PROTECT BEAR BUTTE! (UPDATE)
by Carter Camp, Ponca Nation
Ah-ho My Relations,
Last night we attended the monthly meeting of the Meade County
Commissioners to voice our objection to the planned "biker bar" and 600
acre entertainment venue adjacent to our sacred mountain Bear Butte. It is
unfortunate that none of the statewide media were present to report the
proceedings as person after person, representing a very broad range of
Indian Nations and groups, rose to testify against allowing this obscene
development to proceed. Indian people were joined by many concerned
citizens from the surrounding area until the first hearing room became too
crowded and the meeting was moved into an auditorium.
First to be heard was a group of landowners and local people who are
opposed to the development. They explained that not only was the
development harmful to Indian interests it is also not in the best
interests of the county to have more and more huge campsites with liquor
licenses proliferating throughout the county. They not only made a
powerful economic case they also clearly informed the Commissioners of the
sacred nature of Bear Butte as they were represented by Lakota women Jace
DeCory, Ann White Hat and Nancy Kyle. I will give you the name of their
organization in the next update but they've been working on this issue
from the beginning and deserve our appreciation.
After their presentations the "Defenders of the Black Hills" began with a
presentation by Executive Director Charmaine White Face. Charmaine made
all the arguments we had earlier made in our fight against the shooting
range, citing the freedom of religion acts in the Constitutions of South
Dakota and America. She then presented the Commissioners with an official
resolution from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe opposing the development on behalf
of the Sicangu Nation. She spoke for all of us as she told them of all the
Indian Nations who still journey to the sacred mountain to pray and
conduct ceremonies. Her presentation was thorough as well as powerful and
when she finished I think even the Commissioners were impressed and more
open to our requests.
Charmaine introduced Debra White Plume who spoke to the Commissioners
about her Nation's special and sacred ties to "Mato Paha" and the Black
Hills. She explained the map of the sky that guided the Oglala Lakota and
the greater Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations to perform certain of their
sacred ceremonies upon the Sacred Mountain. She explained that at certain
times of the year the people gather at Mato Paha to consider important
questions to the tribe and make lasting decisions for the people, as well
as to gather medicine and food. She then presented a very forceful
Resolution from the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council strongly opposing the
development and directing the Tribal President to make every effort at the
local, state and federal levels to stop the development and to establish a
five mile buffer zone around Bear Butte.
Next to speak was State Senator Teresa Two Bulls who voiced her opposition
as both a Lakota and an elected official. She reminded the Commissioners
that as elected officials they serve the people just as she does and it is
her hope that they will listen to the people's voices. I was impressed
with what Ms Two Bulls had to say and I was also encouraged to see an
elected official in the State legislature stand with her people seeking
justice. We need more like her.
I was introduced next to speak for my Ponca Nation as then speaker after
speaker rose to speak on behalf of their people, our Nations, and our most
Sacred Mountain. Men and women of many Nations called for unity and urged
the People to protect Bear Butte and stop all further development near the
sacred mountain. I informed the Commissioners of the seriousness with
which we take this effort to save Bear Butte and I invited them to join us
in our next effort which will be to ask the State of South Dakota to
create a five mile buffer zone against all further development and to also
stop all liquor sales with the same zone. It will be interesting to see if
they accept.
One young man, speaking on behalf of "Owe Aku" and the NYM (Native Youth
Movement) warned the Commissioners that many young warriors are prepared
to sacrifice their lives to protect the place where so many Indian youth
must go to Fast and to prepare themselves to be strong men and women. His
words were strong and powerful to those in the room and caused them to
applaud him and say "HO"! One Commissioner felt threatened and protested
but others reassured him that true words aren't threats and the meeting
continued with a better understanding of the stakes. I'm not sure, but I
think I'd be just as proud of another young man saying the same thing, the
fact that Vic Camp is my son shouldn't matter.
Unfortunately several speakers spoke while I was out of the room and I
can't report their words, but all of us reinforced the points made in the
beginning and each speaker added something good to the whole until by the
end of the meeting our meanings were clear to the Meade County
Commissioners, the State of South Dakota and to the world. It is time for
the mountain sacred to so many Nations to be protected and rescued from
the steadily encroaching development that is exemplified by, but not
limited to, the obscene development proposed as "Sacred Ground". In this
we are united as a people and we intend to use every resource at our
disposal to protect our true sacred ground, Bear Butte.
Now it is up to us all to build on and utilize the unity and momentum we
have begun. Although in the words of the whiteman, "all options remain on
the table" our next effort must be in attempting to convince the State
legislature to take action to protect Bear Butte. Senator Two Bulls
offered to copy and print each and every email, fax and letter sent to her
in opposition to the development. She intends to make them available to
every Senator and to use them in her efforts to support us. This is a
great opportunity if we can generate a flood of emails to her and the
Governor it will help our Indian legislators in their work to protect Bear
Butte.
At times like these many young warriors are eager to rush into battle and
like Vic said, there may come a time when a stand must be made and
sacrifices must be endured. I agree that Bear Butte is a place worth a
fight and I fear the wasicu will not understand that until too late. But
for now we must utilize the resources we have at hand. Please join me in
contacting the following officials to state your support for the effort to
Protect Bear Butte by establishing a minimum five mile buffer zone and
your adamant opposition to granting of liquor licenses or the building of
noisy, drunken, entertainment venues close to our sacred mountain. Thank
you for your help, Carter
Senator Theresa B Two Bulls
Home Address
PO Box 434
Pine Ridge 57770-0434
Phone Numbers
Home: 605-867-5958
Capitol:
Business: 605-867-2643
Fax: 605-867-2513
Gov. Mike Rounds
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
605.773.3212
e-mail: Governor Mike Rounds
Respond to Carter at Carter Camp
Visit Defenders of the Black Hills
Thanks to Harvey Arden for passing this information on.
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Last updated on October 07, 2005