Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

STRONGHOLD TABLE, SD - As the sun came up over Stronghold Table, I gazed over the edge and was speachless as the beauty of the Badlands came alive before me. I imagined the Ghost Dancers in their circle, dancing in prayer with a backdrop of majesty only understood by one who could see it. I was in awe. Then I imagined it as the badlands national park people would have it...ripped up and destroyed by digging and desecration and I weeped like a baby. How could anyone allow this to happen?

Camped in the prairie of The Table are The Tokala (Guardians) ...those who will not allow it to happen. They have been there for over a month now and are not going anywhere until this sacred area is safe from the digging planned to occur August 12~23. I asked Tony Two Bulls how long they planned to stay and his answer was simply "Forever".

Tony and Ernie Two Bulls grew up out there and they know all of the names of the canyons, buttes and tables. They also know of all of the illegal digging going on down there and have seen evidence of it. Tony pointed down the steep slope near the place I slept. He told me there were bones and remains of a warrior and his horse there. These sacred treasures and the land on which they rest are what the Tokala are protecting.

The Park Service would have you believe that this dig is of an archeological nature...but the Tokala know better. As Russell Means said when he was there : "You want to know why the Badlands National Park is so busy now? There's zeolite under this land. And it is precious to the white man. There is road building going on right now. They're pouring 12" concrete highways to handle the heavy trucks that will carry the zeolite away. They're closing in on us and we're the only ones to stop them."

George Tall of the Tokala spoke to me of the railroad that was already in place to transport this material for the greedy ones who plan to rip the Badlands of their precious insides.

Toby Big Boy sat in his chair looking over the Stronghold and told me about why they want this zeolite. He explained to me that this material is what they want to line their nuclear waste dumps with. He spoke of how this plan would create carcinogenic dust from the zeolite that would kill all around it.

Past dusk, as the camp prepared to bed down, Tom Poor Bear suddenly jumped in his truck and raced to the road at the sight of approaching headlights. as he neared, the lights turned away. Tom sleeps lightly if at all there because of his worry of the magnitude of this situation. Tom told me of how the Lakota are the protectors of Mother Earth and that The Tokala will protect the Stronghold from those who deem to destroy it.

Lovey Two Bulls hands out documents and pleads for the needs of the Tokala~Oyate Camp. Please contact her on how to send needed supplies, phone: 605-255-4108. These needs are: tipis ; tents ; guards ; 4-wheel drive vehicles ; electric generators; binoculars; propane; gas money; astro turf, 12'X8'; canned/processed food; Cooked food (preferably wocapi, tahniga or was'na).

From someone who stood with these people and is going back, I implore you to help. This stand is of the greatest importance to all! The Tokala are working hard to plan for permanant structures on site to weather the winter and protect The Stronghold for as long as it takes.

As I held Lisa Two Bulls beautiful new baby girl, I looked across the land and was reminded of something once said to me... "We didnt inherit this land from our ancestors...we borrowed it from our children."

Wopila, Skye Kamide