Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 12:04:04 -0500
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Fwd: Emergency Action in Support of Oglala Occupation




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Emergency Action in Support of Oglala Occupation
Resent-Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 08:57:28 -0800
Resent-From: iww-news-AT-iww.org
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 08:57:22 -0800
From: arthur <bayou-AT-blarg.net>
Reply-To: bayou-AT-blarg.net
To: <iww-news-AT-iww.org>
CC: <bayou-AT-blarg.net>

please post widely

Emergency Call for Action: Support the Oglala Occupation at Pine 
Ridge  (approved by Grass Roots Oyate)
>From Emergency Support for Grass Roots Oyate
(bp172-AT-scn.org; 206-937-5252) 
in cooperation with the Northwest Leonard Peltier Support Network
--Tacoma Office (bayou-AT-blarg.net or NatAimer-AT-aol.com).

RALLY AT SEATTLE FEDERAL BUILDING DOWNTOWN,
START AT 4PM, FRIDAY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 28TH

MARCH TO KING 5 TV TO DEMAND NETWORK MEDIA COVERAGE 
OF OYATE OCCUPATIONOF
TRIBAL OFFICE AND CHARGES OF CORRUPTION

The grassroots of the Oyate at Pine Ridge, South Dakota, has accepted 
an
offer for others to rally here in Seattle in support of their struggle.
This is an opportunity for us to use the alliances built around the
World
Trade Organization to help bring attention to a long ignored issue: the
rights of the First Nations to govern themselves and control their own
lives.

Here is a copy of the Oyate's first press release verbatim:

"RED CLOUD TRIBAL BUILDING, PINE RIDGE INDIAN 
RESERVATION, SOUTH DAKOTA:

"   On January 17, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., a group of concerned Grass 
Roots
Oyate (people) met with representatives of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to determine what action, if any, the Federal Government
will take against the corrupt Oglala Sioux Tribal Treasurer and Council
Members.

"  Hundreds of tribal members filed into the cramped office space to
tell
their stories to the federal agents. Stories of land stealing,
homelessness, poverty, tribal law enforcement abuses, lack of
accountability from elected officials. Two hours later, the FBI agents
were growing weary and requested a break to speak with media on the 
scene.

"   The Grass Roots Oyate took control of the Tribal Office on Sunday,
January 16, 2000 for the sole purpose of protecting the files from
tampering. The Grass Roots Oyate, consisting of tribal members - 
young and
old, have stated that they will retain control of the building  until
their demands (see attached) are met. This group feels that this action 
is
long overdue and has demanded the immediate removal of Oglala Sioux 
Tribal
Treasurer Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs for gross misconduct and 
mismanagement of
tribal funds. Additionally, the Grass Roots Oyate is seeking the removal
of Tribal Council Representatives who are involved in the corruption of
this tribal government.

"   At the close of today's meeting, the FBI agents informed the Oglala
people that they have acquired some financial records already from 
unnamed
sources and an investigation is underway. They stated that they are not 
at
liberty to elaborate on this investigation but added that they are
investigating various programs within the Tribe and they hope to 
conclude
this process soon.

"   The FBI stated that they will return to the Red Cloud Tribal
Building
on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 to hear further testimony.

Since this press release was issued, there has been a media blackout. 
In
the meantime, Oglala Sioux Tribal Treasurer Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs 
has
stated that he would remove occupants of the office by force if 
necessary,
and has twice attempted entry into the office, but so far to no avail.
The
Oyate are still holding strong, but need the support of all of us if
they
are to win on their demands. The FBI is supposedly investigating the
matter, and they must know that they must also be held to their word. 
The
Oyate demands are included at the end of this post.

The Oyate are requesting that this is a peaceful demonstration. If 
anyone
engages in violence, it will be considered disrespectful toward their
cause, and they are the ones that determine how they will be supported.

THERE ARE FREQUENT UPDATES ON THE WEBSITE, WHICH IS:

http://members.tripod.com/GrassRootsOyate

Please disseminate this post as widely as possible.

In Solidarity,

John Persak, Seattle WA
for  Emergency Support for Grass Roots Oyate
206-937-5252

OGLALA GRASS ROOTS GROUP DEMANDS

1.    Full forensic audit of all OST income including Prairie Wind
Casino.
This audit must be made public to all Oglala Sioux Tribal members.

2.       Enforcement of the OST Constitution & By- Laws; Specifically
toArticle X- Land: Section XI Use of Unassigned Land. Any income 
derived
from such land shall accrue to the benefit of the Tribe as a whole. That
those funds be set aside and distributed equally to each district.
($200,000,000 ). 

3.        Under the IRA ( Indian Reorganization Act), Section 5 provides
for the recovery of tribal lands that the Secretary of Interior shall
exercise this right in purchasing all land, water rights and surface
rights to land within or without existing reservation and turn over OST
trust land. Under this provision the Secretary of             Interior
shall pay to FHA the outstanding balance of land purchased under the 
FHA
loan, further that the Secretary and United States Congress return to
the
Oglala Sioux Tribe, land known as the Buffalo Gap National Grass Land, 
and
all other that Section V of IRA (Indian Reorganization Act), states and
carry out to the fullest extent of this section.

4.     Secretary of Interior do whatever is necessary to return
jurisdiction to the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Bennett and Jackson Counties.

5.     That the U.S. Government honor our sovereignty and refrain from
all
things that they do, such as, involving the State in any and all
actions.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Oglala Sioux Tribe is a
sovereign nation within a nation and the supreme law of the land. The
Tribe has the right to negotiate government to government which 
excludes
the State. That the U.S. Government enforces and abides by all treaties
and rights of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

6.    Secretary of Interior will honor and see to this trust as trust
responsibility on Oglala Sioux Tribal land, known as "The South Unit",
under the General Management Plan Revision/Development, which was 
signed
and approved the OST Council, Dir. Of Rocky Mountain Region, Dir. Of
National Park Service and the Secretary of Interior on 1/2/76. The South
Unit land belongs to the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

7.     The OST Council has violated their Oath of Office to the US
Constitution and OST Constitution, therefore all council members and 
the
OST Treasurer are to be removed from office immediately, in the best
interest of Constitution and OST Constitution, therefore all council
members and the OST Treasurer are to be removed from office 
immediately,
in the best interest of the OST and its members.

8.    All funds owed to programs be paid back in full immediately and
programs be left to administrate their programs effectively, without
interference from tribal government, except where otherwise stated in
the
program contract.

9.    A full land audit be conducted on the First National Bank of
Gordon,
Gordon, Nebraska to determine how much tribal land they have obtained 
as
collateral for bailouts, etc.