TRUTH IN TAXATION HELD ACCOUNTABLE

I attended the meet and greet from 6-7pm this evening with Mr. Bob. Le Barrron General Manager of the Bemidji Regional Event Center in attendance prior to the truth in taxation meeting presented by the Bemidji City Council and met with other city administrators and had a lengthy discussion with Bob, starting off with giving him my business card and introducing myself and in suit with the City of Bemidji ,MN,DEED,and Kraus-Anderson construction co., over the lack of an Affirmative Action Policy implementation regarding the Bemidji Regional Event Center of which he made note mentioning Bemidji Pioneer Newspaper coverage, yet i let him know that i was there to introduce myself and bring my best wishes for him and this Event Center here in Bemidji.I commented on the historical relevance of a huge quilted blanket that hung from the front of the council chambers and had an early depiction of what life was like here in the early days, an1896 to1996 Commemoration with a picture of Chief Bemidji top center . I referred to my business card at the bottom where he could view my blog for the Native American Indian Labor Union 12 where in the last gathering we had listened to a story as told by Mr Frank Dickenson, an Elder of Red Lake Band of Ojibwe who told us of when he remembers all the old Anishinabe who lived all around this lake Bemidji and how they were eventually run off their own lands around the lake and where in these early days" Indians" were not even allowed to drive a motor vehicle in the city limits and had to park where the present day post office is. When one realizes the very reason for the location of the town of Bemidji ,was on account of the trade and the care the Native Peoples took to care and share with their new found White Brother, it is a sad commentary when this group of Native Peoples (Union) has not been allowed to share in the economic realities of this new society on the lake . I told him i was there to make sure his company Venue Works inc cared about this community's rich culture and made him aware i was at this meeting to ask for a spot on the task force looking for such issues as this to get some Real Native American Representation in regard to Hiring and Staffing and Implementation of Affirmative Action Plans.
When the agenda proceeded upon the Truth in Taxation presentation part of the evenings agenda the audience was given a chance to voice concerns ,and i went to the podium and asked after quite a lengthy number crunching session given by the Cities budget man i asked him the way the taxpayer and homeowner of this community is paying for the regional events center is through tax levy on goods and services(Commerce) that we in these hard times pay our share and that the Enbridge Pipeline is not paying any tax on their Commerce going right through the front yard of Bemidji's land tax base and represents Enbridges Commerce who should be taxed for every gallon of oil crossing our city which the mayor wasn't quite sure of that possibility if the city had not provided them much of anything as far goes as land use. I strongly urged them to Research this and made the point that this is Commerce in that pipe and should be taxed for every gallon rushing through our city. I noted their dismay at such a proposal but the council looked like a bunch of chickens in a chicken coop with their heads bobbing around and looking back and forth at each other ,pardon the pun please, I made sure and thanked them and sat down to waited for my chance to present my letter to request Native Anishinabe representation on the task force for the B.R.E.C.
.At a 2nd motion to accept the predetermined council reps who had been chosen at an earlier time, the mayor was interrupted by councilors who wanted to remind the mayor before he closed the option for hearing Native representation and Citizen representation in general on this task force ,Al Felix prompted the Mayor to halt the vote and allow myself Mr. Paquin to read my request to include Native American Anishinabe participation,which i respectfully as i could, read the letter as shown here.

12-07-2009

Gregory W. Paquin
1511 Roosevelt rd se
Bemidji Minnesota,56601




City of Bemidji
Bemidji City Council
317, 4^th St, NW
Bemidji ,Minnesota 56601



Mayor Richard Lehman
Members of City Council,


I am requesting to be considered for the advisory task force regarding the Bemidji Regional Event Center to work with issues of plurality and Affirmative Action in Hiring
and staffing .

I also would like to be able to review the past performance of Venue Works inc. policies
that I would hope reflect this communities commitment to offering employment and business opportunities for development of prospects for such a large Native Anishinabe
regional workforce and poverty stricken region of Northwestern Minnesota .
Please let us have representation besides what I have seen at the groundbreaking ceremony where a real Native Man and a real Drum Group prayed for much more than any future token representations of Real Affirmative Action Policies for the hiring and promotion of such a rich cultural resource that Native Peoples represent.


Gregory W. Paquin
Red Lake Member

Gregory W. Paquin

Candidate for Minnesota Senate
District: 4

1511 Roosevelt Road SE.
Bemidji, Minnesota , 56601
218-209-3157 h
651-503-9493 c
check out my blog: http://nativeamericanindianlaborunion12.blogspot.com/