As I sit here and write this article, a man sells his body for alcohol, a woman gives birth to a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome, a young girl is raped, an old woman is beaten and murdered. One may believe these horrific acts only occur in big cities, foreign countries, etc., but little do you know they are happening right here, in the state of Nebraska, and no one is doing anything to stop it.
Whiteclay, Nebraska is a small town within Sheridan County with the population of 14 Native Americans from the Pine Ridge Reservation. This deserted area is located just a few miles from "The Good Life" sign that many have claimed to be our trademark. May I ask, what makes Nebraska so "good?" Is it the 3.5 million beer cans sold in Whiteclay each year, meaning about 13,000 cans per day? Or is it the recent murder of Sherry Wounded Foot, a woman found dead in the streets of Whiteclay just last month?
Doesn't seem so "good" after all, does it?
The Pine Ridge Reservation, located across the border of South Dakota, banned all alcohol sales which led to the creation of Whiteclay. Disregarding its meager population, the town consists of four liquor stores. Although many have tried to revoke their liquor licenses, the liquor commission has rejected this offer because the stores are selling legal products and claim to not be violating any laws.
Yet, if a minor were to purchase alcohol in Lincoln, Nebraska, law enforcement would quickly take action. Same as if an already intoxicated person were to purchase more cans, no one would doubt the violation of law in this situation. So why is it that these problems are overlooked in Whiteclay, when they are 100 percent illegal everywhere else?
It is my duty as a student and Nebraskan to take initiative and bring awareness to this issue. According to ancient Natives wisdom, “think of your future generations. The actions you take today will affect your generations 7 years from now." We are the generation that can finally put an end to the horrific acts occurring in this small town we call our own.
So you may be asking yourself, what can I do to help?
The answer is clear: make your voice be heard. Whether it's writing a letter to government officials or simply writing an article like this one, bringing attention to this subject is the most important thing to do. The more people who are informed about this troubling conflict in Whiteclay, the better chance we have to abolish it.
Here are some local ways to take action:
Walk To End Whiteclay is October 16th-22nd, 2016. This unification will take place over fall break and is a great opportunity for students to stand up and make a difference in this matter. The walk will begin in Scottsbluff and end in Whiteclay.
Open Eyes Not Cans: Sign the petition to ban all alcohol sales to the distributors in Whiteclay. You may also make a generous donation to support those on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
