"Melinda Gopher, 44, an Ojibwe / Blackfeet from Missoula, Montana is seeking the State of Montana's sole Congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. While many glass ceilings have been shattered; a Native American woman has yet to be elected to the U.S. Congress.
Gopher's running as a progressive Democrat and focusing her campaign on jobs. The current recession has hit Montana's communities hard, even though the state unemployment rate is not as critical as the overall national rate of 10%; it is deceiving. Montana does not count long term unemployed workers who have given up.
Melinda is a civil rights activist, and blogger. She is a Paralegal but decided to run for the U.S. House believing she can make a difference in the nation's capitol. Melinda Gopher believes the nation does not have to choose between cap and trade and carbon taxation as revenue raising; rather, clean energy must be pursued to create jobs no matter what.
Melinda supports the Employee Free Choice Act as a means for keeping American labor strong. She believes corporations have gone unchecked, and have had a negative impact in DC. This has led to the loss of jobs and outsourcing of jobs to artificially inflate corporate profit margins. Gopher believes exploiting labor forces in foreign countries is detrimental to the world economy in the long term. Loss of workers' rights has created unfair trade policies between the U.S., China, India to point to a few examples. Corporate exploitation and economic coercion do not create win/win partnerships: something Gopher wants to create.
Gopher supports overhauling the nation's ailing housing sector. She believes the low-income are mired in HUD programs of the past. Not enough of the nation's low and middle income people are building personal wealth equity--resulting in lost economic power and a declining tax base. She believes there must be revolutionary changes in the national housing policy that will reverse the housing crisis. She would enact laws ending financial apartheid in America, and ban policies mired in the FHA redlining legacy. She vows to "pick up where Bobby Kennedy left off" in ending American poverty.
Melinda is the spouse of a combat disabled veteran and cares about veteran issues. She believes the VA ratings system is broken, she currently supports the efforts of national veterans groups to work with Montana Senator Jon Tester to fix the system so that it works for veterans.
Melinda Gopher is a long time civil rights, tribal sovereignty, and environmental activist. She believes HUD has been a weak institutional home for civil rights and supports the creation of a cabinet level agency for civil rights. She believes state-by-state laws on gay marriage are the wrong approach and unjust. She believes the federal government must beef up the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Amendments to include sweeping protections for gays, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals.
Melinda Gopher points out, "the black codes are a disgraceful part of America's past. The state-by-state approach are the black codes for the LGBT community, why are we tolerating this inequality?" She believes to ensure an end to discrimination against gays and to provide for their full civil rights--will require federal intervention as was done in the 1960s civil rights movement.
Melinda Gopher has been a civil rights practitioner since her early 20s. She was the only Native American panelist in the 1994 National Fair Housing Summit and worked to enact fair housing protections in Montana. Melinda Gopher has worked in the public and private sector on fair housing.
She believes the nation needs another Fair Housing Summit to address the subprime crisis. She points out, "not enough is being done to ensure Americans keep their homes, and participate in the American dream of homeownership."
Melinda Gopher knows her candidacy is improbable; she believes her voice is needed to address the lack of effective Native American leadership in the state Democratic party. She believes the Native Americans advancing in the political party pipeline in the state are tokens and are placed in positions where they are politically neutered.
She is a vocal critic of Senator Max Baucus's mishandling of state tribal issues, his failure to address long term and chronic unemployment in the state's seven Indian reservations and urban areas. She has criticized the Senator over taking single payer off the table in health care reform. Melinda Gopher is likely to challenge Baucus in 2014 when he comes up for re-election."
melinda Gopher
www.MelindaForMontana.com
r
www.MelindaGopher.com
r
Showing posts with label Melinda Gopher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melinda Gopher. Show all posts
Friday, December 11, 2009
TREATY RIGHTS IN THE CONTEXT OF FEDERAL STIMULUS
"THE CHIPPEWA TRUTH COMMISSION:
AFFIRMING BILATERAL RIGHTS OF
TRIBAL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE U.S/CANADA BORDER
There is a need to address bilateral treaty rights of four north central Montana bands, the Rocky Boy/Migisew, the Little Shell, the Metis and Little Bear Cree. This proposal calls for enrollment reform affecting the "Chippewa Cree Tribe." This is not really a tribe there are four entities affected by collective confusion that has reigned supreme over the identity of the Rocky Boy Band of Chippewa since it was initially recognized by Congress in 1908. Our proposal begins to fix the problem:
A CHIPPEWA TRUTH COMMISSION IS NEEDED: This is the first major step to enact and/or re-affirm Chippewa federal recognition in Montana affecting the Little Shell Band of Chippewa and the non-enrolled descendants of the original 1908 Rocky Boy Chippewa Band Roll.
