Meet Rosalie Little Thunder - a Lakota woman doing great things.

[shance]

Rosalie Little Thunder: Activism for the New Year




Rosalie Little Thunder is a long-time Native community and environmental activist. Of the Sicangu band of the Lakota Nation in South Dakota, Rosalie has been on the frontlines to save the wild herd of bison that roams Yellowstone National Park.

"I would say natural leadership is very reluctant leadership. It’s usually some kind of injustice that has been there for a while and sometimes it will peak and come to a head. And when everybody steps back, you find yourself out front because you didn’t step back. Not always, but that’s been my experience."

"As a Native American most challenges are about everyday things like your rights. One issue that is emerging and has been emerging over a number of years is the prison population. We are about 6 to 7 percent of the general population and our prison population is about 70 percent. That is huge. I personally, being Native American and being in a Native community, can’t buy the stereotype that most folks have that we are flawed. I’m not buying that."

Sometimes the prison populations are complicated by the poverty that Native people live in.

Local leadership, whether it be state legislatures or city councils or local school boards, whatever, have this attitude that poverty is a choice. People treat it like a choice. “Well, those people. Those people.”

Poverty to me is very deliberate. It’s imposed. It’s by design. Our reservations are the poorest counties in the nation. And right across the border in Nebraska is the wealthiest county in the nation. Something is very deliberate about that."

"the bottom line for me is that the public lands around Yellowstone have very cheap grazing allotments.....for cattle grazing. But if the buffalo cross the border between national public land and national public forest, they get shot. I was there when they were doing that.

"They are a sacred species. Scientists will agree with that because they’re keystone species. They’re very key to the ecosystems in which they live. Most sacred species of the indigenous people are keystone species: the buffalo, the bear, the salmon. Different kinds of plant species, like the cedar or redwood trees.

"I think all human beings have sacred species but some cultures are more removed from that, more industrialized. We live in houses now and we’re oblivious to where the moon rises or the behavior of the birds. Humanity is becoming more oblivious. We’re trying to say pay attention to the sacred species because those will tell you what’s going on with the planet."


http://feministing.com/archives/006306.html#more

[Jcrowley]

1. Thanks shance

the real deal

K&R

[shance]

4. More than welcome JC** Thanks for all your wonderful posts as well.

n/t

[Reterr]

20. K&R and you can say that again

People like you and JCrowley are the reason this site is worth visiting. A toast to you kids :toast:.

[Triana]

2. Beautiful!!

What an amazing woman. Thanks, shance.

"Humanity is becoming more oblivious. We’re trying to say pay attention to the sacred species because those will tell you what’s going on with the planet."

"But our legends say Mother Earth heals herself. She has that capability of healing herself but she will also cleanse herself."

Humanity has detached its consciousness from the planet it lives on. This is NOT a good thing. She has a very valid point there.

[shance]

7. Hi Triana and Happy New Year.

Thanks for the post.

Absolutely. Another wonderful woman taking such needed action for a species greatly needing more protection.

Its amazing how many wonderful individuals are taking such positive action here in our country and never a word about them from the "mainstream media" and/or they are often, like Cindy Sheehan attacked for the terrific, courageous things she is doing.

I was inspired to find Rosalie. Another great thing about the internet.

Take care.

[pinto]

3. Thanks for the post. It's a great, interesting interview.

[shance]

8. You're so welcome Pinto.

It is a great interview. I learned a lot.

Thanks for posting.

[me b zola]

5. ((((((((( Rosalie Little Thunder )))))))))))

We were discussing grazing rights the other night. I believe that ranchers should pay a tax or buy a permit for their cattle to graze on public land, Mr. Z disagrees with me. I see it much like the oil companies taking our natural resources--they should have to pay for it.

I am always saddened to hear of ranchers killing wildlife that roams off of our national parks. Much love to the beautiful Ms Little Thunder--may she make big thunder!

[shance]

10. How cool to read that you and others were discussing grazing rights.

If more of us actually talked about substantive things, we would be in such a different, better place, don't you think?

