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PRESORTED Inside this Sota Sota Per Copy STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE 151st annual Sisseton-Wahpeton Wacipi: Photo scrapbook (See Section 2) PAID WILMOT, SD Grand opening of Sisseton-Wahpeton Veterans Cemetery celebrated last week PERMIT NO. 1 Change service requested Groundbreaking held for SWO justice center construction project Sota Iya Ye Yapi, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 ¢ Tribal Realty public forum on land acquisition policy changes this week Contents – Time-Dated News/Do Not Delay Enemy Swim Day School recruitment insert inside this week’s Sota Mailed at Wilmot, SD, Monday, July 16, 2018 75 Reminder: Deadline to submit copy for consideration in the Sota is Friday noon Publication of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation since 1968 Vol. 49 July - Bdokecokaya Wi - “Middle of Summer” - Anpetu Iyamni - July 18, 2018 No. 29 funding was unavailable. and worsening condition. And, as for many decades, the A ray of hope came a decade Tribe simply “made do” with what later, in 2006. Tribal Chairman it had. Patch leaks from the roof Jerry Flute, Council members, the that brought ceiling tiles down over Reservation Planning Commission inmates’ bunk beds. Re-purpose (RPC) and Law Enforcement Capt. utility rooms to make more space Gary Gaikowski worked with a for offices. Shuffle rooms between Colorado firm – EKM&P, Inc., court services and law enforcement the same firm hired to conduct the needs. Justice Center After all, the jail was still Continued on Page 2 operating, despite its dilapidated Participating in the groundbreaking are, from left: Renae Aarfor, Sen. Heitkamp’s regional director for southeastern North Dakota; Tribal Attorney Shaun Eastman; Old Agency District Councilman Nippy Owen; Judy Bucklin Vrchota, aide to Senator John Thune; Cody Morsching, aide to ND Rep. Kevin Cramer; Chairman Dave Flute; Jessica Lee, aide to ND Senator John Hoeven; Tyler Lee Tordsen, aide to Senator Mike Rounds; Eric Shepherd, SWO Justice Center Project Manager; and Capt. Gary Gaikowski, SWO Tribal Law Enforcement. Photo by John Heminger. By CD Floro Sota Editor t’s been a long-held dream of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate to build a comprehensive justice center here on the Lake Traverse Reservation. I First, it would serve as Tribal Law Enforcement command center, and a safe, secure detention center for housing inmates. Second, and in stages, comprehensive rehab services would be added. The vision is that no longer would our community members have to be transported far away to be incarcerated and/or treated for addiction and other mental and physical illnesses. Treatment and housing would be available right here, where support of family and friends can happen. After all, the original jail was back then. The court was standing A short-term “fix” was lighting. never meant to be permanent. It was room only, the hallway outside lined discussed, but neither the Tribe nor The long-term “fix,” of constructed in 1974 as “a temporary with people interested in listening as the BIA nor Congress had the will course, and it was discussed, was facility.” well as providing input. to make it happen. The idea did not construction of a safe, secure, new We recall a Congressional There was a litany of appeal to your editor either. Mobile facility to house inmates and law hearing held by Senator Daschle complaints about unsafe housing “jail” cells, similar to metal cargo enforcement offices separate from A view of the first veterans to be in the 1990s in the old Tribal conditions for inmates and shipping containers, would have Tribal Court. interred in the Sisseton-Wahpeton Veterans courtroom. (1996 as I recall.) difficulties faced by officers and been brought in and surrounded A study was conducted, but the Cemetery. Photo by Danielle DeCoteau. Chuck Ward was Chief of Police dispatchers. by barbed wire and “gulag style” will to make it happen faltered as *Cemetery Grand Opening: It takes a village to raise a child is a great analogy, but in our case, it took a village of all who helped make our Grand Opening/ Cemetery dedication a huge success. I pray I don’t forget anyone but here goes: For the dedication portion: Jerome Renville Sr. & crew who set up the 2 teepees and to Ron Yellow Bear who did the paperwork for the request for us & Jerome Renville Jr. & crew also Report to Akicita Continued on Page 2 Kit Fox Society honor guard. Photo by John Heminger. Woodrow W. Keeble American Legion Post 314 honor guard cvarrying the flags at the S-W Veterans Cemetery grand opening. View of the grand opening ceremony at the Sisseton-Wapeton Veterans Cemetery last week. Photo by Tamara St. John. Photo by John Heminger. Veterans representing many regional American Legion Posts came to share the grand opening celebration. Photo by Danielle Sisseton-Wahpeton Deset Era veterans. Photo by