Senator Sidesteps Questions at South Dakota Indian Reservation Story-Date: 12:17 a.m. PST Saturday , October 10, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------ Senator Sidesteps Questions at South Dakota Indian Reservation By Karen L. Testerman, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 5--PINE RIDGE, S.D.--Not everyone went away pleased from a recent visit to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation by Sen. Thomas Daschle, D-S.D. The senator was greeted with open arms by several Oglala Sioux Tribal members at the Suanne Big Crow Center during a Sept. 18 campaign rally. But when he avoided questions about the terrestrial wildlife habitat restoration bill, the mood turned for some visitors. OST President John Yellow Bird Steele kicked off the event, saying, "We are 100 percent behind the senator." He told the assembly Sen. Daschle has gone to battle against legislation with a negative impact on tribal sovereignty and explained how vitally important it is to keep the senator in office. Sen. Daschle spoke eloquently about the U.S. government's treaty obligations. "We have a fundamental duty to live up to those expectations," he said. "The stakes are high. Republican senators are eliminating government responsibility by eliminating sovereignty and cutting budgets," he said. "The only way we can stop it is through the democratic vote. Working with the tribes. The decisions that are made depend on who is making them in Washington and Pierre. "The less we vote, the less democracy we have," he said. "The more we vote, the more democracy. The less we vote, the more powerful they (Republicans) become." Sen. Daschle said there are three things he, as a Democrat and human being, strives for: "to widen opportunity, deepen the meaning of freedom, especially for minorities, and strengthen the bond of unity." Questions surrounding the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and state of South Dakota Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Restoration Bill went unanswered. President Steele advised members of the Gray Eagle Society and a representative of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to remember that Sen. Daschle fought strongly against a lot of bills that attacked tribal sovereignty and that this was just one bill that could be questioned at a later time. "This is a touchy situation. This is about politics," he said. Shirley Marvin, director of Standing Rock Sioux Department of Water and Natural Resources, looked shocked as she listened to President Steele explain the situation. "This totally wiped me out," Ms. Marvin said. "I didn't expect this. They're abrogating treaty rights and I'm told not to ask any questions. This bill is attacking sovereignty. Daschle joined Janklow. Am I missing something?" Ms. Marvin confronted Sen. Daschle during a break and asked how he could join South Dakota Republican Gov. Janklow in a bill that violates treaty rights. Sen. Daschle disagreed with her. She then asked why he never met with Standing Rock people about the bill. "We met with Standing Rock numerous times," he said, adding he didn't have time for this and walked away. Ms. Marvin said she couldn't believe how Sen. Daschle was evading questions about the bill, "I'm going back to Standing Rock and I'm going to tell them what happened here today." Chief Oliver Red Cloud of the Oglala Lakota stood before the crowd and told Sen. Daschle that his name is mentioned a lot when the tribes meet on land, water rights and treaty rights. He told him to stand strong to his promises to the treaty tribe. "You need to have one mind for the Lakota people." Mr. Red Cloud also told the senator that the Oglala, Rosebud and Standing Rock Sioux tribes met after recent events involving the bill and that he needs to remember them when he's making decisions. "Everything is in there (the bill), minerals, water, land, everything," Mr. Red Cloud said. Despite the air of uncertainty surrounding parts of the rally, Sen. Daschle was pleased to be introduced to Miss Oglala Nation Princess Lucinda He Crow. Miss He Crow is a senior at the Red Cloud High School and attended the event to represent the Oglala Sioux Tribe and its members. ----- Visit Indian Country Today on the World Wide Web at http://www.indiancountry.com/ (c) 1998, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. ------------------------------------------------------------