{"id":19116,"date":"2021-12-17T10:37:40","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T15:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=19116"},"modified":"2021-12-17T10:45:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T15:45:00","slug":"no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/17\/no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018No one else needs to die\u2019: Biden administration faces another test of commitment to Indian Country"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Sw9jPEeCHMQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/Sw9jPEeCHMQ>Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Indian Health Care #HonorTheTreaties<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h1-responsive\">\u2018No one else needs to die\u2019<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Biden administration faces another test of commitment to Indian Country with health care case<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Friday, December 17, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nA deadline is fast approaching for the Joe Biden administration to live up to its promise to improve the federal government&#8217;s relationship with tribes and their citizens.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn August, the <a href=https:\/\/www.rosebudsiouxtribe-nsn.gov\/>Rosebud Sioux Tribe<\/a> won a major victory in a <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/26\/rosebud-sioux-tribe-v-united-states\/>long-running lawsuit against the United States<\/a>. The <a href=https:\/\/www.ca8.uscourts.gov\/>8th Circuit Court of Appeals<\/a> ruled that the <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Treaty_of_Fort_Laramie_(1868)>1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie<\/a> requires the federal government to provide \u201ccompetent physician-led healthcare\u201d to the Sioux Nation and its people, many of whom often suffer from substandard services on their homelands.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThis decision is an important acknowledgment of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe&#8217;s treaty rights as well as every other tribe that signed on to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868,\u201d <a href=https:\/\/www.robinskaplan.com\/resources\/news\/2021\/09\/eighth-circuit-court-of-appeals-court-upholds-ruling-on-tribal-treaty-rights>then-president Rodney Bordeaux<\/a> said at the time of the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/202062P.pdf>August 25 decision<\/a>. \u201cAs the court noted, the federal government must do better.\u201d \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/k2t_oNIPJm4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/26\/rosebud-sioux-tribe-v-united-states\/>8th Circuit Court of Appeals &#8211; Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBut while the litigation began during the prior presidential era, when relations with Indian Country were often rocky, the case has proven to be a difficult one for the Biden administration. So far, government attorneys have requested &#8212; and received &#8212;  two extensions to determine whether to keep fighting the tribe in court.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814350348.pdf>first extension<\/a> would have required the government to make a move  by November 12. The timing was  potentially  embarrassing, coming on the eve of the <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLUZ4SOc8isRe7HdJ_r9SqM3cucXf0J3BW>White House Tribal Nations Summit<\/a>, when President Joe Biden vowed that his initiatives to \u201c<a href=https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/build-back-better\/>Build Back Better<\/a>\u201d would improve health care for tribes and their citizens.\r\n<P><\/P> \r\n\u201cThese efforts &#8212; again, to use the word my dad would use much &#8212; are a matter of dignity,\u201d <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rtyDtFZO2fo&#038;list=PLUZ4SOc8isRe7HdJ_r9SqM3cucXf0J3BW&#038;index=2>Biden said on November 15<\/a>.  \u201cThat\u2019s the foundation of our nation-to-nation partnership. That\u2019s what this summit is all about.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBut before the first deadline arrived, attorneys from the <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/>Department of Justice<\/a>, whose leader also <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/15\/attorney-general-merrick-garland-addresses-white-house-tribal-nations-summit\/>spoke at the summit<\/a>, sought another extension. The second request cited a heavy workload on other Indian health care cases, unrelated  litigation and the holiday season as <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814374849.pdf>reasons for needing more time<\/a> to decide whether to appeal.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rtyDtFZO2fo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent&#038;listType=playlist&#038;list=PLUZ4SOc8isRe7HdJ_r9SqM3cucXf0J3BW\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/rtyDtFZO2fo?list=PLUZ4SOc8isRe7HdJ_r9SqM3cucXf0J3BW>President Joe Biden &#8211; White House Tribal Nations Summit &#8211; November 15, 2021<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814376563.pdf>8th Circuit granted the extension<\/a> on November 4, giving the Biden administration   until December 20 to make its next move.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBy this time,  though,  the dispute had already attracted attention across Indian Country. Tribes throughout the nation, including <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2016\/01\/12\/senate-indian-affairs-committe-152.asp>many in the Great Plains region<\/a>, where health care has been considered the worst within the <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/>Indian Health Service<\/a>, had already been lobbying Biden to drop any potential appeals.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWith the firm conviction, the Biden administration states: \u2018Health care is a right, not a privilege,\u2019\u201d <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/CRSTChairman>Chairman Harold Frazier<\/a> of the <a href=http:\/\/gptca.net\/>Great Plains Tribal Chairmen&#8217;s Association<\/a> observed in a letter to the president.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThat\u2019s true for Native Americans, as other Americans, yet in violation of our treaty rights we have been subjected to the worst health care in America,\u201d added Frazier, who also leads the <a href=https:\/\/www.cheyenneriversiouxtribe.org\/>Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe<\/a>, another signatory to the  Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Harold Frazier: &quot;I have just finished sitting through the White House Tribal Nations Summit and I am not impressed.&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CRSTChairman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CRSTChairman<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HaroldFrazier?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HaroldFrazier<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CheyenneRiverSioux?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CheyenneRiverSioux<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WhiteHouse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WhiteHouse<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TribalNationsSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TribalNationsSummit<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/84XW9eJ19U\">https:\/\/t.co\/84XW9eJ19U<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1461383425173118982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nMembers of Congress, Democrat and Republican alike, have taken notice too. On the eve of Thanksgiving, a holiday that wouldn&#8217;t exist without the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/12\/02\/a-national-day-of-mourning-for-us-indige.asp>sacrifices of the Wampanoag people<\/a>, nine lawmakers from the <a href=https:\/\/www.house.gov\/>U.S. House of Representatives<\/a>  told Biden to accept the victory secured by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cWe believe an appeal of this case by the federal government would be detrimental because it would signal an unacceptable disregard for trust-based treaty responsibilities,\u201d  the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/congress112321.pdf>five Democrats and four Republicans wrote<\/a> on November 23. \u201cMeeting treaty responsibilities is the cornerstone of sound federal Indian policy.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAnd during the White House Tribal Nations Summit a week prior, another signatory to the 1868 treaty tried to get a key member of Biden&#8217;s presidential cabinet on  the record.  <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AliciaMousseauOSTVP\/>Vice President Alicia Mousseau<\/a> of the <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEOGLALANATION>Oglala Sioux Tribe<\/a> asked the leader of the <a href=https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/>Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>, which includes the IHS, to explain the  \u201ctrust responsibility of the U.S. government to provide quality health care to sovereign tribal nations.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nOutlining what he said was his \u201cpersonal belief,\u201d <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecBecerra>Secretary Xavier Becerra<\/a> admitted that the U.S. hasn&#8217;t always lived up to its responsibilities, despite being mandated by treaties, federal laws and even court decisions. But he declined to go into specifics about the nature of these health care duties due to ongoing \u201clitigation.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWhat I will tell you there is that the courts will give us a more clear definition of what we mean by that trust relationship,\u201d Becerra, a former member of Congress and former attorney general of California, <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/Sw9jPEeCHMQ>said on November 15<\/a>, sidestepping the question in his official capacity as Secretary of Health and Human Services.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/17\/no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country\/aliciamousseauxavierbecerraanthonyfauci\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-19135\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" data-attachment-id=\"19135\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/17\/no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country\/aliciamousseauxavierbecerraanthonyfauci\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/aliciamousseauxavierbecerraanthonyfauci-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1708\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-7RM3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1636999516&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;48&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"White House Tribal Nations Summit\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;From left, Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden; Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Vice President Alicia Mousseau  of the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 15, 2021. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usinterior\/51685174414\/&gt;U.S. Department of the Interior&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/aliciamousseauxavierbecerraanthonyfauci-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/aliciamousseauxavierbecerraanthonyfauci-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"White House Tribal Nations Summit\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19135\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> From left, Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden; Secretary Xavier Becerra  of the Department of   Health and Human Services  and Vice President Alicia Mousseau of the Oglala Sioux Tribe participate in a panel discussion at the White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 15, 2021. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usinterior\/51685174414\/>U.S. Department of the Interior<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIn a September 21 letter, <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RosebudSiouxTribePresident\/>President Scott Herman<\/a> of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe said the <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RosebudIndianHealthService>IHS hospital on his people&#8217;s reservation in South Dakota<\/a> is \u201cfailing.\u201d The  facility, which is operated by the federal government, is no longer able to provide surgical services, emergency care or programs for pregnant people due to repeated cutbacks.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cA Rosebud mother gave birth on a hospital bathroom floor, when IHS medical personnel ignored her labor pains,\u201d Herman told President Biden, Secretary Becerra and other members of Biden&#8217;s cabinet. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\nA <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2016\/02\/04\/ihs-chief-medical-officer-apol.asp>second child was also born without adequate assistance<\/a> at the facility during a period in which the <a href=https:\/\/www.ihs.gov\/greatplains\/>Great Plains Area of the IHS<\/a> was under intense scrutiny toward the end of the Barack Obama administration. Despite a Congressional investigation that drew widespread media attention  more than five years ago, no major increases in funding or improvements to facilities have occurred in the region, according to tribal leaders.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cCurrently, my people are sitting in Indian Health Service hospital waiting rooms for more than 36 hours desperately in need of attention and cannot even be admitted to a bed,\u201d Frazier wrote in an <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/11\/18\/harold-frazier-indian-country-needs-action-not-words-from-white-house\/>opinion published on Indianz.Com<\/a> after the conclusion of the Tribal Nations Summit. \u201cThe last tribal member sent off the reservation was sent to another state hundreds of miles from family and familiar faces.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=\/covid19\/>COVID-19 pandemic<\/a> has only worsened conditions in Indian Country, Herman added. According to government data, Native Americans have suffered from the highest infection, hospitalization and death rates  since the arrival of the coronavirus nearly two years ago.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cIt would be unconscionable for America to continue to fail to honor our treaty by continuing to leave us a generation behind on health care facilities,\u201d Herman stated as he urged Biden not to appeal the case.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n \u201cThe United States must scrap its broken health care facility structure and put in a new system that recognizes and addresses real health care and economic needs,&#8221; said Herman, who took office in early September. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=row><div class=col-6>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814350348.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">00814350348<\/a>\r\n<\/div><div class=col-6>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814374849.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"both\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"on\">00814374849<\/a>\r\n<\/div><\/div><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Extension letters submitted on <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814350348.pdf\">September 28<\/a> and on <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814374849.pdf\">November 2<\/a> by the Department of Justice in <em>Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States<\/em>, No. 20-2062<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to the extension letters submitted in <Em>Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States<\/em>, No. 20-2062, the <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/osg>Solicitor General of the United States<\/a> is the government official who makes the call on whether to ask the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals for a rehearing <em>en banc<\/em> of the case.  \r\nThe decision is being made  in \u201cextensive deliberations and consultation\u201d with the   Department of Health and Human Services, one of the defendants in the lawsuit, as well as the Department  of Justice, which is led by <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/ag>Attorney General Merrick Garland<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cWhen it comes to building on our nation-to-nation partnership, we understand the importance of open, honest conversations approached with respect, humility and sincerity,\u201d <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cOCqFE7Zq0Q&#038;list=PLUZ4SOc8isRe7HdJ_r9SqM3cucXf0J3BW&#038;index=4>Garland said at the Tribal Nations Summit<\/a> last month. \u201cThis means listening to you as leaders of your governments and representatives of your citizens. \u201cIt also means responding respectfully to the thoughtful recommendations and information that you share with us.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe August 25 court decision was issued by a panel of three judges, one of whom dissented with the majority that ruled in favor of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Although <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jonathan_A._Kobes>Judge Jonathan A. Kobes<\/a> agreed there have been \u201cconsiderable deficiencies\u201d in the care provided by the IHS, he argued for a different interpretation of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThe historical evidence makes it clear that the physician was supposed to be a temporary instructor, not a permanent service provider,\u201d argued Kobes, who was nominated to the bench by Republican former president Donald Trump.  \u201cThe treaty promised only one physician because the doctor\u2019s role was to teach the Sioux how to administer medicine &#8212; not to provide healthcare to the entire tribe.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yesterday, President Biden participated in a Tribal Nations Summit \u2013 the first to be hosted at the White House \u2013 and announced steps to improve public safety and justice for Native Americans and protect Tribal lands, treaty rights, and sacred places. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CjLc2QlLE2\">pic.twitter.com\/CjLc2QlLE2<\/a><\/p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WhiteHouse\/status\/1460651298550861837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nShould the Biden administration pursue a rehearing <em>en banc<\/em>, additional briefing would be required.\r\nIf the request is granted, a larger set of judges on the 8th Circuit would hear the case all over again, potentially leading to a different &#8212; even a  less favorable &#8212; outcome for the tribe.