june newsletter...june newsletter south dakota department of tribal relations from the secretary...

June 1, 2017 Issue #29

FROM SECRETARY EMERY Update on May Activities

This past month was busy with

meetings and events that

encompassed our state, East to West,

North to South, and various points in

between. The Native American Fish &

Wildlife Conference took place in

Rapid City, a tribal veteran service

officer meeting took place in Pierre,

and the Good Earth State Park Visitor

Center Dedication took place south of

Sioux Falls.

We also had our first State Tribal

Relations Events planning meeting

with the SD Departments of Health

and Social Services, the dates for the

2018 State Tribal Relations events will

be February 27th & 28th. Mark your

calendars for these important dates!

On a national level, we had staff

attend the 2017 Geographic Names

Conference and US Secretary of Ag

Sonny Perdue held a meeting in Rapid

City that I attended with congressional

leadership including Senator Rounds,

Senator Thune, Representative Noem

and President Weston of the Oglala

Sioux Tribe.

The legislative State Tribal

Relations Committee had their first

interim meeting this past month

where I provided an update on the

Department’s activities, including

upcoming tribal meetings where I look

forward to working with tribal

leadership.

The Department of Tribal

Relations would like to welcome our

new Policy Analyst Hannah Kagey. We

encourage you to contact our office

with any questions or concerns and

we welcome tribal leadership to stop

by the office here in Pierre.

Secretary Steve Emery

SD Dept. of Tribal Relations

302 E. Dakota Avenue

Pierre, SD 57501

(605) - 773-3415

http://www.sdtribalrelations.com

JUNE NEWSLETTER

SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRIBAL RELATIONS

WHAT’S INSIDE

From the Secretary GF&P Secretary Hepler speaks at NAFWS Conference Native American Cultural & Art at Governor’s Mansion SD Indian Ed Summit USDA Rural Business Development Fund Rural Development Deadlines WASP Ola “Millie” Rexroat 150th Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Wacipi Code Talker Garfield T. Brown Tax Filing Due Dates Change

Rosebud Casino Pow Wacipi Tommy the Turtle Visits Tribal Schools Devils Tower Summer Concert Series From Rep. Kristi Noem USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine Hannah Kagey MOA Oglala & School of Mines State Tribal Relations Committee Voluntary Climbing Closure Devils Tower National Guard 33rd Annual Golden Coyote

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S O U T H D A K O T A D E P A R T M E N T O F T R I B A L R E L A T I O N S

The Native American Fish and

Wildlife Society (NAFWS) held

their thirty-fifth national

conference this year in Rapid

City, South Dakota.

Approximately 200 people from

across the country attended.

Secretary Kelly Hepler of the

South Dakota Game, Fish and

Parks provided the welcome and

addressed the crowd as a

keynote speaker. He expressed

how important it is to conserve,

preserve, and protect our

nation’s natural resources and

their habitats. He pointed out the

fact that there is approximately 6

million tribal trust lands scattered

across nine different reservations

in South Dakota. Therefore, it is

imperative that state, tribal, and

federal governments work

together to manage our shared

resources. Hepler also indicated

that when he was hired to do his

current job, one of the highest

priorities would be to build and

improve tribal relations.

Hepler explained how he

appointed Ron Skates as the

department’s tribal liaison to

work directly with the tribes on

issues of mutual concern. Ron

Skates has a history of providing

this type of work as a former

board member and president of

the NAFWS as well as with his 37-

year tenure with the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service.

He went on to share that soon

after Skates took his post,

meetings were held with each of

the reservation’s game and fish

or natural resource agency to

learn about the issues on tribal

lands and what projects could be

worked on together. Invariably it

seemed, that training was the

number one area the tribes

needed assistance with. Law

enforcement, boat safety, and

predator control were also

identified as high priority areas.

Habitat improvement, sharing

big/small game survey data,

harvest information and

restoring certain game species

also made the priority list.

Additionally, it was of significance to inform the

conference attendees that in the past couple of years under Hepler’s direction that the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks has signed three cooperative Memorandums of Understanding with Rosebud, Lower Brule, and the Oglala Sioux tribes. The most recent was the Oglala MOU back in May.

Each occasion marked the completion of a long-time project to formalize cooperative operations between the Tribe and State. The agreements give state and tribal wildlife counterparts formalized processes to share information, coordinate resources, and better manage shared natural resources. The MOUs serve as a guide to improve communication, coordination, and cooperation on the many issues of mutual interest.

SD SECRETARY OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS KELLY HEPLER IS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE NATIVE AMERICAN FISH AND WILDLIFE SOCIETY CONFERENCE

Pictured are Oglala Sioux Tribe Parks and

Recreation Director Harold Salway and SD GF&P

Secretary Kelly Hepler with GF&P Tribal Liaison Ron

Skates.

