Tribal Members Gather to Discuss Cemetery: Plans to Install Cameras

More than 40 tribal citizens showed up at the tribal government center on Saturday, December 23rd, for a community discussion about inappropriate activities at the Old Indian Cemetery.

Led by tribal Chief Earl Mills Jr. and Medicine Man Guy Cash the meeting was mostly attended by tribal Elders and also several tribal youth who came to speak about the late night gatherings and partying at the cemetery.

“This is a final resting place for our ancestors, and this is just wrong to congregate if you’re not respectful of all the ancestors,” said Councilman David Weeden, reflecting the sentiments of many in the room who feel as the cemetery has become a gathering place for young people that carries on well into the late evening and early morning hours; where there’s questionable behavior at times.

As the cemetery is on tribal land, many of the tribal citizens in attendance felt it has become a place where people engage in illegal activity to avoid local and state police. Several of those who spoke expressed concerns that people who are selling drugs are not from our community and are treating the cemetery like a safe haven.

Several young people in attendance spoke about the gatherings at the cemetery that have been going on for several years after the community experienced the deaths of several young tribal members. Friends of these lost tribal members often go to the cemetery to remember them. While it is not what most would consider a healthy reflection of grief, it is nonetheless a response to their loss.

Tribal police chief Kevin Frye said his department has monitored the activities at the cemetery, and he regularly responds to such gatherings and runs the plates of cars parked there suspiciously.

Kevin said he believes there is less drug dealing there than has been suspected, but certainly late-night activity that is inappropriate. He said police are hard-pressed to do much more than urge the youth to move along because there are no tribal regulations to determine when the cemetery is open and closed. Also, he said they would benefit from having active cameras recording activity at the cemetery.

Overall, the meeting was considered a positive step toward resolving the issues. The group was told to expect cameras to be installed in the cemetery directly after the new year, and the opening hours of dawn to dusk are to be established.

A follow-up meeting is planned for Saturday, February 24th.