Hatred Rears Its UGLY Head in Black Hills: Car Vandalized with Sprayed Paint with “Go Back to Rez” on It
Way behond Sports Event: The photo captures the pure hatred by non-Natives against Native Americans in South Dakota. Photo from Facebook.
Published October 12, 2017
UPDATE:
Upon further review of potential behavior, the Meade School District Superintendent Donald Kirkegaard called Native News Online and shared he is canceling the homecoming parade and changing the start time of the homecoming football game to 4:00 PM. The change of the start time gives students little opportunity to prepare for any activities that may not be school sanctioned.
STURGIS, SOUTH DAKOTA – This morning was abuzz in Lakota Country where several pictures made their appearances on social media defacing, disrespecting and perpetuating violence against a vehicle that had the words go back to the rez spray painted on its side. More appalling, the picture was associated with the words, “f**kpineridge” hash-tagged via Snapchat (spelled out with real word on post; edited by Native News Online). The location of the pictures occurred in Sturgis, South Dakota, the location of one of the most sacred places among the Lakota—Bear Butte.
This week is homecoming week of the Meade School District, where Sturgis Brown High School hosts Pine Ridge High School from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakota. Members of its student body took to the actions of celebrating violence against a vehicle with various slurs, statements, and comments intended to disrespect and degrade an entire ethnic group.
“I found the pictures and actions taken by members of the Sturgis community extremely offensive and disrespectful,” said Rapid City Community Leader Whitney Rencountre II. “This is why so many of our people have been advocating for mandatory education of Native American people in the classrooms, especially in South Dakota, but there are so many people who simply don’t know the truths of our history.”
“If you make your way to Germany, they teach about the holocaust to every student,” elaborated Rencountre. “The Holocaust is something everyone in their country knows about so that it never happens again, but that isn’t something every discussed here in this country. These actions are a demonstration of why we need education of the holocaust that happened here.”
Obscenity that was ciculated on social media was edited out by Native News Online. Photo from Facebook
Early comments from the Meade School District were initially that the homecoming activities and events are not school-sanctioned events, but were waiting to make an official statement after they received a phone call from the Pine Ridge School District, where they were meeting with the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council.
Also, Superintendent Donald Kirkegaard expressed via phone that all among its staff are embarrassed and only are hoping the consequences of those participating and perpetuating violence will be appropriate and dealt with accordingly.
“On behalf of the Meade School District, we apologize for the actions taken by a group of students and their actions disrespecting the people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are unacceptable,” said Meade County School District Superintendent Donald Kirkegaard. “These actions do not represent us a community and we are deeply embarrassed”
“We are working with the Pine Ridge School District and the Native American population in this very crucial time and identifying appropriate actions to deal with this immediately so that this never happens again,” continued Kirkegaard.
Some immediate actions voiced were that the Superintendent is willing to forfeit the game on behalf of Sturgis High School, but doesn’t want to harm the football program of Pine Ridge. So, until further information is released from Pine Ridge on whether not the game will continue, the school is considering other options such as a conversation with the United States District Attorney of allocating resources and directions to go to ensure activities and actions like the one in question never happen again.
“We invited the community to sing the Lakota Flag Song in accordance with the National Anthem during the festivities,” said Kirkegaard. “We’re doing everything we can in good faith and we need help from the community to ensure this never happens again. We are more than open for suggestions of what is appropriate for our students and community.”
This is a developing story.
Such REPULSIVE BEHAVIOR.
I noticed they stated they are open to suggestions on how to fix this traumatic situation. Ok.
Then now is the time to bring in some speakers who will plainly yet EFFECTIVELY explain what the Native culture is like TODAY.
Someone needs to step-up and SPEAK OUT in a clear manner and Effectively relay the facts to this school. So that they UNDERSTAND how their actions have affected others.
Do NOT delay in responding to this.
The door is OPEN now to discuss this in a CALM and EFFECTIVE MANNER.
Again, the tribal leaders must respond without delay.
Let the youth know you stand with them and to those reading this. You are LOVED. You are PRAYED FOR.
YOU MATTER!
If I could, I would come to that meeting and speak out.
