Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

November 8, 2008

Russell Means: International Disaster Declaration


INTERNATIONAL DISASTER DECLARATION
Contact: David Adams, Director of Communications, Republic of Lakotah
605-867-1025

STATE OF EMERGENCY: Oglala Sioux
Governor Michael Rounds of South Dakota has declared the State a disaster area. However, Indian Reservations are NOT included in the declaration. I, Russell Means, due to the total absence of Tribal Government and its leadership, and as candidate for Tribal President and Chief Facilitator of the Republic of Lakotah, am declaring an INTERNATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY. The reason for this declaration is two-fold:
1) The current life-threatening severe weather conditions and
2) The ongoing genocidal policies of the United States Government that still remain unaddressed:
• Unknown thousands are still stranded by high snow drifts for 3rd straight day.
• Unknown number of people without heat and/or electricity.
• Impassable road conditions preventing emergency services and propane deliveries.
• Confirmed fatality due to inability to get to dialysis treatment. Status of other dialysispatients is unknown.
• Second fatality bled to death due to no emergency services.
• Tribal President Steele and Vice President Brewerʼs whereabouts unknown as reported by Officers of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (B.I.A.).
• Officers rescue mother with new born and 2-year old child from heatless home.
• Tribal Police dispatch unable to determine road conditions.
• Wide-spread telephone service interruptions.
• Hardest hit is the eastern portion of the Reservation, which includes Pass Creek, Eagle Nest and Medicine Root Districts. Also Red Shirt Table, Cuny Table, Slim Buttes,Oglala and Porcupine communities.
• Unconfirmed reports of National Guard due to arrive today
Genocidal Results of the Failed American Indian Policies of the United States Government:
MORTALITY:
• Lakotah men have a life expectancy of less than 44 years, lowest of any country in the World (excluding AIDS) including Haiti.
• Lakotah death rate is the highest in the United States.
• The Lakotah infant mortality rate is 300% more than the U.S. Average.
• One out of every four Lakotah children born are fostered or adopted out to non-Indian homes.• Diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, etc. are present. Cancer is now at epidemic proportions!
• Teenage suicide rate is 150% higher than the U.S national average for this group.
POVERTY:
• Median income is approximately $2,600 to $3,500 per year.
• 97% of our Lakotah people live below the poverty line.
• Many families cannot afford heating oil, wood or propane and many residents use ovens to heat their homes.
UNEMPLOYMENT:
• Unemployment rates on our reservations are 80% or higher.
• Government funding for job creation is lost through cronyism and corruption.HOUSING:• Elderly die each winter from hypothermia (freezing).
• 1/3 of the homes lack basic clean water and sewage while 40% lack electricity.
• 60% of Reservation families have no telephone.• 60% of housing is infected with potentially fatal black molds.
• There is an estimated average of 17 people living in each family home (may only have two to three rooms). Some homes, built for 6 to 8 people, have up to 30 peopleliving in them.DRUGS AND ALCOHOL:
• More than half the Reservationʼs adults battle addiction and disease.
• Alcoholism affects 9 in 10 families.
• Two known meth-amphetamine labs allowed to continue operation. Why?
DISEASE:
• The Tuberculosis rate on Lakotah reservations is approx. 800% higher than the U.S national average.
• Cervical cancer is 500% higher than the U.S national average.
• The rate of diabetes is 800% higher than the U.S national average.
• Federal Commodity Food Program provides high sugar foods that kill Native people through diabetes and heart disease.INCARCERATION:
• Indian children incarceration rate 40% higher than whites.
• In South Dakota, 21 percent of state prisoners are American Indians, yet they only make up 2% of the population.
• Indians have the second largest state prison incarceration rate in the nation.
• Most Indians live on federal reservations. Less than 2% of Indians live where the state has jurisdiction!
THREATENED CULTURE:
• Only 14% of the Lakotah population can speak the Lakotah language.
• The language is not being shared inter-generationally. Today, the average age of a fluent Lakotah speaker is 65 years.
• Our Lakotah language is an Endangered Language, on the verge of extinction.
• Our Lakotah language is not allowed to be taught in the U.S. Government schools.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

No, Govt' aid for the Rosebud or the other Ressies?" The Tribal leadership needs to be visible and go to The Governer and seek the aid. Russell shouldn't have to do this alone. More attention should be brought to bear about this reservation and it's peoples. Try posting on www.rense.com , They have a wide readership. Also anyone who can help should go and help like in Hurricane Katrine or hurrcan Ike. Just some ideas from a foolish whiteboy.

Andy, Mr. Know nothing White boy

Anonymous said...

Given that the Lakotah in their internment camps are NOT citizens, the United States operates as an "occupying power" in Lakotah territory, and as such does have some basic obligations as per the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of occupied civilian populations. But the United States has always executed a policy of genocide to the Lakotah, so this latest abandonment of what is the most vulnerable population in the United States "dominion" of South Dakota does not surprise me. It also is a powerful reminder of why sovereignty remains the only effective way forward for the Lakotah.

Anonymous said...

The government should provide livelihood programs or jobs to the people, in order for them to turn away from drugs and alcohol abuse. Jobs can make their mind preoccupied with things, and will let them be productive to the society.

Anonymous said...

The state government handling the current situation of Lakotah should immediately act on the needs of its residents. They should provide livelihood programs in which the residents can benefit. It also provides a way for the residents to occupy their minds with jobs, and things to do that makes them forget about alcoholism and drug addiction.