"We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us," long-time Indian rights activist Russell Means told a handful of reporters and a delegation from the Bolivian embassy, gathered in a church in a run-down neighborhood of Washington for a news conference.
In case you're wondering what area this new old nation encompasses:
Lakota country includes parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
Now this is all fun and games to this point, but if they start doing this stuff, my bet is the fun will be over:
The new country would issue its own passports and driving licences, and living there would be tax-free — provided residents renounce their US citizenship, Means said.
My guess is the 5 state area would become a magnet for our resident illegal aliens and the tax free part is pretty appealing to me.
But, unfortunately, I don't do cold weather very well not to mention jail just isn't that appealing.
Like I said earlier, "let's watch and see" how far they try to take this.
I am a cherokee and blackfoot. If the sioux do this, they will be in open rebellion against the United States. The treaties signed gave the reservations sovereign autonomous status similar to that of the (nationality) republics within the russian federation.
The reservations are sovereign entities under US Sovereignty. The treaties established soverign land seperate from the sovereignty of the state governments,(subject to joint powers and mutual aid agreements) but still under Federal sovereignty. The reservations are co-equal but seperate from the states they are formed in.
As a loyal citizen and native american, I wish to see more prosperity for my fellow native people hemisphere wide, however, independence from the United States is not option viable at this time, and probably never will be. Commonwealth status similar to puerto rico may be viable eventually in the next 20 years.
In a nut shell, we are all americans... regardless of our ethnic heritage...to my fllow americans....regardless if you are white, black, red or yellow, or brown or purple, green, we are all family.
Speaking of the Blackfoot, If the Lakota Sioux get their nation, will they then give back the land that their ancestors conquered from the Algonquin tribes long before the white man came?
Everywhere I’ve read, it’s "activists" who have done this - not those who are in governance of the several tribes. I looked around to see if any news articles set out whether the activists were actually those in charge and the only place I found anything was on Wikipedia (of all places) where it stated "It is as yet unclear whether the statements of the activists represent the view of the elected government(s) of the Sioux Nation."
If it turns out that these gentlemen do have the authority of their tribes, our next step should be clear: Fence them in and prevent them from getting out except as refugees or cases of life-threatening illness or accident. Let them negotiate new trades (weapons, pickups, eyeglasses, tutto) with our government. We need new, more realistic treaties with these people anyway .The status quo, wards of the state, is a gross failure. This is a good opportunity.
"will they then give back the land that their ancestors conquered from the Algonquin tribes long before the white man came?"
Now, now, don’t get all delusional on us. We all know that the world was a peaceful, serene land of milk and cookies before the nasty old white man brought his bag of evil tricks into it. Your attempt to rationalize and excuse the brutality and genocide of European colonialism is pathetic.
"Fence them in and prevent them from getting out except as refugees or cases of life-threatening illness or accident"
No need. Those that want out have already gotten out. There was an article in the Washington Times recently about the Lakota Sioux and their plight. It seems there is now a charity called something like "Adopt a Lakota Family".
Trouble with all the verbiage that is being blown by the wind, Federal Legislation PL-92-638 passed in the mid 1970’s gave the Reservations sovereign immunity that even by-passes State Jurisdiction. As a registered Indian speaking, our reservations/Indians have become a territory similar to Alaska and Hawaii before they became States. Treaties are now secondary to this Self-Determination Status we now own.
The US Government seceded us then. But don’t worry, The US is fast becoming a Territory of the UN.
I’m with the ’Good luck with that’ crowd - what are they planning on doing with non nation members who live within their ’borders’? Having been to a couple of reservations I haven’t seen a lot of economic activity there to support a new country. If the reservations themselves want to secede and operate as self sustaining nations I think they want to consider the possible economic effects of having federal aid cut off.When the Penobscots and ’Quoddy’s settled with Maine I think they got $81.5 million - maybe that’s the route the Lakotas might want to look at.
Well, well, well isn’t this just interesting. I wonder just what they plan on doing with all of us that don’t want to join their happy little group. Maybe we can have a civil war. Then good ’ol Harry Reid can declair it a quagmire and lost. Then he can pull out the US govt’. Hey that doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. We could have our own little country, just not with Russle and AIM in charge. Those dim bulbs didn’t do so well at Wounded Knee.
I know it’s difficult, but please make some effort to understand that these "activists" have about zero legitimacy and support among the Lakota, and in no way represent them politically or otherwise. This is about on par with members of the Republic of Texas declaring "independence" on behalf of Texas. In other words, it’s a non-story.
