Lewis and Clark Re-enactment Protests, 2004
 Lewis and Clark Re-enactment Protest, Sept 18 2004
Lewis and Clark Genocide Re-enactors Told to Halt
Should We Celebrate Lewis and Clark or Stop Them?
Police escort re-enactors
to next location
Despite Indian request, Lewis and Clark group continues journey
Natives to protest Lewis and Clark at Pierre this weekend - Freedom Thinking Native Nations Protest the "Dawn of Genocide of
Lewis and Clark"
Pictures from 26 and 26 Sept protests
Announcing Stoplewisandclark.org
Protestors vow to continue opposition to Lewis and Clark reenactment -
Reject accusations of physical intimidation
Today, tribal members from the Lakota, Dakota, Ponca, Kiowa and Dine’ Nations came to the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota to give the opportunity to the Lewis & Clark Expedition to turn back and cancel their re-enactment journey that began 200 years of genocide, land theft and resource exploitation from the Plains tribes.
Under highly visible protection from local and federal police, the Lewis & Clark re-enactors repeatedly stated “they cannot change history and turn back time”, as they stood in their period costumes along the banks of the Missouri River. Silent observers, in anticipation of the heavy surveillance by law enforcement, joined the tribal resisters.
The Lewis & Clark re-enactors offered a tomahawk pipe to the group of resisters who refused to smoke it. Strong words were made by tribal leaders Alex White Plume, Floyd Hand, Carter Camp, Alfred Bone Shirt, Russell Means and Vic Camp who advised the Lewis & Clark re-enactors that they were perpetuating the lies of American history.
The spokespersons for the Lewis & Clark Commemoration continually undercut the demands of the resisters to cease their re-enactment voyage up the river. A few months after the original “Voyage of Discovery”, Clark wrote of the Teton Sioux, “These are the vilest miscreants of the savage race, and must ever remain the pirates of the Missouri, until such measures are pursued, by our government, as will make them feel a dependence on its will for their supply of merchandise.”
The re-enactment spokespersons alleged that they had no authority to stop the expedition as the ultimate decision lies with a board of directors. Initially, they requested three days to respond to the tribal resistance group’s demands. In a subsequent discussion, they agreed to provide and answer to the group’s warrior society on Sunday, September 19, 2004.
However, Clark, a direct lineal descendent of the original William Clark stated that it would be unlikely to cancel the expedition because of the resources invested to carry out the re-enactment and the future events planned along the river route to commemorate the original event.
The resisters contend that the original Lewis & Clark Expedition was the dawn of genocide for the Plains Indian Tribes. The tribal resisters have committed themselves to stopping the re-enactor’s expedition before they leave Lakota Country.
For further information contact Alex White Plume, 605-455-1142; Floyd Hand, 605-867-5762; Alfred Bone Shirt, 605-747-4443 or Vic Camp at 605-455-1122
From UN Observer and International report
Lewis and Clark opened the door to the holocaust of the West
UN Observer and International Report
CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. (Sept. 18, 2004) -- The American lie of Lewis and
Clark unraveled as Lakota, Ponca, Kiowa and Dine' told re-enactors to
turn back downriver or face the consequences.
"What they wrote down was a blueprint for the genocide of my people.
You are re-enacting something ugly, evil and hateful," Carter Camp,
Ponca, told the Discovery Expedition camped on the Missouri River.
On Saturday, an Indian delegation of elders, supported by young
warriors, gave the expedition a stern warning. If they did not turn
around, they would call on all Indians who are not assimilated,
colonized and conquered to join them and stop the expedition.
"You are re-enacting the coming of death to our people," Camp told the
expedition, while seated in a circle with Indian elders and Lewis and
Clark re-enactors, on the banks of the Missouri River.
"You are re-enacting genocide."
Deb White Plume of Pine Ridge gave the expedition a symbolic blanket
of small pox. Another Lakota woman from Pine Ridge said she carries
the DNA of the Lakota women who survived the slaughters that Lewis and
Clark opened the door to. She said she is prepared to die for this
cause.
