Sicangu News

By Vi Waln

“Many people don’t want to believe that child abuse exists, or are only willing to believe that certain kinds of abuse go on. They don’t want to consider that something so horrific, and yet so widespread, is taking place in their community, perhaps only a door away from them, a few steps from their lives – or even in their lives if they would only open their eyes.” Laurie Matthew

 

In researching the United States Attorney’s website, I found there have been 11 sexual assault cases brought against men from the Rosebud Reservation since January 2016. In an absolutely heinous case involving the sexual assault of minors, last week a Rosebud man was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison. His crimes included Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Distribution of Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, and Failure to Appear.

 

According to the website, this predator “received and distributed numerous images of child pornography and depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on different dates.” He sexually assaulted innocent minors by sharing pictures of them with other predators on the internet. After his court appearance, he was placed on electronic monitoring and released to a family member. Shortly after this conditional release, the predator “absconded from his release and electronic monitoring.” He was subsequently apprehended in Miami, Florida.

 

In addition, last month a Selby man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Distribution of Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors. This predator was a former State’s Attorney. According to the news release issued by the US Attorney, this man “refers to himself as a pedophile and indicated he has been dealing with his attraction to and acting out upon minors for a number of years. . .He admits he loses control at times and that is when he molests minors and says he sometimes satisfies his desire for children by looking at child pornography.”

 

Even though there have already been 11 cases, which warranted federal prosecution from Rosebud, so far this year, I’m sure there are many more happening as you read this. There are children and teenagers living on our homelands who are suffering from active, on-going sex crimes perpetrated by a relative or someone close to the family. Some victims have been living with this abuse for years. They remain silent about these sexual assaults because of the threats made by the predator.

 

There are also women and men living on our homelands who’ve suffered violent sexual assaults, yet nothing was done about it. I believe many sex offenders, especially those who victimize children, got away with their crimes. I know some child rapists living on the Rosebud who were never prosecuted. They continue to walk free. Some of them have jobs working with tribal entities. They were never prosecuted because the victim was too afraid to turn them in to law enforcement.

 

In his proclamation designating April 2016 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, President Barack Obama called sexual assault crimes a “human rights violation.” Men, women, teenagers and children will continue to suffer from sexual assaults unless we take action to stop rapists. And as much as we all are comfortable in our denial, we have to take responsibility in recognizing the sexual assaults happening within our own family, home or community.

 

Even though the sexual crime of child pornography has been going on for decades, the internet has provided a new way for these predators to interact with one another. In addition, the ever rising incidents of human trafficking has also subjected our people to violent sexual crimes. That is, men, women, teenagers and children continue to be exploited every day in human trafficking rings.

 

It is our responsibility to help our people seek justice for sexual assaults. If a child or teenager is being sexually abused in your home by your companion or another relative, and you know about it but refuse to notify authorities, it might as well be you inflicting those terrible crimes on that young person. Sexual abuse and assaults cause extreme mental and emotional problems for victims. Many of our people today are walking around with all kinds of personal problems. What many of them don’t realize is their issues stem from a past sexual assault, or maybe even sexual abuse suffered as a child. Incidents of child sex abuse can be blocked from the survivor’s memory as a way to cope.

 

“. . .If anyone reading this is going through what I went through, please take my advice: No matter how bad or good the rapport is between you and your family members, do not wait until the abuse destroys you to tell someone. . .If one person doesn’t believe you, tell someone else. Keep telling until someone listens. I know it’s painful to tell, but what you’re living with is far worse.” Anna, 15, sexual abuse survivor

By Vi Waln

ROSEBUD – Staff members from the Tribal Education Department attended a community meeting here to present plans to update the Education Code (Code), which was enacted in 1991.

 

A power point presentation provided an outline of the Code for community members to view. Tribal Education staff plans to schedule other meetings with tribal citizens over the next several months to seek input, as well as volunteers, to assist with the update process.

 

This work is made possible through a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Tribal Education Department (TED) Grant awarded to Rosebud. Other tribes who received funding are Standing Rock, Navajo Nation, Hopi, Santa Clara Pueblo and Acoma Pueblo. The 3-year grant will enable staff and tribal citizens to work on recommending changes to the Code. Deborah Bordeaux was recently hired as TED Grant Manager.