A major component of the CHIPPEWA TRUTH COMMISSION would be to re-align the four tribal groups affected: the Rocky Boy Band, the Little Shell, the Little Bear Cree and the Riel Metis--where each group would enact their own self-government and operated under the Four Affiliated Bands of Chippewa, Cree and Metis. This seems to be the most fair and logical conclusion to the historic injustices that have afflicted the Chippewa people.
A component of this Truth Commission would be the study of legal implications of the Jay Treaty and the patterns of law and execution of official acts between the U.S. and Canada. The Little Bear and Riel descendants originated in Canada originally but were granted adoptee status in the Chippewa band in 1917—not by the Chippewa, but by the U.S. federal government. This was an overt act violating the sovereignty of the Chippewa people, this has never been mitigated.
The federal government has never corrected this contradiction: it has granted the benefits of tribal governance to essentially Canadian origin descendants, who are now a super-majority on the Rocky Boy reservation. The lineal Chippewa have been discredited, denied enrollment and participation in their own government. At the same time, the federal government has not acted to uphold legitimate treaty obligations owed the original Rocky Boy and Little Shell bands. We have been attempting to address this for years, federal officials refuse to hear us out.
The Little Shell experience similar denial of status; this is most evident in the BIA administrative ruling denying federal recognition to the band. The Little Shell and Rocky Boy bands are subject to U.S. Treaty--the Cree are subject to British Treaty #6, the Metis are subject to the Canadian Powley ruling--recognizing their rights as aboriginal people. There seems to be lack of consistent U.S. - Canadian policy affecting these bands with regard to consistent enrollment policies, treaty rights, freedom of movement and property rights.
The Chippewa Truth Commission will have a component to deal with and create ways for the U.S. and Canada to enact policies resolving these matters. This subcommittee will seek broad input and participation from the affected bands to ensure there is accuracy in the findings, and to ensure the dually held treaty and federal rights of all affected descendants are affirmed and upheld. In Montana, there are possibly 10,000-12,000 or more people affected by this situation. It does need to be resolved.
There has been reluctance from the “Chippewa Cree Business Committee” to resolve these legal issues: it is to their best interest to do so now for the reason U.S. BIA regulation requires 50% or more of a tribe come from a historic American tribe (treaty). In Rocky Boy, those lineal Chippewa descendants fall far below that 50% threshold. The re-formed 1917 roll did not meet that criteria in 1917, and it does not meet it now.
This has led to problems of profound loss of self-government of the Chippewa people. We no longer can ascertain our own blood quantum, we have lost all control of who the “Chippewa Cree” enroll. We the lineal Chippewa, cannot even ensure our own children are enrolled. The “Chippewa Cree” generic term has become something of a joke; no other “tribe” is run like this one.
All tribes have enrollment laws based on original descent from a tribal census conducted at the time of treaty—the Chippewa Cree roll is the sole exception. The ¼ or more “any Indian” blood quantum in the Chippewa Cree Tribal constitution has led to the demise of the Chippewa people.
A beginning framework would look like this: This commission would operate for five years, enact tribal enrollment reform within one year of operation, begin to address the need for preservation of tribal histories, and develop written recommendations to the Canadian and U.S. governments on ways to strengthen, and build cohesive and mutually held policies regarding the Jay Treaty. This commission would require extensive staff working to document the historic origins of all tribes and to compile archives relating to these tribal peoples’ historic origins. In addition, the commission would work to enact tribal enrollment reform that would serve as the basis of the re-configured Affiliated Tribal governments structure, propose and provide assistance in forming governing documents, researching and coordinating treaty adhesions in Canada and finalizing recognition for the U.S. bands.
THE CREATION OF A U.S.-CANADA TRIBAL ENERGY CARTEL
We have a situation of a quarter dozen tribal groups affected by the international boundary, Loud Thunder believes this is not only a resolvable issue—but that these tribal groups can prosper in the future. Loud Thunder believes in cohesive policy in addressing energy development and these and a multitude of bands on both sides of the border have a stake in developing ecologically sustainable development.
There are great concerns regarding the current tar sands development north of the Montana border in Canada. Canada is a major provider of oil to the U.S. This will increase in the future. Loud Thunder learned in the Zortman Landsusky mining struggle for the need for effective reclamation planning and implementation. This is true in the tar sands issue. This is development creating acid rain and lasting damage to the land and water.
Loud Thunder asks the Obama administration to take into consideration the long term reclamation of sites in Canada and cooperate in frameworks of agreement with these Canadian bands, the Canadian government and our interests in the U.S. As this development is already underway—that both governments have a responsible reclamation policies that encompass tribal traditional views of the land.
For this reason, Loud Thunder is advocating a bilateral, tribal energy consortium, or cartel—similar in scope to OPEC. This is one way these two Eurocentric sovereigns can begin to restore native people. Tribal nations have a joint economic and policy interest in ensuring their energy potentialities are not exploited, that are mutually beneficial and expresses shared goals of all tribes. Loud Thunder is proposing a multi-billion dollar investment in this bilateral energy cartel focusing on tribal fossil, wind, solar, bio-mass and other forms of renewable energy. Second, this cartel has a strong reclamation component in the case of tar sand development, and addresses cap and trade concerns. Loud Thunder expresses support for the need for U.S. and Canadian investment in reclamation technology and direct investment in tribes to do this.
