Lakota Nation withdrawal from treaties with United States called "dangerous"
Dangerous withdrawal
By JOSEPH QUESNEL - December 29, 2007
The American Lakota illustrate what is wrong with indigenous politics.
Rather than seek meaningful change from within community, the unfortunate tendency is to look to radical solutions which do not address real issues.
Last week, activists within the Lakota Sioux community announced their intention to "declare independence from the United States."
A delegation of Lakota community leaders delivered a formal renunciation of American citizenship to the State Department and stated they are withdrawing from every treaty they ever entered into with the American government. They apparently have also started approaching foreign embassies to support their unilateral action.
No strangers to activism, the Lakota produced some of the boldest American Indian leaders, like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Lakota traditional territory includes parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming.
Lakota activists have also called upon other aboriginal communities seeking their support or, it is hoped, their own declaration of independence in solidarity.
Besides being potentially dangerous, as the United States has less patience for these shenanigans, the move is incredibly misguided.
"In the face of the colonial apartheid conditions imposed on Lakota people, the withdrawal from the U.S. Treaties is necessary," reads the website of the breakaway Lakotas.
The group then proceeds to name off several conditions justifying secession. Among them are high mortality rates among Lakota, skyrocketing drug and alcohol abuse, high rates of incarceration, disturbing disease rates, shameful poverty, low rates of housing, high unemployment, and, finally, threatened culture.
These are all serious issues that need to be addressed. The problem is sovereignty is not the answer and the American government is not responsible for many of the problems, although colonialism likely created the conditions. In fact, separation may exacerbate them. Just as in Canada, a sudden withdrawal of federal assistance to indigenous communities would make many social problems worse.
These problems are socio-economic and result from damaged communities. Looking to political solutions is like someone telling you they are starving and you offer to restructure federalism for them as a solution.
The answer is to address systemic and cultural issues that create these conditions. Promoting self-sufficiency is the first step. Many of the problems besetting aboriginal communities on both sides of the border are related to structural barriers to wealth creation. Once individuals are empowered, they can bring respect and dignity back to their families and communities. This will involve indigenous leaders adopting a tough love approach towards community members.
One way government can act as a solution rather than a problem is to get out of the way as indigenous people find their own solutions. If they want to restore indigenous forms of governance or promote their language and culture as a way to bring back respect within community, they can as that is their choice.
Attempting to withdraw from the American polity is dangerous as it cuts individual Lakota off from basic protections, like rights gained through the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Rather than opening their guns on the American government, the Lakota Nation should declare war on poverty and social problems within their communities.