 

Drafted into law in 1991, the Code lists 3 purposes:

(1) Preserve, protect, and perpetuate the Tribe. Provide the necessary resources to preserve, protect, and perpetuate the Rosebud Sioux Tribe with its human and land resources;

(2) Promote intra-government understanding and coordination. Provide a means to promote understanding and coordination of branches, agencies, and entities of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Government on the purposes, standards, and functions of education on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation; and

(3) Make education a good experience and good preparation for life. Make education on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation a good experience and provide a means to prepare tribal members for life on and off the Reservation.

 

The Code also established the Tribal Education Department. The purposes were used to develop a Mission Statement, which reads “It is the mission of the Education Department to protect and perpetuate the Rosebud Sioux Tribe; to promote intragovernmental understanding and coordination; and to make education a good experience and a good preparation for life.”

 

The funding will assist the Education Department in strengthening the code through further development with input from local citizens. Volunteers will meet to formulate recommendations in guiding the revision of the Code. This process will allow the tribal membership to actively participate in reforming the Code to better meet the needs of local students. In addition, this process will allow tribal citizens to gain more understanding of how they are affected by the Code.

 

A major goal of the revision process is to empower local tribal control of the educational systems serving Lakota children on tribal land. That is, this process will empower the Education Department to further develop expanded control over tribal education. This will be accomplished through discussions with all tribal education entities. The Education Department hopes to establish an Education Consortium, which will include all public, private and tribal schools serving local students.

 

During the grant period, the Education Department will also provide opportunities to coordinate services with all education providers within the exterior boundaries of the Rosebud Reservation. Meetings will be held to provide educational entities with a better understanding of school governance, administrator mentoring, school finance, business management, human resources, strategic planning, facility planning and policy development as they pertain to the Code.

 

The Code can be accessed online by visiting the Tribal Education Department website at:

http://www.rst-education-department.com/education-code/

 

The public is welcome to leave comments about the Code on the website. For more information, or to sign up as a volunteer to work on the revision, please contact the Education Department at (605) 747-2833.

 

By Vi Waln

ROSEBUD – A day school operated on the Rosebud Reservation at the turn of the 19^th century will be featured in an upcoming book authored by museum curators.

 

The Lower Cut Meat Creek Day School was 1 of 21 day schools operated by the Indian Agency. The small building was located north of the present day Parmelee community and provided educational services to several Lakota students in the late 19^th century. Lindsay Montgomery, a post-Doctorate researcher at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, met with descendants of students who attended the day school to provide information. She is collaborating with Curator Chip Cowell on the project.

 

The book is based on the collection of Jesse H. Bratley, who served as a teacher at the school during 1895-1899. His wife, Della (Ransom) Bratley, helped with the female students. During his time on the Rosebud, he took over 100 photographs and collected hundreds of items from the local people, including Swift Bear’s Winter Count depicting 100 years of Lakota history.

 

He also wrote an extensive autobiography, which included accounts of his experience at Rosebud. Montgomery provided copies of the portion of Bratley’s autobiography (pages 104-114) which detailed the time he spent at Lower Cut Meat. Excerpts of his writing is included in the following paragraphs.

 

The couple had 3 children during their time at Lower Cut Meat. They had a set of twin girls, Helen and Hazel, as well as a son named Homer. Helen died shortly after she was born. The couple buried her near Chief Spotted Tail’s grave in Rosebud, SD. The grave is unmarked.

 

Students who attended the school ranged in ages from 6 to 17. The school day began at 9am and ended at 4pm. Mornings were dedicated to learning subjects like reading, writing and math. Lunch was provided to all the students. The younger children were sent home at 2pm. The older students worked until 4pm.

 

The older girls spent their afternoons sewing. Mrs. Bratley helped them make clothing for the girls and for the smaller boys. They also made sunbonnets for the girls. Ready-made shirts and suits were furnished for the older boys.