John Heminger. DeCoteau. Page 2 “Wo’okiye was’te qa wico zani o’wacin yuhapo” Sota Iya Ye Yapi - www.earthskyweb.com/sota.htm - Anpetu Iyamni - July 18, 2018 Justice Center Continued from Page 1 current study – to provide Council with a comprehensive justice center “master plan.” I remember the coffee table quality color book with designs and illustrations of the “campus.” Present for its unveiling in October were representatives of Planning, Dakotah Pride, Little Voices Group Home, TZTS Alternative School Program, and Drug Court. Everything was included, Tribal Chairman Dave Flute from the police command center, speaking at the justice center detention facility, and a host of groundbreaking. Photo by John community resource offices and Heminger. meeting rooms for rehabilitation. Sigh marking the construction site along Roberts Co. Highway But the EKM&P report was at other options and grant sources, 5 (just east of BIA 700). Groundbreaking for phase one of the not optimistic about funding. as well as asking Congress for comprehensive justice center was held last Thursday afternoon, While funding was found “legislative funding.” July 12. Photo by John Heminger. for site evaluation, the Colorado The overall goal, then as now, is over a year ago when the BIA closed have been done in previous years, firm’s spokesperson Gail Elias said, to provide everything needed right the Tribal jail. that point is moot. What matters is “Dollars to finance the building here, rather than having to send It failed on dozens of points that the Tribe can no longer wait to cannot be found in the BIA budget people away. on the federal government check list fix the problems. until at least fiscal year 2008.” But, as in the mid-1990s, the of what is required for a detention Last Thursday afternoon, “But I am not extremely need was not critical as the Tribe was center to operate. July 12th, the Tribe held a formal optimistic (about the BIA),” she chugging along with an engine that, And we have seen Tribal added in comments to Tribal while running far beyond expected leadership grab the ball and run Justice Center Council. miles, was still running. Continued on Page 3 with it. While this effort should Gail spoke of the need to look All that changed, dramatically, Report to Akicita Continued from Page 1 Drum group pictured at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo by John Heminger. set up the canopy and chairs for our honored guests. To Wambdi Cook who helped Gabe mow, ensuring it looked perfect. To all the Honor Guards, Tribal, local & out of towners who brought their crew to take part in the dedication - Veterans Honoring Veterans - it doesn’t get much better than that! The Honor Guards were: Desert Era Veterans, Kit Fox Society, American Legion Post #314, Sisseton Otto Quande Renville Post, VFW Post 3342 Sisseton, Am Vets Post #3342, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Sisseton BIA Superintendent Tribal Veteran Service Am Vets #151 Appleton, MN, Tribal Chairman Dave Flute Russell Hawkins speaks about Officer Geri Opsal, who led the DAV Milbank/Sisseton Post #19, speaking at last Thursday the deeds of Medal of Honor organizing effort, speaks at the VVA NESD Post #1054, Birch- morning's grand opening of the recipient the late Master Sgt. grand opening. Photo by John USAF veteran Randy SD Department of Miller Post #9 Milbank, SD & all Veterans Cemetery. Photo by Woodrow W. Keeble. Photo by Heminger. Reeves, Director of the National Veterans Affairss DirectorLarry the individual Veterans that arrived John Heminger. John Heminger. Cemetery Administration. Photo Zimmerman. Photo by John in uniform - Pidamaya from the by John Heminger. Heminger. bottoms of our hearts. It was such an emotional heart felt dedication all the speakers, drum songs, Pat Schubert singing the National Anthem, stories by the speakers, the attendees, the volley fire & taps and the roll call, something that will never be forgotten. The great speeches by Chairman Flute, Mayor Jaspers, Secretary Zimmerman, Russell Hawkins, Honorable Randy Reeves & the Congressional Offices of Rounds, Thune & Noem. Thanks to Tyler Torsdon, Judy Vrchota and DelRay German for reading the Letter of Congrats. Randy Reeves Judy Bucklin Vrchota, aide shared some great news that he Vietnam Veteran Butch Felix saluting beside the wreath. SD Sisseton Mayor Terry Tyler Tordsen speaking on to Senator Thune, addresses Dept. of State and Tribal Relations photo. brought to our Nation as he so Jaspers, speaking at the behalf of Senator Mike Rounds. the crowd at the cemetery eloquently put but they decided grand opening. Photo by John Photo by John Heminger. grand opening. Photo by John that they will allow us to keep Heminger. Heminger. our grant open and they allocated monies for items on our wish list 12, 2018 in Boston at the 40th of unmet needs. This is truly an Anniversary of the National honor and Delano Renville helped Cemetery Grant Program.