Lakota group secedes from U.S.

This is pretty interesting, and I agree with dhp–it’s a powerful move that puts the lakota in the present moment in some way other than the “noble savage” or “bloodthirsty savage” tropes that seem to be laid at the feet of Native folks.

I wonder what would happen if the Mohegans or the Mashentucket Pequots, both of whom have made huge amounts of money on Casinos out here, followed the lead of the Lakota… My guess is that the government would probably step in then, whereas I don’t think this will be more than a blip on anyone’s radar.

I think that at the very least this will raise main issues regarding the marginalization of the Lakota and indigenous peoples.

Regarding money, the Lakota were awared over $100 million (with interest it’s over $1B now) in 1980 by the courts, but they refused. As far as I know the issue has always been about rights and land, not money. It’s very hard for me to picture a casino on the Pine Ridge.

Though this may go no where, it will raise many issues oft ignored. Speaking as someone who lived in Lakota territory for six years, I know that the public image is one of ‘drunken indian,’ and I hope this helps change that.

I say they should go for it. Trouble is, it is Russ Means, and not actually the Tribes. Here is an interesting link: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2007/12/21/msm-exaggerates-american-indians-claims-seceding-usa

which offers a different interpretation on the matter. I’ve checked around, because if it was the case, it would be a great thing, and of course I would support it. But I kinda got suspicious when I read that Russell Means was behind the whole thing.

My understanding of Russ Means is fairly brief. Having lived in West River South Dakota for a good portion of my adult life, I’ve had the opportunity to gauge opinion about Russ Means. I first heard about him as a teenager. he was the rabble rousing AIM member who was one of the protagonists of the first half of the book “In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.” In my estimation he did some real cool things.

But he has gotten himself a reputation since those days for the bombast. My understanding about Russ Means nowadays is that he is something like a Lakota Abbie Hoffman (in his better years). Means has done some pretty showy things. His repeated attempts to win the Presidency of Pine Ridge are evidence. He ran on some pretty good ideas (in my opinion) but he was just way too flamboyant for the people on the Reservation, and he hasn’t ever won (though, if memory serves me, he got close.) People that I associated with, both those who lived off the reservation and those who had spent a good portion of their time on the reservation, didn’t have a very high opinion of him, in spite of his history and his celebrity (he played a supporting role in Last of the Mohicans…) It’s too bad, because someone with his passion for the outlandish would be instrumental in turning a place like Pine Ridge around (anyone who’s been out there knows what I am talking about.)

This is precisely why, when I heard Means was involved, I did a little more checking. I haven’t found a report anywhere which confirms that the various nations have actually gotten on board with Means’ plans. For all I can find, it is an action of his group. As a matter of fact, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports that means says he does not even represent the legitimate tribal governments on the Reservations, and at least one leader spoke against Means’ plans (http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS/712200347/1001)

Basically, then, this and other info suggests to me that Means’ group speaks for itself, and has not actually been endorsed by any of the Tribes. I would be interested in seeing which community leaders have endorsed Means’ plans, to gauge the degree to which Lakotas actually have seceded from the US. I suspect it is a very small group of people and therefore, I imagine the effect will be limited if any. This is too bad, but I think the story was over played on the wires, and reporters need to do some more research before suggesting that this was a movement of the Lakota people as a whole.

But if you still aren’t convinced, judge its saliency by looking at US response. If you see none, then it is not worth paying attention to, or more importantly, getting our hopes up for.

Serenely,
William Doc Stodden