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SwiftBird, SD - "Mitigation, hell! We have been sold out," said Karen Ducheneaux, leader of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe s Oomaka Tokatakiya (Future Generation) Riders.

Ducheneaux s band of young horseback riders will set out on Thursday, April 8th from the east end of Highway 212 Bridge for LaFramboise Island at Pierre, South Dakota to join a growing spiritual encampment of Lakota people. She said both groups are committed to reversing the so-called Mitigation Act that gave federally held Treaty lands along the Missouri River to the State of South Dakota. They are seeking congressional hearings into this matter and repeal of the Act.

According to Ducheneaux, the Act was co-authored in secret meetings by Tribal Chairman, Gregg Bourland, Governor William Janklow and U.S. Senator Tom Daschle. It transferred to South Dakota over 200,000 acres of Sioux Treaty land taken by the United States for the Oahe Reservoir under P.L. 776.

"Our chairman and council were either duped or they were bought off by Janklow and Daschle," said Kyanne Dillabaugh, a young Cheyenne River Hohowoju Lakota who will also be making the ride. Dillabaugh has been spearheading an effort to recall Chairman Bourland and his Vice-Chairman, Louis DuBray for the part they played in the "give away" and other alleged abuses of power and public trust.

The land transfer is a direct violation of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, said Dillabaugh. The treaty reserves to the Lakota Nations all land in South Dakota west of the east bank of the Missouri and requires that three-fourths of all adult male Lakota must give their written consent to any further land cessions. "This treaty has been repeatedly violated by the United States Government, but this is the first time in Lakota history our elected leaders have given their consent to such a violation," she said.

"I am deeply ashamed that only two Lakota tribes have given their names to this criminal piece of legislation and my Tribe is one of them," said Ellen Wright, a Lower Brule Sioux Tribal member. Wright will be coordinating a ride from her Reservation to LaFramboise Island. These riders will also leave on the morning of April 8th , in conjunction with the Cheyenne River Ride.

By making this ride and joining the occupation at LaFramboise Island, the riders hope to show the world and, especially, the Lakota Nation that the true Lakota of Cheyenne River and Lower Brule are opposed to the so-called Mitigation Act, Ducheneaux said. Last year, the Great Sioux Nation Treaty Council attempted to oust Cheyenne River and Lower Brule from their membership. The other member nations also have a valid claim to these lands under the 1868 Treaty.

The two groups will meet outside of Pierre and arrive as one body at the Island encampment on April 9th to stand in solidarity with the peaceful protesters of Oceti akowin (Seven Council Fires). After an all night vigil, activities on Saturday, April 10th will include a prayer to the morning star, feasting and ceremonies. The riders will then join with assembled leaders and medicine men to formulate strategy for achieving their goal of repeal of the Mitigation Act.

Dillabaugh said, "It was on April 10th in 1883 that the United States Government forbade the practice of Sioux customs and religious ceremonies including the Sundance so on this day we will celebrate and reaffirm that we are still Lakota. Despite the war of attrition that the United States has been waging against our people, we have been able to retain our sovereignty, our spirituality and our culture," she said.

Ducheneaux said, "Lakota children hear from their cradleboard the cry The Black Hills are not for sale . When our elders speak of the sacred He Sapa (Black Hills), we understand them to mean more than that. They mean we must never surrender any portion of our mother, the Earth. Our ancestors gave their lives for this land so as we ride we will pray that the legacy we leave for our future generations will be just as honorable.

For more information, about the ride or the camp, you may contact Karen Ducheneaux or Kyanne Dillabaugh at HCR 3 Box 88A, Gettysburg, SD, 57442, (605) 733-2223, E-mail: karendx@sat.net