http://www.petitiononline.com/CrowCrek/petition.html
LG many
To: Bureau of Indian Affairs, President Obama, SD Governor Rounds, SD
Senator Tim Johnson, SD Senator Thune,U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth
Sandlin
On December 3, 2009 the Internal Revenue Service unlawfully auctioned
off 7100 acres located on Crow Creek Sioux Tribal land.
The land is owned by Crow Creek Tribal Farms, Inc. a Tribal
corporation and distinct legal entity from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe.
According to the recent motion for temporary restraining order, filed
by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, the IRS seized and auctioned the land
to recover $3,123,789.73 dollars in unpaid employment taxes. The
document states, Because of erroneous tax advice received from the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe became delinquent
in the payment of employment taxes collected by the IRS beginning in
2003. The BIA had informed the Tribe that, because it was a federally
recognized Tribe, it was not necessary to pay federal employment
taxes.
The Crow Creek Indian Reservation was created by the 1868 Treaty, Act
of April 29, 1868, 15 Stat. '635, and by Section 6, Act of March 2,
1889, 25 Stat. 888.
The Crow Creek Sioux Reservation encompasses Buffalo County and
portions of Hyde and Brule Counties. Crow Creek Sioux Tribe is
consistently documented as one of the poorest Reservations in the
Nation, with 78% of their members living below the poverty line.
This despicable and irreparable action from the IRS, could ultimately
eliminate 20% of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribes Reservation lands.
This action taken by the IRS could ultimately set a precedence,
allowing the continual land grab on Tribal Lands. We must ALL UNITE
and take a stand on this issue, to voice Tribal Lands are NOT for
Sale!
We the undersigned, hereby request the immediate return of the
unlawfully auctioned Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Lands