Fighting Words From An Oglala Sioux Leader
Elsie Meeks (center) wants to end dependency.
Elsie Meeks has tried to establish an independent, entrepreneurial spirit on the Indian reservations of America for 20 years — and she's had more success than most Indian leaders but even her patience seems to have limits, judging from a "no holds barred" commentary in Indian Country Today.
Elsie believes the answer to many of the problems on the rez is more opportunity through small business development. But, frustrated by the lack of progress, she declares, "I don't think we really want to change .... and those who do want change aren't in the least equipped to do it ... not many people are."
She said the "blame game" hasn't worked, so it's time for everybody to quit pointing fingers at the feds, the state and tribal leaders. She says the goal must be self-sufficiency and an end to dependency – not an insistence that treaties be honored. Treaties should be honored, she said, but waiting for that to happen is not enough.
Obviously, Elsie Meeks has always ranked high in our estimation. She's a rare leader. She'd much rather be at home on a horse on the ranch she and her husband, Jim, run by Interior. Instead she jets around the nation, trying to establish capitalism in some of America's poorest communities.
These are the words of a very smart woman who has devoted 20 years to a quite thankless task. If you have any interest in improving life on the reservations I hope you'll read them because I'm sure they were hard for Elsie Meeks to write. She prefers rowing to making waves, but she can do either.
Here is the link.
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The problems on Pine Ridge are many, complex, and of long standing. I believe that it will take several generations to implement the changes she advocates but I also believe that those changes have begun. There are many on the reservation that understand what needs to happen and with the encouragement, the support of various aid groups and individuals who emphasize education of the generations growing up there now, those changes will happen eventually.
Elsie Meeks creates alot of controversy - because she only has a small amount of Lakota heritage but I don’t think that should keep her from working to help the Lakota on Pine Ridge. Sometimes I think she worries too much about issues like Indian names for mascots etc…there are much bigger problems than those. She is however a squeaky wheel that draws attention to those more serious issues.
Comment by MaryH — December 14, 2006 @ 3:44 pm
I heard her speak a few years ago and was quite impressed. She knows her stuff, and I hope people will listen, both on and off the reservations.
Comment by JK — December 14, 2006 @ 4:04 pm
I taught on the rez for a few years, and there are wonderful people doing great things there. I’d heard of Elsie Meeks but never met her. I did notice that sometimes when an Indian man or woman succeeded, their Indian heritage was often brought into question. But no one ever questioned the heritage of those who were struggling.
That’s probably human nature. Maybe the Irish and Germans do the same.
Her article seems to be very bold thinking from my experience and I wish her well.
Comment by Roscoe A. — December 15, 2006 @ 9:13 am
Elsie Meeks can say things that would be considered heresy if said by a non-indian. That, too, is human nature. Sometimes it takes a specific messenger to carry a specific message effectively.
Comment by Hyronomous Anonymous — December 16, 2006 @ 7:42 am
Elsie is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and that means she is generally accepted as a tribal leader by both Lakota and non-Lakota. But, I know from my own connection to Pine Ridge that anyone, Lakota or non-Lakota, who is genuine in their concern for and wish to help Pine Ridge residents be more successful and rise above the poverty level will be respected by Lakota tribal members who have the same goals for Pine Ridge. Elsie has the advantage of having one foot in each camp - she can speak to both sides but there will always be opposing voices coming as well from both sides. When she says that many of the Lakota don’t want to change, I can see that is true. Any way of life, be it bad or good, can become very comfortable and change, whether it is good or bad, can be very uncomfortable. In my career as an educator, I worked hard with many difficult students from bad environments, to help and teach them how to become successful only to have them go back to their bad habits at the most crucial moment, because success was too alien to them; failing was something they were actually more comfortable with and had grown up with.
Comment by MaryH — December 16, 2006 @ 6:44 pm