Posted on 11/09/2009 6:37:49 PM PST by SJackson
Chief Oliver Red Cloud, Lakota, issued a statement to President Obama requesting a meeting more than two weeks ago and is yet to receive a response. Chief Red Cloud, 90, told Obama the Black Hills are not and have never been for sale
September 13, 2009
The Honorable Barack H. Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am the Itancan (chief) of the Oglala Lakota Band of the Great Sioux Nation and Chairman of the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, the traditional governing body of the eight bands of the Lakota Nation.
The Lakota Nation entered into and has always abided by the provisions of the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868. However, the United States of America has repeatedly violated and unilaterally attempted to abrogate the Treaties in violation of accepted international standards and codified international treaty law.
The Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, acting under the guidelines of Article XI of the U.S. Constitution, reaffirms its declaration of inherent authority as a separate and distinct entity from the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act Government of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Interior Department of the United States Government. The Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council is committed to upholding the 1851 and 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaties and will employ its' inherent authority to decision making and leadership to protect the integrity of, and our rights in these treaties.
The I.R.A. Government acts as an extension of the United States and carries out its orders.
Your office has sent a mandate to Lakota Bands to initiate a dialogue concerning the Black Hills Land Claim Settlement. How can the United States Government negotiate with I.R.A. Governments, which is an extension of itself?
It is necessary to issue this statement due to current discussions between I.R.A. Tribal Presidents, regarding the United States Governments' Supreme Court action to award monies for the illegal taking of the 1851 and 1868 Ft. Laramie Treaty Territory and other Treaty violations.
We forever oppose the acceptance of any money for our sacred lands.
We recently met with U.S. Senator John Thune's staff to discuss our frustration with the I.R.A. Governments blatant disregard for our inherent authority over treaty issues.
I am 90 years old now. I have spent the better part of my adult life fighting for the return of our sacred He Sapa (Black Hills). I want to create something better for the next seven generations.
I would like to meet with you as soon as possible to address our concerns. Please have your staff contact my administrative assistant, Natalie Hand at (605) 867-5762 (605) 867-5762 , for scheduling.
Sincerely,
_____________________________________________
Chief Oliver Red Cloud
/nnh
Cc: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
U.S. Senator John Thune
U.S. Senator Tim Johnson
U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin
U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
Chief Red Cloud is obviously a racist.
Obama will make it up to him later with a shout out and an award he didn’t really get.
God bless the Chief!
I wish him Gods speed and the greatest of luck in his endeavors! He and his Nation deserve it!
Chief Red Cloud wants Obama to give them back the Black Hills?
I would say no.
I would too, but it's not clear to me exactly what the issue here is.
The focus in general upon tribal reservations of late is curious to me.
Somebody doesn’t like the idea of independent entities within the continental United States, imho.
I guess the shoutout didn’t help. Poor Bambi. Everyone disrespects him.
The Chief and his people must endeavor to persevere ...
Can anyone clarify exactly what the US Government is asking of the Lakota? I don’t blame them for wanting to hold onto their own...
I think the Indians have long wanted the Black Hills. They probably think Obama is their best chance in years to make any progress.
But I will defer to others with more expertise in the issue.
Ping.
Bfltr
Deadwood and the Homestake gold mine are in the middle of the He Sapa. Now what? Well, good luck Chief.
As for the claims.. The US is never going to reinstate the Fort Laramie treaties, and the offers to settle the claim with payment is probably the best that will ever come out of the Obama administration, or likely any administration. The reason being that if they recognize the Fort Laramie treaty terms, and comply with them, they'll have to de-recognize quite a few tribal governments, and that's just not going to happen.
His only real hope is that the various tribal committees vote to make themselves subservient to him, in regards to treaty issues, especially the Fort Laramie treaty, and give him full negotiating powers for the Black Hills claims. Funny thing is, as much as US politicians enjoy campaign contributions from American Indians, they, themselves, don't feel so constrained by restrictions on political contributions, nor open bribery. The various councils would want to get paid off to give him the power, and the only way he could get the money to bribe them would be in accepting the settlement money, which would also end the claim.
It's just really too late, and yet another promise is broken.
It was theirs in the first place.
It sounds to me as if some very old treaty violations, with lands taken, are at issue. The Chief appears concerned over the potential precedent created by any attempt at monetary settlement, hence the very firm declaration that their lands are not for sale.
There’s a lot of something going unsaid here, but that’s my quick take on it.
Also Mt. Rushmore, that monument to evil white men.
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