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http://flash.oregonlive.com/cgi-bin/or_nview.pl?/home1/wire/AP/Stream-Parsed/GENERAL/a0860_AM_TribalTakeover

Sioux tribal members end takeover of council chambers
By JOHN MacDONALD
The Associated Press
02/23/00 8:35 PM Eastern

AGENCY VILLAGE, S.D. (AP) -- Members of the Sisseton-
Wahpeton Sioux tribe ended a takeover of the tribal
headquarters Wednesday after the council agreed to suspend
the panel that governs the tribe's casinos.

The demonstrators had barricaded themselves in the council
chambers Tuesday afternoon, demanding an investigation of
alleged tribal corruption.

"This started out as a council meeting," said Paul McCabe,
special agent with the FBI in Minneapolis. "When the council
meeting was adjourned, some people who were in attendance
there asked for the resignation of the council and the
gaming board. They adjourned the council, and then these
people were joined by some armed individuals."

No shots were fired, and several protesters and their
supporters denied they had any weapons.

The protest ended Wednesday afternoon after the tribal
council agreed to a 90-day suspension of the seven-member
panel that governs the tribal casinos.

During that time, the protesters' concerns and complaints
will be studied, said Rosebud Marshall, judicial
representative from the Old Agency District, one of the
tribe's seven districts.

It was the second tribal standoff in the state this year. In
the southwestern corner of South Dakota, the Oglala Sioux
tribal headquarters at Pine Ridge has been occupied by
protesters since Jan. 16 in a stalemate with a faction
representing the tribal treasurer, whom the occupiers accuse
of mismanaging funds.

===

[source: NativeNews; Wed, 23 Feb 2000 23:17:28]

PHOTOS:
http://www.earthskyweb.com/news.htm

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BLOCK TRAFFIC -- As a handful of
Tribal members continued their occupation of TiWakan Tio
Tipi on Wednesday, February 23rd, all roads into Agency
Village remained blocked to Tribal employees and the public.
Tiospa Zina Tribal School, SWST Head Start, and Sisseton
Wahpeton Community College cancelled classes that day.
The standoff began after a late meeting with Tribal Council
on Tuesday evening and ended when Tribal Chairman Andrew
Grey, Sr. met with those occupying the Tribal headquarters
building early Wednesday afternoon. He informed them that
Tribal Council had agreed to their major demand -- that an
investigation be made into management of the Tribe's three
gaming enterprises. The Tribe's Gaming Board has been
suspended pending outcome of that investigation.
 

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 22:58:56 -0500
From: "Charles D. Floro" <earthsky@compuserve.com>
.......
This situation was resolved peacefully. According to sources inside the
Tribal headquarters building those Tribal members (a handful of veterans)
were NOT armed. They occupied the building after a late meeting with Tribal
Council ended Tuesday evening.

The situation was resolved when Chairman Andrew Grey, Sr. met with them
early Wednesday afternoon. He told them Tribal Council had agreed to their
most important demand -- an investigation of management of the Tribe's
gaming enterprises.

More will come from Chairman Grey's office tomorrow (Thursday). Tribal
headquarters should be open as usual:
605 698 3911.

===

[source: NativeNews; Thu, 24 Feb 2000 09:27:00]

Indians, tribal police clash
By LEE WILLIAMS
Argus Leader
published: 2/24/00

AGENCY VILLAGE -- A group of veterans who had seized control of the Sisseton-Wahpeton tribal headquarters ended a daylong standoff Wednesday after the tribal council suspended its gaming board and agreed to scrutinize its casino management.

A group of about 15 veterans, members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Akicitas, or "Warriors," had met with the seven-member tribal council Tuesday to discuss their grievances, which included charges of corruption and mismanagement at the tribe's three casinos. When the council didn't respond to their charges, the veterans took over the building.

Bureau of Indian Affairs police officers from across the state were called to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation Tuesday night, cordoning off the streets and setting up road blocks at the small town's borders.

Angered at what they saw as an intrusion upon their land by federal agents and BIA police, about 100 supporters of the veterans group rallied at the tribal pow-wow grounds Wednesday morning, discussing what action to take.

Tribal Chairman Andrew Grey had ordered schools closed, sent all tribal workers home and ordered the tribe's newspaper and radio station not to report the siege.

"Our people are enslaved. We need to get rid of the gaming board," said Dennis Gill of Agency Village.

"They're getting richer and we're getting poorer."

The protesters think the gaming board, one of four casino management agencies, is unnecessary and costs the tribe too much in salaries.

Tribal officials would not respond publicly to the group's allegations.

After instructing the supporters of the takeover to tie white flags onto their cars, one of the organizers of the march, Lars Williams, said to the crowd, "What do you think we should do next? I think we should seize our property!"

The crowd dispersed as marchers ran to their cars.

They drove to Agency Village, gathered together on the community college grounds and started walking through a heavy fog toward the police lines.

Behind a sacred pipe and eagle staff, the marchers of all ages -- including many elderly people -- closed in on the barricades, chanting and singing louder as the gap between the two sides narrowed.

The police officers manning the outermost perimeter were overwhelmed as the wave of marchers crashed upon their ranks.

Once the throng had passed the outer ring, police there regrouped and sped past the marchers in squad cars, joining other lawmen who were establishing a second line of defense between the marchers and the veterans in the headquarters building.

The second clash was less violent, but the sheer number of marchers again overwhelmed the police.

The once-tight group of supporters had spread out over several blocks.

But, nearing the tribal building, they closed ranks when they heard the veterans inside drumming and singing.

Yet a third confrontation outside the headquarters building was averted when all police except the tribal officers from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation agreed to leave.

"We came without weapons," Gill said to the tribal officers. "I just believed you wouldn't shoot me. That's all I had."

A steady drizzle helped to further defuse the situation as both sides struggled to keep warm against the cold.

No one was injured in the demonstration.

The veterans occupying the building passed documents and made statements through open windows, and the tribal police allowed several elders and relatives to visit the protesters inside.

"We felt this was the only way to get things done," said Dave Flute, the Akicita spokesman, through a window screen.

"The only way we're going to stand down is when everyone is pleased."

After meeting in executive session earlier Wednesday morning, tribal council members drove to Agency Village in the afternoon and met with the veterans. They agreed to a 90-day suspension of the gaming board that governs the tribal casinos and to a study of the protesters' complaints. The veterans left the building shortly after 3 p.m.

Tribal officials said no charges will be filed against the veterans' group.

Reach reporter Lee Williams at 331-2318 or <mailto:lwilliam@argusleader.com>lwilliam@argusleader.com

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Thursdayarticle3.shtml

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