Late last month, Governor Kristi Noem declared that there should be a Tribal Public Safety Summit in Pierre on June 24. It didn't go over well.
Indeed, ICT/Rapid City Journal staffer Amelia Schafer reported in Noem announces Tribal Public Safety Summit, many tribal leaders unable to attend, that mostly South Dakota's tribal nations had other plans:
. . . Instead of attending, Star Comes Out said the Oglala Sioux Tribe will be focused on engaging in its annual Little Big Horn Victory Day festivities.
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Chairman J. Garrett Renville said he also will not be attending. Renville has prior commitments in North Dakota. . . .
I'm not sure if Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate chair Renville will be back from North Dakota the next day, but Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate members must have done some reflecting on the significance of the Battle of Greasy Grass, as it's known in these parts.
From the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate's Facebook page:
The SWO Cultural Preservation Board made a motion to recommend Tribal Council recognize June 25th, Battle of the Little Bighorn Victory Day as a tribal holiday. It's important for us as SWO as an ally with the Lakota, Nakota, Arapaho and Cheyenne to support this day as a day of recognition for all tribes. We are the only ones in history who are victorious over the US Government in our efforts to survive. With that said, we are inviting everyone to come share in this important day.
The image at the top of this post is from the Facebook page post.
Perhaps my romantic partner, a SWO elder, and I will prepare some braised buffalo to share. There's a marvelous recipe in Sean Sherman's The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen. Or maybe--if Mike still has some frozen chokecherries from his indigenous orchard--we'll make some wojapi in the hopes that there might be fry bread.
Image: From the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Facebook page.
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