[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING CHIEF VERNON ASHLEY

 Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate and reflect 
on the life and legacy of Vernon Ashley who passed away on November 10, 
2015.
  Vernon Ashley was born on January 15, 1916, at the mouth of Wolf 
Creek along the banks of the Missouri River near present day Fort 
Thompson, SD. In 1946, after serving in the Army Air Corps during World 
War II, Vernon was elected tribal chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux 
Tribe. As chairman, he was credited both with helping to author the 
tribe's first constitution and bylaws and for working to preserve 
tribal lands for his people during the Federal Government's flood 
control projects of the 1940s and 50s. He was a servant to his people 
of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and to his fellow South Dakotans. After 
nearly 10 years of working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Vernon 
went to work for South Dakota as the first Indian Affairs coordinator, 
serving in that role under three different Governors. He was a fluent 
Dakota speaker whose Dakota name was Sinkpe, which means muskrat. This 
past July, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe honored him by making him a 
chief.
  The eagle bone whistle was traditionally used by some Plains Indian 
warrior societies. When Vernon and his fellow veterans were honored at 
his memorial services, several people heard the sound of the eagle bone 
whistle even though no one was playing one. Therefore, may the sound of 
the eagle bone whistle be with us, too, when we need to be inspired to 
be brave and do what is right for the people we serve.
  Chief Vernon Ashley will be remembered by all for his humility, for 
being a man of faith, and for his friendship to so many. With this, I 
welcome the opportunity to recognize and commemorate the life and 
legacy of this good friend of mine, a great leader, Chief Vernon 
Ashley. Thank you.

                          ____________________