At Pierre
Members of the Gordon Weston Indian Veterans Post traveled to Pierre on February 19, 2005, for an American Indian Veterans meeting at Pierre Indian Learning Center.  Don Loudner, Mitchell, SD, veteran and member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and Regionnal Director for the American Indian Veterans Association called for the day long meeting. Attending from Flandreau and representing the Post were: Martin Bernard, Randy Bernard, Basil Heth, Bill Canku, Leonard Johnson, Sam Allen, and Gordon Jones, Sr. There were 21 veterans present and the two lodges were Standing Rock and Flandreau (Gordon Weston Indian Veterans Post).
The meeting was conducted by 1st Vice President Marcella LeBeau and Secretary/Treasurer Barb LeBeau. Roll call was given and no minutes were represented because Don Loudner-President was not present. Don Loudner was attending a National meeting in Louisana.
A treasurer report was given, the organization owns a $1000 CD in the bank for an Indian Veteran monument in Pierre.
The checking account had a balance of $1000 and change. Supplies and stamps were purchased out of this checking account. A motion was made and seconded to table the election of SD Veterans Lodges' officers until the next meeting. There was discussion on membership, the Secretary reported that when she took office there were 250 plus members with the SD American Indian Veterans. Since that time the organization has collected 50 more addresses of Indian Veterans who joined.
There was discussion on by-law and constitution changes, membership dues, Senator DaschleÕs bill to recognize Native American Veterans organization like the VFW Legions. The Veterans agreed that they needed to work with the Senators and newly elected Senator John Thune. The next meeting will be scheduled at Flandreau to concur with the National meeting. The meeting will be set for tentatively April21-23rd 2005. (reported by Gordon Jones,Sr.)
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At EROS Data Center
The Gordon Weston Indian Post was asked to attend the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between  the United Sioux Tribes and the U.S. Geological Survey at EROS data center in Garretson, SD on Friday February 11, 2005. The Gordon Weston Indian Post presented their colors at the beginning and end of the meeting, and Crazy Horse drum group of Pine Ridge was also present to provide the Flag song. Leonard Crow Dog Jr. was also in attendance to provide the opening and closing prayer.
This is the first partnership of its kind; this agreement will be able to use National Center for Earth Resources Observation Systems remote-sensing data for such things as cataloging cultural resources sites and making natural-resources management decisions on tribal land. The USGS will benefit from knowing the tribal traditions and history that can help earth scientists better interpret historical land-use changes.
In addition to it immediate, tangible benefits, the pact holds out hope that modern science and Native American tradition someday can be synthesized into a new and more complete way of understanding the Earth, said Charles Groat, USGS Director.
Charles Groat also expressed the debate within the scientific community about how traditional knowledge is good and how it can be utilized.
William Benjamin Bureau of Indian Affairs Great Plains regional director said the partnership will enable South Dakota tribes to direct the lenses EROS remote-sensing equipment to gather data for an inventory of Cultural and sacred sites, to track the growth of prairie dog towns, to help tribes manage vegetation for wildfire control, to study irrigation systems and to catalog tribal mineral assets.
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