Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Image: A Facebook post and email from the owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel calls for a ban on “Native American” guests. (Josh Haiar / SDPB)

Retsel Corporation, the parent company of the Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City, S.D., has filed for bankruptcy protection.

This comes amid a lawsuit from a Native advocacy network accusing the hotel of restricting the access of Indigenous peoples to the property.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s C.J. Keene reports.

In 2022 Connie Uhre, the owner of the Rapid City hotel, posted on one of her social media accounts that “we (are) no long(er) allow any Native American on property”, following an act of violence.

That sparked deep controversy, a social media firestorm, and multiple lawsuits leveled at the hotel, both federal and civil.

The civil suit, filed by Rapid City-based Indigenous advocacy network NDN Collective, was due to begin Monday, September 9.

However, the announcement of bankruptcy protection has effectively halted the proceedings.

Nick Tilsen is CEO of the group. He describes mixed feelings as the announcement delays what he sees as a strong case against Retsel.

“The Retsel Corporation basically had no out at this point. There’s a cost to racism. When you become morally bankrupt as a result of racism it could lead to you becoming financially bankrupt. It’s no small thing to go through bankruptcy. It does absolutely feel like justice is delayed at the moment, and it doesn’t feel good. It doesn’t feel good because we wanted to see racism on trial.”

Sunny Red Bear is associate director of organizing with the group.

She says the situation and legal battle represents a culture of institutionalized discrimination in the Rapid City area.

“We’re seeing this in our community, and they need to face their roles in maintaining that inequality. The fight for justice in Rapid City won’t stop until every business is held accountable for the harm it has caused Native people. So, we’re challenging Rapid City to a choice – continue allowing racism to fester, or stand up and reject it once and for all.”

The trial is now on hold until bankruptcy proceedings are completed.

A bill adding more Indigenous languages to Alaska’s official list recently became law without the governor’s signature.

Its passage means Alaska now officially recognizes 23 Alaska Native languages.

KTOO’s Clarise Larson reports.

The new additions to the list are Cup’ig, Middle Tanana, Lower Tanana, and Wetał. Middle and Lower Tanana were previously classified as just one language.

Juneau State Rep. Andi Story (D-AK) sponsored the bill. She is running uncontested for reelection this year.

She says it’s a significant win for all residents in the state.

“I just think it enriches all of us, Native and non-native, to know about our language and culture and embrace it.”

The law expands and renames a council that advocates for the survival and revitalization of Indigenous languages in the state.

Previously called the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council, it’s now called the Council for Alaska Native Language.

The majority of the state’s Indigenous languages are critically endangered. And, in a report released this spring, the council stated that Alaska Native languages are at a “crucial juncture”.

The chairman of the council, X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell, strongly advocated in favor of the bill in testimony earlier this year.

Chair Twitchell teaches Alaska Native languages at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau.

“Every single Alaska Native language is sacred and irreplaceable. It contains concepts that cannot be translated, it contains things that cannot be replaced, and that give a sense of fulfillment and wholeness and health to Alaska Natives and to non-natives in Alaska.”

Two seats will be added to the council and it will be moved from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Education and Early Development to better reflect the council’s focus on education.