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Governor Daugaard and the First Lady would like to welcome all to this year’s tours of the South Dakota Governor’s

Mansion. Tours begin June 7 and run every Wednesday through June, July and August. The tours will be starting at 1 P.M. CDT

and last approximately 30 minutes.

This summer the tours will showcase works of art that display South Dakota’s Native American culture and talented Native

American artists.

Guests can view “Homage to a Treasure and Its Maker” by Arthur Amiotte (top right) and “Too Close This Time” by Don

Montileaux (top left). Additional pieces by JoAnn Bird, Kathy Sigel, and many others will be on display. In addition, thanks to a

gift from South Dakota’s artist laureate Dale Lamphere, a framed print of the Dignity sculpture will greet guests right as they

arrive.

Also, Micsuihya (Mikki) Brian from Harrisburg High School was this year’s Western Governors’ Association (WGA) art show

award winner from South Dakota. WGA created Celebrate the West, a regional art competition that challenges high school

students to create works inspired by their state. Mikki Brian created “Golden Sky” using oil paint. When asked what inspired

her to create the piece, she said, “Using my own Lakota culture, I thought about what South Dakota meant to me.” After being

on display at the Western Governors meeting in Montana in June, the Governor and First Lady will bring the piece back to

display it at the mansion.

Furthermore, there will be many works that illustrate scenes from throughout the state. These vary from animals to rodeos

and settings in rural South Dakota that capture the essence and history of South Dakota.

The Governor and First Lady invite you to enjoy and experience the beauty and history of the Governor’s Mansion and

share all of the things inside that tell the story of our wonderful state.

South Dakota Native American Culture and Art Showcased at Governor’s

Mansion Golden Sky by Mikki Brian

Too Close This Time by Don Montileaux Homage to a Treasure and Its Maker by Arthur Amiotte

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The South Dakota Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education (SD OIE) invites you to register for the 2017 Indian Education Summit. The 14th annual summit will be held at Pierre’s Ramkota Conference Center, September 24th – 26th, 2017. Speaker presentations will be scheduled to take place Sunday evening through early Tuesday afternoon. Each year, education professionals from across the state and around the country attend this summit to access high quality professional development, information on the latest trends, and proven best practices in the field of Indian education. We showcase successful projects, programs, and initiatives for all ages, from preschool to postsecondary. Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. AnnMaria DeMars/Santa Monica CA. 7 Generation Games/ed. games with cultural

base. Keynote address, plus breakout ‘Helping Youth Become Producers (Not Just Consumers) of Technology’

• Hattie Kauffman - Native American journalist with ABC & CBS/correspondent & news anchor. www.hattiekauffman.com

Special Features:

• Youth Day – Monday 9:30am – 3:00pm • Higher Education Panel • Student Panel • Native American Games

Monday Evening Social: Film: Neither Wolf Nor Dog based on book by Kent Nerburn. Kent will present the film and do a Q & A afterwards. There will be a variety of breakout sessions to choose from including: OSEU/WoLakota – Dr Scott Simpson & Sharla Steever will organize and conduct a 2-hr. general session including classroom teachers currently using OSEU & WoLakota, elders, and updates on the programs. Three credit options will be offered including:

• One hour grad/SGU • One hour undergrad/SGU • Fifteen contact hrs. for recertification

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity! We will keep updating the website as more information on the breakout sessions becomes available. For more information, contact Marta Neuman:

• (605) 773-8194 • [email protected] • https://indianeducation.sd.gov

REGISTER NOW! 14th Annual South Dakota Indian

Education Summit

September 24th – 26th, 2017

Ramkota Conference Center

Pierre, SD http://indianeducation.sd.gov/summit.aspx

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Rural Development Program Deadlines

Program Application Deadline(s)

Rural Energy for America (REAP)

Applications accepted year-round.

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (Formerly known as the Biorefinery Assistance Program)


Business & Industry Loan Guarantees


Rural Business Development Grant

2017 applications deadlines are past.

2018 applications will be due around 3/1/18.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

Quarterly deadlines. 4th quarter deadline is June 30, 2017.

Intermediary Relending Program


Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program


Value Added Producer Grant

2017 application deadlines are unknown at this time.

Small Socially Disadvantaged Grant

2017 application deadlines are unknown at this time.

Rural Cooperative Development Grant

Application deadlines – May 26, 2017 for electronic submissions and June

2, 2017 for paper copies.

Rural Community Development Initiative

2017 NOFA is expected to be issued next soon.

Water and Environmental Programs

On-going application cycles; can apply anytime.

