Monday, November 06, 2006
NORTHERN CHEYENNE COMMENTS ON ELECTION
NCrezwoman wrote on October 23, 2006 8:19 AM
Mr. Littlecoyote, needs to be removed, so do all the counsel memebers who voted for the coalbead methane. If I am to choose between the two evils I will go with coal developement..Not methane. Our question through out the rez was who is "Great Bear"? And another thing Mr. Beartusk needs to go back to Sheridan. Go ruin their water leave ours alone. Our spring by the Ashland divide is 99.7 percent spring water, with coalbed methan drilling we will not have any water.
VOTE IT DOWN! wrote on October 23, 2006 11:24 AM
CHEYENNE TRIBAL MEMBERS VOTE THIS PROPOSAL DOWN TO DEVELOP METHANE GAS! DANCE DOWN METHANE, VOTE FOR COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. OUR WATER WILL BE DESTROYED, PEOPLE OF LAME DEER REMEMBER ALL THE WATER SHUT OFFS THATS HOW IT WILL BE NO WATER TO CLEAN UP OR DRINK THINK ABOUT IT!
n8tivelady37 wrote on October 23, 2006 2:15 PM
I agree with prospering the reservation. But remember to pay attention carefully when other's are saying "research the impacts FIRST". It's not that we want to keep our people oppressed. Make sure it is done RIGHT. Only fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Cross the 'T's' and dot the 'i's,
Busby Cat wrote on October 23, 2006 2:30 PM
Vote No on Coal/Methane Development!!
The Tribe has enough money wrote on October 23, 2006 3:52 PM
Who needs coal mines and natural gas wells the Tribe already has enough money. The people don't need either. Vote no to keep that money out of the reservation.
honeybee wrote on October 23, 2006 4:25 PM
Just a comment for whatever it is worth, if it even makes it on the blog. As long as we have crooks, gamblers, liars, and thieves as leaders we will never agree on a plan that will work to benefit all and I mean all tribal members. We don't know how to manage our money, and there's too much drugging and drinking and too many deaths resulting from car accidents due to drunk/drug driving. Terry Bear Tusk and his crones don't know what they are talking about. Do they really think that our lives will get better just because we will have more money? Get real! Look around there's a lot of work that needs to be done before we can become self sufficient and responsible people. I for one will be voting no to coal development and coalbed methane development on November 7, 2006. I will continue to work to support my family for as long as I have to.
BugJuice-on-NCrez wrote on October 23, 2006 8:27 PM
This has nothing to do with poverty, these people just want money so they can say they have some, money won't last forever, but our land will, the tribe is a corrupt bunch of people that are ignorant and naive so we cannot listen to them, we as a people have to decide! VOTE NO TO CAOLBED METHANE and COAL DEVELOPMENT
I have hope wrote on October 23, 2006 9:34 PM
that this is one time that Sweet Medicine will be wrong........come on Cheyennes, vote no!!!!!
VOTE NO WAY wrote on October 23, 2006 9:38 PM
Our tribe CANNOT function now with all the nepotism etc. coal/methane money will be mismanaged and fought over, then we will be even worse off. Remember we can't drink money, and we can't live without water! The companies will speak with a forked tongue until they have what they want, and what they want is all we have left. THINK ABOUT IT
Hawktrail wrote on October 23, 2006 9:41 PM
No matter how many different ways there are to extract coal-bed methane, the result is the same in the end. Polluted water or perhaps none at all. It might take years for the later, but it will happen. I had the opportunity to speak with a fellow Cheyenne lady who is attending South Dakota School of Mines and she was very adament and concerned about what will happen should the Cheyenne vote in favor of this Mother Earth poisoning method of having a little $$$$$ for a tish bit.I certainly don't think its worth destroying our homeland. ~
I appreciate the efforts that the "Gras
Corporations, businesses, industries all rise and fall with time, not even flashes in history. Look at the mines in Colstrip, around Butte, go out east and look at all the mines and mills that never even lasted 3 full generations of people. Culture makes a person strong; ethical, moral, disciplined, and respectful. If our people exercised their culture and our children learned and exercised their culture, it makes me ask: Would our reservation be that dirty? Would drugs and alcohol be destroying our community? Would we be having to destroy our home to provide for ourselves? A lot of NC people think you need to live on the reservation to be Cheyenne. Traditionally we lived in bands, different communities, and it was our discipline and principles that made us great amongst our allies and enemies. A lot of people think because they’re an enrolled member and they’ve got their education, even though they don’t know or practice Cheyenne ways and haven’t made a similar investment to learn from and actually be a part of the NC community, they know what’s best for the NC Tribe. It makes me ask what’s really in their heart, what they’re basing their view on, and if they really think that they’re speaking for real traditional people who want to protect their land and natural resources for the future of the NC people. I’ve seen both sides of the argument, both in the community and in the administration.
Because we’re Cheyenne and have our covenants which tie us to the land, what do we sacrifice? I’ve seen people talk about development because they are tired of being poor and just simply want to have money, “money” before a “job” if a job is even mentioned. I even heard one person say, “…our People are starving to death,” but yet no one I’ve talked to knows of anyone ever starving to death on the reservation; yet there’s more fast food than healthy food and no development of any tribal garden or wild game management to provide nutritious food for the elderly, low income, and diabetics-two ventures that could have easily been started as tribal programs.
Where’s the long term plan at? What’s being done to educate the NC people about investing, make them smart investors able to turn new money into old money for their descendents? What’s the plan to make community improvements and utilize all of our human resources; whether unemployed, in jail, or those just wanting to help and not being given the opportunity to make healthy community changes? Eminent Domain is something every U.S. Tribe is potentially going to be faced with. However, the international community is becoming more and more aware of Native Americans’ plights to address cultural genocide and their natural resource issues; land protection and preservation. Native People have spearheaded many of the international issues of today, especially that of natural resource protection.
Education is the key for our tribal members to become fully self-sustaining and preserving. The education of others to the important issues that effect the earth we all share is equally. I’m just as tired of seeing and being affected by poverty. But I’d rather make the right decision and know its who I am and where I come from that’s making the real change in my people’s way of life and my own (i.e. hard work based on identity and culture), not a quick fix that hasn’t even been strategized and is the gasoline to the alcohol, drugs, abuse, etc. issues that are still blazing. Our ancestors are looking down at us, at how we are living with what they have left for us, and some day we will be doing the same on our descendents. If that time has to come, I wonder how many real Cheyennes (especially military society soldiers and Chiefs) I’ll be standing with to protect our sacred land and water.
Busby Cat wrote on October 23, 2006 10:12 PM
Do be a sell out for our home, our land, it is our wealth in who we are, we are famous enough as the true protectors of the land, our cheyenne land, no one else can make the claim to our land,our cheyenne way of life, dont a sell out, and become crazy for money, be content with what we have, eat deer, buffalo, grow corn, pumpkin,restore our fishing holes for our kids and be happy do not give in to weak and desperate leadership who are being blinded by money-vote no to coal and methane development
k wrote on October 23, 2006 11:23 PM
After reading the majority of the comments...if you do nothing to help yourselves...why should any of us care? Responsible devlopement...not difficult...look into WY and see what coal and gas has brought..some hard things but many good things...pros and cons...learn to adapt and grow prosperous... do not talk about pollution...I see more pollution today on the reservation than I see off it in the methane fields or the mines...they are regulated and forced to be good stewards of the land...maybe they would be a good example.
21st Century Cheyenne wrote on October 23, 2006 9:48 PM
I grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. I am one of few young people who took to learning my identity; history, culture, spirituality, and have access to and learn the language. There are many things that make a nation and contribute to its survival, the most important is that of IDENTITY. Many see development as the answer to the NC Tribe's problems. It can bring opportunities, but it doesn't solve the problems and issues that the NC people can't solve themselves.
I come from both Little Wolf's and Dull Knife's band, and I've sat and listened to my grandparents and many other elders talk about what their parents and grandparents endured so the NC people could be close to home, our Sacred Mountain, and so the NC people could live on. A lot of blood shed. A lot of lives were sacrificed so we could be here today and have a home; land, water, air, all the elements along with the vegetation and animals we give thanks for in our prayers and our ceremonies. No matter what anyone says, for the NC Tribe, true sovereignty can only be achieved through culture and education.
Money comes and goes. Corporations, businesses, industries all rise and fall with time, not even flashes in history. Look at the mines in Colstrip, around Butte, go out east and look at all the mines and mills that never even lasted 3 full generations of people. Culture makes a person strong; ethical, moral, disciplined, and respectful. If our people exercised their culture and our children learned and exercised their culture, it makes me ask: Would our reservation be that dirty? Would drugs and alcohol be destroying our community? Would we be having to destroy our home to provide for ourselves?
A lot of NC people think you need to live on the reservation to be Cheyenne. Traditionally we lived in bands, different communities, and it was our discipline and principles that made us great amongst our allies and enemies. A lot of people think because they’re an enrolled member and they’ve got their education, even though they don’t know or practice Cheyenne ways and haven’t made a similar investment to learn from and actually be a part of the NC community, they know what’s best for the NC Tribe. It makes me ask what’s really in their heart, what they’re basing their view on, and if they really think that they’re speaking for real traditional people who want to protect their land and natural resources for the future of the NC people.
