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Deadline for voter registration

Deadline for South Dakota voter registration is May 19th, 2008.

It is critical for everyone to register to vote . . . and then make your voice heard at the ballot box!

SWO receive Rural Development funds for additional water, wastewater infrastructure

Federal and state USDA Rural Development officials visited the Lake Traverse Reservation on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 to present a sizeable federal grant to improve the current water supply and wastewater treatment facilities that serve the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.

Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Deputy Administrator Curtis M. Anderson traveled from Washington, DC for the presentation. Accompanying him were Aberdeen Rural Development officials Bruce Jones and Janell R. Telin.

Also present were Tonya Peterson, aide to U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, and Judy Vrchota, aide to U.S. Senator John Thune.

"The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970," said Curtis Anderson.

"It was held to bring to the forefront environmental issues. Thirty-eight years later, we are still celebrating Earth Day. The proposed projects of the BDM Rural Water System and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe support positive environmental efforts for safe, sanitary water and sewer systems to the users of Sisseton and surrounding areas."

In a public announcement from his Washington, DC office, Senator Tim Johnson said, “I am very pleased that USDA Rural Development has approved a $450,000 Water and Waste Disposal Grant for the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. This grant will be used by the Tribe to construct and upgrade their water system.”

“The approval of this funding is especially fitting as we celebrate Earth Day across the United States.”

“Proper water infrastructure is crucial for our communities to continue to grow and this funding will greatly benefit the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate,” said Johnson. “One of the pillars of my Hometown Prosperity Plan is investing in the public good, and this funding is a wonderful example of that kind of investment.”

The funding will be used to construct water distribution lines, update the current sewer lines and to build a new lagoon. The existing housing units along with 54 new units will be served by these upgrades.

Rural Development award to BDM

Another recipient of USDA Rural Development funding was the Oyate’s partner BDM Rural Water System, which received an award of $636,000 plus a $370,000 low-interest federal loan to construct additional water storage units to meet increased demands.

BDM General Manager David Wade accepted the presentation from Deputy Assistant Administrator Curtis Anderson.

Altogether, the Earth Day presentations support water and environmental projects in the amount of $1,456,000.

The BDM award will be leveraged with Environmental Protection Agency funds of $894,100 – for a total of $1,900,100.

"We've been working on the project for over three years, and it finally all came together," said BDM Manager David Wade.

"It's a very good package for us. We'll start it this fall and it should be complete in the fall of 20009." BDM Rural Water will construct additional water storage reservoirs within the six existing reservoirs of the water system. The additional water storage will help meet increased water demand placed on the system by the increased number of users.

The project will increase water storage by 1.2 million gallons for a total of 1.8 million gallons at the six water storage sites. This will enable BDM to meet increased demand and peak flows for several years into the future.

"We call it a system capacity upgrade, and we will be building new concrete underground storage tanks and upgrading our treatment plant with a new 400,000-gallon storage tank," said Wade.

Wade said that recent expansions in Roberts County are driving the project. He said plans call for an additional 500-600 homes around Agency Village and in Roberts County in the near future.

Projects on tap for this summer include 44 new homes in the Long Hollow area northwest of Sisseton. Another 50 homes are planned in the Barker Hill project two miles north of Agency Village. In addition, 11 new homes are being added at the site of the new Lake Traverse District Center.

"We will serve them all," said Wade.

"A lot is happening close to us."

BDM also plans to add the city of Hecla to its system this summer.

The new projects are just the latest in a continued pattern of growth for BDM Rural Water. Wade said that the system has grown from 1,250 users five years ago to 1,922, and BDM has added over 1,000 users in the past ten years.

Special feature, overview of LTUC –

Managing Mother Earth’s Water and Sewer System on the Lake Traverse Reservation for Over 30 Years

By Elena Wilson

In 1973, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribal Council established the Lake Traverse Utility Commission (LTUC) as a department of the government having the primary responsibility to operate the community water and sanitation systems. The Lake Traverse Utility Commission is located in the northeast corner of South Dakota on the Lake Traverse Reservation. Prior to the rural water system, there were plumbers, electricians and laborers employed who built pump houses and serviced wells. The employees serviced homes on the Lake Traverse Reservation in the areas of electrical and plumbing. The also installed septic tanks and pumped them on an as needed basis.

In 1994, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe was approached by the BDM Rural Water System to attain the rural water system for the Lake Traverse Reservation. The Lake Traverse Utility Commission employees began canvassing the homes on the Reservation to introduce the rural water system. Each home owner was given the opportunity to accept or decline the system. The acceptance of the system would be of no charge to the homeowner. However, the homes that declined the system completed a form which stated that a hook up to the system at a later date, would be at the cost to the homeowner. The Indian Health Service provided funding under the sanitary umbrella to fund the rural water system hook up to those that accepted.

John Cloud III is the manager of the Lake Traverse Utility Commission and has been employed by this department since the beginning in 1973. Mr. Cloud also serves on the SDWWA Board of Directors. With his leadership and assistance, the rural water system was installed in four (4) phases, we are presently in the fourth phase. The Lake Traverse Utility Commission provides a basic necessity of water/sewer service to tribal entities and members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. The Lake Traverse Utility Commission continues to coordinate efforts on a monthly basis with the Indian Health Service so as to assure that its services for provision of water and sanitation systems are implemented efficiently and effectively. The operations of the LTUC are technologically upgraded on an annual basis, including training of staff who are certified water and sanitation technicians.

The Lake Traverse Utility Commission continues to work with the Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Rural Development, Midwest Assistance Program, Brown, Day, Marshall Rural Water System, WEB Water System and the Indian Health Service to upgrade the current water/sewer systems within the boundaries of the Lake Traverse Reservation. The Lake Traverse Utility Commission works closely with the BDM Rural Water Systems as they provide the main water to the Lake Traverse Reservation. The Lake Traverse Utility Commission purchases the water from BDM to serve the customers on the SWO.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2008 the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Lake Traverse Utility Commission) was awarded a USDA Rural Development water and waste disposal grant in the amount of $450,000 from Native American set-aside funds.

Curtis Anderson, Deputy Administrator for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Utilities Programs, joined South Dakota USDA area director, Bruce Jones and staff with the announcement of the federal funding.

The Lake Traverse Utility Commission plans to construct water distribution lines, sanitary sewer collection lines, rehabilitate the existing sewage lagoon, and build a new lagoon to accommodate the 30 existing housing units in the area and for future users at the Long Hollow project site. The USDA Rural Development water and waste disposal grant ($450,000) will assist in the construction of the first phase of the Long Hollow project. The Long Hollow project is a housing development subdivision where the construction of 54 new multi-family housing and single family housing units will be built along with the installation of infrastructure including drinking water and sanitary sewer systems and streets. The first phase will supplement water and waste disposal to 16 homes of the projected 54 housing units.

The BDM Rural Water Systems received a STAG grant from the USDA Rural Development to provide additional storage to the current water reservoirs. The existing water storage is less than the maximum daily demand. Due to the construction of several additional housing clusters, this grant will provide a complete delivery of finished water to these areas. The Lake Traverse Utility Commission is pleased to have a great working relationship with the BDM Rural Water Systems.

The Lake Traverse Utility Commission employs two (2) water operators, four (4) field operators and three (3) office staff. Also, as part of a community involvement effort, we have one (1) high school student who is learning the office aspect of the water and sewer department. All employees are employees are members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.

The employees of the Lake Traverse Utility Commission share in the commitment to meet the needs of our customers for exceptional water and sewer service by using insightful planning and effective communication.

In closing, the Dakota people have always regarded the water a powerful resource provided by the Creator to be used with the utmost respect. This is what empowers the Lake Traverse Utility Commission on a daily basis.

Postponed due to inclement weather to this Friday –

Oyate call for community spring clean-up

SWO Tribal Chairman Michael I. Selvage Sr. has sent a memo to all Tribal programs, requesting participation in a spring SWO community clean-up project. Originally scheduled for last week, the clean-up was postponed due to yet “another” blast of wintry weather! Instead of being held on April 29th, the spring clean-up will take place this Friday, May 9th.

Clean-up will begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will conclude at 12:00 noon, when a community meal will be served as the community center. Tribal Fish & Wildlife will provide the meat; however, all programs and staff are asked to bring a dish of their choosing.

In his memo, Chairman Selvage writes: “We are asking that all community members do your part to help our Reservation look clean and well-kept by cleaning around your own individual homes; this request includes all those living in the housing projects and mutual self-help homes. Historically, we are the caretakers of Mother Earth and we can take pride in making that effort.”

“Your cooperation and help is appreciated. Thank you.”

Details of the SWO community clean-up (2008):

At least one representative from each Tribal entity must meet at 8:30 a.m. in the Tribal headquarters parking lot before start of the clean-up to receive safety precautions.

*Garbage bags will be supplied by Dakota Western Corporation.

*Gloves will be supplied by the Office of Environmental Protection.

*Tribal Realty/Land operations will provide manpower and pick-up trucks to load and haul filled garbage bags to the landfill. Staff will leave filled garbage bags alongside the road or assure accessibility for pick-up.

