Natives protest Nugent in Sturgis

Michael Ballard Owner of Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis Says He Won't Invite Ted Nugent Back To Lakota-land

By Somos IndependentsTed Nugent is banned from performing at the Sturgis, South Dakota Full Throttle Saloon Bar moving forward.

Michael Ballard who has a net worth of $5 million dollars and owner of Full Throttle decided profits over principles in Lakota country in Sturgis, South Dakota. Pretty cheap and pathetic if you ask me. Even though he is a millionaire and could have done the right thing aside from the $150,000.00 he had his eyes on with the Ted Nugent concert, he is on record via Lakota Territory News TV where he states:

Nugent has made headlines recently after two casinos canceled concerts with him, citing racist remarks. The Full Throttle Saloon had Nugent on the schedule for the main stage Wednesday night. Local Native Americans gathered around the Saloon with signs to protest him.

James Swan, president of The Urban Warrior Society, says he's protesting Nugent over accusations that Nugent called natives 'unclean vermin.' "Ted Nugent, you're a slob. You're an evil, horrible being, and Native Americans don't want you to like us," said Swan. "We don't want you to wear our head dress, we don't want you to act like you're native, because you're not."Smells Like Ted Nugent: Rocker Criticizes 'Stinkyass' Native Protesters

By Christina RoseProtesters came to Sturgis from almost all of the reservations in South Dakota, including Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, Standing Rock, Crow Creek and Lower Brule as well as Rapid City. It went well, according to Doug Bissonette, Lakota, who drove up from Pine Ridge to attend. “It turned out pretty good, a lot of bikers gave us the thumbs up," Bissonette said. "The owner said he kind of regretted it (hiring Nugent) and wouldn’t do it in the future.”

Indeed, Full Throttle owner Michael Ballard stated that had he known sooner about the protest and comments Nugent has been making, he wouldn’t have booked him. But for financial reasons, the show would go on. "I can't turn around and walk away from $150,000," Ballard told KOTA. "I mean that's the nuts and bolts of it. Now that we're made aware of it, we'll listen to it next time."

The only reported negative incidents at the protest occurred when a jeep went by the protest and occupants called out, “FU!” to the protestors. “That and a couple of guys tried to come out of the concert to come after us, I think they were drunk,” Bissonette said.

James Swan, Lakota, founder of the United Urban Warrior Society of Rapid City, South Dakota, said people came from Wisconsin, as did a couple from Hawaii who were caravaning their way from Bear Butte, a sacred place of prayer that stands imposingly just two miles outside of Sturgis.

“There was a really good turnout,” Swan said. “My message to Nugent was, he is not welcome in Indian country. We asked him to quit wearing a headdress, and running around in a loincloth. Wearing the headdress and using foul language, it’s disgracing us. He just doesn’t get it, he said nobody minds if he wears the Green Bay Packers t-shirt.”

Nugent attacks "unclean dipshit" Natives

Ever since Ted Nugent's racism got him fired from two tribal casinos, he's been trying to defend himself. As long as he kept talking, it was inevitable that his own ignorance would indict him.

Here's what Nugent really thinks of Indians:

Ted Nugent: 'My Lifestyle…Is More In The Indian Tradition Than Many Of The Indians Themselves'

By Miranda BlueTed Nugent called in to Glenn Beck’s program on Friday to defend himself after a number of his shows have been cancelled by Indian tribes because of his long history of racist remarks.

Nugent told Beck that in fact “my lifestyle as a white guy—though I’m hard to accept that designation—is more in the Indian tradition than many of the Indians themselves.”

In response to reports that he called protesters at one of his recent shows "unclean vermin,” Nugent told Beck, “I have a spiritual blood-brother relationship with these Indians and then the left literally creates the nastiest, hateful lie they can, put quotes around words attributed to me, Glenn, claiming that I called my red brothers ‘unclean vermin,’ which I never said in my life. They created that out of whole cloth.”

Later in the interview, Nugent acknowledged that he had called the protestors “unclean vermin” but that they were “communists.”Nugent defends his ‘Native credibility’ in face of protests

By Corey Morris“The media took that statement and said I said that about my Native American blood brothers, with whom I have had a wonderful, brotherhood relationship for more than 45 years,” he said.

