Let me be up front about one thing: I am a 37 yr old white man from PA who has never stepped foot on the reservation and only started researching the Lakota, Pine Ridge, the RoL, etc. in the past few weeks. That being said, what I have read here and other places in that short time has impressed me beyond words and I want to join in your quest for freedom, but it will probably take me a year to save up the money. I will need to buy tools for building home, building materials, finish paying for my college loans, and buy land near (but not on) the reservation. (if that is ok with the Lakota for all of it is indeed Lakota land whether the U.S. will acknowledge it or not)

I cannot possibly understand the situation there as well as those who live it, but I think I have read enough to get a basic idea of what is going on and form a plan to end U.S. control of at least Pine Ridge, although this plan might work elsewhere too. After reading my plan, please comment and make suggestions so it can be improved because from what I have seen here the Lakota are far wiser than I am. Here's the plan:

To defeat the Wasicu, you must learn how they think and use their weaknesses to defeat them. Remember, the forces that drive them are greed and power. They value money above all else. How do they get their money? The Wasicu politicians get money by passing legislation (read: make laws to favor the business Wasicu) and making "new projects to benefit the people of our state". (read: waste taxpayer money by buying stuff from the business Wasicu for three times what the stuff is worth) In return, they receive "campaign contributions" (read: bribes) and other favors from the business Wasicu. All of this means that the more tax dollars the Wasicu politicians can control and distribute to the business Wasicu, the more bribes the Wasicu politicians can get in return.

The business Wasicu are also greed driven, but unless they only sell things to the government, they cannot survive on ill-gotten gains from Wasicu politicians alone. The Wasicu certainly can't depend on each other; their sense of community is weak and they would gleefully stab each other in the back to make a dollar without a second thought if necessary. The Wasicu really need customers to buy their goods so they can make money. Many people don't realize this, but without us to pay taxes and buy things, the Wasicu would have no sustenance and ultimately die like a starving beast.

Right now, the Wasicu are starting to go hungry. People are losing jobs and have little money to spend at Wasicu businesses. The Wasicu are salivating, desperate to devour more money. They need more customers, but South Dakota is sparsely populated. Now we that know their weaknesses and how they think we can make a plan for action.

First, you need to talk to any businesses that sell to the general public. Explain to them that you have a plan that can bring them more customers and more money for their business. Huh? What plan? This plan: if the businesses use their influence to convince the government of South Dakota to grant complete independence from state and local laws to Pine Ridge AND allow anyone living on lands around Pine Ridge to join and also become independent, the Lakota can use that independence to get many freedom-minded people (though I suggest using the term "paying customers") to come live there. Explain to them how these people will need to buy tools, building materials, food, etc. (whatever the business you are talking to sells) It will help convince them if you can provide an estimate of the expected number of immigrants that will come if the rez becomes truly independent. If the businesses try to say that "they don't have much money to spend" then remind them that when thousands of new residents each spend a little, it quickly adds up to a lot. Tell business owners that placing signs out in front of their shop showing support for the RoL might make them look a bit better in the eyes of the RoL and help generate business. Tell them to use any political ties they have to convince the South Dakota gov. to grant independence to Pine Ridge and allow other land owners in the area to join. I know swaying the minds of business people may be difficult, but remember that in the Wasicu system, the politicians depend on businesses for support, so you need the business on your side.

Now you are ready for bigger game. Since the Wasicu insisted that the Lakota be classified as American Citizens, use it to your advantage. Get everyone age 18+yrs. old to register to vote. Now go before the Governor and as many other state officials as possible and remind them that their fellow Wasicu in the business world support Lakota freedom. If you got the businesses to do their part by calling the politicians and hanging out signs in front of their shops then the politicians will already know that what you are saying is true. The politicians will complain about lost income and property tax revenues if Pine Ridge goes independent. Counter this arguement by explaining that Pine Ridge is poor and doesn't generate much revenue anyways (I am guessing this is the case) plus they will more than make up for it with more business and sales tax revenues because of all the new customers who will be attracted to the state by the chance for freedom. Remind the politicians that allowing property owners around Pine Ridge to join won't hurt because much of the land is vacant anyways (or at least I read that someplace) and it's MORE PROFITABLE for them to have independent plots of land with paying customers on them than to own land with nothing and nobody on it.

