Lakota AID Registered Charity No: 1097444 October 2005

Oceti Sakowin Meeting  Promotes Treaty awareness. Extract taken from Lakota Times 0ct 12-18 2005 In Rapid City South Dakota, USA, A Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) gathering was held to bring awareness of the treaties and other important issues to the Lakota people. In the mid 1800’s, during the midst of the 100 Years Holocaust of the Americas, the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation ), also experienced a large diminishment and division. The Oceti Sakowin was the name for the seven sub-nations of the Great Sioux Nation and consisted of the Isanti, Wahpetuwan, Wahpakute, Minwakontowan, who all spoke Dakota, the Ihanktowan and the Ihanktowanna who spoke Nakota and the Tetuwan the Lakota speakers. At one time this large nation, the Oceti Sakwin, resided in more than 14 states in the United States and parts of 3 provinces in Canada. Leo .J. Omani, consultant with Walking Cloud and associates from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, presented a chronological review of Dakota Oyate treaties with the French, the British and the United States of America, as well as Canada on behalf of the British Crown. The chronology included the dates and the premise of all the cumulative treaties originating with Britain, France, Canada and the USA, and the Dakota people (Dakota is the terminology used which is understood to include the Dakota, Nakota and Lakota people inclusively). Treaty language also refers to the Indigenous people as “Aboriginal” and the “First Nations”. Omani stated that the discussion’s objective was to accurately present the chronology of separation and division created among the Indigenous peoples as demonstrated by the treaties themselves. The historical documentation clearly shows the decline in the population due to the 100 Years Holocaust in the Americas and the cessation of lands and property rights. In the years between 1658 and 1750 there were six treaties agreed between the Dakota and the French Crown. These treaties were chiefly to create terms in friendship and trade. In 1763 the aftermath of the war between France and Britain in North America, Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa Nation launched an uprising against the British forts around the Great Lakes. King George III issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763 confirming “Aboriginal Land Rights” and gave formal and legal recognition of sovereignty for the First Nations. Since 1763 all treaties with the Aboriginal First Nation people of North America that have been agreed to be signed by the British Crown, including Canada as well as the Federal Government of the USA, are derived from the British Proclamation of 1763 in reference to the extinguishments of Aboriginal Rights and title to land, in place of what has come to be known as the ‘Treaty Rights’ to the land annuities, also to reference to education. health, economic development etc. Between 1763-1812 their were four treaties between the Dakota Oyate and the British Crown. These treaties were also for peace and friendship and trade, however it also included the promise of support for the Dakota by the British in their war against the US government and the protection of the Indigenous Tribal Homelands. With the conclusion of  peace on Dec 24th 1814, instructions were sent to Canada and the Dakota, and other First Nations soon learned that the British Crown had abandoned the promise made to protect their homelands from the Americans. In 1805 there were 33 Treaties, 4 unratified agreements and 11 Acts of Congress between the Dakota Oyate and the United States, noted among these, the treaty of Aug 19th 1825, which drew a line between the Chippewa and the Sioux and introduced the tribes to the concept of bounded regions within their Tribal territory. The April 19th 1958 treaty with the Yankton ceded to the USA the sacred Pipestone quarry with the understanding that the Indians would be able to access the Pipestone for as long as they wanted. The famous 1868 treaty made the Sioux further establish boundaries and the disputed 1876 treaty signed by Red Cloud and Spotted Tail for concession of land which included the Black Hills. April 30th 1888 saw the Act to divide a portion of the Reservation of the Sioux Nation into separate reservations and to secure the relinquishment of the Indian Title to the remainder, and nine other subsequent treaties ceding lands and authorising the sale and disposition of the surplus unallocated lands. This clearly demonstrates the separation and decimation of the Oceti Sakowin. "I have presented 400 years of history” said Omani, “That shows how it is here and how it evolved into what it is today. We do have rights, not only treaty rights, but human rights. We used to own this land until it was taken away”. Upon conclusion of the presentation and honouring, each member from each of the  Great Sioux Nations was presented with an Eagle feather. For more information you can contact Leo.J Omani at I.omani@sasktel.net Sent by Brenda Aplin - www.lakota-aid.co.uk Oct 26th 2005 [Home] [Why the Lakota need your Help] [Newsletter] [Ambulance Project]