Lakota Secession

[athelind]

A delegation of Lakota leaders delivered a message to the State Department on Monday, announcing they were unilaterally withdrawing from treaties they signed with the federal government of the United States, some of them more than 150 years old.

All I can say is, "Holy Crap. Good Luck."

Any candidate who takes this seriously -- and not in a sense of "this rabble must be suppressed" -- has my vote.

Comments

[hedgegoth.livejournal.com]

Wow. This could get interesting.

I'm again reminded of the state of the US in Heinlein's "Friday"

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

My only concern is that the current US administration might interpret it as an act of war. The treaties were at least some protection for the Lakota.

Though I understand moving when they feel the time is right, for many reasons I wish they'd waited for another 13 or 14 months. But yeah, I wish them best of luck.

[disclosure: I count the Lakota as a very small part of my genetic heritage]

[bfdragon.livejournal.com]

Which would be ironic, considering how this administration treats laws and treaties that apply to themselves. Ok, maybe not ironic, just it's typical hypocrisy.

[thebitterguy]

The definition of "leaders" is an interesting one.

[drleo.livejournal.com]

I'm reminded of Shadowrun, where a bunch of native tribes seceded (with the aid of magic, mind you), contributing to the redrawing of the political boundaries in North America.

Despite all that, I think this is a non-starter. I'm sure the State Department can whip up some legalese for why this can't be done. And if nothing else, the US does still have all the guns, and they're not gonna just give up all their taxable citizens and missile silos and military bases.

[tombfyre.livejournal.com]

Damn, thats some extreme shit right there. I wonder how many other tribes will jump on that particular band-wagon and give it a try. I wish them well, and hope they don't stir up any shit.

Iroquois?

[wyrdryn.livejournal.com]

I read just today that the Iroquois have already done this. The US government simply ignored them. They issue passports and control government functions within their reservations. I read, but cannot find reliable sources for, a claim that 73 nations recognize the passports they issue and that a majority of UN member nations supported their recognition, but they were vetoed by the US government. They were certainly recognized as an NGO, but that status is largely without teeth.

So far, only one Iroquois reservation has actually started refusing federal aid and functioning with any real independence, though.

If this works out, there might be a resurgence of support for real political/economic independence in the Iroquois lands. I'm rooting for the Lakota.

Useful Links:
http://www.iroquoisnationals.com/people.html
http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/IroquoisAtUN.html

[quelonzia.livejournal.com]

I support them wholeheartedly - without reservation! :)

[ebony14.livejournal.com]

I'd like to support that "Holy Crap." This is going to get unpleasant, I fear.

Well, actually...

[(Anonymous)]

....this will work if the Lakota can muster enough of three things:

A) supporters
B) international supporters
C) weapons

If they lack any of those three things, this will fail. So, yeah, they just served themselves a big hot cup of fail.

[paka.livejournal.com]

I don't think this is important as something that can succeed. I think this is important as a point for renegotiation and perhaps administering more aid or a sharper eye towards the guys stuck there. Which I'm all for. It's their land, they shouldn't have to be second class citizens there.