If that isn't enough to convince some of the politicians, you have one more secret weapon: the strength of the Lakota community. Tell the politicians that ALL of the Lakota in South Dakota are ready and willing to VOTE OUT every politician currently in office until Pine Ridge and the surrounding area are officially independent. If they check the voter registration records, and I wager they will, they will notice many Lakota have recently signed up to vote and they will take you seriously. In a state of under 1 million people, 40,000 people (I've read many population estimates can someone tell me the real number?) is enough to swing elections and the politicians know it. I know that there are no guarantees, but if the Lakota want to try to use official channels to get the government to recognize their independence, there's a chance this will work.

There is one small problem with the plan: the state of South Dakota can't free you from the federal government. BUT, without the state to support them, the federal government has little hope of doing ANYTHING about the RoL. The U.S. is already fighting two large wars (Iraq and Afghanistan), has serious issues at the Mexican border and has racked up recording breaking debts. If Pine Ridge suddenly decided to stop paying all taxes to the U.S. gov. and refused to follow their laws there wouldn't be much they could do to stop you. Also, I am guessing Pine Ridge doesn't provide much tax revenue anyways so it's not worth wasting the precious few resources the U.S. has on such a venture that won't provide much money at a time when it is desperately needed.

I know that's a lot to take in but I think with some refinement this plan can work. Then again, I am not from the area so there may be some things I haven't taken into account. Please feel free to correct me, add to the plan, propose other plans, etc. I know the Lakota people have a fire for freedom burning within them like no other people I've seen in this country. May that fire burn the hands of the Wasicu that hold Pine Ridge in their grip until they let go and then may it light the way to a new age of peace and prosperity for the Lakota.

There are 2 weapons for successfully winning the war of the wasicu, which you seem to have summed up in your plan already: Collective Will and Focused Intent. (hereafter CW&FI)
CW&FI have been used to avert terrorism, natural and man-made disasters, and anything else that would make the world/cause the world to be a worse place, if CW&FI never happened
A California tsunami has been predicted, and with sufficient CW&FI, it'll turn out to be a non-event.
Now, when enough of us get together with our CW&FI, we can make RevolutionSpirit's plan a reality.
And taking out the monsters standing in the way, including the wasicu monsters-on their own turf, will be a piece of cake.

I already put this on my "monsters to fight" list. I'll be on it tonight.
Edited to add this:
I forgot to say, I won't just fight the monsters, but also knock down some barriers to real progress as well. I don't want to do just one thing, I wish to do all I can to make independence a reality

Now get out there and Give it a Splat!

I am hoping for an approach that contributes to the Indiginoues more then anything. And I think that where
it is headed since I revisited Indian Country in almost a decade I think progress is being made.

And yes the gov't is always an obstacle in doing what is needed but I have found that not only on Indian Country but else
where to.

Unfortunately, "wasicu" businesses, politicians and government have been the biggest barrier to full and complete economic independence for the Black and Red nations. Secondly, the nations can not work "through systems" that were made to disenfranchise them in the first place. The Nations need a plan that "involves" gaining ownership and more importantly--CONTROL--of their natural resources, vital infrastructure such as power-generation, water-supply, mineral mines and deposits, and land and that "does NOT involve" US federal, state, nor municipal and local government nor "wasicu" businesses, corporations, and financial institutions. The RoL can create their own businesses and produce for themselves without any assistance from the whites. Their Black, Brown, and Red brothers can assist in any and every way that the RoL sees fit.

Not to throw any salt into the game, guys, but it sounds to me like more of the same. In fact, it seems like the entire ideal is driving toward Socialism. I think we're better than that. While I don't really cotton to the notion of it, I think we should get leaders into the political machinery. Most thinkers aren't doers, in my opinion. If you want to hit home, take it to the top. Open revolution is not a good idea, it gets too many good people killed or jailed and usually the leaders are the first ones to go. Get some good people together, choose a sensible leader, forward a sensible message and get the rest of the population behind you. Isn't that what the good ol' USA is built on? Besides, a bunch of radicals tried this back in the 60s, look what happened. You want to make yourself heard? Use old-fashioned common sense, get out there, find out what the people are sick and tired of putting up with, build a platform based on that and get the movement going. Use the system, that's what it's there for. While I'm on the subject, take care of the people whom you're looking to for support. It's not about the money one person can make at the top while feeding everybody else a Dr. Feelgood story. Look through the BS and make the person at the top accountable for what the people elected them to in the first place. Never get complacent. If I can use an example, look at Tom Daschle, one of the most powerful men on Capitol Hill. What happened to him when he stopped listening to the electorate of SD? You guys dumped him like yesterday's newspaper. What's he doing now? Nobody knows because nobody cares, if SD didn't want him, neither does anyone else! Use the system, it works in the end.