"I believe in armed struggle," Wicahpi Wakia Wi of Pine Ridge said.
"The act of genocide stops here. We are tired of living poor. We are
not afraid to die. I am willing to die."
She told them they would not proceed up the river.
"You are not going on. I will organize every sister from here to
Oregon to stop you."
Lakota elder Floyd Hand, among four bands of Lakota here, told the
expedition, "We are the descendants of Red Cloud and Crazy Horse."
"I did not come here in peace."
Hand said they would not smoke the pipe today and if the expedition
continues up the Missouri River, the families of the expedition
members would suffer the spiritual consequences of small pox.
Referring to the tribal governments who welcomed the expedition, Hand
said those tribal governments reflect the same type thinking as the
re-enactors and are not the voice of the grassroots people.
"The tribal governments are not a voice for us. They are imitating us,
like you are imitating Lewis and Clark."
"We want you to turn around and go home," Alex White Plume, Lakota
from Pine Ridge, told the expedition
White Plume said Lakota are here on this land for a reason.
"We were put here by the spirits." He said the Lakota never lost their
language or ceremonies and now they are making these requests: Lakota
want their territory back, their treaties to be honored and to be able
to continue their healing ways.
White Plume said many Indian people have become assimilated and
colonized.
"We pray for our own colonized people. We say they are in a prison in
the white man's world."
White Plume said there was no point in the expedition coming here.
"All you did was open up these old wounds."
Carter Camp warned the expedition to halt or they would be stopped. He
said the expedition has been told lies and are spreading lies.
Lewis and Clark are apart of the American lie.
"They had no honor. They came with the American lie. They murdered 60
million people."
Camp said Lewis and Clark said they came in peace. Referring to their
costumes, Camp said, "You guys probably believe that lie. That is why
you are dressed so funny today."
He said Lewis and Clark knew what happened to Indians in the eastern
part of the country and they knew that the missionaries followed the
soldiers. And it was the missionaries who left his people as remnants,
homeless in the streets.
Camp said the young warriors would not be as patient as the elders
seated in the circle. He also questioned whether the re-enactors had
asked permission of the grassroots Indian people to come onto their
territory.
"You chose to come amongst us without permission."
Camp said Sacagawea was a woman struggling to return home. "We feel
sorry for that woman. We don't like the way she was treated."
Camp said Indians here did not like the first Lewis and Clark and they
sure don't like the second ones.
"Take those silly clothes off and come back dressed like a normal
human being. Don't come here to tell me what your grandfather did to
my grandfather."
Referring to the re-enactors "silly clothes," Camp said of the Natives
who came, "This is the way our people dress everyday. We are not
trying to play a game."
"Go home and try to re-enact some truth for the rest of your life."
Alex White Plume said all that is good is being destroyed on the Earth
because of actions like these.
"Our people are dying because our water is no good," he said, adding
that the wolves and bears are disappearing from the territory. Lakotas
have to pay fees to go the Black Hills to pray.
"Today I can not even go up to the Black Hills to worship. We believe
everyone should have access to spirituality."
He said buffalo were once the basis of the ecosystem. Now, he said,
"The whole West is drying up.
"The Earth should be a priority and not your own personal needs."
Referring to the red, white and blue flag flying over one of the
expedition's three boats docked on the Missouri River, White Plume
said, "We want that flag taken down. We honor that flag because we won
it at the Little Big Horn."
He said the flag could be later given back, if their treaty was
honored and sacred lands preserved.
"We would like to ask you to turn around and not to proceed into our
territory. We didn't bring our bows and arrows, but we will continue
to harass you."
Alfred Bone Shirt of Rosebud told the expedition, "This is disgusting.
This is a slap in the face."
Bone Shirt said the Lakota are a people who never quit fighting for
what they believe in. "If you decide to go up river, it is bad, bad
for you and bad for your families."
