Elected Officials Making Up Rules and Disrespecting our Traditional Lakota Way of Life

 How can our Tribal Elected Officials disrespect, pass judgement, criticize where Tribal Members choose to pray, and assume how ceremonies are held without participating.  The typical old Tribal gossip phrase of "I HEARD" somehow guides Tribal Elected Officials.  What ever happened to "I KNOW" rather than "I HEARD?"  Well recently, some Tribal Members are being singled out for where they choose to pray and where they participate in our Traditional Lakota Ceremonies.  Somehow Rosebud Sioux Tribal Government are interjecting themselves into who participates and where Tribal Members pray.  Tribal Government now believes they have a right to use politics in an attempt to justify conflict of interest.

Read the conflict of interest section in RST Ordinance 07-09 and in the Tribal Code of Ethics.  I have, and no where does it state, it is a conflict of interest where you choose to pray and who you pray with.  Can any Tribal Elected Official provide the Ordinance our any law that references conflict of interest in relation to where we practice our Traditional way of life and Traditional Ceremonies? Please provide this law to me and please, articulate how it's a conflict of interest according to Tribal legislative law and not Tribal Politics.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Constitution and By-Laws Article X, Section 1. Bill of Rights. The Government of the Tribe including the community shall not: (a). Infringe upon religious beliefs or prohibit the free exercise therefore;  In RST Ordinance 86-04, Section 10, L. states, Lack of respect for Lakota Tradition, Heritage, and Culture.  Section 10. is the Code of Ethics for Elected Officials of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.  

If you raise the issue of a Tribal Member or Tribal Employee who sits on a board, committee, or commission who prays and participates in our Traditional Ceremonies, these Tribal Members make decisions Tribal Elected Officials don't agree with, then it politically becomes conflict of interest.  The fact is, Tribal Council seats Tribal Members on boards, committee's, and Commissions.  If they feel a possible issue may rise with a person seeking a piston then its simple, don't select them to the board, committee, or commission.  However, you seat sound minded Tribal members who can ethically make sound decisions yet you interject your Tribal Politics when it suits your potential conflict.  A complainant has to prove conflict of interest according to established Tribal legislative law.  Participating and praying in Lakota Traditional Ceremonies isn't listed as a violation and if you take the time to take the politics out of it, participating and praying in Lakota Traditional Ceremonies is protected under the United States and Tribal Constitution.  

Do you think some Tribal Elected Official's are actively violating Tribal Members Civil Rights?  I strongly believe so.  So you think some Tribal Elected Officials are blatantly disrespecting our Lakota Tradition, Heritage, and Culture under the RST Code of Ethics?  I strongly believe they are. Conflict of interest is a two way street where Tribal Elected Officials can can also violate conflict of interest.  Wait, we can't have that can we?  Tribal Members can't call out Elected Officials right?  If you do its considered bullying, harassment, and possibly have the police called on you for criticizing Tribal Government.

In a recent administrative order, and it does state, the use of Tribal electronic and various media outlets, Tribal Employee's are probated from posting against Tribal Government, Tribal Council, Tribal Administration, Tribal Programs, and other Tribal Employees during working hours.  I understand RST Ordinance 07-09 has policy and procedures in place preventing this.   An executive order does not supersede the Tribal Constitution and By-Laws.

Again I have to define the Tribal Constitution to out Tribal Elected Officials, Article X, Section 1. (b). Abridge the freedom of speech, press, expression, conscience, association, or the right of the people peaceably assemble, and to petition the government.

So if we want to exercise freedom of speech, press, expression, ASSOCIATION, and we want to criticize our Tribal Government, this is out Constitutional Rights and no executive order supersedes that.  If the Tribal Members want to use personal electronic devices, social media, and other means outside of working hours the law state we can.  As for executive orders, can anyone provide the Ordinance with procedures defined, lawfully, and, in detail where the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Administration has the authority to issue an executive order?  I looked up, down, left, and right and no such legislative law grants the Tribal Administration to issues executive orders.

If you read the Duties of  Officers in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Constitution and By-Laws, all it states is, Tribal President and Administration is subject to Ordnances and Resolutions of the Tribal Council.  So how is it Tribal Members get threatened with document that has no legal authority as to the term, executive order does not exist.  The President of the United States can issue executive orders as it has a policy and procedure granting the US President this authority.  No such authority was granted to any Tribal Elected Official.  Stop making up rules and follow the laws as you expect us Tribal Members to follow.

Stop making up unconstitutional rules against Tribal Members and Tribal employees on their own time to politically justify perceived authority.  COVID Cases are at an all time low, open up the Tribal Council meetings to the public so Tribal members can express concerns without getting kicked out of the building. That is a public building and the Tribal Constitution states we can exercise freedom of speech, press, and expression to Tribal Elected Officials.  Stop hiding from us.

Remember, the job of being a Tribal Elected Official comes with not only praise but comes with criticism. You have to have thick skin to be a Tribal Elected Official.  If you deem free speech, expression, and criticism as bullying, and threaten to call the police, Then resign if you can't handle being criticized.  Do you not watch national news how the media and US citizens criticize The US President, House of Representative and US Senate members daily.  You don't see them making threats against US citizens as they are aware of the Constitution in relation to free speech, press, and expression.

So if we we are being investigated for doing our jobs, following Tribal ordinance, and the Constitution, then let's investigate Tribal Elected Officials and how many times they violate our Civil Rights and Violate the Tribal Code of Ethics.  This ain't North Korea its the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and if your feelings get hurt for being criticized or Programs doing their jobs, and you don't like it, Tribal Corrupt Politics isn't the answer.  I'll keep saying Tribal Members and Employees need to file in court against these political tactics and you will see the court will side with the law not Tribal Politics.  I encourage the old Tribal Political mentality be challenged in court it is the only way it will stop.

I filed against the Tribal Election Board three times and just used the ordinance and the Constitution and won every case against the Tribe.  It's going to take a Civi Rights movement to change and the," do as is say not as I do" Tribal Government mentality.  I think if you get some big media outlets here poking around about Tribal Member Civil Rights Tribal Government will start waling the line knowing they are being reported and watched nationally.  I dare you to attempt to file charged or arrest me for freedom of speech, press, and expression.  Try and violate my rights I won't stand idle and just take it or just go away.

It's time for Tribal Members to start reading the Federal Whistleblower Act and when it pertains to Federal Funding and even attempt on Tribal Funding claim Whistleblower and report.  I'M NOW CLAIMING WHISTLEBLOWER FOR ALL THE ARTICLES I HAVE POSTED ON MY PERSONAL WEBSITE, The War Part Room.  I'm claiming WhistleBlower protection pertaining to reporting against Federally Funded Programs.

Respectfully,

Hawkeye Waln