>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ted McBride
U.S. Attorney
Rapid City, SD

Dear Mr. McBride:

As you are aware, Oglala Sioux Tribal President Harold Salway, acting within his scope of authority in our crisis situation, issued a "Declaration of State of Emergency" for the Pine Ridge Reservation. The legally suspended treasurer Wesley Jacobs did enter the temporary accounting offices in the Billy Mills Hall basement to issue checks to himself and members of the tribal council. Many tribal members entered the office and demanded that he vacate the building immediately. He refused. An order was issued by tribal court Judge Vincent Brewer to remove Mr. Jacobs for his own protection. Robert Ecoffey, BIA Superintendent, interceded and advised OST Public Safety to ignore this order. As a result of all the political manipulation by the "renegade" Oglala Sioux Tribal council and suspended tribal treasurer, Wesley "chuck" Jacobs and interference that has been caused by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent Robert Ecoffey and Area Director, Cora Jones, on Friday, March 10, 2000, we are requesting that you file charges of malfeasance of duties against Robert Ecoffey and Cora Jones for not upholding their trust responsibilities under Article I of the 1898 Fort Laramie Treaty with the U.S. Government.

This request is based on the following facts:

• Robert Ecoffey met with the Head Tribal Judge Patrick Lee and Tribal Treasurer Wesley Jacobs when court cases were pending; this is direct interference with the right of self-governance.
• Robert Ecoffey directly ordered police to leave the scene without authority; this is direct interference with the right of self-governance.
• Robert Ecoffey told police and tribal members that Salway had no right to declare a state of emergency and that his actions were unconstitutional.
• Cora Jones misrepresented the state of affairs in order to keep the federal presence out of Pine Ridge at a time when she was aware of serious fraud and theft of tribal monies by the Tribal Treasurer.

The Grass Roots Oglala Lakota Oyate of the Pine Ridge Reservation are requesting the immediate removal of Robert Ecoffey and Cora Jones and further request an immediate full investigation of their interference with our self-governance process.

Respectfully, 

______________________________          _____________________________
Grass Roots Oglala Lakota Oyate                  Dean Cycon, Esq.

Cc: Kevin Gover-Asst. Secretary of Interior
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno

Phone (605) 867-5303 Fax (605) 867-2115

Home

Site Index

Email Support

CopyRight