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ysabetwordsmithYou might remember that I am still spanking Rabid City, South Dakota because (among other things) I spotted a No Indians sign there several decades ago. Well, that's because they're still at it. Here's an example from current events ...
March 19, 2022 -- A Native American man was shot in the Grand Gateway Hotel, and another was arrested for the shooting.
Not long after this, co-owner Connie Uhre announced that the hotel would no longer permit Native Americans on the property.
March 21, 2022 -- On Wednesday, Brendan V. Johnson, a former U.S. Attorney and who now is an attorney with Robins-Kaplan law firm, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court - South Dakota Western District on behalf of the NDN Collective. The lawsuit came after members of the NDN Collective were denied room rentals for two days in a row. The lawsuit says the hotel's actions are "part of a policy, pattern, or practice of intentional racial discrimination against Native Americans."
March 24, 2022 -- The Great Sioux Nation in South Dakota issued a “Notice of Trespass (Cease and Desist)” order against Connie Uhre-Grand Gateway Hotel and its subsidiaries with instructions to vacate the premises.
There has ensued much posturing about how this "doesn't reflect the beliefs of the community." Yes, it does. It has all along. If people didn't think they could get away with it, they wouldn't do it. Have any of the people flailing about community values done anything concrete? Sent a donation to a nearby reservation? Offered to pick up the victim's medical expenses or invited relatives to hold a blanket dance in town? Given out free event tickets to tribal folks? Booked a tribe member at a music or art venue? I haven't encountered any while researching the events.
What's unusual is that the overt racism sparked a fuss this time. That's nice to see.
Anyhow, I have a Poetry Fishbowl coming up on Tuesday, April 5 with a theme of "Alternate Universe or Multiverse." So if anyone would like to take a swing at Rabid City in any dimension that would logically have one, then feel free to prompt for that.
Meanwhile, you can poke a bigot in the eye by supporting the reservations of South Dakota. Pine Ridge is the closest. Browse a Sioux book list. I highly recommend The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen.
Places to shop for authentic Sioux arts and crafts:
https://prairieedge.com/
https://www.redcloudschool.org/page.aspx?pid=390
https://www.singinghorse.net/ourstore
What other ways do you like supporting tribal folks or diversity in general?
March 19, 2022 -- A Native American man was shot in the Grand Gateway Hotel, and another was arrested for the shooting.
Not long after this, co-owner Connie Uhre announced that the hotel would no longer permit Native Americans on the property.
March 21, 2022 -- On Wednesday, Brendan V. Johnson, a former U.S. Attorney and who now is an attorney with Robins-Kaplan law firm, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court - South Dakota Western District on behalf of the NDN Collective. The lawsuit came after members of the NDN Collective were denied room rentals for two days in a row. The lawsuit says the hotel's actions are "part of a policy, pattern, or practice of intentional racial discrimination against Native Americans."
March 24, 2022 -- The Great Sioux Nation in South Dakota issued a “Notice of Trespass (Cease and Desist)” order against Connie Uhre-Grand Gateway Hotel and its subsidiaries with instructions to vacate the premises.
There has ensued much posturing about how this "doesn't reflect the beliefs of the community." Yes, it does. It has all along. If people didn't think they could get away with it, they wouldn't do it. Have any of the people flailing about community values done anything concrete? Sent a donation to a nearby reservation? Offered to pick up the victim's medical expenses or invited relatives to hold a blanket dance in town? Given out free event tickets to tribal folks? Booked a tribe member at a music or art venue? I haven't encountered any while researching the events.
What's unusual is that the overt racism sparked a fuss this time. That's nice to see.
Anyhow, I have a Poetry Fishbowl coming up on Tuesday, April 5 with a theme of "Alternate Universe or Multiverse." So if anyone would like to take a swing at Rabid City in any dimension that would logically have one, then feel free to prompt for that.
Meanwhile, you can poke a bigot in the eye by supporting the reservations of South Dakota. Pine Ridge is the closest. Browse a Sioux book list. I highly recommend The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen.
Places to shop for authentic Sioux arts and crafts:
https://prairieedge.com/
https://www.redcloudschool.org/page.aspx?pid=390
https://www.singinghorse.net/ourstore
What other ways do you like supporting tribal folks or diversity in general?
