Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

ONEIDA, NEW YORK - 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 proud of the fact that they invented the program for these machines.