The Bikers Are Coming! The Bikers Are Coming!
This is the latest battle cry from the 60 indigenous tribes of the Plains Indians who travel to Bear Butte from the United States and Canada on the Northeastern edge of the Black Hills to fast and pray at their most sacred mountain. People from all over the world also come to Bear Butte to pray, meditate, to try to experience some of the spiritual connection that has been here from the beginning of time.
The tribes want to stem plans to build enormous biker bars and campsites all around the sacred mountain in anticipation of the 66th Annual Black Hills Sturgis Bike Rally which is set for August 7th through the 13th 2006. This is when the small town of Sturgis, South Dakota with some 6,000 inhabitants is inundated with more than 600,000 bikers from all over the world who spend a week indulging in wild drinking parties and tearing up the landscape.
April 04, 2006
Andy Harvey, News Reporter
KELOLAND TV
501 S. Phillips Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD, 57104
NATIVE AMERICANS PROTEST BAR PLANS
It's a sacred spot to Native Americans, but Bear Butte will soon be home to a bar. An Arizona man wants to build an entertainment complex near the base of the hill, just north of Sturgis. Jay Allen asked Meade County commissioners for a liquor license and today, all five unanimously approved it. But that didn't stop hundreds who oppose the bar from protesting the decision.
Native Americans chanted and carried signs to show their dismay for their sacred land being turned into a spot to sell and drink alcohol.
Protestor Nita Bald Eagle said, "It makes me angry because a lot of people go up there to pray and they go there to be closer to their spirituality."
They took their message to the Meade County Courthouse over the planned "Sturgis County Line Bar." Inside, county commissioners listened to both sides concerning Allen's proposed bar.
Floyd Licks The Buffalo Hand said, "Would you put a tavern by a church you go to everyday?"
But despite the protests, Allen has his supporters.
Sasha Mullins said, "His intentions are in the right place. For everything that he does, he cares very much about his neighbors."
Allen wants to build a venue just north of Bear Butte. His plans include a bar, campgrounds, and a concert area that could seat up to 30,000 people.
Jay Allen said, "You know I feel just as strongly as these people and I respect them very much, but I have the right to do what I am doing."
In the end, the commissioner unanimously granted Allen his liquor license.
Allen said, "You know what I'm embarrassed that this ever happened. I feel totally justified in what I'm doing and I'm very proud of it."
Judy Drapeaux, who’s against the vote, said, "Disappointed, angry and I feel bad for our people."
The Native American protestors say despite today's decision, they aren't giving up their fight against the bar. Meantime, Allen hopes to open the entertainment venue in time for this year's Sturgis Rally.
Rapid City Journal, SD editorial, April 6th, 2006:
Preserving Bear Butte
By The Journal Editorial Board
The Meade County Commission unanimously approved a beer license for a proposed Sturgis rally bar and campground near Bear Butte on Tuesday. In doing so, commissioners ignored hundreds of demonstrators who marched outside the Meade County Courthouse, urging the commission to preserve the sanctity of Bear Butte, which is considered sacred ground by about 60 American Indian tribes.
Tuesday's outcome was predictable. The commission had no reason to deny Allen a beer license because it has approved other license applications under similar circumstances.
Allen bought the land north of Bear Butte with the intention of developing it into a destination for rally goers. Meade County zoning laws allow Allen to build his proposed Sturgis County Line bar, campground and concert stage about two and one-half miles north of Bear Butte despite the fact that many Indian tribes consider the mountain to be a sacred site.
Dean Wink was the only commissioner who spoke at Tuesday's meeting. He said he didn't think Meade County needed another biker bar, but "I have a problem deviating from the standards we've set down."
The Bear Butte International Alliance opposes Allen's plans because it is too close to Bear Butte and has called on Meade County to refuse beer and liquor licenses within seven miles of Bear Butte.
One way to preserve Bear Butte as a sacred site is to buy nearby land with the intention of keeping it as open space. Individuals and groups who want to preserve the area surrounding Bear Butte State Park from encroaching development can raise money and buy the land adjacent to the park, including Allen's property.
