Beer Blockade Seeks to End Tribal Drinking

[existentialist]

http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8IGOMS00.html

Beer Blockade Seeks to End Tribal Drinking
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By CARSON WALKER Associated Press Writer

June 27,2006 | SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- In a desperate effort to fight the ravages of alcoholism on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, leaders of the Oglala Sioux tribe are threatening to set up roadblocks Wednesday and stop members from bringing in beer bought at four outlying stores.

Alcohol has long been banned on the 16,500-member reservation, where drinking has been a scourge for generations. But four stores in Whiteclay, Neb., a dusty village a few hundred feet outside the reservation, sell an estimated 4 million of cans of beer every year, mostly to Indians.

Tribal members said that from now on, they will confiscate beer bought in Whiteclay.

"We are the last line of defense when it comes to protecting our people," said Duane Martin of the reservation's Strong Heart Civil Rights Movement.
Alcoholism is frighteningly high on the reservation, though how high is unclear. The effects can be seen in nearly every family, in accidents, violence, sexual abuse and suicide, said Terryl Blue-White Eyes, director of the alcohol and drug program for the reservation.


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[Broken_Hero]

1. End tribal drinking?

Damn...what a joke, that is. The idea, probably looks great on paper, with all its shiny pie charts, and graphs, but in reality, well...remember the prohibition era?....

[existentialist]

2. Reply

Yes, well, among others supporting it are Russell Means, and Republican Congressional Candidate Bruce Whalen. Both are Oglala Lakota. I also remember the comments of some other Oglalas about the effort, "I'm sure they mean well."

It will probably hurt White Clay, Nebraska, and encourage bootlegging from other sources, and I haven't seen any followup on how its been going.