Thursday, December 6, 2012


BREAKING NEWS!

HISTORIC RETURN OF SACRED LAND TO 'OCETI SAKOWIN', THE GREAT SIOUX NATION

AFTER 136 YEARS OF OCCUPATION PE' SLA
 RETURNS TO LAKOTA, DAKOTA AND NAKOTA NATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS


DEAL FINALIZED IN PE'SLA LAND SALE 


http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/tribes-reach-9-million-goal-and-purchase-sacred-site-pe-sla-146015

http://www.lastrealindians.com/axCommentDetails.php?postId=2139#

http://www.lastrealindians.com/axCommentDetails.php?postId=2138

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHt90Ns8EebQpU_spjv9jjm7b7Jg?docId=6303f99253d84860887f9a6fcffa5046

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/08/lakota-debra-white-plume-protect-our.html?spref=fb

11-30-12

By Deborah LaVallie

The Oceti Sakowin: the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations are celebrating the historic return of 'part' off their ancestral homelands, Pe' Sla after 136 years, when the lands that were originally, their sacred ceremonial grounds in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and legally, Great Sioux Nation Treaty lands, negotiated and diminished under 'duress' in the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868 were stolen, during the Black Hills 'Gold Rush' of the 1870's.

The re-acquisition of Pe' Sla for $9 million was finalized Friday after months of negotiations and fund raising.  In a press release issued by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and the Shakopee Mdewakantan Sioux Tribe, the finalization of the agreement between the Tribes and Leonard and Margaret Reynolds who have owned the Reynolds Ranch where Pe' Sla is located was confirmed.  The Tribes will form Oceti Sakowin Sacred Lands Protection Commission to protect and preserve the sacred land, known as the center of the Lakota creation for the future generations.  A group of Tribes and interested parties, along with celebrities joined together in an online campaign to raise the $9 million the Reynolds were asking for the tract of land that came up for sale.  






http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=533839333294271&set=a.293435434001330.82617.254587994552741&type=1&theater








FIRST NATIONS CHIEFS OF CANADA MARCH ON PARLIAMENT IN A PROTEST OF CANADIAN GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND BILL C-45
12-4-12

By Deborah LaVallie

First Nations Chiefs demonstrated their frustration of Canadian Government policies Tuesday, as they marched on Parliament Hill in Ottawa protesting their opposition to the budget implementation Bill C-45 proposed by conservatives and it's unfairness to the First Nations and the failure of the conservative government to consult with them.

Bill C-45 an omnibus budget bill would change the Navigable Waters Protection Act which would remove thousands of lakes and streams from federal protection. The Act established in 1882 is one of Canada's oldest laws and states "no one could block, alter or destroy any water deep enough to float a canoe without federal approval."  Chiefs are concerned that the new Act would strip away federal oversight of thousands of lakes and streams paving the way for more big pipelines to be built, and would affect First Nations territories.

The peaceful march ended in a minor confrontation when the Chiefs tried to enter the House of Commons to deliver their message that they were serving notice that they now planned to take direct action against the Harper government.  Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox issued a statement later and said, "We weren't consulted on C-45 which outlines a new legislation on land surrender and wanted to be included in these discussions."  They wanted to deliver a message to Parliament and Prime Minister Stephan Harper in a peaceful way, that the inherent treaty rights of First Nations peoples weren't negotiable.  He said, "These actions have strained an already fragile relationship.  We have no other choice now but to take a course that will have impacts on all Canadians."  About 200 people took part in the rally and march.  



Photo: ATPN National News

Photo:  ATPN National News


Photo:  ATPN National News






http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2012/12/04/chiefs-take-fight-to-house-of-commons-doorstep/

http://indigenouswaves.com/2012/12/04/russell-diabo-and-pam-palmater-on-the-canadian-governments-suite-of-bills-targeting-first-nations/

http://en.video.sympatico.ca/news-info/top-stories/watch/heated-protest-of-bill-c-45/2011445346001?sort=popular&filter=UFC&page=1&lineupid=34593258001#.UL6gUIPm5Ge

http://en.video.sympatico.ca/news-info/top-stories/watch/atleo-opens-afn-special-assembly-with-unity-call/2011416196001?sort=popular&filter=UFC&page=1#.UL6a2YPm5Gd

http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/12/04/chiefs-take-protest-to-doors-of-the-house-to-oppose-budget-bill/

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2012/12/20121204-143756.html

Sunday, November 18, 2012



STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL VOTES TO ISSUE DISBURSEMENT IN THE $48.9 MILLION SALAZAR SETTLEMENT TO OFF RESERVATION MEMBERSHIP

APPELLANTS IN FOOL BEAR, DANCING BULL-BUFFALO BOY AND WOLF NECKLACE V STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL PREPARE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION 'BREACH OF TRUST' LAWSUIT IN FEDERAL COURT ON DISBURSEMENT OF HISTORIC SALAZAR SETTLEMENT, A 'BREACH OF TRUST' LAWSUIT 



PHOTO CREDITS:  CHERYL KARY

By Deborah LaVallie

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council met in a standing room only tribal council meeting, Tuesday (November 14) where a motion was made and a vote taken to issue a $1,000 'social needs' payment to off reservation membership, after testimony was heard from tribal members, Germaine Tremmel, Velma Little Eagle Balderas and Ashley Agard, who spoke to the desperation and the needs of the people. Hallways were crowded to capacity, with people sitting outside in their cars, waiting throughout the day to hear if off reservation membership of the SRST were going to be included in the historic $48.9 million Salazar Settlement, that has recently been issued to many tribal members who reside on the Standing Rock reservation.   Members came from far and wide, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, Montana, New Mexico and other states in a show of unity and to voice to their tribal council, that they too, are Lakota and members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and should also be included in the multi-million dollar Trust Settlement.  At least 400 people and in some estimates as high as 700 members were there to attend the meeting.

