Republic of Lakotah proposal

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This article is about the proposed independent state. For other uses, see Lakota.
Republic of Lakotah
Ethnic groups
Lakota people
Religion
Lakota religion
GovernmentProposed independent republic
Establishment
• Declared
December 17, 2007
Area
• Total
199,998 km2 (77,220 sq mi)
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The Republic of Lakotah or Lakotah is a

enclave within the borders of the United States, covering thousands of square miles in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. The proposed national borders are those laid out in the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie between the United States government and the Lakota tribes. These lands are now occupied by Indian reservations
and non-Native settlements.

None of the existing, recognized, Lakota tribal governments support the proposed republic, and they were not consulted about the proposal.[1]

Background

The group espouses principles aligned with that of the global Land Back movements, and has stated several reasons for its assertion of sovereignty, all a result of what they refer to as the "colonial apartheid" of the reservation system in the United States. The group claims that control by the United States has led to massive unemployment, poverty, and disease among the Lakota peoples and alleges that 150 years of U.S. administration is responsible for the statistical poverty of Lakota lands. The group claims that withdrawal from the United States will reverse these problems, and help re-establish the Lakota language and culture.[2] The group claims there have been persistent violations by the United States of their treaties with the Lakota.

Inyan Kara—in the Black Hills—a sacred mountain to the Lakota

Another longstanding point of contention between the Lakota and the United States is the status of the Black Hills of South Dakota, which were part of Siouxland until they were taken—without compensation—by the US government and opened for gold mining following the collapse of the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868). In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court decision United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians awarded $105 million to eight tribes of Sioux Indians as compensation ($17.1 million for the market value of the land in 1877 and $88 million in 5% per annum simple interest between 1877 and 1980),[3][4] but the court did not award land. The tribal governments of the Lakota have refused the settlement.[5]

Politics and government

Assertion of independence

Four activists, calling themselves the Lakota Freedom Delegation, traveled to Washington, D.C. and contacted the State Department, on December 17, 2007. Their leader was Russell Means, who had been a prominent member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) since the late 1960s.[6] Means identified himself as 'chief facilitator' of the provisional government of the Republic of Lakotah.[7][8] Other members of the delegation included:[8] Tegheya Kte, (also known as Garry Rowland), 'facilitator';[9] Duane "Canupa Gluha Mani" Martin, 'provisional government member'; and Phyllis Young, 'provisional government member'.[9] The delegation members identified themselves by the title of "Itacan of Lakota" in a contemporaneous press release.[10]

The delegation delivered a

stay-by-the-fort Indians".[12]

The Lakota Freedom Movement founders cited their motivation for founding the group can be found in the

Oglala
1974 Declaration of Continuing Independence:

"The United States of America has continually violated the independent Native Peoples of this continent by Executive action, Legislative fiat and Judicial decision. By its actions, the U.S. has denied all Native people their International Treaty rights, Treaty lands and basic human rights of freedom and sovereignty. This same U.S. Government, which fought to throw off the yoke of oppression and gain its own independence, has now reversed its role and become the oppressor of sovereign Native people."[13]

In a news release on January 15, 2008, the Republic of Lakotah proposed that independence from the United States might follow a Compact of Free Association, and suggested that the independence process could resemble that of the Philippines, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Marshall Islands.

Proposed boundaries

Traditional range of the Siouan peoples (dark green) and the current reservations (orange)

The proposed boundaries of Lakotah would be the Yellowstone River to the north, the North Platte River to the south, the Missouri River to the east and an irregular line marking the west.[14][15] These borders coincide with those set by the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie.[a] The Republic of Lakotah announced its provisional capital as Porcupine, South Dakota, with hopes in the long run to move the administration closer to Rapid City, South Dakota.[17]