 

The older boys worked outside in the afternoons. Bratley led them in building both a carpenter shop and a blacksmith shop. The boys made tables and stools for the students to take home.

 

He also taught the older boys how to irrigate crops by digging ditches. The school had a substantial garden. Potatoes, tomatoes, celery and cabbage were all added to the noon lunches for students.

 

He also enlisted the help of the older boys to build a pond to collect the run-off from the creek when the snow melted. He built an icehouse and the group harvested the ice from the pond each winter. In his autobiography, Bratley wrote “we had ice continuously to the end of the four years we were at this school. Our milk house was in front of the ice house and we set our milk and butter in the drain from the ice. The ice was something that no other of the twenty schools had” (page 106).

 

Following the orders of the Indian Agent, Bratley and his wife also bathed all the children every Monday morning. One of his accounts reads: “One time, when I was bathing the boys in the shop, I noticed a very white spot on the right thigh of Sammy Plenty-Holes, a six-year-old boy. I asked him what caused the white spot. He said, ‘I was shot.’ The bullet passed through his leg where the two white spots indicated.”

 

“I inquired of the mother, Mrs. Plenty-Holes, how it all happened. She said she was with Sammy, who was nearly one-year-old, in the Wounded Knee Battle, December 29, 1890, in which three hundred or more Indians were killed. . . Mrs. Howling-Elk, who received thirteen bullet holes, and her wounded baby, laid three days in the snow drifts and both survived. Sammy’s mother’s name was changed to Plenty-Holes on account of the thirteen wounds” (pages 108-109).

 

For more information on this project, please email Lindsay Montgomery at

Lindsay.montgomery@dmns.org

By Vi Waln

One summer I went to visit an elderly couple at their home. It was hot. They did not have air conditioning, so the front door was wide open. There was no screen door. They had custody of three small grandchildren. Two of the children were toddlers and one was a baby.

 

The baby was laying on the couch with just a diaper on. She had a bottle in her mouth. She was covered with house flies. The flies crawled on her but she seemed oblivious to them as she sucked on the bottle. The grandparents seemed not to notice.

 

I wondered where the parents of the children were. The couple was elderly. I am sure they did what they could to care for the children, but they were elders. Our elders can only do so much. I don’t think it’s fair when young, able parents burden their mothers or fathers with the responsibility of caring for small children.

 

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. There are countless instances of child abuse happening on our lands. The trauma afflicted upon our children affects them throughout their entire life. Abuse scars children in more ways than we realize. Abused children generally grow into adults who abuse their own children.

 

Last week, a video circulated on social media sites showed a school principal paddling a 5-year-old student. The footage of this incident was taken by the boy’s mother. She indicated it was either allow the paddling or her child would have been suspended.

 

I didn’t watch the video. Depictions of violence against children make me sick. Even though the mother gave her permission for the man to hit her child, I still believe it was a form of child abuse. When this child is an adult, he will be able to view the video on the internet. I wonder how that will make him feel.

 

Many people agree with the beating the principal gave the child. In fact, there are many parents out there who believe corporal punishment is acceptable. Many parents use corporal punishment on their own children. I believe “disciplining” your children by hitting them is abuse. When children are subject to corporal punishment, they grow up into mean adults.

 

April is also Alcohol Awareness Month. Alcohol is a drug. Some people condone the use of alcohol because it is legal. But a drug is a drug. Whether it is legal or illegal, drugs will ruin lives.

Many of us have been affected by alcohol, either through our own drinking or by a close family member who drinks. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) website states “more than 7 million children live in a household where at least one parent is dependent on or has abused alcohol.”

 

Alcohol and other drug use is often linked to child abuse. For instance, last week 3 women were arrested in Sioux Falls, SD. The women were intoxicated and driving around with 6 children, who ranged in ages of 6 weeks to 8 years old, in the vehicle. The women were each charged with 6 counts of cruelty to a minor. The children were placed in protective custody by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

 

Unfortunately, this is a prime example of why April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Alcohol Awareness Month. These children were abused because of the alcohol use by their mothers. It’s a traumatic experience for children to be taken from their parent and placed in the care of DSS.

