Sicangu News

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The Fight Inside.

I saw an advertisement on Facebook over the weekend promoting McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon in Washington, DC. The image had pilgrim and Indian caricatures at the top. Slogans underneath the pictures read “Party like a pilgrim” and “Drink like an Indian.”

 

Isn’t that stereotypical? You would think that the people who live in the nation’s capital would be more educated about something like this. But no, we see some of the most ignorant things about tribal people coming out of urban areas nowadays. I am tired of explaining why I am offended by images like this. Should I just give up and keep quiet? Maybe I should just join the other tribal people who aren’t offended by things which demean our people.

 

What really irks me is how some people think perhaps they should be living up to things like this. Our children are so susceptible; what if one sees this image and believes that because they are Indian they are supposed to drink? What does “Drink like an Indian” mean anyway?

 

We never know what goes through the minds of non-Indians when they come up with crap like this. Do the people who see this image assume that Indians are all heavy drinkers or light drinkers or social drinkers? Can someone please clarify for me exactly what “Drink like an Indian” means? Which Indian are they talking about? I am sure if you ask different Indians what the slogan means you will get a variety of answers.

 

Now it’s a hard fact that there are scores of Indian people, living in both the cities and on the Rez, who regularly drink unbelievable amounts of alcohol in a single night. There are also common instances of alcohol overdosing done over an entire weekend. Sometimes the drinking continues non-stop for several days. Which one of these scenarios is meant by the phrase “Drink like an Indian?”

 

Still, we also have tribal members who do not drink at all. Some have never, ever tasted alcohol their whole entire life. Others will drink a glass of wine or a beer once or twice a year. So, was the ad referring to the Indians who rarely or never drink alcohol at all?

 

I would like answers to my questions about what is meant when slogans promoting bars and alcohol make reference to tribal people. I don’t know what experience the person who made up the slogan had with Indian people to begin with and I will probably never know. After all, who knows what was going through the mind of the person who designed the ad in the first place. Maybe the person who made up this slogan doesn’t even know exactly what they meant by it either. Sometimes ignorance will often cause people to say or write things which don’t even make sense.

 

Thursday is designated as Thanksgiving, a national holiday in the United States. As most of us already know, Thanksgiving would not be observed if it were not for the tribal people of this continent. It was the tribes of the east coast who motivated the pilgrims to give thanks because without them, the newcomers would have surely starved.

 

Last month the country celebrated Columbus. He was the Italian whose boat mistakenly washed up on the shore of what he assumed was India. He is the one who began the rush which changed our way of life forever.

 

Sometimes I like to imagine what would have happened if his ship had instead sunk deep into the sea before he made it ashore. Would the insidious, albeit legal, devastating drug we know as alcohol have been introduced into tribal societies if we had never been “discovered?” If Columbus had indeed perished at sea we may not have been “discovered” for a very long time, if at all. There would be no Manifest Destiny.

 

Personally, I believe it would be great to live a life where my fellow tribal members and I are not stereotyped based upon the irresponsible behavior of a few who seem hopelessly addicted to that awful liquid drug. But the reality is when our fellow tribal members make the personal choice to overdose on alcohol they are setting the stereotypical standard by which the rest of us are judged.

 

I believe it would be awesome if we could shift the stereotypical standard associated with Indians to one where we are looked upon as a sober people. How do we reach the point where sobriety is our stereotype? It would be great to be stereotyped for something positive for a change. There would be no offensive ads depicting Indians overdosing on alcohol.

 

Today, I still have very high hopes for our young people to break these stereotypical images which much of mainstream America associates with Indian people. We have young people now taking steps to change these images. They are living drug-free lives. They attend school every day and study hard so they can become educated.

 

In closing, this week I am grateful for all of our young people. I have to acknowledge and send kudos to all of our young people who attended and participated in the 5^th Annual Tusweca Tiospaye Lakota-Dakota-Nakota Language Summit held in Rapid City, SD last week. Tusweca Tiospaye unites the Oceti Sakowin every year with this summit for the purpose of revitalizing the Lakota-Dakota-Nakota language.

 

Many of our young people have a burning desire to become fluent Lakota speakers. They work hard every day of their lives to do just that. They have often voiced their desire to see a younger generation of fluent Lakota speakers. Many of them also work with their younger siblings to help them become Lakota speakers and would appreciate any help a fluent speaker can offer.

