Fighting addiction on Pine Ridge reservation

Summary

The script narrates the plight of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, grappling with poverty, unemployment, and rampant alcohol addiction. The nearby town of White Clay, Nebraska, has been a source of alcohol for the reservation, despite its ban, leading to a surge in violence and health crises. The state Supreme Court is deliberating on the permanent closure of liquor stores in White Clay, a move seen by some as a victory against white oppression and by others as an economic necessity. The script highlights the community's struggle with addiction, youth suicide, and the impact of potential budget cuts on support programs.

Takeaways

• 📍 The town of White Clay, Nebraska, with a population of 14, sells over four million cans of beer a year to the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned.
• 🏪 Alcohol sales in White Clay have been a source of controversy due to the high unemployment and alcohol addiction rates on the reservation, contributing to violence and health issues.
• 🚨 The state Supreme Court is considering a permanent closure of the liquor stores in White Clay following a series of violent incidents and unsolved murders.
• 🏕️ Activists from the Lakota tribe have set up camp near White Clay, vowing to stay until the Supreme Court makes a decision on the liquor stores' future.
• 💔 The script describes personal tragedies related to alcohol abuse, including family members found murdered and the impact of addiction on the community.
• 📉 The Pine Ridge Reservation faces a youth suicide rate four times the national average, linked to entrenched issues of addiction and poverty.
• 👮‍♂️ Since the closure of the liquor stores in White Clay, there has been a reported surge in bootlegged alcohol, straining the already under-resourced tribal police.
• 🚫 Some residents and officials see the liquor stores as a form of white oppression, exploiting the vulnerability of the Native American community.
• 💼 Others argue that the sale of alcohol is a result of market forces and economic need, not racism, with the demand for alcohol being filled by suppliers.
• 🌐 The script highlights the broader context of historical injustices, including land seizures and the impact of colonialism on the Native American community.
• 🌟 There is a call for resilience and resistance against oppression, with the teepee rising near White Clay symbolizing the end of colonialism and the beginning of healing and spiritual recovery.

Q & A

What is the primary issue discussed in the script regarding the town of White Clay, Nebraska?

The script discusses the issue of alcohol sales in White Clay, a town that has been selling a significant amount of beer to members of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, contributing to high rates of alcohol addiction and associated problems within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Why is the sale of alcohol banned on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?

The script does not explicitly state why alcohol sales are banned on the reservation. However, it implies that the ban is due to the severe social and health issues caused by alcohol addiction, including high unemployment rates and a significant portion of the adult population suffering from alcoholism.

What measures were taken in response to the violence and unsolved murders in White Clay?

In response to the violence and unsolved murders, the liquor stores in White Clay were temporarily closed, and the state Supreme Court is considering whether to make the closure permanent.

What is the significance of the teepee rising in the script?

The teepee rising symbolizes resistance and the end of oppression and colonialism. It represents the hope for healing and the revival of the Lakota spirit once the negative influences like alcohol are overcome.

How does the script describe the impact of alcohol on the youth of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?

The script describes a tragic impact, with a youth suicide rate four times the national average and many young people resorting to substance abuse as a means to escape their reality.

What role do the women running the intervention program play in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation?

The women running the intervention program provide a crucial service to the community, offering support and resources to those struggling with addiction and other issues. They operate out of a basement beneath the post office and rely on grant money.

How does the script address the issue of racism in relation to the alcohol sales in White Clay?

The script presents differing viewpoints. Some people believe there is no racism involved and that the situation is purely economic, driven by market forces and demand. Others suggest that the dynamic of white families selling alcohol to Native Americans is a form of post-colonial hangover and represents a continuing form of white oppression.

What is the current situation regarding the budget for tribal police and public services in Pine Ridge?

The tribal police and public services are under-resourced and underfunded, with the police department having had two-thirds of its budget cut in a decade, resulting in a struggle to cope with the surge in bootlegged alcohol since the closure of White Clay.

What is the significance of the skate park named after Tiny's grandson, Tobe Eagle Boo?

The skate park serves as a safe place for children to hang out and is named in memory of Tobe Eagle Boo, who was killed in an alcohol-related car accident. It represents a positive outlet for the youth amidst the challenges they face.

How does the script suggest the community views the potential impact of decisions by the Supreme Court on White Clay?

