As a California secessionist, 2007 couldn't have ended on a better note. On December 17th history was made at the U.S. State Department in Washington D.C. when a delegation of Lakota Souix led by the legendary Russell Means, unilaterally withdrew from all agreements and treaties imposed on the Lakotah people by the United States of America.

Well within their rights as a sovereign nation based on the Declaration of Continuing Independence of by the first International Indian Treaty council of 1974, the 1980 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007, this declaration of reclaimed independence was long overdue and completely justified, as the Lakotah have always retained their nation status, a fact supported by the very treaties they have withdrawn from.

With a causation list more compelling the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson at the founding of the United States, the Lakota having decided they can no longer tolerate the mindful malevolence and complete disrespect directed at them by the U.S. Federal government, have split with the United States of mendacity through peaceful means.

Not only did the Lakota serve notice to the U.S. Government, it's delegation also delivered copies of the treaty withdrawal notice to the Bolivian, Chilean, Venezuelan and South African embassies. According to Means, Ireland and East Timor are also "very interested" in the Lakota Declaration of Independence.

Proving once and for all that big media is a tool of big government not a mention could be found in the mainstream media. A press conference was held two days later, still nothing. As I write this, nine days later there has yet to be any coverage of this milestone in North American Diplomacy from CNN, MSNBC, nor The New York Times, nothing. Even a inquiry at the Associated Press website resulted in a mention.

I guess the term "news" is now just a pseudonym for "what we want you to know." Thankfully the Internet is not currently under control of the multinational corporations running the United States Government and news of Lakota secession was able to reach the world. Not only is this news, it is major news, it should not, and will not be swept under the rug.

So why the media silence?

The U.S. Government has yet to comment on this, which is odd if not down right alarming. Having spent a few days contemplating the supporting documents, it is clear to me the Lakota nation has every right to function as an entity completely independent of the U.S. Government and that the U.S. Government must recognize their right to do so under international law.

Again I ask, Why the media silence?

As I start this New Year I do so with a renewed sense of hope and optimism. The idea of restoring freedom is no longer isolated to Iraq. Homegrown, with roots as deep as North American history, the Lakota Independence movement is an example of of what Thomas Jefferson was all about when he put quill to parchment at the beginning of the American independence movement as it sought to separate from the British rule 231 years ago.

2008 will be one for the history books.

Mitakuye Oyasin.