Posted by Rich on July 14, 1999 at 04:31:51:
In Reply to: Hi all! And re. Whiteclay... posted by Petra on July 14, 1999 at 02:44:25:
Hi Petra!
Sounds like a GREAT trip! We've been to most all the places you mentioned and would have LOVED to have gone with you!
Regarding the Conservation Officer's comments, and your own:
: He said, the local people were so angry at all those events that after everything was over, they came and destroyed it. He continued: "And the same thing is going on right now again!" and said that AIM is bringing in people from places like Minnesota and that they are the ones throwing rocks. And he said something about them causing troubles with Nebraska. Very interesting, I thought. For sure controversial comments. But it's not the first time I hear this from people who live up there. I have heard people say before that Russell Means is not considered a local on the Rez'es up there, but as an Indian who grew up in the S.F. Bay area and who shouldn't speak for the people who live on the reservation. Not my words. Just thought that was interesting.
I've mentioned a couple of friends of ours before, Selo Black Crow & Jake Little Thunder, from up on Pine Ridge. Both are full-blooded Lakota (Oglala/Brule) ... Jake is the grandson of Chief Little Thunder whose village was attacked in the 1850's on the "Blue Water" in retaliation for the Gratton "Massacre" by General Harney. Anyway, both of them STRONGLY voiced opinions similar to what you have put forth above! Neither was a Russell Means fan. Both are very traditional & looked upon Russell with some disdain ...
Speaking of Jake, who is now very elderly ... every year we get a Christmas card from him, with the exception of this past one. I am kind of afraid to find out why!
By the way, his nephew, Jonathan, is listed in the credits of TNT's "Crazy Horse." He was one of Crazy Horse's core warriors. We got to meet Nathan Chases His Horse, as well, though he was just a teenager at the time. Both were fine young boys!