WIND ENERGY
In Montana, there is a huge potential for wind energy on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Loud Thunder expresses support for the creation of a national laboratory on refining tribal energy proposals—a training ground and incubator of sorts—so that all tribes throughout the northern continent and into Mexico, can cultivate their energy independence, learn and share their experiences and lessen tribal dependence on foreign oil.
In Great Falls, the Little Shell tribal descendants are unequaled in their work ethic, their experience along with the “Hill 57 Rocky Boy unenrolled and Migisew Chippewa on the Montana fire crews are a testament to this. For this reason, Loud Thunder is supporting the creation of a jointly owned wind turbine manufacturing and service/repair corporation, and solar energy technology center to develop the wind and solar energy capability of these two urban situated groups. These groups can create lasting and good paying jobs in the Great Falls area now and in the future. Loud Thunder is proposing the renovation and retrofitting of the large warehouse formerly used by the Buttrey’s food chain as the site of the proposed plant. The site is adjacent to the interstate and rail system. This would create the kind of green jobs now needed, and for which stimulus funds are intended.
RECLAMATION TECHNOLOGY
In the Fort Belknap region, there is a need for reclamation of water and earth as the result of the Zortman mining operation. Reclamation work can last multiple years. The Gros Ventres and Asiniboine tribes have lost their sacred mountain. They need to be able to pick up their lives and repair the earth that is sacred to them. The state and federal government have been slow to reclaim the site. In addition, Ft. Belknap is an excellent area for wind energy development, Loud Thunder expresses support for existing and new proposals for development. There are a host if sites around the state and on tribal land, including the coal mining on and near the Crow Reservation, where the need for reclamation is on-going, requiring investment and jobs.
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY
Loud Thunder is proposing a media technology center to be located in Great Falls, Montana, and jointly owned and operated by the Rocky Boy and Chippewa bands located there. There has been a dire need for Native American access to modern media technology to document and preserve tribal culture. This media technology center can work to ensure native people have use new media to the benefit of their economic an educational efforts. A center like this is needed to enhance electoral engagement, and to understand and articulate issues around them. Native American youth are victims of the digital divide, resulting in loss of life opportunities and underrepresentation in the mainstream media.
NATIONAL FLAG CENTER ON HILL 57
There is a need to understand the French-Ojibwe-Colonial history; this is a deeply misunderstood era in American history. This proposal calls for a National Flag Center on Hill 57 to articulate Ojibwe tribal historic origins and the tribe’s role in founding of the United States. The concept is built around the medicine bundle 13 star colonial flag kept by the Gopher family. The flag evokes an era of nation-to-nation relationships; when tribal sovereignty was paramount to the founding of the U.S. The basis of this proposal, in its early stages, calls for 1.8 million, and up to 4 million for land consolidation on the Hill 57 area, and an additional 5 million to build this long sought after center to honor America’s first flag.
TRIBAL SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Loud Thunder expresses support for creation of a fund of 100 million seed grant/loan fund for the creation of small business in Montana tribal and urban communities. This pool will be run by an equally tribal representative governing Economic Development Authority. Small business creation is vastly underfunded in Montana tribal communities, it is virtually non-existent among urban Indian communities. This fund will ensure tribal businesses are properly funded to ensure these communities can begin to address profound unemployment in their communities. This fund will be available to the low tech to the high tech firm.
NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN’S BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Loud Thunder supports the creation of a $50 million small business experimental seed grant/loan fund geared toward Native Women owned businesses in Montana. This would equal unprecedented business development where it is needed most: Native American women are among the poorest of American citizens, are often the heads of households and lack collateral to start their own business. "
r
Source of this Post
http://loudthunderinternational.blogspot.com/2009/12/loud-thunders-jobs-proposals.html
r
http://LoudThunderInternational.blogspot.com/
Loud Thunder International. Click above for More.
k
Posted by
Crystal L. Cox
Dedicated to Giving Montana Tribes a Louder Voice
with the Power of Internet Marketing.
r
Time to Listen to the Needs of the Tribe
r
Stand with the Tribe
and Wake up to the Truth.
r
Time to Give Back. Start by Listening.
r
www.NorthwestTribune.com and www.MontanaMoxy.com
Standing Behind the Gopher Family in the Needs of Indian Nation.
r
United We Stand
Together We Heal.
r
AFFIRMING BILATERAL RIGHTS OF
TRIBAL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE U.S/CANADA BORDER
There is a need to address bilateral treaty rights of four north central Montana bands, the Rocky Boy/Migisew, the Little Shell, the Metis and Little Bear Cree. This proposal calls for enrollment reform affecting the "Chippewa Cree Tribe." This is not really a tribe there are four entities affected by collective confusion that has reigned supreme over the identity of the Rocky Boy Band of Chippewa since it was initially recognized by Congress in 1908. Our proposal begins to fix the problem:
A CHIPPEWA TRUTH COMMISSION IS NEEDED: This is the first major step to enact and/or re-affirm Chippewa federal recognition in Montana affecting the Little Shell Band of Chippewa and the non-enrolled descendants of the original 1908 Rocky Boy Chippewa Band Roll.
