Aftermath: Trump’s Black Hills trip

PART 3

KEYSTONE – When the dust settled from the demonstration against Donald Trump’s reelection campaign stop here at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, a petition and a follow-up event rose from the civil disobedience action, as foretold.

The petition entitled “Return Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills to the Lakota!” states:

“In 1877, the U.S. federal government unilaterally seized the Black Hills — which contain Mt. Rushmore — from the Sioux, a direct violation of the Ft. Laramie Treaty of 1868. The treaty language stated that these lands should be reserved for the ‘absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Indians’.

“In 1980, the Supreme Court agreed that the Black Hills had been unconstitutionally taken. Rather than return the land, the court awarded the tribes a settlement of $120.5 million, equivalent to the value of the land at the time it was stolen.

“But the Sioux have never accepted that payment — now, with interest and increased dollar value, worth more than $2 billion — declaring instead that ‘the Black Hills are not for sale’.

“Today, we call on the federal government to right historical wrongs, and to move our society forward. The United States must return what its own judges admit it has stolen. Return the Black Hills to the Great Sioux Nation. Now is the time.”

These developments marked the words of national non-profit NDN Collective President and CEO Nick Tilsen, who said as he was escorted away from the civil disobedience in handcuffs, “Our people have fought for this land and we will continue to. This won’t be the last.”

Tilsen now faces some 15 years in prison for participating in the demonstration, while the other 19 indigenous and non-indigenous treaty land defenders face misdemeanor charges.

“No police officers have been charged for their assault on innocent land defenders and indigenous people on their own land,” NDN Collective said.

When released after three nights in jail awaiting charges, Tilsen remarked, “As far as I’m concerned, it was a successful demonstration of our voice. We let the world know and reminded the world who the rightful owners of the Black Hills are – the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ.

“We made it clear that the President of the United States was not welcome in our territory, without the free prior and informed consent of our people and of our tribal leaders.”

The July 3 civil disobedience, disrupting traffic on an access route to the campaign event, was “a powerful experience and it instilled pride and hope and courage in myself. I got to see that same thing in all of my people’s eyes that were there,” he said.

“I want to thank the brothers and sisters who made a commitment. And all of you that were listening and following on social media, I want to thank you because we felt that … each and every one of you was there to support us,” he added.

Beyond allies, Tilsen said, “We need people that are going to be accomplices with us in the dismantling of white supremacy. And I ask those who are in the ally column to come over to the accomplice column because we need to do this together. It’s going to take a generation to make this possible, but it’s possible.”

Beyond fighting a system, he said, “We are building a new system and a new world that is just and fair for everybody. And that is our goal here. We want to transform the education system. We want to transform the economic system. We want to transform all these systems of oppression to put the decision-making power back into the hands of the people who that power has been taken from over time.”

The year 2020 is “historic” for the country, he said, citing the ongoing global pandemic, social unrest, and “one of the most important elections in the history of this nation.” He gave a shout out to the Black Lives Matter movement and said, “There is a lot that everybody can do to make a difference in society today.”

In a “message to President Trump and Gov. Kristi Noem,” he stated: “President Trump, you got a little bit of what it tastes like to come to the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ. You are not welcome here. And it was our responsibility, as grassroots people, to stand together, because our tribal leaders had already told you, you aren’t welcome here. Don’t come back here until you get permission from our tribal Leaders to come here.”

He accused Noem of “perpetuating white supremacy and racism,” adding, “There are a lot of people in South Dakota who aren’t standing for it, and it’s not just Indian people. And I ask those accomplices that are out there, throughout the state to speak up, to stand up, to not just sit on the sidelines, … because that’s what it takes to change the reality and to make a better future for our children.”

Recalling his recent incarceration, he noted, “I spent all of my time in praying for my children; that’s because everything I’ve ever done, I’ve done for my kids, for my people and for my land and that’s what this was all about.

“Lastly, I just want to say words of encouragement to all of our incarcerated brothers and sisters. I know, right here in South Dakota, we make up 10 percent of the population and 37 percent of the men that are in prison in South Dakota are native. With women, it’s 51 percent. I was in that jail for three days and I never saw a white person the whole time I was in there, except the people that are guards, and that’s real.

“I saw how our people were treated … and many of those young men and women, they’re lost and they’re just trying to find a way home. So, I want to say to the brothers and sisters that are in these places, keep your spirits up. Those of us that are on the outside, we’re going to keep fighting for you.”

Tilsen concluded, “At the end of the day, this is about the kids. This is about the children. This is about the next generation and making a new path forward for them.

“Let’s not get it twisted and get it wrong, we’re not resisting for resistance sake. We’re resisting because we want a better world. A world that works for everybody. And the pathway there is justice and equity, and that will give us an opportunity to really have an impact on society today.”

 

(Contact Talli Nauman at talli.nauman@gmail.com)

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