Community Facilities Loan and Grant Programs


Single Family Housing Programs… 502 Very-Low and Low Direct Loans; 504 Loans and Grants; and 502 Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) Loan Program


For additional program information, view the USDA Rural Development Programs Summary:

http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RD_ProgramMatrix.pdf

USDA Certifies Another Rural Business Investment Fund

Fund to Help Capitalize Small Rural Businesses

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2017 – Acting Deputy

Under Secretary Roger Glendenning today announced that USDA has certified the Innova Ag Innovation Fund IV LP as an investment pool for small and startup rural businesses.

“This certification is another tool USDA provides to help rural businesses, to create jobs, and to attract private-sector capital to rural communities,” Glendenning said. “Geography should not be a barrier to economic success. This pool will offer rural business owners the same access to capital as their counterparts in metropolitan areas.”

The fund will support 30 to 45 companies that have the potential to generate more than $200 million in economic activity and create 600 jobs. It will provide capital for high-growth companies in the biosciences, technology and agricultural technology industries. The fund is the second USDA has certified under the Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP). RBIP funds support USDA’s strategy for rural economic growth.

For a fund to receive USDA certification, its managers must demonstrate that they have venture capital experience and that they have successfully worked with community development organizations.

The Ag Innovation Fund is being managed by Innova Memphis RBIC, LLC. Innova has three other funds that are not part of the Rural Business Investment Program. Those three funds collectively have invested $20 million in 75 startup companies, attracted $90 million of outside capital, and created approximately 250 jobs.

Farm Credit System members are contributing $31 million to the Ag Innovation Fund. The Farm Credit System is a nationwide network of banks and lenders specifically chartered to serve agriculture and the U.S. rural economy.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; homeownership; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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WASP Ola “Millie” Rexroat: “If I had to do it

all over again, I’d do the same thing.” By Logan Walker

For Ola Mildred “Millie” Rexroat, America’s 1942 declaration of war was a personal call to action, and the catalyst for a choice that would change her life and, quite literally, lift her miles above the classrooms and offices that dominated the working lives of so many women. Fearless, irrepressible, and, as her mother liked to note, particularly stubborn, she would become not only a WASP but the only Native American woman to serve in the organization. Born on a hot summer day in Argonia, Kansas in 1917, her father was a publisher and editor who frequently moved his family between towns and her mother was an Oglala-Lakota Indian who grew up in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Rexroat spent portions of her childhood visiting her grandmother on that Reservation. When she grew old enough to attend school, her family moved to Oklahoma, and then to Springfield, South Dakota in time for her to graduate from St Mary’s Indian High School for Girls in 1932. After high school, Rexroat bounced from place to place, attending a teaching college in Chadron, Nebraska, then moving to a work study program at a school in Springfield before settling at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Following her graduation in 1938, she spent time working for The Bureau of Indian Affairs at a reservation in Gallup Texas and, prophetically, working with airfield engineers in El Paso. While this short term work might have opened her eyes to future possibilities; it would be America’s entrance into the Second World War that propelled her into the cockpit of a plane. By 1942, Rexroat had moved with her mother and sisters, finding employment at the Army War College in Washington, DC. She felt she couldn’t stay on the sidelines of the unfolding war for long but recognized the route that she planned to pursue was unlike anything she had experienced before, noting, “I had some skills that I was pretty good at. But that consisted of typing and shorthand and other office procedures.” She was not one to let this stand in her way. “I thought I should join the WAC, which was the Women’s Army Corps. And I didn’t really want to do that. Should I join the Navy? And I didn’t know enough about that. And I thought about the Marines, which I did think I would like, and I sent them a telegram.” When The U.S Marine Corps sent no answer, a new idea took shape in her head. ”I thought, if I had some background of doing something, maybe I could, you know, do something that really made a difference. And that’s how I happened to think about…if I could do something like fly.” With a new goal in sight, Rexroat embarked on a series of $8 an hour flying lessons, knowing that upon the completion of 35 hours she would qualify as a WASP applicant. Her flight lessons completed, she would eventually be accepted into the program, but news of her success met a bittersweet reception. Continued on page 7…