“There’s not a tribe in this country that hasn’t invited me to their reservation to teach their children about being clean and sober, to aim small, miss small, and the history of hands-on conservation.

“I am the best friend to the Native Americans,” Nugent said.

“It doesn’t bother me on a personal level–the more idiots hate me, the better my guitar playing gets.”Let white man Ted Nugent teach you how to be Native American

"My lifestyle as a white guy ... is more in the Indian tradition than any of the Indians themselves," he says

By Prachi GuptaAs the predictable media shitstorm around his comments continues, Nugent is apparently going into damage-control mode at the only place he’ll find sympathy: in a studio with Glenn Beck. His defense consists of three points: A) The stupid liberals misquoted me, B) I have Native American friends so how can I be racist! and C) Besides, I’m more Indian than most Indians.

Alas, here’s the kicker: “My lifestyle as a white guy—though I’m hard to accept that designation—is more in the Indian tradition than many of the Indians themselves.” Dear Native Americans: White guy Ted Nugent can’t be racist, because the white guy knows more about your culture than you do.Obviously Nugent can't name a single tribe and thinks all Indians are the same. Strike one.

Nugent thinks of Indians as his "red brothers" and "blood brothers." His notion that he has a relationship with some five million people, all of whom are "red," is strike two.

Indeed, he thinks he's a better Indian than many of them. Which means millions of Indians are inferior at being themselves. Or simply inferior, period. Strike three and he's out.



Yep, he's a racist

But wait, it gets worse.

Native Americans Protest Flaming Lips Lead Singer Wayne Coyne & Ted Nugent in Portland, OregonWhen challenged by a young Native man, Lance Browneyes on Facebook about wearing a Plains headdress and using a sacred White buffalo in photographs he retorted, "It was a gift from an Apache spiritual elder for helping Inidan(sp) kids stop substance abuse you subhuman mongrel." (Note: these headdresses are not part of Apache culture.)Ted Nugent Previews His Appearance At Toledo Blade Concert By Attacking "Stinkyass" American Indian Protestors

Nugent: American Indians Could Have Fought Off Settlers With Less "Whoopin" And "Hollerin"

By Timothy JohnsonOn August 7, Nugent took to his Facebook page to hype his "Rib-Off" appearance, but also to argue that American Indians upset about land being taken from them by white settlers need to learn about the American Dream.

Nugent wrote, "WE ARE ON OUR JET NOW HEADING FOR TOLEDO RIBFEST JAM AFTER AN INSANE INCREDIBLE OUT OF BODY ULTRAROCKOUT at the Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis SD! Simply astonishing gig! 4 stinkyass unclean dipshit protestors that admitted they hate me AND ALL WHITE PEOPLE THAT STOLE THEIR LAND BULLSHIT!! See, it aint me they hate, they hate all Americans that produce & live the American Dream. Simply insane!"

The protestors that Nugent attacked as "stinkyass unclean dipshit[s]" were reportedly from the United Urban Warrior Society in Rapid City, SD.

Nugent made other inflammatory comments in the discussion thread on his Facebook post. One fan wrote that "Maybe the natives shoulda had better weapons ..." to which Nugent responded, "less peyote less whoopin & hollerin."Ted Nugent mocks ‘unclean dipsh*t’ Native Americans: Whites ‘stole their land’ is ‘bullsh*t’

Nugent: Tribe is "weak & stupid"

Ted Nugent: Native American Tribe That Canceled Concert is ‘Weak and Stupid’

By Allen CliftonNugent finally did deliver some choice words about the Native American tribe that canceled his concert.

The exchange happened last night when one of his fans left a comment on his Facebook page, saying, “Guess you pissed off the tribe in cda Idaho ….. too bad,,,, would love to see Ted in the panhandle. ….”

And wouldn’t you know it, Ted Nugent was kind enough to reply to this fan, saying, “they were weak & stupid to fall for the lies. they will learn sooner or later. I forgive them.”

