Note: So as to eliminate any possible confusion re the use of the phrases Docket 74-A and Docket 74-B.

Docket 74-A funds refer to monies linked to compensation for land stolen from the entire Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nation.

Docket 74-B funds refer to monies paid to offset the illegal taking of the Paha Sapa (Black Hills).

"The Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and the Fort Peck Sioux Tribe asked legislators to introduce legislation releasing Docket 74-A monies. Draft legislation is now pending with the Department of Interior's Office of Legislation that would provide for the release of Docket 74-A funds for the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska.

"The Fort Peck Sioux Tribe is seeking the release of the award money through separate avenues according to Fort Peck Black Hills Sioux Council Representative Raymond 'Abby' Ogle.

"Other Sioux tribes involved in the land claim have opposed the awarding of Docket 74-A money and were unaware that legislation was pending to get the award money released.

"Representatives from both the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe said they would ask the Flandreau Santee Sioux and the Nebraska Santee Sioux tribes to withdraw their resolutions asking that the award be released.

"'We will certainly take issue with that in council and ask that they withdraw those resolutions,' Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Gregg Bourland said.

"The Oglala Sioux Tribe's Fifth Member Philop Under Baggage said he is now calling meetings with elders and treaty people and will take every step possible to stop the awarding of any Docket 74-A money.

"'I'm doing a cover letter that I'm going to fax out to other Sioux tribes. These smaller tribes, their share is very small, something like 1.27 percent, but the overall picture, historically, is we feel Docket 74-A has not been fully resolved. I will be meeting with treaty people and elders and make them aware of this matter, and we will be taking steps to address this issue', he said.

"Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Chairman Richard 'Chuck' Allen said his tribe needs the money to help tribal members and therefore the tribal government has decided to request the award.

"'Virtually it is not doing the tribe any good. From where we are sitting now, we need the money. The casino is not doing that good, looking at the ones in metropolitan areas, we are not doing as good as they are. We have a lot of expenses here that we have to try to get covered. If you need it, you got to get it. We have programs we have to cover, and we need the money,' Chairman Allen said. 'Right now our tribe is looking at the financial part of it. We would like to have the money here to support our people. Where it is sitting at right now, it is not doing us any good. We need it.'

"Some Nebraska Santee Sioux Tribal members said they are also opposed to asking for the release of the award and said a group of tribal members are taking steps to block the release of the award.

"Patty Running, a Santee tribal member, said she is circulating petitions opposing the acceptance of the award. 'I want to stress that there has been no referundum vote on this. There has been alot of closed door meetings, and only 12 councilmen are making this decision on our behalf. We became aware of it on Jan. 16, and it sounded like the money was so close everyone panicked. We then called a meeting in Sioux City, Iowa, because a majority (of tribal members) live in Sioux City. We have petitions going out asking people to oppose the sale of the Black Hills, and people are hand carrying it to Omaha, Neb., and I want it to go into Indian Country Today that where they (tribal members) are they should send a notarized letter to me opposing the sale of the Black Hills because it means termination. We are also asking that all the Sioux nations get involved to stop this sell-out.' Ms. Running asked that tribal members write to her at RR2, Box 27, Niobrara, NE, 68760.

"Opposition to acceptance of the award does not end there however. Some question whether the tribes asking for release of the award should be included in the Docket 74-A land claim at all.

"After reviewing historical documents relating to the land claim, Mario Gonzalez, an attorney working on the Black Hills land claim, said, 'The Santee Dakota are not entitled to any Docket 74-A monies because they were not parties to the 1851 Treaty and didn't even file a claim for the aboriginal title area.

"'If the Teton Lakota and Yanktonai Dakota want to include the Santee Dakota in Docket 74-A, they can do so,' Mr. Gonzalez continued. 'The confusion was caused by the Lazarus, Sonosky, Payne team who should have separated the Santee Dakota's interests out of Docket 74-A. The tribes on the eight reservations should sit down and resolve these issues. I personally support including the Santee Dakota in Docket 74-A even though I believe they have no legal claim to the 48 million acres in dispute, but they should work with the Teton and Yanktonai tribes to resolve the claim in a fair and honorable manner.'"

-by Avis Little Eagle, Indian Country Today,
Week of Feburary 8, 1996, p. A1 to A2.

The above article was accompanied by the following sidebar explanation:

"Docket 74-A is a 48-million acre claim for 14 million acres of Aboriginal title land east and 34 million acres of recognized title land west of the Missouri River, which, before it was illegally confiscated by the U.S. Government, was known as the Great Sioux Nation.

"In 1970, the Indian Claims Commission awarded $25 million for the lands west of the Missouri River and $20 million for the lands east of the Missouri River. The $45 million was reduced to $40 million based on $5 million in government off-sets allowed by the Indian Claims Commission. The $40-million award ws rejected by the Teton Lakota and Yanktonai Dakota.

"Docket 74-B is an award allowed for the compensation of the illegal taking of the Black Hills in 1877 and is separate from the Docket 74-A.

"Docket 74-A and Docket 74-B monies had reached a total of $356.6 million as of June 1995. The Office of Trust Funds Management in Albuquerque, N.M., will no longer release the award figures saying the office is exempt from releasing that information under the Freedom of Information Act so a total figure for Docket 74-A monies to date could not be calculated."

-by unknown author, Indian Country Today,
Week of Feburary 8, 1996, p. A2.

And my original request for assistance - Dated 96-02-09:

Hau Mitakolapi (hello my friends)!

My elders have made an urgent request of the highest priority, and I am asking you for your assistance. Apparently there is legislation being drafted within the Department of Interior that will release Docket 74a monies to several bands of Dakota and Lakota. These monies were authorized as "payment" to my people for the U.S. Government's theft of the Black Hills from us. We rejected these monies at the time they were offered because we want the Black Hills back, not bribery money to accept their theft. The monies have been left in an interest-bearing account by the U.S. Government since then. Periodically, the U.S. Government tries again to get us to accept this bribe, and apparently this current effort is the latest attempt.

When my elders contacted me last night with this, they indicated that this was a "proposed bill in the Department of Interior". This morning, searching, I have found no bill with the words "Docket 74a" or "Black Hills" in it via Thomas, various Web search engines in their government sections, or in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

I NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP!!!! Can you please help me track this down? We cannot let the U.S. Government succeed in its current attempt just because we cannot find the bill/resolution or whatever it is. I am hoping that some of you are more sophisticated in your knowledge of how to find such information and that your help will result in a copy of this material.

TIME IS CRITICAL. MY ELDERS MUST HAVE THIS INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE STEPS TO STOP THE U.S. GOVERNMENT FROM CLEARING ITS CONSCIENCE FOR THE THEFT BY PAYING US OFF.

Wopilatichelo tanka (a great deal of sacred thanks)!

Mitakuye Oyasin (All Are My Relations)!

Wanbli Sapa

Sign the Petition... Stop Nebraskan Barretts' Attack on the Lakota

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Black Hills White Justice...a reference tome

How Wasichu Justifies The Taking of First Nations Land

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