Take Action to Protect Wild Rice!

ATTENTION: Â PROTECT WILD RICE TODAY!
Contact your state legislators TODAY, tell them to support legislation protecting Wild Rice.
         Vote in  support  of Bill 1662 and Bill 1663.Â
CALL, E-MAIL, AND WRITE YOUR MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS
to find out who represents YOU scroll down or visit MN legistors website:
http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html
Bois Port/Nett LakeÂ
Senator Thomas Bakk (DFL) District 06 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 226 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606651.296.8881                               Senator Tom Saxhaug (DFL) District 03 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 124 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606  651.296.4136 sen.tom.saxhaug@senate.mn Representative David Dill (DFL) District 06A 571 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-2190 (800) 339-0466 rep.david.dill@house.mn          Â
Fond Du Lac Senator Tony Lourey (DFL) District 08 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 205 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.0293 sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn               Representative Bill Hilty (DFL) District 08A 559 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-4308 (800) 788-1329 rep.bill.hilty@house.mn            Grand Portage Senator Thomas Bakk (DFL) District 06 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  Capitol Building, Room 226 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.8881               Representative David Dill (DFL) District 06A 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 571 State Office Building Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 651.296.2190 or 1.800.339.0466 rep.david.dill@house.mn            Leech Lake Senator Mary Olson (DFL) District 04 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 124 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.4913               Author /sponsor of the 2007 bills  Representative Frank Moe (DFL) District 04A 369 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-5516  (877) 838-5537 rep.frank.moe@house.mn            Lower Sioux Senator Gary Kubly (DFL) District 20 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 301 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.5094 sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn               Representative Lyle Koenen (DFL) District 20B4 39 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-4346   (800) 341-5897 rep.lyle.koenen@house.mn               -OR-Representative Marty Seifort (R) District 21A 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 267 State Office Building Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-5374  (888) 234-1242 rep.marty.seifert@house.mn                Mille Lacs Senator Tom Saxhaug (DFL) District 03 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 124 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.4136 sen.tom.saxhaug@senate.mn                                                                            Representative Loren Solberg (DFL) District 03B 443 State Office Building100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155(651) 296-2365   or  (888) 682-6154 rep.loren.solberg@house.mn                Prairie Island Senator Pat Pariseau (R) District 36 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. State Office Building, Room 117 St. Paul, MN 55155-1206 651.296.5252 sen.pat.pariseau@senate.mn               Representative Pat Garofalo (R) District 36B 221 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-1069  or (888) 667-3337 rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn                 Red Lake Senator Rod Skoe (DFL) District 02 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 303 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.4196 sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn                                                                  Senator LeRoy Stumpf (DFL) District 01 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 208 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606651.296.8660              Representative Brita Sailer (DFL) District 02B 577 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-4265   or (800) 920-5867rep.brita.sailer@house.mn              Shakopee Mdewakanton Senator John Doll (DFL) District 40 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room G-9St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.5975s en.john.doll@senate.mn Representative Will Morgan (DFL) District 40A 531 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-4212 rep.will.morgan@house.mn                White Earth Senator Rod Skoe (DFL) District 02 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 303 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 651.296.4196 sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn                  Representative Kent Eken (DFL) District 02A 575 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-9918 rep.kent.eken@house.mn               Representative Brita Sailer (DFL) District 02B 577 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.  Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-4265 or (800) 920-5867 rep.brita.sailer@house.mn               Upper Sioux Senator Gary Kubly (DFL) District 20, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room 301     St. Paul, MN 55155-1606. 651.296.5094 sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn               Representative Lyle Koenen (DFL) District 20B 439 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-4346 or (800) 341-5897 rep.lyle.koenen@house.mn ÂThe Resolution:
Pass a resolution in support of Wild Rice through your organization, club, school or church group! Whereas natural wild rice is of extreme ecological importance to Minnesota lakes, rivers, and wildlife, providing important habitat and sustenance for migrating waterfowl and aquatic life, Whereas natural wild rice is also of great importance to Minnesotans, is the State Grain of Minnesota, and is a sacred part of the religion of the Anishinaabeg people, Whereas Minnesota is the center of biodiversity for naturally occurring lake and river wild rice, Whereas Risk Assessment regarding the introduction of genetically engineered organisms into the environment is in its infancy, and there are many potential environmental impacts from the release of Genetically Engineered Organisms including: 1) gene flow to related taxa, 2) creation of more invasive (weedy or pest) species, 3) non-target interactions (e.g., transfer of pharmaceuticals to wildlife foraging in crop fields), 4) evolution of resistance, 5) changes in viruses, and 6) horizontal gene flow (i.e., to unrelated taxa), Whereas the risk of exposure is extremely high, as genetically engineered wild rice could easily cross-pollinate with native strains of wild rice and the potential for cross-pollination is high; for instance, one study found the pollen of GE creeping bentgrass traveled farther than 13 miles from the release site, Whereas some of the harms from release of GE wild rice could include: 1) loss of unique genetic resources, 2) decline in abundance of the species, 3) displacement of other species of aquatic plants through improved competitive fitness of wild rice, and 4) decline in resilience of the biological community (in this case Minnesota lakes and rivers), Whereas the economy of Minnesota would be harmed from a loss of export markets from the introduction of a genetically engineered wild rice, Now therefore be it resolved, that we support putting a moratorium on the introduction of genetically engineered wild rice in Minnesota through the State Legislature, in order to protect Natural Lake and River stands of wild rice.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR A CAUCUS ORGANIZING PACKET PLEASE E-MAIL info@welrp.org
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Support Legislation:
In 2005 we introduced Senate Bill 1566 and House Bill 1382 to prohibit the introduction of Genetically Engineered wild rice into the State of Minnesota. We will be introducing more Legislation in 2006. Please contact your Senators and Representatives to tell them you support future versions of these bills in the 2006-2007 session. You can find out who represents you by going to: www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Districtfinder.asp PLEASE let us know you've taken action so we can track our progress! (e-mail wildrice@welrp.org)
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Donate to our Campaign
We are a reservation based non-profit organization on the White Earth Reservation. We have been working on Native issues surrounding land loss, culture, and environmental justice. We are dependent upon support from citizens and foundations, to keep our programs running. We greatly appreciate all donations. Please send Donations to the wild rice campaign at: White Earth Land Recovery Project 32033 E Round Lake Rd. Ponsford MN 56575 Miigwech for your support and generosity!
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Join our ACTION LIST
To find out more, stay up to date on Events, Action Alerts, and our Newsletters please contact us at wildrice@welrp.org or info@welrp.org
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Volunteer
Every year we have many volunteers and interns that help our project and our campaign. Please contact us if you would like to volunteer or visit our project. info@welrp.org
- You can also help support Native Economies and Traditional Practices by buying our Native Hand Harvested Lake Wild Rice Buy Wild Rice