I guess in Nugent’s mind it’s okay to call a Native American tribe “weak & stupid” as long as you end that statement with “I forgive them.”

Tribes drop Nugent over racism

The following news item caused a flurry of activity:

CdA Tribe Books Controversial NugentThe Coeur d’Alene Tribe of American Indians—itself a target of a recent racism—has booked racist rocker Ted Nugent for a public concert next month at the tribe’s landmark North Idaho casino. The decision is stirring controversy for a tribe that has proudly involved itself in human rights causes and contributed thousands to fight racism. Nugent sometimes wears an Indian headdress on stage, coming close to ridiculing American Indian culture, and mocks those campaigning to change names of sports teams that use words like Redskins and Savages. The legendary rocker, who also is on the board of the National Rifle Association, has a “long history of racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, animus towards immigrants, and propensity to use violence-tinged language,” Media Matters reported earlier this year. That came after Nugent called President Obama a “subhuman mongrel” and referred to him as a “chimpanzee”/Bill Morlin, SPLC HateWatch.The invitation didn't last long once it was publicized:

Idaho Indian Tribe Drops Ted Nugent Citing Rocker’s Racist Legacy

By Bill MorlinLess than seven hours after being asked about the racist legacy of rock entertainer Ted Nugent, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of American Indians this evening cancelled a scheduled performance next month by the controversial performer.

Tribal officials sounded completely caught off-guard earlier in the day when Hatewatch called and asked why the tribe–with a sterling record of combating hate and standing up for equal rights–had booked Nugent.

Heather Keen, the public relations director for the tribe, announced the decision that Nugent’s scheduled for Aug.4 was being abruptly cancelled.

“Nugent’s history of racist and hate-filled remarks was brought to Tribal Council’s attention earlier today” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Keen said in a statement e-mailed to media outlets.

“The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has always been about human rights–for decades, we have worked individually and as a Tribe to make sure that each and every person is treated equally and with respect and dignity,” the statement said.Native American Tribe Cancels Ted Nugent Concert Over Unbelievable Racism

By John PragerA Native American tribe, which had booked Nugent at a casino, says it was not thinking about Nugent’s bigotry when the booking was made. “Unfortunately, when we booked him, we were looking at him from an entertainment perspective, as an 80s rock ‘n roller, who we thought folks might enjoy,” Laura Stensegar, executive director of marketing for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Cour d’Alene Casino, said.“We take the comments and concerns of our community very seriously and we apologize to anyone who was offended by the idea that we would promote these kinds of attitudes. We will do our best to avoid such mistakes moving forward.”

“We adamantly do not want our casino to be used as a venue for the racist attitudes and views that Ted Nugent espouses,” Stensgar said.

Chief Allan, Chairman of the tribe, said “We know what it’s like to be the target of hateful messages and we would never want perpetuate hate in any way,” in a one-sentence statement.

Heather Keen, the public relations director for the tribe, told Hatewatch that, “Nugent’s history of racist and hate-filled remarks was brought to Tribal Council’s attention earlier today” by numerous outlets. “The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has always been about human rights–for decades, we have worked individually and as a Tribe to make sure that each and every person is treated equally and with respect and dignity.”

Poopy Pants dislikes "unclean vermin"

Naturally, Nugent didn't appreciate being canned:

Ted Nugent lashes out at ‘unclean vermin’ after Idaho Native American tribe cancels his concert

By David EdwardsConservative rocker Ted Nugent on Tuesday responded to the news that an Idaho Native American tribe had canceled one of his upcoming concerts by lashing out at the “unclean vermin” who made it happen.

“The Motor City Madman” had been schedule to perform for Coeur D’Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho on Aug. 4 until the Southern Poverty Law Center caught tribal officials by asking for a comment on Monday. Later that day, the performance had been canceled.

“I take it as a badge of honor that such unclean vermin are upset by me and my positive energy,” Nugent told Gannett Wisconsin Media on Tuesday. Put your heart and soul into everything you do and nobody can stop you. Sometimes you give the world the best you got and you get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you got anyway.”

