Home Meetings Meetings October 2, 2004

October 2, 2004

October 2, 2004

Defenders of the Black Hills
P.O. Box 2003, Rapid City, SD
PH: (605) 399-1868?? FAX: (605) 399-1851

Regular Meeting Notes - October 2, 2004

Opening prayer: Bill Swift Hawk

Opening Remarks: Charmaine White Face, Coordinator

Introductions

Treasurer's Report: Brian Brademeyer We have enough to keep operating for one month. (CWF reminder: We were Defenders without an office before. We will continue again if we have to.)

Billy Swift Hawk gave two paintings to Defenders for our fund raising efforts.

Minutes of Aug. 28th Meeting: Nancy Kile, Secretary

1. Bear Butte:
Nancy gave an update on Meade County Ordinance 24 which would control signs in the entire county. The Preservation Committee requested a meeting at Rosebud Lodge but it will cost $75. Also, the comment period for consideration of extending SD Hwy 79 to Interstate 90 near Black Hills National Cemetery which will go through BLM land ended Sept. 27th. Defenders will announce the date of a follo  up meeting to be held later this year. The Land Trust paperwork needs to be finalized as soon as possible as we are receiving requests to donate.

The judge ruled against Jim Leach being awarded attorney fees in the Bear Butte Shooting Range Law suite. We need to do more fund raising to help with the remainder of his out-of-pocket expenses.

*Eric said he would get names of stock holders for DM&E Railroad Corporation, and also make contact with a personal acquaintance who sits on the Shakopee MdeWakanton tribal council.

2. Black Hills:
We had a prayer gathering for the Black Hills a year ago last August and need to do a Thanksgiving ceremony. We will let everyone know when and where.

Regarding the very ambitious sign project, the forest service and state highway departments will be contacted first.

Handout of the US Forest Service's Forest Plan Phase II Amendment DEIS, comments due by mid-December. Brian explained their (his and Biodiversity's) law suite agreement with the Forest Servic  as they were not managing the Black Hills properly. They need another attorney. Discussion followed. A fact sheet will be developed and available for better understanding of the DEIS and the process. (Check out http://www.loc.gov/global/executive/fed.html)


Charmaine would like to devote the Oct. Regular Defenders meeting to the Black Hills Issues. Need to prioritize issues again, as we have too many.

There is some land for sale near Pe Sla, a sacred place near Deerfield, 120 acres for $360.00 - $390,000. Also Land for sale on Cuny Table, 120 acres, borders Badlands National Park. Call office for details 3. Coteau Mine Expansion: Jesse Taken Alive reported that it appears that the process must start all over again. YEA!!! A victory!!

A Prayer Gathering will be held on Oct. 22 near the site in the morning, followed by the spiritual leader teaching those able to assist in surveying the sites. Flyer with more details will be sent later.

4. Cave Hills Uranium Mines:
Charmaine reminded the group that we need to do a prayer at Cave Hills which is a sacred place and has 27 open pit uranium mines.

Lilly is collecting data on the abandoned uranium mines near Edgemont. She is hoping to enlist the help of students at Tech. She said there are no good studies on the health effects. Discussion. Deb also mentioned the mine just south of Pine Ridge Reservation, and plans for a waste site in Nebraska south of Rosebud Reservation.

Charmaine mentioned the need for publicity and funding for a project to tackle the uranium and radioactivity problems in western South Dakota and will check out some additional help.

5. Lewis and Clark: Deb White Plume
Defenders provided copies of the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851-1868 for handouts at a protest at Ft. Pierre's Sept. 25th Lewis and Clark Bad River Gathering. The Stop Lewis & Clark Resistance Group plans a peaceful protest in Mobridge, SD at the Sacajawea Learning Center on Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 at 1:00 P.M. and at Kimball Bottom near Bismarck on Oct. 21. at 11:00 A.M. They need an evening meal and a drum group. Deb expressed appreciation to individuals and groups who are willing to act as witnesses t  the protests as police turnout is heavy. We will provide a space on our table for their handouts at the Black Hills PowWow.

6. Black Hills Pow Wow (Oct. 8,9,10):
Defenders will be tabling at the Powwow, thanks to their Board for their generous waiver of the booth fee. We are raffling a Star quilt donated by the Southern Arapaho, a flute donated by the Kile family, Ledger Art donated by Honor the Earth, and two paintings donated by Bill Swift Hawk. The winners will b  picked at the Lakota Nation Invitational in December. Anyone wishing to sell raffle tickets, please contact the office via email or call (605) 399-1868.

Table Volunteers: Lilly, Kay, Marina, Janice, Phillis, Garvard, Billy, Lee, James...

7. Other:
Jesse Taken Alive reported on the Sept. 25th Summit held at Crazy Horse Mountain.



Discussion about the need for presentations that would help stop colonized thinking. We need to fund raise for this sort of action. Deb White Plume suggested that Defenders consider at our executive boar  meeting a proposal to co-sponsor with her group a fund raising concert to take place next year. A venu  of the size we discussed would need at least a year for planning.

Handout about Prairie Dog poisoning. Comments can be sent by e-mail through http://www.doi.gov/bureaus.html Click on the contact us tab at top of home page, then click on the Fish and Wildlife listing. To send to DOI, click on feedback at the bottom of home web page.

Letters can be sent to: Attn: Gale Norton
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3100
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Wind Cave National Park contact page;
http://www.nps.gov/wica/pphtml/contact.html

By Mail:
RR 1 Box 190
Hot Springs, SD 57747-9430
By Phone: Visitor Information 605-745-4600
By Fax: 605-745-4207
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Badlands National Park http://www.nps.gov/badl/pphtml/contact.html
By Mail:
Badlands National Park
25216 Ben Reifel RD P.O. Box 6
Interior, SD 57750
By Phone: Visitor information (605) 433-5361
By Fax (605) 433-5248

Buffalo Gap National Grasslands
NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST
125 North Main ST.
Chadron, NE 69337-2118
Phone (308) 432-0308
FAX (308) 432-0309
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/nebraska/units/frrd/bgng.html

Charmaine gave a brief overview of the UN debates on the Declaration on the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Sat. Oct. 23: Defenders annual board meeting and regular meeting, 1-5 P.M.

Closing prayer: Garnett Black Bear, Sr.

Potluck meal.
 

Mission Statement

"Defenders of the Black Hills is a group of volunteers without racial or tribal boundaries whose mission is to preserve, protect, and restore the environment of the 1851 and 1868 Treaty Territories, Treaties made between the United States and the Great Sioux Nation."

Speaking about radioactive fallout, the late President John F. Kennedy said,

"Even then, the number of children and grandchildren with cancer in their bones, with leukemia in their blood, or with poison in their lungs might seem statistically small to some, in comparison with natural health hazards. But this is not a natural health hazard and it is not a statistical issue. The loss of even one human life, or the malformation of even one baby who may be born long after we are gone, should be of concern to us all. Our children and grandchildren are not merely statistics toward which we can be indifferent."

July 26, 1963 upon signing the ban on above ground nuclear tests