 

These are the Takoja who are entrusted with carrying on our Lakota way of life. I would love to see the day we when we are stereotyped for having an entire generation who speak fluent Lakota.

The Lakota have many, many ancestors who were Akicita. They are the primary reason why our sons and daughters still feel the pull to join the military. The warrior spirit is in our DNA. While the country is remembering our veterans this week, I know that many Lakota people remember our veterans and active duty soldiers every single day in their prayers.

 

I remember going to a ceremony and the medicine man named every Lakota veteran who walked in the spirit world. He also remembered deceased veterans from many other tribes, each one by name, in the ceremony. The ceremonial roll call he offered reminded me that only spiritual power could give him the ability to remember that many names. I could feel the presence of those warrior spirits in the fire, it was awesome.

 

He also remembered the ancient Akicita. He spoke the names of Tasunke Witko and Iyotanka Tatanka, along with many others, in his eulogy for our veterans. If not for these first warriors, the Lakota would surely not be here today. We would have long been melted into the proverbial pot.

 

Our ancestors were the first warriors. The old school black and white pictures we see nowadays depict many of them proudly wearing their sacred eagle feather headdresses. Those headdresses were worn for a reason. Each eagle feather was bestowed upon our combat warriors mainly because of a brave deed done in battle.

 

The Akicita and Itancan who are immortalized in those old pictures wearing the sacred eagle feather headdress, some which trailed down to the ground, were our fiercest defenders. The put their lives on the line by standing in the front when the attacks were launched upon our villages; they earned those Wiyaka with their unwavering protection of the lives of elders, women and children.

 

When I see a black and white picture of a Lakota man wearing an eagle feather headdress which reaches clear to the ground, I know he was a brave man who feared nothing. He feared nothing. The headdress tells me that. The eagle feathers were not just passed around for show, they were earned. Oftentimes they were given after much blood, sweat and tears were shed.

 

The eagle feather headdress is sacred. If you are Lakota or a member of any other Indian tribe then you already know this. Elders continue to remind us about how the sacred eagle feather headdress is an extremely important symbol to our warrior societies. The headdress represents an Akicita and perhaps an Itancan.

 

Many of us are taught that not everyone can wear the eagle feather. It is disrespectful to create those imitation headdresses from artificial feathers, in my opinion. I also believe it is disrespectful to both the sacred eagle and our ancestors for just anyone to wear a headdress, even when it is fashioned from artificial feathers.

 

Consequently, Halloween is a trying time. It is the time of year when people dress up in imitation of something else. I say it is a trying time because there are Halloween costumes which depict American Indian people. There are the Indian princess, Indian warrior and Indian chief costumes being sold online and in Halloween stores. By the way, do any of you know where did the Indian princess concept originated from? When someone says they are descended from an Indian princess, I always have to resist the urge to ask who the Indian king was.

 

In addition, I try not to get caught up in the sports mascot issue where our people are depicted as caricatures of some team pet, such as, Indians, Redskins, Fighting Sioux, etc. I just think to myself how absolutely ridiculous they look with their imitation war paint, feathers and plastic tomahawks. It would be bliss to be so utterly ignorant!

 

I also try not to take offense when I see wasicu women dressed up in the same type of imitation garb, complete with the fake feather headdress. Do they realize how ludicrous they actually appear? Apparently they do not. Again, ignorance is bliss for some people.

 

Victoria’s Secret recently ran a video where a wasicu woman, dressed only in underwear, donned the fake feather headdress and turquoise jewelry to stroll down the runway. I didn’t like it, not at all. There was no honoring my Akicita in the image I saw. There was no honoring our brave ancestors who fought and died for our people, our land and the right to wear the sacred eagle feather headdress.

 

Our ancestors fought and defeated the United States Army on the Little Big Horn Battlefield. We are the only people to have captured the enemy flag, which was left lying on the ground after Custer and his troop were annihilated. We still have this flag! Our Lakota Akicita are known throughout the world for their courage. Our people still sing songs honoring the victory of 1876.

 

Our warriors are the only people on this planet who have earned the right to wear the sacred eagle feather headdress. It is a symbol of everything we as Lakota people still stand for. So yes, I take offense when I see some wasicu woman wearing only underwear and a fake feather headdress. There is no honoring my ancestors with stunts like this.