A major component of the CHIPPEWA TRUTH COMMISSION would be to re-align the four tribal groups affected: the Rocky Boy Band, the Little Shell, the Little Bear Cree and the Riel Metis--where each group would enact their own self-government and operated under the Four Affiliated Bands of Chippewa, Cree and Metis. This seems to be the most fair and logical conclusion to the historic injustices that have afflicted the Chippewa people.
A component of this Truth Commission would be the study of legal implications of the Jay Treaty and the patterns of law and execution of official acts between the U.S. and Canada. The Little Bear and Riel descendants originated in Canada originally but were granted adoptee status in the Chippewa band in 1917—not by the Chippewa, but by the U.S. federal government. This was an overt act violating the sovereignty of the Chippewa people, this has never been mitigated.
The federal government has never corrected this contradiction: it has granted the benefits of tribal governance to essentially Canadian origin descendants, who are now a super-majority on the Rocky Boy reservation. The lineal Chippewa have been discredited, denied enrollment and participation in their own government. At the same time, the federal government has not acted to uphold legitimate treaty obligations owed the original Rocky Boy and Little Shell bands. We have been attempting to address this for years, federal officials refuse to hear us out.
The Little Shell experience similar denial of status; this is most evident in the BIA administrative ruling denying federal recognition to the band. The Little Shell and Rocky Boy bands are subject to U.S. Treaty--the Cree are subject to British Treaty #6, the Metis are subject to the Canadian Powley ruling--recognizing their rights as aboriginal people. There seems to be lack of consistent U.S. - Canadian policy affecting these bands with regard to consistent enrollment policies, treaty rights, freedom of movement and property rights.
The Chippewa Truth Commission will have a component to deal with and create ways for the U.S. and Canada to enact policies resolving these matters. This subcommittee will seek broad input and participation from the affected bands to ensure there is accuracy in the findings, and to ensure the dually held treaty and federal rights of all affected descendants are affirmed and upheld. In Montana, there are possibly 10,000-12,000 or more people affected by this situation. It does need to be resolved.
There has been reluctance from the “Chippewa Cree Business Committee” to resolve these legal issues: it is to their best interest to do so now for the reason U.S. BIA regulation requires 50% or more of a tribe come from a historic American tribe (treaty). In Rocky Boy, those lineal Chippewa descendants fall far below that 50% threshold. The re-formed 1917 roll did not meet that criteria in 1917, and it does not meet it now.
This has led to problems of profound loss of self-government of the Chippewa people. We no longer can ascertain our own blood quantum, we have lost all control of who the “Chippewa Cree” enroll. We the lineal Chippewa, cannot even ensure our own children are enrolled. The “Chippewa Cree” generic term has become something of a joke; no other “tribe” is run like this one.
All tribes have enrollment laws based on original descent from a tribal census conducted at the time of treaty—the Chippewa Cree roll is the sole exception. The ¼ or more “any Indian” blood quantum in the Chippewa Cree Tribal constitution has led to the demise of the Chippewa people.
A beginning framework would look like this: This commission would operate for five years, enact tribal enrollment reform within one year of operation, begin to address the need for preservation of tribal histories, and develop written recommendations to the Canadian and U.S. governments on ways to strengthen, and build cohesive and mutually held policies regarding the Jay Treaty. This commission would require extensive staff working to document the historic origins of all tribes and to compile archives relating to these tribal peoples’ historic origins. In addition, the commission would work to enact tribal enrollment reform that would serve as the basis of the re-configured Affiliated Tribal governments structure, propose and provide assistance in forming governing documents, researching and coordinating treaty adhesions in Canada and finalizing recognition for the U.S. bands.
THE CREATION OF A U.S.-CANADA TRIBAL ENERGY CARTEL
We have a situation of a quarter dozen tribal groups affected by the international boundary, Loud Thunder believes this is not only a resolvable issue—but that these tribal groups can prosper in the future. Loud Thunder believes in cohesive policy in addressing energy development and these and a multitude of bands on both sides of the border have a stake in developing ecologically sustainable development.
There are great concerns regarding the current tar sands development north of the Montana border in Canada. Canada is a major provider of oil to the U.S. This will increase in the future. Loud Thunder learned in the Zortman Landsusky mining struggle for the need for effective reclamation planning and implementation. This is true in the tar sands issue. This is development creating acid rain and lasting damage to the land and water.