Tribal councilman, Errol Crow Ghost made Motion #55, which was seconded by councilman, Henry Harrison to approve to amend Resolution 451-12 to reallocate funds received from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Salazar Settlement in the amount of $9 million, that had previously been allocated for education purposes, and, to redirect and set-aside those funds for 'social needs' payments to the Tribe's non resident membership, around 8,600 individuals, estimated to be about 60% of the Tribes membership.  Non resident members must submit an application for the 'social needs' payment, attaching a valid proof of enrollment and an affidavit swearing the applicant has not previously received 'social' payments from the Salazar Settlement that had been previously allocated and distributed to on reservation resident tribal members.  The amount set aside for each member will be $1,000 however, the final amount will be officially determined after the application process has closed, and it has been determined how many applications have been submitted according to official tribal minutes.  Applications will be made available until December 31,with the application deadline February 14, 2013.  The controversial application, containing stipulations that weren't required of on reservation members that received the disbursement has been amended at least twice and should be online at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe website sometime after Monday, though this may be subject to change.  Many off reservation members believe that the disparate requirements violate their rights and discriminate against them as tribal members.  Many also feel the SRST Council has discriminated against them because of the amount of the disbursement, with the on reservation membership getting much more, leaving the off reservation members questioning what actually constitutes the meaning of their 'tribal' membership.

The tribal resolution further stated that the Judicial Committee appropriate a budget, not exceeding $300,000 to hire temporary staff to process the applications from the non resident tribal membership, whose duties will include comparing names and enrollment information with those who previously received the distribution as on reservation resident members. Tribal members who are residents of the reservation and whose applications were processed and approved received a $5,000 disbursement, while in other cases, some individuals received as much as, a $10,000 disbursement. 

Councilman, Milton Brown Otter voted no on the tribal resolution with council members, Paul Archambault, Duane Claymore, Errol Crow Ghost, Mike Faith, Henry Harrison, Ben Harrison, Sharon Two Bears, Adele White, Randall White, Frank White Bull and Phyllis Young all voting 'yes' to pass the resolution, with Ron Brown Otter, Jesse Jay Taken Alive and Avis Little Eagle absent from the meeting. 

SRST-ACTT (Active Citizens for Tribal Truth) off reservation spokesperson for the Bismarck-Mandan (ND) area, Dr. Cheryl Kary, stated, "I think the tribal council had an opportunity here, to unite our Tribe and provide true leadership, but they squandered it badly.  Two women elders and one young mother with her son spoke eloquently and from the heart on behalf of families and relatives, pleading for the Council members to do the right thing.  Instead, they passed the token payment and came up with a discriminatory application to divide us even more.  It is a sad day when our so-called leaders disrespect their own people this way.  All off reservation members should be able to apply for the Settlement without fear of retaliation, and a loss of rights."

As of Friday, according to an SRST-ACTT statement, the tribal Judicial Committee met and made a motion to put all the controversial language that had been removed from the application by an administrative decision, back onto the application, although it was not verified by official minutes, but heard through various sources.  This motion will go to the floor of the next tribal council meeting.  The Judicial Committee, is only a 'recommending' committee to the tribal council.  Should the tribal council approve the recommendation, off reservation enrollees may have to resubmit another application if they have applied already, an application that would require the individual to give up the right to sue the Tribe, and the right against garnishment in order to receive the disbursement.  The ACTT leadership is asking non resident members who are angry about the loss of their rights and their disenfranchisement, 'NOT' to disenroll from the Tribe and walk away, but to stand up and help fight for voting rights for all members of the Tribe, whether they live on or off the reservation.  "A constitutional revision that allows absentee voting for 'all' tribal members is the only way to keep the tribal council accountable to it's membership.  This is the only way for the tribal council to recognize us, the off reservation membership, as their Lakota 'relatives'."

Archie Fool Bear, SRST-ACTT spokesman for the reservation, stated, "It is the Council who is making these motions and taking these actions against the non resident enrollees, and, not necessarily the people," wanting to remind everyone that, "many of 'our' relatives in the Districts, supported by motion, a payout for everyone and were ignored.  Almost 800 people signed the recall petitions on the tribal council members who are leading those actions, yet they were ignored.  There were also 70 on reservation members who signed Code of Ethics complaints against the Council, as well, and they were also ignored.  These tribal members may not be as vocal as we would like them to be, and there 'are' some who also have ugly feelings against their own people, but many of them 'are' supportive and they want equal rights for non resident members, as well.  Many of them have lived off the reservation and know how hard it is."  He wants people to keep this in mind, making sure that everyone knows there are some people taking a lot of heat, threats, bullying and immature behavior because of these ongoing issues.

Meanwhile, the Standing Rock Sioux Supreme Court denied Appellants, Archie Fool Bear, Kathy Dancing Bull-Buffalo Boy and Valerie Wolf Necklace in their petition to appeal from the SRST Trial Court's denial of their request for a preliminary injunction.  Their appeal was dismissed and their case was remanded back to the SRST Trial Court.  They sought a preliminary injunction which the SRST Trial Court denied on September 24, to enjoin or stop the SRST Council from spending the $48.9 million Salazar Settlement, and for the Salazar Settlement funds to be paid out in per capita payments.  Their Breach of Trust Complaint is still pending at the trial court level, and they are waiting to hear back from Tribal Judge B.J. Jones on the matter.

The Standing Rock Sioux Supreme Court, composed of Chief Justice Brad Peterson, Carla D. Pratt and Dwight Koch, who was recused, stated in their denial, that the Appellants did not establish their claim for injunctive relief, because they failed to meet the 'necessary burden', and, that they did not fully demonstrate at the time their likelihood of success on the merits of the case.  "Because the Tribal Constitution gives the Tribal Council the authority to administer any funds within the control of the Tribe, it appears that the Appellants may have a difficult time proving that the Tribal Council's administration of the Salazar fund is a violation of the law.  Therefore, there is substantial doubt that Appellants are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim."  The SRST Supreme Court also stated the Appellant's secondary failure was that they failed to demonstrate that they were likely to suffer 'irreparable harm' before a decision on the merits can be rendered.  "Even if Appellants are successful on the merits of their claim, they will have not suffered any irreparable injury.  If Plaintiffs were successful on the merits, the Tribe could reallocate the remainder of the Salazar funds without any irreparable injury to the Plaintiffs/Appellants."

