From lefft: Lemoine LaPointe (Barbara Schneider FoundationFacilitator), Cante Heart, Scott Means, Dixie Holy Eagle, Chas Jewett, Mark Anderson (BSF), Jane Murphy. Photo courtesy Dixie Holy Eagle
Community Conversations wraps up with a successful fourth event
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY –– In response to recent events regarding acts of racism, including the incident at the Rush Hockey Game in which 57 students and their chaperones were the recipients of racial harassment involving verbal taunts and beer splashing, the community of Rapid City has stepped up to save the reputation of their beloved town. Recognizing the needs in Rapid City, the Barbara Schneider Foundation, based in Minneapolis, provided facilitators to work with local advocates for the purpose of crisis intervention and procurement of the behavioral health for those affected by the racial tensions and behavior exuded by others. Formed after the tragic shooting death of Barbara Schneider by police responding to a mental health crisis call on June, 2000, the Foundation named in her honor has been working with law enforcement agencies, court systems, correctional facilities, mental health groups, social service and health care systems to improve mental health prevention and crises response. According to their website, the Barbara Schneider Foundation, “has been involved in training thousands of police officers and mental health professionals and in educating state and local policy makers and has worked to improve the health care response to mental health crisis. The result has been more appropriate and effective mental health crisis response, improved officer safety and growing police/community partnerships.” A series of monthly Community Conversations began in February in Rapid City at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel, followed by conversations at the Mother Butler Center, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, and the last was held on May 27 at General Beadle Elementary School in North Rapid. Through the Conversations series, Native and non-Natives gathered in hopes of reaching out to each other for understanding, communication, forgiveness, fortitude, and collaboration when dealing with the apparent systemic and cultural racism in Rapid City. Although it was the American Horse School victimization which began the recent dialogue, racial tensions in the Rapid City area have been happening since the founding of Hay Camp in 1876. Both the early white settlers and the indigenous populations residing had difficulty with the melding of the still-developing American culture and the indigenous nations around the Black Hills. When this incident took place at the Civic Center, tensions were on the rise so the Barbara Schneider Foundation’s involvement could not have come at a better time. These community conversations have been a way for Natives and non-Natives to support one another in hopes of forgiving past transgressions and opening the door for future positive relations. (Contact Richie Richards at staffwriter@nsweekly.com Copyright permission Native Sun News
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