[January 26, 1998 Pine Ridge Press Release]

ORDINANCE OF THE OGLALA SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL OF THE OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE PROCLAIMING THE DAY OF FEBRUARY 27, 1973 AS A DAY OF LIBERATION FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN NORTH AMERICA, ACKNOWLEDGING THE WOUNDED KNEE PROTEST AS A HISTORIC AND CULTURAL EVENT WHICH BROUGHT ATTENTION TO INDIAN ISSUES AND INDIAN SOVEREIGNTY THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA.

Whereas, the United States Congress established the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, in 1839 and has recognized the Oglala Sioux Tribal Constitution and By-laws since 1934 (25 U S.C sec.461 et.seq), and

Whereas, the U.S. Supreme Court has continuously ruled that the U.S. Congress holds a Treaty Responsibility over American Indian people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, et.al, and

Whereas, on February 26-27, 1973, Oglala Sioux Tribal members gathered at the historic Calico Hall north of Pine Ridge SO. Thereupon, the Oglala Sioux Civil Rights Organization, in collaboration with the National American Indian Movement and their legal advisers, documented hundreds of Human Rights complaints of Oglala Sioux Tribal members regarding human rights abuses by tribal administrators, and conditions the people were living under, and

Whereas, on February 27, 1973, a group of Indian and non Indian people, led by the American Indian Movement, occupied the hamlet of Wounded Knee in dramatic protest against unequal treatment, deplorable living conditions, treaty violations, human rights violations and the failure of the United States in upholding its fiduciary responsibilities, and

Whereas, the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation/liberation consequently prompted close scrutiny by the world community toward U.S. Indian policy and U.S. treatment of Indigenous peoples in North, South , and Central America, and

Whereas, the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation/liberation became a powerful symbol of the resurgence of American Indian spirituality and pride across the United States, thereby inspiring the academic, religious, social, economic and cultural institutions among American Indian people across the U.S., and

Whereas, the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation/liberation has never been formally recognized by any Indian Reorganization Act Tribal council as a historic or cultural event in American Indian History, now

THEREFOR BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the OGLALA SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL is requested to formally recognize and acknowledge the February 27, 1973 Wounded Knee occupation/liberation by members of the Independent Oglala Nation and the American Indian Movement, as a Oglala Lakota Nation historic and cultural event in Oglala Lakota National history, and

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that, from this day forward, any and all records, documents, memoranda, notices, photos, video footage and audio recordings of the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation/liberation, which are in possession of individuals or institutions, shall be encouraged to be filed and stored at the Oglala Sioux Tribal Archives, located at the central offices of the Oglala Lakota College, Piya wiconi, Kyle, South Dakota, and

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Oglala Sioux Tribe shall proclaim the day of February 27 as a day of Liberation and Human Rights for Lakota people but as well as all Indigenous people in North America and will be held to celebrate yearly this day of Liberation as a tribal holiday.

C E R T I F I C A T I 0 N

I, as undersigned Secretary of the OGLALA SIOUX TRIBAL COUNCIL of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, hereby certify that this resolution was adopted by vote of 15 for; 1 against; and 0 not voting, during a REGULAR SESSION held on this 22nd day of January 1998.

A-T-T-E-S-T:

John Yellowbird Steele
President

THERESA TWO BULLS
Secretary
Oglala Sioux Tribe

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