Sota Per Copy STANDARD Inside This Sota U.S
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PRESORTED Sota Per Copy STANDARD Inside this Sota U.S. POSTAGE Chairman Flute signs Oceti Sakowin “Treaty to Protect the Sacred” on behalf of SWST PAID WILMOT, SD Eyes on TransCanada and its Keystone I pipeline spill on Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux PERMIT NO. 1 homelands Change service requested SWST United Veterans Association issues public statement Sota Iya Ye Yapi, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 ¢ Winter 2017 general council Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 18-19; Revised agenda in this edition Contents – Time-Dated News/Do Not Delay Dakota Ride/Water Walk and Run from Lake Traverse Reservation to Mankato, Dec. 9-26th Mailed at Wilmot, SD, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 75 Sisseton-Wahpeton sacred fire is lit last week; to run 30 days Publication of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation since 1968 Vol. 48 November - Tahe Capsun Wi - “Moon of Horns Shedding” - Anpetu Iyamni - Nov. 29, 2017 No. 48 SWST represented for Oceti Sakowin gathering at Lower Brule – ribal Chairman Dave Flute represented the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe at a meeting of the Oceti Sakowin last Monday, November 20th, at the Golden Buffalo conference center, Lower Brule. Purpose was to review, and to sign, the International Treaty to Protect the Sacred. The Tconference also provided an immediate response to the Nebraska Public Utilities Commission (PUC) decision on granting a permit for TransCanada to build its Keystone XL pipeline – a decision that was announced before noon, approving the pipeline. Unbelievable, according to Treaty signers, in view of the major spill that had just occurred on the Sisseton-Wahpeton homelands. “NoKXL Gathering to Protect Keystone I pipeline oil spill, which “It’s a lot.” the Sacred” was called by Faith had happened a few miles west He spoke of being at the site, Spotted Eagle, and supported of the Lake Traverse Reservation, and “seeing the damage to Unci and attended by Chief Arvol discovered the previous Thursday, Maka.” Looking Horse, sister tribes, and November 16. “It’s very disheartening, and I Indigenous as well as Non-Native He told how some have been take it very seriously.” environmental groups. calling the spill “minimal.” To Protect the Sacred In addressing the conference, “A couple hundred thousand Continued on Page 2 Chairman Flute spoke about the gallons is not minimal,” he said. Veterans bringing in the eagle staff at the opening ceremony at Lower Brule. My friends and relatives: We have suffered some heavy losses in our community over the past couple weeks; and again this past week. My sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the Lufkins and Hayes families. It is meaningful and “meant to be,” that we hosted a moccasin tournament. We usually do not host a tournament at this time of year, however, in conjunction with this moccasin songs recording, we elected to sponsor a moccasin tournament and it was meant to be that we did because Faith and Andy loved this game, and I am thankful our Council supported this game/tournament so that Faith and Andy could enjoy this old ancient Dakota game as it would be, unknowingly, their last game on this earth. As many of you are aware, the TransCanada pipeline had a blow-out two weeks ago and leaked hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil, west of our Reservation. Tribal leadership, including myself, is interested in a couple of issues and requested answers so that we can inform our Tribal nation and other tribal nations. First, we are Faith Spotted Eagle opening the NoKXL, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th generation still requesting and waiting for an explanation as to “why” this leak happened. Second, we need to know how Protect the Sacred conference. sacred pipe carrier. many gallons of oil actually leaked. Third, we need assurances through well documented reporting and testing, that none of our water sources will be contaminated because of this massive oil leak. Fourth, we need to know the environmental impacts this leak has caused or will cause. There are many other unanswered questions that will take time to answer, however, I assure all of you we are doing all that we can to participate in any updates TransCanada shares with Marshall County. I am disappointed the massive leak happened, regardless if it is outside our jurisdiction. I mentioned it a couple times in an open press conference and I said it to TransCanada and the Marshall County commissioners, these lands are our aboriginal homelands and regardless of the jurisdiction, these lands are valuable to us as Dakota and will always be important to us; forever. We will continue to monitor the cleanup process and keep our line of communication open. OEP and LTUC will monitor our wells and other water sources on the west borders of our