[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 14265]]

              IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF GERALD CLIFFORD

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to reflect


on the life and work of Gerald Clifford, an important and influential 
South Dakotan and Oglala Sioux tribal member who recently passed away 
after courageously battling a debilitating illness.
  Gerald Clifford, with whom I worked for many years, was a leader and 
a driving force for change among Native Americans in South Dakota and 
across the country. He was a champion for rural water development in 
southwestern South Dakota and a strong advocate for Indian education 
and Indian self-determination. Earlier this week, Mr. Clifford began 
his journey to the spirit world at the young age of sixty. I express my 
heartfelt condolences to Gerald's family and relatives during this 
difficult time. My prayers and thoughts are with them.
  The void left by Gerald's passing was felt especially deeply today, 
as his life was celebrated at a funeral service in Manderson, South 
Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. While the work of this 
body required my presence in Washington today, I do want to honor and 
remember Gerald here in the Senate for his many outstanding 
contributions to his community and state.
  Over the years, Gerald and I worked together on a number of projects. 
And I can tell you for a fact: he is a tenacious advocate for his 
causes and never gives up. Never.
  I had the honor and pleasure of working closely with Gerald on the 
construction of the Mini Wiconi Rural Water System. In his role as 
director of the Mini Wiconi project, Gerald accepted the daunting 
challenge of bringing the state of South Dakota, three South Dakota 
tribes and local non-Indian communities together to achieve a common 
vision. The project bridged historically-vast political and cultural 
gaps to bring the precious resources of clean water to rural 
communities and remote reservations areas.
  Even after many South Dakotans had lost hope of ever seeing the Mini 
Wiconi water project finished, Gerald kept working at it. He shepherded 
the Mini Wiconi project during the last several years, a critical 
period in its construction, fulfilled the promise of clean water for 
many, and laid a strong foundation for completing the project in the 
foreseeable future.
  Gerald managed this project with skill and with diplomacy, and I am 
proud to have been able to work with him to accomplish our mutual goal. 
His contribution will be felt for decades to come.
  Gerald made many other contributions to his people and his state in 
addition to Mini Wiconi. I would like to highlight just a few examples 
that provide a snapshot of the magnitude of this involvement in efforts 
to benefit the people of South Dakota and our nation.
  Gerald Clifford was first and foremost an articulate and impassioned 
advocate for justice for his people. No one who knew Gerald could ever 
question the intensity or sincerity of his commitment to this 
overriding goal.
  Gerald also understood the critical importance of education as a 
means of improving the quality of life for Indian people, working hard 
to promote tribally-controlled education, particularly tribal colleges 
and universities, and contributing to the initiation and development in 
the early 1970's of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium 
(AIHEC) and the tribal college movement. He was also among the first to 
have assisted in the creation of tribally-controlled entities, such as 
the Coalition of Indian-Controlled School Boards. Through this work, he 
helped provide educational opportunities for 26,000 students at the 
nation's thirty-three tribal colleges and universities, and opened a 
major educational pathway for many generations to come.
  Gerald Clifford was a highly respected leader of the American Indian 
people. He was elected by Great Plains tribal leaders and tribal peers 
to serve as the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Aberdeen 
area Vice-President. As their voice on Capital Hill, Gerald helped many 
tribes in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and throughout the mid-
West.
  Gerald was a dominant presence at the forefront of the many struggles 
that the Aberdeen area tribes faced over the past four decades. It was 
through his focused dedication and skilled advocacy that Indian people 
have prevailed in the face of numerous adversities placed in their way. 
Gerald served as an elder, mentor, colleague and friend to so many 
young Indian men and women, imparting many of his outstanding qualities 
to this and future generations of tribal leaders.
  Earlier this year, I addressed the National Congress of American 
Indians general assembly while Gerald was in Washington fighting hard 
on issues that meant so much to him. Later, I learned that he was 
forced to return to South Dakota prematurely because he was struggling 
with his health. As a result, I was unable to see him. I will always 
regret that I did not get to visit with Gerald during his last visit 
here.
  Gerald fought illness with courage, determination and indomitable 
spirit. Even as he was ailing, he was not deterred from the pursuit of 
his work. He continued to fight for Indian people and for the causes 
that cared so much about. He never gave up.
  In passing, Gerald Clifford left a large, significant and important 
legacy. He truly will be missed, but his work will live on, enriching 
the lives of South Dakotans for generations

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