With their Breach of Trust case remanded back to the trial court, the Plaintiffs are now waiting the Judge's decision.  Should their case be denied, Fool Bear, Dancing Bull-Buffalo Boy and Wolf Necklace are preparing to file a class action lawsuit for Breach of Trust in Federal Court for discrimination on behalf of the non resident members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.


UPDATE
11-22-12

The application for the Salazar 'social needs' payment to off reservation members of the SRST can be found at http://www.standingrock.org/news.asp?ID=155 . According to an update from SRST - ACTT the new application will be posted on the SRST website sometime in early December, most likely, after the next tribal council meeting, tentatively, around December 5, though the Tribal Finance Office will be accepting the old application, but no faxes. No checks will be disbursed until after February 14, the deadline for applying for the payment. A new Settlement Disbursement Office is being set up and applications, including proof of enrollment must be mailed to: Settlement Disbursement Office, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, P.O. Box 103, Building 1 North Standing Rock Ave., Fort Yates, ND 58538. The completed application must be notarized.

Velma Little Eagle Balderas, Hunkpapa Lakota originally from the Rock Creek community of the Standing Rock reservation in South Dakota, a descendant of Tatanka Iyotaka, Sitting Bull, and an off reservation tribal member and an advocate for off reservation membership living in the Minneapolis area spoke at the tribal council meeting on the needs of SRST membership who don't reside on the reservation.  She spoke of the sadness, the anger and disbelief of the SRST membership that the SRST Tribal Council did not include them in the distribution of the Salazar Trust Settlement, even though they are enrolled members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and have land interests on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.   She also told the council how she felt about the 'bogus' 30 day residency clause to the tribal code that disqualifies many from receiving any assistance or help from the 'Tribe', stating that the off reservation membership greatly benefits the 'Tribe', when they use their numbers in the 'head count', which qualifies the 'Tribe' for federal funding.  As landowners, she told council members, that they were entitled to the per capita distribution.  The following is a statement from Little Eagle Balderas, addressing the Oyate of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe:

"Ahoy!  Mitakuyapi.  During this time, it is a momentous month. It is  Native American Heritage Month, that is so full of reflection, of our Ancestors and Tunkasila Iyotaka, what he battled for, his belief in and his love for his Mitakuyapi.  He stood brave and strong with his mission in life to be a good and honest man, who loved his people.  Mitakuyapi.  I believe in the ways of the Lakota, and to stay true to this identity of a Lakota that we bear as a signature in our lives.  We are all relatives, especially, by our Standing Rock Sioux Tribe enrolled status, that ties our blood to each other.  Do not give up hope, my people.  Mitakuyapi.  There is a change coming, that will be a stepping stone in our climb to be recognized.  We will be reunited with our Lakota traditional beliefs, virtues, values and our seven sacred rites, praying, fasting and smudging.  This is the only way.  Mitakuyapi.  With spirituality.  We are still alive with our spirituality.  We survived the genocide.  Inanjipi, stand up, and show your true self.

I have always spoke and tried to be an example of a true Hunkpapa Lakota, just loving my heritage as a Hunkpapa Lakota Winyan.  Our heritage is so rich with very valuable life skills, traditions, virtues and values and with such strict, honorable and respectful Lakota 'Ways'.  I firmly believe that as a Chief and leader, Tunkasila Tatanka Iyotaka, would work very strongly with his Oyate.  In the Lakota way, the Chief gave up his riches, his material items, so his Oyate could survive.  The Chiefs always ate last and made sure their people were comfortable.  A Chief would never make his people live as 'scavenger's', like the leaders of today are doing to their people.  Tunkasila Tatanka Iyotaka's ultimate sacrifice was his life and we love him as a true role model of what a 'real' leader should be.  His leadership was so historical and his vision and his life live on.  Ahoy, All of my Relatives, Mitakuye Oyasin."

PHOTO CREDIT:  DEBORAH LAVALLIE



Thursday, November 8, 2012





OBAMA NATION ROCKS THE VOTE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS!








FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!




President Barack Obama: "Tonight in this election you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come."


Complete Presidential Speech...



NORTH DAKOTA'S NEXT U.S. SENATOR DEMOCRAT HEIDI HEITKAMP DEFEATS REPUBLICAN RICK BERG IN A CLOSE RACE WITH THE HELP OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN VOTE

By Deborah LaVallie

Mandan (ND) attorney and former ND Attorney General and state tax commissioner, Heidi Heitkamp narrowly won her U.S. Senate race against Republican U.S. Representative Rick Berg in yesterday's election.  Senator Heitkamp will replace Senator Kent Conrad who is retiring this year.  By fewer than 3,000 votes Heitkamp won with the help of a large turnout of Native American votes from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Fort Berthold's Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Spirit Lake Nation and the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribes in North Dakota, where she campaigned heavily on the state's five Indian reservations. Berg won his U.S. House seat two years ago in a Republican sweep of the heavily conservative state that hasn't voted for a Democratic President since the 70's when the moon landing took place.  Heitkamp won with a 50.25% of the state vote to Berg's 49.31%, a difference of 2,994 votes.  Heitkamp was the only Democrat to win a major state office in the Republican dominated state.

Voters turned out in large numbers, on the Turtle Mountain reservation after a statewide, 'get out the Native vote' campaign, swinging Rolette County to Heitkamp.  In district 3, the Belcourt district, a total of 1,947 votes were cast, with 92.60% going to the newly elected Senator.  In the off reservation districts, heavily populated by Native Americans, 631 votes were cast in Rolla's district 1, with 59.11% for Heitkamp, in St. John's district 2, a total of 420 votes were cast, with 69.05% going to Heitkamp, in district 4, the Dunseith district, 989 total votes were cast, with 83.92% going to Heitkamp and in Rolette's district 5, with 582 votes cast, 62.54% went to Heitkamp.  There was a total of 4,569 votes cast in Rolette County with 80.11% going to Heitkamp.

The Native American vote was crucial in this election for Senate Democrats to retain their control in the U.S. Senate and played a large part in not only electing Heitkamp, whose win will make the 53 Senate majority a huge contender in getting major issues passed, but also helped in other states like Montana, whose Native vote helped to reelect incumbent Senator Jon Tester in what was thought to have been a close race in that state, too.  In a statement on Facebook, Heitkamp pledged to work for every North Dakotan expressing her thanks for all the hard work that went into her campaign.  



CONGRATS TO FORT BELKNAP ASSINIBOINE AND GROS VENTRE TRIBES FOR GETTING OUT THE VOTE IN MONTANA!





"Congratulations to the Fort Belknap Reservation. You got the highest voter turnout for 2012. Seventy Two (72 %) percent of voters went to the polls on the Fort Belknap Reservation for a 42 percent increase over 2010 and a 6 percent increase over 2008, the high water mark." — at Western Native Voice.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4228260419782&set=o.211129648950315&type=1&theater


"Peta said it’s important for tribes to keep the infrastructure operational, keeping tribal vote coordinators working toward future elections.

In fact: There is even more opportunity for American Indians to wield influence in off-year election cycles – when the presidential race is not on the ballot – because the overall turnout is so much lower.

Peta said another important aspect of this election was youth participation. Not only did young people register and vote, but young people too young to vote participated on tribal committees, knocked on doors, and talked to other students."

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/11/08/elections-2012-look-at-the-numbers-and-indian-country-outperformed-144886

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/08/1158417/-American-Indian-voters-and-Indian-organizers-gave-N-D-Senate-edge-to-Democrat-Heidi-Heitkamp?detail=hide

http://m.indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/11/07/tester-heitkamp-score-victories-with-native-vote-144497

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/heidi-heitkamp-election-results-2012_n_2049748.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

http://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsPREC.aspx?text=Race&type=SW&rid=5002&cty=40&osn=110&map=CTY

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151103861550981&set=a.10150291651925981.342328.121954010980&type=1&theater

Monday, October 29, 2012

BREAKING NEWS

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT REJECTS CRAVEN APPEAL ON COBELL SETTLEMENT



"The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected one appeal in the $3.4 billion Cobell trust fund settlement.

Without comment, the justices declined a petition filed by Kimberly Craven, a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, according to an order list. That leaves just one appeal remaining before the payments can go out to Indian Country.

"We're going to be ready to hit the ground running as soon as the Supreme Court makes a decision," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in an interview last week with Indianz.Com.

The second petition, filed by Charles Colombe, Carol Eve Good Bear and Mary Lee Johns, is due for consideration on November 9, according to Docket No. 12-355. Given the action on Craven, the Supreme Court will likely deny the appeal in an order on November 12.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Elena Kagan did not take part in the consideration of Craven's petition, according to Docket No. 12-134. Roberts sat on the D.C Circuit Court of Appeals when the Cobell case came before him. Kagan worked for the Department of Justice when the case was in the lower courts."

Thursday, October 25, 2012


BREAKING NEWS




BOLIVIA PASSES THE LAW OF MOTHER EARTH




10-25-12

Bolivia passes law that declares Mother Earth has rights.

President Evo Morales yesterday issued Law of Mother Earth, at an emotional ceremony at the Palacio Quemado
Tawantinsuyu, Bolivia

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=437171626340063&set=a.384023621654864.85789.365616366828923&type=1&theater

http://ww4report.com/node/11643


THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS REPRINTED FROM THE TRIBAL INDEPENDENT FOR EARTH DAY 2012



EARTH DAY 2012
22 Apr 2012
By Deborah LaVallie
Tribal Independent

Our Earth Mother has sustained humanity for many eons, nurturing us, and, providing the sustenance we have needed to continue to live throughout the generations of mankind, here on Earth in harmony and balance with the ‘Natural’, the Four-leggeds, the Winged Ones, the Fishers, our Tree relatives and all that is living.

Rooted in a nation-wide grassroots movement, the first Earth Day America took place on April 22, 1970, inspired by Senator Gaylord Nelson, a Senator and environmental activist from Wisconsin. College campuses and schools throughout the country took part in the education/environmental activism program, resulting in the eventual establishment of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and wilderness protection laws. Twenty million Americans took to the streets across the land demonstrating their concerns for the deterioration and destruction of the environment. That was 42 years ago. 

Most people aren’t aware, though, that there were two annual Earth Day observances that were founded a month apart in 1970. Though Earth Day is now celebrated by most people on April 22, the first Earth Day actually took place on March 21, 1970, the vernal (Spring) Equinox at that time. Newspaper publisher and community activist John McConnell proposed a global holiday called Earth Day at a UNESCO conference on the environment in 1969. He wanted to remind people throughout the world of their shared responsibility as caretakers of the Earth and chose the vernal Equinox (the first day of Spring) because it’s traditionally known throughout many cultures of the world as a day of ‘Renewal.’ His dream was for all peoples of the world to put aside their differences and work towards the common goal of preserving the Earth’s resources for future generations.

In April of 2010, Bolivian president Evo Morales, an Aymara Indian and a ‘traditionalist’ and also an environmental activist, hosted ‘The World People’s Summit on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth,’ in Cochabamba. It was a three day summit where more than 30,000 people attended from all corners of the world and officially proposed that the United Nations adopt a declaration that recognizes the inherent rights of ‘Mother Earth.’ He believed that “Our Earth Mother is the source of life that provides for mankind.” He and his delegation from Bolivia took the lead in proposing the resolution to the UN General Assembly and in 2010, April 22 was officially declared to be ‘International Mother Earth Day.’ He stated at the time, “60 years after adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mother Earth is now, finally having her rights recognized.” His dream began as a way to promote harmony with nature with the dream of our planet balancing nature with the economic, social, and environmental needs of the present and future generations of humanity. He declared, “We are strangling the planet – strangling ourselves,” in his appeal, stating that, “for too many years, the world has been held captive by the seductive notion of capitalism. “ However, it is clear now – that “we don’t own the planet, we belong to it," adding that the proclamation of the International day, would begin the process of ‘The Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth, though the concept of ‘Mother Earth’ is not universally accepted.

Morales, has said, “We don’t believe in the linear, cumulative conception of progress and of an unlimited development at the cost of other people and nature. To live well is to think not only in terms of per capita income but of cultural identity, community harmony among ourselves and with Mother Nature.” He has become known as a ‘world hero of Mother Earth’. In January 2011, Bolivia became the world’s first nation to grant the natural environment equal rights to humans. Bolivia’s ‘Law of Mother Earth’ is heavily influenced by the spiritual and traditional lifeways of the indigenous population of the Andes. 

Indigenous peoples throughout the world believe that we are at a point of transformation and we must accept the responsibility of restoring the harmony and balance of our beloved Earth Mother. The ‘Mother Earth Accord’, developed and written at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (SD) Emergency Summit, held during Sept. 15-16, 2011, by affected groups, tribal governments, traditional treaty councils, First Nations of Canada and impacted property owners, was written in response to the proposed Keystone XL tar Sands pipeline and the tar sands development in Canada. 

The Accord, guided by the principle of traditional indigenous knowledge, spiritual values and respectful use of the land, affirmed our responsibility to protect and preserve for our descendants, the inherent sovereign rights of our Indigenous Nations, the rights of property owners, and all inherent human rights, also recognizing that our indigenous view is that the Earth is our true Mother, our Grandmother who gives birth to us, and maintains all life.

The Accord recognized that tar sands development in northern Alberta has devastating impacts to Mother Earth and her inhabitants and perpetuates the crippling addiction to oil in the U.S. and Canada, and, urged a halt to heavy haul shipments of tar sands equipment through the two countries, also urging both to reduce their reliance on oil, including tar sands, investing in the research and development of cleaner, safer forms of sustainable energy which include, smart growth, fuel efficiency, next-generation bio fuels and electric vehicles powered by solar and wind energy. The Accord declared that the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline was not in the national interest of either country and urged President Obama to reject the Keystone. The document was presented to Obama during the third annual White House Tribal Leaders Summit in December 2011, and demonstrate the unity of Tribes on both sides of the border.

What a wonderful dream it would be if the Tribal Nations of this country followed the courageous lead of Morales and the Bolivians, amending their tribal constitutions to give ‘Mother Earth’ equal rights within our tribal nations, establishing a ‘Mother Earth Law.' Tribes here in the U.S. and the First Nations of Canada are addressing huge environmental issues, such as the tar sands of Alberta, the Keystone XL pipeline, pollution of water supplies, toxic contamination from mining and fracking, toxic and seeping landfills and the list goes on. Tribes also need to form stronger coalitions with each other to advocate the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth by the United Nations. What happened to that energy and commitment of the 20 million concerned American citizens that marched and demonstrated throughout the land 42 years ago? It saddens me to see how uncaring and unconcerned America’s citizens have become, apathetic and unworried about the state they will leave this beautiful land to future generations and it’s heartbreaking to see how our Tribal peoples have become so disconnected from the ‘natural law’ that was once the central focus of their lives and the essence of their very being.






Tuesday, October 16, 2012

THE $48.9 MILLION SALAZAR TRUST SETTLEMENT ISSUED TO ENROLLED MEMBERS LIVING ON THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE RESERVATION WHILE OFF-RESERVATION MEMBERSHIP WAITS TO HEAR IF THEY WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT DISTRIBUTION 

 CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE WORKS


RECALL ELECTIONS ARE NULLIFIED AND DECLARED VOID BY SRST ELECTION SUPERVISOR ELLIOT RHOADES AND SRST - ACTT PREPARES TO FILE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS IN SRST TRIBAL COURT


STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE - ACTIVE CITIZENS FOR TRIBAL TRUTH (ACTT) MEET WITH SRST CHAIRMAN CHARLES MURPHY


10-16-12
L TO R...FRONT:  SHARON KARY, KATHY DANCING BULL-BUFFALO BOY, DIANE GATES;  BACK:  BOB GATES, VALERIE WOLF NECKLACE, CHAIRMAN OF SRST, CHARLES MURPHY, ARCHIE FOOL BEAR, AND RHEA MARTINEZ ARCHAMBAULT
PHOTO CREDITS: DEBORAH LAVALLIE

By Deborah LaVallie

The $48.9 million Salazar Trust Settlement awarded to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe for U.S. Government mismanagement of their lands and resources spanning over a 100 year period was distributed by the reservation districts during the past week to on-reservation tribal members in varying amounts, and while some received $10,000 per capita payments, others received lessor amounts, causing controversy and dissension among tribal members.  Off-reservation membership are still waiting to hear if they will be included in the per capita distribution, and many have been told it is highly unlikely. 

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - Active Citizens for Tribal Truth, SRST - ACTT members met with Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Charles Murphy in his office at tribal headquarters on Monday morning, October 8, regarding the Recall petitions of three SRST Council members, Avis Little Eagle, Phyllis Young and Jay Taken Alive, and the way that the tribal election supervisor, Elliot Rhoades has handled the Recall election and hearing, including the intimidation and verbal abuse of petitioner, Rhea Martinez Archambault.  Other Recall petitions are also in the works with signatures being gathered for Council members Duane Claymore, Sharon Two Bears, Ron White and Ron Brown Otter.

That same morning the ACTT group along with their attorney had been to Tribal Court prepared to file their response to Associate Judge B.J. Jones' Denial of the Preliminary Injunction they had filed freezing the $48.9 million Salazar Trust Settlement, only to find out their names hadn't been put on the Court Docket.  Their attorney, Don Bruce has since filed their response also requesting that Associate Judge B.J. Jones recuse himself from the case on the grounds that he is prejudiced or bias in favor of the Defendants, the SRST Tribal Council, as they are his employer.  The group is still waiting to hear back from the Court.

Archie Fool Bear, spokesman for the SRST - ACTT for on reservation members stated, "This is going to end up being a class action lawsuit, due to the discrimination of the off reservation membership.  This was a 'special' settlement, and all enrolled members should have been included, a one time settlement that everybody could have enjoyed a 'share of', and, is different from the gaming revenues and JTAC.  The Judge 'allowed' the tribal council to discriminate, here."  He stated that even though the Recall election has been declared null and void the issue is not 'moot'.  "We filed our response to the SRST Tribal Council's Motion to Dismiss, and also a Motion for a Stay, and for Judge B.J. Jones to recuse himself from the case."  He said, "As for the Recalls, Elliot Rhoades made a decision on his own, and has produced a poorly written statement at that.  Our attorney is preparing to file a Writ of Mandamus with the Tribal Court that will direct the tribal election office to do their job."  "The issues that Rhoades based his nullification on have already been addressed and the next step will be a hearing," he said.  "Allegations of threats made by Rhoades in his statement are completely unfounded.  No actual threats were made, documented or filed anywhere."

The ACTT Appeal is based on the belief that there were many factual and procedural errors made during the hearing of September 21, when the Court 'fast tracked' and consolidated the Wolf Necklace case with the Fool Bear - Dancing Bull- Buffalo Boy case.  On Appeal they argue that they were not afforded due process and the matter was 'fast tracked' to accommodate the tribal council's immediate need to spend the Salazar Settlement funds and this sort of accommodation raises suspicions of a bias or prejudice on the part of the Judge. They also allege that council members met with the Special Judge in a closed-door session just days prior to the hearing.  The Appellants allege the Legislative process of approving budgets was not followed, that there were significant misstatements made, possibly perjury, depriving all enrolled tribal members an opportunity for true participation in the budgetary process and denying the membership basic due process rights and that denial of the temporary injunction in favor of the Council spending the Salazar settlement funds goes against the spirit of the SRST Constitution.  The checks and balances of the SRST Constitution dictates that a court should error on the side of the people when interpreting constitutional provisions limiting governmental powers.  Finally, the Appeal will challenge the concept and interpretation of separation of powers.  Fool Bear stated, "It is the SRST Council that has violated the separation of powers principle by preventing the Tribal Court from performing its constitutional duties.  How can there be a 'true' separation of powers when the Council is the Judge's employer and issues his paycheck?"

After the Tribal Council meeting on Wednesday, September 10, the issue of distribution was passed back to the districts, and Fool Bear believes that by doing this the Council escaped their responsibility to the people.  "They took a monkey off their backs and now the districts will be following Title 20 which states that you have to be a resident of the district for 30 days minimum.  By using the districts to make that decision, the Council through the districts discriminated against their own people, the off-reservation members."

SRST - ACTT leader and organizer, Sharon Kary, also a former SRST Tribal Judge and tribal court administrator stated, "Judge B.J. Jones should have put a Stay on the monies, instead he denied the injunction.  It was his job to interpret what the laws were according to the tribal code.  He erred and according to the tribal code he should have erred on the side of the people, instead of the tribal council. They failed to prove that they took the 'actual' budget out to the people.  He just believed what the Council said, stating in his decision that it was a 'political question' that should be resolved at the ballot box."

Kary said that the Recall Election will be the first time in tribal history that a Recall has ever happened at Standing Rock.  "Nobody has ever stood up to the tribal council before."  She encourages the people to speak out now, that if they don't they are part of the problem.  "ACTT has support on the reservation and enormous support of thousands of tribal membership who live off the reservation.  When the petitions were taken out, Valerie Wolf Necklace went to Minneapolis and spent a week there sometimes sitting on the streets gathering 153 signatures that week.  Besides a chapter in Minneapolis, chapters have started up in Denver, Portland, Rapid City and Montana and Texas."

Kary also believes that when talk of the Salazar Settlement first started, the issues should have been taken out to the people for discussion instead of some secretive Council plan, and that it was the people's right to know in the first place the impact this settlement would have on the tribe as a whole.  This did not happen. Other tribes are holding back on deciding how to distribute their settlements, waiting to see how the distribution issue is settled at Standing Rock. 

Kathy Dancing Bull-Buffalo Boy questions, "When the council accepted Salazar, what did they actually give up?  We as a Tribe can't sue anymore for the government's mismanagement of our lands and resources.  It was not the people's choice.  The Council didn't take it out to the people for discussion and it was just those people on the tribal council that made the decision."  She said, "The Council did not inform the people what the Salazar Settlement was all about and many confused it with the Cobell Settlement.  This Settlement was about our land, resources, and our leases and U.S. Government mismanagement."

As an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and an organizer for SRST-ACTT Active Citizens for Tribal Truth Minneapolis branch, Velma Little Eagle Balderas feels the exclusion of non reservation members from receiving the distribution of the $48.9 million Salazar Trust Settlement is not only discrimination, but also an illegal distribution of the funds that should have been equally and fairly distributed to all members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  "I personally feel this generation, has no real Lakota traditions, values and virtues.  This is why we were left out.  The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council has no idea of what our lives are like, off the reservation.  Nor do they understand the Lakota kinship system.  We have a strong traditional belief, "Mitakuye Oyasin", meaning "All my Relatives".  