I’ve seen both sides of the argument, both in the community and in the administration. Because we’re Cheyenne and have our covenants which tie us to the land, what do we sacrifice? I’ve seen people talk about development because they are tired of being poor and just simply want to have money, “money” before a “job” if a job is even mentioned. I even heard one person say, “…our People are starving to death,” but yet no one I’ve talked to knows of anyone ever starving to death on the reservation; yet there’s more fast food than healthy food and no development of any tribal garden or wild game management to provide nutritious food for the elderly, low income, and diabetics-two ventures that could have easily been started as tribal programs. Where’s the long term plan at? What’s being done to educate the NC people about investing, make them smart investors able to turn new money into old money for their descendents? What’s the plan to make community improvements and utilize all of our human resources; whether unemployed, in jail, or those just wanting to help and not being given the opportunity to make healthy community changes?
Eminent Domain is something every U.S. Tribe is potentially going to be faced with. However, the international community is becoming more and more aware of Native Americans’ plights to address cultural genocide and their natural resource issues; land protection and preservation. Native People have spearheaded many of the international issues of today, especially that of natural resource protection. Education is the key for our tribal members to become fully self-sustaining and preserving. The education of others to the important issues that effect the earth we all share is equally. I’m just as tired of seeing and being affected by poverty. But I’d rather make the right decision and know its who I am and where I come from that’s making the real change in my people’s way of life and my own (i.e. hard work based on identity and culture), not a quick fix that hasn’t even been strategized and is the gasoline to the alcohol, drugs, abuse, etc. issues that are still blazing.
Our ancestors are looking down at us, at how we are living with what they have left for us, and some day we will be doing the same on our descendents. If that time has to come, I wonder how many real Cheyennes (especially military society soldiers and Chiefs) I’ll be standing with to protect our sacred land and water.
Urban Cheyenne wrote on October 23, 2006 11:30 PM
I agree. Mr. Beartusk - go back to Sheridan. You have been gone from the reservation all these years and you have lost the connection with our beloved reservation. Have people read the studies on coalbed methane. We won't have any water left for our beloved homeland. If we're going to develop - let's develop our coal. Our coal seams run adjacent to the seams to Peabody and Western Energy. There's a proven product there. The people need to be informed. Continue with the meetings. Bring in experts who know the dangers of coal bed methane development.
Hmmm wrote on October 23, 2006 11:58 PM
How is the Northern Cheyenne Tribe going to manage CD/CBM, when they can't even manage the Cheyenne Depot.
muddy cluster resident wrote on October 24, 2006 1:50 AM
The land will always be here,looks like greed is getting the best of some of the people on the rez.I grew up on this land that they talk of destroying I thought we were suppose to keep this land our ancesters faught and died for, forever.Throw a twenty dollar bill into the wind and see how long you can keep it in your sight, the only thing you will still see are the hills and the trees PLEASE vote "NO" there are other things we can try before they tear up our land and make our water worse..
the big kahuna wrote on October 24, 2006 8:07 AM
All the comments about the coal and methane are good. We as people need to stand up together and voice our opinions like this at the district meetings, not on blogs where no one knows our true identities. We know what it is we need to do...for the most part (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that we do not trust our leaders, and that is where the uncertainty comes from about this referdum vote we will be taking. OUr government leaders cannot govern, it is a "culture of waste", and we the people need to take a stand as one and tell our leaders what we want. Let us also learn from the coal leases that were signed in the late 70's where the Cheyenne's almost lost out on the coal prices becuase of not knowing what they were getting into. Any one remember that? President Carter had to sign into law cancelling the coal leases so we could get our land back. ALso, what does the BIA think? they have the trust responsibility in this over our land. But remember the coal leases in the 70's. Let's learn from that.
NCrezwoman wrote on October 24, 2006 8:21 AM
I am against Methane developement. I have read a lot of greedy people comments on this blog. I agree we do need to get away from the US gov't hand outs, but to sacrafice our land, our water. Come on, like its been said, money comes and goes, Our land will be here forever. Maybe a whole lot of you greedy people need to go to Oklahoma in January, put on some moccasins and be sure to take a very thin blanket and walk back to Montana. See what our ancestors went through for US!! For our homeland!
JackieT wrote on October 24, 2006 8:32 AM
I remember when my mother was approached to sign a lease allowing gas exploration and when she refused to sign the contract because royalties where not included in the agreement, she was overruled by the BIA. The company is now pumping gas from her land and her estate now earns about $300+ a year for the lease on the land AND the income from the gas. Is it worth it for the next 7 generations???
VotingCheyenne wrote on October 24, 2006 9:08 AM
This goes out to my people; I sure like your suggestions about how we could develop our reservation. Maybe we could develop some kind of bus tour to the black hills or maybe we could even develop a golf course and a truck stop on the divide. There are so many different opportunities that could be put in front of us all. It will still come back to the leaders of the tribe what kind of development do they have in store for their people? What about education is there anyway that we could build a learning center like CDKMC? So many open doors which one chould we enter!!
Margot Liberty wrote on October 24, 2006 9:16 AM
The Northern Cheyennes are one of the most famous and heroic tribes in the United States. They led the Sioux in defeating Custer and other military forces in 1876, and their outbreak from Oklahoma prison camp and return to the north in 1878-79 is one of the great epics of American history. More recently the tribe has had a very strong record of protecting their environment and denyting the irresponsible development of energy resources including coal. They stopped the sale of Cheyenne land to outsiders in the 1950s under the leadership of John Woodenlegs. 98% or more of reservation land (almost 500,000 acres) is thus under individual Cheyenne or tribal ownership -- unheard of among other reservations of the Plains, where 80% or more of reservation land is usually owned by Whites. When half the reservation was leased for coal development back in the seventies, they succeeded in overturning and cancelling the leases made by the Department of the Interior. Such a move was unheard of. They won a Supreme Court decision, the Hollowbreast case, guranteeing them control in perpetuity of their mineral rights. Most white owners of ranch land would die to be so lucky.
Under the leadership of Alan Rowland they won a Class One Air designation under the Clean Air Act of 1974, one of the very few such high designations in the country -- the others are mainly the National Parks. Most areas in the country are Class Two or lower. This designation very nearly stopped the construction of mine-mouth electricity generating units Colstrip Three and Four. Colstrip Three and Four were built, but with much more rigorous emission requirements than would otherwise be the case, since mine emissions blow over the reservation just 15 miles to the south.
Professor Ross Toole of the University of Montana in his book The Rape of the Great Plains in 1979 called the Cheyennes "The Most Important Tribe in This Country" because of their amazing record of resistance to strip mining and other environmentally disastrous development. Rubie Sooktis and Gail Small (at Native Action) have worked tirelessly to prevent such disasters. But today Tongue River on the east border of the reservation is so heavily affected by coalbed methane development nearby -- pollting the water with salt -- that it may soon be unusable for irrigation and livestock. Environmental damage from this cause is severe at nearby Sheridan, Wyoming. 30,000 methane wells in the area are projected for the near future. I have posted documents, background articles, and news stories on these matters at smokesignals2006.blogspot.com. Everyone is invited to visit and comment.
It would be tragic indeed if today's Northern Cheyennes sold out the achievements of their ancestors and more recent leaders like Woodenlegs and Rowland, for a dollar store. A strip mine at Birney would destroy not only the traditional Cheyenne community, but one of the few last unspoiled and beautiful areas of the country. There are drugs and other such problems in great plenty at Lame Deer and other reservation areas. Don't let's let energy development spoil this truly last, best place.
Northern Cheyenne Man wrote on October 24, 2006 9:35 AM
Our Non-renewable resources have always coveted by the Whiteman and his industry. In the late 70's, the Hollowbreast case allowed our tribe to reassume control of our land after the entire reservation was leased to development corporations. The erroneous leases were negotiated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs below market value and they were never processed through the constitutional referendum process. It is important to remember our Cheyenne history, culture, custom & language. They form the tie that binds us together as a people, a race, a nation, and as spiritual beings.
As Cheyenne, we must always remember the trails of our ancestors, we must always remember what trail we our currently on, and we must always remeber the trails to be forged by the Cheyenne yet to come. We must always pray to Mahaoe to help us remember in the times of stress and crisis, the two covenants given to us and what agreements they represent between the Cheyenne and Creator. We were given certain ways to ensure our survival. This way of making money by digging or draining our land is not Cheyenne.
If it is the Whiteman's money that Cheyenne's like Mr. Beartusk want, then they need to earn it through hardwork and sacrifice. If the creator wanted us to sell our non-renewable resources he would have put them on top of the earth, not below the surface! Thus, with the development of our non-renewable resources placed before us on the ballot, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe faces a crossroad. The left road leads to the digging and siphoning of the land and water. While the road on the right road leads to ecological preservation and individual self-sufficiency! Sweet Medicine prophesized about the time when the Cheyenne will no longer be Cheyenne...that we will forget our ways and become like the whiteman. Perhaps that time has come....
dhinNM wrote on October 24, 2006 10:17 AM
Vote it down, by all means, vote it down. Why should the Northern Cheyenne lead themselves out of poverty when they have the brainwashed (its all the white man's fault) youths writing letters asking the government to come fix the reservation? In a little while, "you people" will be there to fix the broken homes and to perpetuate the status quo. Don't lift yourselves out of poverty while solving energy needs. Bad idea.
