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Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 18:25:20 -0800
To: kolahq@skynet.be
From: Long Standing Bear Chief <blkfoot@bentonrea.com>
Subject: White Man's Fire Water No Good For Injun.

Here is a column I wrote for the Yakima Herald-Republic of
Yakima, Washington. The city is only 20 miles from
Toppenish, WA the capital of the Yakima Nation.
Governor Gary Locke says he is now going to take the Yakima
Nation to court for not allowing his white constituents to
sell booze to Indian people within the boundaries of the
Yakima Nation. Please pass this around world-wide. I would
like to have any reactions. If there are those who wish to
send me an e-mail that I can pass on to the Governor and
people of Washington State I will do so.
Thank you.

Long Standing Issues
        By Long Standing Bear Chief

Whiteman's Fire-water No Good for Injun

        Currently many non-Indians in Washington State are
unhappy with the Yakama Nation. Its tax on alcohol sold
within the nation borders certainly has created a stir. In
fact, it has gotten this poor ole Indian's mind to thinking.
But in this instance, I am reminded of what an older brother
used to say quite frequently some years ago.

This older brother used to say, "Whiteman's fire-water no
good for injun" as he poured the remaining few ounces of
whiskey, or wine, or beer, or rum, or ... whatever,
including rubbing alcohol, down his gullet. That older
brother sure made me and other members of the  Blackfoot
Nation believers. He died at the age of 33 of cirrhosis of
the liver.  True enough. Whiteman's fire-water no good for
injun. It made me believe that I should not emulate him and
his habit as he called it.  In fact, he also used to say,
"Don't be like me brother, get an education and be smart,
not dead drunk".

Unless you have had this kind of educational experience you
are not apt to understand why the Yakama Nation has made the
sale of alcohol expensive within its borders and why it does
not sell alcohol in places like its Legends Casino. The
people of the Yakama Nation understand the history and
legend that has been set by Indians and alcohol. They know
for absolute certain that WHITE MAN'S FIRE-WATER NO GOOD FOR
INJUN.

Of all people, our non-Indian brothers and sisters ought to
understand, and appreciate, what the Yakama Nation is trying
to accomplish. The Yakama people are working to eliminate a
problem. They are telling their own people and others of
Turtle Island that alcohol, a drug, is killing us and
destroying our people and our cultural traditions.

It is offensive that Governor Locke of Washington State
would go to the Yakama Nation and tell them not to tax
alcohol sold by non-Indians within their own country's
borders. The Yakama Nation is taxing alcohol in order to
raise money to insure that their people receive treatment
for alcoholism. Many Indian people are absolutely amazed
that Locke would oppose that action.

The Yakama people have another thing they are attempting to
address, but everyone is overlooking it and it has not been
addressed by this lesser "great white father," Gary Locke.
The issue is fetal alcohol syndrome. So what, if bars go out
of the business of selling booze if it will save even one
Indian child from being born with brain damage and damaged
nerves because of a mothers abuse of alcohol.

There are the other issues: spouse abuse, child sexual and
physical abuse, and accidents caused by drunken drivers.
What about the excessive number of Indians in prison? And
what do you suppose causes all of this?

My drunken brother who died at the age of 33 could tell the
Governor why the Indian is increasingly turning away from
drugs like alcohol. In that brother's name, I take this
means of delivering the message to Governor Locke.  And I
include the message to all the proponents of the sale of an
evil drug, alcohol, who have the gall to say their business
must be protected. The message is:

WHITEMAN'S FIRE-WATER NO GOOD FOR INJUN!

And, we Indians will see you all dead broke and out of
business until you give some consideration and understanding
to what we are trying to tell you and all of so-called
civilized society:

Whiteman's fire-water no good for Injun!

(There brother, I told them four times what you said many
years ago. I wonder if they are listening?)
 

Long Standing Bear Chief
Spirit Talk Press
P.O. Box 390
Browning, Montana 59417

e-mail: blkfoot@bentonrea.com
Telephone: 509.865.5704

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