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[source: NativeNews; Fri, 04 Feb 2000 09:19:2]

From: "Wild Horse" <wild.horse.list@mindspring.com>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2000

Red Cloud Building, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota:

"AS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL TURNS". In what has become a daily soap opera,
the Grass Roots Oglala Lakota Oyate are never surprised by the day-to-day
illegal actions of the Oglala Sioux Tribal (OST) Treasurer and Tribal Council.

In an illegal OST Finance Committee meeting held today, the committee
members voted 8 for, 1 against to reinstate Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs as Tribal
Treasurer. On January 31st, the council suspended Jacobs without pay due to
extreme pressure from the Grass Roots Oyate. Today's reinstatement confirms
what the Grass Roots Oyate already knew; the Council will go to great
lengths to
protect one of their own.

Marvin Amiotte, OST Attorney, resigned from his position at the February 1st
meeting of the OST Council session after the Grass Roots Oyate presented a
resolution to terminate him for gross misconduct and unethical practices.
In a
statement today in the Rapid City Journal, Amiotte stated that he did not
resign,
he merely left the Tribal Council meeting. He claims that he is still the
tribal
attorney.

Meanwhile, a small staff of tribal employees were allowed to enter the Red
Cloud Building today to process payments for critical services. The Grass
Roots
Oyate's purpose for the takeover is to create a better future for the
children and
grandchildren. Thus, they agreed that minimal financial services must
continue
to protect these children. Employees reported to work at approximately 8:00
a.m.
and simply picked up necessary files and informed the grass roots group that
they have made arrangements to work out of another building nearby.

Later in the day, the tribe's contracted C.P.A., John Donham, attempted to
gain
access to the computer system mainframe in the basement of the Red Cloud
Building. Members of the Tokala Society (security) promptly escorted him
out of
the building. Donham has been implicated as a co-conspirator in the
cover-up of
misallocation of federal funds allocated to the Oglala Sioux Nation.

Spokespeople for the Grass Roots Oyate confirmed that they are in contact
with
special agents with the Department of Interior Inspector General's Office.
The
group is demanding that the Inspector General's Office step in and
confiscate all
documentation, computer equipment from the office of the tribal treasurer for
in-depth investigation.

At the beginning of the occupation, Cora Jones, Area Director of the Bureau
of
Indian Affairs stated that her office would pay for a full forensic audit
of the Oglala
Sioux Tribe's financial records. Today, the Grass Roots Oyate gave the BIA
notice
that they are demanding the BIA contract with the audit firm of Coopers &
Lybrand
to perform the five-year audit of all OST governmental fund types and the OST
District Offices. They are further demanding that an audit in accordance
with the
National Indian Gaming Regulatory Act be performed on the Tribe's Prairie
Winds
Casino.

Today marks the 19th day of the peaceful takeover of the Tribe's
administrative
office. The Grass Roots Oyate represents elders, women, men, and children
that believe they have exhausted all remedies to remove the corrupt tribal
treasurer
and members of the tribal council. Their nonviolent approach is working, as
tribal
council members are at odds in their attempts to remove the group "with
deadly
force if necessary". Oglala Sioux Tribe Public Safety has stated repeatedly
that
they have no intention of removing the group and their sacred cannupa
(pipe) and
eagle staffs from the building.

Preparations are being made for a historic meeting planned for Saturday,
February
5th. Representatives of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Fires Council) will be
travelling to
Pine Ridge Agency to support the Grass Roots Oyate. The Oceti Sakowin is
comprised of appointed treaty headsmen from the seven bands of the Great
Sioux
Nation. All are descendants of the original signers of the 1868 Treaty at
Fort
Laramie. Events are scheduled to begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. on
Saturday
at the Red Cloud Building.

For further information, please contact Floyd Hand or Media Coordinator, Dale
Looks Twice at (605) 867-5303.

  As with all my posts concerning the Occupation Peoples please forward to
any and all interested parties in its entirety

Wadv
Wild Horse

Visit and show your support for the Grass Roots Oyate
http://members.tripod.com/GrassRootsOyate
 

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