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To All Our Supporters,
Thank you so much for all the work you have done
and the prayers you have sent our way. According to our attorney, it is primarily because of the high level of
public outrage that we have gotten to where we are today.
The remains
and artifacts have all been collected and are awaiting reburial, anticipated for mid-February. NAGPRA restrictions
prohibit burial before that time. So for now, our encampment continues, (we're up to four tipis now), in order
to safeguard the remains. Ceremonies have been completed, but there will be a more public burial ceremony.
One issue
for which we still need support is the return of land to the Tribe on which to rebury our relatives. The Tribe
is requesting 640 acres adjacent to the burial site. The situation is complicated because the Corps of Engineers
owns the land now, but the Mitigation Act will turn it over to the State of South Dakota in about two years. We
need your continued support to see that this land is transferred to the Tribe.
We will also
be going to Congress and asking about the transfer of all the Corps land in our area to the Tribe. As we understand
it, under the original terms of agreement, the excess land was to have been returned to the Tribe, but then a rider
was attached to a bill which gave it to the State.
We appreciate
your concern and your support more than you will ever know. We pray for all of you, too.
Blessings.
Pidamayedo. (Thank you.)
Tessa Lehto
Yankton Sioux Tribe
P.S. A special issue of the YST monthly newspaper, the Sioux Messenger will be published this week. The sole topic
will be the White Swan burial site. The Messenger is not yet available on-line, but you can send a check or money
order for $3 (for postage) and we will send one to you. It takes about 1-2 weeks for delivery. Yankton Sioux Tribe,
Sioux Messenger, PO Box 248, Marty, SD 57361. Subscriptions are also available.
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