Concerned wrote on October 24, 2006 10:46 AM
To a certain degree, I agree with "vote yes." However the key point is that you have the right to choose your life's journey. Terry Beartusk has been a strong advocate of self-help recovery for many years now and its sad to see that he now believes in the, as they say, easier softer way" which seems to be a band-aid approach to our community's economy. There is an excellent junior college right in the community that isn't utilized enough and individuals can get employment however you have to have motivation. Making choices to improve your life means hard work and dedication.... that's right...its your choice.
hadawada@yahoo.com wrote on October 24, 2006 10:52 AM
Just a quick story - our house in Lame Deer was broken into, obviously things were taken, the thief was positively identified. The thief was a brother to a dear friend. Inevitably tension over the situation ended the friendship. The mother of the thief started a character assassination campaign against the owner of the house. This is just one story of the realities of the reservation and where are values lay. There have been some very important points that have been posted. The one thing that I would add is that money will not restore pride and respect - for ourselves, others, and our homelands. We have become so conditioned to think less of ourselves and the relationship we have with all things has lost its meaning, that should we force a change that we are not ready for, then we have indeed become fully assimilated into America..."I wanna be rich..."
just another kid wrote on October 24, 2006 11:08 AM
I think all of you who want to vote for coal development and coalbed methane are all greedy!! I'm a kid in high school and can see that all anyone cares about is the money... well what about the land?? when it's all torn up then what are you future generations gonna be proud of?? money doesn't last long but land can last forever!!
Coal bed methane wrote on October 24, 2006 11:24 AM
Has anyone seen the way wyoming looks and smells right now. I,ve read environmental reports on how the wild life is avoiding these areas like the plague, which is basically what it is. Wyoming is currently suing the state of montana to have the water quality standards reduced to wyoming's levels. The water that wyoming is dumping into the Powder-river,the little Powder river, and the tongue has already begun to kill off certain types of fish along with decimating the plant life along the rivers. The salinity levels are toxic in this time of drought, many have stated that you can irrigate with this water and use it for livestock.
I for one would like impact statements from Wyoming now and in three years. We as cheyenne people cannot rush into anything this damaging with out looking at what we want to accomplish it is all well and good to say to combat povery, make us solvent etc. But at what cost, history has shown us that great life changes are always promised. Usually after we have been plundered the culprits have slunk off with their profits and we end up with the mess. All I would like is a clear picture of who will benefit, who will have access to the funds, when we can expect a profit, how much profit can we expect.
In business class they say it takes approx. two to three years to make any money off of a venture. In the past the cheyennes were burnt very badly by the Alantic Richfield company. We have had people give permission to drill on land without the owners permission or knowledge. Greed is one of the worst enemies we have now. I am not against solvency, progress or making a better life for us all. I just don't want to have our land destroyed in the process. I would not want to be like the Crow nation which only own the land around their houses and the bank owns the rest. Short term profit is not an answer neither is pillaging our only natural resource. In the end we will have to explain to our children what we did for them and the sacrifices we made. I hope we do as much for them as our ancestors did for us. p.s. Ask wyoming where all there deer and antelope have gone J
To dhnNM wrote on October 24, 2006 1:14 PM
It's always the one's whom have sold all that they own including their souls that want to decide how us land-owners should "get rid of" all that useless land. My mother was thinking ahead when she wrote her will, if any of her kids try to sell the land deeded to us then it automatically reverts to our children and so on and so forth. I for one would never sell my children's land. That is the way I think about it. I don't own it my grandchildren do as do their grandchildren. So dhnNM take your sarcastic, pompous, get rich quick attitude, buy some land, burn it, dig wells on it, scrape off the whole top layer of earth to get to your precious minerals, but don't ask us to do the same. We cheyennes know the true value of our land and resources. If you noticed the only cheyennes who are whole-heartedly for strip mining/ draining our aquifers are one's whom have no land and no respect for another person's land. J
cheyengineer wrote on October 24, 2006 1:29 PM
I am a member of the N.Chey tribe and an engineering student. I am also a landholder and am against the the development of coal on our homeland. VOTE NO!
NCrezwoman wrote on October 24, 2006 1:43 PM
Well said, Margot...Thank you!
Sick and Tired Northern Cheyenne wrote on October 24, 2006 2:31 PM
My heart is breaking. My ancestors gave their lives and generations of prayers for us to have this place of our ceremony and tradition. Our original instructions tell us to take care of our people. I believe that one way we do this is through our ceremonies. Our poverty and the impacts are about oppression. Economic and social theory indicate that essentially throwing money (even a massive windfall) at the issues perpetuatd by poverty will not solve them. They are systemic. WE must change them from the inside out, based on our cultural values and traditions, with thoughtful economic development for supporting the initiatives. Think about the $2000 windfall in the early 80s. How many people's lives did this move forward, really? That was a lot of money to my family back then. Didn't change a thing. We spent it and it was gone. The true "cost" of development may far outweigh the "benefit." There is not a long-range strategic plan for managing the magnitude of this kind of money. Will we even truly get a "fair" price for what we will continue to lose in culture and in our relationship to the land, which is what makes us Cheyenne? Should money like this go into infrastructure first and foremost or will greed get the best of individuals first? I applaude our President for being democratic. But, I ask that you think about what our grandparents have said and taught. Pray to Maheo that the right decision is made and think long and hard, critically about ALL the angles of implication.
Cheyenne Woman wrote on October 31, 2006 1:07 AM
I'm a young cheyenne woman. I see most of the tribal council in the casino; JUST GREEDY with their new cars and expensive trips. I want to be a teacher and give someone the younger children can look up to. All those kids have are those crackheads, dropouts, greedy councilmembers, selfish relatives, alcoholic families and they don't know what to do. Money is evil. CoalBedMethane will destroy our already-messed-up way of life. My children and grand children will be affected by this decision. My little cousin is against coalbedmethane, I am too. MONEY won't get us out of poverty. Poverty is a state of mind. Get OUT OF THAT STATE OF MIND! We as a people will have to fight for ourselves and our place just like our ancestors did. Being Cheyenne is all I know and I will die before I let some greedy bastard take that away from me and my children. Remember: GREED + SELFISHNESS = CBM PRO CBM = SELLOUT Nea'eshe Na'haaenhe
Very Worried wrote on October 24, 2006 5:18 PM
If Terry Beartusk is really concerned about fighting substance abuse, he should consider what will happen to substance abuse rates on the reservation when energy development happens. Look at the big time energy development communities in Wyoming. Does he really want Lame Deer to be like Rock Springs, and Busby like Pinedale? There might be money to triple the police force and build a five story jail, but is this the best way to go?
To I agree wrote on October 24, 2006 7:06 PM
And destroying the reservation, it's ground water and the plants and animals is the way to go. yes let us do that. So when every thing is gone we can sit on our pile of unusable dirt and roll in the pennies we will receive because either we will have rushed into this and didn't pay attention when we hurried to sign on that dotted line or the tribal council members will have divided it up amongst themselves. I,m not scared of change. I'm scared of Imminent domain, and the drilling companies coming onto my land and saying " we own this land now" which has happened too many times in the past. Ever hear that joke "why did man go to the moon"? because he thought indians owned land there. Take care people this is a precarious situation we are faced with. J
Busby Cat wrote on October 24, 2006 9:41 PM
Vote NO Coal/Methane Development!! Think its bad now around here...wait till were stinking rich and selfless with our loot...more drugs, fast cars, trashing more washers dryers...we can go buy a new wheels to park them anywhere, buy another one, we will be so rich that our history will be strewn with self less,dead, people who put money before true self and the good of the Cheyenne people.....
HELL NO!!!!!!!! wrote on October 24, 2006 11:41 PM
NO!!! NO!! NO!!!NO!!!HELL NO!!!
Concerned_Northern_Cheyenne wrote on October 25, 2006 7:37 AM
There comes a time in ones life when there is a major decision you make that will imact you for the rest of your life. These two issues, CBM & CD are two major issues that the Northern Cheyenne People will decide on November 7 that will do just this. The decision that the people make will determine the direction the tribe will take for generations to come. How will our future generations down the line look back on us, the decision makers, and view us. Maybe some will look back and say, "hey, they made an excellent desicion, we are now booming economically and continue to grow," or some might say, "I wish they had never allowed these companies to come in, we are now living amongst non-Cheyennes and we don't even control our own land."
Our ancestors fought, died, cherised and passed down to us this little speck of land given to us by the US governement out of millions of acres that were once under control of the Cheyenne. They wanted us to take care of this land. We have a responsibility, not only to our ancestors, but to our future generations to continue to take care of this land and pass it down to them the way it should be. CBM & CD are not the ONLY ways to get our people out of poverty have a sound economic base on the reservation. We can't be so selfish as to just think of money for ourselves. We have to think of both our past and future generations and include them in our decision making process. There are many pros and cons to both subjects, but I think in the long run the cons heavily outweigh the pros. As for me, I will vote NO TO COAL DEVELOPMENT AND NO TO COALBED METHANE. We are not ready for these. Perhaps in the future, when we have more capable people in our council who can manage and handle the deals and brockering with comapanies, that will occur when these deals go down, we can have something than; but for now we are not ready. Think hard, fellow Cheyenne, when you vote on these two issues. What we decide will have shock waves for generations to come.
