[nativestudies-l] From Charmaine White Face

[Theo Van Alst]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: C WHITE FACE <bhdefenders at msn.com>
Date: Feb 8, 2008 11:34 PM
Subject:
To: Theodore.Van-Alst at uconn.edu


  *If you want to help, please pass this message on.  Thank you.*



*A Report on the Hearing of SD House Bill 1309*

*"South Dakota Legislative Committee says "No" to simple respect"*

*Feb. 7, 2008*

*By Charmaine White Face, Coordinator*

*Defenders of the Black Hills*

The state of South Dakota should be ashamed of nine of the thirteen members
of the SD House Commerce Committee for the behavior they exhibited during
the Hearing on House Bill 1309, entitled "An Act to prohibit the issuance of
certain alcoholic beverage licenses for establishments located near Bear
Butte." For the past thirty years, I have participated at various state
committee hearings on a number of issues and never have I witnessed such
outrageous behavior. It was like watching a bunch of drunken fans hollering
at an opponent in a game.

Maybe that was why the time of the hearing on HB 1309 was changed in the
schedule from first on the agenda to the last place so there would not be
many witnesses to such outrageous behavior. Or was the change made
specifically because it was a Bill that was of importance to Native American
people and was put at the end of the meeting so that the public would have
only a little time to comment. Yet, during the hearing, when two wealthy
businessmen gave their comments, even when their comments were off topic as
one mentioned, they were allowed to ramble on and on. One of the businessmen
gave a lengthy discourse of misinformation about Native Americans,
misinformation that had nothing to do with the subject matter of the Bill
and was never cautioned about staying on topic. The proponents of the Bill,
on the other hand, were told to keep their comments short. One Native
American speaker brought statements from seventeen other people from around
the world, and stated she would only present a few because of the time
constraints. She was allowed to present only one statement. The racism
exhibited toward the Native American speakers was blatant.

At the very beginning of the hearing, Representative Jim Bradford amended
the Bill which he sponsored. His amendment limited the one-mile alcohol-free
area to begin at the top of the sacred mountain, Bear Butte, instead of
one-mile away from the perimeter as was stated in the Bill. Beginning from
the top of the mountain, the area in the Bill encompassed mostly state and
tribal land with a small portion from an area that is to have an
agricultural easement, and an existing campground. The Bill already stated
it would not affect existing permits. Although the amendment dismayed many
proponents who heard it for the first time at the Hearing, they understood
the reasons for the change and continued to support the Bill.

Four of the committee members, Representatives Ahlers, Engels, Street, and
Nygaard, are to be praised for their extreme patience in sitting in a
meeting in which their colleagues exhibited such disrespect to their efforts
to submit additional amendments to the Bill. Toward the end of the hearing,
Rep. Ahlers finally asked the other committee members to accept only
one-half mile from the top of the sacred mountain stating, "This is only a
sign of respect" as the land would be almost entirely public land. The other
nine loudly hollered, "No!" as they had done time and time again to previous
offers of amendments. After shouting their loud, disrespectful "Nos,"… then
they would laugh.

The disrespect to the sponsors of the Bill, the four patient members of the
Committee, and the public who had attended the hearing was shameful. It is
sad that there is no way to sanction the nine members of the Committee for
their disgraceful behavior.

To all the people who submitted comments, Thank you. To those who endured
this appalling behavior in a respectful manner, you are to be commended. To
the sponsors of HB 1309 and the four House Commerce Committee members who
tried to have a little respect given to sacred Bear Butte, you will be
blessed.

####

*

NOTE: Defenders of the Black Hills was not a part of the protests held at
Bear Butte more than a year ago precisely because the mountain is such a
sacred place. We did not participate because of recommendations from our
spiritual advisors. There is an understanding among all traditional Native
American cultures that the circle will always come back, although not
necessarily in the form that started it. The consequences for the behavior
exhibited by the disrespectful nine members of the South Dakota House
Commerce Committee will also fall on those they represent all over the
state. We understand that the disrespect they gave was not to us as human
beings, but to the sacredness of Bear Butte. It is now out of our hands.
Ktso. (It is so.)
*

Charmaine White Face, Coordinator
Defenders of the Black Hills
PO Box 2003
Rapid City, SD 57709
www.defendblackhills.org/joomla
Charmaine White Face, Coordinator
Defenders of the Black Hills
PO Box 2003
Rapid City, SD 57709
www.defendblackhills.org/joomla



-- 
Theo. Van Alst
Coordinator
Native American Cultural Society Office
University of Connecticut
860-486-9755
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