Opinion

Ernestine Chasing Hawk: Let's change the image of 'Racist City'

Friday, May 29, 2015

The following is the opinion of Ernestine Chasing Hawk, Native Sun News Editor. All content © Native Sun News.

Tribal activists led a protest against the police shooting of Christopher Capps in Rapid City, South Dakota, in June 2010. Photo by Estella Claymore / Native Sun News

The rest of the story
By Ernestine Chasing Hawk
Native Sun News Editor

Some readers have expressed that our coverage of Glen Yellow Robe’s accusations that he faced years of racism at the hands of some of Rapid City’s top officials was fundamentally flawed because we allowed him carte blanche in detailing his story. By the way it was a three part series and we are publishing Steve Allender’s response this week. Anyone else who Glen accuses has the opportunity to respond and we will publish their response.

For how many years has the Rapid City Journal allowed readers to propagate their racists’ opinions hidden behind a veil of anonymity? Yet they are published nonetheless. Comments at the bottom of articles are left unchecked and some of them express outright racial bigotry, and are shocking and hurtful to us American Indians, yet they are also published.

Glen Yellow Robe, supported by his brother Luke Yellow Robe, his wife Jeannie Yellow Robe and his nephew Brandon Yellow Robe, came forward, put his name on the story and allowed his photo to be published along with it. He did not come forth behind a veil of secrecy. He knew the defense strategy that was used against him back when he filed the discrimination lawsuit and knew it would be used again.

From left to right: Brandon Yellow Robe, his father Luke, and Glen Yellow Robe and his wife Geraldine. Both Luke and Glen are retired police officers. Photo by Richie Richards / Native Sun News

He knew racist behavior was and would be written off as friendly office banter, and that his behavior would be called into question but he did it anyway knowing that the rest of the story needed to be told; the rest of the story that never made it into court documents and into the Rapid City Journal and other news outlets.

So are our readers suggesting that we too do as city officials have done for years, minimize or flat out deny the fact that systemic racism exists here in Rapid City? The number of wrongs committed against American Indians in this city and state is astronomical and had gone unchecked for over a century because a watchdog organization didn’t exist to protect them from it.

Tim Giago founded his first newspaper, Lakota Times, based on the premise that we as American Indians can and will tell our stories, from our point of view, from our side of the color line that has been drawn around this city for years and we will draw the color line in my favorite color, brown.

Bryan Brewer, former president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, addresses the Rapid City Human Relations Commission as Mayor Sam Kooiker looks on. Photo by Richie Richards / Native Sun News

But, did we really expect any of the city officials involved to come forward and humbly admit to the accusations of racist behavior? It would take real men of integrity and honesty to come forward to admit to that and apologize, but we know that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

It will take spiritual men and women of honor to face the systemic race relation issue head on and look for solutions to the problems that have plagued the Indian community for more than a century. To look into the eyes of an Indian and tell us they give a damn and ask what they as city officials can do to help make things better.

We have solutions, we have answers and all they have to do is ask us and come before us in a spirit of humility and truly seek reconciliation. Reconciliation that is more than just declaration for a day or a year with real tangible results – like fully funding the powwow garden and art market as they have funded other projects in the City. A powwow garden and art market will provide economic development and jobs for us, a place where we can showcase our historic and spiritual connection to this place we call He Sapa.

Instead the perpetrators are using the same old tactics of shifting the blame, denial and outright calling Glen a liar.

Rapid City mayoral candidate Steve Allender. Photo from Facebook

But we will continue to stand by the Yellow Robes in their quest to have the truth be known as we have stood by countless others who see Native Sun as a voice for the silenced minority in this city that has been dubbed Racist City. We will continue to push for reconciliation because we know that as Indian people we are the one that are going to have to make it happen for ourselves, because we know only the squeaky wheel gets oiled and only the barking dog gets fed.

But first and foremost, we need to remember that Glen Yellow Robe is not the one throwing in his hat as a mayoral candidate, not the one who wants to lead this city. As Indian people we envision a new tomorrow where race relations are brought to the forefront, where reconciliation will become a reality and we need candidate who is approachable and understands what it means to be an Indian in this city, in this state and in this country.

(Ernestine Chasing Hawk can be contacted at editor@nsweekly.com)