TO FLETCHER wrote on October 25, 2006 8:20 AM
You have a lot of Guts! You can state your opinion on sell out our rez, but hey you don't even live on the rez so yeah vote yes to destroy us. Where are your roots, Sheridan?
NDN.. wrote on October 25, 2006 8:38 AM
me myself and I...well thats what it is i say do what you have to because GREED controls people and you all know that the younger generation will sell out!! All we will have is memories besides it will take years before we actully get money.
20UO0489 wrote on October 25, 2006 9:30 AM
I am a Northern Cheyenne Member who majored in Business and I think that before we develop coal or methane we first need to learn how to run a successful business. This, I believe, is the key that will lead the tribe to self-sufficiency. What we need to be voting on is amending the Northern Cheyenne Constitution that will form two councils, a business council (for the educated) and a tribal council (for the traditional) – a forum where politics can be separated from the money, or at least to a certain degree. At present, the Tribe can't even manage the Cheyenne Depot, can't even provide gas to its own people and it is the only gas station within a 20 mile radius - in all four directions. How are we going to manage a multi-billion dollar business venture? Get real. And do we truly believe that the Tribal Members will get this money in the form of a per capita? More like padding the council's travel accounts so they can pretend like they know what they're talking about in business meetings off in Washington, D.C. or else where – these people represent the tribe a whole - embarrassing. We are a very young nation, a young government and haven’t learned all the business savvy that is required to be successful in today’s business world – nothing is for free – and ignorance always comes with a major cost. So, keep our lands – give ourselves more time to educate our children who, perhaps one day, will do a better job than we have.
Cheyenne Native wrote on October 25, 2006 10:14 AM
Please vote NO for coalbed methane!
Mell wrote on October 25, 2006 6:36 PM
Well first and foremost I think that every avenue should be first carefully looked at with a magnifying glass and finetooth comb if neccessary, and "If" the cheyenne nation decide that they want to venture into such an agreement they better make sure they have a native lawyer who has the best interests of this particular nation at heart. Too many times in the history of non native investors have destroyed what precious lands we have left in our care and in our titles. All aspects of eithe one of these options needs to be dis-sected and carefully weighed out, what if any long term effects will either of these options have on the lands and natural resources of this specific area? Destruction, pollution, and contamination of any lands on any degree is detrimental to our way of life. I send my prayers to the spokes people of the Cheyenne nation that they be guided from above to make a sound decision that will effect all generations to come, before they sign anything that will be for obvious reason non-negotiable.
21st Century Cheyenne wrote on October 25, 2006 9:35 PM
There’s one path to true sovereignty for the NC Tribe, and it’s the one thing we don’t see consistently or enough. It’s education. Education is the NC Tribe’s path to sovereignty. It’s the only tool that will allow us to protect our homeland and provide consistently for future generations of Cheyenne. I often think, where would the NC people be if the majority of parents had a college degree, and most of all, the people knew and practiced their language, history, culture, and spirituality. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, money is the real issue here.
Yes, it is a tool. Yes, the NC people need to provide for the future of their people. But, there’s one question, how are there even going to be Cheyenne in the future if people aren’t even learning their identity and implementing it in their lives? Someone mentioned the prophesies of Sweet Medicine. His most powerful statement were in his last words, “Hold on to all I have taught you, for as long as you can.”
Assimilation has really had it’s way with us. I’ve seen that. I’ve grown up right alongside NC people who have no idea who they are and what Cheyenne is. I’ve seen NC people sell-out to get ahead and consequently take from the very people they’re suppose to be serving. I’ve even heard Terry Beartusk question and disregard why the Cheyenne worship the sun in the Sundance, and even talk down Cheyenne spirituality. Hopefully, he’s learned by now that the Cheyenne don’t have a “Sundance”-the literal meaning in the Cheyenne language is far from this-that it does not entail the “worshipping” of the sun, either, and it’s the way you live, believe, and think that makes you who you are.
The Cheyenne have a long history of fighting for their people. Our society use to be a highly altruistic society-I give my all for the benefit of my people. Remember the 2 Sacred Covenants. Our traditional leadership was once selected based on how they lived their life in accordance with Cheyenne beliefs and principles; they put the needs of others before their own. This type of attitude and morality is what the NC people need. Intuition and discipline are integral to keeping our Cheyenne people in the education system, enabling them to provide for their people and their family, no matter where they are on this earth. It’s hard to be Cheyenne today, cause there are so many more avenues out there to follow.
Do we need money to improve the education of our youth? No. Educated Cheyenne people should be working to improve the standard of education, and the newly passed Board of Regents is just that. Parents could focus on their child’s education, along with their own. Do we need money to clean up the reservation? No. Anyone can clean up, all they need to do is go out there and get busy. Sure, the Southern Ute has built an empire for themselves. But many more questions arise: So, after the methane is gone and they’ve already built up all these million dollar operations (i.e. dialysis center, hospital, academy, etc.) and after they have to begin digging into their reserve, what comes next? What are the cultural/spiritual impacts they have experienced (Do they even have any tribal covenants?)?
The Southern Ute rep talked a lot about what they have been able to do with their money, expanding into other markets; real estate being one. They drill, too. So, should we ask the anthropologists, archeologists, and museums to come and take our Tribal Covenants because we no longer want to be Cheyenne? Maybe we should get all the “yes” voters to get a delegation for this and move ahead with it. Maybe they can form their own “traditional government,” cause I’m sure the US will definitely give them the IRA stamp of approval with a nice big, “Hau noble savages. Make’em heap goot treaty. Smoke’em pipe. Great big’em future. Like shootin star, across da great big’em sky.” Maybe they can ask the US Gov for another round of assimilation-and ask them to take it up a notch, cause it’s working.
Margot Liberty made a lot of great comments about what the Cheyenne people have endured and fought for. Home, land, water, air, family, many powerful and integral parts of life. And to set the record straight PART OF OUR ORIGINAL HOMELAND, the Northern Cheyenne, Northern Arapaho, and Lakota defended the Bozeman Trail and occupied the land that is now the Crow Reservation. The original Crow reserve was further west. If it was really the land the Creator gave to them, I think maybe they were put in another dimension during the Battle of the Little Bighorn and during the original Allied Force’s roamings and battles in “Crow country.” That medicine wheel that lies in the Bighorn Mountains comes from one of the original Cheyenne hunting ceremonies and is a territorial marker, not a shrine as people now treat it.
If anyone does their research, the Crow came from the Hidatsa and roamed lands further west of Billings, and when George Bird Grinnell asked the Crow about that Medicine Wheel they had no idea who made it, yet the Arapaho and Sioux knew and stated it came from the Cheyenne. The Cheyenne never sought to wipe out the Crow Tribe, as many people on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation can go back in their lineage to the time when the Cheyenne Nation captured 1/3 of the Crow Tribe-women and children who were integrated into the Cheyenne Nation. Perhaps you should read Pretty Shield and Two Leggings’ accounts of the Northern Cheyenne. The Crow can thank the US Gov, whom they never fought, for the lands the Creator “blessed” them with. Cheyennes can thank the US Gov too, for the fighting spirit they brought out in the Northern Cheyenne people who won a small fraction of their original homeland.
The Northern Cheyenne were the only tribe on the Plains to be displaced and then fight their way to get back home against insurmountable odds. As a Cheyenne, I have to think about my children and my grandchildren, and my great grandchildren, and theirs, all down the line. Our Chiefs use to exemplify in their decisions, the perpetuation of “the People.” It’s even a Cheyenne ethic. So, we extract our coal bed methane now and build corporations and businesses, make huge profits which we can set aside for future use, and eventually somewhere down the line extract coal to meet the demands we have set in place because of the businesses we created and are trying continue? There are tons more considerations to this, and anyone who has a background in business knows that demand and capital of businesses rise and fall with the community/population it serves and is dependent upon the related conditions of resources of the greater economy, the US’s and the world’s. And so, the path we have stepped on will ultimately lead to the destruction of our land
. While our land is being destroyed, from what will we draw of (natural resources) to worship and carry on the way of life we have been given through our 2 Sacred Covenants by the Creator? What use would it be to pray for the fertility of the earth while we’re destroying it? Isn’t it a Cheyenne ethic to not pray for anything you’re not going to do (i.e. don’t pray for your people to have good lives and then mislead and/or abuse them)?
Like so many Cheyenne elders I’ve listened to as they aged and gone home to join our ancestors, and those that we are blessed to still have here amongst the NC people: It’s your language, history, culture, and spirituality in practice that make you who you are. So many Cheyenne ethics and teachings, and many those of other Tribes have come to mind. Children and the land are the most integral parts of a Tribe’s survival, their health in all aspects is vital. Real strength and change, sovereignty, will come through identity and education. Children and the land are constant throughout them both, and they’ll always be together. Might as well make sure they’re in balance.
