And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: X-Originating-IP: [206.176.28.75] From: "Robert Quiver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Fwd: Omnibus Act effects on Sioux reservations debated >From: Tom Schlosser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: Triballaw mailing list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Omnibus Act effects on Sioux reservations debated >Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:21:25 -0800 > >http://www.indiancountry.com:80/B402.html > > Treaty Council focus' on mitigation act > > By Karen L. Testerman > and Jennifer Peterka > Today Staff > > RAPID CITY, S.D. - Amid much finger pointing and the making of > many excuses, hard-hitting issues were brought to the forefront > as tribal leaders from across South Dakota unified as > representatives of the Great Sioux Nation. > > Under the auspices of the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council > and Oglala Sioux Tribe, members of Standing Rock, Crow Creek, > Rosebud, Santee, Yankton, Flandreau, Cheyenne River and Lower > Brule Sioux tribes gathered to discuss, debate and devise > strategies to use the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act-government > as a catalyst to enforce and protect treaty rights. > > The three-day meeting here, March 3, 4, and 5, was as a combined > effort to safeguard treaty, land, water and mineral rights of the > Great Sioux Nation. > > Although each issue on the agenda maintained importance, extra > attention focused on the 1999 Omnibus Water Act or "Mitigation > Act: Cheyenne River Sioux, Lower Brule Sioux and State of South > Dakota Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Act." Participants kept > calling it the "Danklow Act" named after Sen. Tom Daschle, > D-S.D., and Republican Gov. Bill Janklow, who wrote the bill. > > Discussion on the Omnibus Water Act occupied one full day on the > treaty council floor, after which key tribal leaders continued > the meeting behind closed doors the remaining two days. > > Strategic plans were discussed to seek a Congressional oversight > hearing on the act, according to Frank "Popo" Means, OST Land > Committee representative. > > "We're not divulging any information at this time," he said. > > Although a unified tribal front is evident, heated debates over > various entities� involvement with the infamous act triggered > numerous allegations. > > Among accusations was one from Eagle Hunter, a representative of > the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, charging the Oglala Sioux Tribe > of misleading the public by secretly including itself in the > Omnibus Water Act while maintaining public opposition. > > OST Rural Water Director Gerald Clifford said Eagle Hunter > referred to the easement and right-of-way land currently leased > by the tribe for the Mni Wiconi Project. The land in question is > approximately 160 acres at Echo Point, near Fort Pierre, at the > projects intake and treatment plant. > > To clarify the matter, Clifford said the tribe had a 50-year > lease agreement with the state - but when the 11th hour came and > the passage of the bill was inevitable, former OST President John > Yellow Bird Steele directed Clifford to contact the congressional > committee before the bill was passed. Steele wanted to salvage > as much as possible before the bill became law, he said, instead > of a 50-year lease without a guarantee of renewal, the tribe > requested the lease be made permanent, Clifford said. > > That's how the language was inserted in the bill. It was done to > protect Mni Wiconi. The tribe doesn't own the land, but a > permanent lease means the tribe will have the land forever. It > also means the state, not the tribe, is liable for natural > damages and restoration of the river bank. The committee wrote > and supported the language despite opposition from Janklow and > Daschle, he said. > > Lakota spiritual leader Charles Fast Horse asked a question > regarding the mitigation act and said, OST President Harold > Salway refused to let him speak, ripping the microphone out of > his hands. > > "The meeting was not handled in a traditional manner. It is very > upsetting. Our people also have ideas and want to give their > input but are shown no respect or trust," Fast Horse said. > > The Dakota, Minnesota, Eastern Railroad proved an uncomfortable > issue for many participants who don�t want the railroad on > reservation lands. Impact on the environment was a primary > concern. Knowledge that the railroad would come regardless of > what the tribes said, prompted leaders to pass a resolution. > > It requires the federal government to allow tribes and tribal > landowners to participate in any and all negotiations and > discussions concerning the railroad. > > OST Gray Eagle member Elaine Quiver said landowners should be > included in the process and allowed to voice their opinions and > concerns to the government. "We're not going to have a railroad > track laid on our land unless we are paid equally to that of the > United States government." > > The Gray Eagle Society has agreed to consultation over > environmental impact, she said. DME Tribal Liaison Clair Greene > will help the Gray Eagles with the environmental impact > statement. > > Concerns about Janklow's recently acquired authority over eminent > domain regarding the railroad prompted the Gray Eagles to pass a > resolution that requests the governor to honor treaty rights and > responsibilities and respect the Great Sioux Nation boundaries. > > "He can�t do this (take land for the railroad) because of the > treaty," she said. "The land within the Great Sioux Nation > boundary includes tribal mineral rights according to the1868 > treaty. We need to stress our boundary, what little we have left, > and protect it for our future children. > > "We swore to uphold, protect and enforce the treaties, cultural > property and cultural rights when we organized the Gray Eagle > Society. We are doing this for the future generations." > > John Twiss Black Hills National Forest Supervisor spoke to the > group about improving the relationship with the forest service > and tribes, repatriation, tipi poles, gathering medicinal plants > in the forest and the Hot Shot Fire Crew. He introduced Dave > McKee as the new Native American coordinator for the forest. > > Tribes expressed their unhappiness about the Black Hills National > Forest plan and feel their input went unheard. The plan is under > appeal by the tribes in Washington D.C. However, Twiss said he > has been authorized to implement the plan and go forward. > > Twiss promised that with the new Native American coordinator, > "every project the forest does, tribes will be involved in." That > coordinator position has been open for the last three years. Ron > Kirke, representing the Crow Creek tribe, was upset that McKee is > not an American Indian. > > "The forest has been more interested in the rancher than the > Native American in the past," said Fremont Fallis of the Rosebud > Sioux Tribe. > > Area rancher Marvin Kammerer agreed saying, "The forest service > has ignored the Native Americans for the last three years." He > urged Twiss to respect the culture of area tribes and to "be > careful how you judge other cultures." > > Students from Sinte Gleska University were able to secure treaty > council support against the controversial Hog farm being built in > Mellette County on Rosebud Sioux Tribal trust land. > > It's expected to be the second largest pork facility in the > country. According to the resolution, the Hog farm violates > traditional and cultural proponents, aside from having a negative > impact against the environment. > > Some who attended the meeting were upset that the meeting was not > an open forum. > > > > � 1999 Indian Country Today &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
