Tuesday, October 11, 2016
October 2016 CRST Committee Meetings
Thursday, September 22, 2016
FOLLOWING ALABAMA PIPELINE BREAK, CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE CHAIRMAN FRAZIER TO TESTIFY AT HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES ON DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE AND THE THREAT TO RESERVATION DRINKING WATER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOLLOWING ALABAMA PIPELINE BREAK, CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE CHAIRMAN FRAZIER TO TESTIFY AT HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES ON DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE AND THE THREAT TO RESERVATION DRINKING WATER
WASHINGTON D.C. – Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier will be giving testimony this week at the House Committee on Natural Resources Democrats Forum regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline in advance of the White House Tribal Nations Conference taking place September 24-26.
Last week, the Continental Gas Pipeline broke, spilling 600,000 gallons of gasoline in Alabama. The Dakota Access Pipeline proposes to move 570,000 barrels of oil daily to cross under the Missouri River, along the eastern border of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Along with other Sioux tribes, the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation draws nearly all of its drinking water from the Oahe Reservoir.
Committee testimony is scheduled for Thurs. Sept. 22, 2016 at 1:30 PM, 210 Cannon House Office Building. Chairman Frazier is available for interviews directly following his testimony at the Cannon House Office Building.
The Chairman is a vocal opponent of the Dakota Access Pipeline Project, citing recent history in Flint, Michigan as an example of what can happen when government fails to protect the water of it’s citizens.
“As Lakota people we know we have to protect our water for the sake of future generations, our children and children everywhere. We have seen how other communities have been shattered when the government fails to protect their water– the Navajo Nation downstream from the Gold King Mine leak and the little children of Flint, Michigan whose water was full of lead, not to mention the devastating impacts that result from oil spills and pipeline leaks all over this Nation.” – Chairman Harold Frazier
A break of similar size to the Continental Gas Pipeline near the Oahe Reservoir, would render the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, the Oglala Reservation, the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation, the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation, the Santee Sioux Reservation and others-completely uninhabitable, devoid of clean water for drinking, bathing, use in schools, hospitals and replicating the very worst of what has already come to pass in places like Flint, Michigan.
Chairman Frazier’s testimony, “Taking a Stand: Protecting Water & Native American Sacred & Cultural Resources at Standing Rock,” will be made available in full to media outlets.
Please contact Activism Articulated at 512-577-3107 to book an interview time or to request a copy of his testimony.
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Friday, August 5, 2016
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
City Official: "I’d love to tangle with the Tribe"
Contact: Harold C. Frazier
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Phone (605) 964-4155
Fax (605) 964-4151
Haroldcfrazier@yahoo.com
PO Box 590
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Press Release
Tribe takes steps to protect sovereignty and jurisdiction
Eagle Butte, SD, October 9, 2015:
In 1959, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe moved its tribal headquarters from the Old Agency along the Missouri River to the City of Eagle Butte. At the time, the City of Eagle Butte was a small town along Highway 212, facing the realization that as the railroad system was being replaced, its economy would suffer. At the time, City officials lobbied the Tribe to move its headquarters to Eagle Butte, as they understood that it was an opportunity to bolster their economy through the commerce the Tribe and its members would generate. A sense of cooperation has endured since then, even though there have been occasions of trial and tribulation.
The City of Eagle Butte has recently taken actions that signal its intent to end the spirit of cooperation that has existed between the two entities by disregarding tribal and federal officials and law with repeated violations on tribal land in their current water and sewer infrastructure project. On several occasions federal officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal officials have informed the City of Eagle Butte, its engineers and contractors that certain portions of their project should not have begun and will not continue without consent of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. They have recklessly disregarded these warnings and have infringed on the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, apparently with no fear of reprisal.
When confronted by Tribal police officers, City Finance Officer Sheila Ganje stated: “I’m going to be upfront … The ... Tribal Police has no authority to shut down our construction project. We will not stop.” Her remarks were captured on video. She said: “All I can tell you is arrest me. I’d love to tangle with the Tribe, so arrest me.” Speaking about Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier, Ms. Ganje said: “I’ll say whatever I want to say there because I can. Because I want him to arrest me because I’d love to tangle with that thing [the Tribe] and you tell him I’m perfectly willing to go to jail. We’re not stopping and I don’t have time for this.”
It is this spirit of confrontation and lack of cooperation that the Tribe finds so troubling. In response to the City’s actions and statements, Tribal Chairman Frazier says: “The Tribal Council has empowered my office to take all steps necessary to ensure that the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Tribe is protected. The Tribe has enlisted the Bureau of Indian Affairs to work for the Tribe to assist in this affair. We believe that until such time as the City of Eagle Butte becomes reasonable in their dealings with the Tribe and conducts business with the integrity that our governments have always worked with in the past, that we will take all steps necessary to protect our nation.”
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Phone (605) 964-4155
Fax (605) 964-4151
Haroldcfrazier@yahoo.com
PO Box 590
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Press Release
Tribe takes steps to protect sovereignty and jurisdiction
Eagle Butte, SD, October 9, 2015:
In 1959, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe moved its tribal headquarters from the Old Agency along the Missouri River to the City of Eagle Butte. At the time, the City of Eagle Butte was a small town along Highway 212, facing the realization that as the railroad system was being replaced, its economy would suffer. At the time, City officials lobbied the Tribe to move its headquarters to Eagle Butte, as they understood that it was an opportunity to bolster their economy through the commerce the Tribe and its members would generate. A sense of cooperation has endured since then, even though there have been occasions of trial and tribulation.
The City of Eagle Butte has recently taken actions that signal its intent to end the spirit of cooperation that has existed between the two entities by disregarding tribal and federal officials and law with repeated violations on tribal land in their current water and sewer infrastructure project. On several occasions federal officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal officials have informed the City of Eagle Butte, its engineers and contractors that certain portions of their project should not have begun and will not continue without consent of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. They have recklessly disregarded these warnings and have infringed on the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, apparently with no fear of reprisal.
When confronted by Tribal police officers, City Finance Officer Sheila Ganje stated: “I’m going to be upfront … The ... Tribal Police has no authority to shut down our construction project. We will not stop.” Her remarks were captured on video. She said: “All I can tell you is arrest me. I’d love to tangle with the Tribe, so arrest me.” Speaking about Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier, Ms. Ganje said: “I’ll say whatever I want to say there because I can. Because I want him to arrest me because I’d love to tangle with that thing [the Tribe] and you tell him I’m perfectly willing to go to jail. We’re not stopping and I don’t have time for this.”
It is this spirit of confrontation and lack of cooperation that the Tribe finds so troubling. In response to the City’s actions and statements, Tribal Chairman Frazier says: “The Tribal Council has empowered my office to take all steps necessary to ensure that the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Tribe is protected. The Tribe has enlisted the Bureau of Indian Affairs to work for the Tribe to assist in this affair. We believe that until such time as the City of Eagle Butte becomes reasonable in their dealings with the Tribe and conducts business with the integrity that our governments have always worked with in the past, that we will take all steps necessary to protect our nation.”
Monday, October 12, 2015
Friday, July 31, 2015
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