[me b zola]

17. Yes, I believe that talking about issues is the only way that a democracy can survive

I am actually an example of that. I had always stayed in touch with what was going on and discussed political/social issues with those in my life--until the mid '90's when I moved to Oregon. I found myself working so much that I didn't even realize that I wasn't watching the news or had no idea of what really was going on. This continued until the '04 elections.

I was so out of touch that when I came to DU when someone mentioned faith based initiatives I thought that they were joking. Really. I thank my lucky stars for my life to change where I now have the time/opportunity to seek out information. I am extremely grateful for DU for a forum that gathers information from far & wide, not to mention the great minds of those who post here.

Here's to information and robust debate! :toast:

[Jcrowley]

6. It's all connected

Industrialism moved people away from the farm, suburbia moved people away from the city. Soon people would be moved away from everything. We are the away people. We try to get away, we like to throw away. We have moved away from history and away from meaning. We move farther and farther away from nature. Away from culture, away from tradition, away from art, and away from intellectualism. Away from caring about anything, feeling anything, and risking anything.

We say that the reason that we don't get too worked about things - that we don't care - is because caring wouldn't do any good because you can't change human nature. Really, though, we are making up silly fairy tales about human nature so we can indulge our self-centered and petty desires without remorse or guilt and because we are afraid to care, or to connect in any meaningful or risky ways with those around us.

It starts with being willing to say you care - to break the omnipresent and stifling code of silence, to take off the mask, to open your heart.

Only After The Last Tree Has Been Cut Down,
Only after The Last River Has Been Poisoned,
Only after The Last Fish Has Been Caught,
Only Then Will You Find That Money Cannot Be Eaten.

- Cree Prophecy

[shance]

9. As always JC, how right you are!

Your insight is always such a pleasure to read.

[unkachuck]

11. we need a country....

....full of Rosalie Little Thunders and life on this planet would improve dramatically....being a slob, I have tremendous respect for people who are out front trying to bring sense to our actions....

....and I totally agree, proverty IS deliberate and it is designed into this Rube Goldberg pyramid economic system we have....

....my hat is off to you, Rosalie....

[shance]

14. Yep, Unka Chuck I agree wicha,

except I would wager you are not a slob at all.

You're doing the best you can as we all are.

Cheers!

:toast:

[northofdenali]

12. What a beautiful woman she is.

"Humanity is becoming more oblivious." How very true. Our Alaska Native elders repeat this constantly, trying to get us to become more in touch with the wilderness around us and it's bounties. We recently lost one of the most inspirational people I've ever met, Shirley Demientieff:

FAIRBANKS -- A prominent Athabascan activist has died in Fairbanks.

Shirley Demientieff, 56, died at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital early Wednesday of complications of lung cancer.

Former state Sen. Georgiana Lincoln, chairwoman of Doyon Ltd., said Demientieff was a fierce protector of children, Alaska Native land and elders.

"She was recognized for her tremendous contributions to the Fairbanks and Interior communities," she said. "Without question, Shirley will be missed forever throughout the state."

She and Ms. Little Thunder could have been (and probably are spiritually) sisters.

K&R

[shance]

15. When I lived in Dallas, where I grew up, all I began to see was cement.

So much development growing outward from almost every direction, taking over all the pastures and native habitats.

Sad when I think of it.

It worries me as more cement poors, more shopping centers, complexes are built, our connection to what brings us sanity, connection, clarity, is being removed.

It is now being taken from us like it was from the original Native Americans minus the more blatant inhumane attacks and battles that took place, and now we are beginning to get a glimpse (just a minute glimpse) of what they have endured for over two centuries, and yet so many still don't even see it.

All seemingly in the name of profit, greed and an illusion of power.

Is it worth it? Even for those who stand to profit so monumentally?

As my friend says, what are they going to do, line their coffins with the green stuff?

[The Straight Story]

13. Kick! (nt)

[Jcrowley]

16. kick

[EFerrari]

18. K&R

[nam78_two]

19. K&R-Thanks for the post

People like this are so inspiring! :applause: :applause: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: