(Defected Confederate Colonel and later U.S. Army Scout Col. Robert Mackey Stribling, who was captured by and lived among the Meemaw in the years before their dispersion, earning the name Destroyer of Everything)
Senator Tilly: Chief Skin Flayer refers to a Valley of Never-Ending Spite, which is commonly known as the Stribling Valley, part of Shacklett Air Force Base in--

Chief Skin Flayer: If I may interrupt, Senator, the agreement between my tribe and Lt. Col. Robert Mackey Stribling in 1867 did not transfer complete ownership to the U.S. Government. I have a document here that refers -- and I'm quoting -- to a spiritual retention, with every member of the Meemaw entitled to return to the valley -- at the discretion of the agreed ceremonial calendar -- for prayer, ceremonial and ritualistic purposes.

Senator Tilly: Well, I appreciate this document. It's a little torn. Let me get my glasses out.

Chief Skin Flayer: It was written on corn shucks. That's why it's in plastic.

Senator Tilly: I appreciate that. Now, let me remind you, Chief Skin Flayer, that we are meeting today to discuss Native American gambling licenses and how they relate to soil subsidies already remunerated to Native American tribal communities, not Stribling Valley. And besides, the valley in question is located within a U.S. Air Force base, which goes well beyond the jurisdiction of this committee... joint committee.

Chief Skin Flayer: Senator, on behalf of the Meemaw, I wish to say that it is upsetting to hear stories, dubious or not, that the Valley of Never-Ending Spite - access to which we have been wrongfully denied for one-hundred and fifty years - might be used for the purposes of [CLASSIFIED. DELETED BY GENERAL CONSENT]

Senator Tilly: I appreciate that, Chief, but not only have we gone beyond the bounds of this joint committee; we may have entered into a discussion of classified matters.

Chief Skin Flayer: Just please stop calling it Stribling Valley.

Senator Tilly: Okay.

--Excerpted from: Hearings on 1988 Soil Subsidies and How They Relate to Tribal Gambling Licenses: Joint Session of the Agriculture and Indian Affairs Committees, U.S. Senate, Dirksen Room 2345, September 26, 1989

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