Ghost Dancing

Today I am writing about the fact that people are living in a state of extreme crisis on the Reservations in South Dakota. On 6th November, a blizzard struck the Great Plains, covering the state in 4 feet of snow and parts of the Lakota reservations in up to 20 foot drifts. The governor of South Dakota declared a state of emergency --but the reservations are exempt from any assistance. I haven’t been able to find out exactly why that is. Bottom line is that they need help desperately. Many parts of the rez have no water or electricity. Food is also scarce. An appeal has been sent out for people to help any way they can. Native activist Russell Means has issued an International Disaster Declaration.

In September of 2007 the UN passed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At that time American Indian activists withdrew from all treaties with the US Government and started contacting foreign governments to solicit support. Well I say good for them! It is unclear what, if any, support they have received. But it is clear that many Native Americans are against that action. Some agree with Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Rodney Bordeaux who said “The issue isn't whether we should withdraw from our treaties; the issue is what we should do, and what we should have been doing, to enforce our treaties and to make a better life for our future generations.”

I bet they sure could use a bailout like the auto industry wants. But in their case they don’t need a bailout. They simply need for the government to pay them they money they are owed. Some estimate that that the government owes Native Americans as much as $137.5 billion in back royalties. Couldn’t they fast track through some of the fucking bureaucratic red tape and give them a few billion? Or even just a few million?

There is a class action suit called Cobell v. Kempthorne (previously called Cobell v. Norton) where an estimated 500,000 Native Americans are trying to recover this money that essentially has been stolen from them over the years. Just another example on the Trail of Broken Treaties.

All the while we send billions around the world in foreign aid. A good chuck of it military foreign aid I must add. Right here within our midst are these “reservations” that are worse off than some “third world” countries. Pine Ridge being a prime example.

I could go on and on about this subject but I will close for now. Do what you can. Send some money. Pray for them. Write to Bush and Obama. And while we're at it, since today is thanksgiving, let's all be thankful that we are not living in Pine Ridge tonight….