Bone Shirt listed the town of Chamberlain in a long list of racist
South Dakota towns. He described the testimony of the Indian Child
Welfare Act on KILI Radio the previous day, testimony of Lakota
children being taken away in large numbers and given to non-Indian
families.
"Our prisons are full, our children are being taken away."
Pointing out the absurdity of the re-enactment, Bone Shirt asked if
there would be a re-enactment of Bush and Cheney invading Iraq.
"If you go up this river, we have good warriors who can shoot
arrows."
Bone Shirt was ready for action.
"Let's sink some of those boats out here."
Bone Shirt pointed out that the Indian people knew what the
re-enactors were thinking. "When we leave, they will laugh behind our
backs."
And Bone Shirt said Indians here know this type of racism.
"The state of South Dakota is the most racist state and South Dakota
condones this kind of behavior. We want you to know, it has to end
here."
Russell Means said if the expedition continues up the river, the
Blackfeet are waiting for them.
Means said Lewis and Clark, like the myth of Columbus, are apart of
the great American lie.
And there are many parts to the great American lie. "Even the casino
Indians are not rich, that is another falsehood. They don't ever see
cash," Means said, adding that the money goes to investors and also to
the state, which is illegal.
Means said Indians can't even start a business on tribal land without
waiting an average of eight years, and then it is only if the
paperwork isn't lost.
"What you are perpetuating is part of the big lie," Means told the
re-enactors.
Means said Indians have 40 percent of the nation's natural resources
on their lands, yet they are kept in concentration camps called
reservations and not allowed to participate.
"This is our river," Means said of the Missouri River running past. He
pointed out the water is being used by farmers, cities and power
plants without the permission of Indian people.
"They don't honor anything. This is an insult to our integrity."
While there is no Bureau of Irish Affairs or Bureau of other groups of
peoples' affairs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs remains an instrument
of genocide.
On Pine Ridge, the average lifespan is 44 years.
"We are middle-aged at
22."
As Indians arrived at American Creek Marina bay on the river, there
were three police and Sheriff units waiting at the entrance.
Later, seated in the circle, Hand told the group there was no need for
the police to be sneaking in the bushes and taking photos; they could
do it in the open. "That is what the federal government does."
Hand said white people are always looking for identity and always
taking. He told the re-enactors to find out who they are and live who
they are.
Peyton "Bud" Clark, great, great, great-grandson of William Clark,
thanked them for being open and candid. "We will be honest with you."
He said the expedition was called a commemoration because it was not a
celebration.
Clark said people in the eastern United States know nothing about
Indian people and it is nearly impossible to go to a library and find
out any truth about American Indians. Clark said he saw the expedition
as a way of listening to Indian people along the river.
"What we did was create a catalyst for open and honest dialogue for
the healing to begin," Clark said.
"All you need to have is an open mind and an open heart and engage in
an open and honest dialogue." Clark was among 22 re-enactors traveling
on the river with a keelboat and two large wooden pirogue canoes, with
backup support of RVs.
Clark said their "funny clothes" cost a lot of money.
Although Clark said the re-enactors were volunteers and were not paid,
Lakota and Ponca said white people never do anything without being
paid. They pointed out the expedition had received $85 million in
funds, while the Lakota, the poorest of people, had to pay their own
way here to stop them.
Responding to comments by re-enactors who defended the expedition as a
means of education, Camp asked, "Would it be all right if these guys
were dressed in sheets like the Ku Klux Klan?
"Do you know that Clark would not free his slaves?"
Native women told the expedition that they carry the DNA of the
survivors of the slaughters that Lewis and Clark opened the door to
and the diseases they brought.
Ahmbaska, among the Native youths, spoke of the tribes who had become
extinct, their languages and cultures lost forever, and the women and
babies murdered by the U.S. military.
"They stomped their heads to save bullets."
