Rez Ramblings & Reasonings

The Black Hills are not for Sale. I thought of the reasons for an Eastern tribe to sue for part of the money that was awarded to the Sioux Nation. It would seem they have lost their way. I heard five thousand people gave a hundred grand for a lawyer to work on the case. I laugh because it is just another lawyer trying to make some money. I would be more impressed if the lawyer did it pro bono, of course you rarely see this when it comes to big money. I would ask how much is going to the lawyers. Besides this point it is one of the worst things I have heard about in my adult life. I remember 1980, I was appalled at the idea of accepting money for the sacred Black Hills. The court ruled the Hills were taken illegally. The ethical treatment of the Great Sioux Nation by the United States is not in question, the Supreme Court said this deed was illegal. So they awared monetary damages, there is no amount of money that would settle this in my heart.

Civil rights were never given to our people until the late seventies. Young men and women joined together to say no more! When our people captured the United States flag it was a great victory for our people. And since that point we have been involved in every armed conflict the United States has been in around the world. People are really misinformed when it comes to the Great Sioux Nation. West River is not West River it is the Great Sioux Nation. Gold has driven the wasicu for many centuries. This greed will drive men to do many things that are not ethical. I hope our leadership begins a process that will fight for the Sacred Hills.

Racism is alive and well on our borders. We have seen many incidences in Rapid City over the past few weeks. Our relatives are hurting and trying to survive in a harsh world. Throwing urine at the Lakota and shooting them with pellet guns is disturbing. I know things are not always this bad. We need some healing between our people and the people of Rapid City. Economically we aid the Rapid City economy and others because we do not have a strong base on the Pine Ridge. In the meantime we need to be aware of the happenings in the border towns. I do not always feel the racism but I do feel it at times and I get angry because I know our relatives are getting treated badly.

I wear a shirt that proclaims, " I am part white but I cannot prove it". I tell people it is my white gear when I travel to Rapid City. I sometimes get people smiling and laughing at my white gear. I explain to them I am tired of being racially profiled. I tell them I am one of you. It is said with humor and meant to show people I am ok with my identity. I tell people my identity is tied to my ancestors and yes, there is a white man in my lineage. I do not let it stop me from living a normal life(this is a joke if you were wondering). I like to have fun with my white gear and I do not believe it has been offensive to anyone in Rapid City.

Our lives are too short to live with hatred or distain for another people group. We are all related and if we acted this way, it would be a better world. I have seen too much in my life to let petty differences get in the way of developing friendships. Our Lakota people considered themselves to be friends. Our way of thinking is relationtional and when we do not have enough relatives we make more as our Hunkapi or making of relatives teaches us. I know our people have a lot to give to the outside world. We need to be involved in all aspects of life. I say be engaged with the world because it will only be through visiting that we will overcome our differences.