 

But again, ignorance is bliss for some wasicu. In their arrogance they maintain they honor the Lakota and other tribal people when they don those silly costumes. Their ignorance allows them to remain blind to how ridiculous they really look when they try to imitate the way our people dress. Sometimes we grow weary of this endless fight to educate them on how we feel and choose to remain silent as some wasicu have no ears to hear.

 

This week we acknowledge our Lakota Akicita with pride for their courage, bravery and sacrifice. Our brave warrior soldiers are the reason we have the sacred eagle feather headdress, don’t let the wasicu fool you with imitations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning – this is proof that some of our own Lakota people have learned how to act in the same way as the fat takers. Great job Dana!

~Vi Waln

 

Turtle Sticking Her Neck Out.

Welcome to Mean NDN Women..

2012 OST General Election unofficial results

4, 431 voted with close to 300 challenge votes, 125 absentee ballots 11/06/12

 

President

Bryan Brewer 2,266, John Yellow Bird Steele 2,128

With just under 300 challenge votes

 

Vice president

Tom Poor Bear 2,461, William Shorty Brewer 1,927

 

Results for tribal council

Pine Ridge

Irv Provost 408, Robin Tapio 378, Larry Eagle Bull 374, Ella John Carlow 359, Lyle Jack 356 and Gerald Big Crow 327 with between 60-80 challenge votes

 

Wounded Knee district

Garfield Steele 231, Kevin Yellow Bird Steele 200, Paul Pawnee Leggings 190, Glen Gibbons 164 and Garfield Apple 114 with 26 challenges

 

LaCreek

Charlie Cummings 176, Donn Fire Thunder 173 with eight challenge votes

 

Wakpamni district

Jacqueline Rowland-Siers 315, Dan Rodriguez 303, Debbie Blue Bird 254 and Tom Conroy 223 with 41 challenge votes

 

Porcupine – Scott Weston 235, Dani LeBeau 190,  Beverly Tuttle 188 and Pat Ross 185 with 40 challenge votes.

 

Medicine Root district

Stanley Little White Man 310 and Austin Watkins Sr. 238 with 34 challenge votes

 

Oglala district

Barbara Dull Knife 257, Paul Little 243, Martha Two Bulls 209 and Valerie Janis 1199 with 35 challenge votes

 

Pass Creek district

James Cross 190, Lydia Bear Killer 171, Ron Duke 168 and Joseph Reddest 87 with seven challenge votes

 

Eagle Nest district

Jim Meeks 171, Ruth Brown 1163, Larry Romero 147 and Floyd Wilcox 122 with 32 challenge votes

“All European tradition, Marxism included, has conspired to defy the natural order of all things. Mother Earth has been abused, the powers have been abused, and this cannot go on forever. No theory can alter that simple fact. Mother Earth will retaliate, the whole environment will retaliate, and the abusers will be eliminated. Things come full circle, back to where they started. That’s revolution. . .

 

“You see the one thing I’ve always maintained is that I’m an American Indian. I’m not a Native American. I’m not politically correct. Everyone who’s born in the Western Hemisphere is a Native American. We are all Native Americans. And if you notice, I put American before my ethnicity. I’m not a hyphenated African-American or Irish-American or Jewish-American or Mexican-American.” Russell Means.

 

The Lakota Oyate lost a very special warrior last week. Death is transformation. Russell Means is now walking the sacred path of the Milky Way. I believe he is ecstatic at the reunion with ancestors who greeted him to help with his spiritual journey. Tasunke Witko is guiding him on the path. Russell will prepare a sacred place for us. He will help our spirit when it is our time to walk the Milky Way.

 

He will be remembered by many of his Oyate as a Patriot of the Lakota Nation. He was a true warrior who feared no challenge. He feared no man. He was Akicita. He was Tokala. He was Itancan. When he believed something needed to happen to improve the lives of all the Lakota people, he was the first warrior to take the steps to make the needed changes.

