Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Opinion
Frank LaMere: State needs to address Whiteclay


"As a Native American and a Nebraskan long associated with efforts to focus public attention on the situation at Whiteclay, I applaud the Lincoln Journal Star for its recent set of articles and editorials addressing the issues there. The articles tell an important part of the overall story associated with Whiteclay that needs and deserves telling. But, I must stress they only tell part.

In the articles' emphasis on the personal human tragedy taking place there, the public policy dimension of the Whiteclay problem is accordingly downplayed and clearly diminished. It would be easy for a reader to interpret that those disaffected by alcohol at Pine Ridge must simply exercise personal responsibility or that they must get up tomorrow and build an economy.

That would be an incomplete picture. In fact, it would be a 'whitewash' of the state of Nebraska's role at Whiteclay that would certainly compound the tragedy."

Get the Story:
Frank LaMere: State obligated to help solve problems at Whiteclay (The Lincoln Journal Star 5/31)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Turnaround on the horizon in Whiteclay (05/24)
Lincoln Journal Star: Whiteclay at the crossroads (05/16)
Nebraska Democrats call for action on Whiteclay (04/15)
State: Oglala Sioux Tribe to patrol Whiteclay (01/27)
Whiteclay fuels proposal to change liquor laws (11/29)
Man drops bid for Whiteclay liquor license (11/23)
Judge allows another Whiteclay liquor license (11/18)
Request for Whiteclay liquor license delayed (11/16)
Nebraska panel considers more police at Whiteclay (11/05)
Man denied license to sell beer in Whiteclay tries again (10/07)
Nebraska commission denies Whiteclay liquor license (08/11)
Oglala Sioux Tribe opposes more stores in Whiteclay (8/6)
Whiteclay beer establishment loses liquor license (04/02)
Neb. lawmaker continues fight over Whiteclay liquor (02/10)
Lakota activist sees lawsuit as means for change (07/11)
Lawsuit seeks accountability for Pine Ridge deaths (7/10)
Lakota activist suing Neb. over Whiteclay deaths (7/9)
Editorial: Attack alcoholism with jobs (06/18)
AIM leader threatens blockade in Whiteclay (6/13)
Tribe would share police duties in Whiteclay (6/9)
March on Whiteclay called a day of unity (6/6)
Pine Ridge residents to march on Whiteclay (05/16)
Bill would beef up law enforcement at Whiteclay (03/10)
Neb. lawmakers to consider three Whiteclay bills (3/4)
Activists call for enforced laws at Whiteclay (3/3)
AIM joins protest against Whiteclay liquor sales (2/28)
Activists plan Year of Atonement in Neb. (02/21)
Bill would outlaw liquor sales near reservations (01/15)
BIA investigating death near Whiteclay (12/18)
March planned over Whiteclay liquor sales (12/04)
Whiteclay activist wants apology from state (10/30)
Whiteclay protesters fined for drinking (9/25)
Whiteclay becomes a campaign issue (8/21)
Whiteclay protesters say beer is free speech (7/18)
Candidate: Tribe could police Whiteclay (7/12)
Whiteclay law enforcement considered (6/25)
Neb. protesters cited for public drinking (6/11)
Another year for Whiteclay protest (6/7)
Neb. accused of racism for liquor sales (5/28)
State takes tour of Whiteclay (5/24)
Activists drink beer for Natives (5/10)
Whiteclay activists drink beer (4/19)
Suit may be filed over Whiteclay liquor (3/28)
Editorial: Review Whiteclay laws (3/26)
Abourezk: Exploiting Indians (2/27)
Solution to Whiteclay liquor pushed (2/26)
Whiteclay protester gets hearing (2/25)
Bill would prohibit new liquor at Whiteclay (1/24)
Whiteclay liquor store suspended (12/14)
Whiteclay store owner pleads guilty (11/15)
Whiteclay liquor case delayed (11/14)
Whiteclay liquor license denied (10/26)
Leads still come in on Pine Ridge deaths (10/12)
BIA sends investigators to Pine Ridge (10/11)
Whiteclay liquor protested (8/23)
Thompson heads out on reservation tour (8/15)
Whiteclay patrols draw complaints (8/6)
Whiteclay liquor store fined (7/18)
Whiteclay summit held in Neb. (6/12)
Whiteclay protest march held (6/11)
Whiteclay land still disputed (6/11)
High schoolers hear Whiteclay talk (6/7)
Peaceful protests expected in Whiteclay (6/6)
Attention being called to Whiteclay (6/4)
Whiteclay protest trial resumes (5/24)
Whiteclay liquor protests planned (5/18)
Movie being shot at Pine Ridge (4/24)
Whiteclay establishment fined (4/20)
Whats Going on at Whiteclay? (4/9)
Action on Whiteclay liquor promised (2/13)
Liquor executive order sought (2/5)
State questioned on Whiteclay liquor (1/12)
More Whiteclay investigation sought (12/15)
Whiteclay liquor sales targeted (12/14)
Whiteclay protesters reject plea (09/15)
Means fined for Whiteclay protest (08/28)
Whiteclay protests continue (06/12)