Published Sunday August 29, 2010
BY RICK GALUSHA
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD (Midlands Voices)

Nebraskans are shocked to learn that a portion of the second-poorest area in the entire Western Hemisphere lies within our state, in the area that includes the Pine Ridge Reservation. Consider the following figures from the 2002-03 edition of Regional Differences in Indian Health, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: (more…)

Published Saturday July 17, 2010
BY MARY GARRIGAN
RAPID CITY JOURNAL

The irony of Whiteclay is that it sits in what was originally a “buffer zone” created by the U.S. government to “protect” the residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from illegal whiskey peddlers operating in the area.

In 1882, President Chester A. Arthur decreed a 50-square-mile buffer zone in Nebraska south of the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota to protect Native Americans from the ravages of alcohol, according to the web site for the documentary film, “Battle for Whiteclay.” In 1889, and again in 1890, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation incorporating this buffer zone, known as the White Clay Extension, into the boundaries of the reservation. But in a 1904 executive order by President Theodore Roosevelt, 49 of the 50 square miles of the White Clay Extension was placed into the public domain over the protests of Lakota elders and others concerned that the need for a buffer zone still remained. Today, there is still one square mile of Pine Ridge tribal land in Nebraska near Whiteclay, the remnant of President Arthur’s buffer zone. (more…)

Published Wednesday April 14, 2010
BT RYAN R. DUDZINSKI
THE READER (Omaha, Neb.)

BELLEVUE, NEB. — On a cold, rainy April 7 morning, Native American flute music drifted through the Humanities auditorium at Bellevue University. People have gathered for a panel discussion about Whiteclay, Neb., the tiny, unincorporated group of buildings on the border of South Dakota from which members of the neighboring Pine Ridge Indian Reservation purchase staggering amounts of alcoholic beverages annually. Typically, high unemployment — near 80% on the reservation itself — mixed with plentiful alcohol is a recipe for disaster, and Whiteclay is no exception. Rampant crime, vagrancy, gang activity, prostitution, and vandalism plague the Reservation and its surrounding areas. It has gained national recognition as a chronic tragedy, dating to at least the 1960s, which nobody seems willing to resolve. (more…)

Published Wednesday April 7, 2010
BY KEVIN ABOUREZK
LINCOLN JOUNAL STAR

BELLEVUE — A Winnebago business leader and attorney called massive beer sales in Whiteclay and alcoholism on the nearby Pine Ridge Indian Reservation symptoms of greater economic problems on the reservation. (more…)

Published Wednesday  February 17, 2010
BY NANCY HICKS
LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

Senators are likely to debate legislation that would provide money to help with alcohol problems of people who buy their booze at Whiteclay.

The Legislature’s Revenue Committee moved one bill (LB1002) out of committee Wednesday, and its sponsor, Sen. LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth, said he likely will make it his priority bill — assuring discussion on the floor. (more…)

Published Sunday February 7, 2010
BY JOHN KREJCI
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

I was encouraged to read that “State leaders, others focus on Whiteclay” (Jan. 31). The problems of alcoholism and Nebraska’s shame of profiting from beer sales to Natives need to be addressed. When Nebraskans for Peace raised the issue in 1999, few even knew the Nebraska beer sales were contributing to Native alcoholism.

Although it is encouraging that Nebraska’s governor and state legislators have begun to address the problem, their initial solutions – a town cleanup, a recycling center and a mini-mall – do little to address the tragedy of Nebraska’s skid row of the Plains. (more…)

Published Sunday February 7, 2010
BY RICK R. GALUSHA
THE PUBLIC PULSE (Letters to the Editor)
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

I want to thank Gov. Dave Heineman for leading a group of elected officials to meet with Lakota Sioux tribal members in regard to the problems on the Pine Ridge Reservation, as well as problems related to the sale of alcohol in Whiteclay, Neb.

State Sens. Brad Ashford, Russ Karpisek, Colby Coash and LeRoy Louden have taken a step forward with the introduction of legislation that may provide, in part, much-needed alcohol treatment. (more…)

Published Saturday February 6, 2010
BY KERRY L. BELDIN
THE PUBLIC PULSE (Letters to the Editor)
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

I’d like to express my appreciation for The World-Herald’s focus on the problematic issue of alcohol sales at Whiteclay, Neb. (more…)

Published Thursday January 14, 2010
STAFF EDITORIAL
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Proposals for Pine Ridge/Whiteclay

Two committees of the Nebraska Legislature are putting forward worthwhile ideas that have the potential to relieve some of the misery that has long held the Pine Ridge Reservation in its grasp. (more…)

Published Tuesday January 12, 2010
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday ordered prosecutors in 33 states — including Nebraska and Iowa — to step up their efforts to combat violent crime on Indian reservations, particularly offenses against women and children. (more…)