Lakota Sioux Secede from US
In more “freak you out about the stability of your nation” news, it seems that the Lakota Sioux are fed up enough with being ignored that they are seceding from the Union and have sent ambassadors abroad to gain recognition as an independent nation. Why are they doing this? Apparently their infant mortality rate is five times higher than the rest of the States, their male life expectancy is 44 years old (lowest in the world), they have an 85% unemployment rate, their teen suicide rates are 150% higher than US average, and 98% of them live below the poverty rate. So in essence, they have nothing to lose by doing so.
Reportedly, Bolivia is taking the news very seriously and plans to recognize the new nation.
Coverage is sparse online, I am reporting from radio news.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Damn. I was going to post this! I found this map if anyone is interested in seeing where the Lakota Nation is located. That’s a large chunk of land…
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:08 am
As someone who thinks seccession is a great idea (if you can manage self-sustenance) I wish them the best of luck.
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 pm
The Six Nations (Iroquois) did this years ago. Other than their own passports not much has changed for them. They still suffer from crushing poverty and higher mortality rates than the rest of the North American nations.
I think you will find if you really do research that those statistics carry over to most Tribal homelands. I lived near Four Corners for a while and the Navajo Nation has very similar problems. It doesn’t seem that belonging to or secession from the US makes much difference.