Reservation so that our Tribal members will have comfort knowing we are keeping a close eye on our water sources and ensuring you are drinking good water. Also, I will be working with Fish and Wildlife to ensure our bison herd Dallas Goldtooth, and other wildlife production areas are monitored for any changes. We are going to do what we can with our Jason Cook, Yankton Sioux Indigenous Enviromental resources to monitor and protect our resources on our Reservation and pray that nothing seeps into the ground, Tribal Vice-Chairman. Network. and pray that the cleanup goes well and there no negative impacts on our environment. SWST Chairman Dave Flute. It should be known that our tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, opposed the construction of this pipeline ten years ago; along with Yankton Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe. Although our efforts were notable and valiant, the federal courts ruled against the tribes and the pipeline was constructed. We need to continue to do our best to protect our aboriginal homelands and protect what we have left on our Reservation so that future generations live in a safe and healthy environment. In connection with this leak, our sister tribes downriver also have concerns with this leak and asked for my presence at a treaty council meeting. This meeting was held at Lower Brule and involved a number of topics that are related to these oil lines and protecting our water and cultural resources. We also wanted to hear the Nebraska decision on whether or not they would approve TransCanada’s permit to continue laying the KXL pipeline across their lands. Upon hearing of Nebraska’s decision to grant a conditional permit, all of us that represent the O’ceti Sakowin were disappointed our neighboring state would allow this in light of a massive oil leak in northeast South Dakota. As we continued on with our omniciye, I was authorized by our Tribal Council Paul Seamans, Dakota Rachel Rye Butler, to sign an inter-tribal treaty “Protecting the Sacred.” This treaty was established a few years back and only a few Rural Action. Sharon Day, Water Walker. Greenpeace. tribes had signed. Last week, I was humbled to sign on behalf of our Tribe, along with our sister tribes, Yankton Sioux and Lower Brule Sioux. The Sota has a copy of this treaty protecting our sacred lands in this edition of the Sota. Finally, on this issue, I am highly disappointed this leak happened in our back yard. However, I want our Tribal nation to know that we will monitor this cleanup effort and monitor our waterways and water sources. I would like to ask everyone to pray that there are no further impacts other than what happened in the area of Marshall County; pray for unci maka, grandmother earth. We have made some substantial methamphetamine drug busts and want to thank our law enforcement for doing the best they can and to continue to combat these hard drugs that are in our community and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in home remediation and cleanup costs. Also, we have the social dysfunction these hard drugs cause upon our Tribal nation. As we continue to move closer to building a new detention facility, we have opened an intensive out-patient treatment program and have been taking on many clients. This treatment program is located at the old elderly center building; across from the police station. There is a fire that is lit to bring awareness to the meth issues we have here and afar. I would like to thank those involved, especially Tom and Brandi DeCoteau for being brave and strong, and for lighting this fire and praying for our people that are challenged with addiction. If you have someone in your family that would like to get into treatment, please call my office and or come and find one of the Executives and we will help you or your family member get into treatment. Next week, I will highlight some of the upcoming projects the Tribe will be working on such as the upcoming special election for a name change back to a name we were known as since the treaty; Sisseton- Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. Also, the Planning Department and other stakeholders will be having a meeting at Dakota Connection to begin the early discussions and developing a “master plan” for a new Dakota Connection that will be sustainable and include many amenities that will help grow our economy and create more jobs in our community. Dave Flute, Chairman. Closeup of the Keystone I pipeline spill site in Marshall County, just west of the Lake Traverse Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. Reservation. One of a series of aerial photos taken by Allison Renville last Tuesday, Nov. 21st. To Protect the Sacred Continued from Page 1 “We will continue to band with our sister tribes of Oceti Sakowin, and other tribal nations, to continue our opposition to pipelines.” Chief Arvol Looking Horse spoke to the conference about the Nebraska regulators vote to approve a KXL alternate route.