Lakota Secession

Visions of the Rewilding Renaissance
#1

If you live in the area or read Ran Prieur’s weblog you might already know this, but…
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/12/21/news/local/doc476a99630633e335271152.txt

Using long ago broken government treaties, Lakota leaders have decided to deny US sovereignty of what was less than 200 years ago their territory. They’ve asked the UN and several sympathetic countries for international recognition and to pressure the US to recognize their arguments.

Here is a map showing the area covered by the original US-Lakota treaty and the subsequent reductions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lakotanation.jpg

Is this a hopeless and dead-end effort or perhaps the start of something larger? What does this mean to Vermont, Québec, northern Canadian First Nations, Chiapas, Amazonian peoples, and others?

(edit, thought I checked everywhere this would be posted–didn’t see that…bleh)

#2

Yeah, it’s really politically savvy for the Lakota Nation to do this at the time they did (even if the Putin details are “bullshitty”, as you so memorably acknowledge :), there is no doubt that the U.S. is at an all-time popularity low on an international scale). I’m sure that this group was waiting for global/domestic political conditions like this for some time. Is George Bush good for something??!?

The more this news starts to sink in, the more I realize that this is the best news story I’ve heard in years. It’s inspirational.

#3

Judging from your moniker, you’re living in middle America. Anywhere near the new nation? (God it feels so good to write that.)

To all located nearby, I have a request: if you are so inclined, please write your observations of how this is affecting various people in your communities. What are people saying/doing?

I’m going home to MN for a week in January. There are Lakota in MN but not where I’m from (that would be the Ojibwe), and I don’t think the MN Lakota are very involved in this (from looking at the Wikipedia map). Nonetheless, this is huge for all indigenous groups, and I expect to see some effects in my home community(s). With global communication as it is now, new and deeper understanding of indigenous uprising can be reached. (Imagine, for example, Lakota and Chiapas mutual support and cooperation.)

#4

In order to be able to believe that this could really happen I would have to know who this group is, who they represent. I’ve spent some time there at Pine ridge and continue to visit there every summer. I have some very close friends there, you might say family.
Unfortunately there are many factions among the Lakota. Russel Means does not represent them all in any sense of the word.
There are also other Nations (aka tribes) who would definitely have something to say about the boundaries of this Nation.
It’s great that this is getting such wide spread distribution and people are talking about these issues and more pressure may be felt by the dominant culture governments. I believe that is the point.

#5

hey plains where in michigan do you live? I live in ferndale, it would be fucking excellent to hang out with more than one person interested in living civilization-free. aight later.

#6

How about their own site:

http://www.lakotafreedom.com/

#7

I wish them the absolute best of fortune with this!!!

I just wrote the website and told them to put an email list sign up and a donation button asap…people will give money likely during the holidays

A great introductory 8 part documentary on western hemisphere indigenous people is 500 Nations, if you haven’t seen it.

As far as I can tell, absolutely every single thing that was ever promised to any of the was never fulfilled…

Maybe the map from Shadowrun will actually one day be valid?!

J

#8

How cool, Shadowrun RPG was actually the first thing i was thinking about when i heard about the Lakota break-away…now if somehow Dunkelzahn would show himself…(wasnt that his name?)…

But this is actually real…

#9

There has been a vast misunderstanding regarding the secession…

I live in the Black Hills, and my ancestors are Oglala Lakota. Russell Means, the leader of the secession, lives in on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the town of Porcupine.

There is one big problem with the whole ordeal…Russell Means does not have Lakota tribal support, and very little Lakota support at all for that matter. He does not by any means represent the Lakota Nation, and he has absolutely no right to secede from the US on behalf of the Lakota people. You must understand, he is one person trying to represent an entire Lakota people who ultimately do not support him.

The story has been blown out of proportion, mostly because people want the story to be more than what it really is. From the persepective of someone who lives in the area, the situtation has recieved little recognition and, in all honesty, many are not even aware of the situation.

#10
There has been a vast misunderstanding regarding the secession...

I live in the Black Hills, and my ancestors are Oglala Lakota. Russell Means, the leader of the secession, lives in on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the town of Porcupine.

There is one big problem with the whole ordeal…Russell Means does not have Lakota tribal support, and very little Lakota support at all for that matter. He does not by any means represent the Lakota Nation, and he has absolutely no right to secede from the US on behalf of the Lakota people. You must understand, he is one person trying to represent an entire Lakota people who ultimately do not support him.

The story has been blown out of proportion, mostly because people want the story to be more than what it really is. From the persepective of someone who lives in the area, the situtation has recieved little recognition and, in all honesty, many are not even aware of the situation.

Here is a post from someone that I trust and consider knowledgeable on this issue:

http://www.ishthink.org/lakota_indians_withdraw_treaties_signed_with_u_s_150_years_ago#comment-5324

Bill wrote: [i]Russell Means, one of the organizers, is a serious activist and well respected (as I understand it). Some folks I’ve talked to say he has the backing of the tribal elders in this matter and that might make a difference.

