genocide

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, an estimated 12 million human beings lived within the present borders of the United States. In 1890, when the federal government declared the "Indian wars" to be officially over, the native population was less than 250,000-a little over 2 percent of what it had been four hundred years earlier. And the genocide against indigenous peoples continues unabated to this day.

Birmingham 1963

Gaza 2008

There is much more here.

– PRECEDENT FOR OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES? CAN RETHINKING OF “U.S.” & “CANADA” BE FAR BEHIND? [Story of the year]

According to Lakota Oyate (For a Free & Independent Lakota Nation), on December 30, 2007, the Lakotah Freedom Delegation website and contact info were hijacked by one delegation member without consent of other delegates.

It is important that we realize that in the modern world, the success and overall legitimacy of this movement will be evaluated later, perhaps decades from now. I think it is important that we all ask ourselves this question: just one month ago, wouldn't it have been considered a ludicrous statement to say that the average Lakota person isn't interested in sovereignty or real international recognition?

While I am tempted to issue some pronouncement on the validity or lack thereof regarding recent declarations of Lakotah sovereignty and secession, in all reality I must admit that there may be more rational and/or reasonable responses to the facts as we know them. Take, for example, the relative lack of any serious indigenous challenge to the Lakota Freedom Delegation; this could mean many things.

This piece was first published online at the Buffalo Field Campaign's old website which was, in turn, hosted by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. Although it is now eight years old, it remains a thorough synopsis of the history of the slaughter of the buffalo and the deliberate genocide of first nations' peoples. For more recent information on this issue, see the Buffalo Field Campaign's current website.

More wild buffalo have been slaughtered in America in the past ten years than at any time in the last century. Capitalizing on the Indian's complete dependence upon the buffalo, 19th century government leaders launched a campaign to wipe them out, and in so doing, force the Indians into a sedentary lifestyle more in line with the prevailing European notions of private property and "civilization."

I have been in contact with someone very close to all of this. Here are the words of Canupa Gluha Mani (Duane Martin Sr.). The interview is a little over thirty minutes long but the file size is relatively small - less than 6MB. It is an MP3.

UPDATES: December 25, 2007 from Juxtaposeur

• Cante Tenza Grandmothers consulted, message released by Canupa Gluha Mani regarding purpose of Treaty Withdrawal MORE...
• Delegation representatives held meetings for over three years leading to Monday's withdrawal MORE...
• Lakota to reveal land boundaries on eve of Wounded Knee anniversary. Check back for updates!
• Lakota delivers introductory Portfolio Packet to State Department and foreign embassies READ THE PACKET...
• The Lakota Freedom Delegation acknowledges the rumors of Russian Government support. In addition, Lakota has been in contact with other Nations who are considering Lakota sovereignty.
• Press Conference Photos...SEE THE GALLERY...

Now let's think this through: five days have elapsed and if any major First Nations spokesperson or group or tribal council is standing against the Lakotah secession, they remain unheard. This is extremely auspicious inofitself. I don't think I am off base when I say that there are responsible individuals and groups amongst First Nations tribes and that, therefore, were this not something everyone concerned really wanted to work then we would have heard something by now.

I am going to stovepipe this comment by Juxtaposeur called Attempts at Debunking this are Severely Flawed which is in response to Lakota Secede From U.S. and All Treaties. I think it is worth a pretty fine push to the front page:

1. This is not a rumor; Putin has even chimed in on the side of the Lakota! The president of Bolivia has said that nation is intensely interested in this and Hugo Chavez has expressed solidarity.
2. The four member Lakota delegation traveled to Washington D.C. culminating years of internal discussion among treaty representatives of the various Lakota communities. Delegation members included well known activist and actor Russell Means, Women of All Red Nations (WARN) founder Phyllis Young, Oglala Lakota Strong Heart Society leader Duane Martin Sr., and Garry Rowland, Leader Chief Big Foot Riders. Means, Rowland, Martin Sr. were all members of the 1973 Wounded Knee takeover.
3. “We have 33 treaties with the United States that they have not lived by. They continue to take our land, our water, our children,” Phyllis Young, who helped organize the first international conference on indigenous rights in Geneva in 1977, told the news conference.
4. Russian legal experts further state that of all of the United States Indian Tribes, the Lakota Sioux are the best positioned to have their declaration of independence from the American government recognized by the United Nations as they remain the only indigenous peoples in the US to have refused to accept payment for their lands, estimated to be nearly $1 billion, which they consider their ‘sacred grounds’ and have stated they would never relinquish.

Folks, the Lakota People within the Sioux Nation have disacknowledged all treaties with the United States government and are seceding and proclaiming themselves an independent nation. They have also declared the northern Great Plains a place for wild bison without cattle and their accompanying fences and are talking about bringing Yellowstone's besieged wild bison herds to this region for good. This is not a rumor; Putin has even chimed in on the side of the Lakota!

See Nazi Vatican Murderers (Caveat Lector)