Bruce Whalen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe who is active in the Republican Party is questioning efforts to eliminate liquor sales in the border town of Whiteclay, Nebraska.

Whalen said that shutting down the town of 14 will hurt the tribe because prices at the grocery store on the reservation will increase. He said adding law enforcement resources in Whiteclay won't eliminate alcoholism among tribal members.

"There's a personal responsibility," Whalen said at a forum at Chadron State College last week, The Chadron Record reported. "We are teaching others how to be alcoholic."

Tribal and other activists want liquor stores in Whiteclay to stop selling beer. They say the sales contribute to high rates of alcoholism and other problems among Lakota people.

Get the Story:
Discussion explores complexity of White Clay, reservation issues (The Chadron Record 6/14)
Marchers again protest White Clay alcohol sales (The Chadron Record 6/14)

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