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While her sisters were supportive, her mother was not. “My mother was totally against it. Even though I told her I was not going to really be in combat, she said nevertheless, it was training other people to kill other people…and that’s why she objected to it. Other than that it was dangerous.” Rexroat reported for training in Sweetwater, Texas, graduating in September 1944. She was assigned to Eagle Pass Army Airfield where she towed aerial gunnery targets behind a T6 plane and made occasional trips ferrying military personal between locations. Rexroat had a genuine love for her new occupation even stating that on her list of favorite things in the world, “I’d put (flying) right up there, like number 1 or 1 and ½.” Although trailing targets could be particularly perilous, she recalls, “You didn’t have time to be frightened or scared or anything like that. I was usually more concerned about my landings.” She was regularly the near-focus of practice gunfire, but, in her own words, “I never gave it a thought. You couldn’t worry about things like that…You can’t live forever. They checked the target after we came down, and of course, it was to our credit if it had lots of holes in it, that meant we had been maintaining our altitude and heading.” One of Rexroat’s gleefully remembered stories involves one of her Air Force superiors, who, after a training session, handed her the keys to a jeep so that she could drive it to retrieve a target. As she tells it, “This was a big problem for me, because I didn’t know how to drive. I had never learned how to drive a car. I don’t think anybody trusted me with a car, but I could fly a plane.” Rexroat’s tenure as a WASP pilot would only last 3 months as the program was disbanded in the summer of ’44. Like many of her peers in the program, Rexroat was disheartened, noting, “We were devastated. I think all of us. Because we were enjoying flying. No matter what kind of duty we had, we liked it.” Her short career as a WASP had influenced her greatly and she went on to take a job in the Air Force Reserves, serving on active duty in the midst of the Korean War, and later working as an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Commission. Inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2007, her plaque honors her nearly ten-year career as an Air Force Reserve Captain at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Rexroat would also hold the title of President of the New Mexico chapter of the North American Indian Women’s Association. At 98, the former pilot who currently goes by the nickname “Millie” (a cozy sobriquet in comparison to her youthful nicknames “Rexy” and even “Sexy Rexy”) lives as a retiree at the South Dakota State Veteran’s Home in Hot Springs, the last surviving WASP in her state. Looking back at her time flying for the WASP, Rexroat, now 98, has no regrets. “I’m glad I did it, glad I had the chance to do it. If I had to do it all over again, I’d do the same thing." Recently she was honored by a National Native Women's Group. Traditional Lakota singers and guests gathered to acknowledge her service. Georgia Pedro, President of the North American Indian Women's Association (NAIWA) described Rexroat as a "loving, caring person with a wonderful sense of humor" and that as a member of the WASP, she carried on the Native American tradition of women warriors. "She was just a brave person...not even thinking 'I can't do something because I'm a woman'. "

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WASP Ola “Millie” Rexroat story used with permission of author Logan Walker. Logan Walker is a freelance writer and research/writing assistant with Fly Girls (TV series) who has worked in conjunction with the American Cinematheque, The Antaeus Theatre Company and Theatre West. A graduate of Goddard College with a B.A. in Arts Journalism, she has written and produced several short theatre pieces on the role of women in historical cinema, specifically of the 1920's and 1960's. She has been active in volunteering with charter schools in her native Los Angeles, helping to promote theatre, movement, and communication skills with students, and is currently pursuing a degree in youth education. [email protected] Find more stories of the Women Airforce Service Pilots at:

www.flygirlstheseries.com

www.youtube.com/flygirlsseries

Governor Dennis Daugaard Proclaims May 26, 2017 Millie Rexroat Day

FOR SERVICE WELL DONE

In honor of Millie Rexroat’s service to

this country during WWII as a member of the

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP’s),

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard

issued an Executive Proclamation

designating May 26, 2017 as Millie Rexroat

Day.

A member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe,

Millie was the only Native American to serve

in the WASP’s.

The records of the WASP pilots were

classified and were not officially recognized

until 1977.

These women were the pioneers of their

age and blazed a trail for others to follow.

Millie was also recognized this past

month by the Oglala Sioux Tribal Veterans at

Hot Springs Veterans Home where she

currently resides.

Thank you Millie Rexroat for your service

to our country and sharing your story.

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Honoring Code Talker Garfield T. Brown Sr. Family Donates Code Talker’s Medal & Memorabilia to Crazy Horse Museum

On June 24th, 2017 at 10am dignitaries, family, and friends will gather at Crazy Horse Monument to Honor, Dedicate, and Donate the Code Talker Medal and war memorabilia of WWII Corporal Garfield T. Brown Sr.

While family members knew that Corporal Brown served during

WWII, little did they know he used the Lakota language to thwart the enemy.

His son Richard Brown was researching information about his

father’s service when he found a story in the book “Proud Americans of WWII.” The story was “Native Tongue replaces Black Box” and told of three Native American soldiers who asked if they could use their Sioux language as code and happened to be his father’s unit.

Corporal Brown’s family became concerned with what would

eventually happen to Corporal Brown’s medals and war memorabilia…would it be lost, stolen or eventually sold?

The Brown family decided to donate these items to the Crazy Horse Museum. They felt that his story needs to be told, not just for posterity or history but so the younger generation can learn about these brave warriors and be proud. They also want to encourage other veterans to share their stories. It is important for young people to know that their heroes aren’t solely Lakota leaders from over 100 years ago, but members of their families and communities.

