CPTNET
Feb. 19, 2002
Oneida, NY Update: February 7-13, 2002

In response to a call for help from members of the Oneida Nation in Central
New York state CPTers Rod Orr, Anne Herman, and Cliff Kindy joined other
observers to provide a protective presence for Oneida families living in
homes targeted for inspection and demolition on a thirty-two acre plot of
land.

In 1961 two Oneida sisters moved onto this tract of wooded land to maintain
it as a traditional Oneida community. Last year agents of Oneida Indian
Nation of New York, Inc., authorized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),
inspected and condemned eleven homes under the guise of beautification. The
agents want the land to become another in a series of development projects
that include a casino and assorted service centers.

Across this continent non-traditional native peoples are trading their land
claims for casino-licensing. Millions of dollars have flowed into tribal
coffers from casinos, even though as Diane Shenandoah, faith keeper of the
Wolf Clan of the Oneida, told the team, "Our spiritual tradition does not
condone gaming."

The CPT workers were invited to be present early in February when home
demolition seemed imminent. What follows is a day-by-day account of
activities.

Thursday, Feb. 7
  Rod Orr, Anne Herman and Cliff Kindy arrived at the Oneida Reservation
about 4:30. Hawk, helper for the Oneida from the Shawnee, explained that
CPT's presence would give visibility to the traditional Oneida's struggle
against Ray Halbritter's casino empire. The three watched a police video,
obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, of officers' inspection of
one activist's house and subsequent arrest.

Friday, Feb. 8
  The team attended morning prayers at the home a clan mother. They then
visited sites on acres including a health clinic funded with federal
monies. The team also toured the Oneida Cultural Center and the Educational
Center, which were built with funds from Oneida Indian Nation of New York,
Inc., Halbritter's organization. Most of the people living on the
thirty-two acres are not allowed to use these services or enter the
buildings because they have been identified as dissidents. The dissidents
also have no access to the longhouse (the religious center) and the
cookhouse.

The team then visited the Oneida Nation police station where the officer on
duty refused to give his name and referred them to the Nation's information
center in the village of Oneida. The team watched a video entitled "Voices
of the Oneida People" documenting the March for Democracy in May of 1995
and the history of the struggle against gaming. At a press conference,
Halbritter announced he planned to resume forced inspections starting with
the home of the clan mother's sister. This home appears from the outside
to be in very good condition.

Saturday, Feb. 9
The team visited the NY State Police and were told that the state police
has no jurisdiction on the thirty-two acre reserve. Any complaints would be
referred to the tribal police who take their orders from Halbritter. CPT
purchased gas at one of the two gas stations (out of twenty-one) in the
Oneida area not part of the SavOn chain, which is owned by Halbritter's
Oneida Indian Nation, Inc. The owners had been offered an undisclosed price
for the sale of their station, but refused.

Monday, Feb. 11
Kindy and Orr visited the sports/recreation center where they were told by
Tom Costello of the tribal police that CPT would need prior permission from
Mark Emery, public relations director, to visit and photograph buildings
owned by Halbritter's business.

In the evening the team attended a meeting of the Upstate Citizens for
Equality (UCE). More than seventy-five members were attended. The video
of inspection and arrest was shown at the meeting. This group is opposed
to sovereignty of Native peoples and are especially bitter about any native
tax exemption. Some are afraid they will lose their homes and businesses
if Oneida land claims are honored.

Tuesday Feb. 12
After the prayer meeting, the team learned that the son of one of the
dissidents had been asked for the key to his mother's home for an
inspection by tribal police and told that his mother would never know.

Orr and Kindy visited the Oneida City Police and spoke with Chief Meeker.
They were told that police will respond to phone calls from the reservation
and that the police might be asked to arrest or deal with detained
resisters. The Oneida City Police would likely not arrest a tribal police
officer.

In the evening more than twenty-five people shared a potluck meal followed
by non-violence training led by Herman

Wednesday, Feb. 13
Herman, Kindy and Orr met Lt. Robert Fritzen and Detective John Bloomer in
the morning and were escorted to the casino for a meeting. Present were
Halbritter, four of the men's council and one of Halbritter's clan mothers
and the two security men. The CPTers were told the clans had met and
through consensus had chosen these representatives. Halbritter spoke in
glowing terms about Mennonites he had dealings with and seemed taken aback
when he learned team members were from other churches as well. He said his
organization has a good traditional government with accountability to
members but not outsiders and said that gambling is consistent with Oneida
tradition. He further explained that the organization takes care of its
members in good standing and the nation has a right to make its own laws
and then do whatever it needs to enforce them.

He spoke at length about the problems stemming from the Shenandoah family
and the greed and welfare mentality of this community. He sees the
"dissidents" as guilty of treason and trying to destroy his nation.
Referring to the absence of native people on the tribal police force,
Halbritter said that white former law enforcement officers can be more
neutral. The Halbritter clan mother said that CPT could go home and if CPT
stirs up a hornet's nest it becomes a local problem.

The meeting lasted two hours. The team was then given a half hour tour of
the casino. They said that very few people who come have to be removed for
unacceptable behavior. Herman asked if that is related to the fact that the
casino doesn't serve alcohol. Their tour guides said that is probably so,
but they are trying to get an alcohol license. There are no slot machines
but computer screens that operate in a similar fashion. The operators of
the casino are very p