Proposed governmental structure

Citizenship in the proposed republic would be open to people of all

fiat currency but instead adopt a gold standard.[1][20] Means stated that this system of government is derived from the traditional Lakota government system,[18][21] saying, "...we are going to implement how we lived prior to the Invasion. Each community will be a mini-state unto itself... They will form the federation known as Lakotah." Leaders of communities would be informally chosen by elders of the community.[21]

On January 1, 2008, the republic announced that it would begin to file the

plebiscite/referendum" on Lakota independence. He lost that election 1,918 to 2,277.[23][24]

Legal basis for independence

Supporters of Lakotah argue that their assertion of sovereignty is entirely legal under "

United States law".[25] The group emphasizes that the Republic's establishment comes from a withdrawal from the United States, not a secession.[18][20] They claim the right to withdraw, on behalf of the Lakota people, from the Treaties of Fort Laramie as a consequence of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Members argue that the decision in the case of Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, 187 U.S. 553 (1903) shows that the United States Government does not adequately protect Indian rights.[11] Means cited the Enabling Act of 1889, that contained clauses protecting Indian sovereignty on the lands comprising the states where the Lakota historically reside and have been ignored.[18]

International contacts

The group has pursued international recognition for Lakotah at several embassies, including those of Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, and South Africa.[18][26] In February 2008, the Lakotah Freedom Delegation handed over a formal petition, asking for recognition of the Republic of Lakotah, to the embassies of Russia, Serbia, Bolivia, Venezuela, the Republic of South Africa, Ireland, France, Nicaragua, East Timor, Chile, Turkey, India, Finland, Iceland and Uruguay.[27][b]

Reactions

Means and Mani made the controversial claim that some 13,000 Lakota (77% of the population of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation), have shown support for the Republic of Lakotah, and that the eight-member delegation that traveled to Washington, D.C., was only a portion of some 77 tribal elders and activists taking part in the movement.[18][28]

Federal government

The United States Department of State referred queries on the subject of Lakotah to the United States Department of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[29] Gary Garrison of the BIA said that the group's withdrawal "doesn't mean anything." He went on to say, "These are not legitimate tribal governments elected by the people ... when they begin the process of violating other people's rights, breaking the law, they're going to end up like all the other groups that have declared themselves independent—usually getting arrested and being put in jail."[1]

Regarding the government response, or lack thereof, Russell Means stated that, "I don't expect the federal government to do anything. I don't believe they even know what to do."[18]

Lakota tribes

Contrary to Means' claims, none of the existing Lakota tribal governments supported the proposed republic, and they were not consulted about the proposal.

Oglala Lakota and first president of the Native American Journalists Association, has discredited the December 2007 developments, arguing that the Lakotah Freedom Delegation "never considered that treaties are made between nations and not individuals."[32] According to scholar Hiroshi Fukurai, "...the declaration of independence by the Republic of Lakotah in 2007 has been largely ignored by the US, as well as by the UN and its Member States."[33]

Other tribal governments and domestic groups

Rodney Bordeaux, chairman of the

Cheyenne River Lakota, agreed that the Lakota Freedom Delegation "...are not representative of the nation I represent..." but would not say whether he agreed or disagreed with their goals and message, noting there was some value in the group's actions in raising awareness for the history of the Lakota people.[1]

The Alaskan Independence Party, in an announcement dated December 21, 2007, "applauded" the independent Lakota nation and granted it "full recognition".[34] The secessionist movement Second Vermont Republic has also announced its support, and encouraged other American Indian groups to similarly declare independence from the United States.[35]

