MCT Member will urge Minn. Court of Appeals to recognize her as a person who’s civil rights should be protected

In July 2004, Buddie Greene, a 19 year-old single mother living in Malmo, Aitkin County , Minnesota, applied for Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP) grant funds for her and her daughter.  As a condition of receiving MFIP funds Buddie, like any other person, was required to participate in an Employment Services Program to help her find employment. 

When Aitkin County asked Buddie to complete a Tribal/Reservation Membership form (likely based upon her physical appearance) she identified herself as an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT). Because Buddie acknowledged she was an Indian on a single-page form, she was referred to Employment Services available for some Indians through the MCT. The MCT service offices are located in Cass Lake, Duluth, Virginia, Cloquet and Bemidji.

However, Buddie Greene requested to be referred back to the Aitkin County Employment Services program, only 17 miles from her home.  But she was denied access to these same Aitkin County program services as similarly situated, other resident, taxpaying citizens.  Buddie was informed that “Aitkin County has referred you to the . . . MCT [which] is mandated to provide you service and can not refer you elsewhere.”   Buddie Greene wanted to use the same state services as her neighbors, but Aitkin County would not serve her and Buddie and her young daughter were sanctioned 30% of benefits for not using the MCT services to which she was mandated.

Greene appealed to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Aitkin County District arguing she was a resident, tax-paying citizen of Aitkin County, Minnesota and the United States, and as such she should enjoy the same civil rights and access to public services as any other resident, tax-paying citizen under the Equal Protection clauses of the United States and Minnesota constitutions.  Buddie’s father, Dale Greene, Jr., continues to ask why isn’t the Minnesota Attorney General protecting Buddie?

Fifty-two (52) years ago Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on the bus because she was Black.  On April 12, 2007 at 9:30 AM at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth, Buddie Greene, through her attorney Frank Bibeau with Anishinabe Legal Services, will be asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to determine whether Buddie Greene, who is an Indian, is also considered a person under the federal and state constitutions and protected against racially discriminatory laws by a heightened scrutiny review under the Equal Protection clauses?