Lakota Sioux Indians Declare Sovereign Nation Status

[Makalakumu]

On an interesting note, this seems to be happening with indiginous people who have gotten screwed all over the world. Check this out...

Tama Iti is a maori separatist who is working to form a separate sovereign Maori state in New Zealand. Him an his ilk were arrested in 2007 in well publicized "anti-terror" raids. Fortunately, the public remained skeptical of the government's claims and have demanded the police obey the rule of the law in the matter. This is has led to the country seriously debating the provisions in the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act.

One can hope that things are solved more peacefully here in the US. I'm pessimistic, however.

 

[Makalakumu]

The Lakota have always been a bit exuberant about this sort of thing. I expect that Wounded Knee III - The Hose Out Continues will involve fewer deaths than the other two. But there may be some Lakota leaders heading to Nebraska or the other camps pretty soon as Domestic Terrorists.

Probably. And if other countries start getting involved, this could get a lot uglier then that. This is a potential avenue toward a complete crackdown of dissent or dissident groups within the US. In short, a potential curbing of our freedom to assemble.

 

[shesulsa]

Probably. And if other countries start getting involved, this could get a lot uglier then that. This is a potential avenue toward a complete crackdown of dissent or dissident groups within the US. In short, a potential curbing of our freedom to assemble.

Indeed. This move could blow an even bigger hole in our constitution.

 

[Andy Moynihan]

This won't end well.

It should, but it won't.

 

[FearlessFreep]

This won't end well.

It should, but it won't.

It will.. this is old news and tit came out that it wasn't the leadership of the Lakota but just a few activists who made the declaration.

 

[Empty Hands]

My first thought was... it was THEIR land to begin with. We American settlers, as like Roman conquerors, came in and took it all and slaughtered any and all who resisted

Well, the native peoples shouldn't get too moralistic. They extinguished the Clovis peoples and replaced them on the land. The difference is, no one, least of all the Indians, remembers the Clovis peoples except archaeologists.

 

[Empty Hands]

BTW, why can't I open a casino and rake in the cash, but, Indians can? Isn't that discriminatory?

Is this a serious question, or are you just trolling us? In case you are actually serious and not just trying to make another dig at the scary liberals, the Indian nations are sovereign. They even have their own police forces. That is why they can open casinos and you can't.

 

[Makalakumu]

There are so many things that could really be interesting about this...

1. How does the US government honor the sovereignty of this country?
2. Do they use their own currency or do they continue to use dollars?
3. Which laws apply on this soil?
4. Will extradition be allowed?
5. Will the US enforce the contracts and property rights of US citizens living within these new nations?
6. Will they even be allowed to succeed?

 

[Bob Hubbard]

1- only when convenient, same as always
2- prob. use dollars
3- good question
4- ""
5- at gunpoint probably.
6- Depends on what's really at stake. Couple of rubish heaps and superfund cleanup sites split, no one will care. If the property's worth any real value, expect troops to roll.

 

[The Last Legionary]

Good for them.


IV

 

[Rich Parsons]

I wish the Lakota the best. I would like to see the treaties and see their argument before I say 100% about who is right. But, based upon past experience I would lean towards the Lakota. I just want to see their arguments that they are presenting.

As to reservations being poor, I have seen lots of poor in my travels on/across reservations. I do know that those here in the state of Michigan have seen drastic improvements in housing and also in schools and infrastructure on the reservations that have a well established casino.

 

[FearlessFreep]

I wonder how many other posts are going to be made before people realize about a page and a half ago that I mentioned this story is not true?

The Lakota Nation did not declare independence; this was just some comments made by a known activist with no authority or elected power trying to a) raise awareness or b) get attention

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/23/133010/57/277/425848

 

[Rich Parsons]

I wonder how many other posts are going to be made before people realize about a page and a half ago that I mentioned this story is not true?

The Lakota Nation did not declare independence; this was just some comments made by a known activist with no authority or elected power trying to a) raise awareness or b) get attention

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/23/133010/57/277/425848

Some people me included may read the original post or a single post by a person they know.

I apologize I did not read the whole thread before responding.

 

[Makalakumu]

I wonder how many other posts are going to be made before people realize about a page and a half ago that I mentioned this story is not true?

The Lakota Nation did not declare independence; this was just some comments made by a known activist with no authority or elected power trying to a) raise awareness or b) get attention

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/23/133010/57/277/425848

This article does not cite anything nor does is prove the original press reports untrue. It's just someones opinion in their blog.

 

[FearlessFreep]

This article does not cite anything nor does is prove the original press reports untrue. It's just someones opinion in their blog.

Well... let's see a declaration from anyone within the actual government of the Lakota nation? Russell Means is an activist and I wish him well in his goals of standing up for his people, but he has no authority to speak for the Lakota as a whole. This is the equivalent of the NRA saying that the US will no longer abide by arms treaties with Russia; interesting gesture, but not really meaningful as the NRA really isn't in a situation to make those declarations.

Actually, as I read it, Means doesn't really recognize the governments of the Lakota tribes so by taking a delegation straight to foreign embassies, it seems to be a political end run to try to get foreign governments to recognize him as the rightful leadership of the Lakota.

I would dearly love this story to be true as I think it would force the US govt. address issues it has pretty much buried for generations and it would be interesting to see how the US addresses this sort of event given how the govt. reacts to similar events in other countries, but unfortunately that does not seem to be the case