The easiest way to do it to me is also non-violent. Become a member nation of the United Nations. International law makes it far simpler than one would expect. Once a member the United Nations is required to defend us if we are invaded the same as they are required to defend the U.S. There are just four simple requirements that you have to prove. 1 - A definable land mass. We could use an old treaty to show where the U.S. defined our land mass. The U.S. is good at helping in these things. lol 2. A definable population. Ask everyone in the area if they would like to be citizens... make a list of all who do and their families that live with them. Take anyone of any color old enough to make their own choices so that we are not called just an Indian group but rather a nation... all nations are composed of people of more than one race. Also, just like thousands of Americans have lived in other counntries for many years, we can have people living outside the borders (such as myself). Ask people. All of these people issue them some form of citizen identification. Heck, there are Indian Nations with their own passports they travel the world with... use those as an example. Then we just need to report how many people have documentation they are citizens of our nation. 3. We need a system of government... i.e. we need leaders... they can be President, Vice-President, Senators, or whatever we wish to call them. We need a legal system. Now that I would happily take any position you wanted me to. Make ambassadors to other nations that wish to make diplomatic treaties with us. Just all the normal government functions need to be taken care of including a system to tax us as governments all have taxes. 4. We need to show we have been treated as nations by other nations. Before Desert Storm a group of our Elders travelled to Iraq and made a treaty of peace with Iraq. We need to make treaties of all kinds... cultural, business, peace with all we can get to make treaties with us. Once we can show all these things we apply to the United Nations to be a member state. Once accepted we have an ambassador to the U.N. and we are just like the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China or wherever and are a seperate nation the U.N. is obligated to defend from attacks... including by the U.S. etc.

Toksa,

Tom

By the way... I will happily work with Russell Means and get this done. It would be a worthy goal for my lifetime... help give us independance. Russell, if you see this please e-mail me and let me know how I can help or join my Facebook by searching Tom Running Elk Waters and leave me a message. I can't join yours as you have too many friends. You need to send me an innvite. lol

Toksa,

Tom

Well said and thought out, Revolution Spirit! I wish I could add something to it but, it stands strong on its own merit.

That said, the ROL should approach Greenland for official recognition as a nation and exchange diplomats. It would be a natural alliance and Greenland could take up the ROL's cause in the U.N. General Assembly. Regardless of what one thinks of the U.N. General Assembly, it's a start and there will be plenty of others who will be sympathetic to the ROL.

Some are charging that the ROL and its supporters are "socialist." Beautiful! Capitalism has been utterly discredited and all the appeals to the mythical past when it ostensibly worked are in vain. Every single thing we enjoy today was because of early 20th century socialists and written in the blood of those who fought Pinkerton security guards, unsafe working conditions, brutality, Robber Barons, scabs, plantation masters, abusive bosses, etc. The rapid decline into 3rd world barbarism is directly related to the decline of labor power in the U.S. and explosive cancer of financial tyranny.

Friedrich List, Henry C Carey, Eugene V Debs, Harry Hopkins, FDR's New Deal. These are your worthy white examples, Republic of Lakota! What do capitalists have to offer but the Godzilla creature that rules Wall Street. CAPITALISM murdered 200,000,000+ in the 20th century to satisfy the dictates of the banksters! Stalin and Mao were only middlemen. Stalin caused the deaths of millions in the Ukraine to steal the grain for the London bankers. Mao caused the deaths of millions by carrying out population control measures ORDERED to him by New York NGO's and bankers.

Don't be fooled by the fascist counterfeit of socialism. Don't be distracted by Fox News' false portrayals of socialism. New Deal populism with a Lakota face is a good start.

Revolution, war and conflict words of brave men indeed but a brave man can never defeat a wise man. Instead of talk of war that cannot be won by brave men who would die for their people. Why not take council from wise men and live for your people and babies. Why do you need to fight to be free? you were born free what happened? The very thing you seek prevents your freedom another treat from the government. A treat or treaty is for children no men when I come to eat I don't look for a treat let the big dog eat. And the scraps go to the rats. But some beg for a treat at the big house table. And cry like Mysters when they get none or don't get noticed. Use the wisdom hidden inside you to free the wolf but use the coyote to do your bidding. stay crazy like the fox. take nothing and controll everything. But maybe you like treats or was it a fine trick instead and would you know the difference.

DO you understand me my brothers? Peace is what you want? Independence and more rights and treaties? I want none of those things... In Dependence I want to depend on nobody. Rights? I have the rite to live and claim no more. What can governement give me? Permission to do things? I am no baby I do not need anyon's permission to do anything that does not harm another. Why do you beg permission to do what is rite? Treaties do you really want more conditions? for a another treat? You must decide where you need to be in a democracy or in a tribe. There is no point crying over lost things. Bad deals were made and that is the fact. We took advantantage of the whites. We gave them land we did not own. Did we own land? NO! we lived on the land we claimed nothing and controled everything. then we took a treat from a stranger and have been sick ever since. Did we make a mistake? did a trick backfire? No we started to claim things lots of things everything and when two people claim the same thing the law settles it. you go to court and guess what you lose time and time again why? its their court why you there? why not settle matters in our court with our laws. there are only 2 laws we have don't harm anything and don't lie. now you know every law. and your rite to live now you know your rites and the one rule live and let live. That is all the fredom in your world. adding to that only restricts freedoms. You have a right to reamin silent. Stick that right A right to a trial in court? keep your court I have my own. if you take the right to their court you cannot use your own court then you play by their rules wake up stop begging for rules and more freedom. You had everything you gave it all away. Stop asking for treats. Stop using their laws and their rights and their freedoms. use your own I just gave them to you. stop collecting money from them and using their money its not yours either its just paper stop thinking its valuable. Live in peace respect and love the people we share this great counrty with and stop using them and their stuff. and you will be free. But maybe you don't want to do the well its your decision to want or need you decide my brothers and stop blaming others for your plight its is nobodies fault but yours.

SeaKey
Commander and Chief on Tanakiwinaki.
No Fixed Address, Wild and Free.
Expert-in-Law(I know them both inside and) out law

Why do people argue against indepenance? That makes no sense at all. Yes, we were born free... to make our own decisions. However, we were also made citizens of a country that does not have our best interests in mind about anything. In fact, the U.S. is normally opposed to everything that could help us in any way. Bom you don't fight... when anyone fights the U.S. in war it is termed terrorism as it is not using the same methods the U.S. uses since we lack the toys they have to play with. You can't win in U.S. courts. I know that as I have a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law. In fact, my proposal is what I wrote in 1993 for my paper in law school required to graduate with a doctorate there. My paper was something like 94 pages though. lol No fighting, no U.S. permission needed, no U.S. officials have to speak for us... we do it on our own and the U.S. doesn't even need notified before we file. When independance has been threatened in the past by the Cherokee, it was only a bluff to get what they wanted. The U.S. gave them more than they asked for in exchange for the Cherokee not filing with the U.N. That is how desperate the U.S. is to not have us, or any other Indians file as they have no way to defend against us filing. You say not to want independance... well, that means stay part of the U.S. and be treated by them however they choose to treat us. If you want that it is simple. We become a real nation and you choose to stay a citizen of the U.S. You don't need to join us if you don't like the idea. This whole site is about us becoming our own nation though and if the U.N. does not say we are a nation then we are not a nation.

I do not argue anything I avoid conflict this is not about me I have more years behind me than what are left ahead of me. I'm no liar but when there is some loop hole in the law that people can exploit what do they do to protect the public interest? Change the law... How can you win a game where the rules can be changed? When I played a game when I was young and they changed the rules on me in their home court. Did I go back again for another round expecting a different result? No I would not play the game any more. Until we agreed on the rules first so we had a common law. So the playing field was level and we played on my Court because I could trust my judge. They say in god we trust I like to say in this old dog I trust. Not that I didn't trust my opponent its just that this way I never had to.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. You need to learn the wisdom of the old ways first then go hunting don't go off half cocked and misfire and hurt yourself and others by accident. Fire one shot and make it count. Don't start a war in their court you cannot win. They are good people rember that, our friends not enemies. When my brother and I disagreed I never wanted to hurt him but I needed to be heard. But is it wise to burn down the house to make your point? Then everyone suffers even the women and children. The past is gone it can never be changed, Never forget it but don't let it haunt you. We are great because we survived and adapted to every condition. DOn't get stuck in the past or we cannot evolve.