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Rocky Boy and Havre meet to discuss issues

Concerned citizens of both Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation and the Havre area met at TownHouse Inns Sunday to talk about the general problems that the reservation faces today.

Former Chippewa Cree Business Committee chairman Ken Blatt St. Marks, House District 32 Rep. Bruce Myers, R-Box Elder, and community member Russell Standing Rock led the discussions.

Many subjects were covered in the hours the dozens of people were seated in the meeting room, including the removal of St. Marks from his former position of chairman of the reservation, the possible option of requesting a hold on federal funds to the reservation except for the reservation's essential services, general corruption in Rocky Boy officials and what they should do to remedy the situation.

The meeting was designed to bring Havre into the conversation about the reservation, as businesses outside of the reservation are affected by what is happening inside it and some of the corruption unearthed by the Guardians Project has come from the Havre area and the town is thus connected directly to dealings in the reservation.

The first question from the agenda was whether or not there should be any more extended investigations into corruption on the reservation, which St. Marks quickly stopped, as it was not up to them. The ball is already rolling on that, he said.

Havre city councilman Brian Barrows and his wife were present during the meeting and led a prayer with the people there. After they finished theirs, Chippewa Cree elders prayed in their languages with the group.

Myers urged those present at the meeting to speak to others about what they spoke of and to contact their state representatives to push for more action to be taken against corruption on the reservation.

The loss of a working government, and especially the effects of corruption and the massive loss of funds that were supposed to be used is hurting the people of the reservation, St. Marks said.

"There are people living in houses I wouldn't let my dog live in out there," St. Marks said repeatedly.

Myers voiced his disappointment that more people from Rocky Boy did not show up to the meeting and said he suspected that some feared retaliation if they voiced their troubles with the situation, generally because they work for the reservation and are paid through federal funding.

Myers expressed interest in creating an online survey on which people could anonymously protest.

Standing Rock wanted to use the time at the meeting to create a petition to support maximizing sentences for those indicted for embezzling funds for Rocky Boy.

The direction of the meeting was contested by the three men running it, but they said that similar meetings should take place to do their part to mend the problem of corruption on the reservation.

No action was taken at the meeting.

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

rbcitizen writes:

Well yes, they are right about one thing, if we as employees speak out aginst this council or finance department we would lose our jobs. and yes I think the feds need to be harsh on their sentencings. Last, good job Bruce, someone needs to speak up for the people.

 
 
 
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