It's not so far-fetched an idea. Conservation groups such as Nature Conservancy buy land to prevent development. And just last month the Northern Cheyenne tribe purchased 36 acres west of Bear Butte to preserve it. The tribe, in fact, has been purchasing land around Bear Butte and now owns more than 750 acres surrounding the park.
Encroachment on Bear Butte will continue to be an issue in the future. Based on the hundreds of people who peacefully demonstrated against Allen's license application, Meade County officials ought to consider enacting zoning that would limit commercial development near the state park and respect the sanctity of Bear Butte.
There is plenty of land near Sturgis for biker bars, campgrounds and concert venues that won't encroach on Bear Butte. However, Allen has a right to use his land in a manner consistent with existing zoning laws, and the county commission had no legal basis to deny Allen a beer license. If groups want to protect Bear Butte from Allen's proposed Sturgis County Line bar, they can raise money and make Allen an offer he won't refuse.
Additional words - From Jean bedell-maskikinabinais:
My great grandfather Sitting Bull said: "Let us put our minds together to see what we can do!" and he also said" My grandchildren’s grandchildren will know who I am". Time has not changed for the Indian and the fight against the whiteman to just let us live as we have always wanted to do.
The Oceti Sakowin needs to come together and use the tools he has to protect what little we have left which includes the lands, water, and mostly the future generations. Are we not the endangered species now of human? We have access to those pleasures of the whiteman so lets use them.
We can network for support in the east and congressman and other private foundations and corporations. Maybe we can get together and strategize how we can seek congressional support to protect Bear Butte!! Anyone? Akicita?? give us your opinion.. Please pass this on,
Jeanne (third generation of iyoyanka tanka {Sitting Bull} tiwahe)
Contacts:
Carter Camp
Inter-Tribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte
www.defendbearbutte.org
605–455-2508
Nick Tilsen – ntilsen@lakotaaction.net
Carter Camp – cartercamp@yahoo.com
Alex White Plume – alexwp@gwtc.net
TO SUBMIT an ARTICLE or OPINION PIECE to the Native Unity Digest, e-mail bobbieo@digitaldune.net.
NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.
Visit Vietnam Vet. Larry Mitchell at http://www.potawatomivet.com and click on his blog at the site.
The tribes want to stem plans to build enormous biker bars and campsites all around the sacred mountain in anticipation of the 66th Annual Black Hills Sturgis Bike Rally which is set for August 7th through the 13th 2006. This is when the small town of Sturgis, South Dakota with some 6,000 inhabitants is inundated with more than 600,000 bikers from all over the world who spend a week indulging in wild drinking parties and tearing up the landscape.
April 04, 2006
Andy Harvey, News Reporter
KELOLAND TV
501 S. Phillips Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD, 57104
NATIVE AMERICANS PROTEST BAR PLANS
It's a sacred spot to Native Americans, but Bear Butte will soon be home to a bar. An Arizona man wants to build an entertainment complex near the base of the hill, just north of Sturgis. Jay Allen asked Meade County commissioners for a liquor license and today, all five unanimously approved it. But that didn't stop hundreds who oppose the bar from protesting the decision.
Native Americans chanted and carried signs to show their dismay for their sacred land being turned into a spot to sell and drink alcohol.
Protestor Nita Bald Eagle said, "It makes me angry because a lot of people go up there to pray and they go there to be closer to their spirituality."
They took their message to the Meade County Courthouse over the planned "Sturgis County Line Bar." Inside, county commissioners listened to both sides concerning Allen's proposed bar.
Floyd Licks The Buffalo Hand said, "Would you put a tavern by a church you go to everyday?"
But despite the protests, Allen has his supporters.
Sasha Mullins said, "His intentions are in the right place. For everything that he does, he cares very much about his neighbors."
Allen wants to build a venue just north of Bear Butte. His plans include a bar, campgrounds, and a concert area that could seat up to 30,000 people.
Jay Allen said, "You know I feel just as strongly as these people and I respect them very much, but I have the right to do what I am doing."
In the end, the commissioner unanimously granted Allen his liquor license.
Allen said, "You know what I'm embarrassed that this ever happened. I feel totally justified in what I'm doing and I'm very proud of it."
