Sioux Tribe Tries To Intimidate Native American Blogger

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Governmental Affairs Committee has attempted to stifle freedom of the press on the Rosebud Reservation by employing legal council to potentially threaten legal sanction against LakotaVoiceblogger Ann-erika White Bird and her associates, who provide news and information concerning tribal government functions and activities, and other reservation news. LakotaVoice has provided information on numerous occasions that has exposed dealings within the tribal government which embarrassed those involved, and contributed to actions taken against them.

On Monday, February 23, in a governmental affairs committee meeting, five committee members voted to have an attorney investigate LakotaVoice.com.

The probe was to request a legal opinion from a Sioux Falls attorney to “see if this blog posted on the Lakota Voice ties the Rosebud Sioux Tribe to this organization (the group Anonymous) politically.”

The committee’s issue was not with the press release itself by Wica Algi on November 14. That release sent nationwide coverage to the Keystone XL pipeline issue utilizing now-suspended Rosebud Tribal President Scott’s statement:

"The House has now signed our death warrants and the death warrants of our children and grandchildren. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe will not allow this pipeline through our lands,” said President Scott of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

“We are outraged at the lack of intergovernmental cooperation. We are a sovereign nation and we are not being treated as such. We will close our reservation borders to Keystone XL. Authorizing Keystone XL is an act of war against our people.”

The probe appears to be due to a follow-up LakotaVoice news article about the cyber hacking group 'Anonymous'.

The group stated in a video that they supported the Lakota tribe in fighting against the KXL pipeline being built on treaty lands. Anonymous included the quote from President Scott. Lakota journalist Joye Braun wrote an article that appeared in Lakota Voice on January 22, titled, “ Anonymous Announces Solidarity with Lakota Sioux in Fight Against Keystone XL”.

LakotaVoice writes for the people under the protection of the Constitution of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Article X – Bill of Rights, Section 1. reads, “ The government of the Tribe including the community shall not: (b). Abridge the freedom of speech, press, expression, conscience, association, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government.”

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