Speaking directly to the re-enactors, he said, "This is not a show,
this is our hearts." His people, the Missouri, were exiled to
Oklahoma. "My people have never seen this Missouri River which was
named after us."
Now, he said, on Rosebud, people are dying from the whopping cough.
Lewis and Clark were the beginning of the end in the West.
"They came and they took and they conquered. That is what you are
re-enacting," he said.
Deb White Plume said for Lakota, halting the expedition is a spiritual
act. She reminded the expedition of the diseases brought by the
invaders.
She presented Clark with a blanket and said, "Small pox. Have it
back." Clark accepted the blanket, a symbol of small pox, cautiously.
Deb White Plume chastised Clark and the other re-enactors for the tone
they addressed the Indians present with. "You are patronizing us, you
are condescending to us." She said their tone of voice said that they
were going on up the river no matter what.
"You hurt us. We don't want you here."
White Plume said she has only two children because she was sterilized
against her wishes. "I have two sons because your government
sterilized me."
"Your government fought my family with guns and I survived and I am
here to tell you about it."
She said Lewis and Clark and those that followed "were the original
terrorists on this continent."
Pointing out they were surrounded by law enforcement here, she said,
police always surround Lakota.
She said to the expedition, "You are here with no respect."
White Plume said they could not allow the expedition to continue up
the river to their sacred Sun Dance grounds.
"How can you willingly want to trample on anyone's sacred grounds?" 
Carter Camp and Floyd Hand meet Lewis and Clark re-enactors
Meeting with L & C re-enactors
Consultation with L & C re-enactors
Left to right: carter Camp, Russell Means, Alex White Plume, Floyd Hand, Alfred Bone Shirt & Vic Camp
Photo credits: UN Observer and International Report
Carter Camp, Ponca Nation, American Indian Movement
Soon a call will be going out across Indian Country for people to gather in South Dakota to stop the ignorant and racist celebration of the Lewis and Clark slaveholding expedition into our lands. This action will be led and organized by our young people who have turned to some of us for advice and counsel. They are offended by the continuing insults America seems determined to heap upon our People. They see our leaders lining up in D.C. to bless the grave robbers museum of our demise while at home on the rez the depredations continue. They see our Tribes being changed into corporations that put money over our culture and they watch as our lands and sovereignty is eroded to nothing. And now they watch as the Lewis and Clark ‘celebration’ is endorsed, even by those Indian leaders who know how ugly its truth is to our people. Our youth, our Tokala, our future, are tired of standing by while these things are going on and they are demanding something be done or they will be forced to act. When the call goes out it will be too late for elders like me to mediate so I must stand with them and I ask all those within the sound of my voice to stand with us. Here’s why...
Americans have an unfortunate penchant for big anniversary bashes celebrating their various successes in their five centuries old assault on Native people. The most glaring example is of course the national holiday for Columbus, another is the many place names and celebrations for famous “Indian Killers” like Amherst, Custer and Chivington. These ‘celebrations’ are so common and ubiquitous across our lands that Americans are surprised and hostile when a Native voice is raised in opposition. If we dare ask that the usual distortions of history be corrected or that sober thought be given to the appropriateness of all or certain parts of the event, we are seen as enemies to be overcome once more.
The first tactic employed is always to convince, bribe or coerce some of our own people to join them and get them to denounce the objectors as renegades. From 1492 through the genocidal centuries on until today, the invader knows that if they can put a red face out front they can hide their true intentions and escape responsibility. The big “celebration” going on in D.C. right now for the “National Museum of the American Indian” is a prime modern example of how the conqueror uses Indians to hide their responsibility for the times of horror they visited upon our nations.
The old but effective tactic is once again in use, this time the wasicu seeks Indian cover for their “celebration” of what they call an “expedition” instead of what it truly was… an attempt to cover-up once again the ugly truth of genocide called “manifest destiny”. In 1992 Indigenous people from throughout the hemisphere rejected the colonialist portrayal of Columbus and his ill-fated journey. Our scholars dug out the ugly words and actions of Columbus from among ancient documents and gave the real truth to the people. We demanded truth and taught those Columbus supporters among us the truth of his legacy. To this day, each “Columbus Day” we raise our voices in truthful remembrance of what was lost. But 1492 only began the parade of invaders which were to wash up on our shores, each of them proffering friendship before beginning to murder us.