The script suggests that the community is deeply concerned about the court's decision. They fear that if the Supreme Court decides against the closure, it will lead to further violence and addiction, as they feel they are not considered as human beings capable of handling themselves in the modern world.

What is the script's perspective on the role of free enterprise in the situation of White Clay?

The script presents a perspective that free enterprise and market forces are the driving factors behind the alcohol sales in White Clay, with some individuals arguing that there is no racism involved and that the sales are simply filling a demand.

Outlines

00:00

🏪 Impact of Alcohol Sales on Pine Ridge Reservation

This paragraph discusses the social and economic impact of alcohol on the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe living in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. White Clay, Nebraska, a small town near the reservation, has been selling millions of cans of beer annually to tribe members, where alcohol sales are banned. The area is one of the poorest in America, with high unemployment and alcohol addiction rates. The paragraph details the consequences of alcohol abuse, including violence, unsolved murders, and a youth suicide rate four times the national average. It also touches on the temporary closure of liquor stores in White Clay and the subsequent debate on whether this should be made permanent, reflecting the struggle between addressing addiction and respecting tribal sovereignty.

05:01

📉 Economic Forces vs. Racism in Alcohol Sales

The second paragraph explores the debate surrounding the sale of alcohol in White Clay, with some attributing the situation to economic forces rather than racism. It presents the perspective of those who see the sale of alcohol as a result of market demand and supply, rather than a racially motivated action. The paragraph also highlights the increase in bootlegging since the closure of the liquor stores and the challenges faced by the tribal police in dealing with this surge. The police are under-resourced and struggle to cope with the increased crime, which includes alcohol-related violence and domestic issues. The narrative includes personal accounts of the impact of alcoholism on families and the community, emphasizing the deep-rooted issues of dependency and despair.

10:07

🛖 Resilience and Resistance in the Face of Oppression

The final paragraph focuses on the resilience and resistance of the Lakota people in the face of historical and ongoing oppression. It describes a teepee rising as a symbol of the end of colonialism and the beginning of healing and resurgence of the Lakota spirit. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of sobriety and spiritual recovery as a means to overcome the destructive effects of alcohol and to use the American system against further oppression. It conveys a message of hope and determination, with the community asserting its identity and fighting for justice and self-determination.

Keywords

💡Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic disorder characterized by the uncontrollable consumption of alcohol, often leading to physical and psychological dependence. In the video's context, it is a significant issue within the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, where up to two-thirds of adults suffer from alcohol addiction, highlighting the deep-rooted social problem and its connection to the economic and health crises faced by the community.

💡Poverty

Poverty refers to the state of lacking sufficient financial resources to meet basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. The script mentions that Pine Ridge is one of the poorest communities in America, with over 80 percent unemployment, illustrating the economic hardship that contributes to the cycle of dependency and despair.

💡White Clay

White Clay is a small unincorporated town in Nebraska, which has been a focal point for the sale of alcohol to the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, despite the ban on alcohol sales on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The video discusses the controversial role of White Clay's liquor stores in perpetuating alcoholism and its social consequences within the tribe.

💡Addiction

Addiction is a complex condition where a person engages in compulsive behaviors or substance use despite harmful consequences. The script emphasizes the high rates of alcohol addiction among the tribe members, which is both a cause and consequence of the community's struggles with poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities.

💡Economic Factors

Economic factors refer to variables that influence economic activities and decisions, such as employment rates, income levels, and market dynamics. The video suggests that the issues faced by the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe are primarily economic, rather than racially motivated, highlighting the role of market forces in the availability of alcohol in White Clay.

💡Youth Suicide

Youth suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death by individuals below a certain age, typically under 18. The script reveals that the youth suicide rate on the reservation is four times the national average, underscoring the severe impact of social issues like addiction and poverty on the mental health of the younger generation.

💡Intervention Program

An intervention program is a structured plan aimed at addressing and mitigating a specific issue, often involving counseling and support. The script mentions a reservation intervention program run by two women, which relies on grant money and is at risk due to proposed budget cuts, indicating the importance of such initiatives in combating the community's challenges.

💡Budget Cuts

Budget cuts refer to the reduction of funds allocated for a particular purpose, often leading to diminished services or support. The video discusses the potential impact of proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration on Native American programs, which could exacerbate existing problems like addiction and poverty.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, area, or people, often resulting in economic and cultural exploitation. The script uses the term to describe the historical and ongoing impact of external control and exploitation on the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, linking past injustices to current social issues.

