Fight For Justice

On the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Reservation


November 1997

Read from buttom up


In talking with several different tribal employees on important medical records, they seem to have disappeared after they were released to the tribe from FFJ. Interesting?


The tribe is trying to get an appeal on the court decision to close the Marquette Casino.


Brad Dakota plead guilty in Delta County, MI District Court. He recieved a fine and probation
Fred Dakota starting serving his sentence in prison.
Friday, November 14, 1997
Delta County fined Fred Dakota $400.00 for felony possession of a firearm by a felon and a misdemeanor possession of a weapon without a hunting license.


Personal Commentary by Rose Edwards
The Houghton Mining Gazette has a new publisher and they fired the Editor Cyndi Perkins and removed Vanessa Deitz from reporting anymore on tribal matters. I think this stinks. People had a newspaper that was finally presenting the truth to the public and because money talks you run stories on how wonderful the KBIC Police are. I personally know that the KBIC Police are not wonderful, they are bullies with no respect for the law or a persons safety. I have had these so called wonderful police physically throw me around. I have had these wonderful Police storm my parents house in swat uniforms with officers who had NO training what so ever. I have had these wonderful Police threatening to arrest me stinking of booze, armed to the teeth. I have had these wonderful police force me off the road to arrest me while I wasn't even on the Reservation. I have had these wonderful police continually harass my son and throw him in jail. I have seen these wonderful Police attack people from behind with clubs. The list could go on and on. But I'm just sick that the once wonderful Mining Gazette could fall so low.


Friday November 7,1997

The plaintiffs have dropped their claim against Archbishop of Detroit Maida in the civil suit. See below for more information.


Wednesday November 5, 1997

Dakota Sentenced to 30 Months.

Fred Dakota was sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison today by Judge Bell. After his 30 months in prison he will also serve 3 years supervised release for his crimes. Also Dakota was fined $30.000.00. He will start serving his sentence immediately.

Dakota was denied bail until his appeal was heard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judd Spray told the court that "Dakota has the attitude that he is above the law, that there is a different standard for him."


Tuesday November 4, 1997
Polinsky goes to jail for 3 years.

Jerrold Polinsky of Atlantic City, NJ was sentenced to three years in a federal prison and fined $60,000.00 by Judge Robert Holmes Bell today. After his prison term has been served he will be on probation for 3 years and cannot have any contact the gambling industry.

Judge Bell denied a Polinsky request to turn himself in at a later date in order to prepare his defense in cases pending against him in Minnesota and Louisiana.

Polinsky asked for Bell's sympathy & apologized to his family "for the embarrassment I've cause them." "I have been a good citizen, I've made an error in judgment." he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Judd Spray, who prosecuted the case said: "The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community is much more deserving of Mr. Polinsky's apology than his family." "He may be sorry for some things, but he not sorry for the crimes he committed.."


Monday November 3, 1997
Dakota Charged with weapons charges.

Fred Dakota & Brad Dakota were charged with weapons violations in Delta County, MI District Court. Fred Dakota is being charges with felony possession of a firearm by a felon and a misdemeanor possession of a weapon without a hunting license. Tribal Chief Judge Bradley Dakota was charged with taking a deer out of season and possession of a weapon without a license, both are misdemeanors charges. Dakota is saying he was only excising his treaty right

To read a brief summary of FFJ and it's begining read Tina Lam's Detorit Free Press article

Copyright 2001 by Rose Edwards. All Rights Reserved.