 

“Wounded Knee happened because Indian people wanted to survive as Indians and there wasn’t any way to survive, so we made a stand and made a statement, but now Indian people are beginning to rebound, rebound according to their [concept of] “Beauty.” And that’s really what’s necessary to understand: Indian people have to become free again.” Russell Means

 

I was a teenager when the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee took place. I clearly remember some of our own people acted like they were afraid of what was happening on the Pine Ridge Rez. Even though many of the adult members of my family didn’t really have any good things to say about the American Indian Movement (AIM) back then, I’m still very glad all those brave activists stood up for our rights.

 

Warriors like Russell Means helped my generation to become what we are today. Whether you love it or hate it, AIM is still very influential on all of us. If it wasn’t for AIM, people my age might not have ever found any pride in being Lakota. We might have all melted into that proverbial pot.

 

Russell Means was famous throughout the world. I will always remember him as an activist, an author, an actor and an extremely eloquent orator. He spoke up for all of us. I searched the internet for his quotes and found several. I include some here in the following paragraphs:

 

“One is expected to know things, to believe things. Knowing and believing are all in your head – there is nothing in your heart. If you cannot feel that the earth is your grandmother, then of course you will find it easy to rape her, to behave as if she is under your dominion. You will find it easy to believe that we humans are the dominant species, and to act as though the earth and everything on it are ours to do with as we please . . . if all human beings were taken away, life on earth would flourish.” (Where White Men Fear To Tread)

 

“We Indians do not teach that there is only one God. We know that everything has power, including the most inanimate, inconsequential things. Stones have power. A blade of grass has power. Trees and clouds and all our relatives in the insect and animal world have power. We believe we must respect that power by acknowledging its presence. By honoring the power of the spirits in that way, it becomes our power as well. It protects us.” (Where White Men Fear To Tread)

 

Wopila Russell Means! Many Lakota now realize it’s important to be proud of whom we are. The path you created with your courage will be followed by many young Lakota. You inspired us to teach our children there is no need to be ashamed of being Lakota. We will continue to appreciate all the teachings you left behind for us to carry in our lives. Thank you for dedicating your life to the Lakota and other tribal people of Mother Earth.

 

I was unable to attend the celebration of Russell’s life last week. I send my love and prayers to the Means Tiospaye. I want to express my appreciation to Little Wound School for the live stream of the services. I was grateful to be able to watch and listen to all the people who spoke about Russell’s life. I also appreciated all the songs that were sung in his honor.

“Russell was more than a human being. Russell was a spirit. Russell was a God. He was like the spirit of a tree, or the spirit of the wind or the spirit of the sun. A living God amongst us – that was Russell Means,” Dennis Banks

 

“Once you experience true freedom in your mind and in your heart and you tie the two together, there is no going back – there’s no going back. I’m blessed because, of course, Indigenous people know and understand reincarnation I certainly understand it, I’m coming back as lightening. So I’m free. And when I come back as lightening I’m going to do my job. So, if you live longer than me and you find out that lightening has struck the White House, you know who did it.” Russell Means.

 

Oyate Waciyanpi, we pray you have a beautiful journey.

 

 

REVISED STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 23, 2012…Porcupine, SD USA

Honoring the Life of Russell Means, “Oyate Wacinyapi”

The family of Russell Means invites you to join us in “Honoring the Life of Russell Means”.  The honoring will highlight his life, leadership and the eternal fire that he re-ignited throughout Indian Country.

October 24, 2012, begins at 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. MST, at Little Wound High School Gymnasium in Kyle, South Dakota USA, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Russell Means, a self-described “Oglala Freedom Fighter”, began his journey to the spirit world on October 22, 2012 at 4:44 am, with the Morning Star, at his home and ranch in Porcupine.

This Honoring will be the first of four opportunities for the people to honor his life.  The next three Honorings are tentatively scheduled as follows:  2^nd Honoring at 40 year Anniversary of Wounded Knee ’73 Occupation (Feb 2013); 3^rd Honoring at Wind Cave State Park, SD (June 2013); 4^th Honoring on Russell’s birthday (Nov 10, 2013) at location to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging monetary contributions to advance the visionary work of Russell Means.  Donations can be sent to:

TREATY Total Immersion Educational Endowment Fund

Administrative Office

P.O. Box 110

San José, NM 87565

Paypal contributions can be made at: www.treatyschool.org

 

There will be a designated media area at the Honoring on Wednesday at Little Wound School.  Press credentials required.

Contact: Natalie Hand, (605) 441-0605; Christine (505) 870-4553