UPDATE ON THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE DISBURSEMENT OF THE $48.9 MILLION SALAZAR TRUST SETTLEMENT:
STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL SCHEDULES COUNCIL MEETING FOR 9AM THURSDAY MORNING TO DECIDE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SALAZAR SETTLEMENT
SENATOR JOHN THUNE (SD) REQUESTING A MEETING WITH ACTT MEMBERSHIP
'BREECH OF TRUST' PETITION HAS BEEN FILED IN STANDING ROCK TRIBAL COURT
PRELIMINARY HEARING FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION FREEZING SALAZAR TRUST SETTLEMENT FUNDS HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY AT NOON
STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL SCHEDULES COUNCIL MEETING FOR 9AM THURSDAY MORNING TO DECIDE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SALAZAR SETTLEMENT
SENATOR JOHN THUNE (SD) REQUESTING A MEETING WITH ACTT MEMBERSHIP
'BREECH OF TRUST' PETITION HAS BEEN FILED IN STANDING ROCK TRIBAL COURT
PRELIMINARY HEARING FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION FREEZING SALAZAR TRUST SETTLEMENT FUNDS HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY AT NOON
9-19-12
BY DEBORAH LAVALLIE
THE TURTLE ISLAND MESSENGER
Valerie Wolf Necklace, 'Aki'cita Winyan' Woman Warrior, a Persian Gulf War Veteran, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and also a member of the SRST - ACTT Active Citizens for Tribal Truth has joined her 'sister in the struggle', Rhea Archambault as she enters her fourth day in a hunger strike at SRST tribal headquarters in Fort Yates today, in protest of the recent actions taken by the SRST Tribal Council in their handling of the disbursement of the $48.9 million Salazar Trust Settlement and as a way to bring attention to what they view as tribal council corruption and mismanagement.
Wolf Necklace filed a Letter of Appeal last week, petitioning the SRST Tribal Court for a temporary restraining order on behalf of all SRST enrollees who live off of the Standing Rock Reservation, asking for a temporary freeze on the Salazar Trust Settlement the SRST Tribal Council will soon disburse. The temporary restraining order was denied by Judge B.J. Jones, citing two earlier tribal court cases, Black Hills Coalition of Standing Rock Enrollees v Standing Rock Tribal Council and Seaboy v White Eagle, stating that Wolf Necklace would have to show the 'discrimination' as 'irreparable harm'. Judge Jones found there was no 'discrimination' in the Wolf Necklace case, though he did state, "If the Tribe or it's districts permit certain off-reservation members to benefit from district distributions than the equal rights of other off-reservation members may be violated." A preliminary hearing was set for October 8. Wolf Necklace received a letter from the Court, yesterday, dated September 18, informing her that the preliminary hearing had been rescheduled for Friday, September 21 at Noon.
Another Complaint was filed on Monday, September 17 in SRST Tribal Court on behalf of 31 Standing Rock enrollees and members of SRST - ACTT Active Citizens for Tribal Truth for 'Breach of Trust', a petition which basically states that the SRST Tribal Council did not follow the SRST Tribal Constitution. The Petition states the reasoning was because the SRST Tribal Council did not take the proposed budget out to the people first and that they 'willfully disregarded' their ethical oath of office, that they betrayed the public trust by disregarding the petitions of the off-reservation tribal membership and disregarded the district motions of on-reservation enrollees asking for a 100% payout of the Salazar Trust Settlement.
The Complaint requests an injunction, freezing the Salazar Settlement funds based on the SRST Tribal Council not following tribal law, so that no funds may be spent until the Tribal Council does it's due diligence in recording the motions of the districts and petitions of all other enrollees. In the last several days tribal council members have been having meetings in the districts urging them to accept the $2 million per district offered in their proposed budget, although 60% of that has to spent on economic development projects. Dr. Cheryl Kary, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and spokesperson for the SRST - ACTT Bismarck/Mandan area stated, "It is truly ironic that the People of Standing Rock are forced to submit their own 'Breach of Trust' lawsuit against their elected leaders in order to assure fair and representative distribution of the Salazar Land 'Mismanagement' Settlement funds. It illustrates the desperate need for tribal government reform when the concept of 'Democracy' - which originated from Native Peoples - is treated so shabbily by our own tribal leaders. They are not listening to the 'People' at all."
