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Menominee Indians Seize Monastery

By VVAW

In the early morning hours of New Year's Day, approximately 40 armed member's of the militant Menominee Warriors Society seized control of the abandoned Alexian Brothers monastery bear Gresham, Wisconsin. They declared it under control of the Menominee people for the purpose of a long-needed medical care center for the 4,000 tribe members in the area. From the beginning, these Native Americans withstood, first 250 state and local police, and then 400 Wisconsin National Guardsmen ordered to the site by Wisconsin Governor Lucey. The Menominee's have held the monastery for three weeks.

The Indians struggle intensified back in 1954 when the federal government passed the infamous "Termination Bill." When the "Termination Bill" went into effect in 1961, the Menominee Tribe, along with other Indians, were drafted for this experiment, which mean a loss of status as a federally recognized tribe. The Bill opened up Menominee land as valuable vacation property and timberland to exploitation by big business.

Termination also meant a loss of federal services which included hospital and medical care. In 1963 an epidemic of tuberculosis caused great suffering for the Menominee's. The average life expectancy is only 43 years; other problems are a high infant mortality rate, suicides, 25% unemployment, and the highest dropout rate in the state of Wisconsin due to an inadequate educational system.

The determination of the Menominee people now in the monastery, added to by large and militant demonstrations in Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, and other cities have had a telling effect on the government's position. The forcing of the National Guard to allow in food, reduce the number of checkpoints, and turn the electricity on again are examples of the government's weakening position.

Recent developments have been the beginning of negotiations with the state, with American Indian Movement spokesmen Dennis Banks and Russell Means representing the Menominee people. Negotiations have been broken off periodically when the Indians felt that the State's forces have violated the ceasefire agreement. On January 18th, the Menominee Warrior Society evacuated some of the women and children from the monastery, being skeptical of the intentions of the National Guard, who have maintained that they are there to "enforce" the peace.

Cleary, the government is backing off and the Menominee Tribe expects a victory soon. It is now just a matter of time for the government and business interests to figure out the quickest way out of the situation they're in without the embarrassment of another Wounded Knee. With the continued support of people around the country, the Menominee people will soon have their health center.