Designated clean-up areas:

1. Dakotah Pride Center – Immediate area & TZ Road ending at road to Tribe.

2. Women's Circle – Immediate area & TZ Road leading to Tribe.

3. Child Protection Program – Immediate area & Tribal Headquarters.

4. Office of Child Support Enforcement – Immediate area & OA Dam area.

5. Commodity Program – Immediate area & the tree line behind building.

6. Elderly Nutrition Program – Immediate area & Tribal Headquarters.

7. TANF – Immediate area & tree line to the south.

8. Dr. Dorry/Social Services – Immediate area & tree line to the south.

9. Credit Union – Immediate area & Tribal Headquarters.

10. Facilities Management – Immediate area & ditches on road west of Tribal offices.

11. Healthy Start – Section of BIA 700 going north from Tekakwitha.*

12.        LTUC – Immediate area & tree line to the north and east.

13. Planning & Development – Two-mile stretch of BIA 700 going south from Tekakwitha.*

14. GIS – East side of Ceremonial Grounds (Pow-wow Grounds); Need more help in this area.

15. Emergency Management – One mile stretch of BIA 700 going south from Two Star Lane.*

16. BIA – Two mile stretch of BIA 700 going south from SWC.*

17. OEP – Veterans Avenue at Agency Village & portion of the tree line north.

18. Tax Office – Immediate area & the tree line to the north.

19. TERO – Immediate area & a two-mile stretch of BIA 700 going north from Tribal Roads.*

20. Victim's Assistance Program – Area south of old tribal gym.

21. Tribal Court – Immediate area and along the road west of Tribal Police Dept.

22. Tribal Roads – Two-mile stretch of BIA 700 going south from the Roads Dept.*

23. SWC – Immediate area & one-mile stretch of BIA 700 (already in progress).*

24. Tribal Council – Please encourage your District membership to do community clean up in your respective Districts.

For any programs inadvertently left off this list, please contribute towards the meal afterwards –hot dish, salad, fruit, etc.

*For programs assigned to BIA 700, please coordinate with each other if needed.

Any other individuals wishing to help, whether you work for a program or not, you are welcome . . . please come!

Tribes join forces to advance gaming compact negotiations –

SWO Tribe joins Flandreau, other S.D. tribes, in gaming compact lawsuit

Responding to a request by the Flandreau Tribe, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and other South Dakota tribes joined in its lawsuit against the state of South Dakota for its failure to negotiate in good faith for new gaming compacts.

Tribal leaders signed onto the lawsuit during their Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association meeting in Sioux Falls last month.

SWC expands program offerings

Agency Village, SD-May 1, 2008 – The Sisseton Wahpeton College will offer a new Associate of Science degree program this fall. The General Food and Agriculture Associate degree will prepare students for careers that require a general agriculture background. The College also expects to have individuals enroll in specific classes that would benefit them with personal goals like learning about native plants, getting an agriculture-related loan or just enhancing their own skills and knowledge base. In order to offer this program, SWC personnel developed several new courses, including classes in soils, range management, water quality, plants and nutrition. The Native Plants and Herb classes, developed previously with input from elders and experts from SDSU, will also be a part of the curriculum.

Many of the classes will use the SWC prairie restoration project and the accompanying outdoor classrooms to their advantage as students will be able to study native plants growing in their natural habitat. Classes for this program will be taught by local adjunct instructors as well as personnel from SDSU.

The overall impact of this program will be to offer more hands-on classes that teach students about local native plants, traditional methods of food preservation and modern soil and conservation practices. Local people will have more job and career opportunities in science and agriculturally related fields.

Students who earn an associate degree will be encouraged to pursue a four-year degree at South Dakota State University or another land grant university.

The restoration of native plants to the SWC campus will serve as a model for other landowners who can see how it works and appreciate the benefits that come with it.

Another program that is relatively new to SWC is the Tribal Arts Program. A one-year certificate program, Tribal Arts offers students the opportunity to learn new skills and develop an understanding of many traditional Native American art mediums.

Students who earn this certificate do much hands-on work as they learn how to create their own art pieces using a variety of techniques. They are also challenged to produce a portfolio, an artist's statement and apply to enter their work in art shows.

Students learn how to market their work and make a living as an artist.

The classes are taught by local artists with Mary White-Country as the program head.

Like the Tribal Arts program, the SWC Building Trades Program is one of the newer offerings and it's also a one-year certificate program. It includes fundamentals of carpentry, plumbing, masonry and electrical and gives students a basic knowledge of a variety of trades. In addition to the Building Trades Certificate, SWC students also have the option to enroll in the Carpentry Associate Degree program.

Students learn carpentry skills ranging from interior work like making cabinets and counter tops to exterior work like framing and roofing. They also learn the basics like accurate measurement and tool usage. Upon graduation, students should have attained occupation proficiency in carpentry.

Classes for this program are taught by carpentry instructor Tom Walsh with additional adjunct instructors as necessary.

The SWC Nursing Department continues to offer both the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) certificate program as well as the Registered Nursing (RN) Associate of Arts Degree Program. Students having the option of either working as an LPN after they earn their certificate and pass their exams or continuing on to earn their RN Degree. The LPN certificate consists of two semesters of general courses, two semesters of nursing courses, and a summer session of practical experience. During the nursing courses, SWC students gain experience caring for people in nursing homes, hospitals and clinics in Aberdeen, Watertown and Sisseton. Upon completion of all coursework, students must pass the National Examination for Licensure (NCLEX) for Practical Nursing in order to be able to work in their field or earn an additional degree. All students who enroll in the RN Associate Degree program must already be Licensed Practical Nurses. In addition to the LPN certificate, the program involves two semesters of nursing courses, six supporting courses, an additional course on leadership and practical experience. As with the LPN program, students gain experience caring for people in regional hospitals. Once SWC students earn their RN degree, they must then past their NCLEX for Registered Nursing to work as a Registered Nurse.

Community members who wish to learn more about what programs of study are available at Sisseton Wahpeton College can call 698-3966 or stop out to the main building on campus.

TZTS senior Alicia Amos recognized by S.D. Gov. Rounds

Tiospa Zina Tribal School 2008 senior Alicia Amos is pictured here being recognized for academic achievement by S.D. Governor Mike Rounds at the state capitol in Pierre last week.

Alicia was selected as one of the top one percent of high school students in the state.

Mock Crash held at Sisseton-Wahpeton Head Start

By Shannon White

SWO Injury Prevention Specialist

Miss Click-It the safety clown brought all kinds of friends to Sisseton-Wahpeton Head Start for a special event on Thursday, May 1st, 2008. The event was a Mock Crash and it featured characters such as Shrek, Cinderella, SpongeBob Squarepants and Spiderman.

Miss Click-It’s special friends all visited the boys and girls to deliver safety messages about seat belts. Each character advised the kids as to why they wear their seatbelts before ‘bad characters,’ an Evil Queen and Black Spiderman, crashed the party.

The two bad characters refused to wear their seatbelts and proceeded to get into a mini crash. Joe Kauffman, Indian Highway Safety Officer with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Law Enforcement, pulled up the ‘scene’ and quickly called for medical help. Head Start Health Director Tim White played the role of EMT and patched up the wounded characters. Officer Kauffman then wrote the characters tickets and hauled them off to jail. Miss Click-It’s friends then arrived safely and handed out t-shirt to each child present.

This event is part of the ongoing Injury Prevention effort here on the Lake Traverse Reservation.

The Injury Prevention Program hopes to create lots of little seat belt advocates right in your own backseat with these types of events.

Studies have shown that if children are regularly placed in Child Safety Seats that they graduate directly to wearing a seat belt when at the appropriate age. Please keep our kids safe by placing your child in the appropriate car seat and by buckling yourself up every trip, every time.

Miss Click-It is played by Watertown Police Department Dispatcher Sharmell Dahl. Shrek was played by Ron Hill. Cinderella was played by Shannon Cordell. SpongeBob Squarepants was played by Valentino Thompson. Spiderman was played by Amber Adams. The Evil Queen was played by Sara DeCoteau. The Black Spiderman was played by Brooke Owen.

Special thanks to Community Health Education, Sisseton-Wahpeton Head Start staff, Sisseton-Wahpeton Law Enforcement, and the Community Injury Prevention Team.

Roberts County, Sisseton city news update

At the Tuesday, April 29th meeting of the Roberts County Commissioners, States Attorney Kay Nicholas announced that her newly hired Investigator Jim Croymans had resigned effective Monday, the 28th.

When asked about re-advertising the position, she told the Commissioners she is “not going to advertise right now . . . because (of) a couple of other things.”

Sisseton City Police Chief Matt Hess had resigned, to accept a position with the City of Watertown. It has been reported that Jim Croymans has been hired by Sisseton to fill the Police Chief post.

In other county government news, the County Commissioners appointed Robert “Bobby” Horton of Peever to fill the remainder of Kenneth “Kenny” Buck’s term.

New Roberts County Jail has staffing problems

By Kristin Marthaler

Watertown Public Opinion

Thursday, May 1, 2008 – SISSETON – Roberts County has a brand new jail but Jail Administrator Chad Ward has decided it doesn’t have the staff necessary to operate it to its fullest capacity. Ward’s opinion came a week after the jail opened.

Tom Nordquist, jailer, told Roberts County Commissioners Tuesday morning there are not enough hands at the new facility.

“Just because the new site is high tech, does not mean it is faster,” Nordquist said.

He told commissioners he sometimes waits three or four minutes for a door to be unlocked because the dispatchers are taking calls or dealing with other jail issues.

“I am behind on the paper work. I stayed a few hours the other night but it doesn’t help,” Nordquist said.

He told commissioners they need to hire four more jailers as well as additional deputies.

“I knew this was going to happen,” Commissioner Roger Navratil said.

Commissioner Glen Hull agreed and said, “We just needed to get in their first though and see where we needed to go.”

Later, when Ward attended the meeting, he also brought up the issue of lack of help in the new jail. Commissioners were already onboard and told Ward to go ahead and ask part-time jailers to become full-time jailers as well as look at present applications and start interviewing.

Auditor Dawn Sattler will also be putting an ad in local newspapers to run for a two-week period to hire more staff.

“I think we need four jailers and two more dispatchers,” Ward said.

In other commission discussion, Ward asked the commissioners what to do during another heavy snowfall.

