Sota Per Copy STANDARD During COVID-19 Pandemic U.S
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PRESORTED Inside this Edition - hope to families mourning loss of loved ones Sota Per Copy STANDARD during COVID-19 pandemic U.S. POSTAGE SWO 2021 Inauguration held last week; Broadcast PAID online Fourth in a series: SWO 2020 Winter General Council ORTONVILLE, MN reports PERMIT NO. 3 Tribal programs remote work order extended until Change service requested Friday, Jan. 15 Foundations, new houses coming Sota Iya Ye Yapi, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 ¢ Editorials: Indigenous view of white privilege US to Barker Hill Housing Community Health Education Contents – Time-Dated News/Do Not Delay Capitol rioting COVID-19 newsletter insert Mailed at Ortonville, MN, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 Lighted tipis at SWO Memorial Park to bring prayers, Publication of the Sisseton-Wahpeton75 Oyate Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation since 1968 Vol. 52 January - Wi Tehi Wi - “Moon of Hard Times” - Anpetu Iyamni, Jan. 13, 2021 No. 2 Desert Era honor guard bringing in the colors. John Heminger SWO Chief Judge Gina Ruggieri New Tribal Council members take the oath of office. John Heminger Photography. Photography. administers the oath of office. John Heminger Photography. Tribal Council meets for orientation: Long Hollow District Councilman Curtis Bissonette, Heipa Tiospa Zina Tribal School drum group. John Heminger District Councilwoman Gypsy Wanna, Old Agency District Councilman Floyd Kirk Jr., SWO Tribal Vice- Photography. SWO Tribal Chairman Delbert Chairwoman Lisa Jackson, SWO Tribal Chairman Delbert Hopkins Jr., SWO Tribal Secretary Myrna Hopkins Jr. giving his inaugural Agency Village, SD – Jan. 5, 2021 – The SWO Thompson, Enemy Swim District Councilman Dallas Owen, Big Coulee District Councilwoman Lydia address. John Heminger Photography. 2021 Inauguration was broadcast live from the rotunda (Susie) Rivera, Buffalo Lake District Councilman Louis Johnson, Lake Traverse District Councilwoman of the Tribal administration building today. Due to the Pastor Rev. Vern Donnell and Dakota elder Harvey Dionne Lake. John Heminger Photography. risk of spreading COVID-19, the event was closed to Quinn offered prayers. As you can see, this inauguration is going to streamed live on the SWO Tribal Council YouTube the public. Here is text of the inaugural address given by SWO be different. We’ve had to make adjustments to channel, and broadcast on the Tribal radio station, The Tiospa Zina Tribal School drum group sang Tribal Chairman Delbert Hopkins Jr.: keep everyone safe during the ongoing COVID-19 KXSW 89.9 FM. the flag song, and colors were posted by the Desert Era Hau mitakuyapi, hello my relatives. pandemic. Today’s event is closed to the public, but Veterans. Welcome to the 2021 Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate it is being broadcast so you can still join us. This SWO 2021 Inauguration Continued on Page 2 Arnold Williams served as iyapaha. Inauguration. inauguration is being televised on Venture channel 390, MONTHLY REPORT TO TRIBAL EXECUTIVES, This past year, especially, I’m sure because of the TRIBAL COUNCIL & TRIBAL MEMBERS problems caused by COVID-19, December brought DECEMBER 2020 thoughts of the hardships our ancestors endured. Such Agency Village, SD – Jan. 6, 2021 – Seven tipis too.” Submitted by Myrna Thompson, Tribal Secretary as, the hanging of the 38 Dakota warriors in Mankato, will stand at SWO Memorial Park, Sisseton, from Here are dedicated times of prayer: Wednesday, January 6, 2021 MN on December 26, 1862, a mass execution ordered Monday, January 11th through Friday, January 22nd. *Monday, Jan. 11: Opening ceremony at 5:00 Greetings to Executives, Tribal Council by President Lincoln; the largest mass hanging in U.S. Every evening from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. the tipis will be p.m.; will be shared live on social media by KXSW Representatives, and Oyate. Here we are in 2021! There history; and, on December 29, 1890, the Wounded lit, and the public is welcome Announcer Tom Wilson. is almost a sense of relief, it feels hopeful. Knee Massacre was remembered; the slaughter of up to to come and drive-through the *Friday, Jan. 15: Payers March of 2020 brought with it a pandemic 300 unarmed men, old people, women and children by park, stop and offer prayers, for youth. never before experienced in our lifetimes. And it the United States Army troops. ties or painted stones. *Saturday, Jan. 16: brought much heartache with the loss of loved ones to While these are only two examples, I’m telling Oyate are invited to write Prayers for Unkanna and COVID-19. We also lost others this year for various this so we can think about what is going on today names of loved ones on the