Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

        "There is no word for "pig" in Lakota, the ancient language of the people who live on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota; the closest is kukusie, which means "large stinking animal." Yet over the past year, hogs have come to outnumber trial members by more than 2-to-1. The project that brought them to this remote tribal territory is the focus of a multimillion-dollar battle that pits tribal members against one another and has drawn the scrutiny of federal agencies and the courts." So says 'Mother Jones' magazine in its March-April 2001 issue. But the multi-million dollars are all on the side of the hog factory while a now united Sicangu People of the Rosebud reservation struggle on with what they have.

        In 1998 a small group of concerned citizens was organized to oppose the proposed industrial swine operation which threatens the health and environment of the Rosebud Reservation and the surrounding area. Despite the vocal opposition of these few Native environmentalists and Traditional Indian people on the reservation, a contract was signed with Bell Farms Inc. to construct the worlds third largest pig factory! In mid 1999 the first phase was opened with 50,000 animals penned in 24 crowded barns. When finished the factory will include 13 huge complexes will extend across northern Rosebud from Whiteriver to the Badlands. All told, 232 huge barns will cover 1,135 acres of tribal trust land. The operation will consume up to 1.7 million gallons of water each day! Over half of the Tribes' Mni Wiconi water project allottment. Most of it washing away manure and urine, all requiring disposal as liquid waste in 550 acres of sewage lagoons! The Bell Farms/Sun Prairie Pork Production Facility will produce 859,000 market hogs each year, more hogs than people in the state of South Dakota.

        In the beginning opposition to the project was almost nonexistent on the Reservation. Poverty on the reservation is like nowhere else in America, with unemployment rates of over 75% common year in and year out. The project was sold to the people as a clean state-of-the-art farm, with an environmentally conscious operator. Both Tribal leadership and their job-hungry people wanted to believe what they were told and shut their ears to any dissenting voices. In this atmosphere those who raised their voices on behalf of the land and water became pariahs who were banned from public meetings and told their input was not allowed.

        In November 1998, the S.D.Peace and Justice Center, along with Concerned Rosebud Area Citizens and other South Dakota groups, filed suit against the BIA. A few months later, the Bureau conceded that it had erred and voided Bell's lease pending an in-depth Environmental Impact Statement. In turn, Bell and the Tribal Council (then still dominated by hog supporters) sued the BIA, Humane Farming, S.D. Peace and Justice Center, Prairie Hills Audubon Society, and CRAC for illegally interfering with their business. In February 1999, US District Judge Charles Kornmann issued a permanent injunction ordering construction of the project to continue. That case in currently under appeal.

        The lawsuit filed by Citizen and Environmental groups, along with stories about how horrible the factory was for the employees, began to convince many grassroots Tribal members that perhaps the hog factory was not in their best interests after all. Ex-employees gave affidavits about horrible conditions and massive spills. Finally anti-hog activists were able to show proof that their dire warnings were coming true. Testimony showed manure spills in barn after barn were devastating the pigs inside and the land outside. Slowly but surely the grassroots community organizing was beginning to bear fruit and the people of Rosebud began to join them in opposition to the project. In the fall of 1999 Tribal voters ousted most of the Council members who had supported the pig factory. In a startling victory for anti-hog forces, the new Tribal Council petitioned the Court to allow them to change sides and to re-align themselves with the People! Recently the new Council passed several pieces of citizen sponsored legislation and allowed Carter Camp for area citizens and Leland Littledog for Sinte Gleska students to make a presentation on the harmful Cultural, Environmental and Economic impact of the project.

        It is our principle belief that grassroots organizing on the Rosebud should be done by educating the people of the Reservation about the issue and allowing them to make informed decisions. Despite some legal setbacks (which denied an EIS and allowed the first phase factory to be built) we feel this organizing tactic has worked and has turned those opposed to the project from a small minority into a growing majority.

        Now the real work of the people as an organization must begin, as we transform ourselves from educating and informing the opinions of our people into an Organization which will be able to turn our gains into lasting progress for the environment and people of the Rosebud. Two-thirds of the Tribal Council is now anti-hog and have stood up and said so publicly. But to actually halt the project they need legal help and environmental and technical expertise, as well as the political support of the anti-hog majority. These needs are urgent because our recent victories mean an extensive legal battle is sure to ensue. As interveners, we have a legal responsibility to fulfill, and as the organizers of the opposition, we must accept the moral responsibility to help the Tribe find a way to close the project and restore the land. To insure against future mistakes of this type which plague Indian Country, we must develop sound environmental policies and support them through the legislative process until implementation. And finally, we must fulfill our duty to not only oppose unsound projects but to also offer Earth-friendly solutions for using the water, wind and natural resources of our Nation. We now intend to become a clearinghouse for information on not only the pig factory, but on any other plans and projects which will affect the health and environment of our Homelands. We have been asked by the Tribe to help them with the tremendous legal and technical problems associated with controlling the pig factory. The Tribe in turn has extended official recognition to Camp Sovereignty.

        These new responsibilities have created many needs which are beyond the financial abilities of our grassroot members to sustain so we must turn to the Environmental Justice movement for help. Our first need is for funds to support and sustain the protest encampment (Camp Sovereignty) which we have set up within sight of the hog factory. This encampment will provide a continuing statement by the people of the Rosebud that the pig factory must go, as well as a gathering point for educational workshops and a rally point for demonstrations. Our second need is for funds to continue to carry out the community education and organizing it will take to win this struggle.

Until we are able to become more self-sufficient by fund raising events and hoped for grants, we are seeking personal donations to Camp Sovereignty from all of you who would care to help sustain our struggle. Thank You

Camp Sovereignty, Wells Fargo Bank, P.O.Box 106, Mission, South Dakota 57555