“By all indicators, I don’t think they actually qualify as people, but there has always been a lunatic fringe of hateful, rotten, dishonest people that hate happy, successful people,” he continued. “I believe raising hell and demanding accountability from our elected employees is Job One for every American. I am simply doing my job.”Nugent: His Haters Are 'Unclean Vermin' Who 'Don't Qualify as People'Natives and others offended by Nugent's comments have taken to the rocker's Facebook page and are giving him an earful:

"I'm Native American. I listened to your music in high school. I've seen you in concert many times. My son, who was five at the time, and I met you at the Traditional Bowhunters Show twelve years ago in Kalamazoo, MI. You bent down to talk to him and gave him a pick. I am very offended and am so disappointed in you --- I'm one of those 'unclean varmin' you spoke of. I will no longer attend your shows, or listen to your music. I'm sure my son, who is now 17, will be disappointed in you as well since you've been an influence when it comes to playing guitar and hunting."

"If this page is something that Mr. Ted Nugent can read, I would say to your face that if all of the stupid quotes attributed to you actually came from your mouth, that it should be stapled shut. Children don't need another example of how ignorant, hateful, vain, and reprehensible adult citizens of this country can be...play your music, but leave out your half-baked commentary."

"Ted should just play guitar and sing. Leave his personal political views to himself. He also needs to remove that tacky, cheap warbonnet replica that he wears during his shows. The warbonnet is a very spiritual part of our culture where the privilege to wear it is earned. It is offensive when a person outside of our culture wears one ... disrespects it. Our culture is not a costume."Ted Nugent fires back at 'vermin' who want Oshkosh show canceled

Start of a trend?

Other tribal gaming enterprises are starting to join in:

Tacoma casino cancels Nugent shows, citing racismEmerald Queen Casino will cancel two Ted Nugent concerts that were scheduled August 2 and 3 over allegations of racist remarks by the singer.

Puyallup Tribe officials said the decision came after learning that Nugent has said racist remarks.

"The first amendment gives people the right free speech, but I think racism is intolerable and not acceptable here," said Puyallup Tribal Council Vice President Lawrence W. LaPointe. "We’ve been getting lots of complaints from the community and other organizations."

"I don’t want to take away his right to say what he wants to say, but we don’t need it here."Ted Nugent’s Upcoming Shows at American Indian Casino Face Scrutiny after Idaho Cancellation

By Bill Morlin“[The] decision by the Coeur d’Alene suggests Nugent may need to double-check his standing in Indian country,” the Indian Country piece said.

Devin Burghart, the Seattle-based Vice President of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR), applauded “the courageous decision by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to cancel” the performance. He said his group was encouraging “all other venues to follow the lead of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and think twice about allowing Mr. Nugent to use their stages to promote his snarling brand of hatred and bigotry.”

But Burghart stressed that the “burden of addressing racism and bigotry shouldn’t fall onto the tribes.” He said it falls on everyone, “particularly the white fans of Mr. Nugent and the many predominantly white-owned venues where he is scheduled to perform” to challenge his racism.Yep, he's a racist

Ted Nugent’s most-enduring record a monotone of racism and hatred

By Shawn VestalHe compared his hometown of Detroit to “Return of the Planet of the Apes.” He said Barbara Boxer “might want to suck on my machine gun.” Nugent has called Hillary Clinton names I can’t print here. He once said, when asked if he knew any hard-working black Americans, “Show me one. Show me one.” He called rappers “big uneducated greasy black mongrels.”

His record of bigotry is so vast–and so frequently given a media microphone–that it was surprising to hear the Coeur d’Alenes had booked him. If nothing else, there was a clear failure to Google. But the tribe and casino corrected course quickly, and they’re putting their money behind it: they’re refunding ticket buyers’ money. The tribe will also presumably have to pay a fee for the cancellation, though that’s still being worked out, a tribal spokeswoman said.

