Park name change gets little support
03/02/2006
By: PARKER KNOX
If there is a groundswell of support for renaming Custer State Park, it wasn't apparent during the 2006 session of the South Dakota Legislature.
Prior to visiting the Capitol in Pierre during the session, Mike Graham, founder of Oklahoma-based United Native America, had said South Dakotans "and people around the world are calling on the South Dakota government to rename Custer State Park to Chief Crazy Horse State Park." Graham had made a similar suggestion prior to the 2005 session but had no success in getting such a measure introduced.
"It is inconceivable that a state government today would use its tax dollars to honor Custer with a state park in his name," Graham said.
He and his wife were in Pierre on Jan. 18, which was Native America Day at the Capitol. He said in a news release after his visit that "senior Republicans again refused to allow a bill" calling for the park's name change. According to Graham, another bill requiring Indian tribal history to be taught in all public schools in the state "fell on deaf ears."
Graham said his review of all bills before the 2006 Legislature revealed that none would bring about any meaningful economic change for South Dakota's Native American population.
"It's time to draft real economic legislation that would end South Dakota Native Americans from being among the poorest group of people in our nation," Graham stated. "The economic plight of Native Americans in South Dakota is the first responsibility of elected tribal leaders. To do their job, they must have the support of the governor and state elected representatives."
Graham said Indian groups and non-Indian supporters are launching a national "Vote Them Out" campaign to support removing from office "state and federal representatives with a history of introducing legislation against Indian nation's sovereignty."
Link to Report
©Custer County Chronicle 2006
Please sign the petition to change the Park's name from Custer to Crazy Horse.
Change the Name of Custer State Park to Chief Crazy Horse State Park
Special thanks to Bea Woodward for passing this on!
Contents
March 2006 Reports
Last updated on March 12, 2006