Kunsi. reasons. and to make a point. The point is, today we may not stones, which will be placed in *Sunday, Jan. 17: Ina In the not-so-distant past, we were able to have be physically hunted and massacred like our people a circle. and Ate/Caregivers. a New Year’s Eve Wacipi to chase out the old year and were historically, but rather our people are “removed” Volunteers will be present *Thursday, Jan. 21: bring in the new. We realize how important these social from their homelands through the judicial systems by 24 hours a day, but social Prayers for our leadership gatherings are, how good for the spirit. Our cultural incarceration. While not outright killed, some are given gatherings are discouraged. and frontline workers. ways are healing and bring comfort; comfort that is so many years to serve, they are physically unable to The lighted tipis are a way *Friday, Jan. 22: Prayers absent temporarily. be with their families for a few months, years, or even of showing love and support for for Ina Maka – everything But we have so much to be thankful for because decades. Many are in prison for nonviolent crimes and everyone who has been affected around us. we have a foundation to grab onto; we can strengthen could have been given alternative sentencing options. by COVID-19. Masks and social our spirits by listening to or singing spiritual songs or Our jails and prisons are overcrowded, we are in a The tipis are symbols of distancing are required; the hymns, whatever the case may be. pandemic, yet the judicial system(s) sentence our people hope, warmth and family. park remains closed. Elderly Food Coupons for Dakota Crossing Store to jail and prison, even though there are Covid-19 Alana Little Bird, who directs the Piya Canku Donations are being accepted and are appreciated: will be distributed on Friday, January 15, 2021 and on outbreaks; six (6) Covid-19 related deaths have relapse prevention program on the Lake Traverse Sisseton-Wahpeton Federal Credit Union, under Piya Tuesday, January 19, 2021, both days from 9 am to 3 occurred; one our own tribal member. Reservation, saw what had been done in her home Canku. pm. The others will be mailed out after this distribution Think about it; it’s hard to understand. Is it community and wanted it to happen here. is done. There are 2,172 elders listed for the month of because this is a big business and our people are The tribal nations of Montana had planted their Tipis in Montana honor December. A public notice will also be in the Sota Iya considered expendable? I’m just trying to figure it flags at the “Lighting of the Teepees: A Symbol of tribal members lost Ye Yapi newspaper and on the website www.sota-swo. out because we have social problems that need to be Hope” display, which were lit from Dec. 19 until the com with further details. addressed and the over-incarceration of our people new year. to COVID-19 There were 15 people that came to the TSO for contributes to the overall state of affairs, it seems. We “I couldn’t go home, to travel back and be with Billings, Mont. – 9News/AP – Jan. 3, 2020 assistance for the month of December, not including cannot become so comfortable with oppression that we relatives,” Alana said about the lighted tipis in Montana. – On Dec. 29, 14 flags flew parallel to the seven Program Managers and/or Tribal Council. continue to allow it. The punitive mind-set is not the “One way or another,” she said, “we are all grieving teepees standing against the wind on the Rims in We logged in and responded to 128 phone Dakota way; we are a forgiving people. a loss.” Billings during a small ceremony acknowledging the calls. There were two (2) complaints received this I want to remind you all that the Tribal Secretary’s Purpose of the lighted tipis at SWO Memorial enormous challenges tribal leaders have faced during the month. There were 70 scheduled meetings with Tribal Office is open daily, and staff are available to assist you, Park, she says, “is to give people as much hope and pandemic. Executives, Council, Program Managers and others, inspiration as possible … to let people know they are Lighted tipis including the WebEx or Zoom meetings; and/or Tribal Secretary’s report not alone.” Continued on Page 16 conference calls. Continued on Page 2 “If Rocky Mountain can do this,” she said, “we can oundations are being prepared and new homes are coming to Barker Hill phase two. For the Sisseton-Wahpeton Housing Authority annual report, see the article on the 2020 winter general council elsewhere in F this edition of the Sota. SWO 2021 Inauguration wife Ruth, and now my daughter Rena. These matriarchs taught me about real better way for the unborn and the next seven generations. Continued from Page 1 strength. I would be nothing without their guidance and support. Wopida Ate We must put aside old grudges and petty grievances.