The Drug War Comes to the Rez
When Alex White Plume planted a field full of industrial-grade hemp, he hoped that his crop might lift his family and community out of poverty. Then the DEA came to Pine Ridge.
But on Aug. 24, 2000 at sunrise, just four days before White Plume and his neighbors planned to harvest their bounty, White Plume awoke to the sounds of helicopters. He looked out the window and saw a convoy of vehicles heading for his field.
He raced down to investigate, and was met by a slew of black-clad and heavily armed figures -- 36 agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the US Marshal's office.
When White Plume rolled down the window of his pick-up to ask what was going on, he says, one US marshal pointed a gun in his face. Meanwhile, the other agents chopped down each plant near the roots and hauled them away.
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You see, White Plume was growing industrial hemp, a botanical cousin of marijuana. According to tests conducted later by the BIA, White Plume's hemp contained only trace amounts of the psychoactive element THC. But US drug laws do not distinguish between marijuana, which has a higher THC content, and other kinds of hemp; growing either is illegal. (Federal law does permit the possession or sale of mature stalks, fiber, and products made from hemp fiber and hemp seed oil.)
Still, the raid at Pine Ridge wasn't your typical drug bust. The Oglala Sioux tribal government, which passed a resolution allowing White Plume to plant his crop, argues that the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 gave Pine Ridge absolute sovereign status as an independent nation. The BIA, however, says Pine Ridge enjoys only "limited" sovereignty: While the tribe has its own government, constitution, and laws, it is subject to some federal oversight.
White Plume and the tribe knew that they'd be walking a thin line between sovereignty and US drug law. Pine Ridge's ordinance makes a distinction between industrial hemp and its psychoactive cousin and sets a threshold for distinguishing between the two at 1 percent THC. The US government makes no such distinction; any THC is too much, according to US law.
Robert Ecoffey, superintendent of the BIA on Pine Ridge, gave the tribe some hefty warnings before the seeds were planted. Ecoffey says, "I told them, if you're going to plant, I want to be upfront with you, you may be subjecting yourself to arrest and penalties." No arrests were made in connection with the raid, but the South Dakota US attorney's office says it may still prosecute.
In the tribe's view, the decision to grow industrial hemp is well within its right to self-determination. The tribal council based its approval of the hemp ordinance on the Fort Laramie Treaty, which sets apart land for the "absolute and undisturbed use and occupation" of the Lakota.
The gray zone between the Oglala Lakota people's right to self-determination and federal drug laws is where Alex White Plume now finds himself trapped.
"They're treating us like second-class citizens, like wards of the state," says White Plume, who is considering suing the government for compensation and has started soliciting donations to a legal fund. "To me, it's like the US going into Canada and raiding a hemp field over there."
"The US position is [that] the general drug laws apply equally on Indian reservations as they do anywhere else in the US," says Ted McBride, US Attorney for the district of South Dakota, who is handling the case. He says that federal law supersedes tribal law.
That sentiment infuriates some members of the tribe, whose resentments go back more than 200 years of treaties made with -- and broken by -- the US. The bloody history of US-Lakota relations includes the 1890 massacre of 180 Lakota at Wounded Knee, and the 1973 siege at the same site.
Like many American Indian tribes, the Lakota were once a self-sufficient nation. Today the reservation is known for high rates of poverty, disease, alcoholism, and suicide. Poor living conditions are exacerbated by overcrowding because of a shortage of as many as 2,000 housing units on Pine Ridge -- one family of 23 lives in a single trailer.
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Members of a Pine Ridge group called the Slim Butte Land Use Association want to change that. Five years ago, they decided to pursue a hemp project to create jobs and housing. They began by purchasing industrial hemp from Canada -- where it's been legally grown since 1998 -- to build a "demonstration house." The house, which is nearing completion, is built from "hempcrete" -- durable, concrete-like blocks that are made from hemp, cement, lime, and sand.
But if the hemp project is to succeed long-term, supporters say, the Oglala Lakota will have to grow their own instead of relying on expensive imports. That's why the tribe passed the ordinance, and Alex White Plume became a farmer.
Ironically, industrial-grade hemp was already growing wild on Pine Ridge, thanks to the federal government's "Hemp for Victory" campaign during World War II. White Plume used seeds from plants growing locally and from the Nebraska wetlands for his field.
"I can't describe the beauty of those plants," says White Plume. "Other than the pulling of the weeds, you don't have to add anything; no pesticides or fertilizers. They just grow. People came from all the country to see them-they were in awe."
To White Plume and his allies, the timing of the seizure seemed suspicious. First, the DEA waited until the plants were fully-grown to confiscate them. In addition, the agency chose to conduct the raid on the day the tribe's legal counsel, attorney Tom Ballanco, was in Kentucky defending actor Woody Harrelson in a separate hemp case. (Harrelson, coincidentally, had agreed to purchase White Plume's crop for use on the demonstration house.)
"They knew I was the attorney up there and that was the one day they could be sure I wasn't going to be at Pine Ridge," says Ballanco, a West Point grad who authored the tribe's hemp ordinance. "It certainly seems like a rather convenient choice of days given they had the entire summer to come get it."