Mr. Littlecoyote, needs to be removed, so do all the counsel memebers who voted for the coalbead methane. If I am to choose between the two evils I will go with coal developement..Not methane. Our question through out the rez was who is "Great Bear"? And another thing Mr. Beartusk needs to go back to Sheridan. Go ruin their water leave ours alone. Our spring by the Ashland divide is 99.7 percent spring water, with coalbed methan drilling we will not have any water.
VOTE IT DOWN! wrote on October 23, 2006 11:24 AM
CHEYENNE TRIBAL MEMBERS VOTE THIS PROPOSAL DOWN TO DEVELOP METHANE GAS! DANCE DOWN METHANE, VOTE FOR COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. OUR WATER WILL BE DESTROYED, PEOPLE OF LAME DEER REMEMBER ALL THE WATER SHUT OFFS THATS HOW IT WILL BE NO WATER TO CLEAN UP OR DRINK THINK ABOUT IT!
n8tivelady37 wrote on October 23, 2006 2:15 PM
I agree with prospering the reservation. But remember to pay attention carefully when other's are saying "research the impacts FIRST". It's not that we want to keep our people oppressed. Make sure it is done RIGHT. Only fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Cross the 'T's' and dot the 'i's,
Busby Cat wrote on October 23, 2006 2:30 PM
Vote No on Coal/Methane Development!!
The Tribe has enough money wrote on October 23, 2006 3:52 PM
Who needs coal mines and natural gas wells the Tribe already has enough money. The people don't need either. Vote no to keep that money out of the reservation.
honeybee wrote on October 23, 2006 4:25 PM
Just a comment for whatever it is worth, if it even makes it on the blog. As long as we have crooks, gamblers, liars, and thieves as leaders we will never agree on a plan that will work to benefit all and I mean all tribal members. We don't know how to manage our money, and there's too much drugging and drinking and too many deaths resulting from car accidents due to drunk/drug driving. Terry Bear Tusk and his crones don't know what they are talking about. Do they really think that our lives will get better just because we will have more money? Get real! Look around there's a lot of work that needs to be done before we can become self sufficient and responsible people. I for one will be voting no to coal development and coalbed methane development on November 7, 2006. I will continue to work to support my family for as long as I have to.
BugJuice-on-NCrez wrote on October 23, 2006 8:27 PM
This has nothing to do with poverty, these people just want money so they can say they have some, money won't last forever, but our land will, the tribe is a corrupt bunch of people that are ignorant and naive so we cannot listen to them, we as a people have to decide! VOTE NO TO CAOLBED METHANE and COAL DEVELOPMENT
I have hope wrote on October 23, 2006 9:34 PM
that this is one time that Sweet Medicine will be wrong........come on Cheyennes, vote no!!!!!
VOTE NO WAY wrote on October 23, 2006 9:38 PM
Our tribe CANNOT function now with all the nepotism etc. coal/methane money will be mismanaged and fought over, then we will be even worse off. Remember we can't drink money, and we can't live without water! The companies will speak with a forked tongue until they have what they want, and what they want is all we have left. THINK ABOUT IT
Hawktrail wrote on October 23, 2006 9:41 PM
No matter how many different ways there are to extract coal-bed methane, the result is the same in the end. Polluted water or perhaps none at all. It might take years for the later, but it will happen. I had the opportunity to speak with a fellow Cheyenne lady who is attending South Dakota School of Mines and she was very adament and concerned about what will happen should the Cheyenne vote in favor of this Mother Earth poisoning method of having a little $$$$$ for a tish bit.I certainly don't think its worth destroying our homeland. ~
I appreciate the efforts that the "Gras
Corporations, businesses, industries all rise and fall with time, not even flashes in history. Look at the mines in Colstrip, around Butte, go out east and look at all the mines and mills that never even lasted 3 full generations of people. Culture makes a person strong; ethical, moral, disciplined, and respectful. If our people exercised their culture and our children learned and exercised their culture, it makes me ask: Would our reservation be that dirty? Would drugs and alcohol be destroying our community? Would we be having to destroy our home to provide for ourselves? A lot of NC people think you need to live on the reservation to be Cheyenne. Traditionally we lived in bands, different communities, and it was our discipline and principles that made us great amongst our allies and enemies. A lot of people think because they’re an enrolled member and they’ve got their education, even though they don’t know or practice Cheyenne ways and haven’t made a similar investment to learn from and actually be a part of the NC community, they know what’s best for the NC Tribe. It makes me ask what’s really in their heart, what they’re basing their view on, and if they really think that they’re speaking for real traditional people who want to protect their land and natural resources for the future of the NC people. I’ve seen both sides of the argument, both in the community and in the administration.
Because we’re Cheyenne and have our covenants which tie us to the land, what do we sacrifice? I’ve seen people talk about development because they are tired of being poor and just simply want to have money, “money” before a “job” if a job is even mentioned. I even heard one person say, “…our People are starving to death,” but yet no one I’ve talked to knows of anyone ever starving to death on the reservation; yet there’s more fast food than healthy food and no development of any tribal garden or wild game management to provide nutritious food for the elderly, low income, and diabetics-two ventures that could have easily been started as tribal programs.
Where’s the long term plan at? What’s being done to educate the NC people about investing, make them smart investors able to turn new money into old money for their descendents? What’s the plan to make community improvements and utilize all of our human resources; whether unemployed, in jail, or those just wanting to help and not being given the opportunity to make healthy community changes? Eminent Domain is something every U.S. Tribe is potentially going to be faced with. However, the international community is becoming more and more aware of Native Americans’ plights to address cultural genocide and their natural resource issues; land protection and preservation. Native People have spearheaded many of the international issues of today, especially that of natural resource protection.
Education is the key for our tribal members to become fully self-sustaining and preserving. The education of others to the important issues that effect the earth we all share is equally. I’m just as tired of seeing and being affected by poverty. But I’d rather make the right decision and know its who I am and where I come from that’s making the real change in my people’s way of life and my own (i.e. hard work based on identity and culture), not a quick fix that hasn’t even been strategized and is the gasoline to the alcohol, drugs, abuse, etc. issues that are still blazing. Our ancestors are looking down at us, at how we are living with what they have left for us, and some day we will be doing the same on our descendents. If that time has to come, I wonder how many real Cheyennes (especially military society soldiers and Chiefs) I’ll be standing with to protect our sacred land and water.
Busby Cat wrote on October 23, 2006 10:12 PM
Do be a sell out for our home, our land, it is our wealth in who we are, we are famous enough as the true protectors of the land, our cheyenne land, no one else can make the claim to our land,our cheyenne way of life, dont a sell out, and become crazy for money, be content with what we have, eat deer, buffalo, grow corn, pumpkin,restore our fishing holes for our kids and be happy do not give in to weak and desperate leadership who are being blinded by money-vote no to coal and methane development
k wrote on October 23, 2006 11:23 PM
After reading the majority of the comments...if you do nothing to help yourselves...why should any of us care? Responsible devlopement...not difficult...look into WY and see what coal and gas has brought..some hard things but many good things...pros and cons...learn to adapt and grow prosperous... do not talk about pollution...I see more pollution today on the reservation than I see off it in the methane fields or the mines...they are regulated and forced to be good stewards of the land...maybe they would be a good example.
21st Century Cheyenne wrote on October 23, 2006 9:48 PM
I grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. I am one of few young people who took to learning my identity; history, culture, spirituality, and have access to and learn the language. There are many things that make a nation and contribute to its survival, the most important is that of IDENTITY. Many see development as the answer to the NC Tribe's problems. It can bring opportunities, but it doesn't solve the problems and issues that the NC people can't solve themselves.
I come from both Little Wolf's and Dull Knife's band, and I've sat and listened to my grandparents and many other elders talk about what their parents and grandparents endured so the NC people could be close to home, our Sacred Mountain, and so the NC people could live on. A lot of blood shed. A lot of lives were sacrificed so we could be here today and have a home; land, water, air, all the elements along with the vegetation and animals we give thanks for in our prayers and our ceremonies. No matter what anyone says, for the NC Tribe, true sovereignty can only be achieved through culture and education.
Money comes and goes. Corporations, businesses, industries all rise and fall with time, not even flashes in history. Look at the mines in Colstrip, around Butte, go out east and look at all the mines and mills that never even lasted 3 full generations of people. Culture makes a person strong; ethical, moral, disciplined, and respectful. If our people exercised their culture and our children learned and exercised their culture, it makes me ask: Would our reservation be that dirty? Would drugs and alcohol be destroying our community? Would we be having to destroy our home to provide for ourselves?
A lot of NC people think you need to live on the reservation to be Cheyenne. Traditionally we lived in bands, different communities, and it was our discipline and principles that made us great amongst our allies and enemies. A lot of people think because they’re an enrolled member and they’ve got their education, even though they don’t know or practice Cheyenne ways and haven’t made a similar investment to learn from and actually be a part of the NC community, they know what’s best for the NC Tribe. It makes me ask what’s really in their heart, what they’re basing their view on, and if they really think that they’re speaking for real traditional people who want to protect their land and natural resources for the future of the NC people.
