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Civil Rights Commission Hosting Racism Discussions in Pine Ridge July 24, Ft. Pierre July 25

The South Dakota Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold public six-hour briefings next week in Pine Ridge and Fort Pierre on “The Subtle Effects of Racism“:

Rich Braunstein, Chairman of the South Dakota Advisory Committee, noted “the briefings in Pine Ridge and Pierre will include experts from the fields of education, health care, tribal policy, immigration, economic development and housing. Experts were asked to focus their testimony on identifying and addressing subtle forms of racism in the State.” Braunstein made a special request for “members of the public to attend the briefings to share their experiences and ideas on addressing subtle forms of racism in their communities.”

The briefings will take place on:

  • Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (MDT)
    The Justice Center
    Oglala Sioux Tribal Court House
    Peacemaking Room
    277 Horse Thief Road
    Pine Ridge, SD 57770
  • Wednesday, July 25, 2018,10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (MDT)
    Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center
    210 Verendrye Drive, Conference Room
    Fort Pierre, SD 57532 [USCCR, press release, 2018.07.16].

The Pine Ridge and Fort Pierre meetings conclude a series of briefings on racism that began in Aberdeen in March 2017. The South Dakota Advisory Committee invites public comment; if you can’t make it to Pine Ridge or Fort Pierre, the Committee will take your written testimony by e-mail (ebohor@usccr.gov) through August 27, 2018.

20 Comments

  1. OldSarg 2018-07-19 11:31

    Just my thoughts but I can’t remember when getting people fired up about racism ever helped reduce racism.

    Wouldn’t it be better if we could all just move beyond color and treat everyone equal.

  2. jerry 2018-07-19 13:13

    Or is Jim Crow his own bad self.

  3. Roger Cornelius 2018-07-19 13:24

    That’s a damn nice sentiment, Old Sarge and I’ve heard it all before, but quite frankly we are talking about hateful human beings that don’t behave in that matter.

  4. happy camper 2018-07-19 18:50

    When I visited my Native friend in Rapid City last week I asked him if he ever wondered why Native Americans in SD have done so poorly compared to the rest of society. He said defensively he had never thought about it which I took to mean he preferred not to – not long after pressing me to buy him some partial dentures because IHS won’t pay for them he said. Well, why didn’t he take care of his own teeth I wondered to myself, so as I think about this argument between the new left, the progressives, and the old left who are closer to classical liberals by definition I began watching this old interview which I think so well explains why many see progressives as the new racists. Their insistence to go beyond equality of opportunity to equality of outcome replaces self reliance and dependence becomes maladaptive. The interviewee explains this as it occurs in Britain that some jobs there are not open to “white people.” In my day we called this reverse racism which my most liberal friend/lover never could see because whites were the dominant culture so that wasn’t possible he would say. Cuban by birth he spoke 6 languages, we lived together for a year, but I remember thinking he’s dumber than me!!! And he was in some ways. Sargon of Akkad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UI9cF9OJaU

  5. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2018-07-19 19:21

    Some jobs not open to white people? We’ll take care of that problem when we actually have it, and when we no longer have some interactions with law enforcement not survivable for people of color.

  6. Roger Cornelius 2018-07-19 19:51

    I’ve lived on the Pine Ridge reservation and have never heard of jobs for Natives Americans only.
    On the other hand, there were plenty of jobs in the Bureau of Indian Affairs that always seemed open to whites only.

  7. OldSarg 2018-07-19 20:38

    Sorry Roger you are wrong again:

    “The Indian Health Service is required by law to provide absolute preference in employment to American Indians and Alaska Natives who are enrolled in a federally recognized tribe as defined by the Secretary of the Interior. Indian preference requirements apply to all actions involved in filling a vacant position (e.g., initial hiring, reassignment, transfer, competitive promotion, reappointment or reinstatement), no matter how the vacancy arises. Any individual who claims Indian preference: 1) must submit a properly completed and signed BIA-4432; 2) must meet all qualification requirements as defined by the Office of Personnel Management and the Indian Health Service Excepted Service Qualification Standards (Preston Standards); and, 3) must be deemed suitable for employment.” https://www.ihs.gov/careeropps/indianpreference/

    There are jobs that are for Native Americans ONLY.

  8. Roger Cornelius 2018-07-19 20:54

    Although tribal members are given Indian preference, it is no guarantee of a job they choose.
    Just look at the qualifications you listed, there are a number of requirement that would knock a Native American out of contention for any position and often does.
    That is nice policy that IHS offers, but it is no guarantee of a job.