Now the Americans are beginning a national “celebration” of the “Columbus of the West” and spreading the same stories we heard for so long about 1492! They portray Lewis and Clark as intrepid explorers in an attempt to cover-up the true intent of exploitation. Jefferson lusted after the wealth of our Nations in exactly the same way the King of Spain did those Nations of our eastern shore and they each sent their “explorers” as a prelude to invasion and conquest. The only difference is that Columbus enslaved some of our people while L&C brought their slave with them… in one of their more perverse “celebrations” they have now carved her likeness on a coin.
Lewis and Clark came into our lands uninvited and used our traditional hospitality to spread their lies. They looked our leaders in the eye and attempted to convince them their mission was one of peace and trade while they knew full well the American intent to subjugate our people and steal our lands. In weakness they observed our customs and shared our food while knowing that in their wake would come the evil emissaries of their coercive state-church. They came among us to probe for weaknesses and provide their army with vital intelligence about our lands and defenses. Their report to their leaders served as a blueprint for conquest.
Once I heard the Chief of the Nation that welcomed the pilgrims apologize for letting them attach to our shores. Perhaps my Ponca Nation owes all the People upstream an apology for not stopping Lewis & Clark at the mouth of the Niobara, all of us have paid a huge price for failing to understand that a handshake with Lewis & Clark meant our time of horror was dawning. We are the survivors of that genocidal onslaught, we must remember if we are to deny them their final victory.
In those long ago days maybe we could be excused for not realizing that evil and death dogged the heels of Lewis and Clark, but today we know full well what the lasting effects of their visit would become… has become. We know today that every circle of life in our world was devastated after Lewis & Clark walked in our lands, some are gone forever like the ‘passenger pigeons’ that once filled the sky but most of us remain as remnants, clinging to an earth forever altered by the rain of death which sailed up our life-giving river.
Ask the Buffalo, the Grizzly, Eagle or Elk Nations if they are prepared to celebrate what came up the river two centuries ago. Does the Salmon Nation miss Celilo Falls on the Columbia River or hate the Hungry Horse Dam on the Snake? Does the moon miss the call of the Wolf as she rises over our depleted lands? It was not only our human circles that were slated for destruction by the forces of greed that sent Lewis & Clark into our midst. Their ship was one of death, it looked with vampire eyes across our lands and slavered with greedy anticipation at the wealth of life it observed.
Should we join their celebration so we can “tell our side” as they are suggesting to our leaders? Or should we stand as one red nation and send the celebrants back down the river where they came from… as we should have done so long ago? Prepare yourselves my relations… Hoka-hey!
Carter Camp, Ponca Nation, American Indian Movement
http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/main.asp?
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
By SETH TUPPER, The Daily Republic
CHAMBERLAIN - A re-enactment crew continued its journey up the Lewis
and Clark
waterway route Monday, despite a request by some American Indians to
turn around
and go home.
Some of the Indians had threatened to harass the re-enactors if they
continued
up the Missouri River. A police escort guided the re-enactors Monday
afternoon
as they hauled their boats - without interference - around the Big
Bend Dam.
Alex White Plume, the Indians' lead organizer, said his group will
not
intervene while the re-enactors camp today through Friday on the
Lower Brule and
Crow Creek reservations.
"We don't want to interfere with Crow Creek and Lower Brule and
what
they're doing, they can breathe easy," he said.
White Plume said his group will seek guidance tonight during a
spiritual
ceremony near Manderson. Future actions against the re-enactors will
be
considered, he said, especially if other Indians extend invitations.
The re-enactors phoned White Plume on Monday morning to inform him
of their
decision. The two parties had designated Tuesday as a deadline.
"I think they never planned on turning around," White Plume
said. "They
just led us to believe that; otherwise, they would have waited until
Tuesday."
Jon Ruybalid, a member of the expedition who doubles as its legal
counsel, said
the group gave serious consideration to the Indians' request. By
continuing
their expedition, he said, the re-enactors hope to serve as a
conduit for Indian
concerns.
"Potentially allowing groups like his to be heard is exactly what
we're
accomplishing, and we think that's important,"Ruybalid said.
The re-enactors, who currently number about 25, are part of a non-
profit
organization called "The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles,
Mo."The
organization consists of hundreds of members from around the nation.
It also
operates the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center in St.
Charles.
The organization is funded by donations and grants. This year, the
Discovery
Expedition was mentioned in grant awards from the National Park
Service that
totaled at least $435,000. An inquiry into the total cost of the
current
re-enactment, which began last year and is scheduled to continue
through 2006,
went unanswered by a Discovery Expedition official Monday.
White Plume said the organization's funding probably influenced the
re-enactors' decision to continue. He fears the expedition will
now create
divisions between "traditional"and "colonized"Indians as
it travels
through other reservations.
The division was evident Monday when Duane Big Eagle, Crow Creek
tribal
chairman, said he disapproved of White Plume's actions and planned
to welcome
the re-enactors to Crow Creek.
"We're living in modern times,"Big Eagle said. "We've got
to think
modern and moving ahead, not living 150 to 200 years ago."
White Plume's group wants the federal government to honor treaties
it signed
in 1851 and 1868. While requesting an end to the expedition Saturday
in
Chamberlain, the Indians chastised the re-enactors for glorifying the
government's practices and for re-enacting the "death"of the
traditional
Indian way of life.
The re-enactors agreed Saturday to consider reversing their course.
The decision
to continue was made Sunday evening after they consulted with their
board of
directors.
Because of low water levels on the Missouri, the re-enactors pulled
their boats
out of the water Monday at Chamberlain and hauled them around the
Big Bend Dam.
About 10 vehicles from agencies including the Chamberlain Police
Department, the
Lyman County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs
escorted the
re-enactors to the North Shore Recreation Area near Fort Thompson,
where the
boats were to be lowered into the water.
Law enforcement personnel along the remainder of the expedition's
route are
sharing information and making plans for security, according to
Chamberlain
Police Chief Joe Hutmacher. The next major event involving the
expedition will
be Friday through Sunday at Pierre's "Bad River Gathering,"
one of the
last of South Dakota's National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial
Signature Events.
When Lewis and Clark passed through the area of modern-day Pierre in
1804, they
had a meeting with the Teton Sioux that nearly erupted into
violence. In 2004,
Hutmacher said, any and all threats will be taken seriously to
protect
re-enactors, protesters and the public.
"With law enforcement, we have to hope for the best but plan for
the worst,"
he said.
Associated Press
CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. - Actors portraying explorers Lewis and Clark have
decided to continue their journey up the Missouri River despite threats
from American Indians who said they were planning "an action of the
Lakota people."
The group set out Monday from Chamberlain, where they had camped over
the weekend. A police escort guided the re-enactors as they hauled
their boats around Big Bend Dam, but there were no problems.
Alex White Plume, an organizer for American Indians opposed to the
re-enactors, had asked the group to go home, saying their visit opened
up old wounds.
As the re-enactors move up the river and camp this week on the Lower
Brule and Crow Creek reservations, White Plume said there would be no
interference from his group. But said he would seek guidance during a
spiritual ceremony and noted future actions might be considered.
Duane Big Eagle, chairman of the Crow Creek tribe, said he welcomed the
re-enactors to his reservation and disapproved of White Plume's
actions.
"We're living in modern times," Big Eagle said. "We've got to think
modern and moving ahead, not living 150 to 200 years ago."
