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 NOTE: More on the SDDSS and Judge Brian Collins controversy
Rosebud Spiritual Walk, 24 August 2002
Alfred Bone Shirt, Tyrone Big Crow, Levi Big Crow, Andrew Left Hand Bull
August 24 Rosebud Spiritual Walk and Protest
Individuals in the center photo: Roy Stone, Alfred Bone Shirt, Marletta Pacheco.
Click on pictures for enlargements
They have no respect for Our Spiritual walk or Our Sacred Eagle feather
Staff, and disregarded the fact that we done this at the request of Our
Oyate in a sincere Heart. There was four full Blood Sicangu Lakota Men and
two of Us carried the Sacred Staffs. But these supporters of Judge Collins
only had hatred and said many words to degrade all of Us.
Alfred Bone Shirt
Click here to read full text. From Ruth Steinberger and the Lakota Journal:
(Rosebud, SD) The Sicangu Lakota grass roots Oyate, AIM and the Dakota,
Lakota, Nakota Human Rights Coalition held a march and rally for justice
during the Rosebud Fair last weekend. Around ten people held signs and others
attended the rally throughout the day. Roy Stone said the invocation and
prayed for the day as the rally started.
Organizer Alfred Bone Shirt explained, "We wanted to get the point across
while so many tribal members would be attending. The purpose of the march was
to focus attention on the many, many complaints we have received from tribal
members concerning abuses they feel they have received from the tribal court,
specifically from action by Judge Brian Collins." He alleged that calls and
complaints have steadily come into the grass roots groups over the last six
months.
Bone Shirt said that many Indians in South Dakota are dealing with the same
issues. However he alleges that on Rosebud there is no separation of powers
between the current tribal council and past councils. Additionally, people on
the council are related to people in the courts, with nepotism involved in
hiring of many people in various tribal services. He said, "If this were
non-Indian people, it would not be tolerated." A special focus of the grass
roots groups is the needs of Indian children.
The spiritual march started at the WIC Office parking lot and continued along
the highway to the courthouse and the jail. The Sicangu Lakota Grass Roots
Oyate cites the past record of Collins, which includes two felony
convictions, the first in 1965 in Lawrence, KS for breaking and entering and
another in Denver, CO in 1968 for possession of narcotics. The information
regarding the felonies surfaced after Mr. Collins attempted to purchase a gun
in Valentine, NE. The form that Collins filled out in December, 1999,
included the question, "Have you ever been convicted in any court for a crime
for which the judge could have imprisoned you for more than one year, even if
the judge actually gave you a shorter sentence?" Collins answered, "No."
Bone Shirt feels that the tribal court system is affecting the lives of
Rosebud Sioux. One of the signs at the demonstration was, "Protect our
children from bad court staff." Bone Shirt said, "I think that kind of sums
it up. We get complaints from elders, families, and they are not given the
opportunity for help from the court staff. They are degraded and treated
rudely. The papers are written in such a way that you almost have to be a
paralegal to understand what some of it means, and often responding involves
paying filing fees and expenses that people do not have. If you try to file
for custody of your kids, it is necessary for most people to have a lawyer
because of the court system. There are no court advocates to help."
Complaints written to the grass roots group alleges that Collins leaves a lot
of people sitting in jail while they await trial. Bone Shirt said, "The men
and women in that jail are not monsters, if they are released they live here,
they're not going anywhere. This is the only place they have to go to. Jail
conditions are bad and Indians deserve to be treated better."
Bone Shirt believes that the tribal services are contributing to some of the
problems. He said, "Some of the so-called "services" that we have here seem
to be intent on busting up families. In traditional law, grandparents take
care of their children, and the courts don't seem to recognize that. When the
grandparents go into court to try to get custody of their grandchildren who
are off the reservation, many families allege that Collins disregards their
requests." He said, "The mandates of ICWA are being ignored here.
Grandparents allege that in court they have been told to shut up. We have
gotten a lot of complaints on that. Judge Collins wife is connected to an
organization that receives children into the foster care system. Our children
are taken away from our tribal people and money is changing hands. We need to
take a serious look at the qualifications of people hired to take care of our
youth." Bone Shirt added, "It's easy for them to write for grants in the
name of helping our children. They are using our children to go after federal
money. If children from St. Francis, Mission, Todd County High School, and
any other school on the reservation fail, it's like three strikes and you're
out. We are going to CHIN you and take you away from your family. Now we have
corrections facilities here on the reservation, we can house and make money
from the children who are taken from their families. The overall picture is
juveniles being used for profit. A lot of families are loosing their kids."
Bone Shirt said that the grass roots organizations throughout the state are
looking at the level of federal as well as private funding that is directed
toward the reservations, yet which never makes it to the people. He said,
"These tribal programs write grants that are supposed to be for the kids. We
read about a lot of money that has been awarded, but where are these
programs? When they have to fill a certain number of beds in a facility, I am
afraid the kids are going to get set up to fail. In terms of dollars, they
are worth more to some of the services, and under custody of the courts, than
with their parents."
Bone Shirt concluded, "We are dealing with failed leadership. Some of the
people are not on the council because of their merit, or because of their
background or degree. They are in there because of connections. We have a
breakdown in the system, and the lives of children and elders are at stake."
