Official response to Means

Office of President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Rodney M. Bordeaux, PresidentPresident Rodney Bordeaux of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe stated that he does not agree with Russell Means’ position that the Sioux tribes should withdraw from the 1851 and 1868 treaties. “Our Grandfathers fought and died for these treaties; they are the backbone of Sioux Tribes’ legal relationship with the United States. They protect our remaining lands, our water, our resources, our Rights and our Sovereignty. Without these treaties, the United States Congress and the multi-national corporations that control it will attempt to steal all the remaining treaty lands and sovereignty we have left through their legal institutions,” he said.

Bordeaux commented, “four individuals should not be allowed to fool the world that the so-called “Republic of Lakotah” is a break-away nation that should be recognized as a nation by countries around the world. It probably all comes down to hoodwinking the public into sending them thousands of dollars that the Sioux people will never see; their website says they received a million and a half hits in one week. It's hard telling how much in donations they have received in our name for which they will probably never be held accountable.” Bordeaux said.