Jon Ruybalid, a member of the 25-member expedition who is also its
legal counsel, said the group seriously considered the request to go
home. But by continuing their expedition, the re-enactors hope to give
a voice to Indian concerns, he said.
"Potentially allowing groups like his to be heard is exactly what we're
accomplishing, and we think that's important," said Ruybalid said.
The re-enactors - part of a nonprofit organization called The Discovery
Expedition of St. Charles, Mo. - began their Lewis and Clark trip last
year and are scheduled to continue through 2006.
Joe Hutmacher, Chamberlain's police chief, said law officers along the
route are sharing information and making plans for security.
The re-enactors are scheduled to be in Pierre Friday through Sunday for
the city's "Bad River Gathering." It is one of the last of South
Dakota's National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Signature Events.
When Lewis and Clark passed through the area of modern-day Pierre in
1804, a meeting with the Teton Sioux nearly erupted into violence.
Freedom Thinking Native Nations Protest the "Dawn of Genocide of
Lewis and Clark"
While a stone-faced Thomas Jefferson looks on from atop Mt.
Rushmore, modern-day Lewis and Clark wannabes and a few descendants are
commemorating Jefferson's initial plan of cultural genocide, by
trekking up the Missouri River through Indian territories.
A large contingency of American Indian resistors are planning to
again confront and denounce the on-going celebrations of the Lewis and
Clark Commemorative Expedition this weekend at Ft. Pierre, SD.
An initial confrontation took place on September 18th at Chamberlain,
SD, where the Expedition had docked for weekend festivities.
Rresistors made known their stand that the re-enactors should turn
their boats around and leave Lakota country, while emphasizing the
enormous emotional impact this reenactment is having on many native
people. In a written statement released Monday, September 20th, the
Expedition crew stated that they will proceed upriver.
The group of sovereign resistors included tribal headsmen,
grandmothers, students and young children with a common theme..."Why
commemorate genocide?"
The group scoffed at historians statements concerning the "minimal or
negligible impact" that Lewis and Clark had on Indians. The resistors
believe that under the guidance of their commander, Thomas Jefferson,
Lewis and Clark's maiden
voyage forged the gateway to the dawn of genocide for Indian nations.
While the Expedition contends that it has support from tribal
leadership along the route, the resistors believe that, just as the
original crew had done, this organization merely dangled some shiny
coins before the elected leaders to get them on board for this
money-making adventure.
The genocide of the native nations continues,
the Indian spirit of many natives has been killed by the genocide of
America toward indigenous people as demonstrated by the colonized thinking
leading tribal organizations, governments and people to welcome and
celebrate with Lewis and Clark Commemoration.
The resistors are encouraging all native peoples to decolonize their
viewpoints on this issue and join them in their pursuit to stop this
reenactment.
A caravan of Lakota people will arrive in Ft. Pierre, SD the weekend
of September 25-26, 2004 to again protest the "Dawn of Genocide" that
the Lewis and Clark Expedition represents to freedom-thinking native
nations.
For more information contact Alex White Plume 605-455-1142, Floyd
Hand 605-867-5762, Vic Camp 605-455-1122.
September 25, 2004 Stanley Co. fairgrounds Lewis & Clark Enactors and Lakotas paid performers doing their song & dance routine.
Man must be grand pooh-pooh, Law enforcement on both sides of him peeking over the cars watching our group.
Sept. 25, 2004 Police guard entrance to enactment of Dawn Of Genocide
Entrance to fairgrounds where enactment was to take place, guarded by these police in black who had their automatics strapped close to their knees.
September 25, 2004 Stanley County Fairground Fort Pierre, South Dakota, Lewis and Clark re-enactment protest
This was September 26, 2004 at a Protest against Lewis & Clark enactors and their Lakota collaborators at Lilly park in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. Those men in black are some type of Law enforcement, High Way patrol, plainclothes men and woman and undercover. Off to the far right is a stage set up for the enactors, sad that they were flying the tribal government flags. We were detained by these police until this program was over. The people are seen getting ready to leave, but we did
our protest and got our views expressed.
