- Details
- By Darren Thompson
RAPID CITY—The racist comments a hotel owner made has spurred regular protests at the Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota. A group of people have demonstrated outside the hotel property every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the last 12 weeks.
On March 20, Connie Uhre, a co-owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel, made disparaging comments about Native Americans on the Mayor of Rapid City’s Facebook page, saying she is unable to distinguish “between a good Native and a bad Native.” She has also threatened to ban Native Americans from the property.
Led largely by NDN Collective, a not-for-profit Indigenous-led organization, protestors have been demonstrating outside the hotel rain or shine.
Sunny Red Bear, NDN Collective Director of Racial Equity, told Native News Online, “There is systemic racism that is happening all over this city. This accountability, here, is just the beginning.”
On March 23, NDN Collective filed a federal class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in South Dakota’s Western Division. The lawsuit contends that the Grand Gateway Hotel practices intentional racial discrimination after two Native American people tried to rent rooms at the hotel but were denied.
“We want the Department of Justice to shut down the Grand Gateway Hotel,” said Red Bear.
“What are the things that create the conditions for racism to continue to exist in Rapid City?” she asked. “It’s not holding people accountable.”
Uhre was arrested on May 27 for three counts of simple assault, after she sprayed a cleaning agent towards the faces of several demonstrators, including Red Bear. The incident was recorded and Uhre, 75, faces up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Rapid City mayor Steve Allender said in a statement that he condemns the statements made by Uhre.
A 2015 study on race disparities in Rapid City policing showed that Native Americans are arrested more often than any other group in the city and that police are more likely to use force against Native Americans than members of any other race.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Native News Weekly (June 15, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Photographs of the Homecoming of the Three Fires Powwow
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher