Cloudman, guest poet, shares “ME” – a poem that references the infamous Nebraska town of Whiteclay where selling alcohol to the Lakota is the raison de existence.
Soon after the territory entered the public domain, a trading post was set up to sell alcohol to the Lakota, and merchants have continued to do so since. In 2010, its four beer stores sold an estimated 4.9 million 12-ounce cans of beer, an average of over 13,000 cans per day, for gross sales of 3 million dollars.[1] They have no place to consume beer on site, and it is not supposed to be drunk on the streets, but there are often inebriated customers sprawled around Whiteclay. John Yellow Bird King, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, says that tribal members bring alcohol illegally back from Whiteclay and “90 percent of criminal cases in the court system” are alcohol-related.[5] Beer is sold almost exclusively to residents from the reservation, as the nearest big city is two hours to the north.[5] According to Mary Frances Berry, the 10-year chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, Whiteclay can be said to exist only to sell beer to the Oglala Lakota.[6]
Victor Clarke, the owner of Arrowhead Foods, a grocery store in Whiteclay that does not sell alcohol, said he “did more than a million dollars in business last year, with an entirely Native American clientele.”[2] As the reservation has no banks and few stores, its residents spend most of their money in Nebraska border towns, for regular needs as well as alcohol. The beer stores in Whiteclay cash welfare and tax refund checks for the Oglala Lakota, taking a 3 percent commission.[5]
Madison, Wisconsin isn’t the only place with an ongoing protest in America. As things have “frozen up” on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the Lakota Elders have been dealing with mounting issues of “abuse” on several levels. They’ve taken all they’re going to take and are appealing for news coverage of the corruption that has lead to the conditions they are experiencing.
The Lakota Elders on Pine Ridge have issues, MAJOR ISSUES involving food, housing, sanitary conditions, threats, intimidation, eviction and more. Apparently their patience has reached the point of taking protest action. Do note that this situation involves longstanding cultural conflicts. The posting of this media release presents an introduction only to the situation.
Here is a Media Release.
Cante Tenza Okolakiciye – Strong Heart Warrior Society
Free & Independent Lakota Nation
Box 512, Hill City, South Dakota 57745 | 605-454-0449 or
605-517-1547 | lakotaoyate.net
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2011
Contact: Duane Martin Sr. 605-517-1547 or 605-454-0449
LAKOTA ELDERS, WARRIOR SOCIETIES, NOW OCCUPY PORCUPINE ELDERLY MEALS
CENTER – WILL STAY UNTIL DEMANDS ARE MET
Porcupine Elderly Meals Building, Pine Ridge Reservation, SD – After
four years of abuses and calls for remedy from the Bureau of Indian
Affairs(BIA) Oglala Tribal Government, Lakota elders with support from
the Strong Heart Warrior Society, United Urban Warrior Society, and
Rapid City AIM- Grassroots have peacefully taken over, and now occupy,
the Elderly Meals Building in the Porcupine Community of Pine Ridge
Reservation.
The occupation occurred as a result of human rights and civil rights
abuses, including physical assault, of Lakota elders at the center,
the illegal selling of drugs and alcohol from the building by center
staff, refusal of Oglala tribal government officials to take action,
and the use of the tribal judicial office to attack and penalize
elders and advocates who spoke out against abuse, graft, and
corruption occurring in the elderly meals program and throughout
complicit tribal government officials.
The elders and warrior societies are demanding the removal of all
current center staff, the construction of a new, sanitary building,
restoration of healthy meals, expansion of elderly meals to those home-
bound, and an investigation into the graft and corruption in the
program and those complicit tribal officials.
Respected Lakota elders including Lorraine White Face Eagle Elk,
Cecilia Martin, Elizabeth Young Bear, and Enoch Brings Plenty issued
the following statement:
“The former president and the cook have discriminated against the
elders at the Porcupine Elderly Meals Center. Elders are demanding
them to be removed immediately.
The Elders will be leading this occupation with the support and
protection of three warrior societies – the Strong Heart Warrior
Society, United Urban Warrior Society, and Grassroots AIM.
I, Enoch Brings Plenty, as president of the Meals for the Elderly
Program at Porcupine, will try my best to please the Elders in my
district as best as I can -to bring back honesty, trust and integrity.
This is why these three warrior societies are here with us. They are
going to teach our children how to protect and remain free with the
elders of our oyate. Hoka hey!”
In support of the elder’s statement, the Strong Heart Warrior Society
said, “The elders have exhausted all legal remedies that they possibly
can and now they face the critical mass. So it is now their urgency to
request these warrior societies to step up and give them that
opportunity to regain control for what is rightfully theirs.”
The Oglala Tribal Council, which has been at the center of controversy
for years over graft and corruption in their ranks, continues to
publicly state there is no problem with Pine Ridge Reservation elders.
Activists have noted numerous incidents of retaliation and dirty
tricks in order to penalize elders and advocates from speaking out and
making these abuses public.
The occupation is planned until the demands are met. While State and
Federal officials have been slow to respond to this crisis, the South
Dakota Governor’s Office is now aware of the situation, as is the U.S.
Justice Department.
###
The Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota
is the size of the state of Connecticut. Due to decades of abuse,
corruption and colonial enforcement, Pine Ridge faces epidemic rates
of suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, elder abuse, and poverty. Life
expectancy for Lakota men is below 40 years of age. Nearly ¾ of the
Lakota people have lost their language, and the traditional language
is on the verge of extinction in Pine Ridge. The reservation has one
of the highest rates of unsolved murders. These unsolved deaths are
widely attributed to violent retaliation against those seeking an end
to corruption and assertion of traditional Lakota sovereignty.
Cante Tenza Okolakiciye also known as the Strong Heart Warrior Society
of the Lakota Nation is an ancient Lakota warrior society as well as a
broad-based civil rights movement that works to protect, enforce and
restore treaty rights, civil rights, and sovereignty of Native people
and their communities across Turtle Island. In addition to activist
efforts to protect the land and people, each year Cante Tenza collects
and freely distributes shoes, winter coats, school supplies, food, and
other support to Oglala Lakota elders, children and families. www.lakotaoyate.net | “Lakota Oyate” on Facebook
<<Click the banner above to visit Native America Calling.>>
Wondering what Native Americans think of Johnny Depp playing Tonto in a new film? Well, surf to Native America Calling’s online former broadcasts and find out. Heads up, make sure you’re wearing your satire hat for the “win Depp” show. There’s an online archive list and summary of several years of broadcasts covering everything from healthcare to water rights to “matchmaking.” Oh yes, there is more talk radio in America than the usual media attention beasts bellowing on the sound waves. The discussions on Native America Calling are lively, smart, informative and enjoyable. Harlan McKosato is the show’s host and producer. Listeners are invited to call in and participate in the conversations.
Native America Calling broadcasts live Monday through Friday, 1-2pm Eastern time. 10 am PST. You can listen online too.
On Monday, February 7, 2011 the topic will be the “State of Indian Education.” Having blogged my thoughts about the general state of education in America, I’m very interested in hearing this particular broadcast.
They’re serving everything from Casino Jack to Adapting to Climate Change. And it all gets archived for listening at later dates.
In the Kansas City Metro area there’s only ONE hour a week of radio programming featuring Native American music, news, issues, and people. Native Spirit Radio airs on www.kkfi.org hosted by Rhonda LeValdo (Acoma Pueblo), on Sundays, 5-6pm CST. NSR streams online.
Escape the radio boxes by expanding your listening horizons to Native America Calling. Sharing your discoveries here is very welcome.
Here’s a heads up for all lovers of Native American flute music in the Kansas City metro area: John Two-Hawks will perform at Stone Spirit Lodge on January 29, 2011 (Saturday). You can hear Two Hawks in concert and explore the wild joy of Stone Spirit Lodge at 309 Westport Rd. A simple call to Paul and Dawn at 816-561-7900 can score you some incredibly affordable tickets ($15) for a concert by this award winning Oglala Lakota flutist.
Follow the link or click on the photo of John Two Hawks to visit his website for more music, photos and information.
Tune into to KiLi online at http://www.kiliradio.org/ to hear the voice of the Lakota people. Kills Straight is being interviewed now about the history of the ride.
Heads up–this coverage ended at 1pm cst on Dec. 27. But you can still discover Kili’s community coverage via the link.
Here’s a big HELLO to all the viewers of the 1915 newspaper photograph of Lost Bird aka Margaret Elizabeth Colby–et al. Okay folks, you’ve been silently coming and going for months and months without ever asking a question or leaving a comment. Now is your chance to break silence and post your questions. Seriously–what do you want to know about this mysterious young woman? Hmm? What keeps you all returning time and time again to view the clipping from the San Francisco Examiner? Oh yes, I really really want to know your thoughts and queries about this complex personality known as Zintkala for much of her life.
Oh and yes, those of you who frequently view my photograph of her gravestone on Cemetery Hill, Wounded Knee, you’re also invited to speak your minds. I’ll even help out a tad: anyone have an issue with the information on that headstone?
Drilling for oil at Bear Butte is like drilling for oil in other sacred places. It’s like drilling for oil in Vatican City, Jerusalem, Mecca, Stonehenge, Machu Picchu, Delphi, or under the Bodhi Tree. Please note that there has not been much done to draw attention to this oil venture. It’s been kept pretty darn quiet. Please spread the news about this proposed oil development.
South Dakota: Petition To Stop Oil Drilling Near Bear Butte
To: Nakota Energy, Department of Natural Resources Oil & Energy, Meade County Commissioners
On November 18, 2010, the Department of Natural Resources approved an application for oil drilling just west of Bear Butte for Nakota Energy LLC. Another application was approved on August 18, 2010 to evaluate oil possibilities in the area.
The DNR held a contested case hearing in Pierre South Dakota on the 18th, unknown to most of Meade County residents and/or the general public. The notification of public notice for said hearing was very limited, if at all.
The public needs to have proper input on this issue, have the ability to oppose and the opportunity to voice concerns about oil drilling next to Bear Butte.
Bear Butte is a sacred site located in the Black Hills and has been subjected to continual development and encroachment which violates the sacredness of the mountain. Exploitation of Mother Earth it’s minerals, oil and other natural resources is another violation of encroachment against Bear Butte.
The discovery of oil and potential for drilling near Bear Butte will bring further unwanted development, noise pollution, traffic and population to the mountain.
Bear Butte Lake has been a National Wildlife Refuge in cooperation with State Parks and USFWS since 1967. It is home for migratory birds and endangered species and is protected by Federal law. The risk for potential oil spills, leaks and accidents could greatly affect local wells and water supplies, Bear Butte Lake, Bear Butte Creek and Spring Creek. The environmental impact of oil spills has devastating effects on wildlife and water supplies. We want to keep the surrounding area of Bear Butte a peaceful and tranquil environment, which does not include oil drilling fields and machinery.
Bear Butte is a sacred site, a cultural icon and has four National Designations for protection including:
National Historical Landmark listed on December 21, 1981 National Historical Places listed on June 19, 1973 National Natural Landmark, listed on April 1965 Registered National Trail (Bear Butte Summit Trail), listed on June 1,1971
The mountain deserves respect and protection, not exploitation.
The undersigned hereby each oppose all oil drilling near Bear Butte and request DNR to revoke the recent application(s) and properly open the issue for public comments and concerns.
Please consider our request and reopen public comments.
Thank you. Sign the Petition Here.
Every signature is important. As of this post there are 564 signatures. You’d fight to keep BP, Chevron or Shell from drilling in your sacred space, wouldn’t you?
FYI–This post concerns sending board books suitable for very young children in an Early Headstart Program operated by the Oglala Lakota College. Anne works at the location in Oglala, South Dakota. Note: There is NO public library on the Pine Ridge Reservation–nor on many other reservations either. So–that means no nice free library books to check out for children or adults.
Violating copyright births bad karma---imagine a mad hacker you'll never see coming--nor catch going. Respect = my work is my work and your work is your work.
Everything posted here is my work, copyrighted, unless otherwise noted. Comments aside. Om
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om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