She states that in the early '70's' when AIM was very strong in getting recognition for Native peoples and their issues, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was recognized as one of the very strongest Treaty Councils, and that the American Indian Movement held their AIM convention at Chief Gall Inn by Mobridge (SD).  The Tribal Chairman at the time was Melvin White Eagle and Vice-Chairman, was Pat McLaughlin.  "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation was a very strong tribal nation on human rights and protected all of their Standing Rock tribal members", she said.

Little Eagle Balderas states that the Oyate (people) in the cities have a very high cost of living and that most of the large Tiwahe's ( families) are on fixed incomes.  They fall behind in their rent or utilities when they have to buy their children clothes for school or have a family emergency such as a death or illness and have a hard time catching up and because there have been a lot of foreigners moving into the cities, the churches and other resource outlets get depleted of their emergency funds to assist with rent, utilities, food banks and free clothing.  "So, we go without.  Many of our Oyate have ended up in homeless shelters or on the streets" she said. "The Ojibwes, Mystic Lake and others are now telling us to go to 'your' tribal Nation for help." "We've been told that Standing Rock is the only tribal Nation that they are aware of that is not helping their Oyate."  They have said, "Your Tribe has no shame at the way they treat their relatives."  

"We off reservation members represent our Standing Rock Tribal Nation with the utmost respect and honor." Little Eagle Balderas was a Lakota language and cultural instructor for 26 years at UND and in Minneapolis and is now retired, putting in her spare time working as an advocate and member of SRST - ACTT for the Standing Rock Tribe off reservation enrollees in the Twin Cities area.  "There are more than 1,000 enrolled members of the SRST living in the Minneapolis St. Paul area and about 8,000 members of SRST who live off the reservation, which is about one half of the tribal membership.  We really need satellite offices for the Standing Rock off reservation enrollees."  She also questions the way the Tribal Council uses each and every enrolled member's name and enrollment number when they solicit federal funding, such as the 638 contracts.  "Between the years of 1997-2009 the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe received almost a half a billion dollars in federal funding, not including funds received from the BIA, IHS, SBC, casino revenue and the irrigation project.  This is not fair.  The off-reservation membership does not benefit from these funds."

Being taught her Lakota language and traditions in the Rock Creek (SD) community on Standing Rock, and also learning about her revered ancestor, Tatanka Iyotaka, Sitting Bull, she believes in the teachings of the 'Old Ones'.  "Mitakuye Oyasin - All of my Relatives, means we are related to everything in life.  We are related to all Nations, which is why we allowed Columbus to enter our lands and welcomed him.  This concept is very crucial to our existence as a tribal nation," stating, "As the Oyate come to the Cities, they look for relatives, so they will have a place to stay, sleep, eat and shower.  It is very sad, that our on reservation relatives do not have the same hospitable feelings, and they have publicly shown it by the way they have handled this Salazar Trust Settlement," adding, "Even on the reservation, some of our relatives have been disqualified from receiving the settlement payment as there was an application process that some members weren't aware of, and when they went to apply for the distribution, they were refused."

She said, "I feel real bad for the off reservation Oyate and for my family.  We weren't greedy, we were needy.  This is really sad and I actually feel sad for the tribal council people turning their backs on their own people.  Life is a very sacred circle, like the phrase, 'what goes around, comes back around'.  This has affected the future of our Seventh generation, the Wakanyejas - the children.  There should have been a plan to put money in the children's IIM accounts to be disbursed when they reach 18 years of age.  This tribal council is nothing like the council of the White Eagle days.  This tribal council is insensitive, indifferent and couldn't care less about their people.  And his Honor, Judge Jones has really hurt our people with his decision when he denied the injunction freezing the settlement funds, until the whole issue was resolved, because everything they did was illegal."


"WE WEREN'T GREEDY....WE WERE NEEDY" VELMA LITTLE EAGLE BALDERAS ...Discussing the off reservation membership of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe






The above chart documents the federal funding the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe received from the years 1997-2009, which the SRST Tribal Council manages, also called 638 contracts and doesn't include BIA, IHS, SBC, the revenue of the casinos or other tribally-owned entities such as MRI, SRHA and the irrigation project.  These figures are published by the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.  For further information click on the above link and type in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.







Tuesday, October 2, 2012





http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=350912095001224&set=a.247982888627479.57504.169992656426503&type=1i&theater



ONCE UPON A TIME.....
BY STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE - ACTIVE CITIZENS FOR TRIBAL TRUTH
10-2-12


Once upon a time, a great feast was held by some very Lakota hosts, who loved to shake hands and say they loved their people. At this great feast, the hosts made sure that some people got great gobs of food and were very happy. They also made sure that other relatives received nothing and told them to go away. These people were very angry or sad. Some people got the good cuts of meat. Others got small pieces. Some were not satisfied, so they asked for more. Others kept quiet and accepted what they were given. But nobody who came to the feast was treated the same, even though they were all members of the same family. The hosts said to themselves, “Hau, hau…we are veerrrryyy Lakota!”

But what all the people at the feast DID have in common was that they had not even been invited to the REAL feast! That feast was held behind closed doors, where nobody could see that only a handful of the hosts sat at the table. And how the people at THIS feast laughed and laughed, knowing that their feast was a feast above all feasts! And they laughed knowing that their hosting skills ensured that the well-fed people would sit back and burp, forgetting about their relatives who had not been fed at all. And they laughed some more, guessing that the people who were not given anything to eat or only got a little would just pout and go away mad.

So they sat back and wrapped their napkins around their necks and prepared to dig in to the feast of all feasts! They were happy knowing that while everyone was burping, being mad at each other over who got what, trying to get more meat for themselves, or complaining about the feast, NOBODY noticed that it was the hosts’ responsibility to keep the family together and cared for.

SHALL WE LET THEM FEAST??

