October 23, 2004
Saturday, 23 October 2004 01:00 | 
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October 23, 2004
Defenders Regular Meeting Notes 10-23-2004
Opening Prayer: Garvard Good Plume
Opening Remarks: Charmaine White Face
Six Defenders attended the Lewis and Clark protest in Bismarck, and also, along with 40 others, attended a prayer gathering at the turtle sacred site across from the main office of Cotteau Mines. Garvard, Lilly, and Ingrid gave reports. Their trip was funded by the donations and proceeds from raffle at the Black Hills Pow Wow.
Charmaine might attend the OAS meeting in Wash. DC, on Nov. 4-12, regarding the American Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights. She and Garvard will be attending the next UN Working Group Meeting on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva Nov. 29-Dec. 3. Funding for these comes from project specific sources.
Introductions
Treasurers Report: Brian Brademeyer
We are very low in our finances. The overhead for the office is about $500 per month. We have let the Office Manager go as we must keep the office open. It is a symbol of the Treaty and the elders and Treaty people are all happy to have this office. Also, Charmaine doesn't want all the files back in her apartment. However, we received $520 in donations on this same day which will help us operate through Dec. 2004, and gives time for additional fund raising. ("Let the Spirit lead.") Some of our small grants were project specific. Our general operating grants have been expended for "general operating." Charmaine requested help with the grant writing. She has ideas for projects and also for general operating funds but doesn't have the time to do the grant writing.
We are very low in our finances. The overhead for the office is about $500 per month. We have let the Office Manager go as we must keep the office open. It is a symbol of the Treaty and the elders and Treaty people are all happy to have this office. Also, Charmaine doesn't want all the files back in her apartment. However, we received $520 in donations on this same day which will help us operate through Dec. 2004, and gives time for additional fund raising. ("Let the Spirit lead.") Some of our small grants were project specific. Our general operating grants have been expended for "general operating." Charmaine requested help with the grant writing. She has ideas for projects and also for general operating funds but doesn't have the time to do the grant writing.
Minutes: Nancy Kile
Reading of the Minutes were waived. Copies were available. A quorum of the Board of Directors was present and voted to approve Defenders minutes for the Oct. 2003-Oct. 2004 year. Copies of the official minutes will be kept at the Defenders office at 919 Main, St., Suite 110, Rapid City, SD. The Board of Directors consists of: Nancy Kile (Oglala), Jake Kreilick (National Forest Protection Alliance), Jeremy Nichols (Biodiversity Conservation Alliance), Brian Brademeyer (Native Ecosystems Council), Janice Bad Horse Larson (Cul Wicasa), Jesse Taken Alive (Hunkpapa), Brett Shelton (Oglala), and
Reading of the Minutes were waived. Copies were available. A quorum of the Board of Directors was present and voted to approve Defenders minutes for the Oct. 2003-Oct. 2004 year. Copies of the official minutes will be kept at the Defenders office at 919 Main, St., Suite 110, Rapid City, SD. The Board of Directors consists of: Nancy Kile (Oglala), Jake Kreilick (National Forest Protection Alliance), Jeremy Nichols (Biodiversity Conservation Alliance), Brian Brademeyer (Native Ecosystems Council), Janice Bad Horse Larson (Cul Wicasa), Jesse Taken Alive (Hunkpapa), Brett Shelton (Oglala), and
Charmaine White Face (Oglala).
Second Annual Worker Bee Awards: Janice Bad Horse Larson and Ingrid Long Soldier
Cement Law Suite: Jeremy BCA printed some beautiful, color brochures about the Black Hills which they will be mailing out, and have provided to Defenders for handouts. (If anyone would like some, please contact the office, either through the mail or by phone.)
Cement Law Suite: Jeremy BCA printed some beautiful, color brochures about the Black Hills which they will be mailing out, and have provided to Defenders for handouts. (If anyone would like some, please contact the office, either through the mail or by phone.)
The proposed Cement Timber Sales project is located in an area of the He'Sapa near the Sand Creek roadless area. However, the Cement area is not included in the roadless designation which provides protection for trees and wildlife. It does contain rare plants and old growth that will be adversely affected by the proposed cutting of 10 million board ft. of timber. To put this amount of lumber in perspective, 2,000 board feet fills 1 logging truck; 15,000 board feet are needed for 1 house. The USFS wants to log 10,000,000 board feet out of this one area.
This area is near Cement Ridge and Iron Creek, west and south of Spearfish, SD. BCA filed for an injunction, and the logging is temporarily stalled. Nieman Timber, Hill City is the contractor. The Cement Ridge timber sale alone will have 5,000 logging trucks going into the He'Sapa, then transporting 2,000 board ft. of lumber per truck.
