As one drives along Route 18 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the first announcement for the Merrival Buffalo Farm recommends, " See the White Buffalo Calf". The second signs beckons further, "See the White Buffalo Calf, the highlight of your trip!" And if you weren't in a hurry, then by the time you passed the third sign demanding, "Turn Back Now!" you just might.

At the end of the long, dusty driveway, there is a yellow two story house, and in the room downstairs, Poker Joe Merrival lifts off the cover from a large glass case. Inside is the stuffed white buffalo calf.

He has collected many articles explaining the extraordinary odds of this calf being born at all, one in ten million to six billion. Even more astonishing is the fact that this was only one of two that had been born to his herd. And even more startling yet, was the fact that these two calves had been born to different mothers within two weeks of each other. The odds of this occurring have to be almost outside of the realm of possibility. Blood was taken from the calves and tested at the Stormont Laboratories in California to see if any crossbreeding had been done and it was determined that no foul play had been involved. These calves tested as full blooded buffalo calves. (Buffalo Tracks: Intertribal Bison Cooperative Quarterly Newsletter Spring April-June 1996)

However, foul play did enter the picture when one of those calves was killed by a police officer and his young companion, who said that the calf posed a physical threat to them while they were out walking. They reported that the calf had become separated from the herd and they had deemed it dangerous. Yet even against the advisement of the Tribal Gaming Board, they shot it.

Upon later investigation, Poker Joe found the fence had been cut, leading him to wonder if the calf had been led from the area rather than having wandered off. Also, the calf had been killed in the manner of a slaughter for meat rather than in the manner of defense. The other calf, which had been born first, had died shortly after birth of natural causes.

One would assume that all of this was interesting enough, but when one spends time with Poker Joe it is quickly discovered that there is even more going on here at this small buffalo ranch than meets the eye. Sooner or later, Poker Joe will bring out his enormous gray binder in which he has compiled a most extensive business plan that contains all the necessary research, projections, necessities, benefits and much more that would come from his plan for opening a wildlife preserve with a revolving buffalo pasture and slaughterhouse. The slaughterhouse could accommodate their herds and others as well. It would provide jobs for hundreds of people, could all be operated on tribal land on Pine Ridge, would create outreach programs for youth, and could restore the land to its original condition. They would be breeding and raising grass-fed buffalo which has been shown to reduce health problems. This method of raising buffalo produces Omega 3 type fat which reduces heart disease and diabetes, two very serious concerns in the Indian population. The entire scenario is breathtaking. After perusing the extensive proposition, only one possible question remains unanswered; why hasn't this been put into action? When asked if he had taken this project to a bank, his answer was what made the whole story.

He had indeed approached a local bank and presented it to the loan officer who was fairly new in town. The man commented that he had rarely seen such an impressive piece of research. He called his boss and said, "Sir, we have a couple of Indian boys here with a terrific plan. I've never seen anything like it." He then said to Poker that he had never seen such a huge land base available and to "come back next week and we'll have something for you."

However, when he returned to the bank, the suddenly somber bank representative handed him his binder and said, "I'm sorry but its been turned down by the Board of Directors. "

Poker Joe demanded to know why.

The rep said he didn't know why. Poker then asked who was on the board of directors. The man then answered that he couldn't give him that information. Poker demanded that the young man call his attorney and tell him that under the Freedom of Information Act, he wanted to know who it was that had turned him down. The man picked up the phone, and upon Poker's request, put the attorney on speaker phone. The attorney agreed and said, "You'd best tell him who's on that board because you're in enough trouble already."

The banker then revealed that the men on the board of directors were in fact the ranchers that held leases to the tribal land.

Not to be deterred, Poker went to the tribal council and told them what happened. They referred him to the BIA, because the law says that no land is to be leased to non-tribal members if a member is willing and able to use that land and pay a reasonable fee.

He wrote to the BIA, who had made 20 million dollars available in funds for business development. He explained that the ranchers were leasing the land at $15 per acre and he would be happy to lease it back at $30 per acre. The BIA requires at least 10% collateral, so in order to borrow 100,000 dollars, one must be able to provide 10,000 dollars. Poker Joe offered the BIA collateral of 200,000 dollars in order to borrow 100,000 dollars.

In the early 1980s, he applied for a guaranteed agriculture loan through the BIA, which the BIA is supposed to guarantee up to 90%. He went through all of the procedures and received a letter of support from the BIA. The tribal land committee approved the proposal to lease 2400 acres of land at 30 dollars an acre. He found a bank that would commit to the loan, and all seemed like it was finally on the right track when he received a letter from the Reagan administration that stated that due to administrative changes, the project would be delayed. Shortly thereafter, he received a phone call from Washington saying the loan should have been approved six months ago and that if everything was in line, Poker Joe would receive his money. But this time, when the proposal was resubmitted, it was turned down.