From where this picture was taken was the area the law enforcement roped off only for our group, to keep us away from the enactors and their paid Lakota collaborators, the area is right off the bad rivers where it joins the Missouri river. This is the site where a Lakota dressed as a chief tried unsuccessfully to incite trouble with our group, only to have us surrounded and detained until their performance was over.
This was Sept. 26, we were getting ready to do our protest at Lilly Park in Fort Pierre, S.D
Highway patrol was every where and this one followed us to the area they roped off for Our Protest
This is one of the many law enforcement who constantly watched Our every move at the Lewis & Clark enactment in Fort Pierre, S.D. His only ID was a number 79 on his cap.
Lewis and Clark re-enactor
AIM flag at enactor protest. Robin Bair, Frank Dillion, and Bailey, Alfred Bone Shirt taking pic.
Carter Camp
September 26, 2004
Ah-ho My Relations, I would like to announce the website (still under
construction)... www.stoplewisandclark.org
...and invite you all to check it out.
As most of you know a group of Traditional Indian elders and youth,
supported by people of several Nations who live west of the Mississippi, met with a
government supported group of misguided non-Indian re-enactors who are
journeying through Indian Country "celebrating" the Lewis and Clark trip into our
lands. At the meeting we kindly but forcefully explained to them how ugly it was
for our Nations to be asked to commemorate the first thrust of genocide. We
asked them to turn around and go home, we told them the lies of Lewis and Clark
need not be commemorated or celebrated and would best be relegated to the dust
bin of our mutual history. We also informed them that we were speaking on
behalf of our youth who are determined that they not proceed and that if they
didn't listen to us elders today they would have to deal with warriors tomorrow.
Of course these wasicu have no ears so they could not understand how serious
it was that they turn around and go home. So they have decided to ignore those
of us who came to them with good advice and they have decided to continue
sailing up our sacred river against the wishes of the People of this land.
If you would like to learn about or join our coming struggle to stop them
please visit the new website we have created as a way to explain why we have
taken the stand we do. We seek the advice and support of all those dedicated to
sovereignty and survival.
Carter Camp
Sam Lewin 9/29/2004
American Indians protesting an ongoing reenactment of the Lewis and Clark
expedition say they will continue their protest and deny allegations that they
have used any threats of violence or physical intimidation.
The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Mo., is celebrating the bicentennial
of the Lewis and Clark journey by reenacting the path the explorers took
along 900 miles of the Missouri River.
Protestors say the expedition is nothing to celebrate.
"It did nothing good for us. They are saying how great is and we know that
is not true," Alex White Plume, a Lakota Sioux from the Pine Ridge Reservation,
told the Native American Times.
Some of the re-enactors have charged that the protestors have been too
aggressive in making their point.
"Things were terse and tense," Norman Bowers, who portrays Sgt. Nathaniel
Pryor from the original expedition, told the Associated Press. "We did not expect
to be treated in the fashion that we were."
White Plume, 53, flatly rejects Bower's contention.
?Totally false. Our protestors are with their wives and children and
grandparents. All we did was ask them to turn around. It was a simple request," he
said.
From 1804 to 1806, Lewis and Clark traveled 8,000 miles. One of their
missions was to establish a rapport with tribes in the area.
"It will now be proper you should inform those through whose country you will
pass . . . that henceforth we become their fathers and friends," Thomas
Jefferson is said to have told Lewis before the journey began.
Forty separate tribes have endorsed the current reenactment, but that doesn't
faze Vic Camp, a 29-year-old protestor. Camp, Lakota and Ponca, said the
expedition was the beginning of the end for the Sioux culture. He, White Plume and
others are planning on confronting the reenactment again in October when they
reach Kimble Bottom in North Dakota.
"We are starting to get attention drawn to us,” Camp said. “ Wherever we go
the cops are always waiting for us but we are peaceful."
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