CPTnet
June 15, 1999
South Dakota: Power of the Spirit
by Patty Burdette

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic
powers of this present darkess, against the spiritual forces of
evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NRSV).

"We keep talking about 'the Powers That Be,'" said Oliver Red
Cloud near the end of the meeting, "but it seems like Janklow and Daschle
are the ones who have all the power."

The meeting between members of the Black Hills Sioux Nation
Treaty Council and US Army Corps of Engineers staff contained
repeated references to "the Powers That Be"-individuals with
"power" in the State Capitol or Congress to be used for or
against the Mitigation Act, or references to "those with the
power" to do or not do certain things. Yet it was clear, that the Treaty
Council, like all American Indians, were "power"-less politically.

Two days later in more meetings, Emily Iron Cloud-Koenen spoke in her gentle
Lakota manner:

"You took Indian lands to finance your first colonies and your
wars. . . Daschle is a criminal for trying to take more of our
land. This will not happen."

Eileen Iron Cloud spoke more strong words. "Tell Sen. Daschle,
we know you want our land, but you will not get this land."

Charmaine White Face urged government staff present, "If you are Christian
get out your Bible and read what it says about justice. You must listen
with your heart," she said.

Then White Face recounted the Lakota prophecy, "First the men
will fight the non-Indians with arrows, bullets, and other
weapons of war. But one day the women will come forward to fight a
spiritual battle, for women are spiritual warriors."

"I believe that day has come," she continued, "because we are
here today speaking out and we Lakota women pray daily for the good health
of Sen. Daschle and Gov. Janklow." She explained, "To the Lakota people
'good health' means more than just physical health. It also means mental,
emotional and spiritual health."

As the Black Hills Treaty Council, the Makoce Luta Coalition and other
impoverished grassroots organizations struggle to mount resistance to this
massive transfer of federal land, spiritual warfare may be their greatest
strength.

The Mitigation Act, according to the Army Corps, it is the
largest transfer of federally owned land to a state in US
history. Yet the land transfer will cost the State of South
Dakota not one cent. This unprecedented transfer of federal land is being
financed by US taxpayers to the tune of some $3 million in FY 2000, assuming
the House Appropriations Committee grants this Senate-approved amount, and
well over $100 million in the future. The Act calls for $10 million annually
for the next 10 years until a trust fund of $108 million for the State of
South Dakota is realized.

The chronically underfunded Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal Governments
have few financial resources to resist the land transfer. The Black Hills
Treaty Council, Makoce Luta Coalition, Lakota Landowners and other
grassroots groups have virtually no financial resources to resist, as the
Lakota (Sioux) tribes in South Dakota continue to be the poorest of the poor
in North America. The US Army Corps of Engineers, Sen. Daschle's office,
the US Congress, and the State of South Dakota have nearly unlimited
financial resources to implement this Act.

The Lakota and non-Lakota grassroots resistance to the land
transfer legislation begins with daily prayers at the spiritual
camp, Oceti Sakowin ("Seven Council Fires"), on LaFramboise
Island within sight of the state Capitol Building in Pierre, SD.
The camp has been "praying without ceasing" since it was
established some months ago. Added to this are the prayers of
Lakota and non-Lakota throughout the world.

With the tremendous disparity of financial and personal resources between
the American and Lakota nations, a miracle, a spiritual healing, a
redemption of "the powers that be," may be the only hope for justice.