Welcome-Sand Timber Sale: A sister sale called the Welcome-Sand is also proposed on the Wyoming side of the He'Sapa near the Cement Timber sale. A full Environment Impact Study is to be completed which means we will be able to comment. Jeremy will watch for the announcement and keep us informed. Most of the timber sale monies collected by the National Forest Service for these types of lumber sales go back into the timber sales processes and industry. Forest Service is an agency of the Dept. Of Agriculture under the executive branch of the US government.
Phase II Amendment: Brian
Phase II Amendment: Brian
The Phase II Amendment of the USFS Management Plan is open for comments until Dec. 15. BCA's Black Hills brochures also contain information and comment cards on the Phase II Amendment. The Phase II Amendment does not protect wildlife, but protects the trespassers who are illegally living in the He'Sapa. Jeremy said the USFS said there are no environmental justice issues in the Black Hills. The Forest Service claims that wildlife will be okay in the Phase II Amendment, and that protecting houses is more important then protecting wildlife habitat.
Discussion. Brian will coordinate the Phase II Comment card action.
Logging: Ruth brought photos and reported on the heavy logging activity that continues in the area off Rolling Hills Rd. which can be accessed off Nemo Rd. Prayers were said asking for the
protection of the He'Sapa, and the Buffalo that are being killed at Yellow Stone National Park. Ruth also provided hand outs with information about the Buffalo at Yellowstone.
On the Internet, check out: http://www.wildrockies.org/Buffalo/politk99/stssign.html
protection of the He'Sapa, and the Buffalo that are being killed at Yellow Stone National Park. Ruth also provided hand outs with information about the Buffalo at Yellowstone.
On the Internet, check out: http://www.wildrockies.org/Buffalo/politk99/stssign.html
Hell Canyon: (Eagle Thunder Canyon) Update: Charmaine reported that the plans to build a bridge across this place with petroglyphs is proceeding.
Signs: Charmaine mentioned the sign action for all the signs in the He'Sapa to also include Lakota and Cheyenne names and language. Eric will collect the place names. (We already have in Lakota: Remember the Black Hills are sacred. "He' Sapa kin Wakan, oheniya kik suyapo." Nora mentioned that there is money for this in the Transportation Dept. and she will get the name and number to Charmaine.
Other: Nora reported a proposal to black top the road from I-90, Exit 8 to Iron Creek Lake which is southwest of Spearfish. This will destroy many plants (medicines). Eric stated he wrote a letter to the Shakopee Tribe to help with funding for Defenders. Jace also has contacted them about help with Bear Butte. Charmaine reported that the land trust fund can continue once we have completed our 501c (3) process.
Nancy reported that: 1. The Meade Co. Commissioners passed the sign ordinance for all of Meade County (in which Bear Butte is located) which will control billboards and signs. Good measure. And 2. The Meade Co. Commissioners wrote a letter supporting the idea of a blacktop road to connect I-90 with Highway 79 which will go through BLM land across from Black Hills National Cemetery.
He'Sapa Wopila Gathering, Sunday - Nov. 21, 2004, Mother Butler Center, Rapid City.
He'Sapa Wopila Gathering, Sunday - Nov. 21, 2004, Mother Butler Center, Rapid City.
Meet at the MBC Parking lot at 9:00 and caravan to Beaver Park. Lunch served at 12:00 followed by a meeting. Defenders had a prayer gathering in the Black Hills in August, 2003, and must finish the ceremony with a thank you (wopila) (Flyers available for distribution.)
Raffle: Nancy recommended each person sell at least 100 tickets to help Defenders financial situation. Tickets are available at the office. Prizes include: star quilt, two oil paintings, one ledger painting, and a flute. Drawing will be held during the Lakota Nation Invitational Basketball Tournament, Dec. 15-18 Call (605) 399-1868 or write the office, PO Box 2003, Rapid City, SD 57709 for your tickets.
Other: Eric, Garvard, Jesse, and Charmaine reported on their meetings with Senate candidate John Thune, and SD Gov. Mike Rounds.
Closing Prayer: Jesse Taken Alive
Submitted: Nancy Kile, Secretary Concurred: Charmaine White Face, Coordinator
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"Defenders of the Black Hills is a group of volunteers without racial or tribal boundaries whose mission is to preserve, protect, and restore the environment of the 1851 and 1868 Treaty Territories, Treaties made between the United States and the Great Sioux Nation."
Speaking about radioactive fallout, the late President John F. Kennedy said,
"Even then, the number of children and grandchildren with cancer in their bones, with leukemia in their blood, or with poison in their lungs might seem statistically small to some, in comparison with natural health hazards. But this is not a natural health hazard and it is not a statistical issue. The loss of even one human life, or the malformation of even one baby who may be born long after we are gone, should be of concern to us all. Our children and grandchildren are not merely statistics toward which we can be indifferent."
July 26, 1963 upon signing the ban on above ground nuclear tests
