[KathyM]

I just saw the following message, and I am completely FLOORED. For years now, I have been trying to help support my native friends in keeping their "church" sacred and free from commercial exploitation. Bear Butte is considered a sacred mountain to be used for silent prayer by the Lakota and other tribes who belong to the area.

Here's the message I saw....

Subject: Protection for Mato Paha (Bear Butte)

On July 10, 2008, the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association passed the attached resolution to Protect Mato Paha (Bear Butte). Mato Paha is a South Dakota State Park now Federal and private developments are encroaching on this site that is sacred to tribal people.

The Sturgis Rally will take place in August. While many bikers are respectful, the bars create problems. Drunkenness, lewdness and other disrespectful actions will occur in the bars which are developing closer and closer to Mato Paha. Despite protests of American Indian People and other supporters, the county has granted alcohol licenses to the bars. Recently, a corporation has purchased majority ownership in the bar closest to Mato Paha and they are going to have helicopter rides over the butte. We are informed this corporation is affiliated with or are former Blackwater high clearance mercenaries and have already strong armed some American Indians who were on public land taking pictures.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Northern Cheyenne have land at the base of Mato Paha, but there is still land not owned by American Indian Tribes and the price of the land has increased tremendously so our Tribes cannot afford to purchase what should be our Land in the first place according to our Treaties.

Help is needed to protect our Sacred Sites and Mato Paha. Please feel free to contact me about the attached resolution by the GPTCA or the contact person for supporters of Mato Paha: tamra@protectsacredsites.org.

In Spirit,


A. Gay Kingman, Executive Director

Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association

1926 Stirling St.

Rapid City, SD 57702

Cell: 605-484-3036

Fax: 605-343-3074

[KathyM]

Now, THIS is what troubles me most. To those of you familiar with PTSD, think of the new assortment of "triggers" this will bring. I don't even like the sound of helicopters because I know it triggers my Vietnam buddy when they get too close (loud).

Think of the generational PTSD these people have and continue to suffer from on a daily basis. What happened during the "Gold Rush?" Mercenaries and outlaw soldiers showed up at their doors - pointed their guns at them and told them to peacefully hand over their land and families. What happened at Wounded Knee? Hundreds of innocent women and children were slaughtered by "decorated veterans."

To me, it looks like psychological warfare to hire BLACKWATER MERCENARIES to fly helicopters over their heads! How could it NOT?

Why are people so HEARTLESS toward our indigenous people?

[SandyC]

Kathy, have you considered posting or sending this to various biker organizations to get the word out? My cousin goes to Sturgis every year, has been for years. Perhaps you can best help by reaching those that actually attend the rally?

I understand your concern as I am Cherokee Indian, white and raised by some biker relatives. Best of both worlds huh? Too bad I can't claim my Indian heritage but it isn't listed in the trail books. My brother spent some time on a reservation with a Cherokee family a few years ago. We learned we are from the Man Killer tribe. Long story to that.

Since I have never actually lived their life or experienced their trials and tribulations I cannot speak for the American Indian. To me, speaking as if I am one of them would be disrespectful. So with that, if it were me, I would contact those who I thought could help the most effectively.

Good luck to you getting the word out. I think you would be best to repost this on one of the Sturgis Rally websites message boards to get things buzzing. It's worth a try. Who knows? Maybe your input will open some eyes to what is happening. Bikers can be very influential, especially when it is them that brings the economy up during the rally each year.

[KathyM]

Thanks Sandy. I've been trying, and no one seems to care.

Yesterday I watched footage of Sen. McCain at the Sturgis rally. It turned my stomach when he pounded his fist and said "We're going to drill right here, right now." Excuse me? He was addressing a bunch of TOURISTS who have no connection whatsoever to the Black Hills. He looked like a modern day version of George Custer - i.e., to heck with the inhabitants or the designation of sacred land, we want their gold.

What made it even worse for me is this is the man who wants to be in charge of "restoring the moral authority" in the world. What does he do? He offers up his WIFE to participate in the Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty contest - a contest where women usually strip naked in order to win. I pan over to Mrs. McCain, and she looked anxious to show off her "banana-eating skills" to the crowd. Personally, I'd be FURIOUS if my husband asked me to strip for a crowd. I also would NEVER show off my "banana-eating" skills to strangers. Maybe I'm just not "classy" enough to run for office.

[KathyM]

In case no one believes me about the "Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Contest."

[]

[Chemar]

sorry Kathy edit needed re guidelines.

I understand your feelings and even agree with some of them, but this honestly isnt the place for these kinds of discussions. There are political forums for those, but here people's feelings just get in a knot when things cut too close to their own political views negatively.

It is ok to have limited politics, in a generalized way. But the operative word is LIMITED. It is in the guidelines clearly

- Limit your direct discussion of politics, as people usually hold pretty strong opinions about this topic. Use the Politics Icon when posting a political thread.

soooooo
the link was just too errr graphic and guidelines talk about that too

You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-oriented .......

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=1293

I know feelings are strong....and I understand........

but this isnt the place to express them this way. too many with diverse views to maintain community harmony.

this is first and foremost a self help and mutual support *Health* community and we dont want to bring about any more stress in members' lives than they already have.
Politics triggers many and it causes stressful reactions.

that is a very good reason IMHO to abide by guidelines and *Limit* direct discussion of politics here.
Last thing I want to have to do is close this thread..............

[KathyM]

Thanks Chemar. I understand why you had to remove the link. I don't want to turn this into a political discussion either.

I'm just frustrated by all the silence when it comes to the rights of our indigenous people - they are human too. I'm also disgusted by all the hypocrisy when I see all those "God Bless America" signs. When I combine the two, I get the impression that most Americans hold entertainment and destruction of people/sacred land on a pedestal and care nothing about God or their fellow man - unless they want to buy or have something from God.

I also posted an article about American Indian boarding schools on several different forums. I suspect I'll get the silent treatment again. I'm not sure how to interpret the meaning of all this silence.

Thank YOU for responding, even if it was just to scold me, lol/jk