WHOA. What an idea, that the Lakota Sioux have seceded. Or, rather, are trying to secede.
When I hear the word “secession,” I think of Ashley leaving Scarlett at Rhett’s BBQ. Honestly, it’s the last time the word was bandied about in the common vernacular, and that during a horrifying period piece filmed over thirty years ago. But the simple statement on the Lakota web page (and there’s something else to giggle about — a nation with a Web page. Wait — I guess the U.S. has tons of them. Is there one for the whole nation? Does the White House website count?) takes my breath: They never honored the treaties, that is the reason we are here today.”
It’s so simply stated that it’s painful. It’s bald. It’s a drop of blood on acres of white paper filled with a jumble of meaningless black symbols. It’s the lie.
And what does it mean? That the U.S. map, as we’ve known it, may not always exist, that the shape of the country we know might change. That the Trail of Tears might not just be something people remember with an historical regret, but something that the Cherokee allow to galvanize them. As they consider the reasons for the Lakota bid for separate nation status, maybe California will finally dissolve its relationship with everyone but, say, New York, or the Québécois and the Scots will declare their sovereignty as well. A group of quietly downtrodden people are making a stand, and others are poised to rise. It might change the shape of the world.
Also, it might change a few zip codes. The Lakota Sioux territory originally was comprised of both Dakotas, North and South, parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Nebraska. Tribal lands do not just equal reservations.
What an interesting time, to observe a people trying to make history.
What’s more interesting is that, while this is apparently not necessarily all that legitimate, the discussion around it is anything but free from stereotypes & the same apartheid-think that is at the root of the problem.Having looked into the issues surrounding the indigenous situation in the US, I must say that I’m disappointed that they’re not seceding: it might have given them a measure of hope, and respect, both of which are so lacking in their lives.
What’s more interesting is that, while this is apparently not necessarily all that legitimate, the discussion around it is anything but free from stereotypes & the same apartheid-think that is at the root of the problem.
Having looked into the issues surrounding the indigenous situation in the US, I must say that I’m disappointed that they’re not seceding: it might have given them a measure of hope, and respect, both of which are so lacking in their lives.