This is an attempt to create a new national government. There are a number of existing Native American nations in the territory declared by these activists. None of these nations support this effort. So this heightens the tension between these activists and existing Sioux nations as well as resulting in passports, etc. that won’t be recognized by most national governments across the world. I think it should be viewed as effectively a symbolic action to protest the long history of injustice against these peoples, not something which will have much practical effect.
Lakota Freedom: Treaty Withdrawal For Elders and Children
Sovereignty Action Sparks World Discussion, Disagreement, Inspiration
Lakota - What began as sparsely attended press conference announcing Lakota sovereignty has grown into an international roar of freedom inspiring people on every continent and sparking excitement and discussion in homes, tribal councils, schools, and on internet blogs and message boards. Across Indian Country in particular, the impact of the sovereign action is creating both inspiration and concern as the reality of freedom sinks in.
But mixed with the excitement and joy are concerns the Lakota people’s needs will not be fully met, especially needs and concerns of the youth.
Lakota Freedom delegate and Oglala Lakota Cante Tenza - Strongheart Warrior Society leader Canupa Gluha Mani (Duane Martin Sr.) issued the following statement after discussion with the Strongheart Grandmothers:
"The whole Lakota declaration of withdrawal from the treaty is vested on the power of the Lakota people and our children.
When we undertook the process of announcing the withdrawal, the capacity was far greater than most people anticipated about an individual. But throughout our history, the people have never excluded anyone within their own lifeway and when it becomes a listener’s view that its about one individual, one individual does not represent the nation itself, the nation represents the individual, and that is Lakota.
The withdrawal is for the people, the Elders, mothers, fathers, and the children.
Throughout our history and through the enforcement of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, Congress said they would oversee the provisions of 1868 (Fort Laramie Treaty), but they failed to do so. Some minor provisions were kept, but overall the treaty was not honored. Because if the treaty was honored, we would not have this colonial catastrophe of alcoholism, drug abuse and poverty and we wouldn’t have the overall high incarceration rate of the male and female in the prison populations. This leads to our children being taking away by Social Services which puts our children out of balance from learning the traditional lifeway.
When the children can reconnect with who they are, they come back to the process of knowing what is Lakota in the true point of view. In this true point of view Lakota is about being free and left alone, so we can govern and save our own with the teachings of the Animal Nations.
If we can conclude with this statement in the positive venue, its not about Russell Means, and certainly not about Canupa Gluha Mani or any individual, this about the Lakota Nation and the Animal People who are no longer alone."
We are the freedom loving Lakota from the Sioux Indian reservations of Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana who have withdrawn from the constitutionally mandated treaties to become a free and independent country. We are alerting the Family of Nations we have now reassumed our freedom and independence with the backing of Natural, International, and United States law. For more information, please visit our new website at www.lakotafreedom.com.
I would just like to point out that Russell Means is hardly a politically marginal figure on the Pine Ridge reservation. He lost the 1974 tribal election due to fraud (see Means v. Wilson court case). He was the leading vote getter in the 2004 Pine Ridge primary by a large margin (see article below), though he lost the runooff election that year as he did in 2002. He has significant popular support, and I expect it will grow after this action.
Means wins tribe primary election By Jomay Steen, Journal Staff Writer Thursday, October 07, 2004
PINE RIDGE - Russell Means won the first round in a landslide victory Tuesday out of a field of 13 candidates vying for tribal president of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Means was a clear winner of the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s primary race. With 917 votes, he garnered more than twice the support received by incumbent President John Yellow Bird Steele, who got 413 votes for a fourth-place finish.
Citing concerns about people leaving the land to resettle in urban areas, Means said he wants to stanch the flow of American Indians off the reservation and build bonds with South Dakota and surrounding states.
"When I become president of the Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation, I plan to work with governors of South Dakota and Nebraska to begin with and then, hopefully, North Dakota," he said. "Of the nine Sioux Indian reservations, we are the last place left for investment."
Two years ago, Means lost to Steele, who went on to serve his fourth term as president. This is Means’ third run for president and his second primary victory. His first primary victory was in 1974, when he opposed Dick Wilson.
According to unofficial primary results Tuesday, Means and Cecilia Fire Thunder of Martin will battle for the president’s office in the Nov. 2 general election.
In her third attempt for the office, Fire Thunder finished in second place with 607 votes.
"I’m running for president for no other reason than leadership," she said. "I know what I’m capable of, and as a member of this community, I want people to trust me."
