There is no question the United States broke the Treaty of 1868 which recognized that all West River South Dakota land belonged to the Great Sioux Nation.
Speaking for a moment now with my theologian hat on, it is also clear that God takes issue with (i.e. curses) anyone or nation that “moves his neighbors boundary stone.” (Deuteronomy 19:14) We all sing God Bless America but there are numerous things nations do that God can’t bless. I would contend that the fullness of God’s blessing on our nation in the days ahead is contingent on our creative engagement of the opportunities ahead of us to right national wrongs– one of which is clearly our treatment of native peoples in South Dakota.
Even so, considering the “water under the bridge,” specifically as some would view, the perhaps impossible practical considerations of returning the Black Hills to the Sioux nation, legitimate monetary attempts to right this wrong have been extended – namely the 1980 Supreme Court ruling and $900 million dollar compensation settlement offered to the Sioux people. The money remains in trust as tribal leaders understandably want the land instead. It’s going to take the wisdom of Solomon to set forth a just recourse here – I have hope but I honestly don’t know if there is a way to divide this baby in two.
Personally, at this point, I support more listening, more conversation, and some creativity toward a mutually acceptable accord which may or may not include some kind of Lakota Makoce Wakan (sacred place/land, Sioux sanctuary or sacred memorial grounds) in the Black Hills National Forest. Should the Black Hills be given back? Not today. But today is the day to come together and look at every conceivable angle of how best to right this national wrong. It will take more patience on behalf of the Sioux, and more remorse on behalf of the United States. The Resolution of Apology to Native American Peoples is merely the starting place for a better life together and my hope is that South Dakotans genuinely support this and that native South Dakotans receive it sincerely. Mutually acceptable reparations must follow and, since the issue is land, I’m not sure anything short of some form of land settlement will receive mutual support.
In my unsuccessful entrepreneurial and small business attempts in the past to help establish some economic opportunity on the reservations, I’ve come to appreciate my native brothers and sisters who acknowledge how Tribal Sovereignty ties the hands of any sort of lasting partnership for economic development and how millions of charity and tax dollars, from our perspective, seem to disappear into a black hole. In light of these perceptions and realities it is unlikely here in the Wasecu world that sympathetic elected officials would be very successful in convincing their constituents that giving the Black Hills back would in any way solve any of the problems presently facing our native population in South Dakota.
On a very related note, shame on the Internal Revenue Service for auctioning off 7,100 acres of Crow Creek Sioux land in Central South Dakota last December (2009). It’s shocking to see the United States Government continuing to lay claim to Sioux land. We can only hope nations like China don’t lay claim to our national debt as we have done here to the Sioux Nation.
I see Clone and Kill Dave is quoting comments from a "conservative blog" on his website. I have a few other good quotes here at Voices Carry if he needs some more - –like his cancer is irrelevant to this discussion and it's manipulative to keep putting "cancer survivor" right next to his name. As has been said elsewhere on this conservative blog… "it's an absolutely textbook example of the appeal to pity fallacy, the I have a sad story, therefore I'm right fallacy- pure manipulation, conspicuously avoiding any substantive discussion of the real issue."
Cartoon credit to David Horsey at gocomics.com.
Why. Why eight days before Christmas, did Obama issue an under-the-radar executive order giving INTERPOL authority over the US Constitution and all US law enforcement agencies?? You can read it here.
Obama's Executive Order amends President Reagan's 1983 Executive Order #12425. Just what is Obama preparing for down the road? What prompts him making this change and does anyone even care that our national soveriegnty just got underminded?
The media needs to wake up and ask a few hard questions at the next White House press briefing. While national attention is fully diverted to a health care debate, Obama does this!!?? What the heck is going on? More on this here at the National Review.
Admittedly I'm off topic here. However, reading about SD Congresswoman's Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin's vote on Wednesday to RAISE the nation's debt ceiling by another $290 billion, I was reminded of a pic I took a couple years ago out front of her DC office.
Obviously she was against more debt before she voted this week to increase the national debt limit. Here is her blame-shifting rationale;
There was no choice but to raise it and prevent the country from going into default to cover some of the irresponsible spending decisions made by Republicans under President Bush's administration. This short-term measure, she said, will buy a little time to enact a long-term fix.
We've helped hundreds find financial freedom and peace and so from that reference point I'll say Stephanie is no different than those who blame the wind to justify borrowing from one credit card to pay another one so they can keep spending money on stuff they don't need.
She says there was "no choice" but to raise the limit. Baloney.
39 of her Democrat colleagues voted to NOT raise the debt ceiling. Here's a choice for you Stephanie… let's stop giving the abortion cartel $335 million taxpayer dollars a year.