There HAS TO BE a willingness to move forward and get others to UNDERSTAND a culture NOT BELITTLE IT.
THE TIME IS NOW .
This is why our youth are sacred because not much has changed out there and the fire of hatred seems to be fueled by white supremacy and ignorant whites.
Some people will never be anything but sociopaths who hate without reason, and commit violent acts simply because they can get away with it, without regard to human suffering or consequences. It does seem, unfortunately, to be a predominate trait in the Caucasian community, and i’m speaking from a position of intimately observing them for my entire 68 years. It is sad and disgusting.
White people deny white privilege. But Native youth have the highest rates of suicide out of any group in the colonial US. White people want to ease into the comfort that kills which ignorance current injustices and genocide that never ended.
What is wrong with the colonial “Dakota” states? White people are filled with venomous hatred there towards Native people.
White people have a serious mental illness called racism. They must work to end it and the burden shouldn’t be on the shoulders of Native people.
This is a horrible offence and those responsible should be revealed and required to attend a supervised meeting with the people they have targeted and they should be encouraged to have open ears and hearts so they might learn something.
Exactly correct Patrick Longworth, the guilty students should be charged with VANDALISM!
Then AT SENTENCING in a court of law, be sentenced to COMMUNITY SERVICE at the local reservations. One student from the school per reservation. Depending on the number of students whom committed these offenses.
Afterwards or during that time, they should be made to attend a meeting with the tribal council and if they are willing to attend the meeting have the parents and students whose vehicles were destroyed.
There should be a mediator and the judge who made the sentences present.
These types of incidents need to stop.
THIS WAS A CRIME.
THIS IS VANDALISM.
THE STUDENTS NEED TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.
HATE CRIME
Sturgis Brown high School this is the time, be the first to include in your curriculum the Lakota studies and language. The first to stand up and set precedent that it will be a requirement in studies to receive your high school diploma. From 9-12. Then other schools will follow. The state of South Dakota, Indigenous homelands for the Lakota, Dakota and nakota before boundaries were set 1851 ft. Laramie treaty.
I’ve been doing genealogy research on my family for about a year now. I found out that my ancestors are not just white. My great grandmothers family (who all passed away before I was born) was a members of the Eastern Band Cherokee. Nobody in my family ever told me of our heritage. I feel cheated to not have been more educated and to not be able to experience more of our ancestors cultures. When I found out I could not be anymore proud of my heritage. I was heartbroken reading some of their stories and experiences on the trail of tears . I can’t understand why people have such hate for Native Americans. Since I was little (before ever even knowing about my roots) I was always fascinated with Native Americans. The music, their love of nature, their kindness. I think Native Americans are beautiful people.
I’m so sorry for the shameful and evil actions of these kids. It’s totally unacceptable. It’s nothing but ignorant behavior.
Not all “white” people feel this way. I unfortunately took more after my white scotts-irish ancestors on looks then my Cherokee ancestors, and I have nothing but pure love and respect for all Native Americans. I always have and I always will. ❤
I find that some of you who have posted responses that are negative. You are name calling and saying nasty things. Where the does it stop. First them, then you. If you want the children to go up respectful and true then you have to take the initiative to end it. Stop the mouthing and say something positive. Otherwise, it is your fault too and you have nothing to say if your children are hateful.
Trump voters. This is who you really are!!!!!!!!!~!
This is malicious destruction of property and a hate crime, in the ugliest form. It looks like in the photos there were many onlookers, and several boys and girls directly involved in the crime. I agree with others that the students should be easy to identify and be held responsible for restitution. I agree that Sturgis High School should require mandatory education on the Natve American culture. Those involved should also be required to do community service on the reservation.
community servi
ce on the reZ, maybe?
I remember when I was a member of the Mormon church and several times I encountered several white boys in my ward telling me to :go back to the rez.
This is an example of White Extremists behavior is. The behavorieo of White extremist is to let out racists words and messages to let the people of color (in this Lakota people who live in the state of South Dakota) know there racists intentions are. This includes open displays of flags (neo-Nazi and Confederate flags) and images. I think its great that these racists teenage wannabe SS officers expose themselves and their actions towards the Lakota people. That way we as Native people can expose and identify these sub-humans.