Lakota Independence

Native American tribe who lived here before European colonization

Member of the Sioux ("sew") nation.

Most of their land is in North and South Dakota

Mostly found on the reservations in South Dakota

A reservation is an area of land managed by an official Indian tribe and not the United States government.

This land was considered “reserved” for the Native Americans.

The Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868 created the great Sioux reservation in South Dakota and Nebraska.

In 1874, however, General George A. Custer led an expedition into the Black Hills accompanied by miners who were seeking gold.

 Once gold was found in the Black Hills, miners were soon moving into the Sioux hunting grounds and demanding protection from the United States Army.  

In 2007, Russell Means said he and other members of Lakota tribes have renounced treaties and are withdrawing from the United States.

Lakota tribes have long claimed that the U.S. government stole land guaranteed by treaties -- especially in western South Dakota.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1980 awarded the tribes $122 million as compensation, but the court did not award land.

The Lakota have refused the settlement. (As interest accrues, the unclaimed award is approaching $1 billion.)

The group claims that control by the United States has led to massive unemployment, poverty and disease among the Lakota people.

The group claims that withdrawal from the United States will reverse these problems, and help reestablish the Lakota language and culture.

The group also claims persistent violations by the United States of their treaties with the Lakota.