100 Protesters Take Over Sioux Tribal Headquarters

Tue., Jan. 18, 2000

About 100 Oglala Sioux who accuse the tribe of financial mismanagement have taken over tribal headquarters and demanded that the governing council step down.

The group, which is allied with tribal President Harold Dean Salway, took control of the tribal building at the Pine Ridge Reservation on Sunday. About 100 people stayed there overnight and said they will remain until they are satisfied authorities will investigate their allegations.

Members of the tribal council voted to have the protesters thrown out of the building. They voted to have tribal law officers enforce tribal laws that ban the spread of false propaganda and actions that interfere with the conduct of council business.

Council members said they expect the tribe’s public safety director to evict the protesters by today.

Members of the unarmed group are calling for an audit and have demanded the immediate resignation of tribal Treasurer Wesley “Chuck” Jacobs and all 17 members of the tribal council. They also have asked the FBI to seize tribal records dealing with law enforcement, housing and other programs.

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100 Protesters Take Over Sioux Tribal Headquarters

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

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