From: The Bemidji Pioneer
By Crystal Dey
CASS LAKE — When the state of Minnesota confiscated a shipment of tribal tobacco enroute to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe reservation it was viewed by the band as an attack on American Indian rights.
Since the seizure of 2,800 packs of Seneca cigarettes in St. Cloud on April 18, Leech Lake Tribal Chairwoman Carri Jones has been awaiting a proposed resolution from the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Jones said she wants to protect the band’s tribal sovereignty and be reimbursed for taxes paid to the state. However, Department of Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans said the state wants to regulate cigarette contraband coming into Minnesota.
“We have now received agreements by 10 of 11 tribes who have agreed to sell only cigarettes that have the state stamp on it where the taxes have been paid by the distributor,” Frans said. “Leech Lake is the last tribe.”
In 2013, the Red Lake and White Earth bands signed an agreement with the state, leaving Leech Lake as the only tribal government that did not come to a resolution to stop selling un-state stamped cigarettes.
