Opinion

Delvin Cree: Media censorship on Turtle Mountain Reservation

Monday, November 28, 2011

The Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota is one of those communities where censorship is the ultimate tool used to deprive writers of the opportunity to report about truthful activities. The "system" allows tribal leaders to have direct control over what content can be put into the tribal newspaper.

Right now, political stories affecting our tribal government are off limits to me as a freelance political reporter.

It is an election year and steps are being taken to silence reporters like myself from writing anything that will put the current administration in a hot seat. So right now, any additional stories I would like to report about - pertaining to our leaders micro-managing our programs and all tribal entities - will be put on hold.

In recent publications, I have written a stories that have gained interest by the tribal population.

For example, the controversial hiring of a Indian Health Services Director at our local health care facility has drawn attention. The person hired was part of a regional IHS investigation that former Senator Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota) initiated.

I also reported a story when a veto took place after a resolution was passed on live radio.Tribal leaders had agreed do a drug test within a 48 hour time limit by an outside firm.

As a tribal member, I have written an opinion regarding a $30 million loan package tribal leaders approved to expand our current hotel and casino. At the time, I was the tribe's oil and gas specialist. My opinion, which was upsetting to some leaders, cost me my position as the tribe's exploration specialist.

I currently have stories on hold which I cannot publicize through the tribe's paper because they are of a political matter.

One has to do with upcoming court hearings which involve tribal leaders. Another story focuses on the possibility of corruption charges being filed and the case involves the tribe's administration. Another story that is pending is awaiting a response from Washington D.C. and a congressional office in Minot, North Dakota. The story has to do with the former Indian Health Services investigation.

It is obvious the censoring of the "people's paper" here at Turtle Mountain will continue to violate a person's right to free speech. Our sovereignty -- which is the law of our own land base -- will continue to be used to protect our tribal leaders from being prosecuted unless our constitution is amended.

We need a constitution that protects the people, not our tribal leaders.

Delvin Cree is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.