Delphine Red Shirt. Photo by Rich Luhr / Flickr
Taku ca oyale, whatever you seek
By Delphine Red Shirt “Taku ca ole heca eye yayin kte”, or be careful what you ask for because you might get it, is an old Lakota saying. It’s a saying that goes both ways, either for good or for bad. My strong Lakota mother comforted us by telling us that anyone who created conflict would find whatever it is they are seeking. Many times, it had to do with an alcoholic family member who was on their way out the door after creating conflict. Other times, it was what she said as a precaution if we came to her for advice. I find this saying true for almost any situation. In July of last year I wrote a column about the ongoing correspondence many of us Lakota were receiving, about the “Land Buyback” program. In that column, I wrote: “Throughout history, we have been manipulated by those who make government policy at the highest levels. Sometimes through our own people. It is happening today with the Land Buyback program.” Later in the column, I wrote, “For a segment of the American population, land is everything. Yet, in this land buyback program for American Indians the “tribe” is suggesting that people give up acres, often 25 acres or more. It seems like we are once again, mis-informed and fooled into parting with something valuable to all the people in this country who dream of owning even a quarter of an acre.” A few years ago, I met a non-Lakota person who said he owned 160 acres of land on the reservation, near Kyle. He told me I could use it for whatever I wanted, as long as it would benefit the Lakota people. The man who owned the land is not American except by birth. He lived and worked in Europe most of his life. When he first told me about the land, near the tribal college, I thought him a generous man and dreamed of what I would do with the land if I had access to it, for the oyate? Since then, I thought of a summer camp for kids from the town of Pine Ridge. I thought of having horses, of having camp grounds, and culturally appropriate activities for kids who otherwise are out on the streets throughout the summer. My main thought was in teaching the Lakota language during the summer to these kids. I currently teach Lakota to college students.
A sign on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota
I also thought of an orphanage for children as young as two year olds, so that we can create a home environment using the concept of a community of Lakota people including elders and college students in the summer, to create a home for young unwanted Lakota children. Mostly, to save the language and culture, but also to bring our children home to our land, our ways back into our communities where others look like them and to raise them using Lakota cultural values. The non-Lakota man who offered use of his 160 acres of land near Kyle suddenly had bad news this year. He has been battling cancer since the end of 2014 and is still not over the complications of the cancer treatment. But, he came to the reservation this past spring in 2015. He came to do a “Land give-away”, he said. Growing up on the reservation, amidst adult dysfunction, and alcoholism, I have trouble trusting anyone who tells me something like that. I once gave money to an uncle who said he would sign the deed for 10 acres which after taking the money couldn’t give me a deed for the land. After talking to the BIA, my uncle didn’t own the land he “sold me.” I was disappointed as the 10 acres was located right next door to where I grew up. All I wanted was about 10 acres of land to call home. I remembered what I had said, almost a year ago, in the July 2014 column I wrote for Native Sun News, which was: “Instead of trying to ‘buy back’ land at pennies an acre, why not trade excess tribal land in communities to individuals and give them the 25 acres they own on record? Give them 25 acres with access to a road and water. Tell them they can return ‘home’ to the reservation and live in dignity.” The non-Lakota man who offered me use of his 160 acres, suddenly informed me that I was one of those he wanted to honor in his “Land give-away.” Being a distrustful Lakota, I didn’t know what would come of it. This week, I received a letter from the Register of Deeds, for Fall River and Oglala Lakota Counties, out of Hot Springs. This generous man provided me with a “Quite Claim Deed” for 19.7 acres of land in Oglala Lakota County, in South Dakota. He kept his word. I was not the only recipient. There was a young Lakota man who recently lost his father, who received 80 acres; another Lakota man and his son received 40 acres, and the generous stranger would retain 20 acres, so that 139.7 acres of the original 160, he returned to Lakota people. As we Lakota continue to receive urging letters to “sign over” our rights to these smaller pieces of land, think of what this “Generous Stranger” did for three different Lakota families with 160 acres of land. I am glad for the Lakota saying, “Be mindful of what you seek…” because, I have almost double the land I originally wanted near my home community. I have 19.7 acres to finally do something good for the people. It doesn’t matter how small, less than 25 acres, it is the idea that the rightful “owners” of our lands are finally able to return home. (Delphine Red Shirt, Redshirtphd@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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