The Garfield T. Brown Sr. family welcomes you to attend the ceremony at 10am

on June 24th at Crazy Horse Monument! Honoring, Dedicating and Donating of Garfield T Brown Sr's CODE TALKER MEDAL AND MEMORABILIA 10:00- Oglala Lakota Veterans Honor Guard Opening Prayer and Smudging - Mr. Chris Brooks Welcome Address- Crazy Horse Staff Master of Ceremony- Mr. Richard Brown Guest Speakers Secretary Steve Emery – SD Department of Tribal Relations Mr. Mario Gonzalez- Tribal Attorney, Nephew of Garfield SSGT. Brandon Brown- Grandson of Garfield Dr. Joseph Dondelinger- ''Professor of Government & International Affairs''. Augustana University, Sioux Falls,SD Mr. Vicent Floreani- Council General of France Closing Remarks Offering of Gifts Smoke pipe- Honoring Song Drum Group TBD

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Your filing and payment due dates could be changing

The filing and payment due dates of state tax returns are changing with the passage of 2017’s Senate Bill 36. The date changes apply to all taxes reported and paid on sales, use, contractor’s excise, and motor fuel tax returns. These changes will apply to all businesses currently filing business tax returns—including those in Special Jurisdictions. The changes made by Senate Bill 36 include:

• Electronically Filed Returns and Payments o The tax return filing due date has moved to the 20th of the month from the 23rd of the month. o The payment due date has moved to the 25th of the month from the second to the last business

day.

• Paper Filed Returns and Payments o Non-monthly filer: The filing due date and payment due date have both moved to the 20th of

the month from the last day of the month. o Monthly paper filer: No change. The date remains the 20th of the month.

These changes will begin with any returns due during the month of July 2017. When a filing or payment due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the filing or payment is due the next business day.

For more information, visit http://dor.sd.gov/SB36.aspx. For additional assistance, please contact the Department Revenue by phone at 1-800-829-9188 or by email at [email protected].

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Tommy the Turtle Shares Emergency

Preparedness Messages

South Dakota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Emergency Management mascot Tommy the Turtle shared the importance of being prepared in an emergency on May 9, 2017 with children at the Enemy Swim Day School, Sisseton Area School, and Tiospa Zina Agency Village School.

The book Tornado Alert Don’t Get Hurt, Be Prepared was read to the children with a discussion following on how to ensure they can be prepared and how they can help their family be prepared for a disaster. The children were given a Tommy the Turtle sticker and a Tommy the Turtle coloring page. Each school was left with a set of books, the tornado book, a flood book Rising Water Beware and Prepare, and a winter storm book Prepare for a Winter Storm in Time and You Will be Fine!

Tommy and a helper from the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management are available to come visit your school to promote disaster preparedness to your children. Please call Cari Leidholt at 605-773-8138 or email [email protected] to arrange a visit.

Tommy the Turtle with students at Enemy Swim Day

School

Tommy the Turtle with students at Tiospa Zina, Agency

Village

Tommy the Turtle with students at Tiospa Zina, Agency

Village

Tommy the Turtle with students at Sisseton Area

School

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Devils Tower National Monument and the Devils Tower Natural History Association present a spectacular family fun summer! The 2017 Summer

Concert Series kicked off Saturday, May 27 in the amphitheater near the Belle Fourche River Campground. All programs will begin at 8:30 p.m.

unless otherwise specified.

June 10: Join Dr. David Ode, author of “Dakota Flora”, botanist and ecologist for the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks as he

blends history, folklore, science, and poetry in exploring the flora of the region.

June 10: Immediately following Dr. Odes’ presentation a ranger will present Half the Park is After Dark. A night skies program will focus on some

of the purest night skies in the world. The full Moon will rise at 10pm, washing out the fainter stars but illuminating Devils Tower for beautiful night

sky photography opportunities. The international space station will make two passes over Devils Tower. Planets, Jupiter and Saturn may also be

visible throughout the night. Telescopes will be available for viewing deep sky objects.

June 16 and 17: Willie LeClair, Eastern Shoshone from Riverton, Wyoming is a traditional dancer continuing the tradition of the warrior, wearing

the eagle feathers of past days.

June 23 and 24: Kevin Loche, Lakota and Anishinaabe is a preeminent player of the Native American flute, a traditional storyteller, cultural

ambassador, recording artist, and educator.

June 24: Immediately following Kevin Loche’s performance an encore presentation of Half the Park is After Dark will offer views of the night sky

making for a perfect night of astrophotography of stars, planets, and the Milky Way. Jupiter may be visible along with Saturn, whose recent

opposition will offer excellent viewing of the ringed planet.