Loud Thunder asks the Obama administration to take into consideration the long term reclamation of sites in Canada and cooperate in frameworks of agreement with these Canadian bands, the Canadian government and our interests in the U.S. As this development is already underway—that both governments have a responsible reclamation policies that encompass tribal traditional views of the land.
For this reason, Loud Thunder is advocating a bilateral, tribal energy consortium, or cartel—similar in scope to OPEC. This is one way these two Eurocentric sovereigns can begin to restore native people. Tribal nations have a joint economic and policy interest in ensuring their energy potentialities are not exploited, that are mutually beneficial and expresses shared goals of all tribes. Loud Thunder is proposing a multi-billion dollar investment in this bilateral energy cartel focusing on tribal fossil, wind, solar, bio-mass and other forms of renewable energy. Second, this cartel has a strong reclamation component in the case of tar sand development, and addresses cap and trade concerns. Loud Thunder expresses support for the need for U.S. and Canadian investment in reclamation technology and direct investment in tribes to do this.
WIND ENERGY
In Montana, there is a huge potential for wind energy on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Loud Thunder expresses support for the creation of a national laboratory on refining tribal energy proposals—a training ground and incubator of sorts—so that all tribes throughout the northern continent and into Mexico, can cultivate their energy independence, learn and share their experiences and lessen tribal dependence on foreign oil.
In Great Falls, the Little Shell tribal descendants are unequaled in their work ethic, their experience along with the “Hill 57 Rocky Boy unenrolled and Migisew Chippewa on the Montana fire crews are a testament to this. For this reason, Loud Thunder is supporting the creation of a jointly owned wind turbine manufacturing and service/repair corporation, and solar energy technology center to develop the wind and solar energy capability of these two urban situated groups. These groups can create lasting and good paying jobs in the Great Falls area now and in the future. Loud Thunder is proposing the renovation and retrofitting of the large warehouse formerly used by the Buttrey’s food chain as the site of the proposed plant. The site is adjacent to the interstate and rail system. This would create the kind of green jobs now needed, and for which stimulus funds are intended.
RECLAMATION TECHNOLOGY
In the Fort Belknap region, there is a need for reclamation of water and earth as the result of the Zortman mining operation. Reclamation work can last multiple years. The Gros Ventres and Asiniboine tribes have lost their sacred mountain. They need to be able to pick up their lives and repair the earth that is sacred to them. The state and federal government have been slow to reclaim the site. In addition, Ft. Belknap is an excellent area for wind energy development, Loud Thunder expresses support for existing and new proposals for development. There are a host if sites around the state and on tribal land, including the coal mining on and near the Crow Reservation, where the need for reclamation is on-going, requiring investment and jobs.
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY
Loud Thunder is proposing a media technology center to be located in Great Falls, Montana, and jointly owned and operated by the Rocky Boy and Chippewa bands located there. There has been a dire need for Native American access to modern media technology to document and preserve tribal culture. This media technology center can work to ensure native people have use new media to the benefit of their economic an educational efforts. A center like this is needed to enhance electoral engagement, and to understand and articulate issues around them. Native American youth are victims of the digital divide, resulting in loss of life opportunities and underrepresentation in the mainstream media.
NATIONAL FLAG CENTER ON HILL 57
There is a need to understand the French-Ojibwe-Colonial history; this is a deeply misunderstood era in American history. This proposal calls for a National Flag Center on Hill 57 to articulate Ojibwe tribal historic origins and the tribe’s role in founding of the United States. The concept is built around the medicine bundle 13 star colonial flag kept by the Gopher family. The flag evokes an era of nation-to-nation relationships; when tribal sovereignty was paramount to the founding of the U.S. The basis of this proposal, in its early stages, calls for 1.8 million, and up to 4 million for land consolidation on the Hill 57 area, and an additional 5 million to build this long sought after center to honor America’s first flag.
TRIBAL SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Loud Thunder expresses support for creation of a fund of 100 million seed grant/loan fund for the creation of small business in Montana tribal and urban communities. This pool will be run by an equally tribal representative governing Economic Development Authority. Small business creation is vastly underfunded in Montana tribal communities, it is virtually non-existent among urban Indian communities. This fund will ensure tribal businesses are properly funded to ensure these communities can begin to address profound unemployment in their communities. This fund will be available to the low tech to the high tech firm.
NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN’S BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Loud Thunder supports the creation of a $50 million small business experimental seed grant/loan fund geared toward Native Women owned businesses in Montana. This would equal unprecedented business development where it is needed most: Native American women are among the poorest of American citizens, are often the heads of households and lack collateral to start their own business. "
r
Source of this Post
http://loudthunderinternational.blogspot.com/2009/12/loud-thunders-jobs-proposals.html
r
http://LoudThunderInternational.blogspot.com/
Loud Thunder International. Click above for More.
k
Posted by
Crystal L. Cox
Dedicated to Giving Montana Tribes a Louder Voice
with the Power of Internet Marketing.
r
Time to Listen to the Needs of the Tribe
r
Stand with the Tribe
and Wake up to the Truth.
r
Time to Give Back. Start by Listening.
r
www.NorthwestTribune.com and www.MontanaMoxy.com
Standing Behind the Gopher Family in the Needs of Indian Nation.
r
United We Stand
Together We Heal.
r
Melinda Gopher - An Open Letter to President Obama from Hill 57 Montana to the White House
"As the second youngest of eight children of an Ojibwe family, I grew up on Hill 57, outside of Great Falls, Montana. I lived in a two room house, more like a shack. It was put together with scrap lumber, Hill 57 was a collection of such ramshackle homes strung together with dirt roads. The bitter Montana winds feel merciless when you are a child living in these conditions. Still, our home was warmed by a wood stove.
Hill 57 existed due to federal denial of a trust obligation owed the Ojibwe people; we were allies of George Washington's forces. We were and still are; proud people. Hill 57 epitomized Indian poverty in America. Hill 57 was rivaled only by the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; a contest with no winner.
Our historic alliance with the French paved the way for the assertion of American independence. As our tribe lost more and more lands, with each successive treaty, our people were pushed deeper into land dispossession, deeper into an inescapable poverty. If the Ojibwe are a tribe on the winning side of a revolution; I cannot imagine losing. I can only envision that would entail total extermination. This is an ugly and undeniable skeleton in the American closet.
The historic Migisew clan of the mighty Ojibwe tribe were reduced to a small square of land; less than a half mile total. Eventually the county tax collector got that too; as the federal government provided no trust oversight. This defined my existence growing up. It took me a lifetime of effort to understand and study the origins of the Ojibwe-French-Colonial relationship in the context of Revolution. America has never been a nation of fairness.
Our democratic ideals are just that--empty ideals. The course of history has proven the American system to be grossly out of sync with the lofty ideals of liberty, freedom--and the principal of equality. This is not to diminish the worthiness of these ideals; indeed, we must strive for our perfection now more than ever. We as a nation are now forced to look at our collective face in the mirror. It is not a pretty site.
We are at an arc in time, whose arrival is unprecedented and pregnant with incredible timing; this momentous point in our collective existence screams "teaching moment." This arc finds American society reaching the ideological, economic, and spiritual limits of our dysfunctional democracy. We can see the situation unfolding in Afghanistan after eight long years--the waste of throwing more human lives into this abyss makes our hypocrisy inescapable.
Draping the Obama change mantle over this protracted conflict does not make a troop increase acceptable, ethical or moral. Some of us have not forgotten, this war was never a legal war in the sense of engaging a state actor who engaged in an act of war against us.
The difference between a terrorist act and an act of war is not nuanced and subject to interpretation. Foundational principles of international law were thrown out the window by then-President Bush, and it is these laws that govern the global community. We are a pariah, it is as true then as it is now. As a woman candidate for the U.S. House, I am proud to carry Jeannette Rankin's tradition of pacifism. This is rooted in my upbringing.
In a sense, those of us who embraced the Obama change mantra have had a bruising coming of age this past year. It is clear the hopeful campaigner has fallen short of his change message. We need to look at the reasons why, so that we can course correct. It was hard to attack a message of hope, indeed my own campaign is premised on the hope message.
There is nothing wrong with hope, in fact, sometimes that is all we have. It is wrong to abandon hope, to curtail change that is within our grasp, largely due to our own internal conflict, fear, and unwillingness to evolve. This describes the Democrats in Congress. I dare say, Congressional Democrats are still stuck in the Bush era group think of the fear-mongering past. Bold actions are needed now, self doubt is not a luxury we have. We all know action to fix the economy is needed now. Jobs are needed now. People are homeless and hungry right now.
Roughly half a year has been consumed on the health care debate, this is a time waster of poorly thought out priorities in the face of unprecedented job losses. This is a mismanaged effort--because of the manner in which the Senate Finance Committee and its Chairman Baucus--have mishandled this legislation. American families awaken every day and look at their credit card debt, dwindling resources, foreclosure, homelessness, joblessness and hunger. This IS the fierce urgency of now.
Campaign for America's Future blogged about the dim prospects surrounding the jobs summit, and the apparent unwillingness of your White House to expand the stimulus. If your administration has another strategy, such as supporting the Dorgan-Durbin jobs bill--please by all means clue us in. The American people need to know now.
Doing nothing is not an option. Hosting a jobs summit, while leaking the White House's limited efforts, and announcing an Afghanistan troop increase in the same week is poor planning, it reflects the hope train has flown off the tracks. I am worried. Here in Missoula, I have never seen people living out of their old RVs, pitching tents out of sight in the trees along the Clark Fork River, to the extent as I have this year. It is not uncommon to see bedding stashed off beside this city's busy walking trails.
