"the People's Paths!" NAIIP News Path - Small Victories at Seven Fires Camp

Small Victories at Seven Fires Camp

Christian Peacemaker Teams, Chicago IL
the People's Voice ~ Thursday, July 27, 1999

Pierre, SD - Lakota people and CPTers camped at La Framboise Island are celebrating a U.S. House of Representatives vote to repeal Title VI, or the "Mitigation Act" (Repealed by way of HR 2605). The Act, if allowed, would transfer 200,000 acres of land, belonging to the Great Sioux Nation according to Treaties, to just two tribes and the State of South Dakota.
For four months, The Lakota, Native peoples of other nations, and CPTers have been camping on La Framboise Island and praying that the House or Senate would hold oversight hearings on the Act, but a vote to overturn Title VI was more than anyone dared hope for. The action was passed as Section 505 of an energy and water development appropriations bill, HR 2605. The South Dakota representative, John Thune, spoke out against the bill and asked that comments against Section 505 from South Dakota Governor William Janklow be included in the Congressional Record.
Our presence continues and the sacred fire remains burning on the island since the repeal must now pass the House and Senate Joint Committee, where similar versions of bills are "reconciled." Then the bill must pass both the Senate and House again. Opponents of Section 505 may try to have that section removed in the Joint Committee or before the Senate or House vote again. CPT South Dakota will issue an action alert with the names of congresspeople who could be encouraged during the upcoming votes as soon as possible.
To access information on the web regarding the House of Representatives, go to http://www.house.gov
Please continue to pray for justice in this struggle.

**Editors Note: Earlier in the month, a letter dated July 20 was received by the Oglala Sioux Tribe's President, Harold Salway. The letter was signed by Lt. Col. Bryan S. Vulcan, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, extending the permission for the Laframboise Resistance Camp to remain on the island until August 21, 1999. The camp is in the area normally off limits to overnight recreation.

For more information, concerning the Oceti
Sakowin spiritual encampment on LaFramboise
Island near Pierre, South Dakota, contact:

Laframboise Resistance Camp
C/O The South Dakota Peace and Justice Center
P.O. Box 405
Watertown, South Dakota 57201
Phone: (605) 222-1780
Fax: (Attention Robert Quiver) (605) 224-2520
email: Robert Quiver

Contact the Christian Peacemaker Team on the Island.
Phone CPT: 605-222-2999, Vernon Schmidt: 605-747-2269,
Emily Iron Cloud-Koenen: 605-455-2193

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite
and Church of the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings
that supports violence reduction efforts around the world.
Contact: CPT P. O. Box 6508 Chicago, IL 60680
Telephone: 312-455-1199 ~*~ Fax: 312-666-2677
To join CPTnet, our e-mail network, fill out the form found
on our web site. URL: http://www.prairienet.org/cpt/
From: Kathy Kern, Rochester, NY