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Red Cloud Building, Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota - On February 24, 2000, the Oglala Sioux Tribal (OST) President Harold Salway suspended 13 tribal councilmen without pay for the following violations:

1. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Council representatives created an over expenditure of their budget effecting the General Fund.
2. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Constitutional violation.

a. By resolution #84-39: The Council will not get involved in day-to-day operation; reaffirm by Ordinance #94-12 states that, "a standing committee is advisory in nature". Making administrative decisions that created disallowable costs place programs in high-risk status.
b. Violation of Oglala Sioux Tribe Constitutional Article IV Salaries

Section 1: "The salaries and expense payments of the councilmen and other officers of the Oglala Sioux Tribe may be paid out of available funds to the Tribe in accordance with the ordinance duly enacted, provided that no Council shall enact any ordinance increasing the salaries or per diem payment of councilmen during their existing term of office".

3. The refusing to abide by Council Action and Oglala Sioux Tribe Ordinance Drug Testing by hair follicle.
4. Tribal Council Representative under HHS Line Item spent dollars that have never been deposited by the Indian Health Service. The General Fund has been used for this line item.
5. Vehicle Maintenance Line Item was taken out of the General Fund dollars.
6. Illegal hiring and firing by Council; violating Ordinance of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Personnel Policy and Procedures.
7. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Council operating without an approved direct cost budget; the Indirect Cost Budget and General Fund Budget, which created no check and balance for expenditure of these funds.
8. The violation of their indirect cost provision for Oglala Sioux Tribal Council Representative.
9. Due to the fact that a budget was not approved for the General Fund, thus placing 22 B.I.A. Program Contracts in "high risk" status.
10. The Council representatives have put a severe financial strain on the Oglala Sioux Tribe's already crippled accounting system, due to over-expenditures.

President Salway also issued a letter to the Tribe's Head Judge reminding him that the suspended council representatives will have no recourse in tribal court. These suspensions are effective "until further determined by other constitutional research and review".

Today, Saturday, February 26, 2000 marks the 42nd day of the Grass Roots Oyate's peaceful takeover of the Tribe's administrative offices. The group represents the "silent majority" of the Oglala Sioux Tribe who have been oppressed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs-sponsored Indian Reorganization Act government that was forced upon the Great Sioux Nation in 1934. The occupiers contend they will remain in the Red Cloud Building until their nine demands are met, among them: the immediate, permanent removal of Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs; a five-year full forensic audit of the all tribal funds; an audit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Land Office; suspension of entire Tribal Council pending a referendum election for their permanent removal.

In other news, the Oglala Sioux Tribe celebrated the anniversary of the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation/liberation today by conducting a four-direction prayer walk into Pine Ridge Agency.

The occupation at Wounded Knee lasted 71 days. Traditional people took a stand against corruption within tribal government. The occupation garnered international attention and brought focus to the "third-world" conditions on Indian reservations. A feast and pow-wow for the anniversary will begin this evening at 6:00 p.m.