South Dakota's Custer State Park Name Has To Go!
Mike Graham
January 15, 2006
State Senator Stanford M. Adelstein denied Graham a meeting with him concerning changing the name of Custer Park. He did offer his time to hear Graham's concerns about Indian health and education issues. Senator Theresa B. Two Bulls and Representative Thomas J. Van Norman are aware of the Custer Park name issue and agreed to meet with Graham on all issues. On Wednesday, January 18th, 2005, Graham will meet with Roger Campbell, Director of the South Dakota Office of Tribal Government Relations: http://www.state.sd.us/oia/
It's inconceivable that a state government today would use its tax dollars to honor Custer with a state park in his name. Senior South Dakota state representatives are refusing to allow legislation before them calling for the Custer Park name change. It's an insult to the state's Indian community and all Americans. Custer's true history toward Indians is well documented. Custer had no problem killing Indian men, women and children!
Schools should stop teaching our children that Custer was a hero. They should be required to teach the truth! Custer willingly carried out the U.S. government's policy of exterminating Indians. A state government honoring Custer is inflicting adverse mental anguish on Indians' health and well being. It has a direct effect in promoting racial division.
American Indians were never the "enemy" as our state and federal government played them out to be. Custer was the government's instrument of death toward Indian families. By killing Custer on the battlefield, Indians said he had it coming. Custer got "Siouxed"! By killing Custer, Indians prevented another Indian hater from becoming president of the United States. It's time for the South Dakota government to stop honoring Custer.
Health, education, housing and poverty issues rank at the top of South Dakota's Indian community concerns. South Dakota's Governor, Mike Rounds, attended a meeting of state governors back in 2005. After the meeting he joined many other state governors that have coined the phrase: "Indians are reservation shopping". The fact is that Indians own the land in question by treaty laws. Governor Rounds is afraid Indians may open up a "pig farm". (I guess he does not like pork meat.) He goes on to say that the state would lose property taxes. Governor Rounds knows he can set up a compact deal with Indian leaders opening new business on land placed under their tribal control. The U.S. Government enacted legislation requiring state governors to negotiate in good faith with tribal governments to promote their economic well being.
http://www.defendblackhills.org/
Barbara Lindsay, head of "One Nation United" was asked to speak before the National Governors Association's meeting held in Denver last year. "One Nation United" is a national group made up of big oil, gas and insurance companies. Their main purpose is to stop elected representatives from passing legislation promoting the Indian nation's economic advancement.
Americans are fed up with elected representatives giving an ear to groups like One Nation United, corporate companies and lobbyists like Jack Abramoff. We have a government for the sole purpose of looking out for our interests, not special interest groups like One Nation United and corporate "Pigs". Governor Rounds and South Dakota representatives need to rededicate themselves to introducing positive legislation that promotes the economic well being of its Indian community, not giving lame excuses to hold them back!
To learn more about this issue and sign petition go to:
http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/issues/crazy_horse.html
Contact info for: Governor Mike Rounds:
http://www.state.sd.us/governor/
Capital: 605.773.3212
Contact Info for: Senator Stanford M Adelstein
http://legis.state.sd.us/email/index.aspx?FuseAction=MemberID&MemberID=375
Capitol: 605-224-7077
Mike Graham, member Oklahoma Cherokee Nation
Founder United Native America www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com
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