Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, August 18
A Dakota-Mesquakie Native American couple from Minnesota visited the camp. They are supporting a protest at Minnehaha Falls State Park against the MN Department of Transportation's plans to build an interstate bypass route through sacred land.

The couple was interested in CPT's work and the possibilities of CPT joining their camp. People at the Minnehaha Falls camp were roughed up by local police last winter and again in late July.

Thursday, August 19
A US Army Corps of Engineers representative came by to check out the complaints against the camp by the local newspaper publisher. They said they saw no problems.

The camp received word that US President Bill Clinton signed a bill with a second version of the Mitigation Act attached to it on the 17th. Because the repeal of the first Mitigation Act by the House was nearly unanimous, proponents of the transfer of tribal land to the state hope that this will clinch the Mitigation Act (Title VI).

Saturday, August 21
Someone drove by during the night and yelled "Get a job!" One camp participant was stopped late at night by police who claimed that they smelled alcohol. Given that he had not had a drink for six years, the participant wondered how they could still smell it.

Monday, August 23
Two CPTers went to a Makoce Luta meeting in Porcupine to discuss treaty rights issues and a possible lobbying trip to Washington D.C.

Friday, August 27
A drunk white man, grasping his side as though he was carrying a weapon under his shirt, came to the gate at 11:30 p.m. and didn't want to leave. Iron Eagle woke up the camp and several people went out to the gate until the man and his buddies suddenly gave up and left.

Sunday, August 29
A major rainstorm hit at about 9:30 p.m. and lasted for about an hour, flooding the central area of the camp. Two Lakota men went out into the torrential downpour to save the sacred fire from drowning. They worked until about 11:30, digging a trench to drain the area of water.

Monday, August 30
The camp spent a large part of the day cleaning up and drying out bedding and clothes from the flood.

Thursday, September 2
The team visited the governor's office with a card calling for jubilee justice and a package of Fig Newtons for Governor Janklow. He was out so they left the package there.

Friday, September 3
Gene Stoltzfus, Rick Polhamus, and Jim Cypser arrived. Plans were made for holding a press conference on Sunday in conjuction with the passing out of "visas."

Saturday, September 4
Preparations for press conference continued. In the evening, Iron Eagle shared about being a chief of the Heart Nation, the unrecognized Ghost children of the Cherokee.

Sunday, September 5
Many visitors came for the "visa" action, in which visitors received cards bearing the inscription "Welcome to the Great Sioux Nation. You are entering an area that should be under the sovereignty of the Great Sioux Nation. This welcome card permits free passage on La Framboise Island to the bearer of this card." Among the visitors were a couple and their daughter from India, currently bicycling around the world for nonviolence.

Monday, September 6
Members of the camp acquired a stove to carry part of the sacred fire to Washington, DC. Late in the evening, three people on motorcycles came by the camp and yelled, "Get a job."

Thursday, September 9
A portion of the sacred fire was transferred to the stove in the back of Bruce Feist's pickup truck in preparation for the trip to Washington, DC. Thirty-three people, including CPTers Cliff Kindy and Joanne Kaufman, in three vehicles traveled along with the fire to Sioux City where a press conference was held at the American Indian Center. Over fifty people were in attendence, including reporters from three TV stations.

Friday, September 10
The fire and its followers traveled to Iowa City. Eighty-three people attended presentation at the Latino / American Indian Center.

Saturday, September 11
The fire and people traveled on to Indianapolis, IN where 50 people attended the presentation at the Northview Church of the Brethren.

Sunday, September 12
Following a long day of travel, the fire and people arrive safely at the 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, MD.