Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on June 24, 2015 at 11:56am

Yep, I agree with this. I'm a legally registered native (despite having Swedish blonde hair, I have my tribal membership card) and we don't like anyone coming onto our lands. We won't say anything generally but many people get upset about the whole thing and they'll talk about it behind closed doors. It's really an issue of respect. This is a major issue with my tribe right now (I'm Tsalagi).

I hope this isn't offensive to anyone; I don't mean it like that and I apologize if it is that way. But based on my own experience it would probably be best to not camp out on Lakota Sioux land.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on June 25, 2015 at 9:20am

I really, really hope that I haven't offended anyone here by what I wrote. I was just being honest. We had an issue in my own community awhile ago over whether to share certain facilities with non-Indians and a lot of the people here felt like we were just being swamped with people who could care less about Tsalagi culture but are just fine with using our facilities for free.

Several Tsalagi I know personally will not go to this place anymore because it is no longer an Indian facility at this point. There is a lot of bitterness about it. They feel crowded out and victimized. They are the ones paying for it through tribal funds but they don't get to use it.

On top of that, I look very white and no longer receive the respect there that I used to because they just assume that I am white and there to take advantage. The sense of community has been damaged. Anyway, at Indian-only places I am treated very well by others because they know that I have to have tribal membership to be there. Basically people just feel victimized by the white man all over again and it's very unfortunate.

I'm in a weird space over the whole thing because of my mixed racial background. I see both sides and I receive flak from both sides. I'm not indian enough to say anything (almost always a white person says this when they don't like what I'm saying). People in my tribe who know my racial background will talk about it with me, though. Apparently I'm Indian enough for them at least, even if I don't fit the stereotypical Disney Tiger Lilly squaw archetype.

Sadly, what I wrote above is the general consensus. This is why I won't be going to South Dakota. I don't want to be seen as just another white person thoughtlessly encroaching on them and appropriating their culture. I could say MUCH, MUCH MORE on this topic but I don't want to offend anyone. I'm REALLY restraining myself here. Just know that similar social dynamics may be involved in this situation and you may not understand it entirely. Of course I don't judge anyone who goes to South Dakota. I wish them light and love. Just please, please be respectful! Again, I really apologize if this has offended anyone but I'm saying it put of love so at least people can understand why the Lakotah may not be exactly thrilled. If feel morally wrong if I didn't say this.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dennis Lucci on June 26, 2015 at 5:29am

I still can't find anything as to the exact location of the gathering .  I am from Niagra Falls N.Y. and am here in Martin, South Dakota sitiing on my butt waiting for some info. Am I going to get it ?  only God knows for sure !!!!!!!!!!!1

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bokka chambers on June 26, 2015 at 5:59pm

The site is about five miles west-southwest of Deerfield Lake via an unpaved Forest Service road that branches off Deerfield Road, in a remote area of the western portion of the Black Hills National Forest. The nearest town is Hill City, about 20 miles east of the gathering site.

(got this from a  media article
m.rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/they-re-coming-rainbow-group-will-converge-on-site-near/article_a31f634b-92df-5a7b-a9fc-d7514112455f.html?mobile_touch=true

really hoping to get there althoguh its a long way from Philly

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dennis Lucci on June 27, 2015 at 4:41am

thank you and hope you make iy but it still doesn't tell me where to go from Hill City

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bokka chambers on June 27, 2015 at 5:43pm

I feel sure those directions will be enough to find the gathering, but I saw mroe specific directions yesterday in a fb post, just can't remember where right now.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by water, singing-on-the-rocks on June 30, 2015 at 10:01am

From Rapid City, SD, take Hwy 16 south west to Hill City, SD (about 30 miles).  In Hill City go to the intersection of Hwy 16 and Main St and head west on Main (shown as 308 on maps).  Take this to Deerfield road and continue northwest (left) for about 17 miles to Deerfield Lake on your right.  Just past the lake make a left on Ditch Creek Road.  Then take the first right onto FR 294 and over a bridge.  Drive about 5 miles on FR 294 to Welcome Home.

h2o

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bokka chambers on June 26, 2015 at 8:59pm

yes facebook is ultimate reality and truth.........right?.....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by water, singing-on-the-rocks on June 30, 2015 at 10:13am

there is NO large community of Native Americans expressing wishes for Rainbow to gather elsewhere.  there were 2 who showed up to demonstrate against the Gathering.  all along the noise has come from a very tiny group of urban folks while those who live on the rez have welcomed us... and appreciated our energy and the things we have already done including sending a crew to Pine Ridge where we cleaned up a huge mess left over after a Pow Wow held there... and teaching a band of Lakota how to set up for a really large gathering of people in the wilderness.  our relations with the lakota have always been good and that has not changed.  word I received yesterday from the site itself said that everything is good... and that gathering on Native Land is a very high experience.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dennis Lucci on June 27, 2015 at 4:46am

why can't anyone give a straight answer?  I have been inquiring as to the exact location of the gathering and have not gotten an answer that will tell me that location !!!!!!!!!!!!  Does anyone know the exact location or are you all lost ???????????????

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Morgan on June 27, 2015 at 6:47am

Please allow me to repost (and edit) here a comment I made to Steven in response to one of his posts, Little Wing.

It does not sound fishy at all to me, Steven.  If you read through the comments made by Rainbow members themselves about what goes on at Rainbow gatherings you will see why I would not want that in my back yard either.  What was once a peaceful gathering of a hopeful movement now attracts, along with the sincere Rainbow family, floatsam and detritus.  The gatherings now attract drunkeness and brawling.  So much for peaceful...  This does not belong on sacred grounds or in anyone's back yard.
Like so many great plans, from the original teachings of JC (who was renamed somewhere along the way, he did not claim that name) to the original plan for the good old USA,  the Rainbow family has drifted off course.

Like Jennifer, I see both sides of this issue.  It pains me to see to what extent a 50-year-old institution has  been watered down, but I must call it as I see it.  If anyone is rightfully offended by what I say, then I am not talking about you and I apologize for offending you.  To the self-righteously offended I can only say look within.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Morgan on June 27, 2015 at 7:49am

Good point, Steven.  Since it is not a part of my world I have no first hand knowledge of it, but I hear the reports.  It is another part of the global degeneration we are experiencing.  The old must decay to make way for the new, so the silver lining is that some are preparing for the "new heaven and the new Earth" and projecting that energy.  We can prepare for the new even as we mourn the old.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page