Author Archives: Vi Waln

April is designated as National Child Abuse Awareness Month. This week (April 19-25) is being observed as the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Our reservations are homes to countless victims of all ages. Sadly, not enough is being done to help keep victims safe. The corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated many dangerous environments inContinue reading “Are Lakota Children Still Sacred?”

April is designated as the awareness month for alcohol, sexual assault and child abuse. Our world has changed dramatically due to the (COVID-19) pandemic in ways we did not expect. Some people lost our jobs and have had to seek unemployment or other assistance to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, alcohol abuse, child abuseContinue reading “Alcohol, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse”

Todd County reported their first positive case of corona virus (COVID-19) last week. According to local health officials, the adult who tested positive – along with their entire family – is quarantined and isolated at home. There are no updates on their health condition. Co-workers who came into contact with the infected adult are reportedContinue reading “We are all entitled to our privacy”

Order of the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe REVISED 3/27/2020   Pursuant to Article 1, Clause 1 of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe By-Laws and pursuant to Rosebud Sioux Tribe Council Resolution 2020-75, which was passed on March 25, 2020, I am hereby issuing the following Order effective at 12:01 A.M. (After midnight Friday night)Continue reading “Order of the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe”

As I write this, there are no positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on either the Rosebud or Pine Ridge reservations. I check the State Health Department web site for daily updates. Health officials post new information as it comes in. Even though there are no positive cases on either of our reservations that weContinue reading “You Are Lakota, Don’t Be Afraid”

When one listens to the audio recording of the Education Committee hearing held in Pierre recently, we hear Rep. Lana Greenfield saying “…we’ll start with Senate Bill 66, please, this is an act to provide for creation and the funding of the Oceti [washi]…whatever it’s called…community-based schools….” https://sdpb.sd.gov/SDPBPodcast/2020/hed31.mp3?fbclid=IwAR2uMRYaoPVcr6ayCHMPQaDhw6HZeEjoaS8XGAK9AE7rtj1vNoRvbx0Hfn8#t=142 Rep. Greenfield unwittingly voiced how many peopleContinue reading “Senate Bill 66: Thrown under the bus”

Young people are constantly told to pursue college degrees so they can work to improve tribal programs and services. Yet, our educated tribal citizens are consistently disregarded by those elected to our tribal council. Consequently, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Ordinance 2007-09 was implemented as the Personnel Manuel to guarantee employment preference to qualified tribal citizens. ArticleContinue reading “Tribal Council Disregards Ordinance 2007-09”

Bullying is still a problem in our schools. There are many intelligent students who refuse to attend school because they suffer verbal, mental, emotional and physical abuse while in class. The schools operating on my reservation will likely never improve. The majority of board members, administration, faculty and staff don’t seem to care about theContinue reading “Adults are the worst bullies”

February is a month with a free Monday. It’s free because people employed in full-time jobs are usually given the day off with holiday pay. We all love those paid days off. I wonder if those paid days off, like the Monday we just had for President’s Day, help our minds remain colonized. Some ofContinue reading “Decolonizing American Holidays”

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King was only 39 years old when he was murdered in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. If Dr. King were still alive, he would have celebrated his 91st birthday on January 15. Some of us have living parents or grandparents who are still living a full life, even thoughContinue reading “Change is in Your Hands”