Insight from a Free-Lakotah. by Hickory Hendrickson
(libertarian)
Friday, January 25, 2008
In the words of George Bush Sr. "it's a big idea". It's not "a New World Order" it's an Old World Order but it's still "a big idea".
What will it take to join the Republic of Lakotah? How can one gain citizenship within an idea? Who gives the test? What are the rules?
To join the Republic one must have big ideals and an intense desire for change. It's only official members are freedom loving individuals who have tried their whole lives to bring change to at least the Lakotah and the American Indian.
Freedom and change are not aspirations unique to Russell Means or the Lakotah. They are valued qualities of many people world wide. These are the ones who support the Republic and it's ideals.
Citizenship in the idea is easy but real citizenship will be much harder and take true understanding of what's at stake. I'm sure there will be a test.
Who should give the test? Who writes the rules?
The Republic of Lakotah is a Republic for the Lakotah Nation. They should make the rules and give the tests.
The Republic's administration has a long road ahead before they will be able to begin testing for citizenship status. For now, here's some study materiel. Make sure to read it twice. If you can understand the message in this Free-Lakotah's words, you have a chance at passing the written exam.
See you in the Republic of Lakotah!
"The difference between Squirrels and Rats"
"Hau Mitakiepi: It is the coldest Night of the Winter tonight. Way below zero around here. I Fall asleep in my warm bed thinking of those stranded, stuck or lost in the cold of the night. I think of my Friends, the Squirrels, who live in the Trees outside my window. Francis Yellow used to remind me: "remember, even though you are at your healthiest, you are really no better off than the most ill of your People". I used to nod solemnly like I knew something. Who are the most ill of "my People" then? Those who are called alcoholic, homeless, and unemployed? The most unhealthy are the ones who live in the Trees down by the River like Squirrels? Or are they the ones sitting out a life sentence up on "The Hill" for committing fratricide? The most sick of my Relatives are getting arrested by the wasicu for panhandling in their own Homelands, aren't they? The Trees outside my window hold many Squirrels within the roundness of their trunks and limbs. I wonder if they are prepared for this super cold. I want to offer them a warm place, somehow. I want to teach them that they can come to my window when it is really, really cold, and they can crash out here. As I ponder the thought more and more, I realize that my Noble Friend the Squirrel would become nothing more than pretty rats if I domesticated them if I erased their Original Instructions if I altered their Sacred(powerful) Path(way of being). I realize The Squirrel would never accept the periphery of wasicu society like the rat does. The Squirrel would never choose the warmth of the fringes of fat-taking over the cold of the Trees. They would rather freeze in Health than slumber in disease. The most ill of "my People", then, are those who are warm in a bed. They are the ones with enough breathing room to consider who is or isn't "the most ill". I am one of those made sick by comfort. I am one struck lame by warmth and health. Hecetuwelo, Wanbli WiWohkpe He Emacia" aka. James Starkey
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Don't the Lakotah have to actually of owned the land first before they do anything? What I mean is, didn't the Lakotah get pushed out of Minnesota by the Chippewa then went into the Dakota's, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana and wipe out the tribes that inhabited that land for thousands of years before laying claim to their land? With the white man coming only about 100 years after the Lakotah got there? Shouldn't the Lakotah give back the land they outright stole from the other tribes that were there for thousands of years, first? Seriously.
Anyone ever notice they rarely ever mention this little nugget. Trying to make it sound like they have had the land since the very beginning, when it was actually no more than about 100 years. The odds of all of this actually happening are about the same odds of the Lakotah giving the other tribes their land back. This would include, the Kiowa, the Omaha, the Ponca, the Oto and the Pawnee. They massacred those tribes and take take their game and land with no remorse. They took their land for no less nobel of cause than our European ancestors took theirs. And yet they somehow feel enititled to it because of Wakan Tanka? Was Wakan Tanka the same one that told them to get rid of those other tribes too? Seriously. Maybe our gods told the Europeans to wipe out the Lakotah for the same reason Wakan Tanka told them to wipe out the other tribes.
Get real people. Use some common sense and look this stuff up.
I would also like to point out that Russell Means recently said in an interview that 'we' *meaning the Lakotah Nation* unilaterally withdrew from their treaties and agreement with the United States of America.
Problem is, it isn't 'we'. He is NOT representing the Lakotah Nation nor does he have backing of the elders or those with actual 'elected pull' in the Lakotah Nation. He is representing himself and his splinter group. NOT the Lakotah nation as a whole. He is flat out misleading his people with this. And its something people really need to look at. He is basically electing himself as leader of this movement and circumventing the actual authority of the elders for his own beliefs. Which could have a bigger nagative impact than be probably even realizes.
And in that same interview when he was asked about those that live in this new nation, what would happen with them and their land if they refused to leave Russell stated:
"They have to prove that the lien is invalid. Well, based on the U.S. Constitution, we own the land."
Wrong again.
The Lakotah nation states that they have the legal rights to separate from the United States under Article 6 of the Constitution of the United States. However, according to Article VI of the US Constitution it states: "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding." So unless the treaties that we legally signed by the Lakotah were signed by someone that was not acting under the authority of the United States government, these treaties are very legal.
But didn't Russell also state: "We unilaterally withdrew from our treaties and agreement with the United States of America. ". Yes he did, in the same interview. Which means, the treaties would no longer be valid. Which means the land is no longer theirs. (But really was never theirs to beging with anyways.) Swift thinking! LOL
Russell Means is not "misleading his people" at all, though he might be misleading the white press. The Lakota people know that Russell Means does not have any authority to address the serious matter of Lakota treaty rights. An organization was formed in 1893, composed of traditional elders, to deal with the US government in relation to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. This organization is still in existence and functioning: it is named the Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council. Its spokesperson, Charmaine White Face , issued a statement in response to the Press Release of Russell Means, in which she indicated that Article 12 of the Fort Laramie Treaty has a very important provision, stipulating that it would require three-fourths of the Lakota adult male vote to change any aspect of the Treaty. This was done expressly to protect the people, the land, and the Lakota way of life. The declaration goes on to say that Russell Means is only one man and he does not have the three fourth Lakota Male adult approval to do anything. His efforts, however, the Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council states, are making the world aware that the Lakota nation still has an international treaty with the US Government.
Treaties I know I and many others believe were built on fraud. But thats neither here nor there.
Get rid of the treaties like Russell is claiming, and the Lakotah have nothing to stand on, as its those treaties protecting them. Without them, they are waiving their legal rights to the land.
The wild card though are all of the people currently living in that new land they proclaim as theirs. As Russell has stated they would need to renounce their U.S. Citizenship or move. Guaranteed most would likely do neither. And in the end it would get physical.
I wonder how many people are really looking at the bigger picture here. A lot of people in fantasy land dreaming about a happier world. What they aren't looking at is the gritty very real side to all of this. The side that could tear the U.S. apart even more than it is now. It wouldn't matter what part of the U.S. you live in, it WOULD affect you. As other native American tribes seeing the victory in the midwest, would also continue to go back for their land grab and futher divide the country. Rather than try to live together in peace.
Personally I also hate the statistics crap they keep posting and talking about. Its a sympathy ploy, no matter the reality. Why? Dang near everyone can post how they are so much worse off. The Ghetto. Southside. New Orleans. The list goes on and on. How the black men has lower life expectancy than the white man. The list goes on. No one wants to live in harmony. They would rather segregate and have their own little happy fantasy lands and be the ones in control.
So much for the American dream. The American dream now is to see who can gain the most power and keep driving that stake into the unity of the U.S.. If anyone can tell me how this sort of event would help North America and the U.S., let me know. NOT just how it would help some people. But the whole. Not the partial. And how what you are saying is based in reality and not a fantasy or fantasy of what you HOPE would happen.
And what I don't get is how their Lakotah forefathers fought to NOT go on the reservation. And now their decendents almost fight to stay on them. Life is bad their, yet they do little to nothing to improve it themselves. And they seriously want to have a country now? A 3rd world country within the U.S....yeah...there ya go. The whole time they are flashing the treaties around, what can they claim they have done for their people that decided to live in poverty on the reservation? Yes decided. As its they are not forced to stay on them.
So go ahead Russell Means. Withdraw from the treaties with the U.S.. This means under the U.S. Constitution that the U.S. govt, would no longer (for any reason) need to recognize their existance (legally now). Which would mean you would be entitled absolutely nothing. Great job helping your people! *rolls eyes* Is it really any wonder many of his people do not like him? He wants to be the grand leader of this new nation and 'savior' of his people.
Regardless of how he thinks he's helping or bringing attention to their issues, he is actually making things worse and creating a split in the Lakotah nation. He's actually done more harm for his people than the U.S. govt. ever could. Thus why I also believe they and others have been silent on this. Let the cancer keep eating the issue from the inside out. He's creating a split they could only dream of doing. And whats worse, is if like what you said he's probably doing is, "he's misleading the white press", that same press could be used as serious ammo against him and his cause. To the point they could declare the whole thing a sham and do serious credibility damage to him and his group. Further weakening his posture.
Long story short....the likelyhood of any of this ever happening is the same likelyhood of the Middle East being peaceful.
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