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On December 19, the Lakota Freedom Delegation presented a document to the US State Department, announcing Lakota withdrawal from all treaties with the US. The delegation does not speak for the Bureau of Indian Affairs-recognized Lakota governments, but rather tries to represent what the Lakota people want.
The document also reasserts the Lakota people's right to an area that spreads over much of the states of Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, as affirmed in the broken treaties.
The declaration preamble reads:
We, as the freedom-loving Lakotah People, are the predecessor sovereign of Dakota Territory, as evidenced by the treaties with the United States government, including but not limited to the Treaty of 1851 and the Treaty of 1868 at Fort Laramie.
Lakotah formally and unilaterally withdraws from all agreements and treaties imposed by the United States government on the Lakotah People.
Lakotah, and the population therein, have waited for at least 155 years for the United States of America to adhere to the provisions of the above-referenced treaties. The continuing violations of these treaties' terms have resulted in the near annihilation of our people physically, spiritually and culturally. Lakotah rejects the United States' termination by appropriation policy from 1871 to the present.
In addition, the evidence of gross violations of the above-referenced treaties is listed herein. Lakotah encourages the United States of America, through its government, to enter into dialogue with Lakotah regarding the boundaries, the land and the resources therein.
Should the United States and its subordinate governments choose not to act in good faith concerning the rebirth of our nation, we hereby advise the United States government that Lakotah will begin to administer liens against real estate transactions within the five-state area of Lakotah.
Lakotah, through its government, appointed the following representatives to withdraw from all the treaties with the United States of America, based on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties entered into force in 1980 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007:
Teghiya Kte Canupa, heretofore known as Gary Rowland;
Canupa Gluha Mani, heretofore known as Duane Martin, Sr.;
Oyate Wacinyapin, heretofore known as Russell Means;
Mni Yuha Najin Win, heretofore known as Phyllis Young.
Two members of...