June 28, 2023

Hello Everyone,

First, I want to publicly thank Ryan White Feather for his frequent donations for postage. We have always been blessed with generosity from some of our people. The late Denver American Horse always, once a month, sent a book of stamps. These are the unsung heroes who continue to help with the work.

For many years, the question has been asked. “Why do you keep fighting for the Treaty?” When it is asked by younger people or Tribal Council Representatives, I know instantly that they don’t realize we are a separate nation from the United States (US). Our nation was here for thousands and thousand of years BEFORE there was even the thought of a country known as the United States of America. I also realize that they don’t know that the 1868 Treaty is an International Treaty made between two very different nations, the United States and the Sioux Nation just like there are treaties between nations such as China and France. Because it is old, 1868, doesn’t mean it has lost its legality. Did three-fourths of OUR adult males agree to do away with the 1868 Treaty? No. Never did happen. That is the only way it can be legally changed. Therefore, the Treaty is still legal and we need to keep fighting for its full enforcement at the International level since it is an International document not governed by a federal US court. For most of you, I’m singing to the choir.

 

This polycrises we are in at the moment, should not stop our seeking the freedom and independence of our nation. Yes, the polycrises is affecting everything. The “polycrises” is a term that covers all the big crises or worries all over the world such as: Climate Change, the Russia-Ukraine War, the falling of the dollar around the globe, the joining of other nations together for economic reasons to get away from the control by the United States, and other things. All of these affect us.

The United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS), which covers the western hemisphere, are not interested in the independence and freedom of one, tiny nation with this polycrises. That is precisely why we need to keep doing this. During this polycrises, we offer the other governments and nations of the world the opportunity for spiritual growth.

If the United Nations were to tell the United States, “You have to leave the 1868 Treaty Territory and recognize the independence of the Sioux Nation”, how long would that take? Years. And yes, it might be violent and bloody. But who would grow spiritually besides us? The governments and the nations at the United Nations who helped us. Would those same nations who declared OUR independence and freedom from the occupation and oppression of the United States also have to protect us? Yes. That is a part of it. This is the Decolonization process at the UN.

We, on the other hand, are also doing three things: 1) we are doing what our ancestors planned for us to keep our nation and culture intact through the Treaty; 2) we are providing an opportunity for miracles for the next Seven Generations to come so they can be who the Creator made us to be; and 3) we are providing an opportunity for spiritual growth to the other nations of the world that help us.

In the meantime, back at the ranch, or rez, or where ever we live, what else should we be doing? We need to keep remembering who we are, relearn how we are supposed to be, try to be who the Creator made us to be. One of my granddaughters asked me to help her give more information to young people. I was glad to do it and wrote a short history of who we are. It is attached.

We need to try to teach the young people of our own tiyospaye, if possible, but I also know, nuge sni (no ears). The Ancient Laws of the Oceti Sakowin that was brought about by this Treaty Council years ago is a good place to start too besides the history. The Ancient Laws are online at www.siouxnationtreatycouncil.org but if you wish a hard copy, just let me know; send me an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Another idea is to get together with other like-minded people and discuss how to make your tiyospaye or communities better WITH what you have. We can’t keep depending on the government to do anything whether it’s tribal council or BIA. When I was a young woman, I worked for my District on the Pine Ridge Reservation and every day a group of old men would meet and do this. Then they would tell me what needed to be done. My job was to find ways to do what they recommended with what we had. We also prayed for miracles and they happened. Right now we need to be doing this again because many really hard times are coming. We have to strengthen our communities now to be prepared for what is coming.

I encourage all of you, however you pray, keep on praying. All we have to do is ask for help and good health and our ancestors will do their best to help us. It might not be how we think it would happen, but the help will come. Always remember to say thank you too. I’m 76 years old and I’ve seen many, many miracles so I know this works.

As for my efforts these past six months, it has been busy.

An International working group of Indigenous nations has come into being. This past winter and spring, we had a series of Zoom calls with the Western Shoshone Defense Project, the Mapuche in the central part of South America, Tonatierra in Phoenix, AZ, who did the Spanish translations, and recently with a representative from the Maori Nation from New Zealand. Our purpose is to discuss similar problems in having our International Treaties enforced at either the UN or the OAS. We planned a meeting for April, 2023, in South America but it was postponed until next March, 2024. This meant forming a delegation, getting passports for everyone, and doing fund raising.

A more recent meeting of the Working Group is being planned for September, 2023, in Phoenix, AZ, to attend the Butterfly Sun Prayer ceremony and to begin discussions particularly on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the changing of Article 36. The book, Indigenous Nations Rights in the Balance will be available at that time in Spanish. We want to discuss why the Declaration in Spanish is different in certain articles from the English. They should both be the same. We need to discuss the betrayal of Indigenous Peoples by the UN and now this new development of different Declarations, particularly with Article 36. With our collective voice, our intention is on getting the word out to all Indigenous nations and what can be done at the UN and OAS levels. With the message in both Spanish and English we can have more influence. If you wish a copy of the book, Indigenous Nations Rights in the Balance, please let me know. We have some extra copies.

On March 14, 2023 a letter was sent to Fabian Salviola, the UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-recurrence. The letter was sent per his request asking for input on the financing of reparations to victims of violations of human rights. The letter is attached.

With the continued war between Russia and Ukraine, and the increasing threats of the use of nuclear bombs, on March 30, 2023, a letter was sent to Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, asking for his influence over the United States and the rest of the nations involved in this conflict. Our prophesies tell of a nuclear bomb exploding in North America and such an action will affect us all. A copy of that letter is attached.

Those of you following the news learned about the great excitement when the Pope also repudiated the Doctrines of Discovery. We have sent him three (3) letters over the years, one even hand-delivered by a young man in Italy, asking him to ‘Revoke’ the Doctrines of Discovery. No response ever came. But “Repudiate” does not do anything except bring good publicity. Attached is an Editorial about this that was printed in many newspapers and online. It’s included to explain what the difference means, and that the Doctrines of Discovery are still in place.

Finally, with the world situation as it is, over two years ago, China was the first to call for the disbanding of the United Nations. The Russia-Ukraine situation has been in front of the UN since 2014 when a peace treaty was signed. Ukraine, with the help of the US, did not keep their word. That is why there is a war in Ukraine. American media is not going to tell the whole story because it will implicate the US. We know how the US is about keeping their word with Treaties. No surprise there. The UN was established following World War II to stop these kinds of things. So now Russia is also calling for the disbanding of the UN.

What does this mean for us? I will keep trying to get our 1868 Treaty enforced through the UN as that is the only organization that the US might agree with as long as they are in place. The US does NOT abide by recommendations from the OAS. However, I’m encouraging all of you to help strengthen your communities as harder times are coming. Our prophesies tell of a Civil War in the United States over food and race. The Climate Crisis could do away with food supplies. I encourage all of you, your families, and friends to prepare for a long, long hard winter.

 

Hope you have a good Summer and Fall.

 

Respectfully submitted by

  

Zumila Wobaga, Itancan Charmaine White Face, Spokesperson

 

Attachments (4) Oceti Sakowin, a Brief History; Letter to Salviola, 3.14.23; Letter to Pope, 3.30.23; Editorial re Repudiate is not Revoke