Gender Discrimination Against Lakota Women by Men in Positions of Authority

 In recent finding, a Lakota woman is being discriminated against by our own Tribal President.  This behavior is not only disrespectful, its unlawful and a violation of women rights.  This act is a trip in the time machine back to the days when women were not seen equal to men. Those days are over and is deemed a violation of a woman's civil rights.  I'm writing about this incident because this act committed against Lakota women echos and shows what men in positions of authority within our Tribe prove men are entitled to preferential treatment over Lakota Women.

Have first hand knowledge of this incident because it involves me from both sides.  In a recent article I authored, I disclosed an incident where the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Chief Administrator and Supervisory Special Agent covered up a serious incident of an immediate family member.  In May 2022 I filed a complaint with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Internal Affairs Division regarding the incident.  My complaint apparently sat idle until recently.

A couple weeks ago I received a call from a BIA Special Agent from the Internal Affairs Division.  This Special Agent requested to speak to me about an incident he was investigating and I agreed to speak with him.  This investigation pertained to the recent article I authored about the cover up incident from the Okreek community.   The Special Agent provided me with my article and asked me if I wrote this article.  I told him I did author the article and that I filed an internal affairs complaint on the content of this article.

The BIA Special Agent asked me if a female breeched confidentiality and provided me with the information contained within my article.  I was shocked, I said, no sir, I learned of this information from two former Law Enforcement personnel who not longer are employed with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. I explained three Okreek community members contacted and told me they witnessed the incident and provided first hand information consistent with the former Law Enforcement personnels information.  No female ever provided me with any information regarding this matter.  I explained whoever stated this about the female is untrue and I question the integrity of the Law Enforcement personnel who made this allegation.  

Well I later found out this Lakota woman was placed on Administrative Leave based on false allegations which is a form is disciplinary action pending the outcome of the investigation.  The content of my article and my internal affairs complaint contains detailed information that proved the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Chief Administrator and Supervisory Special Agent covered up this incident to protect an immediate family member.  

This was a direct conflict of interest for the Chief Administrator so it was the ethical duty of the Supervisory Special Agent to handle the case just like he would any other case he oversees as Supervisory Special Agent.  This was a potential federal offense for assault on a Federal Officer.  In my recent article I detailed that in the timeframe of this incident, four Tribal Members were indicted and four were sentenced in federal court for assault on a federal officer.  This case was covered up and not reported with the proper P.L. 93-638 Law Enforcement contract mandatory reporting procedures.

Well, on October 26, 2022, I received confirmation from the BIA Internal Affairs Division that my complaint about the incident is now being investigated and was assigned a case number.  The BIA Internal Affairs case number I received pertaining to an open case is I22000154.  This is confirmation that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Chief Administrator and Supervisory Special Agent is now under Investigation by the BIA Internal Affairs for Class 1 Misconduct.  In the BIA 40 AIM 4-48 Internal Affairs Professional Standards Division policy for Class 1 Misconduct included criminal misconduct.

So my question to the Tribal President is, why isn't the Chief Administrator and the Supervisory Special Agent on immediate administrative leave pending the outcome of the BIA Internal Affairs Investigation?  I'm sure the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Attorney General or Tribal Attorney was consulted on this incident.  Remember Mr. Attorney General, you are not the personal attorney for the Tribal President.  You are the attorney for the TRIBE, meaning the Tribal Members are in the definition of TRIBE.  Being the chief Law Enforcement Officer you have to protect Tribal Members Civil Rights and make sure we have equal protection, application, and opportunity to the Laws.

Well the Chief Administrator and Supervisory Special Agent is still at work, performing full duties, and face no administrative action pending the outcome of this investigation.  However, the Lakota Woman was immediately placed on administrative leave over a false complaint.  Do you see the gender discrimination yet?

The Department of Justice definition of Sex Discrimination states, discrimination on the basis of sex involves denying equal employment opportunity to any individual because of that individuals sex.  Sex Discrimination includes treating an individual unfavorably based on gender stereotypes.  Sex Discrimination also includes treating a individual less favorably because of that individuals gender.  Sex Discrimination take the form of refusing to hire, discharging, failing to promote, harassing, or discriminating against an individual with respect any other term, conviction, or privilege of employment.  This is directly quoted from the Department of Justice Definition of Sex Discrimination policy.

So by the Tribal President failing to act against the Chief Administrator and Supervisory Special Agent proves he condones preferential treatment of males and protects them while approving harsh treatment of Lakota Women.  If the Tribal president was fair and didn't exercise preferential special treatment of males, based on the Chief Administrator and Supervisory Special Agent being under investigation for a serious offense, he would immediately place them on Administrative Leave.  This includes suspending all law Enforcement duties, checking in all law enforcement issued equipment and credentials.  This also would include not being allowed in law Enforcement buildings and electronic equipment until the investigation is complete.  

This is just one Lakota Woman being discriminated against, and if I was a Lakota woman I would be asking some serious questions on why are males being afforded preferential treatment over Lakota Women.  This act is decades if not a century step back on Women Rights.  If any legal advice condoned sex discrimination This incident needs to be immediately reported to the FBI.  This incident being investigated alone was recently reported to the FBI with all persons involved to include any act in covering up the incident.

Selective enforcement of Tribal members by our own people placed in positions to protect us needs to stop.  We have elected officials and trained legal people within our Tribe who condone this behavior.  Enough is enough it's time to start reporting these incidents to the Department of Justice.  Selective enforcement is a blatant abuse of authority and a crime.  Stop Discriminating against Lakota Women, you are placed in positions of trust to uphold that trust not abuse that trust.  I ask Lakota Women to start asking questions about this incident.  I have facts and proof the complaint was excepted and is being investigated.  This was reported to the FBI.  

I'm sure the same old response to Lakota Women will be, Hawkeye Waln is a criminal, he's a trouble maker, and he is lying.  I challenge them as I have the proof and asked them be honest and own theirs like we all have to own ours and we do.

Stay tuned for information on St. Francis Community Finances.

Respectfully,

Hawkeye Waln