|
 Carter Camp should learn "Lakota Respect" for women Dottie Potter guest column in the Lakota Journal
Potter Lied and so did Tim Giago, Carter Camp comments
Alfred Bone Shirt comments
Guest Column
Lakota Journal, Volume 4, Issue 24, June 13 - 20 2003
Dottie Potter
I had a new and different experience while covering a meeting at the high school gym in St. Francis on the Rosebud Reservation last week (see "Sacred ceremonies for sale?
Meeting leads to heated discussion")--in fact I was verbally attacked by an individual and accused of what I was not guilty of--nor was I even present at the event he accused me of attending!
During my time writing for Tim Giago at the Lakota Journal, I've had the opportunity--and I feel that it has been a real learning opportunity for me---to be with many, many Lakota people at meetings covering sensitive issues at many different places across the reservation.
I've been treated with nothing but utmost respect and warmly welcomed everywhere I've gone. I'm always invited to eat and drink with them and they have openly shared their stories with me from their hearts. I would never do anything to destroy the trust they apparently have me (sic) and I respect their ways, their culture and their spirituality--I respect them as the beautiful Lakota people they are--their hospitality and generosity is always evident.
I feel great sadness in my heart for the Lakota people, as well as all Indian people for the horrendous way they have been treated by the Europeans who invaded their country and stole everything away from them.
Quite frequently I find it a real challenge to write and keep my personal viewpoint out of the story because I feel so strongly about the issue--and I'm nearly always on the side of the Lakota--but as a journalist, I'm not allowed to get my personal feelings or opinion in the article, no matter how much I sometimes want to.
The shooting range complex that is planned so near the sacred Bear Butte Mountain happens to be one of those issues. I was the first to break that news story about the shooting range after it was brought to my attention by Jamie Ducheneaux and I've tried to create awareness with my writing throughout Indian Country about the devastating affect that would have so near the mountain.
It's true--I'm not Lakota--I can't speak the language nor can I understand it except for a few words that I know the meaning of when I hear them, but I sure have an Indian heart and the majority of Lakota people whom I've had the pleasure of meeting don't seem to mind that I don't speak their language.
I was invited to attend the meeting last week on the Grassroots effort to protect and preserve the Lakota culture and ceremonies. Ken Bordeaux, respected elder and Rosebud Sioux Tribal member, personally
asked me to attend and cover the meeting to create that awareness of what is happening to the Lakota ceremonies--the abuse and mis-use of the culture-the selling out of the Lakota ways to the white people and other non-Indians.
I felt very honored to be invited to attend the meeting and knew that it was a very sensitive issue--one that I feel very strongly about and have written about in the past two years.
Alfred Bone Shirt, one of the leaders who organized the meeting, also called the Lakota Journal office and invited me to attend and cover it, assuring me I would be protected even from some of the opposition in the event they might try to intimidate or threaten me in any way.
So, I left real early that morning with plenty of note pads and pens and was looking forward to the day, praying that the Lakota people could find a way to preserve and protect their most sacred of all things--their sacred ceremonies.
I tried to be respectful as I could and didn't even take any pictures until I asked Alfred Bone Shirt if it would be permissible. He assured me it was okay and I did take photos after that of
different ones as they addressed the group gathered at the meeting.
I had noticed one individual during the course of the day, but of course had no idea who he was--and actually, I didn't know any of the folks there except Ken Bordeaux--and it was very late in the afternoon when this individual went to the microphone to speak.
And, in no way was I prepared for the verbal attack he lashed out at me.
With microphone in hand and
in front of all in attendance, the first thing out his mouth was addressed directly to me. He said in an unfriendly tone, "So, you're a reporter, huh?"
I responded, "Yes, I am."
His second question was could I speak Lakota and I said no, that I couldn't. He then began to berate me because I couldn't speak the language nor could I understand it and how could I write any kind of an article if I didn't know what was being said by the elders when they spoke?
I tried to explain that I knew what the issue was and that plenty had been expressed in English for me to write an article, but he didn't listen.
He then began to criticize the article that "I wrote" about the meeting the Grassroots people had at Bear Butte Mountain a few weeks ago and how I had the information all wrong.
I tried to explain that I was not at that meeting, that I had not wrote the article, nor did we even have anything in our newspaper about that meeting. But once again, he didn't listen and interrupted me.
He then said to everyone in attendance, "You all know Tim Giago at that Lakota Journal and I ask all of you to call him up and tell him that the next time he sends a reporter, to send someone who can speak Lakota and knows what's going on!"
I then tried to respond and explain that Tim had not sent me--I had been INVITED there--but again--he wasn't willing to listen or hear me.
Throughout the day, I had heard repeatedly from those who spoke about respect and honor for all people--Indian and non-Indian--but this man didn't seem to know what either of those words meant.
It was very evident as he spoke that he has a real deep hatred for white people and I seemed to be the receiver of that anger and hate.