  9. Debbo 2018-07-19 23:39

    White privilege replaces self reliance and dependence becomes maladaptive.
    That’s why the old white guys fight so hard to maintain it.

  10. Spike 2018-07-20 07:14

    I was visiting a white friend from Rosebud recently whom had received a FREE set of dentures from a beautiful dental clinic run by some natives, supported by the St. Francis catholic mission and staffed by caring volunteers from near and far (St. Francis Mission Dental Clinic). In our conversation he commented about how grateful he was that despite the fact our great grandparents where forced on the reservations at gunpoint, and that the USA didn’t honor the 1868 treaty even though the Constitution says to, tribal members were still willing to help him. And did it with love and no judgement.

    Ol sarge you have bragged about your work on Rosebud. .. send that clinic a check. They do amazing work.

  11. mike from iowa 2018-07-20 08:18

    Be sure to read the fine print in OS Dental job. You have to go to Arizona and work on Navajo Rez.

    This position is located at one of the various Indian Health Service Hospital or Clinics under the Navajo Area Office. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a first line dentist. Assist the Chief and Service Unit Dental Program in the implementation and operation of the dental program that includes emergency, preventive, restorative, rehabilitative, and community services in a highly complex and diverse setting to American Indians and other Native Americans.
    ** This is an Open Continuous announcement and applicants wil be referred when vacancies occur. Eligibility for this vacancy is for 3 months. To remain in active status for positions announced under this open continuous announcement, ensure you keep your application information updated. Failure to keep information updated will result in “expired application” status and you will no longer be considered for future openings **

    This position is being announced concurrently under Delegated Examining procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-18-NJ-10121270-DE; for eligibility requirements. NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.

    ps in case you missed it, there are no openings now.

  12. mike from iowa 2018-07-20 08:20

    Scurry to Montana. Offer expires Sunday July 22, 2018.

  13. leslie 2018-07-21 13:53

    Who would complain about the necessary work of Civil Rights Commissions??

    In chatting w a contract trauma nurse from out of state for some months in a small town clinic, former Army, who does it to make way more than a regular full time permanent, then takes time off. Patients are likely minority folks, the nurse seems to be a very caring white person taking a larger amount of money out of the community, driving brand new best seller w all bells&whistles. Lives way out in the middle of the Great Sioux Nation. No long term commitment to housing, local stores. Chose RC for Walmart. Not sure about other insurance, retirement security other than military bennies.

    Sounds like Happy could still benefit from more progressive liberal thinking to get out of the conservative prejudiced rigidity Nurture bestowed. Join us?

  14. OldSarg 2018-07-21 14:29

    mike from iwacko: The “point” was there are jobs that only accept Native Americas.

  15. Spike 2018-07-22 02:13

    Indian preference in certain federal jobs is a law passed by Congress and upheld by courts. The reasons why the law was passed should be obvious. The jobs don’t accept ‘only’ native americans. Plenty of’non-indians benefit from federal dollars spent on programs designed to fulfill treaty obligations and provide services on federal land held in trust. That benefit includes jobs held by non indians in places far removed from the reservations.

  16. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2018-07-22 08:07

    And you never proved that point, OS.

    As Spike says, preferences are not acts of racism. Preferences are not a systematic effort to keep you and people with your skin color from escaping century-spanning oppression. They are deliberate policy actions intended to balance out the automatic privilege you enjoy by dint of your lucky appearance and membership in the oppressor class. You have lost nothing due to these hiring preferences. You have actually gained some moral relief and greater opportunity for social stability.

    This civil rights commission doesn’t need to hear your whining about hiring preferences that have done you no harm. It’s as if we were in a lifeboat and you were whining that I didn’t help you open your rations because I was busy pulling another survivor out of the water.

    We all do better when we all do better.

  17. Roger Cornelius 2018-07-22 08:15

    Perhaps the question that needs to be asked is why was Indian preference needed in the first place.

  18. mike from iowa 2018-07-22 08:37

    Excellent question, Roger. Spot on, Spike and Cory. The more advanced our civilization is supposed to be, the more retro stoopid wingnuts demand we get.

    Wingnuts are like squirrels crossing a highway. They dash across and are safe but immediately think they need to go back where they felt safer. And get squished! Hurry November squirrel squishing season.

Comments are closed.