Lakota indians renounce US treaties

[Dionne]

I hereby declare my private residence a sovereign nation.

When can I open a Casino?

[Coredesat]

I hereby declare my private residence a sovereign nation.

When can I open a Casino?

The worst part is people have actually tried to do this (do a search for micronations), but it's usually as a joke. The reservations already have governmental infrastructures.

[Aslkahuna]

Some reservations have near autonomous status already with their own Government, Court system and Police powers and have authority over anyone breaking the law within their boundaries. Hmmmm, do I sense a very great similarity between the Social and Political Ills that brought down Rome to what is happening in this Country now? This is the man reason why I feel that this Country is on the verge of collapse.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

The Roman Empire collapsed for various reasons, not just bureaucracy. Emperors were ineffective also. One reason was that it became really morally decadant and also the use of lead pipes that caused lead poisoning, which was called Saturnalia.

You may wish to reread your Roman history books; Saturnalia was a festival, not the lead plumbing system (which is still used in areas of Europe).

As for the Native Americans, the reservations technically do already run themselves; they are not under state or federal jurisdiction. Reservations are generally run by tribal leaders under the supervision of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior.

The activists announcing the "secession" are a bit misled because there is nothing to secede from; the tribes already essentially have home rule. Also, these activists do not seem to reflect the wishes of the actual tribal council, which is the only group that can decide whether to withdraw from any treaties.

Sending in troops...that would be the hugest overreaction in the history of the world.

I meant to say Saturnism, not Saturnalia. Sorry for the slip up. Saturnalia is celebrated around the same time Christmas is. Mithras had a ritual that time and was a widespread religion.

Faith Freedom

[Cryomaniac]

If Castro and Chavez are in any way involved with this the US Government needs to make it abundantly clear HERE AND NOW that they will not allow any type of help or anything else from those countries to be used in the Lakota's efforts.

I've not heard anything about Castro and / or Chavez supporting this, but if it's true and overt and / or military suport, then that is an act of war against the US, simple as that.

[lurkey]

If Castro and Chavez are in any way involved with this the US Government needs to make it abundantly clear HERE AND NOW that they will not allow any type of help or anything else from those countries to be used in the Lakota's efforts.

I've not heard anything about Castro and / or Chavez supporting this, but if it's true and overt and / or military suport, then that is an act of war against the US, simple as that.

In one of the stories I read, Chavez applauded the action of the Lakota activists and issued a statement something referencing a recent UN non-binding declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Usually if Chavez supports it, Castro isn't far behind. The delegation of Lakota activists visited the Venezuelan, Chilean and Bolivian embassies and are planning visits to Venezuela, Chile and Bolivia.

[azsnowman]

Having grown up on reservations all of my life, Mescalaro Apache, San Carlos Apache and the Fort Apache Indian Rez, I fully understand the Lakota peoples frustration and yes, I would fully support it myself! I've seen first hand how the BIA (bossing indians around) treat the Natives and the US Govt' should be ashamed of itself!

Watch "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" and see for yourselves the atrocities the Dept. Of Inferior has and still is commiting against this countrys original habitants! Do I sound a little one sided? Yes and for darn good reasons! Come live on a rez and see for yourselves the shame the natives feel, look at the hand outs the BIA and Dept of Inferior started back in the 1800's and now the Natives are soley dependent on.....

Let me say, I DO NOT support the Chavez/Castro BS (if it's true) but the Lakota people need this.

'Nuff said from a Native activist!

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Saturnalia is my favorite holiday.

Have a sensational Saturnalia everyone!

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Having grown up on reservations all of my life, Mescalaro Apache, San Carlos Apache and the Fort Apache Indian Rez, I fully understand the Lakota peoples frustration and yes, I would fully support it myself! I've seen first hand how the BIA (bossing indians around) treat the Natives and the US Govt' should be ashamed of itself!

With all due respect there are few places on Earth where one ethnic grouping has not dominated, or even usurped, another at some point in history. I firmly believe that it is the nature of the beast, of humanity so to speak, at least historically. Europeans had technological (e.g. steel and firearms) and biological (diseases they carried and were immune too, but natives were not due to their groupings isolation from non-North Americans) advantages over the populations of the Western hemisphere whom they came into contact with, during the "Age of Discovery". These advantage played key roles in allowing them to devastate, and in short order conquer, huge areas previously held by indigenous populations. If the shoe had been on the other foot, we would all be speaking some language like Maya, Mexica (spoken by main tribe in the tripple or Aztec Alliance), Inca, or Algonquin as oppose to English, French, Spanish, or Portugese.

[Coredesat]

Having grown up on reservations all of my life, Mescalaro Apache, San Carlos Apache and the Fort Apache Indian Rez, I fully understand the Lakota peoples frustration and yes, I would fully support it myself! I've seen first hand how the BIA (bossing indians around) treat the Natives and the US Govt' should be ashamed of itself!

Watch "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" and see for yourselves the atrocities the Dept. Of Inferior has and still is commiting against this countrys original habitants! Do I sound a little one sided? Yes and for darn good reasons! Come live on a rez and see for yourselves the shame the natives feel, look at the hand outs the BIA and Dept of Inferior started back in the 1800's and now the Natives are soley dependent on.....

Let me say, I DO NOT support the Chavez/Castro BS (if it's true) but the Lakota people need this.

'Nuff said from a Native activist!

I talk to several people who live in Lakota-related reservations in Montana, and I agree; it's about time these issues were addressed. I'm not an activist or anything, and I'm not sure proclaiming an abrupt secession without the consent of tribal leaders would accomplish anything anyway; however, I do think the indigenous peoples deserve more self-determination and are not treated like regular U.S. citizens.

