A sign at Whiteclay, Nebraska. Photo from Sober Indian, Dangerous Indian / Facebook

Native activists and their supporters asked the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to address liquor problems in Whiteclay but also said they want President Barack Obama to intervene.

Frank LaMere, a member of the Winnebago Tribe, accused liquor stores in the small village of repeatedly violating the law. He said the state would shut down similar operations if they existed elsewhere.

Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) has set up an informal group to discuss the issue. LaMere, who delivered a letter to Obama's staff during the president's visit to the state in January, said only one Native person is represented.

"I understand there are 10 of them," LaMere said at the commission's public forum on Tuesday, KETV reported. "I understand nine of them are non-Indian."

Whiteclay is located a few miles from the border of the Pine Ridge Reservation, where liquor is outlawed. The four liquor establishments in the village sell nearly 4 million cans of beer a year, primarily to members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Get the Story:
Activists seeking closure of Whiteclay liquor stores ask President Obama for help (The Omaha World-Herald 2/10)
Whiteclay activists take concerns to liquor regulators, state leaders (The Lincoln Journal Star 2/10)
Native Americans, activists protest group put together to find solutions in Whiteclay (KETV 2/9)
Nebraska activists scold commission for Whiteclay beer sales (AP 2/9)

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