 

Some children who are placed in foster care never see their parents again. The last memory of their mother or father is one where the parent was intoxicated or acting violently. That memory is imprinted on their brain for the rest of their life. Experiences like the one those 6 children went through could scar them for the rest of their lives.

 

Alcohol and drug use have caused many of our children needless pain and suffering. Oftentimes, the parent’s choice to “party” changed the lives of their children forever. The child stands a great chance of growing into an adult with a myriad of mental health issues, which may prompt them to abuse alcohol and drugs. So, the vicious cycle of addiction continues.

 

Our children deserve to grow up in a sober home with parents who are supportive and loving. You have the power to change your life today. Seek help if you are lost in addiction. Your children are depending on you to protect them. They don’t want to grow up with strangers. Please don’t disappoint them.

By Vi Waln

ROSEBUD – Members of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Health Board recently spent over 4 hours discussing the future of the Rosebud Hospital with several officials from the Indian Health Service (IHS).

 

The Emergency Room at the Rosebud Hospital has been closed since December 5, 2015 after officials from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare found at least 3 patients had been exposed to unsafe conditions. The 3 cases involved a cardiac patient, an OB patient and trauma on a pediatric patient.

 

“I want to say at the outset, the conditions at the hospital and what has happened with CMS are unacceptable. We are committed to making change and that’s why we’re here,” stated Mary Smith, Principal Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service. We have been working on the corrective action plan. We do want to open the Emergency Department as soon as possible. It is one of the highest priorities at IHS.”

 

“We want to open the emergency department when we have a full staff of physicians and nurses, when we are able to meet the CMS requirements and when we will be providing high quality patient care, that is our goal and you deserve no less. That’s why we’re here,” Smith continued.

 

“We are committed to opening the [Emergency Room] as soon as possible,” Smith told Health Board members. She was unable to give a definite date when the ER would be open. IHS has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to contract out and manage of the Emergency Departments at Rosebud, Pine Ridge and Winnebago. IHS hopes to award the contract in June.

 

Since the diversion took effect, patients needing care for serious conditions are transferred to off-reservation facilities. Many are taken directly by ambulance to hospitals in Winner, Martin or Valentine. The ER diversion has taken a toll on both the ambulance staff and vehicles.

 

“We ran 6 ambulances into the ground,” stated Willie Bear Shield, Chairman of the RST Health Board. “We need 2 handicap vans for transport. We still hold your agency for their word that all costs would be taken care of while we were in this immediate jeopardy status.”

 

 

 

The diversion of the emergency room came on the heels of a Notice of Intent to Terminate the Medicare Provider agreement, sent to the Rosebud Hospital from CMS last fall. CMS initially determined that the deficiencies identified in their recent survey were so serious that they constituted an immediate and serious threat to the health and safety of any individual who comes to the hospital to receive emergency services.

 

CMS subsequently granted at least 2 extensions to the Rosebud Hospital to correct deficiencies. The most recent extension was granted on March 4, 2016. The letter states in part “CMS therefore agrees to extend the termination date of the hospital’s Medicare Provider Agreement from March 16, 2016 to May 16, 2016. However, in the event that IHS and CMS are unable to agree on the terms of an SIA [Systems Improvement Agreement] for the Rosebud IHS Hospital and an SIA has not been signed by the close of business on April 29, 2016, CMS will offer no further extensions, and the Medicare Provider Agreement between CMS and the Rosebud IHS hospital will be terminated at the close of business on May 16, 2016.”

By Vi Waln

Tribal people born in this country weren’t considered American citizens until June 2, 1924. This means we’ve only been recognized as citizens of this country for 92 years. Some of us have grandparents who were granted American citizenship when they were children. Our great-grandparents were not considered American citizens, even though they were born and died on this continent. Consequently, citizens of the United States are granted certain rights and responsibilities. Our lives can definitely improve when we take advantage of all the rights that come with being a US citizen.

 

Despite our recognition as American citizens, there are many tribal people who would rather not acknowledge their citizenship. In fact, there are tribal people whom actively reject their citizenship. Many tribal people reject American citizenship as a form of protest against the US Government. I understand their position and tend to agree with many of them.