“I called around...we didn’t have anyone to plow us out and we were busy that night,” Ward said.

Ward said that for some reason the bad weather brought everyone out and the bars were full in town.

“We were really busy hauling people in that night,” Ward said.

The commissioners discussed getting a small skid steer-loader to possibly plow roads or getting an attachment to a lawn mower that will be used this summer.

Also commissioners talked with the head of jail maintenance, Curtis White, who said some of the items broken at the jail had been broken prior to the contractor turning over the building to the county. Ward is in talks with the contractor to get someone to fix the broken items.

Glacial Lakes Boys & Girls Club closed; Being sued by lien holders

National officials of Boys & Girls Clubs of America came from Chicago, Illinois to the Lake Traverse Reservation earlier this year and met privately with civic and Tribal leaders in what may have been a last-ditch effort to save the Sisseton Club and its satellites in Agency Village, Peever, and Waubay.

They were reportedly unable to solicit further support and closed the Clubs – either indefinitely or permanently. There has been no public statement.

Now Glacial Lakes Boys & Girls Club is being sued for failing to fulfill terms of a loan negotiated with the Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC).

The non-profit regional economic development corporation had loaned money to the Boys & Girls Club for purchase of a building.

Now that the Club is closed, there have been no further payments to re-pay the loan.

According to other media, NESDEC is demanding $112,670 and asking the court to foreclose on the property if the money is not paid.

After using the loan money to purchase the building, Glacial Lakes Boys & Girls Club took out a mortgage on the original purchase – totaling $114,000.

NESDEC officials knew the Club was struggling financially and had suspended payments from April 2006 to October 2007 on condition the Club would pay back the money at a later time.

There are other lien holders named in court documents besides NESDEC. They are: the Unemployment Insurance Division of South Dakota, claiming $10,601.82; and Mayou Electric, claiming $54,126.26.

Medal of Honor recipient deserves ND award, supporters say

By Dale Wetzel

Bismarck, North Dakota

(AP) April 4, 2008 – Admirers of Woodrow Wilson Keeble, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Korean War, are lobbying Gov. John Hoeven to give the Army master sergeant North Dakota’s most prestigious award. The governor says he’s considering it.

“He most certainly deserves to be remembered as a true hero from North Dakota, and should be in the company of our other most notable leaders and celebrities from North Dakota,” the West Fargo police chief, Arland Rasmussen, said in a recent letter to Hoeven.

More than 70 people, including state lawmakers, leaders of veterans’ groups and the Richland County Commission, have called and sent letters and e-mail messages to Hoeven’s office in the last two months asking him to give the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award to Keeble.

Thirty-five people have received the honor since it was established by Gov. William Guy in 1961. It is enshrined in state law, which says the award represents “the highest recognition by the state of present or former North Dakotans who have been influenced by the state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon this state and its citizens.”

In March, President Bush presented Keeble’s family with the Medal of Honor for his valor in Korea during an October 1951 attack on a hill near Sangsan-ni.

With his platoon pinned by fire from three machine-gun nests, Keeble, who was wounded, crawled toward the emplacements and eventually took out all three, destroying two with well-thrown grenades.

Hoeven said he has been “seriously considering” giving the award to Keeble since he attended Keeble’s Medal of Honor ceremony.

“I got a better understanding of what he accomplished,” Hoeven said. “It is a remarkable story.”

Keeble joined the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 164th Infantry Regiment in 1942 and fought in the Pacific during World War II. He volunteered to serve again when the Korean War broke out.

A native of Waubay, S.D., Keeble grew up in Wahpeton, where he attended the Wahpeton Indian School. He returned to teach at the school after his service in World War II and Korea, until he was disabled by a series of strokes. He died in 1982, at age 65.

Keeble was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe, and the first full-blooded Sioux to receive the Medal of Honor, according to the National Guard Educational Foundation.

Three of the Rough Rider Award’s recipients were honored for their military service, most recently Adm. William Owens, of Bismarck, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gov. Ed Schafer gave the honor to Owens in 1996.

A letter on Keeble’s behalf, signed by more than 50 people, says Hoeven would be recognizing all North Dakotans who serve in the military by giving Keeble the award.

“You will send a message to all of North Dakota’s brave men and women who have, or are, serving their (country) in the military,” the letter says. “That message is that, even if they do not reach the ranks of general or admiral, if they serve with great distinction and courage, their service is worthy of the highest recognition the state of North Dakota can bestow.”

Hoeven said he understood the argument.

“I think, particularly now, with the war on terror ... all of our military is doing such an incredible job, and our Guard has played such a big role,” Hoeven said. “He, in many ways, symbolizes the outstanding men and women in uniform.”

Wahpeton VFW to rename Post in honor of Woodrow Keeble

Wahpeton, North Dakota VFW Post 4324 has been approved by the National Organization to be renamed the Woody Keeble Post and a new charter is being printed and will be sent to its Commander Tom Kiefer.

It is hoped the charter will be available for ceremonies being planned at Sisseton and Agency Village, S.D., as well as at Wahpeton, N.D. the weekend of May 17-18, 2008.

Woodrow Keeble MOH monument dedication May 17

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribal officials, family members of the late Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble, veterans groups and friends and supporters are planning the dedication of a new headstone to mark the Medal of Honor recipient’s gravesite at Sisseton, S.D.

The ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at the cemetery.

There are tentative plans to hold a ceremony and/or meal afterwards at the Tribal community center, Agency Village.

Woodrow Keeble honoring continued at Wahpeton

On Sunday, May 18, 2008, the Wahpeton VFW Post is hosting a picnic in the Woody Keeble Shelter at the city park, where Woodrow’s fellow veterans of World War II and Korea will be guests of honor.

Another related event is the 100th anniversary of the former Wahpeton Indian School, now the Circle of Nations School that weekend.

One of the events planned for the weekend of May 17-18 is the dedication of a new dormitory in memory of the late Medal of Honor recipient.

Fargo veterans are also planning to host a casual get-together for visiting veterans on Friday, May 16th – before traveling to Sisseton on Saturday. They have extended a special invitation to anyone who belonged to either the 24th Infantry Division in Korea, or to the NDNG 164th in WWII.

SWO Kit Fox Society Memorial Day schedule

We will once again in an honorable and humble tradition, be honoring our fellow
veterans on the traditional Memorial Day observance of May 30th.

May 30th, 2008

LaBelle Cemetery                8:00 A.M.

St. Lukes Cemetery             8:15 A.M.

St. Matthew's Cemetery      8:30 A.M.

St. Matthew's Church                    9:00 A.M.

Mayasan Church                 9:30 A.M.

Sieche Hollow Cemetery      9:45 A.M.

Long Hollow Church            10:15 A.M.

Rollin Ryan Home                10:45 A.M.

Buffalo Lake Church            11:15 A.M.

Max/Gill Cemetery               11:30 A.M.

Oyate Traditional Cemetery 12:00 P.M.

Sisseton Veterans Circle      1:00 P.M.

Morgan Redday Home                   1:30 P.M.

Goodwill Church                  2:00 P.M.

St. Mary's Church                2:15 P.M.

Renville Cemetery               2:30 P.M.

St. James Church                3:00 P.M.

Emmett Roberts Homestead          3:30 P.M.

Moses Gill Homestead                   4:00 P.M.

Big Coulee Church              4:30 P.M.

Lake Traverse Church                   5:00 P.M.

St. Johns Church                 5:15 P.M.

These are estimated times and some may be early or late depending on climatic conditions and other factors.

Special feature –

Tribal Conservation: Wildlife preservation taking strong roots in Indian Country

“There were 60 tribal members waiting in the cold and rain to welcome the buffalo back home after a 112 year absence.”

“We have over 350 buffalo today, so it’s a real success story for us.”

Alvah Quinn, SWO Fish & Wildlife Program and InterTribal Bison Cooperative

By Maya Dollarhide

 (Editor’s note: Here is an excerpt from Maya Dollarhide’s article featured in the April 2008 edition of Indian Gaming Business. Among the tribes mentioned in her article is the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, noted for its dedication to bringing back the bison. Highlighted is our very own Alvah Quinn, Fish & Wildlife Program Manager and tireless advocate for the bison. The author, Maya Dollarhide, is a New York freelance writer; she can be reached at mdollarhide@yahoo.com.)

Animals from fish to fowl and reptile to mammal once played significant cultural, historical and even economic roles in every tribe of North America. But like the American Indian, many of the fish and animals were driven out of their natural lands and hunted down. As tribal communities nurture their economies and strengthen their governments, the resurgence of wildlife preservation has become an important activity for those in Indian Country, just like their ancestors before them.

The Red Lake Band of the Chippewa are restoring fish to their lake, the Jicarrilla Apaches are managing elk and mule deer populations, the Iowa and the Zunis are providing homes for injured eagles, and the Nez Perce are introducing the gray wolf population to Idaho and bringing back the beloved Appaloosa horse.

About 57 tribes are working together to bring back bison; others are reintroducing the prairie dog. The Hoopa Valley tribe is protecting northern California spotted owls from going extinct, and on the Flathead reservation in Montana, the Salish/Kodenai people are building wildlife structures that run under the highways so animals, such as bear, cougar and elk can avoid getting hit by cars. (See story: 'Bringing Back Wolves, Horses to the Nez Perce').

Tribes everywhere are going head-to-head with government agencies, spending tribal funds and overcoming the obstacles to protect wildlife on their tribal lands. These efforts have accelerated with the growth of tribal government gaming.

“There are so many tribes out there doing conservation work today. It’s incredible. We are even bringing back species that were on the endangered list,” said Victor Roubidoux, a citizen of the Iowa Nation and manager of an eagle rehabilitation project in Perkins, Okla.

The Iowa people run several wildlife programs, including a bison farm and the eagle rehabilitation center.

