Rosebud Traditional Lakota Radio Station and Drive
BUILDING AN INDEPENDENT TRADITIONAL RADIO STATION ON ROSEBUD is needed because of the media suppression in South Dakota, and because of the tireless efforts of the Catholic Church in fundraising over the airwaves via KINI at St. Francis. This is part of a continuing effort to stomp out the voices and the lifestyle of the traditional Lakota Oyate, and to force assimilation upon our Nations and Peoples. This mission of “Ethnic Cleansing” has been going on since the missionaries have set foot on Indian Lands, and is alive and well today most noticeably on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations. However, Pine Ridge does have its own independent American Indian station (KILI) not under the purse strings of the Catholic church and their continued fund-raising to support Ethnic Cleansing disguised in the name of helping “Indian Children.” Several good People have volunteered to start on this project.
We recognize the fact that Rosebud Educational Society and Radio Station kini 96.1 FM operate on Indian Trust Land, and by donations begged for in the name of the Rosebud Sioux People or Tribe. We are against them using us with out Our permission to beg for money. WE are a Sovereign People and not just a statistic. We are Human Beings with Human Rights.
From the petition against KINI, presented in full here.
KINI FM 96.1, owned by the Roman Catholic Church, bills itself as "The Voice of the Rosebud". The "Little Sioux" website (aka St. Francis Indian School) invites one to take a , "Rosebud Reservation Journey With Your Host Little Sioux. Little Sioux is helping to rejuvenate the spirit and essence of this proud culture. Please browse through this site and take a look at our culture, our heroes, our hope, and unfortunately, our trouble." It gives itself as operating the Reservation's only radio station which plays a mix of contemporary music, traditional Lakota music and "programs designed to enrich culture and spirituality." However, the KINI website gives the following as its program schedule, stating that Native American music will be played as requested, then stipulates that requests are only accepted by mail, email and fax, not by phone. So unless one has a computer with an internet connection, or fax, or is willing to wait the time it takes for mail delivery, the chances of making a request seem out of the question:
Monday thru Fridays:
6:00am to 3:00pm: Country Music
3:00pm to Sign Off: Soft Rock & Rock Music.
Saturdays: Sign On to Sign Off: Soft Rock & Rock Music
Sundays: 9:00am to 3:00pm: Gospel or Country Music.
Sundays: 3:00pm to Sign Off: Classic Rock or Oldies.
KINI Plays Native American & Religious Music anytime requested.
KINI Accepts Requests by Mail, Email & Fax ONLY.
KINI Radio station
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The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Utility Commission notificed KINI on April 10, 2000, "The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Utility Commission in a motion passed on February 22, 2000 would like to notify KINI Radio Station located in St. Francis, South Dakota that the Commission has received complaints and concerns about KINI radio format. The RST Utility Commission woul like to request what is KINI's radio format for Lakota social and cultural programming and how is KINI servicing the publics local Lakota social and cultural issues."
Bernard Whiting consulted with the law offices of Garvey, Schubert & Barer of 1000 Potomac St. NW, Washington DC and their response on November 2, 2000 was negative as to protestors' requests for radio air time, Melodie Virtue citing the elimination of "The Fairness Doctrine" after the FCC found the doctine contrary to the public interest, having a chilling effect on the first amendment rights of broadcasters. The elimination occured in connection with Ronald Reagan's deregulation-oriented FCC. ...the volume of informational programming increased dramatically immediately after controls were ended--powerful evidence of the potential for regulation to have a "chilling effect" on free speech.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-270es.html
The Fairness Doctrine, as a condition of broadcasters getting their licenses from the FCC, from 1949 until the time of its demise had required stations to provide coverage of controversial issues of interest to the community and to provide a reasonable opportunity for the presentation of opposing viewpoints.
Although the Fairness Doctrine was enacted to promote pluralism, eventually it produced an opposite effect. Concerned that advertising time would be squandered by those who invoked the Fairness Doctrine, broadcasters challenged its constitutionality claiming that it promoted censorship instead of diversity. Declared in violation of the First Amendment, the Fairness Doctrine was repealed, and attempts to provide constitutional protection for the doctrine were vetoed by President Reagan in 1987.
The obligation to serve the "public interest, convenience and necessity" is demonstrated through myriad broadcast policies. Licensing requirements, the equal-time and candidate access rules, the Fairness Doctrine and the Public Broadcasting and Cable Acts are just some examples of regulations which were implemented to safeguard the public from the possible selfish motives of broadcasters.
