for listening. 

Laura's Lessons: What I've Learned

I've been watching Laura's videos for a couple years now.  Her vids were being posted in Ireland and I don't really remember now how I came across her. Her way of talking reminded me so much of my father's manner of speaking.  

I watched quite a few of her videos before I ever checked out her website.  Then I used some of her real simple worksheets and then in 2018, Christmas Eve to be exact, I finally decided to find out what "Bullet Journal" was.  She'd mentioned this a few times along with some of her other things on planning.  Long story short, I've done the Bullet Journal and am still working on it.  

Revising and reviewing  and setting it up to fit me and my style of working.  This is the longest I've stuck with one way of doing things.  And, No, I Do Not Have ADD, ADHD or such things.  I do have PTSD and Bullet Journalling has helped me a lot.  

I did her worksheets on setting goals when I was working on my business plan during 2019.  These helped me focus and what I'd already accomplished, what I wanted to do and what needed to be done to accomplish my goals. 

Then 2020 happened.  Well, for me it really started the last week before Christmas 2019 and all of this will be in my forthcoming book "I May Not Have Time."  The past couple months I've been picking up the pieces that got scattered and realizing that Yeah, I have come a long way since last year.  

Laura has developed some courses that I have yet to explore.  I'd gotten a notification from Facebook that I hadn't visited her private group in the last 30 days and I could leave the group if I wanted to.  No!  I didn't want to leave, I'm just working on "#Getting My Shit Together." 

This video was on her wall, so I watched it and the 10 habits are something that I've become more aware of and a couple I was already incorporating into my life from "before."  Before what? ya may rightfully ask and I'll tell ya that it's Before the Covid.  Some of you may be looking for help in setting up your New Year's resolutions and/or just reviewing for whatever reasons.  Give this video a looksee for anything you may be missing or perhaps reaffirm those you already do. 

☘️ 10 Habits That Changed My Life (While Suffering From Depression) • Li...

Tournaments have been held

I thought those little people were having great fun. I received word of their tournament. No word about the results. Seems that they were having regionals. Their next stop must be state, then on to nationals. Could be they're headed to international tournaments. Held back in the old country? Or are they styling them like the Olympics? Must be Word somewhere. I'll be on the lookout for Word of any State tournaments. I think I know where the brownies are. I saw evidence of this when I was walking last evening. The lake was so pretty. They were working on their skills for beautifying their surroundings. There were birds cheering on their efforts. I appreciated this very much. They're having fun themselves.

I've discovered pixies also immigrated from Great Britain. Wow. I've often wondered about pixies. I thought Disney might have distorted their origins. Cause it always seemed to me that Tinkerbell was a fairy. A fairy who uses pixie dust? Pixies don't have pixie dust. Turns out they're mostly from Devon and Cornwall, maybe a small race of Celtic origins. Hmm.

I wonder about this because the little people have tunnels. We were shown the entrances where we weren't supposed to play. The descriptions I read sound awfully familiar. I've not known anyone who went with them though it was a possibility. Hmm.

Will be on the lookout. Maybe I'll do a photo shoot of these places. Methinks I might find out when they immigrated. I've often wondered about our "little people." Off to check out the descriptions of their houses, land, habits, etc. And the tournaments.

Thunderstorms

It's great to hear the thunder. It's still off in the distance. I am glad for the rain. It's been dry here. Yesterday, went for a walk with my sisters. Could have used some of the cool then. After the walk, I was sitting on the porch having my daily "habit that most of the world thinks I should quit" and the wind had changed from south to north. Yay. I hoped most of the lightening would happen while I was sleeping.

I like to listen to thunder. Just not for hours upon hours. That's when I think the Spirits might be getting angry because no one is listening to them. I like to watch the lightening, from a distance. Up close is very heart pounding sort of stuff. I don't want the Spirits to think I am defying them. No, no, no. It's the first displays that I have the greatest appreciation for.

Gentle rain is fine for a day or so. The sound of the rain is peaceful and I can go to sleep listening to that sound. Not Thunderstorms. They make me want to do something. Problem is I don't always know what.

The restless nature of storms highlight my restless nature. That may be why I want to have a blanket handy. Hiding from the storm, from the call of the Thunder Spirit because I'm not doing what I need to be doing. Dreading the lightening because I don't want the stark view of my environment.

Storms don't happen very often. A good thing from my point of view. Looking for the imbalance in myself is scary. Figuring out who, what, where, when and why is not an easy thing. When I do those things, and get a little more in balance, the next storm isn't as scary. In fact, the next few are ones I revel in. I can sit and watch through most of the storm. Sleep sometimes needs to be attended to but I don't huddle under the blankets trying to will myself to sleep.

Sometimes, I have to drive through a storm. Then, it's concentrate, focus, find the right speed to navigate the wet roads. Try to decide if I should slow down, speed up, stop altogether. Try to loosen my grip on the wheel so I can feel the slight changes in the tires. Try to gauge if the wind is changing direction. Sometimes, lightening flashes interfere with my vision. Other times, they startle me and I just know the thunder is going to crash and rattle my eardrums.

When I arrive at my destination, it's great to know I did it. At those times, I feel a greater kinship with the Thunder Spirits. Yes! It's great to be alive. It's great to hear the thunder.