“The eagle is sacred to our people,” Roubidoux said. “We are responsible for taking care of them when they are ill or too old to go back into the wild. We make a home for the eagles on our land.”

According to the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society (NAFWS), federally recognized Indian tribes within the lower 48 United States have jurisdiction over a reservation land-base of some 52 million acres, or 81,250 square miles, which are home to hundreds of thousands of animals. While the economy in most of Indian Country still needs improvement, conservation programs are getting a boost thanks to improved tribal income from tourism and gaming.

“We were able to put tribal money into bison programs and our eagle rehabilitation center in part because of funds we got from gaming and our tobacco sales in Oklahoma,” said Roubidoux, who was the treasurer for his tribe for 13 years.

“Having natural resources for your tribe is a huge part of sovereignty,” said Jim Stone, Yanton Sioux, and the executive director of the InterTribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC). “It is about providing for your tribe through your own resources that come from your land, your natural habitat and the animals that live or used to live in it.”

RE-INTRODUCING THE BISON

For many Indians, the American bison, also called buffalo, are sacred animals. Some native people, including Stone, say that the calculated slaughter of the American bison was a kind of mirror to the genocide of the native people. According to ITBC, more than 60 million buffalo were killed in the 1800s, leaving only a few hundred remaining on the American prairies. Until now.

The InterTribal Bison Cooperative, made up of 59 tribes in North America and Alaska, was formed in 1990, backed by the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, and buoyed by funds from Congress. To date, members collectively own 15,000 bison.

Members of the cooperative, which include the Oneida, Lakota, Jicarilla Apache and Ho-Chunk tribes, said that at the heart of the project lies the hope that in returning the bison to native communities, both the animals’ and the people’s spirits will be healed.

The ITBC’s headquarters are located in Rapid City, S.D., in Black Hill country, once home to millions of buffalo.

“The tribes really do the work,” Stone said. “We are here to offer technical assistance to the tribes who join our cooperative. We help with grants, but the tribes are absorbing the costs. Our members are really making the reintroduction of the buffalo in America a priority.”

Some cooperative members sell their buffalo meat or the buffalo themselves, some use the hides and fur in ceremonial and decorative art, and all tribes provide meat to their tribal members at low or no cost.

“Having the buffalo back also helps rejuvenate the culture,” Stone added. “In my tribe, like others, the buffalo was honored through ceremony and songs. There are buffalo hunts and prayers to give thanks to the buffalo. When the buffalo went away, we lost some of that tradition, but now, it is coming back.”

Alvah Quinn, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, who manages the cooperative’s extension program at the SWST Bison Farm in South Dakota, wasn’t alive when the bison were part of the landscape.

“I grew up hearing about the buffalo, but we didn’t have any around on the reservation,” Quinn said.

Stone calls Quinn, who has been part of ITBC since its inception, a wonderful mentor. Quinn’s tribe was the first buffalo project in Indian Country, and he is considered an expert in bison management.

Quinn will always remember the night he helped bring 40 buffalo home to his tribal lands in September of 1992.

“You know, the last recorded buffalo hunt was in 1879,” he said. “We have many cultural connections to the buffalo, but I was really surprised that night. There were 60 tribal members waiting in the cold and rain to welcome the buffalo back home after a 112-year absence. We have over 350 buffalo today, so it’s a real success story for us.”

For all ITBC members, the lean, healthy meat of the buffalo is the most important factor.

“When we see a buffalo, we want to eat it,” Stone said with a chuckle. “We can provide buffalo meat at no or low cost to our members.”

Quinn and others agree.

“Buffalo meat, grass-fed meat, is more healthy for you. But it’s expensive if you go to a grocery store,” Quinn added. “We can offer 100 percent pure buffalo meat to our tribal members for nothing or almost nothing. With all the diabetes in Indian Country, eating right is important. This is something people with diabetes can eat that is good for them.”

Quinn teaches classes at the farm to educate school kids and others about the importance of the buffalo program and its health and cultural benefits to the tribe.

“It’s hard for these kids to imagine that the buffalo once gave our people everything they needed to survive—food, blankets, ceremonial items, its bones, even its head was used. I tell the kids that the buffalo was to our ancestors like Wal-Mart is today,” Quinn said.

Editorials –

Sota guest editorial –

Illegal S.D. state police occupation continues on Yankton Indian Land

Incoming messages from Yankton protest:

I am Oitancan Zephier, a former police officer of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, combat veteran of Afghanistan and a father. Last week I quit my job when the protests started over the building of a hog farm by a corporation on private land surrounded by tribal lands. I quit because the Bureau of Indian Affairs will not help us. They stand and watch us get tossed in jail.

The filth of the pigs will effect every part of our Indian people here. There is a Head Start school two miles away from the hog farm. There is a kindergarten through 12th grade school four miles away. There is a day care a couple miles away from the site.

It is a prejudiced act granted by the state of South Dakota to these pig farm owners. We need your help. If this is completed they will assume jurisdiction of all that surrounds them.

They already began taking our tribal road, which we have intensely fought for two weeks now.

I have been thrown in jail while on our Indian land by a state officer. That is wrong!

I am begging you for your help. If you can, please publish the cry for help below in any way you can. Contact me if you can help; or please forward this on to anyone who can help us.

*****

People! We need your help! Come to Marty, SD now! Help us fight the Longview Farms Hog farm and the State of South Dakota.

We need the help of every nation that is willing to help us! Don't wait for an invitation. Please! Come help us now!

We're too busy with things here to think of everyone that can help us. We have our hands full with what’s in front of us.

Call us. Make suggestions. Give us advice! Whatever it is, help us!

We need bodies. We need people! people! people! We need people willing to fight! We need people willing to go to jail by a state officer on Indian land!

Doesn't that seem wrong to you? I went to jail while standing on a tribal highway by a South Dakota state deputy, while the Bureau of Indian Affairs watched.

That's what is happening! It is wrong!

We need money for bail. Many more of our Indian people will be going to jail.

If we don't fight this, Indian people will continue to lose land.

Next time it will be your people. Remember when a cry for help came out what 'reason' or 'excuse' you gave. You'll get it right back when you need help.

The system keeps us locked in place. It keeps us working, paying bills and plugged into society. In that mindset we're all robots programmed to do what the government wants us to do pay taxes! Give them money!

'I gotta feed my family,' you're thinking. I know it. I was too but overcame it.

Tunkasina (the grandfather) knows that our fight is right and honorable. Better things will follow for us. This is really not about a hog farm! This is about the racist state of South Dakota moving in the middle of Indian country and saying, 'This is our road!' Tomorrow it will be 'this is our land!' We need to fight! We need your help!

Oi Zephier Ihanktonwan, Dakota Yankton Sioux Tribe, Marty, SD; Zephiero@hotmail.com; (605) 454-8355 (cell).

(Editor’s note: If you would like to sign a petition calling a halt to the hog farm project, go to the following website: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-hog-farm-in-yankton-sioux.html/.)

Sota guest editorial –

Joint statement of International Treaty Council, Indigenous Environmental Network

United Nation Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Seventh Session, New York, April 21 to May 2, Item 4: Implementation of the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum and on the Millennium Development Goals, f) Human Rights

Thank you Madame Chair and Respectful greetings to all Delegations. We join with all other delegations to congratulate the world community and the 144 member states who voted to finally recognize Indigenous Peoples as full members of the family of Nations on September 13th 2007. We now have a solid floor and a universally recognized minimum standard for the, promotion and defense of Indigenous Peoples’ human rights, to which all UN member states are accountable.

The Declaration reaffirms Indigenous Peoples' right to free prior and informed consent in all matters affecting our lives, lands and ways of life. The Declaration also affirms the obligation of UN member states to uphold the rights affirmed in Nation- to- Nation Treaties they have signed with Indigenous Nations and calls upon the International community to take responsibility to ensure this is carried out.

We call your attention to an urgent situation in which the human rights of the Dakota Indigenous Nation is being violated in South Dakota, United States. Various provisions of the UN Declaration including Treaty Rights, rights to own control and use traditional Lands, territories and resources, and the Right to Free Prior Informed Consent over development actives are being violated.

At this time, the Ihanktowan Dakota, known as the Yankton Sioux Tribe based in Marty, South Dakota is protesting violations of human rights and the Tribe’s sovereignty including violations of the 1851 Treaty between the U.S. Government and the Dakota Nation (Sioux). On April 15, Yankton Sioux Tribal members began a peaceful protest against the construction of a large scale corporate hog farm which will be operated by Long View Farms based in Hull, Iowa.

Tribal members are calling attention to the environmental degradation the hog farm will bring to the reservation and surrounding communities. The air quality in the community will be impacted and the threat of contamination to surface and ground water due to shallow aquifers in the area, posing serious threats to community health.

The proposed hog farm site, projected to permanently house more than 3000 sows and produce 70,000 pigs each year, is located within Treaty lands recognized as belonging to the Dakota (Sioux) Nation and is surrounded by Indian reservation land. Tribal and local community members are blocking an access road to the site which is under the jurisdiction of the Yankton Sioux Tribe. The Yankton Sioux Tribe has filed a lawsuit opposing the construction of this facility which will use approximately one million gallons of water and produce over 7 million gallons of liquid hog waste a year. Its proposed location is only four miles from the Missouri River, a major source of water for many communities and home to many endangered species. Parents of a pre- school located less than three miles from the proposed site have also filed a lawsuit based on the health threats to their children. US federal laws mandating an Environmental Impact Statement and public hearings before such projects can be implemented have also been violated.

