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Judge dismisses case against Lakota activist for honor song

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Greg Grey Cloud was photographed by a friend as he was released from custody in November 2014 in Washington, D.C. Photo from Facebook

A judge in Washington, D.C., dismissed charges against Greg Grey Cloud, a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, who was arrested for singing a Lakota honor song at the U.S. Capitol.

Grey Cloud, who lives in South Dakota, was arrested on November 18 as the Senate rejected a bill to approve the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. He told the judge that he was singing to honor the lawmakers who voted against the measure.

“I was arrested for singing a song of honor to people who didn’t understand what was going on, but as indigenous people we all know what it means. This whole issue is about social justice, but a lot of people around the world don’t want to hear what we have to say,” Grey Cloud told Indian Country Today.

The song was created by Howard Bad Hand, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, The Lakota Voice reported at the time. Grey Cloud asked for permission to use the song and gave the translation as follows: "Grandfather look at me, I am standing here struggling, I am defending grandmother earth and I am chasing peace."

The charges were dismissed during Grey Cloud's court appearance on Monday, ICT reported. Three others who were arrested at the same time also had their cases dismissed while a fourth pleaded guilty, ICT said.

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Greg Grey Cloud’s Honor Song Case Thrown Out of Court (Indian Country Today 1/13)