At issue are many complaints against Rosebud Sioux Tribal judge Brian
Collins, A paper with two felony convictions has surfaced recently. one
for Burglary and drugs. Complaints against the misconduct and
mistreatment of Tribal members by certain Police officers. Better Jail
conditions. What many individuals are calling failed leadership coming
from those who have the decision making authority with in the RST Council.
Spiritual Rally and Walk flyers stated that there are members of failed
Leadership within the Currant Council and Administration who are more
intent on Picking the pockets of the Indian People then they are of
correcting the Human Rights violations occurring during their tenor. The
fact that there is No separation of Powers from the Council Clique and
Court system., That the Court system is being controlled by a Clique
instead of honest leadership. false rumors were circulating prior to the
Spiritual Walk to the Tribal Courthouse and jail complex, that Our group
which represented the Sicangu Lakota Grass Roots Oyate, A.I. M.,and the
Dakota Lakota Nakota Human Rights advocacy Coalition, was going to protest
other activities during the fair was wrong and intended to incite trouble
for us. That is another classic example of the Lies Our disenfranchised
People must put us with, Our goals was to focus attention on bad
leadership and to call for the removal of the Judge and certain Police staff.
Alfred Bone Shirt,
coordinator, Spiritual walk for Justice
P.O. Box 586
Saint Francis, South Dakota 57572
Spiritual Walk and Protest August 24 Rosebud
23 August Update
It has come to our attention that individuals and groups are already
mobilizing AGAINST the peaceful, non-violent Spiritual Walk and Rally
for Justice, Human and Civil Rights Abuses Violations scheduled for
tomorrow on Rosebud during the Tribal Fair/Rodeo.
There are serious, dangerous rumors flying around that are out of
proportion to the reality of what this rally is all about. Calls to the
Rosebud Tribal Police and Harold Salway (chief of Rosebud Tribal Police)
are not being returned.
The Dakota Lakota Nakota Human Rights Advocacy Coalition is asking for
immediate emergency financial assistance to help combat these rumors
before this event takes place, and again, are asking for any and all to
help them stand tomorrow in support of the Lakota Oyate against
mistreatment and failed leadership.
Contributions need to be made BEFORE 6 P.M. (South Dakota time) and sent
via Western Union to Alfred Boneshirt to the Western Union office at the
Midway Oil Company in Valentine, NE. Please call Alfred with the info
needed to process the Western Union transfer -- 605-747-4443.
We are going to exercise our rights to protest the corruption of the
Tribal Government -- despite the advance notice of serious threats and
police reinforcements against this rally, we are going ahead on this
one. We ask for your immediate assistance and your support. Again, we
stress that this is a peaceful, non-violent walk and rally.
SPIRITUAL WALK & RALLY FOR JUSTICE
SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2002 1:00-2:00 P.M.
Begin to gather at W.I.C. Office & Tecro Office Parking lots
HUMAN & CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES & VIOLATIONS,
SPONSORED BY:
SICANGU LAKOTA GRASS ROOTS OYATE & A.I.M.
DAKOTA-LAKOTA-NAKOTA-HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY COALITION
FOR MORE INFO:------- Alfred Bone Shirt-605-747-4443
THE LAKOTA OYATE ARE TIRED OF CERTAIN ACTIONS OF A WHITE TRIBAL JUDGE (felony conviction)
THE LAKOTA OYATE ARE TIRED OF MISTREATMENT BY THE TRIBAL POLICE & CERTAIN C.I'S.
THE LAKOTA OYATE ARE TIRED OF FAILED LEADERSHIP OF CERTAIN COUNCIL REPRSENTATIVES & R.S.T. JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHO ARE MORE INTENT ON PICKING THE POCKETS OF THE LAKOTA OYATE., THEN THEY ARE OF THE VIOLATIONS WHICH ARE BEING COMMITTED ON THEIR WATCH.
THE LAKOTA OYATE ARE TIRED OF GREEDY FAILED LEADERSHIP OF CERTAIN R.S.T. COUNCIL REPS WHO ARE MORE INTENT ON PICKING THE POCKETS OF THE LAKOTA OYATE, THEN THEY ARE IN TAKING A STAND TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE PIG FARM ONCE & FOR ALL.
IF YOU HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM, COME AND STAND WITH US, BRING YOUR SIGNS.
Download PDF file of flyer here
Greeting
There will be a Spiritual Walk and Protest Rally poor quality Leadership
in Rosebud Tribal Government/ Police brutality/Selective & Biased Court.
and related Human Rights Issues.
This walk and Rally will be held during the `26th annual Rosebud Sioux
Tribal fair & Rodeo on Saturday August 24,2002, This Rosebud Fair usually
packs in the People, which is a opportune Time to Focus these Civil &
Human Rights Abuses being allowed to occur here.
The gathering area will be by the WIC and Tecro Office parking lots.
Please pass the word that we need the support of All concerned People.
As always We sincerely need some financial support beginning
today. please email me or call me to make arrangements for Western Union
Midway Oil Co.
Valentine, Nebraska 402-376-1302
Sincerely
Alfred Bone Shirt------605-747-4443
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