On Tuesday, May 15th what Pastor Pam Kania, Ashland called a “long awaited miracle” took place in Lame Deer.  The Everything Beautiful (E’mapeva’e Netaa’o Hovea’) thrift store was opened with a celebration of short speeches, song and prayer.

The project stems from a long term effort of the Northern Cheyenne Ministerial Association to share the love of Christ through concrete action.  The official theme is “sharing God’s love in Christ Jesus and bringing

Dignity to all,” said Pastor Willis Busenitz, President of the organization and long term pastor at the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church.

Tuesday evening, May 8th Chief Dull Knife College celebrated it’s 32nd graduation since the college was officially established in 1979.

Keynote speaker, William Medoza, Director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaskan Native Education addressed the graduating class.  “On the whole, only one ninth grader our of 12,000 goes on to earn a doctoral degree,” he said. “However, I encourage you to consider that goal.”

Twenty-one students received their degrees:

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All the Reservation folk look forward to the “1st”.  That’s when the eagle flies in Lame Deer and also when the ‘Little Tijuana’- street vendors show up. Vendors fill the vacant lot in back of the Lube Center and set up in various choice locations along Cheyenne Avenue.

The customers (including yours truly, a dedicated rummage/garage/thrift store addict) flock there in search of bargains and that “must have” treasure. It’s a time when buyers and sellers come together. After all, what is one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

All of this free enterprise has been unregulated. But that will soon change as the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) moves to implement cont. pg 26

Thursday afternoon, April 19th a sizeable delegation of program staff from the State made a presentation about programs and resources available to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, the community and individual businesses.  The specific topic was preparing for the impacts of energy development from Otter Creek.

President Leroy Spang, Chief Executive Officer Janet Wolfname, tribal program directors and interested community members attended.   Tony Preite, USDA who has recently been appointed to a position to coordinate services for energy related impacts joined the group as did Liz Ching, aide to Senator Baucus. Jim Atchinson, SEMDC Director also accompanied the

continued page 8

In February by a unanimous vote of 8 (all those present at the meeting) , the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council adopted Ordinance DOI 11-2012 which approves an agreement with the State of Montana to collect State taxes on tobacco sales on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. (see page 31).The measure has also been reviewed and approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and will soon be finalized by the State.

Under Federal law, the State cannot impose state taxes on Indian Reservations without tribal consent and with  this move Northern Cheyenne joins other Montana Tribes with similar agreements. Right now it’s not certain how much the much price will increase.  But, the system will be similar to the gasoline tax: the Tribe collects the tax, and sends it State, the State administers the money and on a quarterly basis sends it back to the Tribe.  The Tribal Council decides how that funding is utilized.

As President Richard Littlebear reminded the crowd gathered at the college on April 4th, “We always start Cheyenne ceremonies with a prayer.”

When Linwood Tallbull, CDKC Historical Researcher offered the invocation and blessing reminding people that 135 years ago, many Northern Cheyenne sacrificed their lives at Fort Robinson, in a determined effort to return from a land of heat hunger and sickness (Oklahoma) to the North (Montana).

He explained that an American Flag had been flown over the US Capitol on January 9th in memory of those who lost their lives at Fort Robinson.  While asking for blessing for all  – Indian and non-Indian alike—he said “We must not forget, but remember and forgive.”

Continued page 14

About eighty years ago, a group of Northern Cheyenne warriors who fought at the Battle of the Little Big Horn relinquished sacred items used at the Battle to Dr. Thomas Marquis for safe keeping.  These items found their way to the Little Big Horn Museum where they languished for decades.

One of those warriors was Limpy (previously known as White Bird), the great grandfather of Eugene Limpy, TERO Director for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

Recently, Eugene successfully filed a claim to have these items of “cultural patrimony” returned to him as a lineal descendent.  The items include a sacred necklace and “magic cap” worn by Limpy in many battles and engagements with the US Military, including       continued page 8

In mid-summer of 2010, heavy plumes of smoke and flames burst out on Cheyenne Avenue in Lame Deer as a building known as the old Cady’s Gas Station burned to the ground in a total loss.

Rubble and debris from the building owned by Bruce and Ione Cady now of Billings have come to be what Rosebud County Commissioner Danny Sioux calls an “eyesore” on Lame Deer’s Main Street.

Yet, the building is located on fee patent taxable land within the Lame Deer townsite, beyond the reach of tribal jurisdiction.  It would be illegal, Commissioner Sioux reports, to clean up the site without the landowner’s approval.

So far, the owners have not taken steps to clean up the rubble and debris which many feel is also a safety hazard and blight to the community.

That’s why a small determined band of volunteers is working to clean up the mess on a volunteer basis.  Teddy McMakin, Elderly Commission Chair has been circulating a petition which has garnered several hundred signatures in support of the effort.

By the close of business on Monday, March 12th, the last day to file as candidates for Montana political offices, several folks had tossed their hat into the political arena for local and state offices to represent Rosebud County.

One of the most interesting races will be for Rosebud County District 3 Commissioner.  Three Democrats have filed for the seat which represents southern Rosebud County, including Ashland, Birney, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, part of Colstrip and surrounding rural areas.  Incumbent Danny Sioux, Lame Deer, Hugh Broadus, Rosebud Creek and Ed Joiner, Lame Deer are all seeking the position.  Because there is no Republican contender, that race will be decided by the  June 5th Primary election.

In HD 41, incumbent Sterling Small, Republican from Kirby Creek is being challenged by Rae Peppers, Lame Deer Democrat.  In HD 43, Duane Ankney, Colstrip faces a newcomer from Hysham (who didn’t respond to our inquiry).  In SD 22, Jean Lemire Dalhman, Democrat from Rosebud has filed for the seat currently held by Taylor Brown, Republican from Hysham. Sharon Perogoy, Democrat Senator for the Big Horn part of the Reservation runs unopposed

On Wednesday, February 29th, the Northern
Cheyenne Tribal Council unanimously enacted Resolution
DOI 88 (2012) accepting a $50,038,000 settlement
from the Department of Interior for a long-standing law
suit.

The settlement resolves a law suit, first filed in
2006 by a large number of Indian Tribes against the
Department of Interior. In the suit, Tribes claimed that
the Department of Interior had failed in trust management
in a number of ways including:

- Failure to make Trust assets productive or to restore
the damages to resources. The Northern Cheyenne
referenced the Tongue River Lumber Company
- Failure to collect rents, fees and royalties
- Failure to preserve, protect the Tribes resources and
- Mismanagement of Trust Funds