Posting Blogs - News or Views

July heat has begun.  Wondering where June went.  "They" say time flies when you're having fun.  Was June fun?  In many ways, yes.  Learned several new things.  Caught up on reading, mostly blogs, stuff on the web.  


One thing catching my attention is the changing views on blogs.  Several headlines mentioned that blog writers are increasingly being treated as reporters; apparently, expressing your opinion about politics, styles, books, etc is news. 


An opinion according to dictionaries(dot)com - 1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. 2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal. 3. the formal expression of a professional judgment: to ask for a second medical opinion. 
A journalist is 1. a person who practices the occupation or profession of journalism. 2. a person who keeps a journal, diary or other record of daily events. 


I thought I'd make it clear the focus of my blog posting is to express my opinions about things that interest me.  I realize others may or may not agree with me about everything.  It's your opinion, your option.  I may or may not agree with your opinion.  That's life.  


I am interested in writing stories that are fiction.  I post about events that affect me and how they affect me.  Postings include my memories of events in the past.  I do my best to check the facts on which I base my conclusions.  I change my mind, my conclusions, upon occasion whenever I feel the necessity for it.  Anything more, I leave to the experts in journalism.  I do hope they remember that they can't possibly report all the facts known about something and they, too, pick and choose which facts to present in their columns.

Being true to Oneself

Aaniin.  Greetings all.  Up til today, I had dreams of writing and publishing a book.  I do have several drafts that are in various stages of editing.  All are in the fantasy genre and two or three in nonfiction-biography and history.  My dreams aren't dreams any longer.  I have written 12 books.  Now, I just need to get them published and I have plans for that.


Ever since high school, I've thought about writing.  I wrote poems and gave them to people.  Once, I was writing a poem.  One girl asked me what I was doing.  "Revising my poem."  "A true artist doesn't have to revise."  "Yes you do have to revise."  "The words will just automatically be there.  You shouldn't have to revise."  


Yep, you guessed it.  My self confidence took a nose dive and I quit writing.  Only once did I write a poem that didn't need revision.  This happened shortly before the aforementioned conversation.  Remembering this incident lent weight to her words.


Being true to oneself is another thing I heard while growing up.  I certainly wasn't true to myself that day.  Listening to others is a two edged sword {pen in this instance} that has lasting effects on me.  One effect of this piece of advice is that I do a lot of revising in my head now.  I visualize paragraphs, reactions, pictures of what I want to create.  Getting the words to match the picture I see is what makes the process of writing an adventure.  


Another effect is one I find harder to put aside.  The hesitation just before I show my work to someone.  I hear the tone in her voice which is so easy to project to someone else.  I'm grateful for it.  It has made my writing better in the long run.  


My son and I decided we'd see who got a book published first.  That was 8 years ago.  Neither one of us has published so far.  We're still working on it.  The path to that published book has taken each of us in different directions.  I've learned a few things from him.  His words, his voice are replacing the other in my heart.  


I think about my son's reaction when I gave him the first couple chapters of my first book.  He read it, handed it back to me without any notations whatsoever.  "I don't want to do this."  "Why?"  "I want to wait until the book is finished."  

Beliefs, Values, Traditions

Read a preface today that said the Chippewa called winter "waboose" and that the symbol was a white buffalo withstanding the effects of winter.  I grew up with the knowledge that waboose meant rabbit.  I'm not familiar with the White buffalo as symbol of winter.  

It feels like everything I grew up knowing is now wrong.  I was taught by my elders about many traditional ways.  My family practices old ways without thinking about it.  That's how ingrained the values and beliefs are.  I had/have role models who lived the life, who showed me without my asking, and explained what seemed to me to be a contradiction.  

Part of the process of solidifying my life foundation was going through my value system and  leaving behind what didn't belong to me.  I learned that I couldn't step into another's steps all my life.  I had to make my own tracks.  I was told by an Elder teacher "you already know" when I was going to ask her something.  This made me think.  I do know.  I do live my life according to what I was taught and it has served me well.

The thing I remember the most, and also the thing I most fought, was "think, figure out how you are going to do this, which ever way is easiest, best for you."  I didn't want that. I wanted someone to do for me.  I wanted to be a child while still having adult privileges.  It doesn't work that way.  

"The Look" is sufficient to get me to correct my behavior, or make me think about what I am doing at the moment I get "The Look"; not always what I want to know either.  "Be quiet and listen" sometimes gets me the knowledge I've been seeking, sometimes without even knowing it.  "Shh" gets my attention now.  "Munge" means I need to look elsewhere because "don't know" can mean several things, likeliest, they don't have time and this is the polite way of saying so.  

One of the most irritating values is "sharing" because it is the one most taken advantage of.  I share.  Others share.  The thing is your family needs must be met before others.  It is out of the "more than you need" category that sharing comes into play.  "Don't have" means just that.  I don't have enough to give you.  My mom says what little we have is shared out.  I sometimes dread this one because little ones most often need to be taken care of and the parent knows this.  Along with sharing is "Replace what you took." That one gets ignored.  

Leaving behind what didn't belong to me included false teachings-ones that were twisted out of recognition.  I struggled with some of them; finally remembered things that helped me sort things out.  Once I got a dream answer.  The world began to make sense, I was finally home.  I know where I come from and I know where I'm going.  Getting there is what makes life worth living.
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added 02 Jul 2012
here is a link that explains a little more about the value system I grew up with
native-art-in-canada.com/index.html