READ MORE....

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

ASSOCIATE JUDGE B.J. JONES DENIES REQUESTS FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION FREEZING SPENDING OF $48.9 MILLION SALAZAR SETTLEMENT AND ALSO DENIES STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL MOTION TO DISMISS SETTING DATE FOR PLAINTIFFS RESPONSE FOR DISMISSAL FOR OCTOBER 8

STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL CHAIRMAN CHARLES MURPHY SIGNS RESOLUTION FOR SRST TRIBAL COUNCIL BUDGET ON $48.9 MILLION SALAZAR SETTLEMENT

RECALL PETITIONS ON THREE SRST TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS CERTIFIED AND DATE TO BE SET FOR RECALL ELECTION

STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE COUNCIL ON AGING HAS FILED MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION FREEZING SALAZAR SETTLEMENT 
9-27-12




BY DEBORAH LAVALLIE

On April 11th, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar announced the historic $1.023 billion settlement of the United States government's mismanagement of monetary assets and natural resources held in trust by the United States Department of Interior and the United States Department of Treasury, in lawsuits filed by 41 federally-recognized tribes, ending long-running disputes and claims spanning a 100 year period, and, ending the tribal lawsuits against the government for mismanagement of tribal trust accounts, trust land and natural resources, compensating the tribes for their Breach of Trust claims.  Since the time of the announcement the tribes involved in Nez Perce et al, v Salazar, otherwise known as the Salazar Settlement have distributed or have been in the process of planning how their settlements will be disbursed to tribal membership.  While in some cases tribes have already distributed their settlements as per capita payments to their members, in some the issue of disbursement has become controversial as in the case of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the distribution of the $48.9 million trust settlement the SRST received on behalf of their people.

On January 8, 2002 the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Government for Breach of Trust for failing to properly account for trust funds the tribe had entrusted to the government for the sale, lease and occupancy of tribal trust lands and assets.  After ten years of litigation the government decided to settle the lawsuit for $48.9 million and the tribe agreed to that amount though the resolution No. 078-12 did not specify how the proceeds would be distributed.  The Salazar Settlement agreement executed by Bill Perry, a D.C. attorney, on behalf of the tribe, neither compelled nor prevented the distribution of the judgment in a per capita manner to tribal membership, though other tribes who received similar settlements opted to payout a 100% disbursement to their members.  Disagreement over the disbursement is now being litigated in tribal court with Petitions for Preliminary Injunctions filed by tribal members Valerie Wolf Necklace in Wolf Necklace v Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council and Fool Bear and Dancing Bull-Buffalo Boy v Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, asking for a freeze on the distribution of the funds by the SRST Tribal Council until the issues are settled by the Courts.

READ MORE...

Saturday, September 22, 2012

HISTORIC DECISION WILL BE MADE BY 'SPECIAL' JUDGE B.J. JONES ON MOTIONS FOR CONTINUANCES ON TEMPORARY INJUNCTION AND COMPLAINT FILED IN STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBAL COURT AGAINST THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE $48.9 MILLION SALAZAR TRUST SETTLEMENT BY SRST TRIBAL COUNCIL

HUNGER STRIKE ENDS

THE OYATE OF STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE MARCH FROM SITTING BULL MONUMENT TO THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE COURTHOUSE
9-22-12


By Deborah LaVallie
The Turtle Island Messenger 

'Special' Judge B.J.Jones will make his Decision by Monday on actions filed by Valerie Wolf Necklace and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe - ACTT Active Citizens for Tribal Truth members, Archie Fool Bear and Kathy Dancing Bull-Buffalo Boy, both who requested Continuances in order to have more time to gather information and affidavits for their motions for a Temporary Injunction and a Complaint filed in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Court on the disbursement of the $48.9 million Salazar Trust Settlement the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe received for the mismanagement of their lands and resources by the U.S. Government.

Testimony was heard by 'Special' Judge B.J. Jones Friday in Wolf Necklace v Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, which was a discrimination action for a Temporary Injunction freezing the Salzar Trust Settlement from being disbursed and was filed by Wolf Necklace on behalf of all enrolled members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe living off the reservation and the other case Archie Fool Bear and Kathy Dancing Bull-Buffalo Boy v Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council which was a Complaint filed by the SRST - ACTT members requesting a Continuance, since the Complaint for a Temporary Injunction was filed on the 18th of September and a preliminary hearing was set for only 3 days later on Friday September 21.  No action was taken on the Continuance requests, but Judge Jones did allow the Plaintiffs to present testimony as to why the Complaint was so necessary.  

Testimony was presented by SRST spokesman, Fool Bear, tribal elders Mary Louise Defender, Patty Kelly, Robert Gates, Lynnes End of Horn, Rhea Archambault, and Germaine Tremmel, a United Nations Human Advocacy Worker and enrolled member of SRST originally from the Wakpala area, who was on her way home from Canada when she heard about the hearing, so she stopped by and gave testimony.  

According to Sharon Kary, former SRST Tribal Judge and court administrator and SRST - ACTT member, "The basic theme of the testimony was that the SRST Council failed to take the Settlement budget out to the people for approval, or inform them about the Salazar case and the fact that all of the people want a total payout."  She said ACTT spokesman, Archie Fool Bear did a good job with his witnesses who testified, that they were right to the point.  Witnesses described lack of disclosure, consultation and listening on the part of the tribal council and nearly all witnesses testified how the tribal council went against SRST tribal constitution requirements.  Kary stated that if Judge Jones agrees to the hearing 'all' enrolled members need to be there, "so if you live in California, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Minnesota, Canada - wherever - you need to make plans to come home for that hearing."

READ MORE.....

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

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
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.

RHEA ARCHAMBAULT ON HER FOURTH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE BEING VISITED BY STANDING ROCK'S OLDEST CITIZEN, SR. THERESE MARTIN

Photo Credit: SRST - ACTT