Fire Thunder, a grandmother and nurse, lived in Kyle until her family moved to California under the Relocation Program. She finished high school there, received her nursing degree and cut her teeth in politics by becoming a union organizer.
If Fire Thunder wins the election, she would be the first woman OST tribal president.
Unofficial primary results for seats on the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council are: Vice President n Eileen Janis, 789, Alex White Plume Sr., 429; Wakpamni District, two seats n Thomas Conroy, 137, Walter Big Crow, 139, Maxine Lakota, 123, Herbert Colhof; Pine Ridge District, three seats � Ella "John" Carlow, 278, Gerald "Jump" Big Crow, 230, Carol Crazy Thunder-O’Rourke, 191, Lyle Jack, 214, William Peters, 293, Garry Janis, 171; White Clay District, two seats n Floyd Brings Plenty, 63, Paul Little, 117, Delores Ten Fingers-Two Bulls, 71, Valerie Kills Small-Janis, 85; Medicine Root District, two seats n Juanita Scherick, 189, Charles White Elk, 117, Sandra Old Horse, 170, Austin Watkins Sr., 171; Wounded Knee District, two seats n Kathy Janis, 98, Kevin Yellow Bird-Steele, 63, Garfield Apple, 70, Garfield Steele, 81; Eagle Nest District, two seats n Jim Meeks, 112, Annette Stands, 31, Thomas Poor Bear, 109, Ruth Brown, 114; Porcupine District, two seats n Chuck Jacobs, 99, Bernard White Face, 91, Phillip Good Crow, 126, David Pourier, 131; Pass Creek District, one seat n Donna Salomon, 118, Lydia Bear Killer, 112; and Lacreek District, two seats n Charles Cummings, 54, Mary "Moose" Poor Thunder, 69, Craig Dillion, 106, Gerald. L. Bettelyoun, 56.
Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com
CHIEF BIG FOOT RIDERS RETURN TO WOUNDED KNEE, FREEDOM
13 Day Ride Began Under Weight of U.S. Treaty, Ends On December 29th With Free Nation 21st Annual Ride Returns To New Life for Free Lakota People
Wounded Knee, Lakota (formerly South Dakota) - Thirteen days and 287 miles ago, 44 people mounted horses and began the Memorial Chief Big Foot Ride in honor of Si Tanka (Chief Big Foot) and his unarmed band of Mniconjou and Hunkpapa refuges who were slaughtered by U.S. Calvary in 1890 at Wounded Knee.
But while these 44 riders began their journey under the shadow of U.S. Treaty, their numbers will swell to over 100 and end under the protection of a free and sovereign Lakota Nation.
The ride began on December 15th in Standing Rock, the anniversary of Sitting Bull’s death, and has traveled through fierce snowstorm and cold, the same conditions faced by the 357 mostly women, children and elder men at Wounded Knee Creek 127 years ago.
"The purpose is to ride the spirit trail of Chief Big Foot," said Tegihya Kte also known as Garry Rowland, leader of the riders and recent delegate of the Lakota Freedom effort in Washington D.C.. "The Tree of Life died in Wounded Knee in 1890, and the ride was begun to mend the Sacred Hoop."
Riders ranging in age from 10 to 65 travel the footsteps of their Ancestors, along the way offering prayer for the women, children, the Elders, and the conditions the Lakota people are forced to live under today. For the children, the ride is also a powerful introduction to the sacred relationship between the Lakota and the horse and the courage their Ancestors took during their 13 day walk from the site of Sitting Bull’s assassination to Wounded Knee.
"My sons and now my grandsons have participated in the ride,"shared Tegihya Kte. "They ride for our future and the self-determination of our people. "
The self-determination of the Lakota now takes on powerful meeting as the Lakota Freedom Delegation traveled to Washington D.C. and withdrew the Lakota from their treaties with the United States Government. The ride becomes an outward expression of sovereign Lakota rights and spirituality.
Tegihya Kte said, "We don’t want the government telling us what to do, we want to be free."
Lakota Freedom delegate and Cante Tenza leader Canupa Gluha Mani (Duane Martin Sr.) agreed, "The Lakota withdrawal in Washington D.C. brings real protection for our people today, exactly the real protection Big Foot sought for his people then."
We are the freedom loving Lakota from the Sioux Indian reservations of Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana who have withdrawn from the constitutionally mandated treaties to become a free and independent country. We are alerting the Family of Nations we have now reassumed our freedom and independence with the backing of Natural, International, and United States law. For more information, please visit our new website at www.lakotafreedom.com.