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - ACTT Active Citizens group received word yesterday, September 18 that a representative from Senator John Thune's office (SD) is requesting a meeting with them.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council has scheduled a tribal council meeting for 9AM Thursday to decide on the distribution of the $48.9 million Salazar Settlement funds.
Another Complaint was filed on Monday, September 17 in SRST Tribal Court on behalf of 31 Standing Rock enrollees and members of SRST - ACTT Active Citizens for Tribal Truth for 'Breach of Trust', a petition which basically states that the SRST Tribal Council did not follow the SRST Tribal Constitution. The Petition states the reasoning was because the SRST Tribal Council did not take the proposed budget out to the people first and that they 'willfully disregarded' their ethical oath of office, that they betrayed the public trust by disregarding the petitions of the off-reservation tribal membership and disregarded the district motions of on-reservation enrollees asking for a 100% payout of the Salazar Trust Settlement.
The Complaint requests an injunction, freezing the Salazar Settlement funds based on the SRST Tribal Council not following tribal law, so that no funds may be spent until the Tribal Council does it's due diligence in recording the motions of the districts and petitions of all other enrollees. In the last several days tribal council members have been having meetings in the districts urging them to accept the $2 million per district offered in their proposed budget, although 60% of that has to spent on economic development projects. Dr. Cheryl Kary, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and spokesperson for the SRST - ACTT Bismarck/Mandan area stated, "It is truly ironic that the People of Standing Rock are forced to submit their own 'Breach of Trust' lawsuit against their elected leaders in order to assure fair and representative distribution of the Salazar Land 'Mismanagement' Settlement funds. It illustrates the desperate need for tribal government reform when the concept of 'Democracy' - which originated from Native Peoples - is treated so shabbily by our own tribal leaders. They are not listening to the 'People' at all."
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - ACTT Active Citizens group received word yesterday, September 18 that a representative from Senator John Thune's office (SD) is requesting a meeting with them.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council has scheduled a tribal council meeting for 9AM Thursday to decide on the distribution of the $48.9 million Salazar Settlement funds.
RHEA ARCHAMBAULT ON HER FOURTH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE BEING VISITED BY STANDING ROCK'S OLDEST CITIZEN, SR. THERESE MARTIN
Photo Credit: SRST - ACTT
I as being an enrollee from SRST left there because of no housing & no jobs, but that does'nt mean we should be excluded from whats rightfully "OURS"... Those of us who have not lived on the REZ for centuries. Where did our money go??? Were always EXCLUDED. We need to be treated equally like those of you who are there and getting help.. I'm all for ACTT-- don't give up. And you Ms. Archambault "My God don't they even feel for the Veterans of our country... I hope & pray whom ever is in the final decision making seat will come to POSITIVE DECISION WILL BE FAIR TO ALL ENROLLEES ON AND OFF THE RESERVATIONS.
ReplyDeleteAGREED!!!!!!
Deleteamen.. i live off too so that i could enrich my life and we are being penalized for it... i still support my family who lives on the rez but it is unfair to us outside of the rez....
DeleteI totall agree with the comment above!! we are always excluded since we are NOT on the reservation. Very unfair!!!!
ReplyDeleteHas it been decided then, that non-residents will not get any of the salazar settlement?
ReplyDeletemy husband is enrolled and was told that even though he lives off the reservation he will still get money. apparently you need to fill out an application and fax it in to them.
ReplyDeleteok so when we faxed them in does anyone know when they will be mailed out or do we have to go down there. i just read that they aint taken faxed or emaild apps.
ReplyDeletemy son is an enrolled member and just because he doesn't live there doesn't mean he's any less a native. He loves his tribe but had to go else where to make a living.
