2006: A year in Review
The Lakota Country Times
http://www.lakotacountrytimes.com/
MARTIN, SD - 2006 was a year filled with stories as reported by the Lakota Country Times that were sometimes inspirational and other times quite memorable. Some dealt with tribal politics, others with loss, and others with resilience of Lakota people, while others focused and highlighted some of the real achievers in Lakota country.
Oglala Sioux Tribal President Cecilia Fire Thunder was reinstated after being suspended for 66 days. The OST council voted 12-5 and with one not voting to dismiss with prejudice all charges. She was reinstated with all of the powers and authority of the president's office. Fire Thunder was originally suspended on Oct. 25 and a couple of hearings were re-scheduled until December 30 due to the death of executive director, Lemoyne Pulliam.
U. S. Marine Lance Corporal Brett Lundstrom was killed while on patrol in Iraq. He served with E Company, 2d Battalion of the 6th Marines. He and two other Marines were on patrol when attacked by small arms attack in Anbar Province near Fallujah, Iraq on Sunday, January 8. A large military funeral was held at the Little Wound School gym. Lundstrom is the son of Doyla (Under Baggage) Lundstrom of Medicine Root District.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council passed a resolution on Jan. 11 asking for the Inspector General to investigate the actions of the previous administration at the Rosebud Comprehensive Care Facility. Shelly Harris the current CEO was working hard to bring patients back to the hospital, increasing third party billing and filling vacancies vital to good service delivery.
Sueann Iron Shell originally from the Rosebud was scheduled for a kidney transplant at the University of Nebreska at Omaha on Feb. 1. Her father, Calvin Iron Shell, Sr. was taking a very proactive role in informing the people of the devastating effects of diabetes. At the time, Calvin, Jr. had matched close enough for the transplant.
In January 2006, Calvin Iron Shell, Sr. died in Sioux City, IA and wake services were scheduled for January 3 at the SGU multipurpose building. He was an accomplished basketball coach at St. Francis Indian School, a holder of a teaching degree at the Bachelor's level and an airborne trooper from 1951-54.
Tribal gaming became an issue on state level. The South Dakota Senate Affairs Committee sponsored SB 147 described as an "Act to revise the conditions under which the state may enter into gaming compacts with Indian tribes. The measure was viewed as controversial to all of the Sioux tribes as it would allow legislative oversight of the process which is reserved for the Governor. The measure made it out of the Senate subcommittee and was scheduled for full Senate debate and then on to the House.
SB 147 was effectively "killed" by the House State Affairs Committee. It was voted against 13-0 and referred to the 36th legislative day. The measure would have effectively taken this function of the Governor and was opposed by Kurt Luger of the SD Great Plains Indian Gaming, Marc Allen, Flandreau Sioux Tribe, Rep. Paul Valandra and Ron His Horse Is Thunder of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
The 33rd annual walk to remember the occupation of Wounded Knee by the American Indian Movement was held on Monday, Feb. 7 as walkers converged from the four directions. Some 100 walkers remembered Dave Clifford, Edgar Bear Runner, Geraldine Janis, Evie Deon, Cedric Young Bear according to Eileen Janis. The site of the 1973 takeover is also the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre.
In a listening session with Senator Tim Johnson held in Rapid City in which the Senator outlined his Hometown Prosperity Plan, tribal leaders who met with him included Rodney Bordeaux, RST, Cecilia Fire Thunder, OST, Michael Jandreau of the
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Harold Frazier of the
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Robert Cournoyer of the
Yankton Sioux tribe. Bordeaux noted that $185 million comes into the
Rosebud reservation and 80 percent of it leaves. On the Pine Ridge reservation Fire Thunder said that some $200 million comes into the reservation and $180 million leaves almost immediately for Rapid City and surrounding towns. The session coincided with Johnson's hometown economic development plan.
Sicangu elder, Dinah Crow Dog, made her journey to the spirit world on Feb. 27. Wake services were held over the course of four days. She lay in state at the RST council chambers and on the last night, she was taken to her home in Grass Mountain community close to Crow Dog's Paradise where the annual sun dance is held in August. Officiating were Leonard Crow Dog, Kirk Fool Bull and Ben Black Bear, Jr.
The Little Wound School Mustangs participated in the State A basketball tournament and won their third game over
Sisseton to capture 7th place by a score of 74-58. Michael Apple led the way in the fourth period with eight points, while Bryce Hornbeck finished the game with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 5 assists.
OST President Cecilia Fire Thunder held a teleconference in which she demonstrated her support for building an abortion clinic on the
Pine Ridge reservation. The state of South Dakota passed SB 1215 banning all abortions in the state. Fire Thunder reiterated that she would donate her own personal land to establish an abortion clinic and that it was in the planning process. She said she had support across the reservation.
A "State of Emergency" at the
Rosebud I.H.S. Hospital was declared by the RST council with a motion by RST council representative Marion Young-One Star and seconded by Antelope council representative, Robert Moore. The measure passed unanimously by a vote of 16-0. It would signal the need for more funding from the Indian Health Service. CEO Shelly Harris made a scheduled monthly report to the RST council and was making positive steps toward reducing the deficit.
The U. S. Court of Appeals reinstated the case of Cottier and Three Stars v. the City of Martin in which the plaintiffs alleged that the city was drawing voting districts which violated the voting rights of Native Americans living in the city. The case was ruled upon by 2-1 in which the court required Judge Karen Schrier to hold additional hearings to see if city voting districts should be redrawn. Schrier eventually ruled for the city of Martin to redraw voting districts, citing voting rights violations.
