To: agr@welcomehome.org
From: scottie a_ <sca@free-assembly.org>
Subject: Re: Info on Black Hills
Cc: Karin Zirk <kzirk@xxxxxxx>
Bcc:
6/1, 6/4/15
Thanks Karin, but this sparse info raises tuff questions:
At 10:50 AM -0700 5/30/15, Karin Zirk wrote:
Hi all,I pulled this off of FaceBook. Not sure how real it is or not and don’t have time to follow up.
If you would like to have a gathering in South Dakota on the Black Hills, you must meet with the Forest Supervisor and State Director of Fire on Monday June 1, 2015 to talk about the fire restriction and cultural resources on the Black Hills. The Forest Supervisor will be there at 1300 to meet you and or anyone else that wants to talk about the Black Hills NF. He is not available at any other time.
Location is the South Dakota Fire Center
3305 West South St
Rapid City SD
Apparently someone has made inquiries in South Dakota, and elicited this advisory from an official source, both as yet unidentified. it is plausible that fire restrictions in that region would pose severe constraints on a gathering there — and that this might be used as a plausible pretext to stop it.
Recall that the former Supervisor of Black Hills NF was John Twiss, a longstanding nemesis of Rainbow who became head of USFS Law Enforcement & Investigations (“LEI”) during the bad years 2003-08. His former underlings have risen in the ranks, and may be running a hostile show now.
And of course, we’re also talking about sacred Native lands… local tribes demand respect for this place and its “cultural resources”, and may not look kindly at hordes of white hipster yahoos stomping around. The romance of the Black Hills has appealed to gatherers for decades, and aside from the small rogue gathering there in 1992, wiser spirits have heeded due cautions about going there en masse, unready for the self-discipline that is required.
Karin’s tandem post (“Unfolding of the process”) wishfully suggests how it should go, but it has seemed like an ‘Unraveling’ from the dysfunctional Vision Council consensus last year:
Scouts were left to look at a vast area across the northern tier of the country, with huge responsibilities and vulnerable to divisions & diversions.
Last Fall Michigan seemed most probable, then we heard it was out of the mix, so I thought the main search shifted East… now comes this back-door news of people poking around in South Dakota, motivated by due diligence to the consensus or purposes of their own. Some good people on the road are trying to work this out earnestly and gracefully, but we’ve seen a few contrarian reports, and rumors of a split Gathering can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Officially (dba ‘PCU•FAP’) I am neutral on the choice of gathering sites, and ethically bound to stay out of these formative decisions: People may assemble as they wish, and our organization can respond in support but not interfere with the voluntary cooperations that go into a true public assembly.
But personally I am wary of rolling into the Black Hills as an afterthought or loose backup plan. For the Rainbow Gathering to properly go There, it should move on a clear focused Vision, a full commitment to do it Right, and respectful preparations with local people. This Ain’t No Disco.
I started these reflections a few days ago, then got busy; whatever happened in the 6/1 meeting with the Supervisor & Fire Director, it is now surprisingly announced:
“Spring council will take place in the state of South Dakota.” (posted late 6/3)
Hitch up yer britches, Folks… looks like we have to prove our fears wrong.
It’s time to raise the level of the game.
_scottie a.__