💡Resistance

Resistance refers to the act of opposing or withstanding authority or control, often as a form of protest or assertion of rights. The video describes an act of resistance by the tribe members, trespassing onto private land and raising a teepee to symbolize their opposition to the perceived oppression and the beginning of a new era of healing and self-determination.

💡Healing

Healing is the process of recovery or becoming sound in body or mind, often associated with overcoming trauma or illness. The script suggests that sobriety and the rejection of destructive behaviors like alcoholism can lead to healing for the tribe, allowing them to regain their spirits and begin to address the mental and emotional wounds inflicted by historical and ongoing injustices.

Highlights

Alcohol and drugs are seen as means of escape from harsh realities in impoverished communities.

White Clay, Nebraska, a small town with 14 residents, sells over four million cans of beer annually to the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe.

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation faces high unemployment and severe alcohol addiction issues.

The temporary closure of liquor stores in White Clay follows a series of violent incidents and unsolved murders.

The State Supreme Court is deliberating on the permanent closure of liquor stores in White Clay.

Campaigners from the Lakota tribe are protesting the potential re-opening of liquor stores in White Clay.

High youth suicide rates in Pine Ridge are linked to entrenched issues of addiction and poverty.

The intervention program on the reservation is under threat from proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration.

Community members express fear that social issues will worsen under the Trump administration.

The skate park named after Tiny's grandson, Tobee Eagle Boo, serves as a safe haven for children.

The temporary closure of White Clay is seen as a victory against white oppression by some community members.

Local officials believe that the issues in White Clay are economic rather than racial.

The tribal police report a surge in bootlegged alcohol since the closure of White Clay.

The under-resourced tribal police struggle to cope with increased bootlegging and crime.

Community members describe the cycle of addiction and violence as a post-colonial hangover.

The teepee rising on the reservation symbolizes resistance and the end of oppression.

There is hope for healing and using the American system against oppression.

Transcripts

we look for something else we look for

alcohol we look for drugs some way to

get away from that reality you end up

with chips going to jail kids raising

themselves

it's killing themselves I don't think

there's racism involved

I think it's strictly economic you know

it's there because there's a need we

learn from Standing Rock they expect us

to be violent you know let's do know

[Music]

