Pine Ridge
Occupation Peoples
Grass Roots Oyate
January 16, 2000
Until we Win
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Pine Ridge Occupation Peoples Grass Roots Oyate January 16, 2000 Until we Win |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2000 RED CLOUD TRIBAL BUILDING, PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION, SOUTH DAKOTA: On January 18, 2000, at 11:00 a.m. MST, Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents seized tribal financial records for 1998 - 1999. The federal agents were brought in by the Grass Roots Oyate, a group of concerned Oglala Sioux tribal members who took control of the tribal office on Sunday, January 16, 2000. Their sole purpose for this takeover is to protect files that incriminate the Oglala Sioux Tribal Treasurer, Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs and several Oglala Sioux Tribal Council Members. Upon vacating the Red Cloud Tribal Building, FBI Agent-In-Charge William Grode stated that they will be travelling to Allen, South Dakota to the Oglala Sioux Tribal District Office to seize records there. Dozens of concerned community members in the Allen community are guarding the building prohibiting any tribal district elected officials from entering the building to tamper with files. FBI Agent-In-Charge William Grode also informed the Grass Roots Oyate that warrants have been issued and agents are en route to the First National Bank of Gordon in Gordon, Nebraska to seize financial records involving the Oglala Sioux Tribal accounts. First National Bank of Gordon has been the Tribe's primary bank for fourteen years. Agent Grode informed the Grass Roots Oyate in a meeting on January 17, 2000 that a grand jury investigation has been underway for some time. With today's seizure, the agent stated that indictments are sure to follow soon. The Grass Roots Oyate have re-occupied the Tribal Office and will remain there until the Oglala Sioux Tribal Treasurer Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs and several of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council Representatives are removed from office. Tribal Council Representatives have retaliated by putting in a request to U.S. President Bill Clinton and South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow to remove the Grass Roots Oyate from the tribal office using "deadly force if necessary". Several others tribes have phoned in their support of the actions of the Grass Roots Oyate and are considering if they should take similar action on their reservations to deal with widespread political corruption. For further information, please contact Dale Looks Twice or Floyd Hand at (605) 867-5303. As with all my emails concerning the Occupation Peoples please forward to any and all interested parties in its entirety Wadv Wild Horse |