Posted on October 29, 2007

KQRS Remarks Upset Indian Leaders

Terry Collins, Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul), October 29, 2007

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Representatives of the American Indian Movement (AIM), the Red Lake Indian Reservation and urban Indian leaders hope to meet with executives from the classic-rock station (92.5 FM) at its southeast Minneapolis headquarters regarding the on-air statements by [Tom] Barnard [of KQRS] and his co-host, Terri Traen, AIM co-founder Clyde Bellecourt said Sunday.

Bellecourt said the remarks about the Red Lake Chippewa and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux tribes were “ignorant.” He compared them to comments made this spring by shock jock Don Imus, who was fired from his syndicated show for calling members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, “nappy-headed ho’s.”

The KQ morning show, known for its pull-no-punches style when delivering weird news, ethnic jokes and political diatribes, is among the most popular morning programs in the Twin Cities.

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The uproar stems from a broadcast last month in which Barnard and Traen talked about the Red Lake and Shakopee tribes while discussing a report by the state Health Department that Beltrami County has the state’s highest rate of suicide among young people.

The jocks then mentioned Bemidji and the Red Lake Indian Reservation, which are both located in Beltrami County.

“Maybe it’s genetic; isn’t there a lot of incest up there?” Traen said about the tribe.

“Not that I know of,” Barnard replied.

“I think there is,” Traen continued. “Don’t quote me on that, but I’m pretty sure.”

“Well, I’m glad you just threw it out there, then,” Barnard said to laughter in the background.

Barnard also criticized the Shakopee Sioux, who own the Mystic Lake Casino, for “doing a hell of a job helping them out.”

Traen commented, “They don’t give them anything?”

“Hell, no!” Barnard replied.

Another member of the morning team refers to the casino as “Mistake Lake,” and calls Bellecourt, “Clyde Bellycourt.”

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[Bellecourt] said the Indian leaders will push the station executives to take swift action on Barnard.

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