International responses

According to Means, Venezuela's ambassador to the United States stated to the group that his country would not recognize Lakotah's independence based on Venezuela's interpretation of what the Lakotah Freedom Delegation is doing.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ The territory of the Sioux or Dahcotah Nation, commencing [at] the mouth of the White Earth River, on the Missouri River; thence in a southwesterly direction to the forks of the Platte River; thence up the north fork of the Platte River to a point known as the Red Buts, or where the road leaves the river; thence along the range of mountains known as the Black Hills, to the head-waters of Heart River; thence down Heart River to its mouth; and thence down the Missouri River to the place of beginning.[16]
  2. ^ The text of the petition is available online.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Gale Courey Toensing (2008-01-04). "Withdrawal from US Treaties Enjoys Little Support from Tribal Leaders". Indian Country Today. Archived from the original on 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  2. ^ "Why". Lakota Oyate. Archived from the original on 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  3. ^ "UNITED STATES v. SIOUX NATION OF INDIANS, 448 U.S. 371 (1980)". FindLaw. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  4. Bill Harlan (December 19, 2007). "Lakota Group Secedes from U.S."
    Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  5. ^ "Sioux Indians of Lakota Tribe Tell State Dept. of Succession". Le Monde. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  6. ^ "Lakota Freedom Delegation withdraws from US". indianz.com. December 18, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Notice to All Foreign Governments and Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah" (PDF) (Press release). 2008-01-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  8. ^ a b Dennis McLellan (October 23, 2013). "Russell Means Dies at 72". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "REPORT". republicoflakotah.com. February 24, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  10. better source needed
    ]
  11. ^ a b "Lakotah Unilateral Withdrawal from All Agreements and Treaties with the United States of America" (Press release). Lakota Freedom Delegation. 2007-12-17.
  12. ^ Jerry Reynolds (December 18, 2007). "Delegates Announce Pullout from U.S. Treaties". Indian Country Today. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  13. ^ of Continuing Independence.pdf "Declaration of Continuing Independence by the First International Indian Treaty Council at Standing Rock Indian Country—June 1974" (PDF) (Press release). June 1974. {{cite press release}}: Check |url= value (help)
  14. ^ "Map". Republic of Lakotah. Archived from the original on 2008-01-05. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  15. ^ "About". Lakota Oyate. Archived from the original on 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  16. ^ "Treaty of Fort Laramie - 1851". Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  17. ^ "FAQ". Republic of Lakotah. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  18. ^
    Blogtalkradio
    . Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  19. ^ Catherine Elsworth (2007-12-26). "Sitting Bull's tribe declares independence". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  20. ^ a b Russell Means interview from December 26, 2007 on Free Talk Live
  21. ^ a b c Faith Bremner (2007-12-20). "Lakota group pushes for new nation". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  22. Andrea J. Cook (July 28, 2008). "Republic of Lakotah investigating tribal corruption"
    . Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  23. ^ "Russell Means for President of Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation". Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  24. ^ Heidi Bell Gease (December 2, 2008). "OST inauguration set for Friday". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  25. ^ "Media". Republic of Lakotah. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  26. ^ Bill Harlan (2007-12-20). "Lakota Sioux Secede From US, Declare Independence". Rapid City Journal. Archived from the original on 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  27. ^ a b "Petition" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  28. ^ Juxtaposeur (2007-12-25). "Interview with Canupa Gluha Mani - Lakota Freedom Delegation". memes.org Mind Viruses (Podcast).
  29. ^ "For your query, we will refer you to the Department of the Interior. This is not a State Department issue." Kirsten Petree, Director, Office of Media Affairs, U.S. Department of State, private communication with Wikinews (December 21, 2007)
  30. ^ Bill Harlan (2007-12-21). "Lakota Nation: no taxes!". Mount Blogmore, the Rapid City Journal Politlcal Blog. Retrieved 2008-01-01. [dead link]
  31. ^ Mikel LeFort (2007-01-20). "Lakota announcement: Where does it go?". Typos and Tribulations: Behind the headlines with a Rapid City Journal editor. Archived from the original on 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  32. ^ Tim Giago. "Catering to That 10 Percent That Love to be Mascots". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  33. ISSN 2052-9015
    .
  34. ^ Lynette Clark (2007-12-21). "Alaskan Independence Party". Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  35. ^ "Lakota Independence Resolution". Second Vermont Republic. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-23.[dead link]

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External links

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