People First to hold public meeting

People First, a group fighting corruption at Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, will hold a public meeting at 5 p.m. Sunday at Havre’s TownHouse Inn discuss action that can be taken to advance their causes.

Among other things, said state Rep. G. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder, the group will be asked to consider a proposal to seek a halt to federal funding for the reservation except for essential services.

Meyers will return from Helena to facilitate the meeting.

“The problems at Rocky Boy give the entire Hi-Line a black eye,” he said.

He urged Natives and non-Natives to attend the meeting.

The Guardians Project, a program of the U.S. Attorney’s office, has overseen the investigation at Rocky Boy, which has resulted in the arrest of nearly 20 people — both reservation residents and off-reservation people — on embezzlement and other charges. The investigation is continuing.

Among the items to be discussed are “the real story behind Chairman St. Marks’ impeachment,” and “Pepper Hamilton and the Chippewa Cree Tribe,” according to leaflet being distributed by the group.