Lakota Nation Declares Independence. Can Venice Be Far Behind?
By Erica
Snowlake
Haumikole! Hello my
friend!
On December 19, the Lakota
Freedom Delegation announced unilateral withdrawl from all U.S. treaties to a
small group of Press and well-wishers in the Plymouth Congregational Church in
Washington, DC. The same church hosted the American Indian Movement in
the1970s.
Delegates Mni yuha Najin Win, Phyllis Young from
Standing Rock; Oyate Wacinyapin, Russell Means, Pine Ridge; Canupa Gluha Mani,
Duane Martin Sr., Hill City, Black Hills; and Tegihya Kte, Garry Rowland,
Wounded Knee, made presentations, sang and drummed traditional songs, and cut up
their driver’s licenses.
The
delegates have been in discussion with traditional treaty councils across Lakota
in the communities of Pine Ridge, Porcupine, Kyle, Rosebud, Lower Brule,
Cheyenne River, Standing Rock, and Flandreau. The withdrawl is said to be vested
on the power of the Lakota people and their children, in accordance with the
Strongheart Warrior Society and its
Grandmothers.
Citing
provisions of the1868 Fort Laramie Treaty which have never been upheld, the
Lakota have been subject to colonial apartheid conditions, an ongoing
catastrophe on the Reservations of alcoholism, drug abuse, unemployment, and
extreme poverty, suffering high incidences of diabetes, tuberculosis, infant
mortality, and teenage suicides, possessing one of the highest incarceration
rates in the nation, and the lowest life expectancy of any country in the world.
Further, “Lakotah,
have waited at least 155 years for the United States of America to adhere to
provisions of the treaties, whose continuing violations have resulted in the
near annihilation of our people physically, spiritually, and culturally.”
These violations have been in breach of Article VI of the United States
Constitution rendering all treaties made “the Supreme Law of the
Land.”
The five-state area of
Lakotah emcompasses North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
It’s all now Lakotah! The mineral-rich Black Hills, the Paha Sapa have
always been held as sacred ancestral land by the
Lakota.
Invasions into the Paha
Sapa by gold-seekers in the1870’s provoked the so-called “Red
Cloud’s War” leading to the legendary Battle at Little Big Horn,
1876, where George Custer was defeated, and the subsequent infamous massacre of
hundreds of unarmed Hunkpapa and Mniconju men, women, and children with Si Tanka
(Chief Big Foot), at Wounded Knee in
1890.
Legends live on, and the
descendants of assasinated spiritual warrior leaders Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse,
Dull Knife and Conquering Bear still cry for justice today and their cries will
be heard.
Lakota have always maintained
their insistence upon the return of the Paha Sapa, accusing the U.S. of
violations ranging from Homestead and Citizenship Acts to forced relocations,
disallowment of their religions, and truly, the intentional genocide of their
race.
Emerging from the conflict in
the Wounded Knee Occupation of 1973, the International Indian Treaty Council
formed with more than 5000 delegates representing 98 Indian tribes and Nations
from North and South America to create a Manifesto from the wisdom of the
People, their Ancestors, and the Great Mystery. Acknowledged within the 1974
Declaration of Continuing Independence is “the historical fact that the
struggle for independence of the Peoples of our Sacred Earth Mother have always
been over sovereignty of land, historical freedom efforts involving the highest
human sacrifice.”
As international
nations welcome and recognize Lakota independence, they will begin the adventure
of birthing a new nation into Being. To this end they will issue passports,
driver licenses, and a tax-free economy, provided residents renounce their U.S.
citizenship. They will also begin to administer liens against real estate
transactions made by
non-Lakotas.
To celebrate and mark
this autonomy, 44 people mounted horses on December 15 in Standing Rock to ride
the spirit trail of Chief Big Foot and his people in the 21st Annual Ride. They
will be joined by many others along the way, swelling their numbers to over 100
on the 13 day journey, returning to Wounded Knee a Free Lakota
People.
“We are no longer
citizens of the United States and all those who live in the 5 state area
encompassing our country are free to join us.”, declares Oyate
Wacinyapin, Russell Means. We at the Beachhead commend this action and
hope it may inspire Venetians to restore Venice cityhood, entering into a
liberating independence from Los
Angeles.
After visiting
the embassies of Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, and South Africa, the Lakota
Delegates will continue on their diplomatic mission in bringing the good news of
their freedom to the
world.
Mitaku Oyasin! - We Are All Related!
For more information and to
show your support: www.republicoflakota.com
Posted: Tue - January 1, 2008 at 04:04 PM