case after case of beer loaded up and

shipped out for many this image Monday

morning becoming a symbol of hope and

change white clay Nebraska a tiny

unincorporated town that sits on the

border with South Dakota with a

population of just 14 people it's for

liquor stores have for decades sold over

four million cans of beer a year almost

entirely to members of the Oglala Lakota

Sioux tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian

Reservation where the sale of alcohol is

banned Pine Ridge is one of the poorest

communities in America over 80 percent

of people here are unemployed and up to

two-thirds of adults suffer from alcohol

addiction but at the beginning of this

summer following a spate of violence and

unsolved murders the stores were

temporarily closed the state Supreme

Court is now considering whether to make

the move permanent just a few meters

down the road a group of Lakota

campaigners have camped out since the

closure they don't plan to leave until

the final decision is made for many here

white clay has taken a personal toll

that's where they found my uncle my

uncle's dead right there what happened

to them nobody really knows

they were just found murdered and

mutilated right there and it was after a

rash of murders of people who stood in

white clay and drink alcohol and it was

such a dangerous place so violent and

dirty and you know it was really the it

was how what do you think will happen if

the Supreme Court decides against and

keeps white clay open well we expect it

for one thing when have they ever

considered us human beings they think of

us as childlike not able to to handle

ourselves in the modern world they

expect us to do something and react and

anger we learn from Standing Rock

the entrenched issues of addiction and

poverty have led to a youth suicide rate

that is four times the national average

we came to visit the reservations only

intervention program run by two women

out of the basement beneath the post

office they rely on grant money and

worry things will get worse if a series

of proposed budget cuts by the Trump

administration are carried through I res

isn't a very good place we hear about

guns going off in the night while we're

sleeping we hear about our aunts and

uncles being shot over drugs and stuff

and do you have friends that did take

their own lives I had more than 10

friends commit suicide in what space of

time 2013-2014 are you worried this is

gonna get worse under Trump yes most

definitely get worse under Trump cuz

he's already had a lot of Native

American programs the children's come

they come through that during they're

hungry we go down to the park they're

hungry they want something to eat and

it's not their fault this skate park

named after Tiny's grandson tobe eagle

Boo is one of the few places children

can come to hang out he was killed in a

car accident he was driving he didn't

have a seatbelt on then they were they

were drunk alcohol-related he got thrown

up in a car so we started to and he

loved his skateboarding when he was in

college she give him that better

tomorrow it takes a lot of people

working together you look at these kids

to see how happy the air you probably

wouldn't know that some of these kids

parents are probably living on five

thousand dollars a year a year for most

people here the temporary closure of

white clay marked a victory against what

they described as a continuing form of

white oppression the liquor stores owned

by families in Nebraska made millions

selling beards of people here

[Music]

Lauren L poo Sheridan County

Commissioner voted earlier in the year

to keep white clay open the State Liquor

Commission then overruled the local

government it seems to me they're

looking for someone else to solve their

issues and that's probably not going to

happen a number of people that we've

spoken to people who have spent time in

white clay who are battered their own

addiction issues who have lost family

members to alcoholism describe the

dynamic there as a sort of post-colonial

hangover it's a group of white families

selling millions of cans of beer to

Native Americans do you have any

sympathy with that that dynamic they

describe what's happened there is what

happens when you have free enterprise if

you have a demand then somebody's

probably going to step in to fill that

so its market forces it's got nothing to

do with race and racism I think

absolutely right it's market forces I

don't think there's racism involved I

think it's strictly economic you know

it's there because there's a need in the

summer since white clays closure the

tribal police have reported a surge in

bootlegged alcohol like many public

services here the under-resourced and

underfunded department there had a 2/3

of its budget cut in a decade have

struggled to cope our biggest thing is

resources our officers are wore thin

down you know there's right now there's

three of us on you know it's a busy time

and I 60 miles east to west by about at

least 90 miles north to south is the

area that my three officers are covering

tonight not enough right no no how much

is the bootlegging gone up since white

clay closed tremendously man there's a

bootlegger and every one of our little

cluster housings in each of our

districts they're killing our people

over Reid money at one point in time we

was a proud nation through genocide

tactics in own

taking our land you know giving us

rations you know giving us handouts

it made us dependent we look for

something else we look for alcohol we

look for drugs some way to get away from

that reality a series of 9-1-1 calls led

us to this home where three families

with eight children live in a

three-bedroom house one uncle lies

inebriated at the doorway get up go

another family member is passed out at

the back wake up

[Music]

did you ever think about why why this

happens here sometimes yeah you know

maybe they seen it growing up something

that they learned or maybe they got to a

point in their life where they don't

feel that they can contribute anything

anymore so they they dream to forget

those things I don't know there's a lot

of different reasons why taking the

jailing helping it you know cuz we're

gonna be tomorrow I won't take them to

jail again

next night take them again you know I'm

just that's it's a revolving door all

the time

tiny in Aileen often accompanied police

on domestic violence and suicide

call-outs but here in the center of the

reservation earlier in the week no one

got to 23 year-old Tyler D Bray in time

[Music]

this is a really hard thing when our

life is cut short we don't have the

answers we don't know why and in this

particular case we didn't see this one

coming

Tyler was full of life and when I first

met him I walked by him and I went back

to him I said my god you're gorgeous and

he says I know da when a young child

says I'm gonna take my pain and leave

the pain stays here it stays here with

us but know that you loved him

unconditionally know that you were good

to him and you have no regrets for the

way you treated him Tyla suicide was the

11th in Pineridge since April before I

left Pine Ridge

I came back to count justice on the

morning the Nebraska Supreme Court heard

arguments on the white clay case the men

and women here trespassed onto private

land just outside the township to send a

message of resistance I love it when I'm

on my tree deal and not the

concentration camp the reservation no

I'm a Lakota I remember our grandpa's

always telling us don't be afraid you

know and it seems like that that fear is

what kept us kept us back and really

held us down for four generations

so this teepee rising here represents

the end of that oppression in the end of

that colonialism you know and it

represents that resurrection of the

Lakota chi-wai that alcohol and white

clay represents the destruction of that

once we're sober and we regain our

spirits then our minds begin to heal you

know we can use the American system

against the Americans who try to oppress

us even further it just takes time and

patience on our side

you