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThe United States and the Biden administration must honor and recognize its treaty and trust obligations and fulfill those promises of health care secured by tribal nations,\u201d  reads a letter to Biden that was signed by every <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/indiancountry102721.pdf>major tribal organization<\/a> in the U.S. \u201cUpholding the <em>Rosebud<\/em> decision would be a significant step reflecting the Biden Administration\u2019s commitment to honoring those treaties and trust obligations by providing adequate health care services to American Indians and Alaska Native people.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe Biden administration now has until Monday  to file a petition for a rehearing. The <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/00814376563.pdf>November 4 order granting the extension warns<\/a>: \u201cNo further extensions will be granted absent extraordinary circumstances.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWith the case in limbo, <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/RosebudSiouxTribeOfficial\/videos>leaders of the Sioux Nation  have been meeting all week<\/a> in Rapid City, South Dakota, for the Oceti Sakowin Titunwan Lakota Oyate Treaty Conference.  They are expected to host a prominent guest on Friday: \r\n  <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecDebHaaland>Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland<\/a>, who is the first Native person to serve in a presidential cabinet.\r\n<P><\/P><HR>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Oceti Sakowin Titunwan Lakota Oyate Treaty Conference<\/div>\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F8T3hEbgB88?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n <P><\/P>\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gb7lXwx805s?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n <P><\/P>\r\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LR7Z0wCrG4o?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n   <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/F8T3hEbgB88>Day 1<\/a> |\r\n \r\n<a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/gb7lXwx805s>Day 2<\/a> |\r\n \r\n  <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/LR7Z0wCrG4o>Day 3<\/a> |\r\n <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/RosebudSiouxTribeOfficial\/videos>Rosebud Sioux Tribe on YouTube<\/a>\r\n \r\n<HR>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe numerous letters urging Biden not to appeal the treaty rights victory have also been sent to Haaland. As one of the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/01\/04\/native-women-make-history-congress.asp>first two Native women in the U.S. Congress<\/a>, she  was <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1143579177880346624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>given a Lakota name<\/a>  for her efforts in support of the descendants of the <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wounded_Knee_Massacre>December 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre<\/a>. The anniversary of the attack on a peaceful camp of Lakota people, which occurred at the hands of the U.S. military, is fast approaching.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThe Rosebud Sioux Tribe is one of the Great Sioux Nation tribes, the Oceti Sakowin &#8212; Seven Council Fires of the Lakota, Nakota, Dakota,\u201d President Herman of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe told Indianz.Com amid the historic treaty gathering. \u201cIn the days of our great-grandfathers, the Creator watched over our people and sent us the sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe. Our people were happy and prosperous.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cNow, the United States, has taken our best lands and the Rosebud Sioux Reservation is a remote rural reservation, wracked with poverty, unemployment, and premature death for generations,\u201d Herman added.\u00a0 \u201cThe average life expectancy of a Rosebud Sioux man is 47 years, which is comparable to third world countries.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/17\/no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country\/rosebudsiouxtribeflag\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-19265\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1757\" data-attachment-id=\"19265\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/17\/no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country\/rosebudsiouxtribeflag\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/rosebudsiouxtribeflag-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1757\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D700&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1327423046&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;60&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.016666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Rosebud Sioux Tribe\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The flag of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/warriorwoman531\/8154653662\/&gt;Heather Paul&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/rosebudsiouxtribeflag-1024x703.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/rosebudsiouxtribeflag-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Rosebud Sioux Tribe\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-19265\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">The flag of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/warriorwoman531\/8154653662\/>Heather Paul<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe IHS was required to <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2016\/04\/28\/rosebud-sioux-tribe-sues-india.asp>shut down the emergency unit at the Rosebud Hospital<\/a> in <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2015\/12\/24\/lakota-country-times-ihs-restr.asp>December 2015<\/a> following a federal review of its operations. A <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/07\/22\/indian-health-service-faulted-for-closur.asp>case study made public almost   four years later<\/a> cited staffing shortages &#8212; but also substandard  care &#8212; as the reasons for the closure.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe shutdown forced Rosebud patients to travel great distances to secure health services at off-reservation facilities in South Dakota and even in neighboring Nebraska. In just the seven months following the diversion of care, at  least <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2016\/07\/13\/rosebud-sioux-tribe-struggles-with-shutd.asp>nine people are known to have died<\/a> while being transported, according to tallies that were kept by the tribe at the time.  At least five babies were born in ambulances.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cThat drive time is well past the \u2018golden hour\u2019 when physicians have the best chance to save lives,\u201d Herman pointed out.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/17\/no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country\/welcometorosebud\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-19273\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" data-attachment-id=\"19273\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/12\/17\/no-one-else-needs-to-die-biden-administration-faces-another-test-of-commitment-to-indian-country\/welcometorosebud\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/welcometorosebud-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;9&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 60D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1496687586&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;28&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Rosebud Sioux Tribe\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;A welcome sign on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/350org\/35505210501\/&gt;Juliana Clifford \/ 350.org&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/welcometorosebud-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/welcometorosebud-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Rosebud Sioux Tribe\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-19273\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> A welcome sign on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/350org\/35505210501\/>Juliana Clifford \/ 350.org<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n But with  the meeting in the sacred <a href=https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Black_Hills>Black Hills<\/a>, which was taken from the Sioux  Nation in violation of their treaties,  Herman  is looking to Haaland to help carry his people&#8217;s  message back  to Washington, D.C. \r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWe&#8217;re just waiting to get \u2018competent\u2019 health care, and we&#8217;ve waited long enough,\u201d  Herman   told Indianz.Com of the 153 years since the signing of the treaty at Fort Laramie.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n \u201cNo one else needs to die for us to get \u2018competent\u2019 Indian health care,\u201d Herman said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nTurtle Talk has posted documents from the case, <a href=https:\/\/turtletalk.blog\/2021\/08\/25\/eighth-circuit-affirms-federal-duty-to-provide-competent-physician-led-healthcare-to-rosebud-sioux-tribe-members\/><EM>Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States<\/em><\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">8th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision<\/div>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/202062P.pdf>Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States<\/a>  (August 25, 2021)\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Letters of Support in <em>Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States<\/em><\/div>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/congress112321.pdf>Members of Congress<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/indiancountry102721.pdf>Indian Country Organizations<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/gptca092821.pdf>Great Plains Tribal Chairmen&#8217;s Association<\/a> \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/17\/scottherman092121.pdf>President Scott Herman of Rosebud Sioux Tribe<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/26\/rosebud-sioux-tribe-v-united-states\/\" title=\"Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States\">Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. United States<\/a> (August 26, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/23\/rodney-bordeaux-the-truth-about-americas-genocide\/\" title=\"Rodney Bordeaux: The truth about America\u2019s genocide\">Rodney Bordeaux: The truth about America\u2019s genocide<\/a> (August 23, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/08\/03\/rodney-bordeaux-indian-country-cant-afford-to-wait-for-medicaid\/\" title=\"Rodney Bordeaux: Indian Country can\u2019t afford to wait for Medicaid\">Rodney Bordeaux: Indian Country can\u2019t afford to wait for Medicaid<\/a> (August 3, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/03\/04\/rodney-bordeaux-strengthening-the-nation-to-nation-relationship\/\" title=\"Rodney Bordeaux: Strengthening the nation-to-nation relationship\">Rodney Bordeaux: Strengthening the nation-to-nation relationship<\/a> (March 4, 2021)<BR><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/22\/rodney-bordeaux-joe-biden-and-kamala-harris-for-indian-country\/\" title=\"Rodney Bordeaux: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for Indian Country\">Rodney Bordeaux: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for Indian Country<\/a> (October 22, 2020)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A deadline is fast approaching for the Biden administration to live up to its promise to improve the federal government&#8217;s relationship with tribes and their citizens.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19135,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,20,13,1,14],"tags":[935,800,600,170,157,88,94,362,75,701,500,248,210,53,72,668,138,392,69,97,85,711,544,2310,84,154,2179,1112,670,1032],"class_list":["post-19116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-indian-trust","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-8th-circuit","tag-alicia-mousseau","tag-cheyenne-river-sioux","tag-congress","tag-consultation","tag-deb-haaland","tag-democrats","tag-doj","tag-donald-trump","tag-gptca","tag-harold-frazier","tag-hhs","tag-ihs","tag-joe-biden","tag-judiciary","tag-massacres","tag-meetings","tag-merrick-garland","tag-nebraska","tag-oglala-sioux","tag-republicans","tag-rodney-bordeaux","tag-rosebud-sioux","tag-scott-herman","tag-supreme-court","tag-treaties","tag-tribal-nations-summit","tag-white-house","tag-wounded-knee","tag-xavier-becerra","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/14\/aliciamousseauxavierbecerraanthonyfauci-scaled.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-4Yk","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}