The Sheriff of Charles Mix County and the South Dakota Highway Patrol have initiated a police occupation of Indian land on the Yankton Reservation. More than 70 county, state and federal law enforcement officials, including homeland security officers, with armed swat teams and dogs, snipers with automatic weapons and helicopters are being used to contain a peaceful non-violent action with women and children present. In the last week, thirty eight people have been arrested including minors and elders. The state of South Dakota does not have jurisdictional authority on federal trust land and is therefore violating the sovereignty of the Yankton Sioux Tribe within its own borders.

The Yankton Sioux tribal members are asking if these State of South Dakota and federal law enforcement officials are being used to protect corporate interests at the expense of Indigenous Peoples’ human rights. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska have written resolutions opposing the hog farm. Additional information has been provided to the North America member of the Permanent Forum for review by all members of the Forum.

The United States joined with only 3 other countries at the General Assembly last year to vote against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and on that basis has attempted to maintain that the Declaration does not apply to them. We remind the US government that their own Constitution, Article 6 states that “Treaties are the supreme law of the land.” We also remind them that on March 7th 2008, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) released its recommendations in response to the United States’ Periodic Report, and recommended that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be used by the US as a “guide to interpret the State Party’s obligations under the Convention relating to Indigenous Peoples”. This recommendation ties the implementation of the UN Declaration by the US and other state parties to the legally binding obligations of all state parties to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Indigenous Peoples are not alone in recognizing that Industrial livestock production poses a serious threat to the environmental integrity and health, both where it is located as well as around the world. In its recent report, “The Long Shadow of Livestock”, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) cited large scale livestock production as a major source of greenhouse gasses, water contamination and land degradation.

The IITC therefore recommends that the UNPFII7th session:

1) Transmit without delay the most urgent and critical human rights situations which Indigenous Peoples have presented to this session, including those caused by unsustainable imposed development, to the new Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the High Commissioner on Human Rights to ensure further investigation and response.

2) Congratulate Human Rights Council for the resolution adopted at its last session “Human Rights and Climate Change [A/HRC/7/L.21], calling upon the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to undertake a detailed analytical study of the relationship between climate change and human rights, and to submit a separate report as the UNPFII containing the information and testimonies which have been presented to this session to the UN Human Rights Council for inclusion in this Study.

In closing Madame Chair, we thank you for this time and your attention, and we ask that the UNPF determine additional ways that it can monitor, encourage and otherwise support the UN system to fully integrate and implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at all levels, and in all UN bodies and agencies.

Sota guest editorial –

Rescind medals of honor for massacre

By James F. Mitchell

Argus Leader

May 3, 3008 – Recently, an attempt to assuage the Native Americans in South Dakota by declaring a public apology was suggested in South Dakota. Quite possibly it also is the time to give a little more of the story of one sordid event that took place and never has been fully told.

On the cold, crisp morning of Dec. 29, 1890, the Sioux Chief Big Foot and some 350 of his followers were camped on the banks of Wounded Knee Creek. Surrounding their camp was a force of U.S. troops charged with the responsibility of arresting Big Foot and disarming his warriors.

In fear of an Indian uprising, the order went out to arrest Chief Sitting Bull at the Standing Rock Reservation. Sitting Bull was killed in the attempt on Dec. 15. Chief Big Foot was next on the list.

When he heard of Sitting Bull's death, Big Foot led his people south to seek protection at the Pine Ridge Reservation. The army intercepted the band on Dec. 28 and brought them to the edge of Wounded Knee to camp. The next morning the chief, wracked with pneumonia and dying, sat among his warriors and powwowed with the army officers. Suddenly the sound of a shot pierced the early morning gloom. Within seconds, the charged atmosphere erupted as Indian scurried to retrieve their discarded rifles and troopers fired volley after volley into the Sioux camp.

The American public's reaction to the battle at the time generally was favorable. Twenty Medals of Honor were awarded for the action. A decade later, when these were reviewed, Gen. Nelson A. Miles called this a "massacre" and not a battle. Native Americans are calling these "medals of dis-Honor."

Historian Will G. Robinson has noted the discrepancy between these 20 medals handed out following the events at Wounded Knee and the fact that only three such Medals of Honor were awarded among the 64,000 South Dakotans who fought for four years of World War II.

By the time it was over, more than 300 men, women and children of the Lakota Sioux lay dead. Twenty-five troopers also died during the massacre, some believed to have been the victims of "friendly fire." Around 150 Lakota are believed to have fled, and an unknown number died of hypothermia.

Now contrast this with a more recent massacre during the Vietnam War. The My Lai Massacre on March 16, 1968, with 2nd Lt. William Calley in charge and the mass murder of 347-504 unarmed citizens of the Republic of Vietnam, mostly civilians and the majority of them women and children and conducted by our own U.S. Army.

Eventually, Calley was charged with several counts of premeditated murder in September 1969, and 25 other officers and enlisted men were later charged with related crimes. It was another two months before the American public learned about the massacre and trials. After a 10-month-long trial, in which he claimed that he was following orders from his commanding officer, Calley was convicted, on Sept. 10, 1971, of premeditated murder for ordering the shootings. The trial resulted in a conviction, and on March 31, 1971, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. However on April 1, only a day after Calley was sentenced, President Richard Nixon ordered him released from prison pending appeal. On Aug. 30, 1971, his sentence was reduced to 20 years.

The comparison between these "massacres" is very similar. Both were overwhelmingly strong forces against unarmed civilians. However, in an attempt to rectify the bad feelings about having given these 20 Medals of Honor to soldiers in the Wounded Knee Massacre vs. a conviction for Lt. Calley for basically the same thing, it would seem obvious to have these 20 medals rescinded.

Sota guest editorial –

Preparations underway for war with Iran

 (Editor’s note: The moral of the Bush story seems to be – One big blunder deserves another!”)

DAN HAMBURG, SANTA MONICA MIRROR – George W. Bush is poised to order a massive aerial bombardment – possibly including tactical nuclear weapons – of up to 10,000 targets in Iran. The attack would be justified on grounds that Iran is interfering with U.S. efforts in Iraq and that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, a charge that was debunked last fall in the National Intelligence Estimate.

According to international experts, the U.S. declared economic war against Iran on March 20. On that day, the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network called on the world’s financial institutions to stop doing business with Iran, making it much more difficult for Iran to engage in global commerce.

Now the Bush administration is preparing to drop the other shoe. Below are some of the indications that a U.S. military attack on Iran is imminent:

*The March 11 resignation of CENTCOM Commander Admiral William Fallon who, according to a well-publicized Esquire magazine article, “openly opposed Bush’s Iran policy and was a lone voice against taking military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program.”

*The recent removal of Vice Admiral John Stufflebeem, Commander of the 6th Fleet (Mediterranean Sea), also known to be a critic of the administration’s war plans.

*Two U.S. warships took up positions off Lebanon last month. According to US News & World Report, “The United States would want its warships in the eastern Mediterranean in the event of a military action against Iran.”

*The United States has two aircraft carrier strike groups (the USS John C. Stennis and the USS Eisenhower) stationed in the Persian Gulf with at least one additional group reportedly on the way.

*The Israeli air strike against Syria last September was advertised as an attack on a nuclear facility. Current speculation is that the real purpose of the raid was to “force Syria to switch on the targeting electronics for newly received Russian anti-aircraft defenses.” Knowing the electronic signatures of these systems would reduce the risks for U.S. and Israeli warplanes heading to Iranian targets.

*Israel conducted its largest military exercises ever beginning the week of April 6. This exercise simulated missile strikes from Iran, Lebanon, and Syria. . .

*One day after a March visit from Vice President Cheney, the Saudi government announced “national plans to deal with any sudden nuclear and radioactive hazards that may affect the kingdom.” This announcement came following warnings of possible attacks on Iran’s nearby Bushehr nuclear reactors.

*According to former U.N. chief weapons inspector Scott Ritter, the Pentagon has contracted for additional bunker-buster bombs and planes that carry them. Delivery is due this month.

*The oncoming monsoon season, which would carry radioactive fallout by wind and rain to countries east of Iran (including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India), narrows the window for the optimal launch of an air attack.

RAW STORY – Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the Pentagon is planning "potential" military actions against Iran, reports The Washington Post. Mullen criticized Iran's "'increasingly lethal and malign influence' in Iraq," writes Ann Scott Tyson for the Post.

Addressing concerns about the US military's capability of dealing with yet another conflict at a time when forces are purportedly stretched thin, Mullen said war with Iran "would be 'extremely stressing' but not impossible for U.S. forces, pointing specifically to reserve capabilities in the Navy and Air Force," Tyson notes.

"It would be a mistake to think that we are out of combat capability," she quotes the U.S.'s top military leader at a Pentagon news conference.

Mullen's assertion comes a day after American forces reportedly fired warning shots at Iranian speedboats in the Persian Gulf, a confrontation that Iran denies took place.

A prior incident involving U.S. forces in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian speedboats in January of this year– which Republican White House candidates used (with the notable exception of Ron Paul) as a saber-rattling opportunity during a nationally-televised debate – was later discredited as a virtual fabrication.

Sota guest editorial –

Ecology concerns draw attention to food shipping traditions

ELISABETH ROSENTHAL, NY TIMES – Cod caught off Norway is shipped to China to be turned into filets, then shipped back to Norway for sale. Argentine lemons fill supermarket shelves on the Citrus Coast of Spain, as local lemons rot on the ground. Half of Europe’s peas are grown and packaged in Kenya. . .

Food has moved around the world since Europeans brought tea from China, but never at the speed or in the amounts it has over the last few years. . .

Increasingly efficient global transport networks make it practical to bring food before it spoils from distant places where labor costs are lower. . .

But the movable feast comes at a cost: pollution - especially carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas - from transporting the food.

Under longstanding trade agreements, fuel for international freight carried by sea and air is not taxed. Now, many economists, environmental advocates and politicians say it is time to make shippers and shoppers pay for the pollution, through taxes or other measures.

