Sioux Nation Treaty Council - est 1894

Hello Everyone,

Just a small report and a copy of a Press Release and Declaration that were recently sent out. As I said before, if you want to be included on Zoom meetings, that is an easy way through a computer or smart phone, then send me your email address. I barely learned about Zoom meetings last summer, and they are really easy. If you don’t have a computer, let me know. We’ll try to figure something out. Otherwise, I’ll try to keep you updated through these newsletters. Please share these as you wish.

After nearly forty (40) years of going to the United Nations (UN), and learning all the ways of this exclusive club, finally there is a small light of freedom at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, this is the only way, currently, to get out from under the oppression of the United States (US) and the suppression of our Treaty, the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. 

Starting in 1982, Tony Black Feather and Garfield Grass Rope upon orders from this Treaty Council, after exhausting all remedies in the US, they approached the UN for the enforcement of the Treaty and the recognition of the Title to our Treaty territory. This is what their elders wanted; this is what I was taught since I was a little girl; and these were my orders before Tony went home. When your elders ask you to do something, you do it. So I learned additional ways at the UN that could help us, and being on the list for Decolonization at the UN Decolonization Committee is the safest way for us. So over the years, letters were sent asking to be on their agenda and the list. However, our efforts were consistently ignored.

In addition, we kept going to the Human Rights Council and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination after the debates were finished on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (If you wish a copy of the book, Indigenous Nations Rights in the Balance, let me know.) As I reported years ago, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), the Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, AND the International Court of Justice at the Hague could not help us. Why? It is not in their mandates.

Recently I learned that when the UN was formed seventy-seven years ago, the US through Eleanor Roosevelt stopped ALL Indigenous nations from being able to participate in the Decolonization process...until now. YEAA! On 8 October, 2021, China introduced a Resolution at the Human Rights Council and the majority of the countries, called Member States at the UN, passed Resolution 48/7. Negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights. 

The Resolution is attached and was available at the Dec. meeting in the binders when we started discussing plans for use of the Resolution and it’s continued impact. (Note: If you were unable to attend and wish a binder, please let me know. A donor has assisted with copying and mailing of additional binders.)

A series of Zoom meetings followed leading up to the attached Press Release and Declaration. We are in alliance with the Mapuche nation in South America, one of the largest Indigenous nations with more than one million members, with the Western Shoshone Defense Project, and with Tonatierra out of Arizona. Our thanks go to Tupac Acosta for his translator abilities in Spanish. We are beginning to receive letters of support and solidarity as more and more people learn about this recent event.

Spiritually, all of those countries that voted in favor of ending Colonialism have increased their spiritual growth by helping us and all of the other oppressed Indigenous nations throughout the world. The changing climate will also have an impact on this system of oppression that has affected everyone for more than 500 years. 

As new developments occur, you will continue to be informed. If there is anyone else you know who might want to be on our mailing list, please let me know. Thank you.

Submitted by

Zumila Wobaga – Charmaine White Face, Spokesperson