Churches mandated to register with Oglala Sioux Tribe, following pamphlets pushing 'true god of Native Americans'

In the aftermath of pamphlets distributed at Pine Ridge proclaiming Jesus as the "true God" of Native Americans, Oglala Sioux Tribe Council officials have taken action through a series of emergency meetings in recent weeks to address churches and missionaries allegedly using "impoverished children for financial gain."

The ordinance, mandating all churches and missionaries register and go through an authorization process with Tribal Council delegates, was published on the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council's Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon. The text reads "states conducting missionary activities without prior authorization from the Tribal Council" is "grounds for exclusion of non-members."

The ordinance, effective immediately, was codified with 15 votes supporting, two opposing and two "not voting," "to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the people."

The tribe's new law comes out of an emergency council meeting held last week, addressing a swath of pamphlets "demonizing Lakota culture" found at Pine Ridge and linked to visiting Baptist pastor Matthew Monfore.

"This week the Jesus is King Missionary was found distributing material that literally demonizes the Lakota Culture and Faith," read a July 22 statement from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, citing Monfore. "This is unacceptable and completely disrespectful."

Monfore has also been linked to a Christian-based ministry, the Dream Center, where he allegedly distributed the pamphlets to students during a seminar.

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That's all according to testimony during the emergency council meeting on July 26, given by Phillip Iron Shell, a member of International Indigenous Youth Council's (IIYC) Oglala Lakota Chapter, a network of indigenous youth across Turtle Island creating social change. Iron Shell initially heard about the pamphlets through friends who were approached by Monfore.

"They brought these pamphlets to me, knowing I'm an organizer," stated Iron Shell.

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The circulated materials had sayings that read "Jesus (Hebrew; Not 'White'), True God: Greater than Tunkasila, Demon Idol"; "What did Russell Means, Crow Dog and Black Elk Believe?," in reference to American Indian Movement figures; "What Helped Lead to the Wounded Knee Massacre?; and "Learn Why Jesus is the One True God of Native Americans."

"Reading these pamphlets it says that Tunkasila is devil," said Tyler Starcomesout from the Oglala District, also part of IIYC. "What does that even mean? And why would they preach that?"

The Dream Center, based in Pine Ridge, is also facing allegations of child mistreatment and indoctrination of Christian values. According to their website, Dream Center is "a non-profit Native American relief agency, an evangelical leader amongst Christian interfaith ministries to the First Nations People in Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota."

They've been operating on reservation land since 2001, said the Center's founder, Lori McAfee, who distanced the Center from Manfore, while speaking at the emergency meeting.

Eleanor Ferguson, youth mentor for IIYC's Oglala Lakota Chapter, also spoke at the meeting on behalf of a family, accusing McAfee of being involved in the death of their son, who took his own life after allegedly being subject to humiliation by McAfee at the Center when he accidentally threw a water balloon at her.

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"He went home the same night and killed himself," Ferguson said. "... No little boy should be humiliated by an outsider to the point where he feels the need to take his life."

In response, McAfee said they are false allegations and maintained the Center was not involved with Monfore or the distribution of the hate materials.

"I cannot speak for that brochure," stated McAfee at the meeting. "I hear a lot of false accusations against myself and the Center. I have no idea what's in that brochure. I read the first few lines and I was appalled. The man [Monfore] has never been to the Dream Center, ever."

McAfee told tribal council representatives and Pine Ridge community members they have the wrong idea of the Dream Center. The Center's founder also said she had never met Starcomesout and Ferguson, and the accusations against her were false.

"Water balloons? We don't use water balloons. That's one of the rules of the Dream Center, so I have no idea what you're talking about," she said.

McAfee reiterated the Dream Center did not come to Pine Ridge to interfere in culture or preach anything.

The Dream Center, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Starcomesout and Ferguson did not immediately respond to the Argus Leader's requests for comment about the issue.

Pine Ridge adopts ordinance requiring registration of churches, missionaries

Now, based on the new ordinance, churches and missionaries like Dream Center must register with the Secretary's Office and complete an authorization form about their staffing and activities on the reservation.

Failure to complete the registration and request for authorization to conduct missionary activities will result in "removal of the organization within the exterior boundaries of the Pine Ridge reservation."

The text acknowledges the history of abuses by churches upon indigenous peoples that has caused generational trauma, and the suppression of Lakota lifeways "prohibited by the United States policies of assimilation and conversion causing significant and lasting damage to our tribal members including to their identity as Lakota people," according to the ordinance.

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The new ordinance also expands jurisdiction to review, deny or approve submitted forms to the Secretary's Office to Tribal Council delegates.

"No organization shall be allowed to utilize our children by picture or video or by any means, without a release for use of image, by the parent or guardian and approval by the Executive Committee," the ordinance read.

Email human rights reporter Nicole Ki at nki@argusleader.com or follow on Twitter at @_nicoleki.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Pine Ridge officials mandate churches register with Council in new ordinance