Reenactment Journals Up the Missouri - May to November 2004 WEEK 18
Entries for this week prior to September 17 have not yet been submitted by Scott from the trail.
17 September, 2002 (Friday)
Wake early, shower, dress in Summer small clothes and light accoutrement. Move to Lower Brule with Lynn “Smokey” Hart (York) to attend a symposium and speak with the tribal leadership about planned activities on their reservations during upcoming weeks. Chuck Haga, from the Minnesota Star-Republic, is here. He interviews me, along with several other people, including Tribal Chairman Harold Frasier of the Cheyenne River Reservation. Chairman Frasier, like many others, speaks to the good that is coming from the work we are doing. Our journey has forced dona people to consider issues that they rarely do. Human rights, economic empowerment, racism, and other issues have predominated the public discourse. The Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights are working. There are mechanisms in place for Americans of all backgrounds to have a voice with respect to matters of importance to them. Like the attention our voyage brought to the issue of slavery as a historical institution in this country, through York, the nation is now unable to avoid a discussion of First Nation grievances. Perhaps worse than physical or social maltreatment is being fundamentally ignored. The Eastern United States is where a great density of the population resides. We, as a public, are generally ignorant of Native cultures. Again, I emphasize the plural as there are so many varied and vibrant indigenous peoples still among us. Likewise, those of us from European, African and Asian decent are often lumped collectively without much insight into the specific cultural heritages we stem from. Right now, however, this is not about us. I meet many tribal elders and make many new friends. Gary Crow was one man of interest. Chairmen Michael Jandreau (Lower Brule), Harold Frazier (Cheyenne River), John Steele (Pine Ridge) were all here and I had the privilege of shaking each of their hands. There was a great discussion panel in the morning about the quality and quantity issues of the Missouri River, especially as they pertain to the Tribes that live along her. These discussions sounded very similar to the ones we have heard all along the river. There seems to be a general frustration. Curiously, given the many perspectives we have had shared with us, because of the unique forum we are, one might think that solutions could be reached rather readily if the parties most affected were to be brought together instead of being kept apart. Lunch was provided by the Tribe. As always, Lower Brule hospitality was impeccable. “If anyone left hungry, it was their own fault”, as my dad says. The afternoon was filled with good conversations in the formal sessions, as well as in the hallways and patios. After enjoying a bowl of buffalo soup, fry bread, and wojapi (choke cherry desert), we returned to Chamberlain and the boats. The men are anxious for tomorrow’s pow wow at St. Joseph’s School. The Akta Lakota Museum is located there. We broadcast out of there yesterday. That place keeps becoming a prominent player in our story. It is a special place, one of peace, friendship, and understanding. I play my fife briefly tonight. It has been some time since I played last.
WILL FOLLOW:
Chamberlain
Crow Creek Reservation
Big Bend Dam
Ft. Thompson
Lower Brule
Joe’s Creek
Wake early, shower, dress in Summer small clothes and light accoutrement. Move to 
