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Blackbear

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FROM:
_http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/01/05/lakota-freedom-delegation-says-spokesman-russell-means-hijacked-organization/_
(MND: News and Commentary Since 2001 » Lakota Freedom Delegation says spokesman Russell Means 'hijacked' organization
n/)

wikinews
_Lakota Freedom Delegation says spokesman Russell Means 'hijacked'
organization_
(MND: News and Commentary Since 2001 » Lakota Freedom Delegation says spokesman Russell Means 'hijacked' organization)
January 5, 2008 at 11:17 am · Filed under _NewsLog_
(MND: News and Commentary Since 2001 » NewsLog) , _North America_
(MND: News and Commentary Since 2001 » North America)


(MND: News and Commentary Since 2001 » Republic of Lakota Map) Wikinews has
learned that the Lakota Freedom Delegation, also known as Lakotah Oyate, an
organization of activists fighting for the Sioux Indian Nation to withdraw all
treaties with the United States, was "hijacked" by its spokesman, Russell
Means, an activist for Native American Indians.
On December 19, 2007, Means and the "delegation" went to Washington, D.C. and
hand-delivered a letter, signed by the Delegation, to the U.S. State
Department claiming that the Lakota Indian Tribe was declaring that all treaties
between the tribe and the U.S. have been withdrawn or canceled. They also held a
press conference declaring their freedom.
"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.
This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically article six
of the constitution," said Means during the press conference.
Since then, Russell Means has gone on to announce the formation of a
"provisional government" of the "Republic of Lakotah" with himself as Chief
Facilitator, as well as to promote the establishment of a bank and a utility company
for the country. Despite the claim Means has made, Naomi Archer, liaison of
Lakotah Oyate stated to Wikinews that Means took control of the organization
and hijacked it and its website on December 29. Archer also said that Lakotah
Oyate or the delegation are not a government entity and do not make decisions
for the Nation.
"The legitimate actions of the Lakota people are not determined by one person
(referencing Russell Means) or even one group, but by the people
themselves," added Archer.
Other signers of the withdrawal letter are all still involved in the
movement, including Canupa Gluha Mani who heads the Strong Heart Warrior Society
which will "probably become the paramilitary force" of Lakotah, said Archer.
Wikinews asked Archer if Means would still be involved in the movement, but she
refused to comment.
The Bank of Lakotah and Provisional Government of Lakota are not supported by
Lakotah Oyate; Means is acting without having consulted the other elders of
Lakotah; Means is himself, at age 69 [sic], an elder, and "people need their
elders to set better examples than that," said Archer.
While the idea of establishing a power company, bank, and other such
institutions was an idea that had come from Means and the rest of Lakotah Freedom
Delegation knew that he was going off to Washington D.C. on his own to conduct
negotiations, they did not know what the negotiations were going to be
regarding. Lakotah Oyate hopes that this dispute will be resolved in a few weeks
because this "all has to be about the people".
Since the Delegation's press conference, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the
Cheyenne River Reservation have rejected Means's and the delegation's
declaration of secession.
"They're individuals acting on their own. They did not come to the Rosebud
Sioux tribal council or our government in any way to get our support and we do
not support what they've done. We do not support what Means and his group are
doing and they don't have any support from any tribal government I know of.
They don't speak for us," said Rosebud Sioux Tribe president, Rodney
Bordeaux.
Despite those rejections rejection, Archer said that the Pine Ridge
Reservation's council will "consider the proposal." A representative for the Standing
Rock Reservation's council has said that that reservation is also
considering Lakotah Oyate's proposal. Lakotah Oyate have also been holding discussions
with "about 150" other indigenous organizations in the U.S. and mentioned
particularly the Native Hawaiians.
_source_
(Lakota Freedom Delegation says spokesman Russell Means 'hijacked' organization - Wikinews, the free news source)

__________________
Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear... just sing, sing a song.

WhoMe

*L


Would you turn over your hard earned money to Russell Means' bank for "safekeeping?"

__________________
"English IS a foreign language. It did not originate on this land."

WhoMe

Lakota Wiyan

When do WE, the Lakota people, get to have a say in this? Even if Means does not have the support of this group, whose name is very misleading (the Lakota oyate), they are still doing something that has the potential to affect us all, but never sought OUR opinion in this. They are using our name (Lakota), to designate themselves apart from the US Government, and yet, here the rest of us all still stand, US Citizens, and proud. Why not use a different name so that WE dont have to answer questions we have no need or ability to answer. The fact that they use Lakota Oyate (which means The Lakota People), opened themselves up to being "hijacked". If they have a problem with people speaking on their behalf, without their permission, maybe they should look at what they are doing to the rest of us!

Blackbear

The Lakota Oyate was one of the websites that was considered "reliable" for real information concerning the Lakota people and how the nations stand on certain topics. If He's taken it over, that's not good.

__________________
Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear... just sing, sing a song.