I’ve seen both sides of the argument, both in the community and in the administration. Because we’re Cheyenne and have our covenants which tie us to the land, what do we sacrifice? I’ve seen people talk about development because they are tired of being poor and just simply want to have money, “money” before a “job” if a job is even mentioned. I even heard one person say, “…our People are starving to death,” but yet no one I’ve talked to knows of anyone ever starving to death on the reservation; yet there’s more fast food than healthy food and no development of any tribal garden or wild game management to provide nutritious food for the elderly, low income, and diabetics-two ventures that could have easily been started as tribal programs. Where’s the long term plan at? What’s being done to educate the NC people about investing, make them smart investors able to turn new money into old money for their descendents? What’s the plan to make community improvements and utilize all of our human resources; whether unemployed, in jail, or those just wanting to help and not being given the opportunity to make healthy community changes?
Eminent Domain is something every U.S. Tribe is potentially going to be faced with. However, the international community is becoming more and more aware of Native Americans’ plights to address cultural genocide and their natural resource issues; land protection and preservation. Native People have spearheaded many of the international issues of today, especially that of natural resource protection. Education is the key for our tribal members to become fully self-sustaining and preserving. The education of others to the important issues that effect the earth we all share is equally. I’m just as tired of seeing and being affected by poverty. But I’d rather make the right decision and know its who I am and where I come from that’s making the real change in my people’s way of life and my own (i.e. hard work based on identity and culture), not a quick fix that hasn’t even been strategized and is the gasoline to the alcohol, drugs, abuse, etc. issues that are still blazing.
Our ancestors are looking down at us, at how we are living with what they have left for us, and some day we will be doing the same on our descendents. If that time has to come, I wonder how many real Cheyennes (especially military society soldiers and Chiefs) I’ll be standing with to protect our sacred land and water.
Urban Cheyenne wrote on October 23, 2006 11:30 PM
I agree. Mr. Beartusk - go back to Sheridan. You have been gone from the reservation all these years and you have lost the connection with our beloved reservation. Have people read the studies on coalbed methane. We won't have any water left for our beloved homeland. If we're going to develop - let's develop our coal. Our coal seams run adjacent to the seams to Peabody and Western Energy. There's a proven product there. The people need to be informed. Continue with the meetings. Bring in experts who know the dangers of coal bed methane development.
Hmmm wrote on October 23, 2006 11:58 PM
How is the Northern Cheyenne Tribe going to manage CD/CBM, when they can't even manage the Cheyenne Depot.
muddy cluster resident wrote on October 24, 2006 1:50 AM
The land will always be here,looks like greed is getting the best of some of the people on the rez.I grew up on this land that they talk of destroying I thought we were suppose to keep this land our ancesters faught and died for, forever.Throw a twenty dollar bill into the wind and see how long you can keep it in your sight, the only thing you will still see are the hills and the trees PLEASE vote "NO" there are other things we can try before they tear up our land and make our water worse..
the big kahuna wrote on October 24, 2006 8:07 AM
All the comments about the coal and methane are good. We as people need to stand up together and voice our opinions like this at the district meetings, not on blogs where no one knows our true identities. We know what it is we need to do...for the most part (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that we do not trust our leaders, and that is where the uncertainty comes from about this referdum vote we will be taking. OUr government leaders cannot govern, it is a "culture of waste", and we the people need to take a stand as one and tell our leaders what we want. Let us also learn from the coal leases that were signed in the late 70's where the Cheyenne's almost lost out on the coal prices becuase of not knowing what they were getting into. Any one remember that? President Carter had to sign into law cancelling the coal leases so we could get our land back. ALso, what does the BIA think? they have the trust responsibility in this over our land. But remember the coal leases in the 70's. Let's learn from that.
NCrezwoman wrote on October 24, 2006 8:21 AM
I am against Methane developement. I have read a lot of greedy people comments on this blog. I agree we do need to get away from the US gov't hand outs, but to sacrafice our land, our water. Come on, like its been said, money comes and goes, Our land will be here forever. Maybe a whole lot of you greedy people need to go to Oklahoma in January, put on some moccasins and be sure to take a very thin blanket and walk back to Montana. See what our ancestors went through for US!! For our homeland!
JackieT wrote on October 24, 2006 8:32 AM
I remember when my mother was approached to sign a lease allowing gas exploration and when she refused to sign the contract because royalties where not included in the agreement, she was overruled by the BIA. The company is now pumping gas from her land and her estate now earns about $300+ a year for the lease on the land AND the income from the gas. Is it worth it for the next 7 generations???
VotingCheyenne wrote on October 24, 2006 9:08 AM
This goes out to my people; I sure like your suggestions about how we could develop our reservation. Maybe we could develop some kind of bus tour to the black hills or maybe we could even develop a golf course and a truck stop on the divide. There are so many different opportunities that could be put in front of us all. It will still come back to the leaders of the tribe what kind of development do they have in store for their people? What about education is there anyway that we could build a learning center like CDKMC? So many open doors which one chould we enter!!
Margot Liberty wrote on October 24, 2006 9:16 AM
The Northern Cheyennes are one of the most famous and heroic tribes in the United States. They led the Sioux in defeating Custer and other military forces in 1876, and their outbreak from Oklahoma prison camp and return to the north in 1878-79 is one of the great epics of American history. More recently the tribe has had a very strong record of protecting their environment and denyting the irresponsible development of energy resources including coal. They stopped the sale of Cheyenne land to outsiders in the 1950s under the leadership of John Woodenlegs. 98% or more of reservation land (almost 500,000 acres) is thus under individual Cheyenne or tribal ownership -- unheard of among other reservations of the Plains, where 80% or more of reservation land is usually owned by Whites. When half the reservation was leased for coal development back in the seventies, they succeeded in overturning and cancelling the leases made by the Department of the Interior. Such a move was unheard of. They won a Supreme Court decision, the Hollowbreast case, guranteeing them control in perpetuity of their mineral rights. Most white owners of ranch land would die to be so lucky.
Under the leadership of Alan Rowland they won a Class One Air designation under the Clean Air Act of 1974, one of the very few such high designations in the country -- the others are mainly the National Parks. Most areas in the country are Class Two or lower. This designation very nearly stopped the construction of mine-mouth electricity generating units Colstrip Three and Four. Colstrip Three and Four were built, but with much more rigorous emission requirements than would otherwise be the case, since mine emissions blow over the reservation just 15 miles to the south.
Professor Ross Toole of the University of Montana in his book The Rape of the Great Plains in 1979 called the Cheyennes "The Most Important Tribe in This Country" because of their amazing record of resistance to strip mining and other environmentally disastrous development. Rubie Sooktis and Gail Small (at Native Action) have worked tirelessly to prevent such disasters. But today Tongue River on the east border of the reservation is so heavily affected by coalbed methane development nearby -- pollting the water with salt -- that it may soon be unusable for irrigation and livestock. Environmental damage from this cause is severe at nearby Sheridan, Wyoming. 30,000 methane wells in the area are projected for the near future. I have posted documents, background articles, and news stories on these matters at smokesignals2006.blogspot.com. Everyone is invited to visit and comment.
It would be tragic indeed if today's Northern Cheyennes sold out the achievements of their ancestors and more recent leaders like Woodenlegs and Rowland, for a dollar store. A strip mine at Birney would destroy not only the traditional Cheyenne community, but one of the few last unspoiled and beautiful areas of the country. There are drugs and other such problems in great plenty at Lame Deer and other reservation areas. Don't let's let energy development spoil this truly last, best place.
Northern Cheyenne Man wrote on October 24, 2006 9:35 AM
Our Non-renewable resources have always coveted by the Whiteman and his industry. In the late 70's, the Hollowbreast case allowed our tribe to reassume control of our land after the entire reservation was leased to development corporations. The erroneous leases were negotiated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs below market value and they were never processed through the constitutional referendum process. It is important to remember our Cheyenne history, culture, custom & language. They form the tie that binds us together as a people, a race, a nation, and as spiritual beings.
As Cheyenne, we must always remember the trails of our ancestors, we must always remember what trail we our currently on, and we must always remeber the trails to be forged by the Cheyenne yet to come. We must always pray to Mahaoe to help us remember in the times of stress and crisis, the two covenants given to us and what agreements they represent between the Cheyenne and Creator. We were given certain ways to ensure our survival. This way of making money by digging or draining our land is not Cheyenne.
If it is the Whiteman's money that Cheyenne's like Mr. Beartusk want, then they need to earn it through hardwork and sacrifice. If the creator wanted us to sell our non-renewable resources he would have put them on top of the earth, not below the surface! Thus, with the development of our non-renewable resources placed before us on the ballot, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe faces a crossroad. The left road leads to the digging and siphoning of the land and water. While the road on the right road leads to ecological preservation and individual self-sufficiency! Sweet Medicine prophesized about the time when the Cheyenne will no longer be Cheyenne...that we will forget our ways and become like the whiteman. Perhaps that time has come....
dhinNM wrote on October 24, 2006 10:17 AM
Vote it down, by all means, vote it down. Why should the Northern Cheyenne lead themselves out of poverty when they have the brainwashed (its all the white man's fault) youths writing letters asking the government to come fix the reservation? In a little while, "you people" will be there to fix the broken homes and to perpetuate the status quo. Don't lift yourselves out of poverty while solving energy needs. Bad idea.