Judy Drapeaux, who’s against the vote, said, "Disappointed, angry and I feel bad for our people."
The Native American protestors say despite today's decision, they aren't giving up their fight against the bar. Meantime, Allen hopes to open the entertainment venue in time for this year's Sturgis Rally.
Rapid City Journal, SD editorial, April 6th, 2006:
Preserving Bear Butte
By The Journal Editorial Board
The Meade County Commission unanimously approved a beer license for a proposed Sturgis rally bar and campground near Bear Butte on Tuesday. In doing so, commissioners ignored hundreds of demonstrators who marched outside the Meade County Courthouse, urging the commission to preserve the sanctity of Bear Butte, which is considered sacred ground by about 60 American Indian tribes.
Tuesday's outcome was predictable. The commission had no reason to deny Allen a beer license because it has approved other license applications under similar circumstances.
Allen bought the land north of Bear Butte with the intention of developing it into a destination for rally goers. Meade County zoning laws allow Allen to build his proposed Sturgis County Line bar, campground and concert stage about two and one-half miles north of Bear Butte despite the fact that many Indian tribes consider the mountain to be a sacred site.
Dean Wink was the only commissioner who spoke at Tuesday's meeting. He said he didn't think Meade County needed another biker bar, but "I have a problem deviating from the standards we've set down."
The Bear Butte International Alliance opposes Allen's plans because it is too close to Bear Butte and has called on Meade County to refuse beer and liquor licenses within seven miles of Bear Butte.
One way to preserve Bear Butte as a sacred site is to buy nearby land with the intention of keeping it as open space. Individuals and groups who want to preserve the area surrounding Bear Butte State Park from encroaching development can raise money and buy the land adjacent to the park, including Allen's property.
It's not so far-fetched an idea. Conservation groups such as Nature Conservancy buy land to prevent development. And just last month the Northern Cheyenne tribe purchased 36 acres west of Bear Butte to preserve it. The tribe, in fact, has been purchasing land around Bear Butte and now owns more than 750 acres surrounding the park.
Encroachment on Bear Butte will continue to be an issue in the future. Based on the hundreds of people who peacefully demonstrated against Allen's license application, Meade County officials ought to consider enacting zoning that would limit commercial development near the state park and respect the sanctity of Bear Butte.
There is plenty of land near Sturgis for biker bars, campgrounds and concert venues that won't encroach on Bear Butte. However, Allen has a right to use his land in a manner consistent with existing zoning laws, and the county commission had no legal basis to deny Allen a beer license. If groups want to protect Bear Butte from Allen's proposed Sturgis County Line bar, they can raise money and make Allen an offer he won't refuse.
Additional words - From Jean bedell-maskikinabinais:
My great grandfather Sitting Bull said: "Let us put our minds together to see what we can do!" and he also said" My grandchildren’s grandchildren will know who I am". Time has not changed for the Indian and the fight against the whiteman to just let us live as we have always wanted to do.
The Oceti Sakowin needs to come together and use the tools he has to protect what little we have left which includes the lands, water, and mostly the future generations. Are we not the endangered species now of human? We have access to those pleasures of the whiteman so lets use them.
We can network for support in the east and congressman and other private foundations and corporations. Maybe we can get together and strategize how we can seek congressional support to protect Bear Butte!! Anyone? Akicita?? give us your opinion.. Please pass this on,
Jeanne (third generation of iyoyanka tanka {Sitting Bull} tiwahe)
Contacts:
Carter Camp
Inter-Tribal Coalition to Defend Bear Butte
www.defendbearbutte.org
605–455-2508
Nick Tilsen – ntilsen@lakotaaction.net
Carter Camp – cartercamp@yahoo.com
Alex White Plume – alexwp@gwtc.net
TO SUBMIT an ARTICLE or OPINION PIECE to the Native Unity Digest, e-mail bobbieo@digitaldune.net.
NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.
Visit Vietnam Vet. Larry Mitchell at http://www.potawatomivet.com and click on his blog at the site.
posted by Bobbie Hart O'Neill @ 11:25 AM
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