This bundle documents the Republic of Lakotah proposal, announced in December 2007 by activist Russell Means and a small Lakota Freedom Delegation, which declared unilateral withdrawal from United States treaties and asserted restored Lakota sovereignty over a multi-state territory. Proponents characterized this as a treaty "withdrawal" restoring pre-existing sovereignty rather than a secession. The proposal was not recognized by the US government, international bodies, or the elected tribal governments of the reservations it claimed to represent, including Means' own Oglala Sioux Tribe; no significant subsequent activity is documented following Means' death in October 2012.
In December 2007, Russell Means and the Lakota Freedom Delegation announced a unilateral withdrawal from all treaties between the Lakota and the United States government and declared the Republic of Lakotah a sovereign nation, claiming property rights over territory in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana drawn from the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie; proponents framed this as a treaty "withdrawal" restoring pre-existing sovereignty rather than a secession.[1] The proposal was not recognized by the US government or international bodies, and few of the elected leaders of the eight reservations it claimed to represent expressed support; the US Bureau of Indian Affairs characterized it as a publicity stunt.[2] Russell Means died on 22 October 2012, having continued to seek international recognition without success up to his death; no significant subsequent organised activity under the Republic of Lakotah name is documented in the sources reviewed.[3]
Status verified as of
The territory claimed by the Republic of Lakotah proposal remains organized as US federally recognized reservations under their own tribal governments, none of which formally endorsed the proposal, and the proposal itself achieved no US or international recognition. No significant organised activity under the Republic of Lakotah name has been documented since Russell Means' 2012 death.[3]
History
From the December 2007 declaration to Russell Means' 2012 death.
51 words · 1 min read
· Declaration
Russell Means and a small delegation declared a unilateral treaty withdrawal and restored Lakota sovereignty over a multi-state territory.
Significance here: The founding declaration of the Republic of Lakotah proposal.
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
Claim: In December 2007, Russell Means and the Lakota Freedom Delegation (Means, Tegheya Kte/Garry Rowland, Duane "Canupa Gluha Mani" Martin, and Phyllis Young) announced a unilateral withdrawal from all treaties between the Lakota and the United States government and declared the Republic of Lakotah a sovereign nation with claimed property rights over territory in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana, drawing on land acknowledged as Sioux Nation territory in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie; proponents characterized this as a treaty "withdrawal" restoring pre-existing sovereignty rather than a secession from the United States.
Claim: The Republic of Lakotah proposal was not recognized by the United States government or by international bodies, and few of the elected leaders of the eight reservations the proposal claimed to represent expressed support; the US Bureau of Indian Affairs characterized it as a publicity stunt, noting its core members held no formal positions in tribal government.
Claim: Russell Means, the proposal's chief facilitator, died on 22 October 2012, having continued to seek international recognition for the Republic of Lakotah up to his death without achieving it, including from his own Oglala Sioux Tribe; no significant subsequent organised activity under the Republic of Lakotah name is documented in the sources reviewed.