Inter-Tribal Coalition encampment in Bear Butte, South Dakota

[undeterred]

This is a report from Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) about a situation involving Native American rights. I hadn't heard this story anywhere else. (CPT had 4 members held hostage in Iraq not long ago, one murdered.) They strive to achieve justice through peaceful interventions.

BEAR BUTTE, SOUTH DAKOTA: Gathering of Nations encampment begins; Sheriff's department says permit required
by Mark Frey

On 3 July, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) placed a small team at Bear Butte, SD to provide a supportive presence for an Inter-Tribal Coalition encampment. People organizing the encampment are trying to prevent the development of the Bear Butte mountain area. The Coalition invited CPT to assist with camp logistics, provide observation and documentation of activities, and possibly intervene if pro-development people threaten the nonviolent encampment with violence.

The United States agreed in an 1868 treaty that Bear Butte--along with much of western South Dakota--was the territory of the Lakota. The U.S. very soon violated that treaty when European American settlers discovered gold in the Black Hills; today Bear Butte is a state park.

The Gathering of the Nations encampment kicked off on 4 July at the base of Bear Butte with sacred ceremonies, speakers from a range of Native and non-Native allies and meetings among tribal leaders. One of the meetings-- between the Lakota chief and the chief of the Northern Cheyenne Nation--was the first meeting between these Nations' chiefs since 1868.

Although the encampment is on land owned by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, on 5 July, Sheriff's authorities told participants that they needed a $500 permit to camp there. Camp leadership is discussing how to respond.

Over 100 people have participated in the encampment so far.

Bear Butte mountain, sacred to many Native peoples, is located just outside Sturgis, SD, host to the annual Sturgis Bike Week motorcycle rally which may draw more than half a million people 7-13 August 2006. Arizona developer Jay Allen is building what he boasts is the largest biker bar in the world, including a concert-venue amphitheater, within easy sight of Bear Butte mountain.

Tribal Organizers explained the importance of Bear Butte in a statement:
"While all of Mother Earth is Sacred, while all the Black Hills are sacred, Mato Paha (Bear Butte) is under the most direct threat, so we will gather there to send our voice to our Creator and our ancestors and ask them to stand with us, ask our Sacred Mountain to stand with us, to protect the Lakota people and the many other Tribal Nations who hold Bear Butte as Sacred . . .

"Our identity is interwoven in our Creation Stories with our Sacred Places; if they destroy our Sacred Places, they wipe out the Lakota Nation. Without our relationship to Mother Earth and our Sacred Places, we cannot be Lakota. We go to a peaceful camp, to gather our relatives from the four directions to make important decisions, together, about our future and our generations. We go in a respectful way to our Sacred Mountain to protect Her and to protect our Human Right to pray there, learn there, receive healing there.

This pivotal moment in history is a time for Indigenous People and our Allies to come together, to take courage, to stand together to protect our Sacred Places and our destiny."

More information is available at http://defendbearbutte.org/

Sometimes a place other than a religious building is considered sacred: Bear Butte is sacred to Native Americans.

[Cha]

1. To me this would be the

only kind of place that is "sacred"..

"Sometimes a place other than a religious building is considered sacred."

My best wishes for a peaceful occupation..they shouldn't have to pay $500 bucks.

[undeterred]

2. I think the truth here is doubly inconvenient

The rights of Native peoples have been violated even as the environment (speaking in general terms) has been grossly violated. How can a country that uses the whole earth as a trashcan understand a sacred place in nature? How can a country that acts as if it owned the resources of every other country on earth understand that it violated the original inhabitants of this land?

[ClassWarrior]

3. I'd like to go there and stand with them. That part of the world...

...IS sacred in many ways. You can feel it in the air there.

NGU.

[SpiralHawk]

4. What, you have no papers? Arrest them...

This Bear Butte scenario sounds to me a lot like the Rainbow Gathering situation in Colorado earlier this week.

What, you have no OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT APPROVAL|
to gather and think the way you want to?

Then off to jail with you, you freedom lover you.

[undeterred]

5. I didn't hear about that in the media either

I'm glad CPT is there to stand with the Native Americans, and I wish more of us were doing it. The only thing I seem to hear about Native Americans is how they are routinely ripped off by individual congressman regarding Casino issues.

[undeterred]

6. kicking for Native Americans!