January 22, 2005

January 22, 2005

Defenders of the Black Hills


Regular Meeting Jan. 22, 2005

Opening Prayer: Garvard Good Plume
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Opening Remarks: Charmaine White Face
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Introductions

Treasurer?s Report: Brian

One of our small grants finally came in so we will be okay for a while. We? operated on the proceeds from this last raffle for the months of Nov. And Dec.? The raffle was a success and we made about $1200. For privacy reasons we do not? publicize our finances.
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Minutes: Nancy
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1. Coteau Freedom Mine Expansion Project
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A meeting is being planned to get the Tribes together and talk about the? issues of the Coteau Freedom Mine.

The Bureau of Land Management must look at a total new agreement as Three? Affiliated Tribes backed out of agreement. None of the other tribes had agreed. Historic records prove the? Battle of Killdeer Mountain occurred in this same area, and the US military massacred Tituwan (Lakota) people.? Discussion; issue tabled until the Feb. meeting.
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2. Cave Hills-Sioux Ranger District EIS:
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Defenders have received 3 copies of the final Sioux Ranger District EIS for? the Cave Hills/Slim Buttes oil and gas drilling proposal. This is also the area? with 27 unmarked open-pit uranium mines. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe will be? having a meeting with the Custer National Forest officials who are in charge of? the area. It was decided that Defenders ask the Forest Service to set up an? evening meeting in Rapid also, as the central location will allow information to? be more available to more people.

A secondary issue that was brought up was the proposal to change the name of? Custer State Park by an organization from Oklahoma to Crazy Horse State? Park. Discussion was that this would be an insult to Crazy Horse to combine his? name with ?state?. Need to change "Custer State Park" to something else but not? Crazy Horse. Possibly recommend renaming Custer National Forest in Montana to? Crazy Horse National Forest. No decision was made.
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3. Missouri River:
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Army Corp of Engineers is pushing for Tribes to quantify their water in the? Missouri River, a treaty issue. Legal support is needed to protect the burial? and sacred sites along the River. Need to ask Tim to tape an update for us.? Discussion followed.
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4. Homestake Mine:
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The Committee on State Affairs at the request of the Department of Tourism? and State Development with support from Gov. Mike Rounds passed Senate Bill 61? with 8-1 approval. The proposed law goes to the South Dakota Senate floor on? Monday, 1-24-2005. (Update: SB 61 was passed by the SD Senate on Monday and now? goes to the state House.)

Defenders discussed and completed the draft of our position statement. It was? also decided that we would attach a petition with the document and distribute? widely. Charmaine will prepare a press statement to be sent out as soon as? Sunday, 1-23-05.
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5. Angostura Bill:


Angostura Dam expiration is coming up. A Federal rider was pushed through on? a federal bill last week. More information on this is needed.
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6. USFS Management Plan: Brian

Defenders signed on as a co-sponsor with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance? on a Conservation Amendment as a recommendation to the USFS and their management? of Black Hills National Forest. Comment period ended Jan. 14, 2005. It will be? at least six months before all comments are read and a final decision is made.? Need legal help.
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7. NFPA Endangered Forest Nomination
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Do we want to nominate the Black Hills as one of the 10 most endangered? forests again? Should we emphasize the sacredness of the He`Sapa by highlighting? the cultural desecration? Increased urbanization, commercial and housing? development, ATV, and other land uses continue to degrade the environment of the? Black Hills.

It was asked if Defenders has taken a position on the Custer State Park? proposed convention center? We need more information.


8. Reports:
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Marvin reported a magazine article about the plans for a Great Plains SIN? Fuels project that is being promoted East river. These plants use a coal? gasification process to make natural gas out of coal. This industry? requires the use of a lot of water. Mercury contamination is a serious concern.? Raises DM&E issue again.

Nancy gave a summary report from the Bear Butte Preservation Task Force? Jan. 6 meeting notes. Requested Defenders? help funding start up costs of? BBPTF buffer zone fund raising project. ?Sponsor a Star? quilt. Next meeting is? scheduled for Feb. 3, 6 p.m., tentative meeting place is Bear Butte Lodge.

TJ, Janice, Garvard and Lilly described their experiences at the Lakota? People?s School of Liberation held Jan. 17-19 at the Outlaw Ranch, Custer,? SD. Two scholarships were given to Defenders.

TJ, Garvard, Wani and Brian will spearhead a committee for a June? 11-12-2005 Summer Defenders regular meeting and weekend camping event that? will offer Lakota youth an opportunity to experience the Black Hills.

Lilly asked Defenders to publicize a letter requesting that the public submit? letters of support for a 160 acre Skyline Drive Preservation Committee.? Defenders will send the letter out on our web list. Lilly will draft a letter? from Defenders of the Black Hills supporting the Skyline Drive Wilderness Park? plan.
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9. Announcements:


a. Defenders will give a presentation to the Dakota Nation Tribal Council on? the International work, and

table at the Dakota Nation Winter Fest, Brandon, Manitoba, Jan. 28-30.

b. Dr. Craig Howe is presenting "Rocking the Lewis and Clark Keel Boat", Jan.? 24 at BHSU, Spearfish.
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Defenders next Regular Meeting, Sat. Feb. 26, at St. Isaac Jogues coffee? room, 1-5 p.m.

Closing Prayer: Charmaine

Potluck

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Skyline Drive Wilderness Park

Dear Defenders,
We received the following letter from Charles Tinent? regarding saving a piece of natural ecosystem in the middle of Rapid City.? This was brought to our last meeting, Jan. 22.? We are sending this to? you as one way of everyone being able to keep on finding small ways to save? the Treaty territory from total development and destruction, and to keep? everyone informed of all the issues that are faced in this area. Thank? you in advance for any help you might give.
 
Sincerely,
Charmaine White? Face, Coordinator
Defenders of the Black Hills
PO Box 2003
Rapid City,? SD 57709
(605)? 399-1868
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??? I? am writing to you because I believe you value our wild lands and through? your help we can save 160 acres of Skyline Drive from development. I am? asking that you write a letter to the 2012 committee explaining that you? value green space in Rapid City and would like to see money spent on? preserving wild land, rather than on a project like a new ice hockey? rink.

About 10-years ago my father began to raise money for a 160-acre? wilderness park on Skyline Drive. His work led to a committee called the? Skyline Drive Preservation Committee being formed. So far the committee has? raised about $1.3 million dollars. The Skyline Drive Wilderness Park needs? another $800,000 and is asking for this money from the [Rapid City] 2012? committee.

As my Dad says, "We need letters from all segments of the? population, stating why they think saving the land as green space is a good? idea, what Skyline Drive Wilderness Park means to them, and how it will? benefit the citizens of Rapid City (not to mention deer, fox, turkeys and? song birds). We are also trying to place a number on how many people it will? serve, and how it will be utilized. Educational uses and youth organization? uses will have a big impact. Thanks again for the help."

This is one? of the few times when an hour of your time can have a major impact on the? natural world. Please send your letter to Chuck Tinant at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thank you in advance for your help in? preserving our planet. Please keep in mind the concept of seven generations.? Ask yourself how my actions today impact those who come after? me...

Charles Jason Tinant
1910 West Florman St.
Rapid City, SD? 57702
Tel: (605) 718-4351