KILI Radio was struck by lightning on April 15 and it caused the station to go off the air. The antenna and transmission line were damaged and it was estimated that it would take $210,000 to replace the equipment. Station manager, Melanie Janis, said that they were doing fundraising and that a grant proposal would be submitted to the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. Funding eventually became available to purchase the much needed equipment and early 2007 has been set to be back on air. The loss of the radio station has been felt throughout the Oglala Sioux Tribal election controversy, sports, and announcements.
The recent suicide deaths of seven young people on the
Rosebud reservation prompted RST council representative, Marion Young-One Star, to call a meeting which called for therapists, the youth and concerned tribal members. The meeting was attended by Angel Wilson,
Claude Two Elk, Lloyd "Sonny" One Star, Claudette Sabors and a number of youth. A second day of meetings was to be held with elders from the
Sicangu Elderly Concerns.
Mary Bordeaux-Hunger celebrated her 100th birthday at the Winner Health Care facility. The Sicangu elder received congratulations from President George Bush and Governor Mike Rounds. RST President sent an Executive Proclamation as well as a letter which from Bishop Cupich which was read. Hunger lived in Mission since 1940 and was active in the St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Oglala Lakota College celebrates with its 33rd graduation ceremonies on Sunday, June 23. Representative Stephanie Herseth was the keynote speaker while 159 degrees were awarded; eight were at the graduate level. During fall, OLC announced plans to build a large tribal veterans memorial, which will be unveiled during the 2007 graduation.
Alex White Plume assumed the office of OST President after Cecilia Fire Thunder was impeached, ending her term five months early. As the first woman to head the
Oglala Sioux tribe, her administration lasted for 19 months and ended on June 19. Her impeachment was due to her support of a proposed abortion clinic on the reservation.
On July 14, Judge Karen Schrier granted a preliminary injunction halting the BIA's planned restructuring of its Office of Indian Education. The injunction halted the closing of education line offices in Mission, Eagle Butte, Lower Brule, Pine Ridge and Ft. Yates and Belcourt in N.D. Attorney Charles Abourezk was the lead attorney for the plaintiffs.
Six former students filed a suit against the St. Francis Mission and the Rapid City Diocese on August 7 in Pennington County. The plaintiffs were represented by attorney Gregory Yates of California and they alleged a pattern of MAPS abuse and attempts to destroy native culture. The abuse was alleged to have taken place in the 1950's and 1970's by priests and other church employees.
James and Eleanor Charging Crow have been married for 54 years and were involved with the Pine Ridge Ambulance service for 40 years. Eleanor described a night in 1995 during which her son had chest pains and she had to assist in getting him to the hospital. She helped to give him CPR all the way with another paramedic. Her son did not make it and died in her arms leaving four children behind.
Vietnam Veteran and Lakota language teacher, John Around Him, Sr. journeyed to the spirit world after a brief illness. A sun dance leader and 'eyapaha' in Lakota country, Around Him had been honored earlier at OLC's He Sapa college center with a proclamation from the Office of the Governor. The funeral was huge often pouring out into the parking lot as Lakota people from other bands came to bid goodbye.
A treaty meeting was held at the Rosebud MAPS during which the fundraising activities of the Wolakota Foundation of Eagle Butte was questioned. It was a forum for grass roots people. Some 100 people were in attendance at the meeting on Oct. 21. People voiced their concern and alleged the scared bundle was being used to raise money.
St. Francis Mission filed a suit in Rosebud Sioux Tribal court on Nov. 9 against St. Francis Indian School over a $1.5 million gift which it received from the Delores Cerro Trust. The basis for the legal action was an agreement from 25 years previous which was to have governed the receipts of such gifts. SFM contends that the gift should have gone to them.
In November elections, Cheyenne River Sioux tribal president, Harold Frazier, was defeated by Joseph Brings Plenty. In state elections, voters sent Rep. Stephanie Herseth back to Washington, DC, while Mike Rounds defeated Jack Billion for governor. Larry Long defeated Standing Rock Sioux tribal member, Ron Volesky, for the office of Attorney General.
In the state house and senate races, Julie Barling, Larry Lucas, Jim Bradford, Thomas Van Norman, Theresa Two Bulls and Tom Katus were victorious.
Voters in South Dakota turned down Amendment C relating to judicial accountability. Initiated measure 2 which increases the tax on tobacco and cigarettes by $1 was approved. Measure 3 which would have prohibited schools from starting before August 31 was defeated. Initiated measure 4 which would have approved the use of medical marijuana was also defeated, while measure 5 which limits the use of state aircraft was approved.
The video lottery measure which would have repealed it was turned down by voters. Initiated Measure 8 would have repealed the gross receipt tax on wireless communication, while Referred Law 6 which would have placed a ban on all abortions was defeated.
Collin White Bird of Pierre was wounded in Iraq on August 31 in Baghdad and was expected to make a full recovery. White Bird's father Francis is a Vietnam Veteran from St. Francis. Meanwhile, Nathan Goodiron of Mandaree, ND was killed in Afghanistan on Thanksgiving while on patrol. He enlisted in the National Guard in April 2001.
John Steele and 16 tribal council representatives were sworn in by Sidney Witt, associate tribal judge. Vice President Shorty Brewer and Chief Judge Lisa Adams were also sworn in. Executive board members Crystal Eagle Elk, Rhonda Two Eagle and Dave Pourier were also temporarily seated as executive board.
RST received a loan and grant package of $4 million from the
Shakopee Mdewankanton Sioux to build a tribal store west of Mission. The store would begin construction in December and is scheduled to open in July and will employ 80 tribal employees.
U. S. Senator Tim Johnson underwent surgery on December 13 for a rare condition known as arteriovenous malformation. RST President Rodney M. Bordeaux and OST President John Steele voiced their support for the Senator.