Concerned wrote on October 24, 2006 10:46 AM
To a certain degree, I agree with "vote yes." However the key point is that you have the right to choose your life's journey. Terry Beartusk has been a strong advocate of self-help recovery for many years now and its sad to see that he now believes in the, as they say, easier softer way" which seems to be a band-aid approach to our community's economy. There is an excellent junior college right in the community that isn't utilized enough and individuals can get employment however you have to have motivation. Making choices to improve your life means hard work and dedication.... that's right...its your choice.
hadawada@yahoo.com wrote on October 24, 2006 10:52 AM
Just a quick story - our house in Lame Deer was broken into, obviously things were taken, the thief was positively identified. The thief was a brother to a dear friend. Inevitably tension over the situation ended the friendship. The mother of the thief started a character assassination campaign against the owner of the house. This is just one story of the realities of the reservation and where are values lay. There have been some very important points that have been posted. The one thing that I would add is that money will not restore pride and respect - for ourselves, others, and our homelands. We have become so conditioned to think less of ourselves and the relationship we have with all things has lost its meaning, that should we force a change that we are not ready for, then we have indeed become fully assimilated into America..."I wanna be rich..."
just another kid wrote on October 24, 2006 11:08 AM
I think all of you who want to vote for coal development and coalbed methane are all greedy!! I'm a kid in high school and can see that all anyone cares about is the money... well what about the land?? when it's all torn up then what are you future generations gonna be proud of?? money doesn't last long but land can last forever!!
Coal bed methane wrote on October 24, 2006 11:24 AM
Has anyone seen the way wyoming looks and smells right now. I,ve read environmental reports on how the wild life is avoiding these areas like the plague, which is basically what it is. Wyoming is currently suing the state of montana to have the water quality standards reduced to wyoming's levels. The water that wyoming is dumping into the Powder-river,the little Powder river, and the tongue has already begun to kill off certain types of fish along with decimating the plant life along the rivers. The salinity levels are toxic in this time of drought, many have stated that you can irrigate with this water and use it for livestock.
I for one would like impact statements from Wyoming now and in three years. We as cheyenne people cannot rush into anything this damaging with out looking at what we want to accomplish it is all well and good to say to combat povery, make us solvent etc. But at what cost, history has shown us that great life changes are always promised. Usually after we have been plundered the culprits have slunk off with their profits and we end up with the mess. All I would like is a clear picture of who will benefit, who will have access to the funds, when we can expect a profit, how much profit can we expect.
In business class they say it takes approx. two to three years to make any money off of a venture. In the past the cheyennes were burnt very badly by the Alantic Richfield company. We have had people give permission to drill on land without the owners permission or knowledge. Greed is one of the worst enemies we have now. I am not against solvency, progress or making a better life for us all. I just don't want to have our land destroyed in the process. I would not want to be like the Crow nation which only own the land around their houses and the bank owns the rest. Short term profit is not an answer neither is pillaging our only natural resource. In the end we will have to explain to our children what we did for them and the sacrifices we made. I hope we do as much for them as our ancestors did for us. p.s. Ask wyoming where all there deer and antelope have gone J
To dhnNM wrote on October 24, 2006 1:14 PM
It's always the one's whom have sold all that they own including their souls that want to decide how us land-owners should "get rid of" all that useless land. My mother was thinking ahead when she wrote her will, if any of her kids try to sell the land deeded to us then it automatically reverts to our children and so on and so forth. I for one would never sell my children's land. That is the way I think about it. I don't own it my grandchildren do as do their grandchildren. So dhnNM take your sarcastic, pompous, get rich quick attitude, buy some land, burn it, dig wells on it, scrape off the whole top layer of earth to get to your precious minerals, but don't ask us to do the same. We cheyennes know the true value of our land and resources. If you noticed the only cheyennes who are whole-heartedly for strip mining/ draining our aquifers are one's whom have no land and no respect for another person's land. J
cheyengineer wrote on October 24, 2006 1:29 PM
I am a member of the N.Chey tribe and an engineering student. I am also a landholder and am against the the development of coal on our homeland. VOTE NO!
NCrezwoman wrote on October 24, 2006 1:43 PM
Well said, Margot...Thank you!
Sick and Tired Northern Cheyenne wrote on October 24, 2006 2:31 PM
My heart is breaking. My ancestors gave their lives and generations of prayers for us to have this place of our ceremony and tradition. Our original instructions tell us to take care of our people. I believe that one way we do this is through our ceremonies. Our poverty and the impacts are about oppression. Economic and social theory indicate that essentially throwing money (even a massive windfall) at the issues perpetuatd by poverty will not solve them. They are systemic. WE must change them from the inside out, based on our cultural values and traditions, with thoughtful economic development for supporting the initiatives. Think about the $2000 windfall in the early 80s. How many people's lives did this move forward, really? That was a lot of money to my family back then. Didn't change a thing. We spent it and it was gone. The true "cost" of development may far outweigh the "benefit." There is not a long-range strategic plan for managing the magnitude of this kind of money. Will we even truly get a "fair" price for what we will continue to lose in culture and in our relationship to the land, which is what makes us Cheyenne? Should money like this go into infrastructure first and foremost or will greed get the best of individuals first? I applaude our President for being democratic. But, I ask that you think about what our grandparents have said and taught. Pray to Maheo that the right decision is made and think long and hard, critically about ALL the angles of implication.
Cheyenne Woman wrote on October 31, 2006 1:07 AM
I'm a young cheyenne woman. I see most of the tribal council in the casino; JUST GREEDY with their new cars and expensive trips. I want to be a teacher and give someone the younger children can look up to. All those kids have are those crackheads, dropouts, greedy councilmembers, selfish relatives, alcoholic families and they don't know what to do. Money is evil. CoalBedMethane will destroy our already-messed-up way of life. My children and grand children will be affected by this decision. My little cousin is against coalbedmethane, I am too. MONEY won't get us out of poverty. Poverty is a state of mind. Get OUT OF THAT STATE OF MIND! We as a people will have to fight for ourselves and our place just like our ancestors did. Being Cheyenne is all I know and I will die before I let some greedy bastard take that away from me and my children. Remember: GREED + SELFISHNESS = CBM PRO CBM = SELLOUT Nea'eshe Na'haaenhe
Very Worried wrote on October 24, 2006 5:18 PM
If Terry Beartusk is really concerned about fighting substance abuse, he should consider what will happen to substance abuse rates on the reservation when energy development happens. Look at the big time energy development communities in Wyoming. Does he really want Lame Deer to be like Rock Springs, and Busby like Pinedale? There might be money to triple the police force and build a five story jail, but is this the best way to go?
To I agree wrote on October 24, 2006 7:06 PM
And destroying the reservation, it's ground water and the plants and animals is the way to go. yes let us do that. So when every thing is gone we can sit on our pile of unusable dirt and roll in the pennies we will receive because either we will have rushed into this and didn't pay attention when we hurried to sign on that dotted line or the tribal council members will have divided it up amongst themselves. I,m not scared of change. I'm scared of Imminent domain, and the drilling companies coming onto my land and saying " we own this land now" which has happened too many times in the past. Ever hear that joke "why did man go to the moon"? because he thought indians owned land there. Take care people this is a precarious situation we are faced with. J
Busby Cat wrote on October 24, 2006 9:41 PM
Vote NO Coal/Methane Development!! Think its bad now around here...wait till were stinking rich and selfless with our loot...more drugs, fast cars, trashing more washers dryers...we can go buy a new wheels to park them anywhere, buy another one, we will be so rich that our history will be strewn with self less,dead, people who put money before true self and the good of the Cheyenne people.....
HELL NO!!!!!!!! wrote on October 24, 2006 11:41 PM
NO!!! NO!! NO!!!NO!!!HELL NO!!!
Concerned_Northern_Cheyenne wrote on October 25, 2006 7:37 AM
There comes a time in ones life when there is a major decision you make that will imact you for the rest of your life. These two issues, CBM & CD are two major issues that the Northern Cheyenne People will decide on November 7 that will do just this. The decision that the people make will determine the direction the tribe will take for generations to come. How will our future generations down the line look back on us, the decision makers, and view us. Maybe some will look back and say, "hey, they made an excellent desicion, we are now booming economically and continue to grow," or some might say, "I wish they had never allowed these companies to come in, we are now living amongst non-Cheyennes and we don't even control our own land."
Our ancestors fought, died, cherised and passed down to us this little speck of land given to us by the US governement out of millions of acres that were once under control of the Cheyenne. They wanted us to take care of this land. We have a responsibility, not only to our ancestors, but to our future generations to continue to take care of this land and pass it down to them the way it should be. CBM & CD are not the ONLY ways to get our people out of poverty have a sound economic base on the reservation. We can't be so selfish as to just think of money for ourselves. We have to think of both our past and future generations and include them in our decision making process. There are many pros and cons to both subjects, but I think in the long run the cons heavily outweigh the pros. As for me, I will vote NO TO COAL DEVELOPMENT AND NO TO COALBED METHANE. We are not ready for these. Perhaps in the future, when we have more capable people in our council who can manage and handle the deals and brockering with comapanies, that will occur when these deals go down, we can have something than; but for now we are not ready. Think hard, fellow Cheyenne, when you vote on these two issues. What we decide will have shock waves for generations to come.