I learned afterwards that his name is Carter Camp, an AIM activist and I also learned that he's not Lakota--he's Ponca--and he can't speak the Lakota language either!
But, the worse was yet to come. As I was leaving early evening, he was sitting in the back in the room and on my way out, he motioned for me to come over where he was, so I went over there. He put his hand out and offered an apology because Alfred had informed him that I had been invited there.
I shook hands and also expressed that I was sorry he had felt a need to attack me for something that I didn't even do--and that really set him off! He started using the four letter "F" word to me and got quite
threatening--I actually think he could have become physically violent.
In fear, anger, hurt and frustration, I left that evening from a meeting that I was wishing I had never attended and wondered how I was going to write something on it--or IF I would even write anything at all.
But I care too much about the other people and the issue th3ey are trying to find some resolution for--I couldn't let them down because of one individual who had left a really bad taste in my mouth! My journalism ethics would not allow me to do otherwise.
I can take criticism on my writing if it's justified--and I've learned that not everyone is going to be happy with what I write, especially if I expose the wrong-doing, but I try my best to report any event, meeting or whatever it is, in the best possible way that I can--but please don't blame me and try to humiliate me for something that I didn't write. Please take the time to get the facts right before you start to attack me for something that I'm not responsible for!
And, talk about the "Indian grapevine"--news of what happened beat me back to Tim at the office in Rapid City--of course he didn't know about the second attack, nor did many at the meeting know about it!
Ken Bordeaux called me and said that the Cheyenne had heard about it and were upset to think that an individual would do such a thing.
Ken offered his apology. Alfred Bone Shirt called and apologized to Tim and asked that he forward it to me and Ned Metcalf also called the office and left a message of apology. I do appreciate those apologies. I also appreciate the support from those individuals and I thank them for all of that.
And, I have to remember--Carter Camp is not a Lakota--he is from another tribe and he apparently has some problems that he needs to work on. He claimed that he's been Sundancing since 1971--I don't know exactly all that the Sundance is about--I've never been to one, but what I have
learned is this: I don't think anyone who has been participating in the Sundance for more than 30 years would attack a woman or anyone with the disrespect and the foul language that he exhibited to me!
I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the Lakota people who have so warmly welcomed me into their communities and I look forward to more positive experiences with you.
by Carter Camp
My Friends,
A reporter from the Lakota Journal named Potter has written a "guest column" in which she accuses me of some ugly actions during a meeting held in St.Francis. What she has written is a mixture of truth and lies as I explain below, but what is most despicable about the whole thing is that Tim Giago chose to headline her accusations without first checking on the facts or asking me for an explanation. All he had to do to find out the truth was to call the people she named, any and all of them would have refuted her crazy statements. But Tim Giago has no journalistic ethics, he consistently prints anything to back his anti-AIM bias because he grew up as a part of the wasicu loving goon society and he still supports the old Dick Wilson regimes successors. AIM had absolutely nothing to do with the meeting in question. I was there as an invited guest because I am a Ponca traditional man and I follow my ndn ways as a leader of a traditional society. But if you read the lies the Lakota Journal printed you'd think I was wild AIM militant raising hell with a poor wasicu reporter, in truth I'm a 62 year old grandfather sitting around with several other old men listening to the proceedings. My personal belief is that AIM went to the spirit world long ago but I'm glad her spirit still is strong enough to scare Giago and his goon newspaper. Although I know that here on the rez Giago is known for his one-sided reporting his paper is sent all over so I know people will read it and wonder why I would "attack" and cuss out a reporter, without understanding Giagos biased way of using his paper against AIM or to support his eyeska agenda. So if any of you see his article being sent around the internet please repost this answer, I want people to at least know I deny the lies. I sent the letter to the Journal and Giago but I doubt it will be printed and I know it won't be prominently displayed like the lies are. At least I'd like those who know me to know that it was written by a strange acting reporter he sent to cover the meeting, I had never known her and I sure did not verbally "attack" her. I was speaking about a completely different newspaper called 'wambli-ho' but the lady had her hysterics because she mistakenly thought I referred to her... I couldn't have since I had no knowledge of who she reported for until I was told later. The apologies she received both from me and the others named were for her bad feelings and misunderstandings not because she was 'attacked' in any way. When I extended my hand to her she went off in her arrogant wasicu way about how well she "knows" "these people" and "understands them" so well she don't need to know Lakota, even though two thirds of the testimony was in untranslated Lakota. I neither argued the point with her, even though her "I know what best for the poor ndn" attitude offended me not to mention her refusal to even acknowledge my apology( if she knew anything about traditional warriors she'd know how hard and rare apologies are), nor did I verbally attack her. I merely said "just stay away from me" and turned my back on her. And contrary to her
onesided lies, everyone who was there will support what I say. Tim Giago
also lied and his lies were worse and more far reaching, but I think his
punishment is worse too. You see, Giago and his goon allies must live with
the blood of fellow Oglala patriots on their hands and in his small way he
tries to erase his shame by smearing honorable warriors when he can. While
I can live with the false accusation that I cussed out a wasicu reporter,
Tim Giago is having a hard time living with himself so he has to lash out
at Traditional people whenever he can, even if it means printing lies.
