Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Today I attended the second day of a Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council meeting, held at Rosebud South Dakota. This particular meeting had to do with Law Enforcement. I was the second day I went to take a stand for Our Grass Roots Sicangu Lakota People. I went there with some issues concerning better law enforcement for all.

I explained the way the dispatchers were selective, along with certain officers in responding to calls. Like the calls from traditionals or grass roots were generally delayed or ignored. How Grandmothers came to me about the Police beating up their children when they happen to get picked up/ how the Jail was dirty and the way the jail didn't feed on time and that they didn't feed Our People very good there. I told the Council and Willie Kindles Admin., that we are tired of the abuses.

I told them that we are tired of the favoritism that takes place with certain council people and law enforcement. I was adamant in my statement of the abuse that come from Lionel Bordeaux's position as a co-councilman. Not only is he a brother-in-law to Charlie Colombe, who in my opinion is a very questionable individual, he is 1/32 degree Indian blood, but by some break down in the system back in the sixties he an some other white ranchers became tribal members. Currant tribal law stands that a individual must poses 1/4 Indian blood or more.

At this budget meeting I mentioned, over the radio, that the People need to expand the currant police system to include a task force, which would be independent of the council and from the outside, to investigate the currant Council representatives. To give us the insurance that there was integrity in getting a good Law Enforcement system.

I went on to say that certain council men like Lionel Bordeaux was the reason the People didn't trust the police. It's a known fact that Bordeaux and Russel Eagle Bear do what they can to keep Charlie Colombe from paying back the hundreds of thousands of dollars he owes the Rosebud Tribe. They use their positions for their own personal gain.

There is a growing trend here on the Rosebud to change the way the currant system is run. One of Lionel Bordeaux's drinking, get high buddies, recently wrote an article in the Todd County Tribune in defense of Colombe and Bordeaux. It was written by, none other than, a senator from South Dakota.

Aside from all this, I recently reminded the People that Lionel Bordeaux and cohorts got his nephew elected to the same Tribal council. Wayne Boyd is a new councilman but is also co-owner of BBC entertainment Inc., who also owes the tribe. How's that for conflict of interest?

A major sore point for Bordeaux and his cohorts is the fact that his in-laws can wreck into tribal members, lately one crippled a little girl for life, and nothing is done. They can run into someone and get caught with drugs, nothing is done. Lakota people want this brought out and I brought it out in this council meeting.

I happen to go by the area where Lionel Bordeaux sits, well that didn't suit him, he had to start something with me. First he stands in my way then he says if I have something to say about Charlie (his brother-in-law) say it to him (Lionel), he then said you ain't sh*t, then he wants me to go outside so he can kick my behind. Bordeaux went outside twice and to try to get me to go out of there. All this time the new chief of Police is sitting across the council room watching. I filed a statement against Bordeaux, but like always nothing will happen, he has threatened me, but our Sicangu Lakota Oyate has put the writing on the wall.

We are tired of the abuses. I told the Council it is time to stop the state of South Dakota from coming on our land and taking our children. Our children will no longer be illegally taken off, but understand saying it to these council men and several women is only a small beginning. The majority are so self-serving it is pathetic.

Well, I guessed I hadn't accomplish something, until I got a call later that evening, and the caller advised, "watch your back", now my day is complete.

Pray for unity, stand on the truth and pray for change and the better future.

Ho Hecetu yelo, I am Alfred Bone Shirt