Lakota Sioux Indian representatives declared sovereign nation status  today in Washington D.C. following Monday's withdrawal from all  previously signed treaties with the United States Government.

The withdrawal, hand delivered to Daniel Turner, Deputy Director of  Public Liaison at the State Department, immediately and irrevocably  ends all agreements between the Lakota Sioux Nation of Indians and the  United States Government outlined in the 1851 and 1868 Treaties at  Fort Laramie Wyoming.

"This is an historic day for our Lakota people," declared Russell  Means, Itacan of Lakota. "United States colonial rule is at its end!"  "Today is a historic day and our forefathers speak through us. Our  Forefathers made the treaties in good faith with the sacred Canupa and  with the knowledge of the Great Spirit," shared Garry Rowland from  Wounded Knee. "They never honored the treaties, that's the reason we  are here today."

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.

"In order to stop the continuous taking of our resources ñ people,  land, water and children- we have no choice but to claim our own  destiny," said Phyllis Young, a former Indigenous representative to  the United Nations and representative from Standing Rock. Property  ownership in thefive state area of Lakota now takes center stage.  Parts of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana have  been illegally homesteaded for years despite knowledge of Lakota as  predecessor sovereign [historic owner]. Lakota representatives say if  the United States does not enter into immediate diplomatic  negotiations, liens will be filed on real estate transactions in the  five state region, clouding title over literally thousands of square  miles of land and property. Young added, "The actions of Lakota are  not intended to embarrass the United States but to simply save the  lives of our people".

Following Monday's withdrawal at the State Department, the four Lakota  Itacan representatives have been meeting with foreign embassy  officials in order to hasten their official return to the Family of  Nations. Lakota's efforts are gaining traction as Bolivia, home to  Indigenous President Evo Morales, shared they are "very, very  interested in the Lakota case" while Venezuela received the Lakota  delegation with "respect and solidarity." "Our meetings have been  fruitful and we hope to work with these countries for better  relations," explained Garry Rowland. "As a nation, we have equal  status within the national community."

Education, energy and justice now take top priority in emerging  Lakota. "Cultural immersion education is crucial as a next step to  protect our language, culture and sovereignty," said Means. "Energy  independence using solar, wind, geothermal, and sugar beets enables  Lakota to protect our freedom and provide electricity and heating to  our people."

The Lakota reservations are among the most impoverished areas in North  America, a shameful legacy of broken treaties and apartheid policies.  Lakota has the highest death rate in the United States and Lakota men  have the lowest life expectancy of any nation on earth, excluding  AIDS, at approximately 44 years. Lakota infant mortality rate is five  times the United States average and teen suicide rates 150% more than  national average. 97% of Lakota people live below the poverty line and  unemployment hovers near 85%.

"After 150 years of colonial enforcement, when you back people into a  corner there is only one alternative," emphasized Duane Martin Sr.  "The only alternative is to bring freedom into its existence by taking  it back to the love of freedom, to our lifeway."

We are the freedom loving Lakota from the Sioux Indian reservations of  Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana who have traveled to  Washington DC to withdraw from the constitutionally mandated treaties  to become a free and independent country. We are alerting the Family  of Nations we have now reassumed our freedom and independence with the  backing of Natural, International, and United States law.

For more information:

http://www.lakotafreedom.com/