June 25: The Old Settlers Picnic will begin at 12 noon in the picnic area. Pioneer gatherings at the Tower started in the 1890s and became known

as the Old Settlers’ Picnic. There will be free entrance into the Monument.

June 30 and July 1: Meet President Theodore Roosevelt as he describes in detail his life and the conservation and preservation measures taken

to make Devils Tower the first national monument. President Theodore Roosevelt, portrayed by Mr. Gib Young, declared Devils Tower as America’s

First National Monument in 1906.

July 1: Immediately following Mr. Young’s presentation there will be an encore presentation of Half the Park is After Dark will offer

opportunities to view 3 Iridium Flares.

July 7 and 8: Indiana Bones, “Keeper of Legends” (aka Mike McCartney) an Emmy Award winning writer, producer, and performing artist

combining archeology, action, adventure, ancient legends, mythology, and folklore. Indy thrills and educates audiences with his unique storytelling

abilities.

July 14 and 15: Join Buffalo Bill Boycott and Dr. Jo as they present a live musical performance with exciting western songs about Cowboys, The

Oregon Trail, The Transcontinental Railroad, Lewis and Clark, Stories in Traditional Native American Indian Sign Language, Cowboy Poetry, and

World-Class Yodeling.

July 29: Join a ranger for a tour of the night sky during the Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower.

August 11: Join a ranger for a special astronomy presentation during the Persieds Meteor Shower. Telescopes will be provided although you

may bring your own.

August 25 and 26: Robert Dennis presents cowboy poetry and music of the western life from a lifelong love affair with Western South Dakota.

August 20: 11:30 am -12:30. Join a ranger for a prelude presentation about the solar eclipse.

August 21: 11:30 am -12:30. The first total solar eclipse in the continental United States in 38 years. Devils Tower will see 95% of the total solar

eclipse. Join a ranger for a solar eclipse interpretive event!

All programs are free of charge and may be changed due to inclement weather. For more information call the visitor center at 307-467-5283 ex.

635.

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Reforming the Indian Health Service By Rep. Kristi Noem

For years, federal reports have documented shocking cases of mismanagement and poorly delivered care within the Indian Health Service – more often referred to as the IHS. The agency was left to make improvements on its own, but even with consistent funding increases, it produced an unacceptable level of care. Babies have been born on bathroom floors and with no doctor present. Surgical equipment has been washed by hand. Staff have interacted with patients even though their certifications have lapsed. Even now, years after many of these problems were identified, some IHS hospitals in South Dakota continue to run afoul of basic care standards, with one facility facing the loss of critical financial support just over a month ago because of the poor levels of care being delivered. Nowhere in the world is this kind of care acceptable – especially not in our backyards. This May, I introduced the Restoring Accountability in the IHS Act, which fundamentally changes how the IHS operates. At its core, this legislation is about putting patient care first. In many cases, improving care begins with recruiting better medical staff and hospital leadership. Most IHS facilities in South Dakota are located in remote areas and the incentives to move there – let alone relocate one’s family there – haven’t been adequate. My legislation provides stronger incentives for new hires, including relocation reimbursements when employees move to high-need areas and an expanded student loan repayment program. The bill also works to take advantage of volunteer labor, removing some of the barriers that currently inhibit medical professionals from volunteering at an IHS hospital or clinic. And when it comes to firing employees who fail to support the patients they’re there to serve, we give the IHS greater authority to do so. Beyond hiring and firing, the Restoring Accountability in the IHS Act aims to improve patient care through greater oversight. That means new standards for timeliness of care, restrictions on bonuses, and reporting requirements to help identify staffing needs, measure patient care, and detect any misuse of funds. Enough is enough. We need to move swiftly, yet deliberately, with these reforms. I’ve been working very closely with my counterparts in the Senate to advance the Restoring Accountability in the IHS Act through both chambers at the same time. I’m hopeful this will help streamline the process and enable us to get President Trump a bill sooner. Lives have been lost because of what’s happening. Big adjustments need to be made – and they need to be made quickly. I’m committed to this process and to working together to ensure tribal members receive the care their families need.

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USDA Accepting Applications for Distance

Learning and Telemedicine Funding

USDA Rural Development Acting Undersecretary Roger Glendenning has announced that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. The Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) outlines that applications are due July 17, 2017.

DLT grants are designed to provide access to education, training, and health care resources for rural Americans. The DLT Program supports telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and advanced technologies that benefit rural communities.

Applicants are encouraged to review the FY 2017 application guide and sample material that is available online at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants. More information on how to apply for this funding is available on pages 22477-22482 of the May 16, 2017 Federal Register.

A minimum grant amount of $50,000 and a maximum grant amount of $500,000 will be awarded through a competitive process for FY 2017, based on requirements that can be found at 7 CFR part 1703. Of the funds made available this year, $1.6 million will be prioritized to provide for communication upgrades between ambulances, emergency transportation vehicles and medical facilities.