In October, the DEA got authorization from a district court in South Dakota to burn the plants. Now the entire crop is, as they say, up in smoke.
In the activists' view, the DEA raid contrasts sharply with other messages the federal government has been sending to Pine Ridge. Just one year before the raid, President Clinton visited the reservation to celebrate its designation as a federal "empowerment zone."
"You have suffered from neglect, and you know that doesn't work," Clinton said at the time. "You have also suffered from the tyranny of patronizing inadequately funded government programs, and you know that doesn't work. We have tried to have a more respectful, more proper relationship with the tribal governments of this country to promote more genuine independence, but also to give more genuine support."
Winona LaDuke, an Ojibwe activist from the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota and Ralph Nader's running mate in the past two presidential elections, says, "I think it's federal double-speak or forked tongues. The federal government likes to support the sovereignty of Indian tribes when we talk about nuclear-waste dumps and casinos and toxic-waste dumps, but doesn't support their sovereignty when they try to do something which is absolutely healthy, sustainable development with grassroots initiatives."
In late November, a trailer full of Canadian hemp arrived on Pine Ridge. The shipment, donated by the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association and the Madison Hemp & Flax Company, replaced the hemp lost in the raid so the tribe can finish its demonstration house.
But the tribe isn't settling for charity. On April 26, hemp seeds will once again be sown somewhere on the Pine Ridge reservation, although not on White Plume's land. The tribe's new president, John Yellow Bird Steele, has endorsed what is sure to be another bumper crop.
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Why arent organizations like Habitat for "Humanity" and the like going to rezs to build houses for native americans, or are they? What the hell is wrong with this world? I am absolutely disgusted, embarrassed, enraged, dumbfounded by the plight of NA's. This country needs to stand the hell up and do everything possible to rectify this situation, including legalizing hemp agriculture. Any "rational" person with the slightest intelligence could understand this. Excuse me now, i have to go puke!!
What is happening to Alex are the policies the US should be doing in Iraq.Either decide to finish what has been started or leave their country. It is the same imperialistic policies that the white people used to imvade Indian country last century. However , Alex will prevail! There are several fronts by which this problem maybe addressed and resolved. A-Ho
We need to rise up as a people and say to our government that the Drug Enforcement Act needs to be reviewed and rewritten to authorize the agriculture of hemp. As a nationally certified addictions counselor I find it abhorant that hemp is catagorized as a controlled substance. Maybe we should take some hemp and have each senator and congressman smoke it to prove the point that Hemp is not a drug. Maybe then our legislators would pull their heads out from their nether regions long enough to pass an intelligent law. So far as the DEA goes, they've become much like the IRS in that they seem to regulate their own rules, and can no longer be counted on to do an appropriate job. If each person that read this article would contact their representatives and senators, and tell them that we as a people will no longer stand for such idiocy, maybe the laws would change. In the meantime, everyone contact their legislators and tell them to pass HR 1009 for the legalization of hemp agriculture.
This story was very disconcerting to me. I was appalled to hear of the high handed treatment of this farmer. The idiots in our government are so petty and wrong it actually is an acute embarrassment to read. But when you think of the idiot on top of the government mabe it isn't so hard to see. I want Mr. Whiteplume to know that he should persevere. I wish him sucsess in this endeavor.
I just saw the PBS special, "Standing Silent Nation" about the Oglala Lakotas wanting to grow Hemp for paper production. Would this hemp be grown for producers of paper and harvested to be sent the them? Or would the tribe also produce the paper?
This is a good crop to grow because it does not need much water and this would be th only Hemp production of its type in the US.
Has your tribe thought of diversifing the type of crops grown on your land such as soy or corn? Especially corn now that it is being used as an alternate for different gas production?
Also, when I saw the part of the film where a windmill was erected, I thought of the "wonderful gift of wind" and thought there seems to be a great amount of good wind that blows more often than not in your area...why not generate your own electricity for your trip by putting in large windmills that can generate this wind for your electricity?
I see that you are also interested in Education for your children and the importance of it.
Have you ever thought of a preschool on your reservation that taught the Montessori Method. Your own members could be taught this fantastic method. The subjects can be taught in both languages. Empowering your children in both English as well as their native tongue. Then the art being taught can be taught by your elders in order to preserve the beauty of the expression of your culture.
There is an organization in our area that goes to your reservation yearly. They get quilts from the tribal woman and auction them off here in the Dayton, Ohio area. Some of these quilts went as high as $1,800. Why not sell these beautiful quilts on E-bay or to museums? They are beautiful!
There is a woman who is the Director of Montessori Teacher Education Center at Xavier University in Cincinatti, Ohio who instructs students in the Montessori Method. She has been interested in working with Native Americans. She wishes to instruct them on this method. This empowers children into becoming productive, independent adults. Her name is Dr. Pamela Rigg. She can be reached at (510)278-1115. She would work with tribal members interested in becoming teachers using the Montessori Method. Please give her a call.
The Lakota people are an intelligent, loving, caring, giving people who desire like everyone else...a great life for themselves and their children.
