{"id":25111,"date":"2022-06-12T12:33:27","date_gmt":"2022-06-12T16:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=25111"},"modified":"2022-09-13T09:02:51","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T13:02:51","slug":"harold-frazier-national-congress-of-american-indians-must-support-our-sovereignty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/06\/12\/harold-frazier-national-congress-of-american-indians-must-support-our-sovereignty\/","title":{"rendered":"Harold Frazier: National Congress of American Indians must support our sovereignty"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/05\/harold-frazier-joe-biden-for-president-of-the-united-states\/haroldfrazier\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-2086\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" data-attachment-id=\"2086\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/05\/harold-frazier-joe-biden-for-president-of-the-united-states\/haroldfrazier\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/haroldfrazier-scaled-e1623415129341.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Harold Frazier\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe addresses the National Congress of American Indians in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 23, 2019. Photo by &lt;A href=&quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk&quot;&gt;Kevin Abourezk&lt;\/A&gt; &lt;A href=&quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk&quot;&gt;&lt;I aria-hidden=true class=&quot;fab fa-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;\/I&gt;&lt;\/A&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/haroldfrazier-scaled-e1623415129341-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/haroldfrazier-scaled-e1623415129341.jpg\" alt=\"Harold Frazier\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-2086\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">\r\n Harold Frazier serves as Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, as  President of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen\u2019s Association and   as Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians for the Great Plains Region. Photo by <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\">Kevin Abourezk<\/A> <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">As Native Nations, our Duty is to Protect Grandmother Earth for our Future Generations<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Sunday, June 12, 2022<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Harold Frazier<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Chairman, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe  <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CRSTChairman\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><a href=https:\/\/www.cheyenneriversiouxtribe.org><i class=\"fas fa-link fa-xs\"><\/i> cheyenneriversiouxtribe.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p> In the beginning, the Creator through the sacred mystery created <em>Unci Maka<\/em>, Grandmother Earth, and the Creator gave the first woman and first man the breath of life, freedom, and a sacred duty to Grandmother Earth.  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nTogether, we must always fight for our Native Peoples, our Native lands.  Sitting Bull said, \u201cThe warrior is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others.  His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, and above all, the children &#8212; the future of our People.\u201d  In Lakota, we call our grandchildren, <em>Wakanyajea<\/em>, the Creator\u2019s sacred gift.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs Native Peoples, we are the Grandchildren of the Creator, and the Earth is our Grandmother.  When our Native Nations gather together, we are here for the next Seven Generations of our People, our children, grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren, unto the rising Suns of tomorrow.  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs Native Nations, we arose from the land, and Crazy Horse said, \u201cOne does not sell, the land on which the People walk.\u201d  We love our land, and we will never leave the land, our sacred home.  We are prior sovereign nations.  For many thousands of years, we lived lives of peace and happiness in harmony with Grandmother Earth.  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_indianz-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/06\/10\/national-congress-of-american-indians-heads-into-meeting-amid-disarray\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12\/ncaiembassyoftribalnations-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"National Congress of American Indians heads into meeting amid disarray\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/06\/10\/national-congress-of-american-indians-heads-into-meeting-amid-disarray\/\">\n\t\t\tNational Congress of American Indians heads into meeting amid disarray\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/06\/10\/national-congress-of-american-indians-heads-into-meeting-amid-disarray\/\">\n\t\t\t<p>Tribal leaders and advocates are raising fresh concerns about the National Congress of American Indians ahead of the organization\u2019s first in-person meeting in more than two years.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Indianz.Com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tIndianz.Com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOur People are free and our Nations are sovereign because our Grandmothers and Grandfathers provided for us at the beginning.  Today, our Grandfathers and Grandmothers continue to watch over us, our Parents carry on, and we must watch over our children and grandchildren for our part.  The will of Native People from the beginning, today, and tomorrow that is our Sovereignty.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/www.ncai.org\/>National Congress of American Indians<\/a> was founded to preserve our sovereignty.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nToday, the Indian Sovereignty and Self-Determination policy is under fire.  The Supreme Court says that state-chartered corporations can be equated with our Native Nations.  That\u2019s not right.  State charters come from the state and are not prior, not original sovereigns, so they cannot be Indian tribes.  State recognized Indian tribes must demonstrate that they are original nations, with their roots in the time prior to America.  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nNCAI has suffered drift.  Programs are titled \u201cBeyond Sovereignty.\u201d  Our Native Nations are not beyond sovereignty.  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWe, the Native Nations, are vested with original sovereignty.  We stand for our Native Peoples, by their will.  We look to the Future of Sovereignty because our People have always sought to live according to our own ways, maintain our own traditions, and provide for our children, grandchildren and the future generations of our People.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CetZ5bbr49A\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CetZ5bbr49A\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CetZ5bbr49A\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Indianz.Com (@indianz)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe Power of Nature moves in a circle.  The Sun, the Stars, and the Life of a Person.  From beginning to end to renewal.  In the Spring, Sitting Bull said, \u201cThe Earth gladly received the embrace of the Sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.\u201d  Our tradition is life and love.  Native sovereignty protects and flows from life and love of our People.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs Native leaders, we must engage with America through the respect and honor of our Nation-to-Nation relations.  That means sovereignty, mutual respect, and mutual consent.  We cannot be dictated to by the Supreme Court.  Our powers of government are prior to America.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAs President Biden issues Defense Production Act directions for green energy and clean batteries, our Native Nations must be included in a shared vision of America\u2019s future.  We must have respect for our treaty rights to health care and education.  The Bureau of Indian Affairs  must honor its original commitments to build roads and honor tribal self-government.  Even with the progress that we have made through Indian Sovereignty and Self-Determination, America will turn its back upon us if we do not remember who We are, where We came from, and where We are going.\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\nWhen we fight the Black Snake, we must ask the Sun to give us light and warmth.  The Four Winds to give us strength and clean power, as Water gives us life.  Mni Wiconi.  Water is life.  We must restore, our relatives, the Buffalo.  When the Buffalo thrive, the People live.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nFor our part, we recognize our fellow Native Nations as prior, inherent sovereigns.  If a Native Nation chooses to use a corporation to engage in economic projects or endeavors, that is its right.  The Corporations must serve Native Nations, Native Peoples.  Native Nations do not serve corporations &#8212; We serve our Native Peoples.  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nToday, as Sitting Bull advised us, \u201clet us put our minds together and see what lives we will make for our children.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<HR><EM><A \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CRSTChairman\">Harold Frazier<\/A> is \r\nserving his second consecutive term as chairman of the <a href=https:\/\/www.cheyenneriversiouxtribe.org>Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe<\/a>, an Indian nation based in South Dakota. He also serves as president of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen\u2019s Association. He previously served as chair and vice chair of his tribe. He currently serves as a regional vice president for the National Congress of American Indians. <\/em><HR>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Together, we must always fight for our Native Peoples, our Native lands.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2086,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9,14],"tags":[600,500,7,193,189,220,154],"class_list":["post-25111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","category-politics","tag-cheyenne-river-sioux","tag-harold-frazier","tag-ncai","tag-self-determination","tag-self-governance","tag-sovereignty","tag-treaties","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-6x1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/haroldfrazier-scaled-e1623415129341.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25111","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=25111"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25111\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}