Perhaps the cable news channels could follow the tribe’s lead and uninvite The Nuge now and then. No one who is so bigoted consistently gets such a large and approving public megaphone, and though Nugent–like all good self-pitying zealots–considers himself a media victim, the truth is that he gets an enormous amount of more or less respectful coverage because he’s such good copy.Comment:  Most of the articles didn't mention Nugent's wearing of a Plains headdress in his concert. That alone shows how ignorant and dismissive he is of Indians.

Anyway, let's hope this is the start of a trend. Nugent may have played his last concert at an Indian casino.

For more on Ted Nugent, see Nugent "Tomahawk Chops" Mascot Critics and Nugent's Implied Death Threat.

Nugent "tomahawk chops" mascot critics

A Tomahawk Chop to Political Correctness

Exclusive: Ted Nugent asserts changing team names won't help his 'Indian BloodBrothers'

By Ted NugentEvery so often some numbskull beats the politically correct war drum protesting the names of sports teams.

The terminally disconnected claim the names of the some teams and their mascots are insensitive, even offensive, to Native Americans. Classic names like the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Blackhawks.

My advice: Don’t swing at their politically correct spitballs.

If there are Native Americans whose feathers are ruffled over the names of sports teams, I submit that they are sorely focused on all the wrong things.

But that’s what too many Americans do–waste time and energy focusing on things that matter about as much as a giant ball of string.

There are many other issues that should demand our attention instead of talking about how insensitive the “Tomahawk Chop” is to Native Americans.

If we want to focus on the plight of Native Americans, call me crazy horse, but maybe we should start by addressing issues that truly matter most and would actually save Indian’s lives.

The high school dropout rates for American Indians is the highest in the nation.

How about focusing on the disastrous unemployment rate of American Indians, which is near 15 percent?

Suicide rates of American Indian males are twice that of other American males.

Alcoholism rates among American Indians are double that of other ethic groups.

The infant mortality rates among Native Americans are the highest in the nation. No one reports on that.

Abject poverty is the norm on reservations.

These brutally ugly and heartbreaking conditions are the real modern trail of tears, but what’s really disgusting is that a Motown guitar player has to shine a light on the tragedy.

According to the politically correct numbskulls, focusing on the supposedly insensitive names of sports teams somehow matters, and changing the names of the teams will somehow miraculously improve the lot of American Indians.

They are wrong as usual.

There are wafting smoke signals of real distress coming from the American Indian community that are being ignored. These are the life and death issues that actually matter, not pushing a brain-dead agenda to get sports teams to change their names.

Political correctness doesn’t fix anything. The cult of denial that is political correctness masks what matters most, which is why I refer to it as a social cancer that should be eradicated.

Because of my clean and sober, hands-on conservation bowhunting lifestyle and song “The Great White Buffalo,” Native American tribes have invited me to teach their young people how to reconnect with the land and teach them how to bow hunt the mighty American bison. It was in their midst that I learned firsthand about the terrible problems facing my Indian BloodBrothers.

We have a choice: actually doing good by focusing on real issues, or just feeling good by lobbying to get the names of sports teams changed.

Those of you who focus on feel-good issues aren’t helping one bit. More often than not, genuine quality-of-life upgrade comes from facing the painful demons and putting forth honest effort to rectify entrenched mistakes.

“Above the canyon walls, strong eyes did glow. It was the leader of the land, the Great White Buffalo! So listen everybody to what I got to say. There’s hope for tomorrow if we wake up today!”

Some comments on Indian Country Today's write-up of this column:

Ted Nugent: Don't Change Redskins and Other Native Sports Team Nicknames, Won't Help 'My Indian BloodBrothers'Why even bother giving this idiot coverage? I'm from Detroit, and he does not represent the Motor City and its citizens. He has long fought against the hunting and fishing rights guaranteed by treaty to tribes in Michigan, and is pretty well despised by many folks in the Detroit metro Native community. As long as he can get media coverage, he will continue to spout his racist bile. I, for one, would prefer NOT to see his opinions in my favorite Native newspaper.

I think nobody really wants him speaking for us...at all...no thanks...jerk!!

When will someone shut this Lunatic up?

That white guy needs to face the truth about how he came to live the life of white privilege on Native peoples lands.

More of the Republican minority outreach initiative...

