Dennis Banks’ Maple Syrup Business Equipment Stolen

by Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

LEECH LAKE INDIAN RESERVATION - It is almost ironic. Dennis Banks, who has been on the Longest Walk 3 - Reversing Diabetes, fighting to bring awareness to the ill-effects of sugar diabetes among American Indians was burglarized of business equipment that is worth thousands of dollars.

Dennis Banks - Lakota

The equipment is used for collecting maple sap used to maple syrup. Banks operates a maple syrup-making business, among his other busy activities working on behalf of American Indian rights.

Banks, who was in either Oregon or Washington state, when the burglary occurred. He was there talking about the Longest Walk 3. Banks said it would take a forklift to remove the large containers.

“They wiped me out! They even took the cooper tubing,”

said Banks on Monday evening while traveling on American Indian business. “I will be okay, but it makes me mad someone would come on to my property and steal my equipment.”

The burglars stole two large stainless-steel pots used to collect the maple sap and the main boiling pot used to process the sap.

Banks is offering a $1,000 reward to find those responsible for the burglary. Banks said the Leech Lake Tribal Police are investigating the crime.

posted May 24 8:47 am et