TO FLETCHER wrote on October 25, 2006 8:20 AM
You have a lot of Guts! You can state your opinion on sell out our rez, but hey you don't even live on the rez so yeah vote yes to destroy us. Where are your roots, Sheridan?
NDN.. wrote on October 25, 2006 8:38 AM
me myself and I...well thats what it is i say do what you have to because GREED controls people and you all know that the younger generation will sell out!! All we will have is memories besides it will take years before we actully get money.
20UO0489 wrote on October 25, 2006 9:30 AM
I am a Northern Cheyenne Member who majored in Business and I think that before we develop coal or methane we first need to learn how to run a successful business. This, I believe, is the key that will lead the tribe to self-sufficiency. What we need to be voting on is amending the Northern Cheyenne Constitution that will form two councils, a business council (for the educated) and a tribal council (for the traditional) – a forum where politics can be separated from the money, or at least to a certain degree. At present, the Tribe can't even manage the Cheyenne Depot, can't even provide gas to its own people and it is the only gas station within a 20 mile radius - in all four directions. How are we going to manage a multi-billion dollar business venture? Get real. And do we truly believe that the Tribal Members will get this money in the form of a per capita? More like padding the council's travel accounts so they can pretend like they know what they're talking about in business meetings off in Washington, D.C. or else where – these people represent the tribe a whole - embarrassing. We are a very young nation, a young government and haven’t learned all the business savvy that is required to be successful in today’s business world – nothing is for free – and ignorance always comes with a major cost. So, keep our lands – give ourselves more time to educate our children who, perhaps one day, will do a better job than we have.
Cheyenne Native wrote on October 25, 2006 10:14 AM
Please vote NO for coalbed methane!
Mell wrote on October 25, 2006 6:36 PM
Well first and foremost I think that every avenue should be first carefully looked at with a magnifying glass and finetooth comb if neccessary, and "If" the cheyenne nation decide that they want to venture into such an agreement they better make sure they have a native lawyer who has the best interests of this particular nation at heart. Too many times in the history of non native investors have destroyed what precious lands we have left in our care and in our titles. All aspects of eithe one of these options needs to be dis-sected and carefully weighed out, what if any long term effects will either of these options have on the lands and natural resources of this specific area? Destruction, pollution, and contamination of any lands on any degree is detrimental to our way of life. I send my prayers to the spokes people of the Cheyenne nation that they be guided from above to make a sound decision that will effect all generations to come, before they sign anything that will be for obvious reason non-negotiable.
21st Century Cheyenne wrote on October 25, 2006 9:35 PM
There’s one path to true sovereignty for the NC Tribe, and it’s the one thing we don’t see consistently or enough. It’s education. Education is the NC Tribe’s path to sovereignty. It’s the only tool that will allow us to protect our homeland and provide consistently for future generations of Cheyenne. I often think, where would the NC people be if the majority of parents had a college degree, and most of all, the people knew and practiced their language, history, culture, and spirituality. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, money is the real issue here.
Yes, it is a tool. Yes, the NC people need to provide for the future of their people. But, there’s one question, how are there even going to be Cheyenne in the future if people aren’t even learning their identity and implementing it in their lives? Someone mentioned the prophesies of Sweet Medicine. His most powerful statement were in his last words, “Hold on to all I have taught you, for as long as you can.”
Assimilation has really had it’s way with us. I’ve seen that. I’ve grown up right alongside NC people who have no idea who they are and what Cheyenne is. I’ve seen NC people sell-out to get ahead and consequently take from the very people they’re suppose to be serving. I’ve even heard Terry Beartusk question and disregard why the Cheyenne worship the sun in the Sundance, and even talk down Cheyenne spirituality. Hopefully, he’s learned by now that the Cheyenne don’t have a “Sundance”-the literal meaning in the Cheyenne language is far from this-that it does not entail the “worshipping” of the sun, either, and it’s the way you live, believe, and think that makes you who you are.
The Cheyenne have a long history of fighting for their people. Our society use to be a highly altruistic society-I give my all for the benefit of my people. Remember the 2 Sacred Covenants. Our traditional leadership was once selected based on how they lived their life in accordance with Cheyenne beliefs and principles; they put the needs of others before their own. This type of attitude and morality is what the NC people need. Intuition and discipline are integral to keeping our Cheyenne people in the education system, enabling them to provide for their people and their family, no matter where they are on this earth. It’s hard to be Cheyenne today, cause there are so many more avenues out there to follow.
Do we need money to improve the education of our youth? No. Educated Cheyenne people should be working to improve the standard of education, and the newly passed Board of Regents is just that. Parents could focus on their child’s education, along with their own. Do we need money to clean up the reservation? No. Anyone can clean up, all they need to do is go out there and get busy. Sure, the Southern Ute has built an empire for themselves. But many more questions arise: So, after the methane is gone and they’ve already built up all these million dollar operations (i.e. dialysis center, hospital, academy, etc.) and after they have to begin digging into their reserve, what comes next? What are the cultural/spiritual impacts they have experienced (Do they even have any tribal covenants?)?
The Southern Ute rep talked a lot about what they have been able to do with their money, expanding into other markets; real estate being one. They drill, too. So, should we ask the anthropologists, archeologists, and museums to come and take our Tribal Covenants because we no longer want to be Cheyenne? Maybe we should get all the “yes” voters to get a delegation for this and move ahead with it. Maybe they can form their own “traditional government,” cause I’m sure the US will definitely give them the IRA stamp of approval with a nice big, “Hau noble savages. Make’em heap goot treaty. Smoke’em pipe. Great big’em future. Like shootin star, across da great big’em sky.” Maybe they can ask the US Gov for another round of assimilation-and ask them to take it up a notch, cause it’s working.
Margot Liberty made a lot of great comments about what the Cheyenne people have endured and fought for. Home, land, water, air, family, many powerful and integral parts of life. And to set the record straight PART OF OUR ORIGINAL HOMELAND, the Northern Cheyenne, Northern Arapaho, and Lakota defended the Bozeman Trail and occupied the land that is now the Crow Reservation. The original Crow reserve was further west. If it was really the land the Creator gave to them, I think maybe they were put in another dimension during the Battle of the Little Bighorn and during the original Allied Force’s roamings and battles in “Crow country.” That medicine wheel that lies in the Bighorn Mountains comes from one of the original Cheyenne hunting ceremonies and is a territorial marker, not a shrine as people now treat it.
If anyone does their research, the Crow came from the Hidatsa and roamed lands further west of Billings, and when George Bird Grinnell asked the Crow about that Medicine Wheel they had no idea who made it, yet the Arapaho and Sioux knew and stated it came from the Cheyenne. The Cheyenne never sought to wipe out the Crow Tribe, as many people on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation can go back in their lineage to the time when the Cheyenne Nation captured 1/3 of the Crow Tribe-women and children who were integrated into the Cheyenne Nation. Perhaps you should read Pretty Shield and Two Leggings’ accounts of the Northern Cheyenne. The Crow can thank the US Gov, whom they never fought, for the lands the Creator “blessed” them with. Cheyennes can thank the US Gov too, for the fighting spirit they brought out in the Northern Cheyenne people who won a small fraction of their original homeland.
The Northern Cheyenne were the only tribe on the Plains to be displaced and then fight their way to get back home against insurmountable odds. As a Cheyenne, I have to think about my children and my grandchildren, and my great grandchildren, and theirs, all down the line. Our Chiefs use to exemplify in their decisions, the perpetuation of “the People.” It’s even a Cheyenne ethic. So, we extract our coal bed methane now and build corporations and businesses, make huge profits which we can set aside for future use, and eventually somewhere down the line extract coal to meet the demands we have set in place because of the businesses we created and are trying continue? There are tons more considerations to this, and anyone who has a background in business knows that demand and capital of businesses rise and fall with the community/population it serves and is dependent upon the related conditions of resources of the greater economy, the US’s and the world’s. And so, the path we have stepped on will ultimately lead to the destruction of our land
. While our land is being destroyed, from what will we draw of (natural resources) to worship and carry on the way of life we have been given through our 2 Sacred Covenants by the Creator? What use would it be to pray for the fertility of the earth while we’re destroying it? Isn’t it a Cheyenne ethic to not pray for anything you’re not going to do (i.e. don’t pray for your people to have good lives and then mislead and/or abuse them)?
Like so many Cheyenne elders I’ve listened to as they aged and gone home to join our ancestors, and those that we are blessed to still have here amongst the NC people: It’s your language, history, culture, and spirituality in practice that make you who you are. So many Cheyenne ethics and teachings, and many those of other Tribes have come to mind. Children and the land are the most integral parts of a Tribe’s survival, their health in all aspects is vital. Real strength and change, sovereignty, will come through identity and education. Children and the land are constant throughout them both, and they’ll always be together. Might as well make sure they’re in balance.
