Native Sun News Today: Historic tribal meeting focuses on health care controversy

Friday, February 1, 2019  

Debate over Sioux San could leave Rosebud members without service
By Ernestine Chasing Hawk
Native Sun News Today Editor
nativesunnews.today

ROSEBUD – A historic meeting at the Rosebud Casino last Thursday, called to bring three tribes together, instead ended with a greater wedge between them.

Reminiscent of meetings between the seven council fires of the Oceti Sakowin, tribal dignitaries from the Rosebud, Cheyenne River and Oglala Lakota Nations filled the Rosebud Casino Entertainment Hall to discuss Wicozani, the health of the people.

In late December, just days before a PL98-638 contract was to be signed giving management of Sioux San Hospital over to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal council voted to rescind their support.

The meeting was called to answer, “Why?”

A court case filed in the mid 90’s broke up the former Rapid City Indian Health Board, giving three tribes “statutory” oversight of Sioux San Hospital. Oversight was split between the Cheyenne River, Rosebud and Oglala Lakota Nations because their members made up the majority of patients who utilized Sioux San Hospital.

However it wasn’t until 2012, after members of the Rapid City Indian Community began voicing concerns over service at Sioux San, that a board called the “Unified Health Board” officially organized. The board was comprised of members from the three tribe’s health committees.

Last April all three tribal councils and the Unified Health Board passed identical resolutions authorizing the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board to seek management of Sioux San via a PL98-638 Indian Self-Determination contract and a 638 contract to build a new health care facility on land east of Rapid City donated by local developer Hani Shafei.

In June 2018 the Mni Wicozani Advisory Committee was formed which included members from the Rapid City Indian community. However committee members were selected by the Unified Health Board and not by consensus or consultation with the Indians who utilize Sioux San Hospital.

During several meetings at the Mother Butler Center in Rapid City, hundreds of deep-rooted Black Hills American Indian residents showed up to express their opposition to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board’s assumption of Sioux San Hospital through a 638 contract and their proposal build the new clinic at “Shepherd Hills.”

They objected to the fact that they were excluded from the consultation process and plans for the future of Sioux San were made without their knowledge and without consultation with the Indian community who are served by the Rapid City Service Unit.

Residents also voiced they are essentially disenfranchised and marginalized by their own tribes and denied their constitutional right to equal representation by not being allowed to vote in tribal elections. They stated they did not elect the tribal leaders who claimed to represent them and authorized the GPTCHB’s takeover of Sioux San.

Word reached the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council who respected the rights of their Tiyospaye (family) living in the Black Hills and exercised the Lakota value Waunshila (empathy) toward them and they rescinded resolutions 2018-116 and 117.

After Rosebud rescinded their resolutions, GPTCHB and the other two tribes moved to continue without Rosebud’s shares by amending their resolutions authorizing the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board to continue its efforts to assume “programs, services, functions, and activities” of Sioux San.

GPTCHB also released a letter signed by CEO Jerilyn Church stating “However, we note that if GPTCHB does not receive funds from IHS for Rosebud Sioux Tribal members in the self-determination agreement, then Rosebud Sioux tribal members who reside in Pennington County will be personally responsible for the cost of the care provided to them unless there is another source of payment.”

The historic meeting at the Rosebud Casino last Thursday, called to order by RST Chairman Rodney Bordeaux, began the with a playful exchange of friendly banter. However the meeting quickly turned to the more serious issue at hand, management of Sioux San Hospital.

Council members present from the Rosebud included Treasurer Wayne Boyd, Vice-President Scott Herman, Secretary Linda L. Marshall, Sergeant in Arms Edward Clairmont, and Council Members Dave Red Kettle, Russell Eagle Bear, Steve DeNoyer, Steve Brave, Robert Rattling Leaf, Clifford “Chums” Lafferty, Richard "Smokey" Whipple, James Leader Charge, Lisa White Pipe, Kathleen Wooden Knife, Lenard "Shadow" Wright, Martha Blue Thunder, Arlene R. Black Bear, Sharon L. Swift, Lila Kills In Sight, Eileen Shot With Arrow, Rita Means and Totes Waln.

Members present from the Oglala Lakota Tribal Council included President Julian Bear Runner, Lydia Bear Killer, Tina Merdanian, Garfield Apple, Glenn Gibbons, Phillip Good Crow, Sonya Little Hawk Weston, Duane Yellow Hawk, Chancey Wilson, Craig Dillon, Beau White Man and Ronny Jumping Eagle.

Cheyenne River Council member present included Vice-Chairwoman Bernita In the Woods and council members Bryce In the Woods and Ryman LeBeau.

Also in attendance was the CEO of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board Jerilyn Church and her staff as well as members of the newly elected Rapid City Indian Council of Representatives, Robert Cook, Mark Lone Hill, Marlys Miner and Ernestine Chasing Hawk. Concerned citizens of Rapid City in attendance were Teresa Spry, Charmaine White Face and Mitchell Wisecarver.

Bear Runner who was recently elected to serve as OST President said council member Richard Greenwald and Sonya Weston quickly caught him up to speed on OST’s involvement with Sioux San Hospital.

“I evaluated where my support stood with the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board,” Bear Runner said and that he was hearing people had issues with the CEO. “I looked beyond Miss Church,” he said in consideration of the long term goal of taking control of Black Hills Treaty Territory.

Kathleen Wooden Knife, RST Soldier Creek Council Representative spoke about a meeting she attended at the Mother Butler Center with the people who live in Rapid City and get their health care at Sioux San.

“This community should be involved, not just the tribal councils,” she said and that the Rapid City Indian community have been forgotten and their voices have not been heard. “When people have no voice, they need someone to speak for them, so I spoke out for them.”

Wooden Knife said that when resolution2018-116 and 117 came before the RST council she believed the tribe should have taken more time to closely examine the documents set before them. She said RST had drafted their own resolution which GPTCHB rejected and then presented their own resolution drafted by their attorneys.

“Who tells the tribes you can’t hand in your own resolution?” she asked.

Contact Ernestine Chasing Hawk at staffwriter@nativesunnews.today

Copyright permission Native Sun News Today

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