Funny I didn't invite Mr. Nugent to help my oyate, nor do I have to authority to if I wanted to. He is spot on the issues facing mine and other Native Peoples, but what are his solutions beside stopping frequently outdated and dehumanizing misappropriate use of our ancestors images?

We do not need your help to "teach us" to reconnect with the land and teach us how to hunt buffalo. This is truly an insult and I would love to know which Native American tribes asked for such things. Freaking ridiculous!Comment:  Once again, a conservative shows what he thinks of Natives and their concerns.

You gotta love how Nugent used half a dozen stupid stereotypes to explain how stupid stereotypes aren't a problem. If he knows anything about Indians beyond "Redskins," "Braves," and "Chiefs," I'd be surprised.

How stupid do you have to be not to understand the concept of multitasking? One can care about and address Indian mascots while doing the same re other issues.

No one claims Nugent stopped being a musician because he spent a few hours supporting mascots in this column. Why wouldn't the same apply to someone who spends a few hours opposing mascots?

Not to mention the fact that stereotypes are connected to all the serious issues Nugent mentions. As I've demonstrated many times.

If you're ignorant of the proven harm of stereotyping, you're too ignorant to write a column on the subject. Stick to music, Ted, and leave the deep thinking to the rest of us.

Coincidentally, Sherman Alexie explained one of the problems with Native stereotypes around the same time as Nugent's screed:

The Absence of Native American PowerIn an extended clip from this weekend’s Moyers & Company, writer Sherman Alexie, who was born on a Native American reservation, talks to Bill about feeling “lost and insignificant inside the larger culture,” and how his culture’s “lack of power” is illustrated in stereotypical sports mascots.

“At least half the country thinks the mascot issue is insignificant. But I think it’s indicative of the ways in which Indians have no cultural power. We’re still placed in the past. So we’re either in the past or we’re only viewed through casinos,” Alexie tells Bill. “I know a lot more about being white than you know about being Indian.”One literally could find a thousand statements from Natives about the harm of stereotypes. Nugent hasn't addressed any of these claims; indeed, he's dismissed them. Once again, the Great White Father knows best.

For more on Ted Nugent, see 13 Rock Stars in Headdresses and Nugent's Implied Death Threat.

Nugent's implied death threat

Ted Nugent Meets With Secret ServiceRocker and celebrity gun rights advocate Ted Nugent met with the Secret Service yesterday to discuss remarks he recently made that were interpreted by some as a threat of violence against President Barack Obama. His comments, made at an National Rifle Association convention, included the statement that “If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will be either be dead or in jail by this time next year.” Referring to the upcoming election, Nugent said that conservatives need to “ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November.”

As you can tell by his appropriation of a stereotypical Plains headdress, Nugent has a checkered relationship with Indians:Nugent is fairly well-known in Indian country for his love of hunting, which he often does with a bow. According to the official biography on his website, Nugent was the keynote speaker at the 1995 Native American Fish & Wildlife Society National Conference, held in Anchorage, Alaska, and has been Inducted into the Native American Strongheart Society by the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapahoe Tribes. Nugent is a professed Christian, but says that the admires Native American spirituality, and one of his best known songs, “Great White Buffalo,” is about how the relationship between the American Indian and the buffalo was ruined by “the white man.” The Ted Nugent United Sportsmen of America is a hunting organization with “tribes” around the country, and Nugent has been known to hunt on Tribal lands—here’s an account of a bear hunt with his family on the Quinault Reservation.Comment:  Let's recall that Obama is an honorary member of the Crow tribe. So Nugent wants an associate of Indians dead. If the president were an actual Indian, I bet Nugent's position would be the same. Like David Yeagley, he'd insult and attack an Indian with liberal values.

I suspect Nugent has a typical mascot lover's "appreciation" of Indians. He loves traditional Indians for their semi-mythical warrior prowess, but thinks today's Indians are moochers and bums. Just a guess, but I've never heard him do anything for Indians other than stereotype them.

For more on the subject, see Nugent Dons an "Indian" Headdress and Shoots a "Buffalo."