Solutions discussed at American Indian Feast and Forum
Caption:
Left-Robert Powless Middle- Waswasha Hawpetoss
Right- Thunder Hawk Warrior spoke.




A crowd of about 45 people gathered for a Native American feast and a chance to share with the Native American Commission thoughts, opinions and advice regarding issues and concerns in Duluth's Indian community.
Many of the speakers said paying attention to the youth should be a priority. Many also brought up interweaving today’s life with respect and knowledge of the cultural past.
Ricky Defoe served as a spiritual leader during the meeting. He said a prayer in Ojbiway before the meal, prepared a smudge and offered everyone the opportunity to wave the smoke around his or her head as a cleansing ritual just before the discussion part of the meeting. “We offer this smoke in a humble way because life can be hard for our people,” he said. We depend upon leaders in the commission to help us in this difficult life… to help us in any way.” He also spoke about the importance of ancestors and the young people. “We have been smudged, so we have clean thoughts,” he said just before the discussion. At the end of the meeting he brought out a peace pipe and smoked it in 4 directions plus toward the sky and the ground.
Young and Old
A theme that ran throughout all the comments was the desire to strengthen the connection between the young and old. The young Native Americans need guidance and direction from elders and the traditional values.
Patt Hardy, a foster mother said it is heartbreaking that there is no halfway house, aftercare or AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) for kids just getting out of treatment. “These kids are special,” she said. She went on to say, “Honor our kids in sobriety.”
Robert Powless told a story about how his mother’s involvement and opinions affected his choice not to drink or smoke. He said that his mother showed him the icebox and the food in it. She then told him that if she found out he was drinking or smoking she would decide that he could buy his own food, and she would no longer provide or prepare meals and food for him. This strongly affected Powless. When he grew up and got out of the house, he thought about drinking or smoking, but he knew it would make his mother sad. A few years later, he thought about drinking again and decided, “After all these years wouldn’t it be kinda dumb?” He went on to say, “She kept me away from those curses.”
Wawasha Hwpetoss, an artist, stood up to say teenage kids on the street ask her, “How do you do this the Indian way?” She said, “They want to hear their legends.” She turns off the television in her home and teaches her children to bead. She says that young people cannot learn from a book. “They need to get these things visually.” She said, “Maybe we need a place somewhere in the schools.”
At this point Powless pointed out that two men attending from Johnson Controls, who are consultants with the Public School system, should take note.
Thunder Hawk Warrior from the White Earth Reservation talked about alcoholism and adolescence. “I’ve been down that road,” he said. I’ve been sober 13 years. He talked about how Indians raised on reservations feel out of place in a city.
Doug Happy said he has lived in the neighborhood for over 20 years. He said there is an across the board problem with racism. He also said he was a recovering alcoholic and would have never made it without the help from many people.
Chet Welch directed his comments to Patt Hardy and the aftercare situation for teens trying to recover from drugs and alcohol. “We can do it, Patt. We just do it ourselves…don’t worry about money.” He told of an anger management program that he was involved in 20 years ago. It was started with no money. Now the Domestic Intervention program contracts with them.
Allen Richardson spoke about wild rice and the White Earth Land Recovery Project. He said Minnesota wild rice is the only grain indigenous to Minnesota and is treaty protected. He said that genetic engineering of wild rice would make the rice into a corporate interest. Corporations get patents on the rice and then own the field in which it grows even if it was unwanted in that field.
Debra said that transportation for elderly Indian people is a big issue. She also inquired about becoming a member of the commission.
Marlene Driver said, “It is up to us to make that circle.”
Burt Long talked about the trouble he was having with the police investigating a break-in at his house.
Tony LaDeaux also spoke of racism and said, “To constantly complain is not going to do anything.” He said it is time to file lawsuits. “We are the Mississippi of the North,” he said. He spoke of the deaths of David Croud and Google Eye, the difficult time Indian teenagers have in the schools, and the hiring practices of the school district.
Scott Cameron spoke about Melanie Ford who attended the feast and discussion. She is running for County Attorney.
Powless said the old legends and stories are important. “We understand so many things because of these old stories,” he said.
John Judd, the city’s staff person appointed to the commission, attended the feast and forum. In a later interview he said, “It brought out some new faces.” Judd said two-thirds of what he heard that night was new information. One issue that he said that he was unaware of was that there is no after-care program in Duluth for Indian youth who have just completed drug or alcohol treatment.
The Duluth Indian Commission began in 2003. American Indians are Duluth’s largest minority group. The 2000 census reported a population of over 2,100 American Indian or Alaska Natives residing in Duluth. Eleven people serve on the commission. The purpose of the commission is to understand American Indian issues and develop recommendations for policy, planning and services in Duluth.
In the past the public forum had been held in January at city hall without a supper. The summer meeting in a neighborhood with the feast brought out more people.