Pierre, SD -- On September 30, President Clinton signed a bill which
included the repeal of Title VI of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1999,
or the Mitigation Act. A second version of the Mitigation Act, passed in
August, still stands, so Oceti Sakowin campers on La Framboise Island are
digging in for the winter, chopping wood and winterizing tipis and tents.

The Oceti Sakowin camp has been on La Framboise Island since the lighting of
the sacred fire on March 22, in protest of the Mitigation Act. The campers
are determined to remain until the second version, which calls for the
transfer of 92,000 acres of land to the state of South Dakota, is also
repealed.

US citizens who wish to follow up on the issue may contact Senators and
Representatives to thank them for keeping Section 505 in the final
conference version of Public Law 106-60. Remind them that there is a
second version of this legislation, or the Mitigation Act, passed as Title
VI of the Water Development Resources Authorization Act of 2000. This
version also should be repealed or have hearings held on it so that Native
American and other people opposed to the land transfer may register their
concerns.