A letter was received from the Department of the Interior, BIA, Washington, DC, 20245, dated Jan. 21, 1982, signed by Dept Asst of Indian Affairs Theodore C. Krenzke, stating that the reason for the denial was that "the sprinklers were in inadequate condition and furthermore, the land that you propose to lease was leased to others."

However, government regulation 25cfr says that no one can be turned down for obstacles that could be overcome, and the sprinkler systems could have easily been overcome. And, Government regulation 271.16f cfr states Bureau officials may not decline to enter a contract with a tribal organization because of any objection that could be overcome by that contract.

Constitution Bylaws state that tribal lands may leased by tribal council members with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. Preferences will be given first to Indian corporations, communities or cooperative associations (which is what Poker Joe's plan falls under) and second, to individuals who are members of Oglala Sioux tribe. (Poker Joe is Oglala Sioux.) Tribal lands shall not be leased to non-members by the tribal council unless it appears that no Indian community or member of the tribe is able and willing to use this land and is able to pay a reasonable fee for said use.

So according to all of these provisions, the BIA was flat out breaking the law.

Ever determined, Poker Joe has fought for almost 20 years to find funding for his program. He recently appealed to a fund through a USDA program entitled Empowerment Zone, Strategic Vision for Change: Oglala Oyate Woitancen Empowerment Zone

Poker asked what the funds were to be used for and was given the following information:

Grants are to be provided to achieve three goals:

1. to achieve and receive economic support for residents to help develop abilities to support themselves and their families.

2. to achieve self sufficiency for residents , enable them to become and remain able to care for themselves.

3. to prevent neglect and abuse and to preserve our families, to protect children and adults who are unable to protect themselves from neglect, abuse or exploitation and to preserve, and rehabilitate families.

Since Joe's plan would fulfill both numbers one and two of the grant's requirements, he applied for a grant from the US Department of Agriculture's Empowerment Zone. However, he was told there were no funds for agriculture.

South Dakota's two top revenues are agriculture and tourism…both of which Joe's plan can provide. This grant has been in existence for three years, so Poker Joe requested in writing to know who has received any of this grant money. Although he has received nothing in writing so far, he was told that the money has been used for sidewalks in Kyle, athletic fields, and a scoreboard for the school in Martin, which is off the reservation. None of these projects even vaguely fall under their own requirements. But now whenever he asks if there is money for agricultural programs available, he is told they are working on it. This has become the standard answer he receives from them.

If a government to government relationship really existed, individuals with tribal support should be able to start their own businesses. However, it’s a fact that the BIA seeks at every turn to eliminate the possibilities for change and economic growth by the Indian people on land that is supposed to be their own.

The response from the BIA that the land was already leased and that they would be unable to provide Joe with access to the tribal land was ludicrous enough. However, the real slap in the face occurred in the last line of that letter. It ends with, "We are sure you can understand that we have no reasonable alternative than to disapprove the loan." Well, we understand, all right.

We understand that Indians are to be kept in poverty until they are forced to give up their land. We understand that the land is almost entirely in control of the white farmers, ranchers and the BIA. We understand that Indians are not in a position to call the shots about what happens to their own property and that when an opportunity to provide change and progress in a way that benefits Indians but not whites is presented, it will be denied at every step. Poker recently sent his plan out to the Anne Vinneman, the Secretary of the US Dept of Agriculture in Washington, who lauded his program and encouraged him to meet with Tim Potts, the Director of West River Rural Development at the SD Dept of Agriculture. Tim told him his plan needed more development but that if he could get a bank loan of 90% that he would guarantee it. One need only look briefly at Poker Joe's plan to know that he has left no stone unturned and that more development is probably next to impossible.

All of the border town banks have declined loans. They will never give loans since they lease the land. It may be true that all's fair in business and war, however, when whites are controlling land that they have no rights to, then its clear that the Indian wars in South Dakota are far from over.

Poker Joe will continue to follow every lead and intends to exhaust every remedy. But he fully expects to find what he has found so far. In almost 20 years of searching for ways to put his ever-expanding plans into action, he has found nothing but run-arounds. Anyone who thinks racism in SD is based solely on ignorance has some big news to come to terms with. Racism is policy in South Dakota, it's Big Bucks. When asked if he knew anyone else this had happened to, Poker Joe said, "Yeah, everyone I know who's ever tried to start a big business on Pine Ridge." He explained about people who wanted to open hotels on the reservations but had been hampered from bringing in hotel chains because it would hurt the business in the border towns.

Those who don't understand why Native people remain on the reservation to face the kind of disillusionment and hopelessness that reservation life can breed must understand that there are plenty of people who could change things were the opportunity presented to them. With the connection to the land and the culture so important to the people there, they should not be forced to have to leave the reservation in order to find jobs and provide a decent life for their families.

In an article that appeared in Indian Country Today, (Friday, 15 June 2001, Feature: Struggling on the reservation By Kay Humphrey) Kay Humphrey wrote that the poverty rate in Pine Ridge is 42.9% and that according to the "Census Bureau, Shannon County's (where Pine Ridge is located) median income in 1997 was only $17,814…while statewide the median income had grown to $31,354."

