Indian community rallies in front of federal building
Tribal jurisdiction called into questionBy James Giago Davies
Native Sun News Today Correspondent
nativesunnews.today RAPID CITY— Both sides in the battle over Rapid City Indian health care accuse the other of spreading misinformation. On one side, there is a large group of concerned citizens of Rapid City’s urban Indian community. Many of them gathered in front of the downtown federal building in Rapid City on Saturday afternoon, marching and chanting with brightly colored placards, a rally to keep the Rapid City Indian Health Service (IHS) service unit at Sioux San. On the other side, is the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Health Board (GPTCHB), headed up by Director Jerilyn Church, and backed by three critically important tribal resolutions, and IHS support. The GPTCHB also has the support of the city and many civic organizations, like RAI and Bruce Long Fox. Charmaine White Face, a health care community advocate, who has brought suit against the GPTCHB, is a member of a group which also includes Teresa Sprye, Mark Lonehill, Pat Lee, and until recently, Art Zimiga. They have reached out to the media, and invited them to their meetings. White Face told the NSNT: “We are in front of the federal building because the United States has a responsibility to provide health care for us and for the Sioux Nation through the 1868 Treaty, Article XIII, and we want to remind everybody this is a federal responsibility and this is our right to quality health care.” White Face has been working to stop GPTCHB in court: “We filed a federal injunction last week. Our injunction with the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST), they dismissed it because of lack of jurisdiction, but that would mean the OST resolution has lack of jurisdiction off the reservation, because Great Plains and the Rapid City Indian community are off the reservation, and (OST) said they had no jurisdiction. If they have no jurisdiction, the health board has no jurisdiction, and it makes the contract null and void.” Mark Lonehill has worked closely with White Face to stop the GPTCHB takeover, but has a different take on the matter. He supports the argument that subsection (b) of the 1973 amendment to the 1954 transfer act applies in this case. That amendment draws a distinction from tribal involvement and the people served. The subsection states that only the Secretary has the authority and responsibility to issue contracts, not the tribes, and can only get that authority from “the consent of the people served,” in this case, the Rapid City Indian community. Both sides agree the IHS has a failed history with Sioux San, of mismanaged and inadequate health care. Both sides assert they are only motivated by a desire to create a better health care system for Rapid City. The waters start to muddy after that. Each side questions the motivation and integrity of the other. From the start it has been difficult, for even journalists, to remain apprised of GPTCHB plans and purposes. Prominent members of the Rapid City Urban Indian community have expressed frustration they have not been informed of GPTCHB actions, and did not participate in the selection of any board members, some of whom, have been alleged to have felony records. “We should have a board that is selected by the people of Rapid City,” Lonehill said. “They should be the ones making the decisions. Great Plains should be going to them, a board appointed by the people instead of appointed by Jerilyn Church.” Lonehill referred back to past boards: “The first board was set up as a volunteer only basis, back in 1969. Once money got involved, things fell apart.”
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