A couple of the prior South Dakota recipients include:

• Avera Health of Sioux Falls received a $494,518 grant to integrate 18 rural, under-staffed hospitals with Avera’s ePharmacy network. A live pharmacist will provide prescription review & pharmacy support 24 hours a day. An automated dispensing machine will be deployed at each hospital to reduce medication errors & to improve patient safety.

• Mount Marty College, Inc. in Yankton received a grant of $116,445 to purchase video conferencing equipment to provide Master in Education curriculum to tribal colleges. This project will help train current and future teachers as well as provide professional development through distance learning instruction and assistance. The need for this project is underscored by the geographic location of the tribal schools as well as the need for qualified teachers in the region and the state. Furthermore, these areas lack adequate resources to train future teachers or to provide professional development and training to current teachers. The end-user sites are at tribal colleges located on three different reservations in South Dakota.

For more information in South Dakota contact General Field Representative Pat Hemen at (605) 968-1582.

Welcome Department of Tribal Relations

Policy Analyst Hannah Kagey

Hannah grew upon Whidbey Island in

Washington State until she moved to Sioux

Falls in high school. She graduated from

Sioux Falls Christian High School and went to

college at Augustana University. At

Augustana she participated in rugby and was

an active member of the Honor Board. She

received her degree in Government and

International Affairs in May 2017. She has

previously interned with several state officials

offices and was welcomed as Policy Analyst

with the SD Department of Tribal Relations on

May 9, 2017.

Share your news!

Contact: SD Department of Tribal Relations

605-773-3415

Or Email:

[email protected]

17


Memorandum of Agreement Signing Ceremony Held During Great Plains Tribal Summit Between Oglala Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing,

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and Louis Berger

The Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST); Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing (OSLH), a tribally designated housing entity; South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SD Mines), a science and engineering university; and Louis Berger (LB), a private professional services corporation, today signed a memorandum of agreement on a newly formed public/private partnership. This partnership was facilitated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Bruce Jones, Acting South Dakota State Director, was on hand to support this groundbreaking occasion.

The entities today signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to cement their commitment to support integrated

infrastructure planning and systems analysis, which can be supported as student community engagement projects under course assignments, the Honors and EPICS programs, offered through SD Mines with mentoring from LB. OST, OSLH, SD Mines, and LB will coordinate opportunities for student engagement to support locally identified projects for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the Great Plains Tribal Summit being held in Rapid City, May 9 – 10, 2017 at the Best Western Ramkota.

“USDA has played, and will continue to play, an instrumental role in facilitating conversation and collaboration on this

effort,” said Jones. “The MOA will engage students in the development of community projects for the Pine Ridge Reservation. OST and OSLH will be active participants in developing the scope, schedule, fees, and expenses, as applicable, for identified projects to ensure consistency with local needs and priorities.”

All parties will be involved in organized regular scheduled meetings to provide updates, identify needs, and promote

general ongoing collaboration. The OST and OSLH will file any reports or forms required of the OST or any of its programs related to funding associated with project development.

“We are privileged to partner with the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology to provide an opportunity for our

tribal youth to explore and generate an interest into this field of study through the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Program,” said President Scott Weston, Oglala Sioux Tribe. “These opportunities to strengthen collaborative partnerships with Louis Berger and USDA are key to fulfilling our vision for community engagement.”

“These kinds of unique partnerships enable important planning work to be done and engage engineering students in meaningful projects in the community in which we live,” said President Heather Wilson, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. “We are happy to be a part of this unique effort.”

“We are honored to be a part of this collaboration between the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing, the

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and Louis Berger. We will do everything on our part to ensure the success of this agreement with the hopes of these students becoming future tribal engineers,” shared in a joint statement made by Assistant CEO and Contracts Officer Doyle Pipe on Head and Chief Operations Officer Vince Martin, Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing.

“Louis Berger has been dedicated to higher education through the creation of programs, fellowships, and merit awards in

the US and abroad,” said Dana Otto, Louis Berger senior vice president. “We look forward to collaborating with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing, and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology to learn from each and their experiences and working together, to promote the same passion and excitement with the students of the region that we feel every day for our projects.”

Pictured left to right: Senior Vice President Dana Otto, Louis

Berger, President Heather Wilson, South Dakota School of Mines &

Technology, President Scott Weston, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux

Lakota Housing Chief Operations Officer Vince Martin, and Oglala

Sioux Lakota Housing Assistant CEO and Contracts Officer Doyle Pipe

on Head.