 

Still, we do live here in this country. Most of us aren’t planning to go anywhere. So, we do have the right to take advantage of certain privileges which are available to us as American citizens. I don’t see my tribal citizenship diminished by my choice to take advantage of the rights granted to American citizens.

 

One of the privileges we have as American citizens is our right to vote in tribal, county, state and national elections. Voting in elections doesn’t make you “white” or mean you are assimilated. Exercising your right to vote means you are taking an active role in determining who is elected to represent you.

 

There are many people in our county, state and country who don’t want tribal citizens to vote. It brings them great satisfaction to know tribal citizens won’t get out and vote. They also know that when tribal citizens do decide to take an active role in elections, we will have the collective power to easily elect candidates who will work hard to ensure that many issues facing tribes are improved.

 

You have the responsibility to decide who is put into office to make decisions for you and your family. Our children need all of us to vote. The quality of our lives, as well as our children’s lives, depends on voting in honest, qualified, ethical leaders who will act with integrity.

 

All across this country there are people who make a choice NOT to participate in the election process. We are currently in a Presidential Election year. Many of us are tired of the campaigning craziness we are watching in the news. Unfortunately, we still have 8 months to continue being bombarded with the often unscrupulous campaign antics of the current US Presidential hopefuls.

 

Even though I tend to disagree with the philosophy of political candidates on nearly all levels, I still exercise my right to vote. My vote counts because I am an important citizen with a voice that people need to hear. I vote in all elections I am eligible for – tribal, county, state and federal. My ancestors sacrificed their lives so we could continue to live on this Turtle Island. I am not about to disregard their sacrifice by refusing to vote.

 

Many of you believe your vote doesn’t make a difference. However, an example of the Native Vote making a difference in a key election was when Tim Johnson beat John Thune in 2002 for the US Senate seat. The voters on the Pine Ridge Reservation exercised their right to cast ballots during that election to put Johnson in office.

 

The voters living in Todd County have a chance to do the same this summer during the Todd County School Board election. Voters wanting to see change in their student’s classroom would do well to go to the polls and election qualified, educated people to the school board. I believe former educators are highly qualified to serve as school board members, as they have spent time as either teachers or administrators. Who else knows the needs of students better?

 

You have the power to elect people to the Todd County School Board who will look out for the educational interests of your students. School boards should not be political, but unfortunately they often are. Some school board members will discount the concerns you’ve voiced as mere rumors. When a governing body allows politics to drive their decisions, they will often overlook the people they are supposed to be serving. The students attending the Todd County School District need school board members who care about quality education.

 

The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Education Department, as well as the Education Committee, encourages all tribal citizens to register to vote today! Cast your vote in the June 2016 School Board Election. Vote for former educators who are familiar with your students.

 

The power of change is in your hands, don’t let it slip away.

 

 

 

 

By Vi Waln

Many Lakota parents living on the Rosebud Reservation are completely dissatisfied with the public system currently serving our K-12 students. Issues with curriculum, staff, teachers, administrators and school board members are the topics of discussion amongst many local people. Long-term employees are also speaking out about internal problems, as well as political favoritism being practiced, within the Todd County School District (TCSD). In fact, many long-term employees feel they are being targeted for removal by administrators and school board members.

 

This summer you have the power to effect change in this dismal educational system currently failing the majority of our Lakota students. That is, there are two vacancies on the Todd County School Board and an election will take place in June 2016. Consequently, you will likely see some excellent Lakota educators appearing on the ballot as candidates.

 

We are responsible for our children’s future. Part of that responsibility is ensuring that qualified people with the proper credentials are put in charge of overseeing the public school system serving our students on the Rosebud Reservation. One way to actively show responsibility for our children’s collective future is by registering to vote today.

 

The TCSD definitely serves a majority of Lakota students. Our voting power is the only certain way to change the direction of the public school system on the Rosebud Reservation. The district must now move forward to be more proactive to the needs of all students, in order to ensure a successful start in life.

 

Registering to vote is only the first step. We also have a responsibility to follow through by going to the polls in June to elect qualified Lakota people, who will work hard by speaking out to affect real change to the unresponsive educational system now serving our students. A transition must be made now from a system which is failing our students, to one which approaches contemporary, educational needs from a true Lakota perspective.

 

Some of the Lakota people who are running for these positions have spent their lives here on the Rosebud Reservation. They have worked as teachers or administrators. As educated Lakota people who have dedicated their lives to our students, they are highly qualified to be elected as school board members. I believe they will work to make changes which will benefit all of our students attending the TCSD.

 

The power to move these changes into reality lies in your vote. Our Lakota children deserve a school board which is comprised of qualified members who have knowledge of what is needed in the classroom. The only people who could possibly know what is needed in the classrooms are those who actually spent time there.

 

The time is now to rid our school district of board members who don’t care about tribal values or Lakota students. These are your elected representatives who would rather spend their time playing petty politics with staff and parents. We deserve better!

 

Many of us are actively listening to complaints about how the TCSD is failing our Lakota students. We have to take action now. There is no time left to discuss the problems. Register to vote today. Go to the polls in June and cast your vote for an educated Lakota candidate who has experience as a classroom teacher and/or administrator.

 

Many Lakota families with students enrolled in the TCSD believe money spent sending school board members on travel to party at national conferences would be better spent on academic improvement. Your vote is needed to elect experienced Lakota educators who have dedicated their lives to teaching our precious children and teenagers. The power of change is in your hands.

 

By Vi Waln

“Get up early to greet the Morning Star and Tunkasila will bless you all day.” ~Dinah Crow Dog-Running (Aske Win) 1933-2006

 

March is Women’s History Month. Most of the commemorations related to Women’s History in this country are focused on females of European descent. For instance, Susan B. Anthony is a woman well referenced in American History books. She worked for women to have the right to vote.

 

Consequently, we rarely read about the contributions of Lakota women during Women’s History Month. There are many tribal women who have contributed a lot to our society. They are rarely spotlighted by the American media; still, it’s important to teach our children about them.

 

So, this week I want to remember the late Sicangu Lakota elder, Dinah Crow Dog-Running (Aske Win). She was a Tuwin to me, yet the relationship we had was also one of great friendship. So, despite our difference in age, she was one of my beloved Maske. She was my spiritual counselor. She shared many of her teachings with me about our Lakota way of life.

 

For example, Dinah always stressed the importance of nutrition. She helped me understand how crucial it is for women to take the utmost care in preparing the food we feed our children. She often spoke about the nutrition law of our people. I doubt many of our people truly understand the law of nutrition in the same way our ancestors did.

 

She helped me understand the importance of food to our body, mind, emotions and spirit. For instance, we put our energy into whatever we create, including meals. I believe that’s the reason for certain cooks we know, like our Ina or Unci, having the ability to create those delicious meals we love to eat. They carry the family love energy and that is what they put into their meals.

 

The energy we put into creating our meals is the most important ingredient. The food we prepare and feed our children helps them to grow into responsible Lakota adults. In addition, Dinah was asked on a regular basis to prepare spiritual food for different occasions. She was instrumental during times when a local family wanted to honor one of their own, or when a family was spiritually devastated.

 

I will never forget her taking the time to prepare the wasna for my late Takoja to take on her spiritual journey. The simple ceremony she conducted when feeding my Takoja’s spirit still helps me get through hard times even today. Consequently, Dinah’s interpretation of nutritional law was carried into the next world by those lucky enough to be blessed with the spiritual food she created and shared with their spirit.

 

Maske Dinah was also an articulate orator. I witnessed her addressing the Governor of South Dakota in his mansion in 2003. She offered him much wisdom to move forward during his term in office, suggesting practical ways to include the Lakota tribes of this state. Of course, he did not take her advice.

 

During her time here on Earth, she did serve as a representative on the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council. In her later years, I was privileged to hear Dinah publicly address the tribal council on many occasions when I attended meetings with her. She also offered sound, sensible advice as well as suggestions addressing the needs of our people. However, I don’t ever recall the tribal council incorporating her advice or following through with her suggestions.

 

I also attended many ceremonies which Dinah was an essential part of. She helped many women in ways that are indescribable. Her prayers were very powerful. The sacred ceremonies she participated in were greatly enhanced by her presence.

 

She could see the truth inside people. It was often intimidating to those who had something to hide. Yet, the things she saw inside people helped her to understand human nature more clearly. There were times when she could see things in people who were close to me. This would prompt her to offer me advice based on her perceptions. Her intuition about people was never wrong.

 

Dinah walked on from this life on February 27, 2006. I miss her early morning calls. I miss listening to her talk and laugh as we rode to meetings together. I miss seeing her at wacipis, the sun dance and Native American Church ceremonies. Some days I could really use her wisdom, as well as her humor.

 

Aske Win is one of our Lakota ancestors. Remember her in your prayers. She and the multitude of Lakota ancestors are there to help us walk this human path.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Vi Waln

Rumors and gossip are behaviors unbecoming to Lakota people. Yet, I realize a lot of you thrive on adding more distorted tidbits to an outlandish tale another person has told you. Many reporters can tell you about the calls or emails they receive on an issue or event that people ask them to write about. Our reputation as writers only goes as far as our ability to accurately report a chain of events, or address controversial issues.

Over the years, I’ve had many people talk to me about something they would like to see printed in the newspaper. I’ve dealt with honest people who sincerely want the public to read about an important issue, as well as people who want to see dramatic stories in print. It’s unfortunate that many prefer sensationalism, instead of reading an accurate account of what happened.

People are actually addicted to the negativity happening every day in their community. We need to examine why that is, because when we thrive on talking about drama, even when it isn’t true, we miss seeing the areas of our lives which need improving. There are always areas in our lives or family needing attention. Personally, I would rather focus on myself and my immediate family. I make a choice not to waste energy focusing on negative events happening in my community.

This past week on the Rosebud was a prime example of negativity, gossip and sensationalism. It all started when the Testing-Demo-Cleaning Department (TDC) of Sicangu Wiconi Awayankapi (SWA) gave a demonstration to the Tribal Council at a meeting I didn’t attend or watch. The demonstration entailed a process followed when SWA is faced with testing a house allegedly contaminated by methamphetamine use by a tenant.

Since I didn’t attend that particular meeting, I was later informed by a tribal council representative that there was a set agenda with SWA in attendance to address homeless issues and the prevalence of meth use on Rosebud. SWA did give a presentation on meth testing, due to the number of houses being contaminated. One council representative had questions on the specifics of testing the housing units, so SWA was asked to bring their machine and demonstrate.

Testing was done, and as unofficially reported through an online blog, some of the furniture in the Council Chambers tested positive. Tribal Council then requested impromptu testing of all representatives present, as well as all the employees working in the tribal building. In addition, the tribal building was shut down on Thursday afternoon for further testing and sanitation by SWA employees, as requested by tribal officials. The tribal building was open again on Friday.

There were many stories uttered on the reservation about this incident. I thought it was pretty crazy, as many of the stories sounded extremely far-fetched. But that is the nature of rumors and gossip, the more something is repeated, the more skewed it gets. The fact that some local people I once thought highly of were repeating stories sounding absolutely ridiculous, made me wonder why I thought so highly of them in the first place.

Tribal council set an example by ordering drug tests. Many tribal citizens would like to see all tribal directors and employees tested too. Drug test results are confidential. Still, I believe the mass drug testing of all tribal employees could possibly weed out (no pun intended) substance abusers from our programs. Drug and alcohol addicts bring down overall productivity. Our tribe cannot move forward when the majority of its members are addicted to substances, whether they are legal (vodka, beer, morphine or hydrocodone) or illegal (meth, heroin, etc.).

Drugs are poisons. When we ingest any type of drug, legal or illegal, our bodies tend to work to remove the poison. Our body excrements, such as sweat, urine and feces, contain waste matter. Whatever poison you are using, like vodka or meth, also leaves your body when you sweat or use the restroom. And when you are sweating, the toxins contained in the sweat will be absorbed by your clothing, as well as the surfaces you come into contact with.