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/P/htmlP/publicintere/publicintere.htm
The equal-time and candidate access rules are still running around but broadcasters are attempting to repeal them as well, stating that they aren't needed with the increasing availability of news and information via satellite, internet and other media.
Limited access to information outlets was a reason for the "Fairness Doctrine". But Rosebud has one radio station and internet access is of course available only to those with a computer. There is no glut of information on Rosebud, nor are there multiple venues of information of which to be taken advantage. There is one radio station, and that radio station, though billed as "The Voice of Rosebud", refuses to give Rosebud a voice, instead promoting ethnic cleansing through programming that eschews Traditional DLN views and culture for mainstream cultural programming. Such is how "Little Sioux" seeks to "rejuvenate the spirit and essence" of the DLN people.
The radio station has been the focus of countless protests by the DLN, Sicangu Lacota Grass Roots Oyate and AIM because of media suppression and censorship. Located on tribal land, with a 350 foot tower and 57,000 watts, it has the power to reach Rapid City and into the Sand Hills.
If one looks South from the radio station, one can see the 100 year old Catholic Church.
Rosebud Educational Society offices
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The offices of the Rosebud Educational Society (Little Sioux, St. Francis Indian School) run a direct mail operation, a multi-million dollar solicitation program under the names of Little Sioux, St. Francis Indian School (formerly St. Francis Mission) and the Rosebud Educational Society, generating countless mailings daily and requests for donations to fund the radio station and other programs which do little to help the people on the reservation other than a few select NDN Catholics. Questions have to be asked as to what happens to the monies, estates and other resources that are virtually willed to the people of Rosebud by individuals and possibly even corporations, solicited by the Rosebud Educational Society?
Rosebud Educational Society headquarters
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Daily bombarding Rosebud with Catholocism, KINI censors pertinent news and issues important to the self determination of the DLN though run with money solicited on the poverty and hardship of the Sicangu Lakota People.
The Rosebud Educational Society (Catholic church) has been conducting a crusade against the Indian people since they first set up shop here in Indian territory. The catholic membership in the communities has dwindled drastically in the recent years, so that now it's nothing to see vacant churches in some of the communities, yet they remain relentless in their pursuit to convert the Indian.
 Rosebud Sioux Tribe Utility Commission's notification to KINI of complaints and concerns concerning their radio format. The RST Utility Commission requested "what is KINI's radio format for Lakota social and cultural programming and hosw is KINI servicing the publics local Lakota social and cultural issues." April 10 2000
(NOTE: This file is in Acrobat PDF format. To be able to view it you will need a Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it, you may download it for free here.)
KINI response to request for air time
(NOTE: This file is in Acrobat PDF format. To be able to view it you will need a Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it, you may download it for free here.)
KINI license
(NOTE: This file is in Acrobat PDF format. To be able to view it you will need a Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it, you may download it for free here.)
KINI license renewal
(NOTE: This file is in Acrobat PDF format. To be able to view it you will need a Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it, you may download it for free here.)
KINI petition
(NOTE: This file is in Acrobat PDF format. To be able to view it you will need a Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it, you may download it for free here.)
Black and white photos of the KINI protest and caption provided by PR
GreggBear and the Sicangu Sun Times 
Alfred Bone Shirt and Frances Zephier
A small group using a loudspeaker demonstrated at KINI
Radio in St. Francis recently. The group, led by Alfred Bone Shirt and
others, say they want equal access to the airwaves. The radio station is
owned by the Rosebud Reservation's Jesuit community, which hires Indians
to work at the station. Group members say tribal members are denied access
to the airwaves to discuss political issues on the reservation, as well as
Lakota spiritual ideas. The radio station has an eclectic format and
broadcasts Christian-related programs. Bone Shirt said his grooup will
keep coming back to the radio station to protest. "If Lakota people are
denied access to promote and discuss Lakota issues and political issues
then the Jesuit community should turn the station over to tribal members.
We're not going to take it anymore. Only certain people are allowed access
to the airwaves. We're not going to take it anymore," Bone Shirt
said.
Dakota Lakota Nakota Coalition in front of KINI Radio
Station
Senate OKs Jonathan S. Adelstein to serve on the FCC Rapid City Journal (16 November 2002)
NOTE: Will this make any difference in the KINI media problems? Or will it only lock it in? -- Alfred Bone Shirt
Long overdue for Catholic Church to dismount its high horse Tim Giago Lakota Journal (18 August 2002)
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