One friend of mine lives in a reservation town in Montana where over 60% of the population is below the poverty line, and due to some weird federal regulation, they are not allowed to have high-speed internet access or digital television (meaning no TV when the US switches to all digital in a couple years). Even though he does get paid a small stipend (I think about $500 a month) to attend college, virtually all of that stipend goes toward food and utilities with very little left over.

[azsnowman]

Having grown up on reservations all of my life, Mescalaro Apache, San Carlos Apache and the Fort Apache Indian Rez, I fully understand the Lakota peoples frustration and yes, I would fully support it myself! I've seen first hand how the BIA (bossing indians around) treat the Natives and the US Govt' should be ashamed of itself!

With all due respect there are few places on Earth where one ethnic grouping has not dominated, or even usurped, another at some point in history. I firmly believe that it is the nature of the beast, of humanity so to speak, at least historically. Europeans had technological (e.g. steel and firearms) and biological (diseases they carried and were immune too, but natives were not due to their groupings isolation from non-North Americans) advantages over the populations of the Western hemisphere whom they came into contact with, during the "Age of Discovery". These advantage played key roles in allowing them to devastate, and in short order conquer, huge areas previously held by indigenous populations. If the shoe had been on the other foot, we would all be speaking some language like Maya, Mexica (spoken by main tribe in the tripple or Aztec Alliance), Inca, or Algonquin as oppose to English, French, Spanish, or Portugese.

I agree with your first sentence but after that!

First off, have you ever lived/grown up on a rez? 99.99% of the rez peoples are FAR below the national poverty level as Coredesat pointed out. Tell me where on earth has a govt' gathered up a conquered peoples and put them on a reservation and started them out by giving them rations of food unfit to feed a dog?

I don't want to sound like a radical nor do I claim to know it all but until you, or anyone for that matter, spends a lifetime on a reservation, we have no understanding of the atrocieties that have gone on and are STILL going on on federal lands!

This was not meant to be a flame/attack, just simply stating facts!

[Ptarmigan]

Indian reservations are atrocious. I have read that Indians living on reservations are more likely to have drug addiction problems than people outside the reservations. Many are uninsured and are plagued by health problems. Some of them don't even have running water!

[Ptarmigan]

I hereby declare my private residence a sovereign nation.

When can I open a Casino?

[MGC]

Native Americans have been screwed by the American government. I agree that the treaties that have been signed are not worth the paper they are printed on. Only recently with tribial gaming (casinos) have Native Americans begun to have any chance of living a decent life. IMO the Native Americans were treated much worse than the African and Asian slaves brought to America to provide free or cheap labor. The American government practiced genocide on its navite peoples......MGC

[Stephanie]

Native Americans have been screwed by the American government. I agree that the treaties that have been signed are not worth the paper they are printed on. Only recently with tribial gaming (casinos) have Native Americans begun to have any chance of living a decent life. IMO the Native Americans were treated much worse than the African and Asian slaves brought to America to provide free or cheap labor. The American government practiced genocide on its navite peoples......MGC

I agree 100%, especially what I bolded.

[Derek Ortt]

gtalum,

a state has no right to succeed. Show me where in the Constitution that is the case. This issue was settled in 1861-1865 and cost millions of AMERICAN lives

[Coredesat]

gtalum,

a state has no right to succeed. Show me where in the Constitution that is the case. This issue was settled in 1861-1865 and cost millions of AMERICAN lives

First off, it's "secede" (states can succeed ). Secondly, the Lakota nation isn't a state; while it's under the supervision of the federal government, it's virtually autonomous within the borders of its reservation, and it isn't responsible to any local or state government. Reservations aren't states; in fact, for a good chunk of the nation's history, Native Americans weren't U.S. citizens.

[HurricaneBill]

Native Americans have been receiving the short end of the stick for ages. It's sad really.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

Tell me where on earth has a govt' gathered up a conquered peoples and put them on a reservation and started them out by giving them rations of food unfit to feed a dog?

Just one example, too easy. I'll give you several both modern and historical in which people were treated just as bad, or even worse than on American Indian reservations:

1. The Holocaust; World War II.

2. Darfur in the Sudan; Modern Day

3. Cambodia; 1970s

4. Rwanda; 1994

5. Former Yugoslavia; 1990s

6. Japanese treatment of the Chinaness; circa WW II

7. Japanese treatment of the Koreans; circa WW II

8. North Korea; 1950 - Modern Day

9. Taliban Afghanistan 1990s - 2001

10. Argentina; 1970s

and the list goes on, and on, and on.....

Now mind you I am in no way trying to excuse what occurred in any of these cases, including the treatment of American Indians by the American government, as this type of behavior is beyond appalling. I merely take exception to your claim that other groups have no been treated as poorly, if not even more poorly, than Native Americans under US law. The sad reality is that this type of thing occurring amongst, and between, human groups sadly is far more common than most modern peoples would like to believe.

[gtalum]

gtalum,

a state has no right to succeed. Show me where in the Constitution that is the case. This issue was settled in 1861-1865 and cost millions of AMERICAN lives

It's "secede". Not "suucceed".

Anyway, of course the states have the constitutionally granted right to secede. That right, as we know, was stolen from the states in the US Civil War. Since then many other powers have been usurped by the federal government that were not granted to it by the constitution or any of its amendments.

The right to secede comes in the form of the 9th and 10th amendments, coupled with the fact that nowhere is the federal government granted the right to prevent states from seceding.

Further, as mentioned, the indian reservations are not states and like the states before the US Civil War have been sovereign over their own territories.