Descendants of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse break away from US (tradition, choice)

[Gentoo]

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States, leaders said Wednesday.


"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.


A delegation of Lakota leaders delivered a message to the State Department on Monday, announcing they were unilaterally withdrawing from treaties they signed with the federal government of the United States, some of them more than 150 years old.

Link.



What do you guys think?

[Seyorni]

More power to 'em.

Where do I sign up?

[England my lionheart]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Link.



What do you guys think?

I think its brilliant,all the treaties sucked from the indians point of view its not as if they had a choice.
More power to their bow i say

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

What do you guys think?

In terms of the political statement it seems they're trying to make, I think they have a point: they entered into an agreement that the other party, IMO, did not enter into in good faith.

In terms of actually seceding from the USA: I think it will have just as much success as, if not more than, the Conch Republic and the Republic of Rough and Ready.

[gnomon]

I wouldn't give this news item much credence until the Lakota actually say something to this effect.

[Lindsey-Loo]

Hmmm. I agree with their actions to revoke all treaties signed with the United States. They truly are worthless words on worthless paper. I hope other tribes, including mine, will follow in those footsteps. We need to take actions to demonstrate our extreme displeasure over the way our people have been treated by the government since the 1700's (despite countless peace treaties). We have been lied to, we have been mistreated, and we still undergo extreme racism and streotypes today. So I believe the Lakota's action of revoking the treaties was a good one.

I don't know about seceding from the country. That seems awfully extreme to me. But we will just have to wait and see how this plays out. For myself, if my own tribe actually seceded from the United States to become their own nation...I suppose I would go with them, because I have a commitment to my people and little commitment to the government that has treated my people so poorly in the past. But I don't know if the action in itself is really intelligent or not. Whether we like or not, American Indians are citizens of this country. In fact, many of our people fought for the right to be citizens of this country, along with African Americans and women. Do we really want to throw that away in protest of past deeds done that cannot be changed?

[Reverend Rick]

I have a full back piece of Crazy Horse tatooed on my back. I will let you all guess what I think about this.

[gnomon]

I hope everyone realizes that the headlines about this story are indeed false. Russell Means and some have declared independence. Apparently, no other Lakota, the vast majority, have declared anything.

Please people, actually check the story.

"I want to emphasize, we do not represent the collaborators, the Vichy Indians and those tribal governments set up by the United States of America to ensure our poverty, to ensure the theft of our land and resources," Means said, comparing elected tribal governments to Nazi collaborators in France during World War II.

Rodney Bordeaux, chairman of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, said his community has no desire to join the breakaway nation. Means and his group, which call themselves the Lakota Freedom Delegation, have never officially pitched their views to the Rosebud community, Bordeaux said.
"Our position on that is we need to uphold the treaties, and we're constantly reminding Congress of that message," Bordeaux said. "We're pushing to maintain and to keep the treaties there because they're the basis of our relationship with the federal government."

If anything, Means comes across as a jack***. Interesting considering this same man very recently tried to avoid the Navajo nations exertion of sovereignty when they charged him with beating his own father-in-law.



Navajo Nation

edit: I actually find it quite disturbing that in most forums that I have read people are shouting support for something the Lakota have not even done.

[Lindsey-Loo]

Yep, just checked out the American Indian group posting on this topic on Myspace. It's just some twisted activists, apparently.

I received this from a friend of mine that has lived out on the res for a couple of years now, this very much is a wait and see point in Lakota History.

Hello all,>> I spoke to the President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe,
Rodney M. Bordeaux,> just a short while ago and he has given me
permission to say that it is> highly unfortunate that this group of
individuals inappropriately tried to> represent the Lakota Nations.
President Bordeaux informed me that the> Lakota Nations will be
meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota tomorrow to> discuss this matter
in full. As he said, "These people do not speak onour> behalf."
Bordeaux was contacted by KSTP AM out of Minneapolis and hespoke> on
the air earlier today. In addition, Gannet News contacted Bordeaux
fora> comment. Gannet News is owned by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
As youcan> see this is leading to a mess out in Indian Country. I
also contacted the> Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as well as other Lakota
Nations. Each aresending> a representative to the meeting in Rapid
City tomorrow. I am certain they> will provide an official press
release from the Lakota Oyate in the near> future.>> As unfortunate
as it is there are people who think that they speak forall> of us in
matters of such complicated and historical significance. Thelast>
time I checked none of these individuals were official
representatives of> the Lakota Oyate. It is very Lakota to stand up
and announce yourself and> take an individualistic perspective. That
we know from the many groupsand> individuals that went against what
their leaders told them or agreed to in> Washington or agency
delegations. Knowing how our traditional methods of> consesus
agreement impacted each and everyone of us, both negatively and>
positively, after the treaties were signed each time and how we
either> adhered to those treaties or disagreed with them as
individuals or groups,> it is very much so easy to see how this group
of individuals would take it> upon themselves to make such a bold
statement. But that is all that itis,> a statement. What did they do,
burn their tribal ID's?>> My great great grandfather Wambdi Mani
signed the Ft. Laramie Treaty of> 1868. I would be mistaken to say
that I knew what he was feeling as heput> pen to paper. I would be
mistaken to try and comprehend what it must be> like for the leaders
then or now and how they struggle with being> responsible and
accountable to their people.>> I know that each of us as Lakota
people struggle with the disparitiesand> issues that confront our
nations. I know Phyllis Young. I know she would> not make such a bold
statement without feeling backed into a corner. Yet> what would cause
an individual to go against their nation. I wish all of> them the
best as they will each now have to deal with the political>
ramifications of what they have done, and with the good, bad and holy
of> what will become of the mess they have created for us as a
people. Whowas> in this group of "leaders"? Did they consult with
anyone before going> forward? Did they officially renounce their
Lakota or Americancitizenship?> If so, the clock is ticking! Does
this mean they are no longer "dual> citizens" of any nation? Where
will they go? Should the tribes take away> their membership? So they
are going to set up a border. Will there be a> chain link fence? Or
will we play by the old rules? If so, then all> Anishnabeg and Crow
had better be> on the look out. This is all rediculous. Thanks
Russell for taking alead> role once again. Maybe he is a true Maqua.
Someone should ask his former> wife. Can anyone offer to give him a
lesson in International and Federal> Indian Law?>> Have a blessed
holiday all,>> Kelly>> Martha Fast Horse
<fasthorseproductions@YAHOO.COM> wrote:> Lakota Indians Withdraw-They
Are No Longer US Citizens>>
FOXNews.com - Lakota Indians Withdraw Treaties Signed With U.S. 150 Years Ago - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

[gnomon]

Originally Posted by I Panicked! At the Disco

Yep, just checked out the American Indian group posting on this topic on Myspace. It's just some twisted activists, apparently.

It's Russell Means. I take anything led by him with a good deal of skepticism. Not to disrespect his efforts over many years but there is much that is shady with his works and writings.