“We’re shifting goods around the world in a way that looks really bizarre,” said Paul Watkiss, an Oxford University economist who wrote a recent European Union report on food imports.

He noted that Britain, for example, imports - and exports - 15,000 tons of waffles a year, and similarly exchanges 20 tons of bottled water with Australia. More important, Mr. Watkiss said, “We are not paying the environmental cost of all that travel.”

Europe is poised to change that. This year the European Commission in Brussels announced that all freight-carrying flights into and out of the European Union would be included in the trading block’s emissions-trading program by 2012, meaning permits will have to be purchased for the pollution they generate.

Brief editorial comments from the editor’s desk –

On and Off the Lake Traverse Reservation

We want to pass along to readers a link to a video concerning the Yankton Sioux Tribe – Oyate Duta Awa Yankapo, "Protectors of the Red People."

The url is a long one, so you may want to simply click on the link we have on the Sota website instead of typing it:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8199688675421229154&q=Oyate+Duta+Awa+Yankapo&ei=mSMaSIOPB4SY-wHyqdi-AQ

The Yankton Sioux Tribe of Marty, South Dakota is fighting Longview Corporation's construction of a hog facility on non-Indian fee land within the reservation, which will produce over 70,000 pigs annually. In two weeks since April 15th, 38 Tribal members were arrested by state law enforcement while peacefully blocking construction on a BIA road. Most tribal members are opposed to the construction and are unaware of any consultation with the tribe for environmental permits.

*****

We are very pleased to report that Becky Bergquist of Enemy Swim Day School has been recognized as a “Champion for Children” by South Dakota Voices for Children.

This recognition is very fitting, as Becky really does an outstanding job for the children in the school’s Afterschool program as well as adults who attend the ESDS Adult Learning Center.

Congratulations, Becky!

Please read more about the award presentation elsewhere in this week’s Sota.

*****

Watch for the opening soon of the Wateca Family Restaurant.

Applications are being taken for staff now.

The new business will be located in the former American Hearth Restaurant in Sisseton.

*****

We encourage everyone in the community, especially everyone who enjoys a good brat meal, to come to the concession stand in the Super Valu parking lot this week.

You’ll enjoy a great brat and support the Team Wambdi competition at the NABI Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.

Read more about the stand fundraiser elsewhere in this edition of your Sota.

*****

Anyone interested in participating in the summer 2008 Horse Tracks program should plan to attend an informational meeting on Sunday, June 1st.

This is a terrific program for young people interested in learning horsemanship from the ground up.

Owen Dean German and helpers added more corrals last summer, so the program should accommodate more youth.

For more information, contact Owen Dean at (605) 268-3101.

*****

Honestly, we had nothing to do with it! Yes, we may have editorialized against Carl Artman, but we were certainly not the only ones doing so.

We’re talking about the seemingly “abrupt” departure of DOI Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Carl Artman from his office.

Artman had become very unpopular among Northern Plains tribal leaders and quite probably among leaders throughout Indian country for his unwillingness to engage in dialog.

We’ll see who will follow, but don’t hold your breath that even if we get someone as amicable as Famous Dave Anderson it will mean much in getting what’s best for the tribes from this administration.

*****

Last week we published additional information about the Arrow of Light feature held for TSgt Ken Siyaka’s son, who recently bridged from Cub Scout to Boy Scout.

Unfortunately, our memory failed us and we did not get his son’s name correct. We are sorry for the error, as we understand how important names (and words) are!

Here is how we should have worded our correction:

In case you were wondering about last week’s Arrow of Light feature on Andrew Siyaka . . . the pack and troop are sponsored by the church the family attends in Bellevue, Nebraska. That’s where Andrew’s dad Ken is stationed with the USAF.

*****

OnCall Medical Radio, an audio podcast produced at South Dakota State University, is now available on the Sota website.

Each week, listen to a new 3-minute audio interview conducted by Dr. Rick Holm.

Check it out!

*****

For more information about the group of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Sissetonwan Wapetonwan Bde-Hda-Kin-Yan Dakota Oyate) calling for a return to traditional government, check out their website:

http://www.swdotg.com/.

The traditional Indian government group has an office now in the former Tiospa Zina Tribal School/former YouthBuild building. The public is invited to their weekly meetings at 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday. Instead of being held at the elderly center, these meetings are now being held at their office.

*****

Words to consider:

“Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.” Peter De Vries

“When everyone is against you, it means that you are absolutely wrong-- or absolutely right.” Albert Guinon (1863 - 1923)

“What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens.” Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

“The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

“Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.” Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007), Hocus Pocus

*****

Please remember, we need to continue praying for all of our soldiers serving in all branches of the military in harm’s way today, by prayer, by letters, by sharing our concern with them and with others of the community.

We pray that their service helps bring peace and stability to the world, and that they all come home safe and sound.

We need to continue to remember our servicemen and women, because there are still many serving in the war zones.

Please pray for peace!

*****

Those who have internet access can read the Sota news and view photo highlights from each weekly issue – in full color – at the following website, which is updated weekly (more frequently when needed):

http://www.earthskyweb.com/sota.html

*****

There is no way your Sota staff could possibly cover all the many activities in the schools and Districts of the Lake Traverse Reservation. We encourage our readers and friends to submit material and pictures whenever you can!

Submission of articles, ideas and rough drafts, and photographs, are always welcome.

If you have an interesting family story, or news you would like to share, please contact the editor.

Besides news updates of interest to the Oyate, we are always open to publishing historical features, stories, and legends. Keeping the traditions alive is one of the missions of the Tribal newspaper, and is too often ignored in the rush of current events.

*****

Please note copy deadlines, policies for submission; Breaking news, emergencies, and obituaries are always accepted

Copy to be considered for publication – news, advertising, editorial opinion letters, etc. – are to be submitted either to Tribal headquarters (SWO Mail Room, TiWakan Tio Tipi) or to the Sota, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. FAX and e-mail submissions will be accepted until 12:00 noon on Friday (with the exception of letters to the editor/Open letters to the Oyate, or “opinion” letters, which must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Thursday).

If you are writing an opinion letter, please note that it must be signed and the author’s name will appear in print. Letters must not contain libel and must be brief, ideally 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for content. Omissions will be identified with periods . . . editor’s explanations will be provided in [brackets]. Readers who want access to unedited versions will need to contact the authors.

Earlier receipt of copy is always appreciated. So, if you are aware of a date or message that needs to be publicized or advertised, please let us know about it in advance of the weekly deadline.

For more information, contact Tribal headquarters, Agency Village, (605) 698-3911. Also, a 24-hour dedicated fax line is installed at the Sota production office: (605) 938-4676. Voice-mail messages can be sent to the production office at (605) 938-4452. The preferred way to submit typed articles and ads, art, and photos (if you happen to have access to a digital camera or scanner), is by e-mail. Sending photos as moderately compressed jpeg files, each approximately 150-300 KB in size, is preferred, attached to an e-mail message containing information about the pictures.

The editor can be reached at the following e-mail address:

earthskyweb@cs.com

Digital files are also accepted on disc/cd by mail and at Tribal headquarters.

CDF

Funeral services held for Quinton Spider

Quinton David Keoke Spider age 50 of Rosholt, South Dakota journeyed to the Spirit World on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Coteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton, South Dakota.

He was born at IHS in Sisseton, SD September 30, 1957 to Levi Keoke Sr and Lottie Joyce Spider. Quinton spent his early years with his Kunsi Martha Redthunder Spider attending grade school at Browns Valley, MN. Then moving to Brockton, MT, with his aunt and uncle, Willard and Catherine Drum family. He spent about fifteen years in Montana working at A&S Industries and various ranches and farms in the area. He was a “roadie” for The Blackdog Band while they played and traveled throughout Montana, North Dakota and Canada.

Quinton was considered by family and friends as a “Jack” of all trades so to speak. He enjoyed hunting, fishing with all his little nieces, nephews and grandchildren that he helped raise during his lifetime.

Quinton is survived by four brothers Levi Keoke Jr of Peever, South Dakota, Lloyd Keoke of Brainerd, Minnesota, Darrell Renville of Lake Traverse, South Dakota and Mark Keoke of Agency Village, South Dakota. Sisters Marva Shepherd of Agency Village, South Dakota and Iris Keoke of Lake Traverse, South Dakota. Aunts, Arlene Miller, Peever, South Dakota and Arlene Spider, Lake Traverse, South Dakota.

He was preceded in death by sisters Eleanor Goldie Beaudreau, Peever, South Dakota and Norma Renville Bush, Naytahwaush, Minnesota; Aunts Catherine Drum and Philomene Stanton; Two grandsons Marquette Seth Crawford, Sisseton, South Dakota and Jaylen Orin Barse, Lake Traverse, South Dakota.

Quinton lost his battle with kidney cancer and will be sadly missed by all his relatives and friends!

Funeral Services for Quinton Spider will be held on Monday, April 28th at 2:00 P.M. at The Community Center in Old Agency Village, South Dakota. Reverend Enright Big Horn, Levi Keoke Jr. and Reverend Clifford Canku will officiate. Interment will follow at Lake Traverse Presbyterian Cemetery.

Special Music will be provided by Joe & Kathy White, Butch Felix and Rodney Renville.

Drum Group is “Dakota Nation”.

An all night wake was held on Sunday, April 27th at The Community Center in Old Agency Village, South Dakota.

Honorary Casket Bearers will be Robert “Winch” Buck Elk, Maynard Beaudreau, Sherri Johanson, Kenny Ortley Sr., Donna James, Eric Buck Elk, Bernard Buck Elk, Alan Buck Elk, Ricardo Fuentes, Lynette Beaudreau, Charlie Keoke Almonza, Skip Spider, Maurice Spider, Louanne Phelps, Maryann “Granny” Wanna, Rose Keoke, Arlene “Chipper” White, Bill Argo Jr., Betty Christopherson, Marvin Keoke, Larry Keoke, Willis Keoke, Bobby Keoke and Kent Miller.

Casket Bearers will be Kip Renville, Cary Ross, Craig Nelson, Francis Crawford, Leonard Shepherd, Anthony Keoke, Jeremy Keoke and Gavin Shortman.

Funeral services held for Harriett Rondell

Funeral services for Harriett Margaret Rondell, 92, of Sisseton, South Dakota were held on Tuesday afternoon, April 29, 2008 at the Tribal Community Center, Agency Village, SD with CLP Fillmore Simon and Rev. Enright Bighorn, and Rev. Les Campbell officiating.

Organist was Billy Kohl.

Pallbearers were Steve Rondell, Mike and James Genia, Marcus Cloud, Richard Wallenstein, and Mike Goette. Honorary Pallbearers were John Cloud III, Robert Rondell, Ron Campbell Jr., Phyllis Redday-Roberts, Dorthea Wilson, Ione Lufkins, Louella Cloud, Nina Petersen, and Mary Goette.

Interment is in the Goodwill Presbyterian Cemetery, Agency Village, SD.

There was a wake service Monday evening at the Tribal Community Center.

The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD was in charge of arrangements.

Harriett Margaret Cloud was born on March 1, 1916 at Sisseton, SD to John and Bessie (Derby) Cloud Sr. She grew up and attended school at the Wahpeton Indian School. After her education she was married to Guy Rondell.

The couple lived in Dubuque, Iowa where Guy was attending Seminary.

The couple served in churches in Hot Springs, Pine Ridge, and the Sisseton area. Harriett helped her husband in the churches and with his ministry. She liked to cook, sew, and garden.

After Rev. Rondell passed away Harriett continued to live on the farm, until she entered the Tekakwitha Nursing Center on February 14, 2006.

Harriett passed away peacefully on April 26, 2008 at the Tekakwitha Nursing Center.

She is survived by one son, Ron and wife, Karen Rondell of Watertown; two sisters – Marlene Campbell and Patsy Genia both of Sisseton; and three grandchildren.

Harriett was preceded in death by her parents, husband Rev. Guy Rondell, one son Dominic, and one brother John Cloud II.

Funeral services for Goldie Marks-Cloud

Funeral services for Goldie Charrithe Marks (Cloud), 76, of Sisseton, South Dakota were scheduled to be held this Monday morning, May 5, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Old Agency, SD with Senior Catechist John Cloud III and Vern Cloud, Elder Jr. Heminger, and Lay Ministers, Clifford LaFontaine, Michael Lafontaine, Clyde Kampeska, Darrell Mireau, Levi Keoke Jr., Frank Barse Jr.

Organist will be Kay Burshiem and soloist will be Carl Lufkins Sr., and Luke Cloud and special music by Butch Felix.

The pallbearers will be Leon Marks, Thomas Marks, Vine Marks Jr., JJ Marks, Todd Marks, Loren Marks, Jared Marks and Colin Marks. Honorary Pallbearers will be All of Goldie's relative and friends.

Interment will be at St. Mary's Episcopal Cemetery, Old Agency, SD.

There were all night wake services on Saturday and Sunday at the Tribal Community Center.

The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Goldie was born on July 22, 1931, in Long Hollow, Township, Roberts County, South Dakota to David and Vivian (Renville) Marks Jr. She attended Old Agency Day School and St. Mary's.

Goldie was united in marriage to John D. Cloud Jr. in 1945. They made their home north of Sisseton.

Goldie worked for NESD Community Action Program, JOM; she was a teacher's aid at Sisseton elementary and Middle School. She worked for Dakotah Pride as a data coordinator until her retirement in 1991.

Even though Goldie was handicapped she attended Sisseton Wahpeton Community College where she received her Associates of Arts Degree.

Goldie was a very devoted member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church. She liked to cook, sew, garden, family outings, visiting, attending memorials and comforting people in their time of need.

Goldie passed away unexpectedly on May 1, 2008 at Prairie Lakes Hospital, Watertown, SD with her family at her side.

Goldie is survived by six sons – Daniel Cloud of Montecito, CA, David Cloud of Veblen, Dwight Cloud of Sisseton, James Cloud of Sisseton, Marcus Cloud of Sisseton, and John Cloud III of Old Agency; four daughters – Barbara Cloud of Sisseton, Delight Cloud of Sioux Falls, Fran Cloud-Hawkins of Sisseton, and Lucy Cloud of Sisseton; one brother, Vine Marks Sr. of Old Agency; 37 grandchildren; 61 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; and one adopted son Gary Hanson of Sisseton.

Goldie was preceded in death by her father, David Marks Jr. and her mother, Vivian T. Renville Marks, her husband, John D. Cloud, one brother, Cornelius Marks, one sister, Dorothy Seaboy-Gill, one grandson, John Julius Cloud IV, and one great grandson, Renny J. Cloud.

SWO Tribal member signs with Dakota/Lakota Journal

Crystal M. Quill, SWO Tribal member, reports she has signed a contract with the Dakota/Lakota Journal to work as a correspondent/freelance reporter.

Sota readers may recall several interviews/features Crystal has written in the past on these pages.

Notice of editorial policy

(Editor’s note: The following comes from the editor’s column and the Sota “deadlines and policies” statement published weekly in the Sota.)

Copy to be considered for publication – news, advertising, editorial opinion letters, etc. – are to be submitted either to Tribal headquarters (SWO Mail Room, TiWakan Tio Tipi) or to the Sota U.S. Post Office box (Sota c/o Earth and Sky Enterprises production office, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279) by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. FAX and e-mail submissions will be accepted until 12:00 noon on Friday (with the exception of letters to the editor/Open letter to the Oyate, or “opinion” letters, which must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Thursday).

If you are writing an opinion letter, please note that it must be signed and the author’s name will appear in print. Letters must not contain libel and must be brief, ideally 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for content. Omissions will be identified with periods . . . editor’s explanations will be provided in [brackets]. Readers who want access to unedited versions will need to contact the authors.

Open letter to the Oyate

I wanted to write a letter to the editor for the past two weeks, but I was unsure how to say what needed to be said. So I prayed about this and I finally found out that the best way is to be honest and let the chips fall where they may.

My wife is the GM at the Magic, and on the 10th of April, Council made a motion to advertise her job. Without even a word to her, or a phone call to tell her why they decided to do this. But I found out why tonite at our district meeting and even then I had to ask why.

Cheryl went before Council last Thursday for gaming day so I thought finally she'll know what’s going on, but when I seen her she said, Council never said a word to her about it. And I thought to myself man these people have no idea what they’re doing or else they have a relative that needs a job. Don't worry I'll tell you why at the end of my letter.

After what our Council person said tonite I lost all respect for Jerry and the other Council members that follow him. The reason they never fired Cheryl is because they have no grounds to, so they are just pushing her out. The casino gives the tribe over a million dollars a month and not once have they said good job or keep up the good work. I'm not saying she did this all by herself, she has a lot of good employees working for her at the Magic, but it takes team work and a team needs a good leader, and that's what she is. If you don't believe me ask any of the managers or workers there.

This Council may take her job and push her out, but whatever she does or where she goes she'll succeed because she has a much higher power she serves, than this Council, and that's something that this Council will never be able to take away.

OK this is what our council person said, she told the District that Corporate made the recommendation so can someone please tell me why they are still listening to I assume Travis, Wright, Deb, or Lucas because I know Weston never said this. I also found out tonite that we lost our emergency management dude and what’s up with our election board not good.

Go to your district meetings and tell them no more.

Sorry I have no cool sign off yet, maybe next week.

Howard “Jody” Owen.

Open letter to the Oyate

April 25, 2008

What a sorry excuse of a letter by the former Tribal Council! Why doesn’t each of you talk about the bribe received from Vice-Chairman Scott German? How come you don’t talk about you accomplishments in “pow-wow tent” increments (i.e., #3 Construction of Community Center [$1,225.00] was just under five pow-wow tents). Your incentives to the higher ups in gaming were ridiculous, and when . . . (Carrico) couldn’t get it any more and left, proves it. How come each of you doesn’t talk about allowing . . . (Carrico) to have open spending account from the Magic in the video-gaming cover-up? Your names are on the documents. Why couldn’t you see what was going on between Losano and Vice-Chairman Scott German? Too busy counting your money?

What about the $500.00 incentive? Why don’t each of you explain how come you were taken to court on it? It was borderline illegal that’s why. A judge not under your thumb may have ruled differently.

How about your real involvement (rather disregard) for the DCA by not allowing them to participate in the hearings involving Vice-Chairman Scott German or Secretary Mike Peters? They brought the charges from the people; none of you would! You were afraid to they’d go after you next, right! What about you not getting the Districts their monies on a timely basis?

What about Vice-Chairman Scott German’s Credit Union account full of tribal monies spent for his own personal reasons? Take responsibility for that. What about the million dollar loan from IHS for payroll? Kind of takes away from #4 early site development ($1,500,000) doesn’t.

The new Tribal council has been so busy trying uncover your secret spending they have their hands full. Why don’t each of you come clean? It make their jobs easier to help the people. What a sorry excuse of leadership each of you were.

Francis M. Simon, SWO member.

Open letter to the Oyate

I just took action to end the brutal slaughter of Alaska's wolves through aerial gunning at http://www.SaveWolves.org, and I hope you'll join me.

More than 150 wolves have already been shot dead under the state's brutal aerial gunning program so far this year. The Alaska Board of Game allows marksmen shoot wolves from aircraft, or use low-flying airplanes to chase the wolves, run the helpless creatures to exhaustion, then gun them down at point-blank range once they're too tired to run any further.

