By Alfred Walking Bull
ROSEBUD, S.D. – In response to Sen. John Thune’s (R-S.D.) recent press release characterizing President Barack Obama’s decision to deny the controversial Keystone XL a permit as pandering to anti-pipeline extremists, Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Rodney Bordeaux issued the following statement to Thune:
RST President Rodney Bordeaux
“Dear Hon. Senator John Thune,
“I write this letter on behalf of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and in response to your press release of January 18, 2012, entitled, ‘President Rejects Keystone Pipeline, Chooses Re-Election over American Jobs.’
“Your press release states, ‘In rejecting the job-creating Keystone XL Pipeline, President Obama today chose to try and save his own job by pandering to his anti-pipeline environmental extremist voting bloc, over creating jobs for thousands of Americans.’
“The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has opposed both the TransCanada Pipeline and the TransCanada XL Pipeline based upon Tribal Treaty Rights guaranteed by the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie, the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, protection of grave sites and sacred sites, (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. Section 3001 et. sex., Pub. L. 101-601), protection of cultural, religious and historical sites, (National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 U.S.C. Section 470 et. seq., Pub. L. 89-665), protection of the Oglala Aquifer from contamination of potential catatstrophic contamination, and protection of our lands and waters on the Rosebud Sioux Tribe aboriginal treaty lands from desecration from tar sands sludge spills.
“The previous TransCanada pipeline crossing eastern North and South Dakota has had fourteen spills in North Dakota resulting in over 21,000 gallons spill of tar sands sludge. Tar sands sludge is sixteen times more toxic than crude oil.
“The possible catastrophe to clean and safe drinking water and our land and natural resources is far greater than any short term benefit in a brief spike in construction jobs. In addition, the forecasts of additional property tax windfalls have fallen short by one-third of the original estimates.
“I take great offense in your statement lumping the interests of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, interests that have been recognized in treaties, federal statutes and upheld in federal courts, into the same category as the “anti-environmental extremist voting bloc.” Unlike the environmental special interest groups you referenced in your letter, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe is a federally-recognized Indian Tribe with the right to make our own rules and be governed by them.
“A copy of our letter will be sent to local and state media outlets and newspapers, including the Rapid City Journal, Lakota Country Times, and Todd County Tribune.
“Please respond to my letter and clarify your statements and apologize to the people of the Rosebud SIoux Tribe and to the other members of the Tribal Nations in South Dakota.
“Please call if you have any questions.
“Sincerely,
Rodney Bordeaux
President
Rosebud Sioux Tribe”
Bordeaux issued the statement this afternoon and there has been no comment from Thune’s office.
I have to say I’m thoroughly impressed with the letter and to know the RST is taking a hard stance on this kind of issue. They may have in the past and I may be behind but I’m impressed and feel good about being enrolled with the RST. We always have been a free people we need to act like it. If it comes to a fight lets be ready with educated people that will be part of this global change. Lets leave a better place for our children n takoja’s. Pilameyayelo
Posted by Steve Keith | January 23, 2012, 5:16 pmVery well written letter. Thank you.
I believe Sen. Thune should apologize because he is WRONG.
I believe you and everyone who opposes these pipelines being built are right.
Posted by Barbara Burns | January 23, 2012, 8:16 pmAn excellent Letter! I live in Missouri but unless we all are aware of the gravity of this matter the misinformation about and misuse of our land will continue unabated. I will be sharing this letter with my friends, neighbors and family. Thank you.
Posted by Kathleen Neff | January 23, 2012, 8:21 pmFrom an Ogalala-at-large in Nebraska, thank you for the well thought out response. It is easy to dismiss the potential environmental effects if uninformed about the rate of failure of similar, existing projects. All gain is short term compared to the damage a spill could cause to the Ogallala aquifer and the surrounding area.
Posted by Martin Wiyika Luta | January 23, 2012, 10:06 pmIt would be nice if President Bordeaux cared as much about enacting and enforcing the Amendment’s to the RST Constitution that were voted on and approved by the people for the people in 2007. But i guess since there is no media attention in complying with the law and doing so would have prevented him from running in the last election and the election this year they are not in his best interest. There is no excuse for his failure to act in a timely manner as it is now 2012 and five (5) years have passed. DO NOT BE DUPED AND FOOLED INTO VOTING FOR MORE OF THE SAME! A vote for Rodney Bordeaux is a vote FOR POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, NO ASSISTANCE for Tribal Members, MISMANAGEMENT of Federal and TRIBL RESOURCES and IF YOU VOTE FOR RODNEY BORDEAUX YOU ARROVE HIS INABILITY AND REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Posted by Taz A. Duysak Jr. | January 23, 2012, 10:12 pmTHIS GIVES ME THE IDEA TO WRITE AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BORDEAUX SEEKING THE SAME ON BEHALF OF THE ROSEBUD PEOPLE, BUT INSTEAD OF KEYSTONE MY LETTER WILL BE ABOUT MISMANAGEMENT OF TRIBAL RESOURCES, NEPOTISM AND THE HIGH RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT, LAKOTA’S LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND THE FAILURE OF THE TRIBE TO MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN AND ELDERS AFTER BORDEAUX HAS BEEN IN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT FOR 20 YEARS, (14 AS A TRIBAL COUNCILMAN AND 6 AS PRESIDENT) AND WHAT HIS PLANS ARE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS SHOULD HE CONTINUE AS AN ELECTED LEADER ON THE ROSEBUD RESERVATION.
Posted by Taz A. Duysak Jr. | January 23, 2012, 10:44 pmje n’aurais pas mieux écrit. cette lettre est tout simplement très concentrée et présentant les faits bien réels. J’adhère entièrement en faisant mienne chaques mots qui y sont inscrits.
Posted by Gilabert | January 24, 2012, 2:16 amMr. Bordeaux, I salute you for letter, be strong, and don’t let them push you around. Yes, he should appologize for what he said. He knows he is wrong, he is just trying to duck out without losing face. In my oppinion a cowardly act at your expense. Keep em running!!!!
Posted by Ken Burgin | January 24, 2012, 3:53 amAgain Pres. Bordeaux you have not ceased to amaze your people! Your letter was to the point and well worded, the time is near for our own mud slinging in polotics. We as Lakotas and the first people do and always will know the words ” for the people, by the people”, I will say no more as our Pres. knows what he is doing! My regards to my people..
Posted by M LaPointe | January 24, 2012, 4:01 amStopping XL Pipeline is high priority above Poverty, unemployment, housing, crime and all other matters facing the Rosebud people. This pipeline will bring high numbers of people getting cancer and other illnesses because of the toxins coming from Tar sands. Not to say the other issues aren’t important but every other Tribal President has faced these same issues, this is nothing new. Can’t blame the sitting Presidents for companys not wanting to invest in those areas! GREAT Job President Bordeaux.
Posted by June Bordeaux | January 24, 2012, 5:21 amHaye’ Haye’ Haye’. Iam speechless,words cannot describe my feelings to have such a Great Leader in the Teton Nation, he has set an example for all Tribal Leaders.I commend Mr. Bordeaux for Great Leadership and look forward to his Leadership not just by words but by example..He is not just a leader for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe but for all Native Nations throughout all lands.As another Leader, Mr.Clyde Bellecourt has said “We are the Landlords of this of this Country”.
Posted by Mavis Wilcox | January 24, 2012, 9:54 amI like your letter, it was clear and concise, and stuck to the issue. But I doubt that you will get a reply, it takes a big man to admit he is wrong and Sen John Thune does not strike me as a big man. Small-minded people are rarely big.
Posted by Elaine McAlister | January 24, 2012, 3:46 pmSuperb letter writing! Absolutely every word is true and needs to be heard.
Posted by Janet Gordon | January 25, 2012, 8:21 amThank you for raising these critically important issues, many of which are utterly ignored by the mainstream press. The Press is irresponsibly wrong about the jobs that Keystone would bring. Data submitted to the State Department by Keystone’s own contractor, TransCanada, states that the actual number of direct, temporary USA jobs would be between 2,500 and 4,650. According to the State Department’s EIS, only 20 of these jobs would be permanent. Keystone claims that the pipeline will create 20,000 jobs but has yet to provide facts supporting assertion. Even more extravagantly, Majority Leader Boehner and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce furiously bark that 100,000 USA jobs would be lost without the Keystone project — just more fact-free propaganda.
Posted by P. Murphy-Young | January 25, 2012, 12:05 pmI am a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and as a young person, my opinion is The Keystone XL Pipeline is a bad idea, because if & when the pipe does spill – it spills on our land, the land we have left. It will also destroy the Oglala Aquifer, and I also don’t think this will create that many jobs for RST members. It So I completely agree with President Bordeaux.
Posted by Rochelle Chipps | January 26, 2012, 9:32 amI am a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and as a young person my opinion is agreeing with President Bordeaux. The reason why I agree with him because I don’t want our reservation to get destroyed from spills from the pipe that the Transcanada people are trying to put in. But other than that we shouldn’t build the pipeline so close to the Oglala Aquifer because if that pipeline has a spill, it can contaminate our drinking water.
Posted by Steven B.B | January 26, 2012, 9:36 amI am a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and as a young person, I agree with President Bordeaux. I am worried that the future children of the reservation will not have a home. If that pipe spills we will have no home, no water, and our future will be destroyed. It also does not help in anyway for jobs. Many will probably not work for the pipeline, because most will be against it. No one will want to work for them. It’s like helping them to destroy our land. Our land and all the other tribes land are in great trouble. If the pipeline does go through, our land and water are in great danger. Where will we go? What will happen to most reservations? Will the U.S. help repair our land?
Posted by Maste' | January 26, 2012, 9:37 amI am a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and as a young person, my opinion is I think that if we let them build the pipeline, and if the pipeline leaks into the Oglalla Aquifer then it could poison almost all of the reservation’s water. President Obama should reject the pipeline that could destroy the crops, lands, and natural resources of the Rosebud Sioux, and all the other tribes of South Dakota.I disagree to the pipeline and it should not be built, they should relocate where the pipeline should be built, it would be better for us if it was to be built off the reservation.
Posted by David Wooden Knife | January 26, 2012, 9:38 amI am member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and as a young person my opinion is agree with RST President, Rodney Bordeaux because if the pipeline breaks the oil will get into the water and this means everybody will be affected.
Posted by joshua peneaux | January 26, 2012, 9:40 amSo it appears the Republicans are attempting to steamroll the Indian (again).
Posted by Rick Voss | January 29, 2012, 3:35 pmThank you Rodney,..I love it. Last time we paid $1.85 a gallon for gas was way long before Obama,..try 30 years ago. Those republicans are our enemies. Who would get jobs for their pipeline project? Only the wasicu would benefit.
Posted by Richard Iyotte | February 10, 2012, 7:24 am30 years before the gas was around .75-1.05 a gal. Grey Wolf
Posted by Harvey Grey Wolf | February 10, 2012, 8:16 am