Hundreds march against desecration of Bear Butte

By Monte Ecoffey
Special to the Times

STURGIS - As the drums began to sound, students of the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Nations exited their bus to witness what could be described as powerful, members of several tribes joined in prayer to bless the day. Representatives from Montana and South Dakota tribes took part in a most impressive and moving event at the base of Bear Butte adjacent to the city of Sturgis, host to the biggest annual Harley Davidson bike rally in the world.

Native people from the Oglala Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, (who own more 700 acres encircling the sacred mountain,) Sicangu (Rosebud) Nation, and Cheyenne River from across the prairie sang out in prayer on a beautiful morning at the base of sacred Mato Paha.

Vice-President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Alex White Plume; Debra White Plume Coordinator of InterTribal Defenders of Paha Mato (Bear Butte); Arvol Looking Horse, Keeper of the Pipe; Carter Camp - long time supporter of American Indian Movement and coordinator of Monday's prayer service and march into Sturgis, Bruce Ellison - attorney and long time supporter of Indian rights, Robert Grey Eagle, tribal attorney for many years, OST Council Representatives - Garfield Steele, Lydia Bear Killer, Will Peters, Mary Poor Thunder and Walt Big Crow among many other indigenous tribal council representatives were in attendance for this historic gathering of nations.

As bus loads of students and others began to gather for the morning ceremony that was planned by many to protest the inevitable encroachment of Bear Butte, you could feel the power of the mountain and the people.

They came by one, two and three, by the busload, members from many tribes' and their children, tribal council representatives and medicine men. They were here to protest and hopefully, protect a mountain that most European/Caucasian members of this state don't acknowledge as a site sacred to over 60 Indigenous nations.

The ceremony on the mountain was very much advertised as a 'Call to Action,' within the Indian Nation to bring notice to what is happening at significant locations, including sacred, burial, fossil, ceremonial, mineral and historical sites on treaty and tribal lands which hold significant importance to all tribal members.

The participants proceeded from Bear Butte in a caravan of over 200 vehicles that stretched from Bear Butte into the city of Sturgis.
History on Bear Butte: Phoenix, Arizona entrepreneur Jay Allen, who currently owns the "Broken Spoke Saloon" in Sturgis in addition to biker bars nation wide has filed for a malt liquor license for a 600 plus acre entertainment venue that includes asphalt parking for not only motorcycles and vehicles but for semi tractor-trailers as well. His endeavor also includes a 30,000 seat amphitheater for concerts, campground and an open and 'unpoliced environment', where he's placed an advertisement in Hustler magazine promoting, "Cold beer and hot, hot women."

These ads and other comments made by Mr. Allen brought to question his own personal character and the potential location of his proposed biker bar. These were the only determining factors on whether or not the Meade County commissioners could or more importantly should issue yet another liquor license in a county literally flooded with liquor establishments.

This follows on the heals of a recent Meade County initiative to build a shooting range in the same vicinity of Jay Allen's Sturgis County Line biker bar. That initiative was abandoned after one of the original organizations in defense of Bear Butte, the Defenders of the Black Hills, stopped development and in turn caused the county of Meade to return questionable funding back to Governor William "Bill" Janklow of South Dakota.

In talking with several Sturgis residents, they believed in what the marchers were doing and a few went further to say that they were also 'deeply' concerned with the continuous development not only within the city limits, but out east towards and around the Butte. Plans are in place for an additional 30,000 seat amphitheater at the Glencoe Campground not five miles from the mountain's base.
Marchers were allowed to enter Sturgis after being diverted from Lazelle St. to avoid public interaction, according to what this reporter heard on the county/state radio transmissions.

Police in the area were understandably nervous as the procession entered the city limits. One area resident that I questioned said that the police told him to take down a flag he had in his yard, because they thought it would antagonize the marchers. It was a biker flag, which held no significance to me, as a native.

Once in the city limits, the progression paused at the city park where they regrouped then proceeded into the township of Sturgis, where there were many curious and adamant supporters.

Asked how they felt about the protestors, ten out of ten said they were in support of the marchers, but would not officially go on the record, saying that they lived in Sturgis and didn't want to _ _ _ _ any one off. "I have to live and work here," was the general mood of the day.

Police and county personnel were very helpful and accommodating, leaving the press pool to ponder what's coming next.

Marchers gathered at the Sturgis Community Center for a meal and re-grouped to march to the Court house where the hearing to establish whether or not Jay Allen could obtain a license for the "World's Largest Biker Bar." A beer license that would essentially put a biker bar at the door of one of North America's holiest of sacred sites.

"What's ultimately at stake here is the issue of religious practice and individual rights that are not only humanly, but legally entitled to us as indigenous people. We are asking for the respect the U.S. gives to any school, church or hospital in these United States.," Deb White Plume stated in many press released to the local and national media outlets.

Opponents marched from the Sturgis Community Center to the Meade County Courthouse in strong alliance. Many in attendance were emotionally moved by what transpired on this day. Many said they would lay down their lives over the fate of the Mountain, the Black Hills and for restitution of the gold taken from Home Stake Goldmine.

Vietnam veterans, veterans of Wounded Knee 1973, our children, elderly, OST Council Representatives and other protestors were moved to tears, anger and frustration. Tensions ran high and the public safety officials were getting scared, but the people were overtly courteous.

Garfield Steele, Pine Ridge Reservation Councilman - Wounded Knee District, responding to the commission's action of 5-0 to approve the liquor license stated that "The Oglalas will lead the fight to protect Bear Butte. I've been saying all along that this is the real fight, we should be dealing with these issues instead of fighting each other in the Council Circle. Personally, I will lead the fight and give my blood, my life on the Mountain. This is what it's all about. Our land, our rights, I get real mad when I see the women and babies crying. This is just the start. I'll be back in July." Alex White Plume with an unsteady voice told the people in attendance still over 250 strong, that this was not the end but just the beginning of the battle. "We came to them in peace, to their court. We got no justice. Now we'll go all the way. We are not only fighting for Bear Butte but for our Black Hills, our gold, our land."

Many federally recognized tribes and Lakota Oyate were moved to express not only their own personal intentions, but the intentions of their collective goal which is to stay off the mountain.

Plans for further protests are gaining momentum and another 'Call for Action,' goes out to all members of native nations and friends to converge on Bear Butte on July, 4 through the end of the Sturgis Bike Rally in the first week of August.