Unci Maka. The language is Lakota, spoken by the Sioux, and the words, used in prayer, mean Grandmother Earth. Historically, Native Americans revered and defended their land, especially from the ravages of white men–a tradition portrayed in the hit movie, “Dances with Wolves.” But just miles from the film’s location, a civil-engineering firm is developing plans for a solid-waste landfill. Why are engineers from Connecticut on a South Dakota reservation? Leaders of the Rosebud Sioux tribe invited them. South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle, an outspoken opponent, calls the plan “Dances With Garbage.”
Desperate for income, some impoverished American Indian tribes are leasing reservation property for landfills. In the last few years more than 100 tribes considered the idea, but the vast majority of the proposals went nowhere, largely because of pressure brought by environmental groups and angry neighbors and opposition from within the tribe. But in addition to the Rosebud Sioux, other tribes currently have projects underway in two other states. This month Indians on the Cabazon reservation near Palm Springs, Calif., will begin testing an environmentally safe incinerator. Native Americans near San Diego are pursuing three similar projects, including one for hazardous waste. Mississippi’s Choctaws (per capita income: $3,011) have been negotiating a contract for a toxic-waste site, which tribal proponents say could earn them as much as $8 million a year.
For the disposal companies, doing business with the Indians can mean less red tape and lower taxes. Reservation land is jointly controlled by the federal government and the tribes, and not subject to state business or environmental regulations. All contracts have to be approved by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, and all operations must answer to the Environmental Protection Agency. The federal agencies actively discourage fly-by-night businessmen by pointing out the high costs. The BIA requires an Environmental Impact Statement by an independent contractor which costs the disposal company about $500,000; meeting the requirements for an EPA permit can easily cost another $500,000.
What the issue of dump sites may be endangering most is tribal harmony. Many of the early proposals were rejected after fractious debate. In Mississippi, the Choctaw protest turned bitter: antidumpers carried picket signs that read WE EAT BOLOGNA. THE CHIEF EATS STEAK, and last week the tribe voted against the dump in a referendum. Even if the companies do take environmental precautions, some Native Americans don’t think they offer enough economic relief. Rosebud Sioux have been guaranteed “preference” for the landfill’s projected 60 to 100 jobs. “How dumb do they think we are?” says Ronald Valandra, who called in environmental groups to help. “They say we have 85 percent unemployment. So we get a megadump and what do we have? 84.5 percent.” The debate is likely to continue as long as Native Americans are caught in the stranglehold of poverty.