The general public does have access to the council chambers, as well as most of the offices in the tribal building. Lots of people sit on the chairs in that building. Lots of people lean on the tables and against the walls. These actions leave behind sweat and body oils, along with whatever substance the person has ingested. So, it was no surprise that certain areas in the tribal building tested positive for drugs. After all, we do have a wide-spread drug problem that is out of control. I’m sure a lot of drug users visit the tribal office on a daily basis for a variety of reasons.

I’m in favor of testing all elected tribal officials, as well as all tribal directors, tribal employees and political appointees. Testing everyone will send a message that our tribe is serious about eradicating drug users on the payroll. But let’s not forget how many of our people who don’t work for the tribe are actively using drugs. People who use drugs also regularly visit the hospital, university and other program buildings. It’s really not fair to place all the blame on the tribal workforce or elected officials.

Alcoholics and drug addicts need prayers. They need help. The families who are dealing with them also need help. Our children are precious and are being exposed to dangerous drugs that people my age knew nothing about while we were growing up. It’s going to take all of us working hard to clean up our tribe.

Does anyone besides me wonder how things would change if people chose to pray instead of repeating wild rumors?

Recently, my Takoja came home from school and asked me if George Washington was white. A strange question, but since it is February I figured the class was learning about US Presidents. So I told him, yes George Washington was white. Then I asked my Takoja if he knew who the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe was. He couldn’t answer.

Our local schools are failing our children by not including material relevant to their lives as tribal citizens. Students who live on the reservation need to learn about everyday issues that apply to them as tribal citizens, including their own tribal government. If the local public and tribal schools offers lessons on US history, which teaches our children all about US Presidents, they also need to include tribal history.

Many Lakota people who grow up on our homelands often choose to stay here. We might attend an off-reservation college or university, but many of us return to the area where we grew up. We have to know the history of our homelands. We have to learn about our tribal government. We have to learn about our own Lakota culture.

Teaching our students only about the relevance of the US government and their history is an incomplete education. Our Lakota students should know about tribal government when they graduate from high school. Unfortunately, many high school graduates have no idea of what their own tribal government does.

I am sure there are a few local teachers who incorporate tribal government, history and cultural information into their lessons. But they are the exception. Most of the teachers working in our homelands did not grow up here. They do not understand the relevance of including teachings about the Lakota people to Lakota students.

Our students should be exposed to basic lessons about tribal government beginning in Kindergarten. An idea Lakota curriculum would include lessons about the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act. Our elementary, middle and high school students should also be studying the Constitution and By-Laws of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, which was adopted in 1934; learning about the subsequent amendments to our Constitution and By-Laws is also important.

Additional curriculum should include studying the Corporate Charter of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, as well as the amendments to this document. The Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934 is an important piece of legislation that has affected us for the last 82 years. Our students should be learning about the original IRA as well as amendments made to this document.

In addition, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe has established numerous resolutions, ordinances and codes. Again, our local students graduate from high school without knowing much about their own tribal government. Our tribal government could operate much better if our young people were educated about how the system works. Our educational systems have failed us as Lakota people because of the limited curriculum covering the historical and contemporary governance systems which apply to us.

Also, many of our tribal students might have learned about what the stars and stripes represent on the American flag. Yet, many do not have any idea what the symbols on the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Flag represent.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has elected 40 Presidents since the IRA was incorporated. Our children know who George Washington was, but the majority of them do not know who the first President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe was. Many of our Lakota students, like my Takoja, cannot tell you who the current President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe is.

Our students can succeed when what they learn is meaningful to them. It wouldn’t take much to incorporate lessons surrounding the Rosebud Sioux Tribe into the local schools’ curriculum. I challenge the school board members, administrators and teachers at the St. Francis Indian School and the Todd County School District to provide more curriculum on local tribal government to the K-12 students currently attending our local schools. After all, they are our future leaders.

Our schools are there to educate our children. I believe they have a responsibility to provide our Lakota students with a relevant education about how their own tribal government operates.