So far, the Bush administration has refused to use its power to stop the slaughter of these magnificent animals.

We must stop the slaughter of Alaska's wolves. Help me protect these magnificent creatures by clicking the link below to send a free message to President Bush and Interior Secretary Kempthorne urging them to enforce the Federal Airborne Hunting Act before it's too late for Alaska's wolves.

Please go to http://www.SaveWolves.org to take action now.

Elwood Greybuffalo Jr.

Open letter to the Oyate

Age, social, economic status, and family up bringing are some factor which contribute to forming a Native American perspective. Some Indians go through life and never think about what an Indian is. I think about it all the time. A couple of months ago the tribe sponsored a moccasin game tournament at Dakota Sioux Casino and during a break in the action I was sitting there thinking that you don’t hardly see half-breed Sisseton and Wahpeton Dakota’s participating in cultural events like the moccasin game or hand game, or for that matter pow-wows, or anything else associated with being an Indian. I know there are half-breed SWO’s who do, but generally, the half-breeds don’t get into the cultural aspect of being a Indian. I have had this same discussion with other more “cultural” or “traditional” Indians on many occasions in the past. At least in their minds, they feel that a “real” Indian or Dakota plays moccasin or goes to pow wow’s, dances, sings, wears braids, etc., and, by doing so they are more Indian than the Indian’s who do not sing, dance or wear braids. There is a feeling among some Dakota Indians that in order to be a full-fledged or real Dakota Indian there is certain way or criteria for being more Indian. Being more Indian mean’s that some Indians feel they are more Indian than other Indians because their Indian blood quantum is greater. Being more Indian mean’s that they know how to talk the Dakota language better then some Indian so therefore they are more Indian. Being more Indian means that they practice the traditional Indian religion and therefore they are more Indian then those Indians who are Christians or those who don’t go to sweats or Sundance. Being more Indian mean’s that they are more Indian if their skin color is darker than lighter skin colored Indians. I have even heard Indians criticize other Indians because they had a job, or got good grades in school, or they had a white boy or white girl friend and this means they are not as much Indians as the Indian who did not have good grades, job, money, or had a white girl friend, etc. And I have also heard some Indians say they are more Indian because they are poorer. Meaning, a real Indian is a poor Indian. In other words, you are not a real Indian if you have money. “You are trying to act like a white person” is a comment I have heard a hundred times in my life.

At the moccasin tournament I was thinking about all these things and it occurred to me that who says a half-breed or even a full blood Indian has to sing, dance, wear braids, or play moccasin to be an Indian. Where in the Indian Manual or Handbook does it say an Indian has to do this or that or act a certain way to be an Indian?

So what is a definition of an Indian? Every tribe in America has their own definition based upon a person’s blood degree or blood quantum of that tribe. Somewhere in our relationship with the government it was determined that you had to be at least 1/4th degree of Indian blood to be a certified Indian. Because of inter-tribal mixing some tribes now consider all of a person’s Indian blood. They take a drop of Navajo here, a drop of Cherokee there and a drop of Sisseton Wahpeton and the person either makes or doesn’t make the tribes blood quantum requirement. Because of a hundred years of interracial and inter-tribal mixing tribal blood degrees have been so watered down and are no where near the federal standard of one quarter degree of Indian blood. The federal government who originally set the blood degree standard now leaves it up to the individual tribes to determine who is or is not a tribal member. As a result all kinds of disputes have arisen. As you would expect tribes with huge gaming revenue has become targets of “Wannabe" Indians. On the other side of the coin, wealthy gaming tribes restrict their membership based on often arbitrary and capricious blood quantum rules or other questionable standards. Obviously, the reason being more tribal members means less monthly per-capita payments and other benefits, such as education, housing, etc., so much for the Mitakuya Owasin or “We are all relatives” Indian mentality. Today, there are some “tribes” in America that are made up of white and black people, especially, out East where “Indians” are coming out of the wood work. Like I use to say, it ain’t easy being an Indian today. Or should I say, it ain’t that hard being an Indian today.

I don’t know when or at what age an Indian child realizes that he is an Indian. The question is kind of like, when does a child realize he is a boy or girl. Not knowing for sure how old I was when I realized I was an Indian I am going to assume it was before I started the first grade. It also must have been early in my life when I realized that I was not just an Indian, but a Sioux Indian (back in my days of youth, we had not yet called ourselves Dakotas or Oyate’s). Most of us didn’t have a pot to pee in but I personally was very proud to be a Sioux Indian. Which is kind of strange, since I am the by-product of an inter-tribal marriage, my dad a 7/8th Sioux and my mother ½ half Omaha and ½ half Seneca. Since we lived in Sioux country (Sisseton) we considered ourselves Sioux’s. In the summer my mother would drops us off at the Omaha reservation near Sioux City and we would battle the Omaha boys all summer long. To them we were “dog eating Sioux’. Even though we were raised as Sioux’s my dad never made any great effort to teach us the Dakota language. If I have any regret being a Sioux/Omaha/Seneca Indian it is that I am not fluent in the Dakota language. My dad’s lame excuse was that he didn’t want us all talking Dakota in front of our Omaha/Seneca mother. At the time I accepted this reasoning until later in life when I thought that he could have included my mother in the Dakota language lessons. My Koda David Seaboy had a similar situation with a different outcome. His mother Florence, was an Ojibway, Aanishinabe, or Chippewa Indian. She was as fluent in the Dakota language as any Dakota Indian. I guess that makes David, Danny, and Dayton more Indian that Robin, Bruce, and me. Just kidding!

So that’s the situation today, even we Indians can’t decide what and who an Indian is. One good thing, though, I would think it would be getting harder for the bigot to hate on the Indian since we don’t even know ourselves who and what an Indian is. The current situation with the Roberts County Sheriff is a case in point. Some people, not all people, are making the dispute a racial issue. That being the case what part of the Sheriff don’t they like, since the Sheriff is half Indian and half white? Can you half hate someone or half dislike someone? The racial stuff gets so ridiculous sometimes that I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. So here is a true story. A couple of years ago, when the Minnesota Twins were in the pennant race I went down to the Metro Dome. Johan Santana and two other South American Twins pitchers were signing autographs for lines of white people. The mood was festive; music was playing; vendors were hawking their goods; and food aroma was in the air. I bought a bratwurst and was sitting at a table enjoying myself and a white guy comes and sits down at the table. We visit and after awhile I explain the reason for my permanent suntan and he pulls his shirt sleeve up and on his forearm is a large tattoo of an Indian chief. He says to me. “If I had a chance to be born again I would like to be born an Indian.” Then he proudly states, “I have an Indian name.” I say, “Oh ya, what is you’re Indian name?” He says, WIN-KNOWN-NA (Winona).” I silently chuckle to myself and I ask, “What does that mean?” He says, “Soaring Eagle.” I pondered if I should tell him what Winona means in the Dakota language. I decided the guy was a genuinely nice guy so I left it at that. True story!

Until next time, peace and fry bread grease.

Grady Renville gradymazaska@yahoo.com/.

P. S. Winona means the first born female child in the Dakota language.

Open letter to the Oyate

These are my people. And this is what they’ve done. I’ve sat and watched people plot. I’ve been made fun of when I failed. Caught trouble just for trying, than got laughed at when I lost. And people winced when I won.

I’ve heard stories of degradation. All aimed at natives within this reservation. I treated all my "friends" like true friends, but only had a handful in the end.

This town, is the only place I’ve been kicked when I was down. Then had to help myself up, by finding solace with this pen. I’ve been stepped on by people with cleats on their feet, whose only soul purpose is to not see me succeed.

These are my people. And this is what they’ve done. I’ve been stabbed in the back, even stabbed in the front. People take my kindness for weakness when they find it’s a weakness. But if they find this as a weakness, than there looking past strength.

Karma is my most faithful of friends. So I give and give, and this is what I get. (Don’t ever underestimate the unseen.)

I’ve been tossed to the side, rarely offered a ride. And still I thank God for my life. Thank my mom for my life. Take time to let everyone know I’ve been raised right.

Without YouthBuild, I’d be unschooled, a fool still. It wasn’t the program that made the people. It was the people running the program that made the participants become people. Those of us there in the beginning know what happened. The program lost a leader that had passion! It wasn’t ever about gaining status. I may not have been, or may not yet be, YouthBuild’s only story of success. But without there positive reinforcement I’d have accomplished a lot less.

These are my people. And this is what they’ve done.

Moral of the facts: Nobody’s perfect. What good does it do to publicly point out negative actions of the past? How can we move towards a positive future when nobody shares accolades of past leaders? When our ancestors gathered after successful hunts or wars they never publicly put down another person. They shared their account of how things turned out. "Behold. So-n-so fought bravely and protected his and other families and gained war ponies in doing so." Or, "Here stands So-n-so, who slain three buffaloes and is able to share his bounty with us all!" Never would they proclaim, "Look at So-n-so who stumbled upon some buffalo and killed two for himself. And than allowed the herd to run off into the horizon. From this day forth everyone must look and discuss this person with disgust."

After this is read people will talk negatively about this, looking past the positive purpose.

And yet and still; these are my people and this is what they do.

With no disdainment; I’ll always continue to love you all equally and eternally.

Peace, Love and Positivity.

Norbert Jones Jr.(ndjjr21@yahoo.com).

76-year-old Sioux man to run Boston Marathon

Emmett Eastman, 76, a Dakota Sioux from Wahpeton, N.D., plans to run this year's Boston Marathon

By Michael Morton

Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News

April 19, 2008

Hopkinton, Mass. – Taking a break from crossing America on foot, runner N