Tribal Council, U.S. Attorney, FBI have
meeting in Red Lake
By Michael Meuers
Red Lake Public Relations
On Tuesday
June 26th, 2007, recently appointed US Attorney Rachel Paulose
visited with the Red Lake Tribal Council in the Council Chambers at Red Lake
for a 10 AM meeting. Also visiting were FBI agents, Ralph Boelter, Tom Jones, and Bill Brunell.
Paulose not only came to introduce herself, but to
hear from the Tribal Council about their concerns about alcohol and drug abuse,
violence and gangs on the Reservation. They also were told how a lack of
housing and unemployment affects these issues. One Council member was
concerned that there does not appear to be an option for long-term treatment
for relatives and friends who may have a serious or life threatening drug or
alcohol problem.
Members of the Council asked why there weren’t more prosecutions for drug
trafficking, sexual misconduct, violent crimes, and gang activity. The
Council also wanted to know how Paulose and the FBI
intended to address this problem.
Paulose countered that, in spite of her short tenure,
that prosecutions are up in Indian Country and cited the most recent rounds of
drug busts. “We are going after the drug organizations”, said Paulose, “the top of the chain”. Paulose
also pointed out that although she has been a US Attorney only a short time,
she has more than 20 years experience in gun and drug trafficking and has
worked in the Civil Rights Department.
Lead FBI agent, Boelter said that the FBI
headquartered in Bemidji
has given a priority to Indian Country. “We are committed to
investigating violent crime and drugs”, said Boelter.
He then pointed out the recent significant indictments.
Boelter encouraged the Red Lake Tribal Council to
reconsider joining the Gang and Drug Task Force made up of Federal, Tribal, and
State law enforcement. Boelter agreed that
Council concerns of sovereignty are legitimate, “but I assure the Council that
any state or other law enforcement officials are deputized as Federal Agents
before ever entering Red Lake”, said Boelter. Boelter also pointed out that “the only way to make an
impact is to have a steady drug enforcement, that the more money drug
traffickers make, the more power they have”, said Boelter,
“and high unemployment provides fertile ground”.
Several Tribal Council members present felt that they should indeed take
another look at joining the Gang and Drug Task Force with assurances regarding
sovereignty.