Would you be surprised to know Planned Parenthood is building a six story, 78,000 square foot abortion supercenter in Houston targeting Blacks and Hispanics? Me neither. Would it surprise you to know the six story building even resembles an ancient Aztec temple used for human sacrifice? Me neither.
My Bound4Life friends put this short video together - you need to see it…
Local media today were given an update by those who want to experiment on human embryos here in South Dakota. When I get a few moments I'll post and comment on the preferred legal language that they have settled on.
On December 17th, 2009, South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures announced an effort to repeal the ban during the 2010 Legislative Session. In advance of the session, we will work to educate legislators and organize supporters around the state into action.
Dave Volk says they are still looking for sponsors in the legislature. Also interesting are the names that are emerging that Sanford Health is wanting us to believe are actually behind this.
South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures is a citizen coalition co-chaired by the following individuals:
- Dave Volk, cancer survivor and former Republican State Treasurer, Sioux Falls
- State Sen. Nancy Turbak-Berry, attorney, Watertown
- Carol Rosenthal, businesswoman and former Upper Midwest Regional President for Hadassah, Sioux Falls
- Dr. Angela Anderson, MD, Pediatrician, Spearfish
- Leo Hallan, Regional Outreach Coordinator– Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, Yankton
- Fr. Liam Muller, Rector at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Mitchell
- Laura Muir, Patient Advocate — Juvenile Diabetes, Sioux Falls
Citizen coalition. LOL. Feel free to connect the dots on your own - and, use the comment section! More later from me.
I just posted another accolade of me, and now this… 'tis the season to be nice to me?
Peace on earth and goodwill to men has come a few weeks early here in the South Dakota blogosphere. Check it out here, Todd Epp and I are exchanging kindnesses and I'm all verklempt, really, I'm touched that he's touched - somewhere in our exchanges God graced us. And Epp articulates the goodwill that makes the world go around. I'd like to think I've matured and toned down the intensity of my rhetoric in these past couple years of fighting the good fight on this blog. I can report that Cory and I are on good terms. I've even had the thought to invite over Eggbert and the fella's at South DaCola to share some of Grammy Gumption's eggnog. Maybe I will when some of this global warming subsides and we can go outside again.
You'll really know the lion is laying down with the lamb when we see Pat Powers and Sibby singing yuletide harmonies together under the mistletoe. Or, when the Dakota Faux Fem's start thinking first of all the children of the world. BTW, I've noticed their blog has gone dormant—– word on the street is "the lesbians are fighting."
So, as you can see, all is not yet calm.
On Monday, December 7th Pastor Steve Hickey was awarded the 2009 Humanitarian Award by the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls. This prestigious award is presented to individuals or organizations that have generously and sacrificially supported the work of the Alpha Center through their time, financial support and prayer. Pastor Steve was most deservedly presented this award for his tireless commitment to the most innocent among us - the unborn. He has repeatedly stood boldly, without hesitation, in support of life. We consider him a defender of the unborn, an advocate for the women but most importantly, we consider him friend.
For those of you who know him well, you are aware of the difficulty he has faced because of his steadfast commitment to this issue in our state. Pastor Steve, you continue to exert great leadership amongst those you serve and daily allow those around you to see the heart of God through you - even when its hard. Thank you! There will come a day when Jesus Himself will greet you with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Kimberly Martinez, Executive Director for the Alpha Center, Sioux Falls
SH: There are certainly many others deserving of this award and many of those people were there Monday night. Even so, while President Obortion is awarded his much-deserved and hard-earned Noble Peace Prize this week, ;-), I'm honored and humbled and thank the Alpha Center for their accolades of me. For those of you who weren't there I'll tell you what I was saying when this picture was taken. I was commenting how, while they were introducing me, I strongly sensed the voice of the Lord say "you have not resisted yet to the point of shedding your blood." Some of you will recognize it's actually a line from the Bible but it came strong in my mind and gave me some perspective that the highest awards in heaven go to those who lay down their lives (resources, influence, time, effort, and for some, blood) for others.
In 2008, South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson voted FOR a pro-life amendment that prohibits government funding for abortion in the Indian Health Service. Yesterday however, he voted to table the similar Nelson/Hatch/Casey amendment which was intended to prohibit government funding for abortion in the Hellthcare bill. Remarkably, Senator Johnson is still having trouble speaking up for those who, in his own words… "lack the opportunity to reach their full potential in life."
As I've pointed out before, one would have thought (and hoped) that having nearly lost his own voice, he would make sure he speaks up for those with no voice. The Bible talks about those who've been shown mercy but who turn right around and are merciless to others.
