Lakota Indians Declare Sovereign Nation Status
The Lakota Freedom Delegation, includes Lakota activist and actor Russell Means; Ogalala Lakota Strong Heart Society leader Duane Martin Sr.; Gary Rowland, Leader Chief Big Foot Riders; Women of Red Nations founder Phyllis Young and others were at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Washington DC to announce the tribe's withdrawal from the treaties.
"For far too long our people have suffered at the hands of the colonial apartheid system imposed on the Lakota Sioux," a press release dated December 13 read, "Our treaties with the United States government are nothing more than worthless words on worthless paper - repeatedly violated in order to steal our culture, our land and our ability to maintain our way of life."
According to the organization, and the website www.lakotafreedom.com, Lakota men have a life expectancy of less than 44 years, the lowest of any country in the World, including Haiti. The infant mortality rate is 5x the U.S. Average and the Tuberculosis rate on Lakota reservations is approximately 800 percent higher than the U.S. national average.
"We have no choice but to take historic action to protect our people and our way of life," the group said, "and reclaim our freedom from the colonial systems of the United States Government." The group has also stated that they intend to issue their own driving licenses and passports.
The move focuses on lands in 5 states, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. Lands the groups claims have been illegally homesteaded for years.
What will happen next is up to the United States government, but the group said in a news release that if the U.S. fails to act, liens will be filed on real-estate transactions across the region, an action that could cause title issues for literally thousands of purchasers.
Multiple treaties with the United States have been broken throughout the years; this withdrawal from treaties signed in the 1800s comes about after years of discussions concerning American Indian rights. The Independence movement began in 1974 with some Lakota activists taking steps to withdraw from the U.S. In the past these measures have gone as far as drafting a "declaration of continuing independence."
The group has reportedly been meeting with foreign leaders in an effort to gain political support for sovereign nation status, the Rapid City Journal (www.rapidcityjournal.com) reported. According to their report, Bolivia Indigenous President Evo Morales is "very, very interested in the Lakota case."
Lakota reservations recognized by the US government include Ogalala Ogalala, Sicangu, Hunkpapa, Mniconjou, Izipaco, Siha Sapa, and Ooinupa. Some Lakota also live on other Sioux reservation in eastern South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska.
Not all of the Lakota Sioux are interested in joining the breakaway nation, however, the Argus Leader (www.argusleader.com) reported that Rodney Bordeaux, chairman of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, said his community had no interest in joining the group. "We're pushing to maintain and to keep the treaties there because they're the basis of our relationship with the federal government," Bordeaux said.
Meanwhile, the internet is buzzing as both members of the tribe and other people weigh in on the issue. "What is our primary industry? What is our defense stratagy? [sic] How would we fund and train that defense? How would we fund public services? Police, schools, healthcare, water treatment? What resources can we exploit to become a functional nation in todays world? I'm all for self sufficiency..." said one poster on a message board at http://forum.americanindiantribe.com
Another poster asks, "Would we need a passport to leave the rez?" (Rez is a slang word for reservation.) The complications involved in forming a separate nation in today's world are immense, with a high unemployment rate, and more than half of the residents living well below the poverty line, the leaders of this Independence movement will have to come up with some concrete plans to ensure that the Lakota people are adequately provided for.
Published by Tabitha Fleming
I just love writing, and have picked up writing now and then for AC since I no longer have the time to write for a daily. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentGreat article and great reporting on a very intriguing situation! Personally, I think sovereign nation status would be very bad for the Lakota Sioux people. I've been to that area of the country and I just can't imagine them making much money out of it, nor organizing themselves well enough to support their own people (as you showed with the quote from one person). Their frustration and desires are evident enough, but I just don't think this sounds like a move that is good for them. I think they probably need to clean up their own act first (they're already using much federal aid) and then be prepared for declaring independence.
Awesome. I hope they make it. Thank you so much for reporting on this! I didn't see this on any traditional news outlets.
(sorry, too long) single treaty they ever made with them. But the rights and health and welfare of the Lakota may not be improved by independent nation status. It is a complex situation with no easy answers. You've done a good job, I think, in writing what is currently going on -- I haven't found a lot of information from other sources, so don't know how complete this is, but it certainly seems fair and well-written, if a little biased (in the same way that I am biased -- FOR the rights of indigenous peoples). But there's nothing wrong with having an opinion if you support it with facts, which you did, and did well. Thank you!
I find it interesting, and perhaps telling, that you mentioned no tribal council members supporting this action (the people of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation -- who have voted to keep their name as "SIOUX" rather than Dakota and/or Lakota -- both are correct, depending on the band -- elect their tribal council, as do most Sioux bands). I also find it interesting that Russell Means, who married a Navajo woman, and tried to become the leader of the Navajo nation, is reclaiming his Lakota heritage. And that this coalition is doing NOTHING to obtain the release of Leonard Peltier, who has been wrongly imprisoned while Means makes money. I too support the Lakota and Dakota PEOPLE -- who are not necessarily represented by the individuals who have declared themselves a separate nation. The U.S. government, along with the British, Canadian, Dutch, French, and too many others to mention, should be ashamed of their treatment of indigenous peoples around the world, and of breaking every sin
ALSO, Alex Jones (radio show host/documentary film maker) had them on for an interview on 12/30/07 and will have Duane Martin Sr. on again in the near future.
I am VERY excited and scared for the Lakotah Sioux. I support them 100%. And about securing foreign aid, they are and have. They did not go into this unprepared, the problems have been going on for a long time and they too have been preparing for this.
The La Razas do not seem to know that Spain and citizens of societies that is now Mexico took, by force, the land they claim belongs to them, from tribes that lived upon it, perhaps even Lakota Sioux. People from around the world have settled upon what is now the USA. None alive today were part of that yesterday. I think it better to put past injuries behind us and unite to fight a corrupt government. That is we, the people, will suffer in another civil war, when the enemy is the existing (and past) governments.
Interesting news not reported by mainstream media. I feel for what was done unto the natives that lived on these lands we now call the Untied States of America. I also fear a civil war in the 21st century, which is what this move could cause. (more likely US military power would destroy the tribes, if the tribes have not secured foreign aid to protect themselves)The La Razas are waging their own war on the US government to get back 5 states "we stole from them". The premise is they are not illegal immigrants but they are the rightful owners of the land.
Thanks for the compliment, I'm currently working on a follow-up and waiting for a response from the organization.
Very interesting article, please do follow-up on this story.