‘Kolas’ at Prairie Market

The iconic painting of four Indians astride their war ponies in front of Prairie Market titled “Kolas” by Oglala Lakota Artist Keith Braveheart, evokes a cache of emotions ranging from pride, amusement and nostalgia to a sense of sadness, hopelessness and despair.

Just about every Indian living in Rapid City and the surrounding reservations can relate to the image of Prairie Market in the backdrop of the painting. While Prairie Market no longer exists, the building it once occupied is still there. For more than half a century Prairie Market was grand central station for North Rapid Indians, where they shopped for groceries and other staples. If you hadn’t seen someone for a while, you were likely to run into them at Prairie Market. Then there was also Prairie Bottle Market and it was the place where many Indians bought their booze.

Many of our homeless relatives spent their days and nights near Prairie Market because of its close proximity to the liquor store. Behind Prairie Market runs Mniluzahan (Rapid Creek) with its tree lined banks that provide a perfect place to shelter where our relatives can relax and sip a few cold ones. There are also nearby bridges under which many of those who are not allowed to stay at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission, because they love to imbibe in the white man’s fire water, have set up camp.

The Old Prairie Market closed its doors a few years ago and is currently unoccupied. However, alcohol sales for this location must have been pretty lucrative, as a new Liquor Store under new ownership opened shortly after the old Prairie Bottle Market shuttered its doors.

A fence has been erected now between the plaza and the creek, with the intension of blocking easy access. I imagine the police or whoever constructed the fence doesn’t know most Indians can find their way through, up, over and around any fence. They’re Indians, hello.

While the image may invoke many positive emotions for some Natives, one can be sure it incites feelings of anger and frustration on the part of city officials and the police department. Along with homelessness and addiction come many other problems for which the city must bear the expense. Policing the area behind Prairie Market requires many man hours, as crime in this area has always been a problem. There have been reports of rapes, burglaries, assaults and even murder. Ambulance calls to this area are frequent and it’s most likely that many of our homeless relatives do not have health insurance and Oyate Health does not have an ambulance service. So, the city bears the expense. Probably one of the most disturbing truths about this area behind Prairie Market is the number of lifeless bodies found near the creek bed. Even more disturbing is the fact the many of these murders have never been solved.

An oddity one can often catch, are police cars driving the bike path that runs along Rapid Creek. One can also catch police patrols on bikes along this stretch of sidewalk.

A few years back when Steve Allender first decided to run for mayor after being the Rapid City Chief of Police for years, Native Sun News Today spoke to one of his former police officers. The officer told Native Sun that when Allender trained his new recruits, he told them to pick up the intoxicated Indians that hung around Prairie Market early in the day, that way; they wouldn’t have to deal with them for the rest of the day.

At one time the Mniluzahan Creek Patrol patrolled the area along the creek and watched out for our relatives who were at risk of exposure to the elements, perhaps too intoxicated, were hungry or in need of clothing or shelter for the night. They also ensured our most vulnerable population were not being harassed by the police or other citizens.

One homeless Native lady, who camps along the creek, pushes a grocery cart with her everywhere she goes which contains her bedding and other possessions. She said she does it because when the police find a camp, they destroy it along with all of our relative’s belongings. Such little regard for what few possessions they’ve accumulated.

Prairie Bottle Market has almost become synonymous with addiction and homelessness. Our relatives who face not only their own traumas but deal with historic trauma are at high risk for addictive behaviors. Many that live on the streets have a familial connection to this area as it is Fort Laramie Treaty Territory guaranteed to the Lakota “as long as the grass grows and the rivers flow.” So in spite of the city’s efforts to remove them or put them out of sight out of mind, Lakota’s intrinsically  know they have a right to be here. This in itself is cause for many Lakota’s to experience historic trauma and may incite anger and frustration at a city that systemically leaves them out of the loop.

If one passes the location today where the old Prairie Market was once a thriving enterprise, one will still witness our relatives basking in the sun along the boulevard under the trees. This is where feelings of despair and hopelessness may arise for some as you will also witness our relatives passed out along this stretch of East Boulevard, you may be confronted by panhandlers, and witness intoxicated individuals staggering about aimlessly, and you may even witness violence and domestic abuse.

But all is not lost, as renaissance is happening right before our eyes. Homelessness and addiction have been at the forefront of a movement that is gaining momentum. A group of young activists have been reclaiming our identity and our place in the community through the efforts of organizations like Owe Luta Okolakiciye, founded by Rapid City Community wisdom keeper Gene Tyon, NDN Collective, led by powerhouse community organizer Nick Tielson, Lakota Peoples Law Project with Chase Iron Eyes, Native Healing, contracted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Community Organizing for Unified Power (Coup) organized by Mona Herrington, Gloria Eastman, Lavon Roach, Karissa Loewen and Jean Roach, Wambli Ska Dance and Drum Group founded by Duran and Nora White Eagle, Rural America Initiatives’ Dakota Transitional Head Start and Ateyapi Program led by Bruce Long Fox, Oyate kin chante wastepi founded by Lloyd Big Crow, and Tom Willock who feed our relatives living on the streets every Friday evening and the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board who have led the way in our health care.

Leading the movement on the media front are master artists like Keith Braveheart, James Star Comes Out, Don Montileaux, Jim Yellow Hawk, Darla Takes the Knife, Richard Red Owl, Dwayne Wilcox, Mitchell Zephier, Jhon Goes in Center, Stan Hawkins and many more who all honor our ancestors through a revival of ancient art forms. Mary Bourdeaux and Peter Strong of Racing Magpie deserve recognition for their role in creating an arts space for Native Artists as well as Steven Yellow Hawk, Dew Bad Warrior and Whitney Rencountre for growing the He Sapa Wacipi into the one of the premiere Native events in the country. Let’s not forget Native People of the Plains (Native POP) and Lafawn Janis and First People Fund and their CEO Lori Pourier.

Then there are the musicians; Scotty Clifford, Nataani Means, Mato Wahuyi, Def-I, the Wake Singers, Welby June and Spur Pourier who offer a message of hope and reconciliation.

So the iconic image of four Indians astride their war ponies in front of Prairie Market titled “Kolas” by Oglala Lakota Artist Keith Braveheart could be said to be the definitive visualization of our reclamation of our indigenous homelands here in He Sapa. The stage has been set, change is happening so our relatives on the streets and all of us living here in the Black Hills can look forward to a better tomorrow.

(Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hupa at anunkasanhupa@gmail.com)

 

The post ‘Kolas’ at Prairie Market first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

Visit Original Source