Winter is here, along the bottoms of Waterworks Hill hiking trail, just off I-90, the homeless pitched their tents in the trees earlier this fall. On a recent hike, I glanced to see them sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, huddled against the brisk evening air of Montana. People are living in their vans and cars in Missoula, Montana. This city has an unprecedented number of homeless children in the school district. One recent day, my family member wandered into a local church to find out this church's pews overflow at night.
People have nowhere else to sleep; a good number of these homeless are Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. It makes no difference to them that our ranking Senator is Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, and our junior Senator is on the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs. Their stature has not provided this city and other cities in Montana, with the means to address growing homelessness, poverty, and despair. This is America of 2009. America: 2009 is your Hill 57. Please, Mr. President--you must do more right now."
melinda gopher
Melinda Gopher
www.MelindaGopher.com
montana homeless
Source of Post:
r
http://www.melindagopher.com/2009/12/open-letter-to-pres-obama-from-hill-57.html
r
Hill 57 existed due to federal denial of a trust obligation owed the Ojibwe people; we were allies of George Washington's forces. We were and still are; proud people. Hill 57 epitomized Indian poverty in America. Hill 57 was rivaled only by the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; a contest with no winner.
Our historic alliance with the French paved the way for the assertion of American independence. As our tribe lost more and more lands, with each successive treaty, our people were pushed deeper into land dispossession, deeper into an inescapable poverty. If the Ojibwe are a tribe on the winning side of a revolution; I cannot imagine losing. I can only envision that would entail total extermination. This is an ugly and undeniable skeleton in the American closet.
The historic Migisew clan of the mighty Ojibwe tribe were reduced to a small square of land; less than a half mile total. Eventually the county tax collector got that too; as the federal government provided no trust oversight. This defined my existence growing up. It took me a lifetime of effort to understand and study the origins of the Ojibwe-French-Colonial relationship in the context of Revolution. America has never been a nation of fairness.
Our democratic ideals are just that--empty ideals. The course of history has proven the American system to be grossly out of sync with the lofty ideals of liberty, freedom--and the principal of equality. This is not to diminish the worthiness of these ideals; indeed, we must strive for our perfection now more than ever. We as a nation are now forced to look at our collective face in the mirror. It is not a pretty site.
We are at an arc in time, whose arrival is unprecedented and pregnant with incredible timing; this momentous point in our collective existence screams "teaching moment." This arc finds American society reaching the ideological, economic, and spiritual limits of our dysfunctional democracy. We can see the situation unfolding in Afghanistan after eight long years--the waste of throwing more human lives into this abyss makes our hypocrisy inescapable.
Draping the Obama change mantle over this protracted conflict does not make a troop increase acceptable, ethical or moral. Some of us have not forgotten, this war was never a legal war in the sense of engaging a state actor who engaged in an act of war against us.
The difference between a terrorist act and an act of war is not nuanced and subject to interpretation. Foundational principles of international law were thrown out the window by then-President Bush, and it is these laws that govern the global community. We are a pariah, it is as true then as it is now. As a woman candidate for the U.S. House, I am proud to carry Jeannette Rankin's tradition of pacifism. This is rooted in my upbringing.
In a sense, those of us who embraced the Obama change mantra have had a bruising coming of age this past year. It is clear the hopeful campaigner has fallen short of his change message. We need to look at the reasons why, so that we can course correct. It was hard to attack a message of hope, indeed my own campaign is premised on the hope message.
There is nothing wrong with hope, in fact, sometimes that is all we have. It is wrong to abandon hope, to curtail change that is within our grasp, largely due to our own internal conflict, fear, and unwillingness to evolve. This describes the Democrats in Congress. I dare say, Congressional Democrats are still stuck in the Bush era group think of the fear-mongering past. Bold actions are needed now, self doubt is not a luxury we have. We all know action to fix the economy is needed now. Jobs are needed now. People are homeless and hungry right now.
Roughly half a year has been consumed on the health care debate, this is a time waster of poorly thought out priorities in the face of unprecedented job losses. This is a mismanaged effort--because of the manner in which the Senate Finance Committee and its Chairman Baucus--have mishandled this legislation. American families awaken every day and look at their credit card debt, dwindling resources, foreclosure, homelessness, joblessness and hunger. This IS the fierce urgency of now.
Campaign for America's Future blogged about the dim prospects surrounding the jobs summit, and the apparent unwillingness of your White House to expand the stimulus. If your administration has another strategy, such as supporting the Dorgan-Durbin jobs bill--please by all means clue us in. The American people need to know now.
Doing nothing is not an option. Hosting a jobs summit, while leaking the White House's limited efforts, and announcing an Afghanistan troop increase in the same week is poor planning, it reflects the hope train has flown off the tracks. I am worried. Here in Missoula, I have never seen people living out of their old RVs, pitching tents out of sight in the trees along the Clark Fork River, to the extent as I have this year. It is not uncommon to see bedding stashed off beside this city's busy walking trails.
Winter is here, along the bottoms of Waterworks Hill hiking trail, just off I-90, the homeless pitched their tents in the trees earlier this fall. On a recent hike, I glanced to see them sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, huddled against the brisk evening air of Montana. People are living in their vans and cars in Missoula, Montana. This city has an unprecedented number of homeless children in the school district. One recent day, my family member wandered into a local church to find out this church's pews overflow at night.
People have nowhere else to sleep; a good number of these homeless are Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. It makes no difference to them that our ranking Senator is Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, and our junior Senator is on the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs. Their stature has not provided this city and other cities in Montana, with the means to address growing homelessness, poverty, and despair. This is America of 2009. America: 2009 is your Hill 57. Please, Mr. President--you must do more right now."
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Melinda Gopher
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Source of Post:
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http://www.melindagopher.com/2009/12/open-letter-to-pres-obama-from-hill-57.html
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Melinda Gopher for Congress
Melinda Gopher is Running for the
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It is time to Listen to the Needs of the Indian Nation as
well as to Embrace a Strong, Smart, Independent Forward Thinking
Montana Woman for Congress.
well as to Embrace a Strong, Smart, Independent Forward Thinking
Montana Woman for Congress.
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Montana
It is Time for Historic Change in Montana,
It is Time for Melinda Gopher for
U.S. House of Representatives
It is Time for Historic Change in Montana,
It is Time for Melinda Gopher for
U.S. House of Representatives
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Melinda Gopher for Montana
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Melinda Gopher for Montana
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Melinda Gopher for Montana - Melinda Gopher for Congress - Melinda Gopher for U.S. Hous of Represtative Montana
Who is Melinda Gopher?
Melinda Gopher is the seventh of eight children born to Robert and Dorothy Gopher, of Great Falls, Montana. She grew up in a two room house on Hill 57. Melinda Gopher is a paralegal, and hopes to at some point in the future, continue toward law school and earn a JD in law.
Melinda Gopher is a candidate for Montana’s sole congressional district in the U.S. House. She is seeking this position as someone who hopes to make progressive laws that better people’s lives. Melinda Gopher believes there is too much grid lock in Washington DC, and that people are often overlooked as a result.
Melinda Gopher is the seventh of eight children born to Robert and Dorothy Gopher, of Great Falls, Montana. She grew up in a two room house on Hill 57. Melinda Gopher is a paralegal, and hopes to at some point in the future, continue toward law school and earn a JD in law.
Melinda Gopher is a candidate for Montana’s sole congressional district in the U.S. House. She is seeking this position as someone who hopes to make progressive laws that better people’s lives. Melinda Gopher believes there is too much grid lock in Washington DC, and that people are often overlooked as a result.
Melinda is taking this time to seek this seat in the U.S. House based upon her personal life experiences. Melinda Gopher believes she is uniquely qualified to navigate the bureaucracy in Washington DC; having continually having dealt with the nation’s oldest bureaucracy; the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Melinda loves and is proud of Big Sky Country, she is proud of her country and proud of this nation’s flag. Her ancestors received one of the earliest treaty flags given to Indian nations at this nation’s founding. She believes oral history and written history verifies her Ojibwe ancestors did in fact; contribute to the early nation building. History seems to bear out the Ojibwe as an influential Great Lakes ally to the U.S. As a tribal person, she is well aware of the need, and has the skills to succeed in representing Montanans of every walk of life.
Melinda Gopher's family and tribal origins are rooted in public service dating back to the founding of this nation. Her late father assisted in gaining state constitutional protection of the “cultural integrity of tribal people “ in the state’s educational mandates.
Melinda loves and is proud of Big Sky Country, she is proud of her country and proud of this nation’s flag. Her ancestors received one of the earliest treaty flags given to Indian nations at this nation’s founding. She believes oral history and written history verifies her Ojibwe ancestors did in fact; contribute to the early nation building. History seems to bear out the Ojibwe as an influential Great Lakes ally to the U.S. As a tribal person, she is well aware of the need, and has the skills to succeed in representing Montanans of every walk of life.
Melinda Gopher's family and tribal origins are rooted in public service dating back to the founding of this nation. Her late father assisted in gaining state constitutional protection of the “cultural integrity of tribal people “ in the state’s educational mandates.
Melinda Gopher's father founded Opportunities, Inc. in Great Falls during the War on Poverty era. He founded Loud Thunder, Inc. in 1986 and would spearhead an environmental movement that would lead to the successful banning of new cyanide mines in Montana. Robert Gopher galvanized the effort to preserve Montana’s waters.
Melinda Gopher for U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - Montana
Melinda Gopher for U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - Montana
Gopher for Congress
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Montana Political News
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