"Furthermore, "a high birthrate and the return of many tribal members from outside the reservation have only increased the pressure on housing. Many tribal members are forced to double up with relatives. The census has 4.39 residents per household in Shannon County….compared with the state average of 2.58."

"With few jobs, and little to do, alcohol abuse is a continuing problem, and has made demands on limited health care resources."

In that same article, "State Sen. Paul Valandra…. said many of the ills that have plagued the reservation communities continue to be a problem for tribal governments."

"If you have favorable economic development, a lot of these problems will take care of themselves. Once you break out of poverty, a lot of those problems will disappear." One can only hope, though surely doubt, he is ignorant of the irony of his statement. He continued, "competition with other areas of the state has made it difficult for the tribes to attract sustainable businesses to the reservation and there are few tribal businessmen with the expertise to drive development."

Perhaps it isn't the competition from other areas of the state that has drawn commerce away from the reservations as much as it’s the local and state government and the BIA that are making certain this kind of competition doesn't happen.

"If South Dakota gets a company with 200 jobs, state officials want it in Aberdeen or Huron," Senator Valandra said."

An Indian Country Today article entitled, "Senator candidate's wife visits Pine Ridge,July 22, 2002 , by: David Melmer , tribal people state, "Tourism is one of South Dakota's largest industries and the reservations have been shunned from that market by the state's tourism department… They said that the state needs to

help develop tourism on the reservations.

In the past, South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow, a Republican, has

openly discouraged tourists from traveling to the reservations, because of what he claims are lack of jurisdiction and safety. He also said there were "panhandlers."

South Dakota is not a wealthy state. And its young people are not staying. To drive through South Dakota is to see miles and endless miles of corn, with small towns that show almost no economic viability. Only in the heavy tourist areas such as the Black Hills can one see prosperous little neighborhoods with larger homes and swimming pools. Its easy to understand why the grab for tourist dollars and bigger businesses would be fought over. However, the BIA's complicity with the farmers and ranchers for their use of Indian land is unconscionable when they are turning away opportunities that can provide change and progress for people who desperately need it.

When Mr. Valandra went on to say, "The tribe isn't trying very hard," one almost gasps at the duplicity.

" He said the tribe will have to work harder to bring about change and jobs which will ultimately allow tribal members better access to health care and resolve some of the societal ills such as substance abuse, crime and poverty." (Indian Country Today, (Friday, 15 June 2001, Feature: Struggling on the reservation By Kay Humphrey)

Pine Ridge, and surely some of the other reservations in South Dakota, unquestionably face issues that are hard to change in any area of the country that faces extreme poverty and a high rate of substance abuse that may have its roots in hopelessness. But Poker Joe's plan touches on so many circumstances that can help to bring change to the reservation. His plan to start a wildlife preserve where aspects of the Lakota culture can be practiced, celebrated and shared with pride would begin to address some of that hopelessness. Needless to say, a wildlife preserve could also bring in some of those tourist dollars. His plans for the revolving buffalo pastures and slaughterhouse could employ hundreds of people and the grass fed meat from the buffalo could start to address some of the health issues such as heart disease and diabetes that are faced by Native people who are living on the reservation. A more perfect plan is hard to imagine.

Now, back to those white buffalo calves. According to a story in Indian Country Today, "White Buffalo Calf: It’s a symbol of hope," May, 1996, "….a long time ago the Great Spirit sent the White Buffalo Calf Woman to the People. During a time when the Lakota were starving, two scouts were sent from the village to look for food. From a hill they saw a lone figure, approaching from the west. At first they thought it was a buffalo, but as it came closer they saw that it was a beautiful woman. One of the men had lustful thoughts and said he would go meet her. His companion warned him not to.

"This is a scared woman," he said. "Throw all bad thoughts aside." The scout ignored the advice, and when he tried to embrace her, a cloud enveloped the two of them. Soon the cloud disappeared and the other man saw the beautiful woman standing beside the skeleton of his companion.

The next day, the beautiful holy woman came to the scouts' camp and gave the People the Sacred Pipe. She taught them how to pray with it and told them how to live virtuously with the four great virtues: courage, wisdom, generosity and fortitude. She also gave the Lakota their seven sacred ceremonies. When she departed, the people raised their eyes and saw a white buffalo calf leaving in a cloud heading west."

An article in the Rapid City Journal entitled "Waiting for a white Buffalo," May 24, 1996, notes that this story was handed down through oral history to many tribes on the plains. It states that the White Buffalo Calf is more than Indian legend. "Her being is as true to Lakota religion as Jesus is to Christians."

Is it possible that there is a reason these sacred animals were born on Poker Joe's farm? Is it possible that this man with a plan could change a whole lot on Pine Ridge with just a little investment help? In any case, its time to hold the BIA accountable and force a little light into their dark dealings. And its time to end Racism for Profit in South Dakota.