Press Release Contact: Frank Bibeau
                                     218-760-1258

April 8, 2005

Today, Friday, April 8, 2005, beginning about 3:00 P.M., Leech Lake Petition organizers will be holding another protesting and petition sign-up at the Northern Lights Casino in Walker, Minnesota at the junction of Highways 200 and 371.

This Saturday, April 9, 2005, Leech Lake Petition organizers will be meeting at the Ball Club Community Center, Ball Club, Minnesota at 2:00 PM. This Petition meeting will focus on bringing signed petitions together for a total count. The main Petition is for a referendum vote so that the people of the Leech Lake Reservation may express their voices on whether to participate in the State-Reservation Casino. Because 20 percent of resident voters of the Reservation are needed to satisfy the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Constitution Article XIV Referendum requirements, the total needed is expected to be at least 550 threshold.Petition organizers plan to have all Petitions completed by the end of April 2005.

For information on how you can assist and support the petition process or to obtain a Petition the public is invited to access information by email at: leechlakepetitions@yahoo.com or write to the Anishinabe Rights Center at Post Office Box 1663 in Bemidji, Minnesota 56619-1663.