The Oglala Sioux Tribe may be first to pass a hate crime law providing protections for LBGTQ and two spirit people, but citizens remain divided over decision
Indian Country Today
During the 14-day lockdown, the tribe will have travel pass applications available. Once completed, the OST COVID-19 Response Taskforce will approve them via email [email protected]. 17-145 Bailiff/Process Server Tribal Court Kyle, So. Dakota 17-146 Administrative Assistant Tribal Court Pine Ridge, So. Dakota 17-149 District Service Center Manager OST Administration Porcupine CAP & Pass Creek CAP 17-152 District Data Clerk OST Administration Medicine Root CAP. Daily Updates from Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilwoman Nakina Mills, Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Remembering Our Past, While Improving Our Future.
The road to history-making can be rocky for any community. So it was for the Oglala Sioux Tribe on September 4, 2019, when the tribal council voted to enact a hate crime law that offers protection to its lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) citizens. Comprehensive data regarding tribal law codes is not available but according to Indian Country Today’s research, the Oglala Sioux Tribe is the first tribe to enact such a law. They are certainly the first tribe to do so in South Dakota. The tribe’s path to passing its hate crime law as well as a law recognizing same-sex marriage mirrors debates happening all over the United States as communities wrestle with responses to gender-fluid citizens’ calls for acceptance and protection. Like the rest of the country, much of the contention stemmed from religious differences. The topic, often reserved for discussions behind closed doors in Indian Country, drew heated words during the 2-day long council meeting on September 3 and 4th. - First used in 1961, this flag was approved by the Oglala Sioux Tribal OST Council on March 9, 1962, as the flag of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST). The circle of nine tipi on the flag represent the nine districts of the reservation: Porcupine, Wakpamni, Medicine Root, Pass Creek, Eagle Nest, White Clay, LaCreek, Wounded Knee, and Pine Ridge.
- Two months after legalizing same-sex marriage, the Oglala Sioux Tribe has approved hate crime legislation aimed at fighting attacks against LGBTQ people and other minorities.
Ost Tribal Website
#INDIGENOUS first tribal hate crime law https://t.co/8mgxq15luJ
— Mary Annette Pember (@mapember) September 21, 2019 In 2008, a newly appointed police chief contacted Mousseau asking her to return to help out with the short-handed staff. “He said I was a good cop and asked me to come back,” Mousseau said. She returned to Pine Ridge as a police officer. All went well until the police chief position changed hands again in 2009. According to Mousseau, the new chief called her into his office informing her that she was to answer all ‘“faggot” calls that came into the police office. During one such call, the transgender man she arrested for intoxication asked to be placed in protective custody at the tribal jail. He complained that he was repeatedly raped during his last incarceration. “He told me that the jailers just laughed when he cried out for help,” Mousseau said. Jail staff refused to place the man in protective custody according to Mousseau. “The police chief said we can’t do that. When I asked him why he said, “faggots get what faggots deserve when they go to jail here,” she said. “That was a defining moment for us. We determined that our time on the reservation was done,” Mousseau said. “He was a police officer in charge of enforcing our laws and he was refusing to protect people; I decided I wasn’t going to put up with that,” she said. Again the couple moved away from Pine Ridge. ![Tribal Tribal](/uploads/1/1/8/3/118373358/901131626.jpg)
Earlier this month, the Oglala Lakota Tribal Council passed important legislation protecting our #LGBTQ and #TwoSpirit relatives.
Posted by Julian Bear Runner, Oglala Sioux Tribe President on Wednesday, September 11, 2019Oglala Lakota Tribe may be first in Indian Country to pass hate crime law including LGBTQ peoplehttps://t.co/BOwBPpjNmG
— Mary Annette Pember (@mapember) September 19, 2019 Indian Country Today interviewed several citizens who shared varied opinions about the role that LGBTQ people play in traditional Lakota culture and spirituality. In the accompanying video, elders describe LGBTQ people or “winkte” as revered with special roles in the culture; others describe them as bad people who should be banished. In the end, however, it was love of family and concern for children that supported both votes. “We cried behind closed doors after Vina called us abominations,” Mousseau said. “Many people spoke on our behalf the next day including straight men. That was the greatest feeling; it gave a heartbeat back to my heart,” she said. “Our LGBTQ takojas (grandchildren) can prosper in a safe healthy environment,” De Leon said. An unidentified citizen spoke to the tribal council prior to the hate crime vote. “The winkte are not going away. They are our family, part of our Oyate (extended family) and have the right to live and be safe,” he said. Mary Annette Pember works as an independent journalist focusing on Indian issues and culture with a special emphasis on mental health and women’s health. Winner of the Ida B. Wells Fellowship for Investigative Reporting, Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism, the USC Annenberg National Health Fellowship and Dennis A. Hunt Fund for health journalism she has reported extensively on the impact of historical trauma among Indian peoples. She has contributed to ReWire.News, The Guardian, The Atlantic and Indian Country Today. An enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band of Wisconsin Ojibwe, she is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. See more at MAPember.com.This story originally appeared on Indian Country Today on September 19, 2019. Oglala Sioux Tribe considers passing hate crime law (September 3, 2019) ENROLLMENT STAFF
Charlene Anderson, Enrollment SpecialistRachel Straight Head, Tribal ID Clerk
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE THE PROCEDURE TO ENROLL WITH THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE:
- One of the parent(s) must be an enrolled member of the tribe.
- Enrollment application needs to be requested, filled out and mailed back with the documents attached. The cover sheet states what is needed.
- When the applications are received back, they are thoroughly checked to make sure everything is attached, if incomplete they will be returned for completion.
- The applications are presented to the Claims and Legislation Committee for their recommendation and then referred to Tribal Council.
- Tribal Council meets monthly on the first Tuesday of every month. Everything concerning enrollments is then presented for their decision. There are two categories for enrollment. Majority vote, which means children born to parents who reside on the reservation and two-thirds (2/3) vote, for individuals born off the reservation, these are voted in by at least 10 of the 15 council members.
- Should an individual(s) be disapproved for enrollment then the application can be resubmitted back to the Enrollment Office and presented to the next Tribal Council meeting.
TO OBTAIN RESEARCH DATA
Please give the name(s) of the individual(s) that need to be researched. Date of birth and parents of the individual is very important.The Enrollment records will be checked to see if the individual(s) are enrolled and the Aberdeen Area Listing is also used to locate an individual(s) who might be enrolled with another tribe, if located then the tribe’s location and address will be given.
Please include your name, address, e-mail address and phone number when requesting research.
The contact person is:
Charlene Anderson, Enrollment SpecialistTribal Enrollment
PO Box 325
Eagle Butte, South Dakota, 57625
Phone number: 605-964-6612/6613
Fax number: 605-964-6614
Ost Tribal Office
E-mail address: [email protected]
TO OBTAIN A TRIBAL ID
[email protected]Tribal Pass - Ost & Art For Macbook
Tribal ID’s are taken here within our office daily 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through FridayDocuments needed will be, your Social Security Card, so a copy can be made for your file, marriage license or divorce decree to update current name
Tribal Pass - Ost & Art For Mac Osx
Tribal ID’s cost $5.00Tribal Pass - Ost & Art For Macbook Pro
Please stop at the Enrollment Office if you are here for a Tribal ID and you will be informed on what to do.