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A legislative push to place the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings (OSEUs) in every South Dakota school has died on the Senate floor.
Lawmakers say now is time to change course.
SDPB’s C.J. Keene has more.
In what represented a relatively strong push to mandate the program in the state, the proposal was ultimately trounced on the Senate floor on a vote of 7-28.
Many of the no were from lawmakers concerned with potential changes to education and the qualification of educators to teach these lessons.
State Sen. Tamara Grove (R-SD) from Lower Brule said it was a challenge to sit through that vote.
“Just being really vulnerable, it was really personal. You’re not supposed to get attached to your bills like that, but I did, so it was a hard loss, but I’m okay. That compels you forward, and that is why I’m not quitting.”
Sen. Grove says she believes in the OSEUs and their power to improve state-tribal relations.
“My mind was on the exchange students kind of theory of if you know people from across the waters, you’re less likely to go to war with them. A big part of the divide in the state of South Dakota is because we don’t understand each other. We don’t know each other.”
That sentiment was echoed by State Sen. Red Dawn Foster (Oglala Lakota/D-SD).
“If you talk to college students to this day, they’ll say they weren’t aware there were nine tribes in the state of South Dakota, and how the state boundaries became a fact, and the fact reservations and tribal nations supersede the state and federal government. How can you know your neighbors if you don’t know the history?”
Sen. Grove says she is now working on a non-legislative push via the Department of Education to further incorporate the OSEUs into schooling.
(Photo: Brian Bull)
Native Americans needing help with addiction and substance abuse have an option opening this month in the town of Sheridan, Oreg.
KLCC’s Brian Bull reports on the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde’s new residential treatment facility.
“It really turned out amazing, we did a blessing ceremony on Friday.”
With dark wood decor and soothing tones of gray and green, the Main Street Recovery facility is spacious and calming.
Operations director Jennifer Worth shows where clients will sleep, meet, do chores, and get “wraparound” services.
“Having full access to counseling, group, case management, any other hands-on services that a tribal member may need.”
Worth says any Native American 18 or older can be helped here, if they are medically stable and beds are available.
“Other things we’re working on is hopefully adding a sweat lodge in the back.”
Kelly Rowe is the executive director of tribal health services for the Grand Ronde.
She says like their opioid recovery clinics in Salem and Portland, the Sheridan facility integrates Western medicine with Native practices.
“Culture is medicine for us. Making sure that we don’t lose sight of who we are as a people, and how we want our tribal members – as well as other Natives – to feel that they’re part of something bigger and that we’re here for them.”
The recovery center will be taking a few clients next week.
Up to 18 beds are on-site, in an area adjacent to the Grand Ronde reservation.
Part of a major $6 billion opioid settlement helped fund the Main Street Recovery facility.
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