Indians to give Gingrich, Dole paper on sovereignty

Date: Wed, 25 Oct 1995 23:39:33 -0400

Indian Country Today

ALBUQUERQUE N.M. -- The Alliance of American Indian Leaders is calling a 
national summit meeting of tribal elders for the day preceding the National 
Congress of the American Indians' annual conference, Roger Jourdain, former 
chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa said.

The purpose of the meeting is to develop a background paper on tribal 
sovereignty to be presented to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. The 
paper will also be presented to Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan.

The summit meeting will be held at the Town and Country Hotel in San Diego on 
Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conveners of the meeting are Roger Jourdain, 
Mescalero Apache Chairman, Wendell Chino and Indian Country Today Publisher Tim 
Giago.

``The war cry has been released,'' said Jourdain in calling the meeting. ``We 
have to take back the Potomac.''

All past tribal chairmen, tribal governors, national officeholder and others 
interested in preserving tribal sovereignty are invited to attend.

``We have to remind the U.S. Congress and the speaker of the House that Indian 
people have rights under the Constitution and the treaties they have signed,'' 
Jourdain said. ``This is an urgent meeting. We have to meet with the new 
leadership and point out to them what the original `Contract With America' is. 
It is with Indian tribes.''

Topics to be covered are treaty rights, the effect of gaming on Indian country, 
the effects of the recent budget cuts and relations with Congress. The elders 
will develop a briefing document to be presented personally to the speaker and 
the majority leader.