Position Statement on the Rosebud Farms Pork Production Facility and the hog farm known as the Grassy Knoll Production site
Sicangu and Oglala Lakota Grassroots Oyate and DLN Position Statement:
From: Governing Council, Dakota/Lakota/Nakota Human Rights Advocacy Coalition and the Sicangu and Oglala Lakota Grassroots Oyate
To: General Public
Subject: Rosebud Farms Pork Production Facility (a joint venture between the RST and Sun Prairie) and the hog farm known as the Grassy Knoll Production Site.
In accordance with Articles (1) and (2) of the draft DLN Human Rights Advocacy Coalition Charter, and also in accordance with the inherent indigenous allodial title of Lakota lands and treaty rights, the DLN Human Rights Advocacy Coalition and the Sicangu and Oglala Lakota Grassroots Oyate express the following Position Statement (this is a joint position statement):
1. We, the Oyate, are unequivocally opposed to further development and/or construction arising from the official joint venture commonly known as Rosebud Farms Pork Production Facility as referenced above (a.k.a. hog farm).
2. We, the Oyate, are unequivocally opposed to the continued business operations of the facility commonly known as the Grassy Knoll Production Site as referenced above.
3. Although we are not opposed to the economic development of Rosebud tribal lands, we, the Oyate, stand strongly opposed to the hog farm project(s) because we believe:
A. The ecological consequences will produce disease and sickness to nearby reservation residents.
B. The reservation water supply faces contamination from hog farm facilities. At the same time, the Grassy Knoll site has been given an overly generous benefit of tribal water resources while residents do not receive any such consideration or benefit.
C. Health and sanitary concerns have not been adequately evaluated using neutral, unbiased, or adequately educated environmental impact analysis personnel.
D. Cultural safekeeping has likewise not been adequately evaluated using neutral, unbiased, or adequately educated cultural or historical impact analysis personnel.
E. Development was approved with little input from the Lakota Oyate and does not provide measurable and tangible benefits for the People. To the contrary, the health and resource risks outweigh benefits.
4. We, the Oyate, believe that the political and economic influences advocating this hog farm project have not been acting in an ethical manner or with the best interests of the People in mind. The manner in which this project has evolved gives the impression of numerous conflicts of interest between key tribal and business decision makers.
5. We, the Oyate, address the promotion and publicity of the hog farm(s) as follows:
A. We stand against high-visibility endorsements of tribal and/or other Indian "personalities" to boost public opinion and enhance fund-raising activities (such as forums, seminars, and political campaigning) that exploit the relatively simple adverse health and environmental consequences outlined above.
B. We stand against the "politicizing" of known health and environmental hazards of the hog farm(s) to further advance and/or enhance the careers of corrupt IRA tribal politicians, colleagues, and associates.
C. We stand against "public" forums or meetings where the attendance of known IRA tribal "power brokers" can adversely influence Oyate input through intimidation or other inappropriate means.
6. We advocate for the education of the Oyate through Grassroots methods instead of commercialization. Traditional Oyate won't "make a showing" at public "hog and sow shows" where corrupt IRA influences seem more concerned about establishing additional funding troughs (such as forums, seminars, and political campaigning) based on common sense community opposition to an obvious health and environmental hazard.
7. We, the Oyate, advocate a position that individuals should either adopt the Grassroots position or stand with corporate opportunism. There is little "middle ground" in this issue, nor is there need for complex debate.
8. We, the Oyate, shall continue to address this issue using Grassroots methods that extend reach to the most Lakota Oyate as possible. Further notices shall be disseminated to the Oyate, our members, friends, and supporters.
Also available in PDF form.
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