Carter Camp...Ponca.
----- Original Message -----
From: Carter Camp
To: editor@lakotajournal.com
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 4:43 PM
Subject: Potter Lied!
editor;
I have just read the outrageous and false accusations made in a "guest column" by one Dottie Potter of your newspaper. In a four column spread of half-truths and downright lies ms Potter makes a series of claims about me that are blatently false. I'd like to deal with a couple of them but first I'd like to ask why I wasn't asked to comment on this character assassination before it was printed. Your paper likes to pat itself on the back for your journalism practices but that aside, common decency would seem to demand that you attempt to verify what you reporter was alleging. But instead you chose to headline my name without so much as a call. So much for journalism.
In answer to Potters most ugly charge, that I used the "F" word to her, I categorically deny using that word and I doubt that anyone in the crowded hall will say that I did. If only you had checked. Everyone that was close to the encounter between us as she left merely laughed and shook their heads at her unwarranted buffoonery. Like many storytellers Potter mixes some truth into her narrative, yes I'm Ponca and an invited guest to the meeting and yes, when I was asked to speak I inquired if she could speak Lakota, but that's where she seems to have gone deaf. I went on to speak of the prior meeting at Bear Butte and how a newsletter that attended completely missed some very important parts. I said "some of you might know or be related to Tim Giago maybe you could call or write and tell him how important it is to have a bilingual reporter here when three-fourths of the testimony is in Lakota". Aside from my initial question to Potter I did not mention her or your paper again as I spoke and in fact I had no idea who she was until later. My only explanation for Potters claim that I said she wrote about the Bear Butte meeting is that she missed the sentence wherein I named the newsletter I spoke of and she mistakenly thought I was speaking of her or the Lakota Journal, I wasn't, I clearly said a newsletter called "Wambli-Ho" had written the erroneous report. Potter mistakenly thought I was speaking about her but I had never seen nor heard of the lady in my life, how could I have accused her of writing about a meeting she didn't attend... it makes no sense and it didn't happen.
After I spoke I was sitting at the back of the room when Alfred Boneshirt came up to me and told me this lady thought I had spoken about her personally so I explained what I had said and told those present I would apologize and explain the mix-up the lady. So true to my word when the meeting ended I sought the lady out to apologize but here again her column mixes truth with a lie. As we shook hands I apologized and began to tell her I wasn't referring to her at all, but as I was apologizing she began to loudly proclaim that I didn't need to "attack" her and that she's a friend of "these Indians" and she "understands them" well enough to write the story. I was caught unawares in mid-apology I responded by taking my hand back and telling her to "just stay away from me". I turned back to my friends amazed at what had transpired and the lady proceeded outside. I was neither mad nor was I in any way threatening and at no time did I cuss, we were surrounded by people and everyone would have heard if I had been "set off!' as she claims. In another part of her misleading column she says the names of people like Alfred Boneshirt or Bernard Red Cherries or Ken Bordeaux as if they support her scurrilous allegations, they don't, I suggested they call and explain the truth to possibly prevent more bad coverage of the meetings, I told them they might have more luck with an apology than I did. But no one can or will substantiate the lady's allegations because they are not true. I invite the Journal to find anyone who was there who can back up her tale, but if you can't I hope in the name of journalism you will again headline my name, along with your apology for shoddy reporting.
Carter Camp, Ponca
Greetings,
I have to agree with Carter here, I have known carter and his family for
over three decades, These women such as Dottie Potter imediately jump to
conclusions.
I want everyone to know that when carter mentioned it is best to understand
Lakota when any one covers a issue for Our people is true. We have had
white reporters who have undermined the story before.
We have protested Indian Country today for there actions of having a
reporter under reporting the Traditional Grass Roots issues and Human
Rights agendas here on Our reservations and through out South Dakota. This
latest incident by Tim Giagos white woman reporter is no different.
I want Our People and advocates to know that during the meeting and after
Dottie heard what she thought was a admonishment to her in particular, she
told me that she will probably write a negative article. I see what her
intention was and what she intended to do. I don't like what she did by
creating a separate issue which we will deal with the best we can.
I am proposing a retraction must be make by the lakota Journal concerning
Dottie Potters words, and for ther anti-Aim spin the newspaper articles are
now exprssing.
I am also asking that Our grass Roots Oyate consider the possible protest
of the Lakota Journal and its biased, Lakota culturally ignorant reporters
in the very near future. We cannot tolerate detrimental actions by
newspapers and newsletter such as Wamli Ho and the Lakota Journal affecting
Our Way of Life.
Hecetu yelo
Alfred Bone Shirt
home : mission statement : contact : site map : search : store : links
DLN coalition : DLN issues : DLN nation : related issues Any reprints are under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law : See http://www.dlncoalition.org/fair_use.htm.
|
