“When will we begin Healing and STAND”

NORTHERN CHEYENNE—A conversation ensued, on Red Shirt Talks, a YouTube podcast, concerning the dilemma facing the Northern Cheyenne. The host, an extremely bright young man from Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota had Gene Small, President of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe for an hour long talk show, neither one afraid to publicly state views and concerns. Both well informed about institutional disfunction in Indian Country.

The conversation ranged over many topics, the host informing President Small that “Indian Country is looking at the Northern Cheyenne.”

Small commented. “We don’t seem to know what we are doing. What we do know is that the IRA system of government is broken and does not serve the tribal members well. We (the traditional leaders and myself) are challenging that. Right now, the constitution serves the interest of elected officials, who get big paychecks, enable their families to benefit and then go upon extensive travel. The funds spend on that could help tribal members who suffer – more than a million yearly.”

Small concluded: “The constitution has to be changed. But it is a BIA driven process. Seems impossible. We did it before and can do it again, but need support, money wise and legal wise for that. The hard part will be including the traditional values.”

“What happened at Northern Cheyenne?” the moderator inquired.

“Long story, short—I ran on the platform of financial accountability. The money in the Tribe does not belong to the council. It belongs to the people and they have rights to know: Where did it come from? What was it intended for? How was it spent? Simple things. The council does not want to answer those questions. That is basically why they are trying to get rid of me. I do not have to be here. I make my own way, a rancher. Right now,” he laughed, “I am seriously neglecting my cows.”

“Word has it you have recently been impeached,” the moderator said.

“Yep, but nothing goes into effect until the BIA approves. So far, they have not done that. As a matter of fact, for the last year, the BIA has not acted on any tribal resolutions until it is determined who is the legal authority. They are holding up federal funds with horrible effect. For example, our college kids relying upon tribal scholarship fund are not getting checks; the elderly program in same boat; Head Start; Low Income Energy Assistance, the Boys and Girls Club to name just a few of most needy. I just got word that the I.H.S. will also be withholding funds.”

“Even funeral funds,” Small stressed. “We are in the hole to Stevensons and Sons, those who provide funeral services, threatening to cut us off. Then what? Go back to (putting) people in trees; building pine boxes put in a hand dug hole, or hiding them in rocks? That is not against Montana Law and myself might prefer that, instead of getting embalmed.”

Small focused in on his deepest concerns: “One of the pickles is that the old council, reinstated by Tribal Court voted to take away my signature authority, so I can no longer sign checks to relieve those situations. The tribe itself is near broke to my knowledge. They are not taking care of things either, but they have managed to get themselves a years back pay from something called the Legacy Fund of 1.5 million; news to me. Don’t know where that came from. Probably from rich left -wing people around the world who think they are doing a good thing.”

The moderator commented, “Many Indian tribes in the Great Plains area are experiencing similar problems related to IRA constitutions and are looking at Northern Cheyenne. What advice would you give?”

Small paused before reply: “We have to begin the healing process. For too long our people have been quiet, thinking, ‘This is the way it is. We have to live with it.’ They have not had opportunity to learn our history. And now, because of money, people are fighting each other. That is not Cheyenne way. Money, in traditional way is only a tool to help each other. Too many of our people have been blinded to that.”

Small continued: “Truth is, we don’t unanimously care for each other anymore, overtaken by greed and jealousy for money. For all of history going back thousands of years, the Northern Cheyenne were a small group of people, only surviving because we helped each other, knowing no on else would. I understand that we started off in very cold country, maybe Mongolia and it took much time and sacrifice. They fought off saber tooth tigers and short faced bears (terrible creatures) for example, to reach warmer country, several perishing on that long journey. Others made it, huddling by fires and fed by warriors who found a little precious food. Same thing almost happened when the Cheyenne were on the run from Oklahoma to Montana. Little Wolf did not give up. Dull Knife, one of my family ancestors, decided to go back to the Sioux, decision leading to near wipe out. We have to get back to the ‘not give up’ way of thinking or acting. Fighting over government scraps is destroying us.

Small continued: “At one time, a goal of the U.S. Military was to wipe the Northern Cheyenne off the face of this earth. They didn’t get that done. But, now, we could possibly do it to ourselves. That is why I am trying to encourage our people to act in the old way—STAND. Stand strong. Look to each other.”

Small concluded: “Otherwise, I fear we will fail. I will not quit. In the very near future, the FBI and Feds might prove what I have predicted. It will not be pleasant, but if you steal from and cause suffering upon your own people, a price must be paid. I hope for better behavior from my people. They just need to be encouraged to remember the old ways. When I fulfilled my vows at Bear Butte, fasting 4 times, someone came to me saying ‘You will go a hard way.’ I accepted that. No choice. Thus, encouraged by that message, I think our people must know: we can still STAND. I intend to do that, but you never know, I could also go down. If that is what it takes, that will be what it takes.”

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennereview@gmail.com)

The post “When will we begin Healing and STAND” first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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