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Officials and residents in Rapid City, South Dakota are having a strong reaction after a hotel owner called for a ban on Native American guests. Connie Uhre made the statements in a Facebook post and email following a weekend shooting at the Grand Gateway Hotel. Nick Uhre is Connie’s son and the hotel manager. He declined to do a recorded interview with South Dakota Public Broadcasting, but sent an emailed statement. Nick says he’s against Connie’s statements and the hotel will continue to accept Native American guests. He also says he’s receiving threats. The community is still outraged. Red Elk Zephier is searching for a new job after quitting his bartending gig at the hotel lounge. He says bar staff and some hotel workers have quit.
“So, I just don’t want to be associated with that. I didn’t even think about the money, or anything involved, I just, I can’t have that in my life.”
Workers are not the only ones speaking out. Tribes, the Rapid City government, law enforcement and business organizations have asked the hotel owners to publicly apologize and make amends. The Native organization, NDN Collective, announced Tuesday, it will file a federal civil rights class action lawsuit against the Grand Gateway Hotel for what it calls “its racist and discriminatory treatment of Native people.” In a statement, NDN Collective President and CEO Nick Tilsen said “Mniluzahan (Rapid City) is our home, our land, and our community. We will not tolerate racist policies and practices like those demonstrated by the Grand Gateway Hotel.” NDN Collective and two other Native groups are planning to march and rally to the federal court Wednesday afternoon.
Photo: Bluesnote
A federal appeals court has revived part of a lawsuit claiming the federal government has not provided basic education for the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona. As Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports, parents accuse the Bureau of Indian Education of providing substandard services for the tribe’s children.
The lawsuit against the BIE was filed in 2017 by parents of children attending Havasupai Elementary. Most of the claims have since been resolved. But following last week’s ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one claim focused on basic education like science and physical education will now go back to U.S. District Court. The lawsuit accuses the BIE of failing to ensure the school has staff to teach many basic subjects and that students aren’t given adequate instruction time or materials to meet the standards of their grade. Attorneys also say the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problems with little in-person instruction and many students lacking access to online learning. The 9th Circuit Court last week, also ruled that two plaintiffs who’d been dismissed from the lawsuit can seek compensatory education from the BIE for services that should have been provided. The Havasupai Tribe lives deep in the Grand Canyon and its reservation can only be accessed by helicopter or an eight-mile hike. The school is the tribe’s only option for elementary-age children to receive an education.
The National Congress of American Indians is developing a Sovereignty Institute to enhance and support tribal governance. It will include NCAI’s policy research center and a new initiative on leadership development. The institute will also work on civic engagement, which includes focus on voting, census and retiring mascots. The executive committee announced plans for the institute Tuesday after a recent retreat in Arizona.
The U.S. Senate passed a resolution Tuesday honoring the achievements and contributions of Native women. It recognizes the heritage and culture of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women in the United States. It praises Native women military service members, veterans, business owners, those in medicine, artists and a long list of other professions. The resolution is in celebration of National Women’s History Month. It was led by leaders of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
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