Pine Ridge Occupation: Background Fri, 4 Feb 2000 02:00:08 -0500 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - Lisa Nakamura wrote: There has been a lot of e-mail traffic concerning the most recent dispute on the Pine Ridge Reservation. As a public service to staff, many of whom have received postings on this issue, we thought it would be useful to understand further what is taking place. Both Eloise Cranke, executive director of the Central Regional Office, and I have spoken to Gerald One Feather for information and guidance on the situation. Eloise has also spoken to Sue Eagle who is staff of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) on the reservation. The information, based on those conversations, is as follows: CURRENT SCENE Since Sunday, January 16, the offices of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in the town of PIne Ridge have been occupied in a sit-in by about 100 protesting tribal members. The protestors are calling for the removal of the current tribal treasurer, an audit of tribal books, and a referendum so that tribal members can decide whether they should continue with the current elected form of tribal government or return instead to the traditional governance based on consensus. The protestors include members of the Grey Eagles, a group of tribal elders, as well as younger Lakota connected with the Tokala Society. The protest has been peaceful. No one has been kept out of the building and KILI, the reservation radio station, has been broadcasting from the building regularly. While the seizure of financial records by the FBI does give pause, this is apparently consistent with the request for an audit. BACKGROUND For a number of months, the president of the tribal council has harshly criticized the tribal treasurer, citing alleged unauthorized expenditures. The battle has become heated with each side digging in their heels. The controversy resulted in charges and counter charges with various supporters and opponents taking an active role. One short term result has been an apparent paralysis of tribal government. WHAT IS TO BE DONE The charges are serious and cannot be minimized. But they do not represent grounds for outside intervention. This is an internal dispute among Lakota people and among various forces on the reservation. Its resolution will need to be done by Lakota people. Reservation staff has said that the dispute will have to "run its course." For the moment, we would suggest that we follow that advice. We will alert the AFSC community if there is a major change in the situation. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-02.04.00-01:59:59-32089