That said, it’s a crapshoot as to how serious it will end up being. I’ve got a person I respect home in Montana right now and she’ll probably return with news about the People.

As to why it’s not being reported, why would anyone take it seriously? They’re just Indians, right? And it’s Christmas time here so credit card debt and people returning to Bethlehem because those oh-so-clever Israelis have stopped all the Palestinian violence once and for all – those are the top stories. That and Britney Spear’s pregnant 16-yr old sister.

The hope, I assume, is that is will just go away over the holidays and nothing further will will be spoken about it. We’ll see… :slight_smile:
[/i]

Take care,

Curt

#11

rational_thought, thanks for the “on the ground” view. i hope you’ll keep us to date?

#12

Hey all,

Has anybody that owns land within the Republic of Lakotah recieved a notice to attend a public meeting yet?

Take care,

Curt

http://www.republicoflakotah.com/

JAN 1, 2008

Notice to All Foreign Governments and Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah

TO:

The United States of America;

The States of: Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska;

The County and Municipal Governments Operating within the Republic of Lakotah; and All Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah

Lakotah, through its government, have appointed representatives to withdraw from all the treaties with the United States of America.

Lakotah, through such representatives, have formally withdrawn from all agreements and treaties with the United States of America. The reinstitution of our freedom and independence is found in law.

Lakotah has reclaimed sovereignty as a nation and over its traditional lands.

Despite many years of repeated bad faith on the part of the United States government towards the Lakotah People, the Lakotah hold no animosity toward the American people, most of whom have had no part in the actions of their government. We wish to deal with the American people in good faith and in a win-win manner.

While we have the right to impose liens on all of the real estate in our country, we prefer to come to resolutions with you all with out resorting to such measures. Accordingly, at this time, we are only declaring liens on real estate held by governments foreign to the Republic of Lakotah, but not on real estate held by private parties.

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties substantiate this freedom.

Lakotah welcomes the opportunity to meet and discuss this matter. We are in the process of scheduling meetings and will issue public invitations. Should you desire input with regard to scheduling these meetings, please contact us at the above.

Russell Means, Chief Facilitator
Provisional Government
Republic of Lakotah

#13

I wonder if the Anishnabe, Winnebago, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Shoshone, Cree, Nakoda, Hidatsa, Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai and Crow people have all been consulted about this all being claimed as Lakota land?

#14

heyvictor,

I wonder if the Anishnabe, Winnebago, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Shoshone, Cree, Nakoda, Hidatsa, Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai and Crow people have all been consulted about this all being claimed as Lakota land?

I don’t know. But did you click on the link and listen to the interview with Russel Means? About half way through the interview he mentioned that the Cheyenne nation plan on doing the same thing in the near future.

Take care,

Curt

#15

No I didn’t hear it. I live out in the sticks and my internet connection is ultra slow rural dial-up, so no videos or music downloading or any of that kind of high speed stuff.

I see the map now though and realize that a bunch of the people I mentioned are outside of the boundaries they have drawn but I imagine the Crow people woud definitely have an opinion about this.

Believe me if this was something that the People were really behind and ready to do, I’d be there. I’ve spent a fair bit of time at Pine Ridge, and have close friends there that I stay in touch with and see every summer. To be honest I have a hard time with Russell Means as a front man for this.
http://www.geocities.com/lakotastudentalliance/lsastmt_111202.html

http://www.indianz.com/ict/showarchive.asp?id=means

#16

Hey Victor! I love your screen name. ;D

#17

looks like there is some drama going on…

http://www.lakotafreedom.net
(was ‘hijacked’?)

vs

http://www.lakotaoyate.net

looks like what lakotafreedom used to look like.

#18

All I can say, is I hope that people view this as a first step. I really do not think this will go anywhere, there isn’t enough backing within the tribe itself. Roughly, I would equate this to the Freemen of Montana. I was very excited when I first started getting information about it, and was considering it, since I have lived in Lakota country all my life, and have very strong ties to the Olgala, but, I just don’t think this little band will have the support necessary to pull it off. He does not have the tribal leaders on his side, and without them he doesn’t have the whole tribe backing him. Just my $0.02.

#19

I doubt much will come of this now, however, it wouldn’t surprise me (if this vision can be maintained) to see it bear fruit within the century. As I see it, it’s really only a matter of time before the higher levels of American social complexity collapse in Lakota country.

At this point however, I see the most likely (potentially possitive) outcome of this probably similar to how Earth First! effected the mainstream environmental movement. Up the ante, push the envelope of what people think is “radical” vs “reasonable” and gain more consessions for the “reasonable”. If it brings publicity to the social problems cited as reasons for secession and the govt. (or some rich philanthropist) responds with more funding, Russell Means will have reason to be pleased with the result.

#20

http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/01/08/canupa-gluha-mani-speaks-about-lakota-oyate-lakota-freedom/