18


2017 Interim State Tribal Relations Legislative Committee

Committee Chairman Senator Troy Heinert Democrat District 26 Counties: Brule, Buffalo, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, & Todd

Committee Vice-Chair Rep. Elizabeth May Republican District 27 Counties: Bennett, Haakon, Jackson, Pennington, & Oglala Lakota

Committee Member Rep. Shawn Bordeaux Democrat District 26A Counties: Mellette & Todd

Committee Member Rep. Don Haggar Republican District 10 Counties: Minnehaha

Committee Member Senator Phil Jensen Republican District 33 Counties: Meade, Pennington

Committee Member Senator Kevin Killer Democrat District 27 Counties: Bennett, Haakon, Jackson, Pennington, & Oglala Lakota

Committee Member Rep. Oren Lesmeister Democrat District 28A Counties: Corson, Dewey, Ziebach

Committee Member Senator Stace Nelson Republican District 19 Counties: Bon Homme, Douglas, Hanson, Hutchinson, McCook

Committee Member Senator Lance Russell Republican District 30 Counties: Custer, Fall River, Pennington

Committee Member Rep. Craig Tieszen Republican District 34 Counties: Pennington

The 2017 State Tribal Relations Committee held their first meeting on May 31, 2017. The meeting covered updates from the SD Department of Tribal Relations, the SD Office of Indian Education, an overview of methamphetamine on the reservations, update from the SD Department of Social Services on substance abuse programs, and testimony from tribal law enforcement. For more information follow the link below:

http://www.sdlegislature.gov/interim/Interim.aspx?Session=Ninety-Second

19


Voluntary Climbing Closure

at Devils Tower

A voluntary closure for climbing at Devils Tower will be in effect through the month of June. Climbers are strongly encouraged to refrain from climbing on the Tower June 1 -30 out of respect for the spiritual and cultural significance of the Tower to American Indian tribes. This voluntary closure was an agreement reached during the development of the monument’s Climbing Management Plan by a work group that included representatives from American Indian tribes and climbing organizations.

Over twenty American Indian Tribes consider Devils Tower a sacred place in the Black Hills. Activities and ceremonies occur in the Monument throughout the year; however, the month of June is an especially significant time for traditional tribal ceremonial expression. Climbers are asked to consider tribal perspectives and asked to climb during June at other climbing sites in the area such as the Mt. Rushmore Needles, Custer State Park Needles and Spearfish Canyon in South Dakota, and Tensleep Canyon and Tongue River Canyon in Wyoming.

The final 1995 Climbing Management Plan for the Monument established this annual voluntary closure for all climbing routes as a way to balance the cultural and spiritual importance of the feature to American Indian tribes with its history as a unique and world class rock climbing destination. The Access Fund, a nonprofit organization working to maintain access to climbing areas and protect the climbing environment, fully supports the voluntary climbing closure as a way to balance these interests and maintain. Most climbers choose not to climb the Tower during June.

To learn more about Devils Tower National Monument visit www.nps.gov/deto or www.facebook.com/Devils-Tower-National-Monument-Official-NPS-Site or twitter.com@DevilsTowerNM or Instagram at #devilstowernps.

National Guard to host 33rd annual Golden Coyote exercise

The South Dakota National Guard will host its 33rd annual Golden Coyote training exercise in the Black Hills June 10–24 to provide military units with relevant training opportunities in support of overseas contingency operations and homeland defense.

Created in 1984 with the cooperation of the National Forest Service and Custer State Park, this year’s exercise will allow about 2,400 service members to conduct combat-support and service-support missions in a realistic training environment and provide valuable services to the public.

There will be about 30 military units from 14 states and two foreign nations participating in the exercise from multiple branches of military service – Army, Navy and Air Force – working together to create an invaluable training experience. Participating units conduct military operations, train on their equipment, and employ tactics, and complete various humanitarian missions and engineer projects that help improve the forest and infrastructure of many communities.

Local residents receive numerous benefits from the many engineer projects conducted during the exercise. Units transport timber to Native American communities that use it as firewood, conduct building construction, repair and upgrades, identify hazardous wilderness areas and make them safe for public use, and resurface local roadways that have fallen into disrepair.

Units participate in many training tasks and battle drills such as combat patrols, urban combat operations, land navigation, first aid, casualty evacuation and convoy operations. This provides a valuable opportunity for units to train on skills needed for any future overseas deployment.

Residents should be aware of an increase in military traffic throughout the region and in the communities of Rapid City, Hill City and Custer and can expect an increase in noise levels due to military training. Aircraft will be operating throughout the area and will respond to real-world emergencies during the exercise and remain in an all-hours-ready status. The public is asked to remain at a safe distance from all moving military vehicles and aircraft to prevent injury to personnel or damage to property.

june newsletter...june newsletter south dakota department of tribal relations from the secretary...

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