ReplyDeleteAccording to various sources, nonresidential Native Americans MUST fill out a Revised Salazar Application, copy of Tribal ID or Certificate, copy of current ID, Copy of SSN, and have it notarized and sent via MAIL and not faxed or emailed to the address stated in the application. The deadline to this application is the 21st of December. You can find the Application in PDF format at WWW.standingrock.org to print. The website also provides application for individual adult, minor children, or incapacitated adult. If you have any question, please call 701-854-8504.
ReplyDeleteI am a single parent of 5 children living in rapid city sd. does this mean that my children and i are actually not enrolled members of srst being that we get left out of this dispursment?! i am told we will be recieving 1,000 per individual enrolled member so does this mean that we are less of an enrolled member if we live off the rez than on the rez?! i kno of my family members bak on the rez who recieved 5,000 a person!! what does this ,ean?! i dont understand why we are treated this way?! am i less hunkpapa than those living back home?!
ReplyDeleteI heard we only get $1000 and they are now being mailed out. I am wondering how many nonresident enrolled members will be grieving or petitioning this amount. If u hear, please publish. thanks.
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ReplyDeletetribe should take care of all their members...on n off reservation....they r afterall still enrolled members...
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed of the leadership of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Neglecting their enrolled members that live off the reservation to pursue education, better jobs, etc., I believe the oyate needs to learn to select "NEW" leadership for representation in the upcoming elections & future for the entire "OYATE". The same ones keep getting back in but there is nothing new to observe regarding their leadership. They only look out for their own relatives and I heard some Local District Officers & Tribal Council Leaders were sending their own relatives that live off the reservation $5,000 each. "Shame on you'! Do the same for the rest of us! And now, there has been another distribution of $4,000 to each household this week!? How can that be when we only received $1,000 each? "IT IS ELECTION TIME".........so enrolled members are getting pay outs to vote? All I see is greed, corruption, jealousy, please grow up and be a true leader. Work on the Tribal Constitution on getting absenteeism ballots to all enrolled members whether they live on or off the reservation.
ReplyDeleteGive the money to every one it belongs to us anyway!
ReplyDeletePeople off the reservation have a hard time because rent is more expensive and I once lived in a shelter because no work people on the reservation have it made because rent is cheap but their is also no jobs there either. so be fair and let us have the money too. it is simple as that, health care is also very difficult even if you are a veteran.
ReplyDeleteI once saw a couple of tribal member, people who work at the office coming back from a vacation in Las Vegas at the airport and that was probably money that has been given to them from our money that belongs to the people and I understand they get quite a bit of money just to attend a meeting eating lavishly etc. So if they can spend our money why is so bad not to pay people off the reservation. I hope you people see that we are hurting just to get by, so just send us the money. If people want to set up stores they should use their own money. I think the great spirit will take care of those who are unjust and selfish and think only of themselves. So give us the rest of the money that is owed to us, I think it is only fair.
ReplyDeleteTo all newly elected officials of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - Review the Mission & Vision Statements of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as this pertains to "ALL" enrolled members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe whether they live on or off the reservation. Secondly, it is time for a revision of the Tribe's Constitution-we who live off the reservation would like to be included in the Tribal Elections. Give us an opportunity to vote! We want absenteeism ballots so we are able to vote for honesty, integrity and truthful officials to lead our "Oyate" in the future.
ReplyDeleteI am also disappointed in our srst council, when it comes to money, the issue comes down to shameless greed on the part tribal council, district reps., responsibility to the tribal members period. If this was or had been a legal rule or guideline set by the US Govt. Specificifally stating the exact amounts of money given out with the Salazar, pretty sure the Govt. Would of said so, so let's stop the games, and legally keep every tribal council member accountable. At the end of the day, all council members signed off on SRST tribal council, if they did agree to this blatant act of borderline fraud. Shame on all if them, our tribal president needs to own his decision, period fix this so it's equal for all tribal members period, trust me off the reservation these council members, know damn well they couldn't pull this crap if in RapidCity, Denver, etc. Because they know they would get individually sued, let alone fired from their tribal council job. Stealing is stealing, don't care how the council may try too spin it, if some of them end up in Federal Prison for their fraud, so be it.. Moral oyasin
ReplyDelete