I was appalled at the actions of the DEA and the FBI! Wasting their time harrassing the Lakotas when they should be tracking terrorists! What MORONS! I think that EVERYONE who has just one drop of Native American blood should write to their congressman in support of bill HR1009. Just about everyone has some Native American blood, now we need to stand up and be counted. Together we can make a difference! Tell everyone you KNOW about this & urge them to get involved!
as a desendent (and hopefully soon a member of the tribe) of the tribe i am also disgusted to hear of such an outrage. i have visited my lands only once for my grand fathers funeral and there i saw the poverty. i saw the reservation housing which was built cheap and packed together. i saw children playing in the streets in worn out clothing. also i saw a group of really strong people. to see this kind of thing in the middle of the beautiful lands sorrounding seemed upsetting to me. i had the chance to speak to elders of the tribe and got a good understanding for the people and there beliefs. anything to help such a group of people would be amazing. we tell them that they are there own government the run in and enforce our rules! its not right and i hope everyone feels remorse for my people as i do. i hope to visit the reservation with my children one day and see something beautifull even if it means pot plants everywhere. thanks for taking ur time to read this yo had to get it off my back
the documentary "standing still nation" needs to be broadcast on you-tube so it gets a bigger audience
oops Standing Silent Nation, not standin still, however I also would like every Republican who voted or still believes in Bush to see his take on a sovereign nation that was sad and funny
This whole issue needs to be made more public, especially with the presidential election season fast approaching. I find it outrageous that efforts to better the lives of so many is being sabotaged by government breauocracy! I fully support the production of industrial hemp in USA! It is an industry that could help many to get out of poverty and is much more healthy for our entire country than relying on casinos as a major income source for reservaations.
It is sad to know the gov't will let white people grow hemp,but not the Natives of the land to grow it. What is the gov't afraid of? that a Native will support his family,or community? What did they do with the hemp? Who profitted? I hope Alex and his family fight this. The gov't makes me mad that they can just destroy a persons life and not bat an eye shame on them. Alex White Pume and Family Good Luck something good will happen.
What they did was wrong and they should
at least make up for there silly mistake
in some way ,but knowing the USA Goverment they wont do any thing but shout and send a few more boys over seas to be killed.
As an Oglala tribal member, born in Pine Ridge, let me say to the person who asked about beans and corn--they won't grow there. The soil is mostly clay based or Badlands. It's an environment meant for buffalo and maybe wheat, but there's a drought now too, so that's difficult as well. Only the eastern side of South Dakota is fit for beans and corn.
Hemp makes the most sense to grow, because of the lack of water and rich soil. The only reason our current reservation was left to us was because the American govt didn't want it, because it wouldn't grow much, nor did it contain gold.
Also, the Red Cloud school introduced the Montessori method back in the 70s. Don't know if they're still doing it or not though.
FYI, hemp is illegal to grow everywhere in America. It is a shame all over, from North Dakota to California, and other places, that industrial hemp is the only plant legal to use in manufacturing, but illegal to grow.
I don't believe in the use of marijuana, except as a medicine, but still staunchly support hemp. As an organic crop especially.
Don't think for one second the big seed and pesticide conglomerates will stand for it though. Like Albert said, he harvested his hemp seed locally.
God help us all.
Tasiyagnunpa
thelordslark.blogspot.com
When will the American people wake up and become sick and tired of the over-controlling policies, double talk, and hypocracy of our government?
keep up the good work, it is time for native americans to teach the newcomers a proper way to live with respect for people and the land.
may your dieties (gods) smile upon you. I wish health, happiness and prosperity in that order
Alchoho prohibition made organized crime prosper. Now drug prohibition had allowed organized crime to purchase small countries. But pity the poor agents who would be put out of work if drugs were decriminalized.,
America will learn that time will eventualy defend the truth.
Just another harrasment and oppresive move by the government. They have never wanted the sioux people to have anything. What are they so afraid of??? They came to the land, lied, killed, and cheated, then took everything from us, least they can do allow the people to help themselves....., but I guees that's what happens when you fight for your homeland and stand in the governments way!!
I feel that to some extent the legalize Marihuana movement is being used by the conservative right to spread more fear and ignorance on the Hemp issue. My focus right now is to once and for all yell out that HEMP IS NOT A DRUG! People and the government (of the people, by the people, for the people) need to recognize the economic and "legal" manipulations (monopolies) that took place back in the 1940s. I cannot believe that Hemp is still illegal, it is like we're living in a country populated mostly by morons. We should all file a major class action suit against Dupont and associates for starting this whole mess in the fist place. Who were the judges? How much did they them to pass this nonsense off as legal procedure? Someone should be held responsible. Just like the Nazis were tried for their war crimes, or like the Aussies and those aboriginal kids, they recognized it as wrong and they are better for it. This should not be left unquestioned. It has caused major harm to the world's ecology (Trees and Rain Forests, etc) if you investigate it. It was outright manipulation of the judicial system and mass media scare tactics on the part of William Randolph Hearst and his cronies. Is a law suit the only way to get some attention around here?.
