November 2004, Vancouver Canada Commemorating Anna Mae In the past few years, the memory of Anna Mae Aquash has been minimalized to that of a helpless woman who was murdered because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. In reality, her murder is a part of a bigger picture, a ruthless campaign waged by the US who had uranium development and profits to gain. This resulted in the murder of at least 76 Indians in the districts of Pine Ridge, in the early 1970s. Anna Mae is remembered by her comrades for her kindness, her sweetness, and her fearlessness. Despite her small size, she was physically capable of taking on any man in a fight. She was also knew her guns, was an expert at handling them. Like all the AIM’sters who were active in Pine Ridge, she knew the consequences of taking a stand, and she continued to do so, refusing to bow down and be a good little Indian. She made no compromises, and lived her life fully experiencing what few of us are brave enough to attain. True freedom. [email protected] The Reign of Terror-South Dakota South Dakota in the early 70s A riot followed the police beating of Sarah Bad Heart Bull, the mother of a young man who was murdered by a rich white businessman who had went out to “kill himself an Indian”. AIM first came to South Dakota when against the onslaught of assaults, murdered as this FBI program includes a call was made for outside help get torched houses, and hit and runs, the criminalizing or even outright serious convictions against white men and drive-by shootings. Only years murdering individuals. Also the once responsible for a racially motivated later, did it become clear to Indians powerful and beautiful movement murder that took place in a Nebraska why the FBI reacted so brutally to became riddled with FBI informers, border town. A Lakota man had been the bold assertions Lakotas were and infiltrators. As the violence publicly humiliated and later murdered making in the districts of Pine Ridge. escalated, the paranoia and suspicion by 2 white brothers. Disinterested Unknown at that time, the US had an grew. The FBI put trustworthy AIM law officials didn’t have the time eye on developing uranium mining leaders in situations that made them of day to bother to investigate the on a portion of the sacred Black Hills, look suspicious, which the FBI call death of an Indian. Angry Lakotas and area known as Sheep Mountain. snitch jacketing, or bad jacketing. and AIM members caravanned to the This area has proven to be one of the Soon, it was hard for people to tell the Nebraska border, only miles away richest in uranium deposits in the US. difference between whom they could from Pine Ridge, and confronted the The FBI implemented their trust, and who was working with the law officials. The sight of hundreds of counterintellegence operation in feds. angry Indians, shocked law officials Pine Ridge, in order to weaken and In February 1973, AIM took over a and they immediately caved in to destroy the urban Indian movement, church in Wounded Knee in a 71-day their demands. A year later, a young and to subjugate the traditional occupation. During the occupation, man was murdered by a rich white Lakotas for once and for all. The Indians began to get brutally businessman, who had told people FBI Counterintellegence Program murdered by goons, and in many that he was “gonna go kill himself an (COINTELPRO), targets political Indian”. A riot occurred at the Custer groups that are viewed as a threat to Joe Stuntz Killsright was the only native that was shot in the FBI launched attack against courthouse because police beat the national security. Often these groups an AIM camp in Oglala. To this day he is mother of the victim. The riot lasted are fighting oppression, systemic honoured for his bravery. over an hour, and 2 cop cars were racism, and are attempting to make overturned, and the vacant building things better for their people. This beside the courthouse was torched. program discredits organizations, and Through Dickie Wilson, the corrupt its’ members through media smears. Tribal President of Pine Ridge, the Infiltrators staged many scandals FBI established a paramilitary group that put AIM in a bad light to weaken made up of local boys who called their popularity and wide-support. themselves the Guardians of Oglala COINTELPRO has lethal consequences, Nation (goons). The FBI trained and as any means necessary can be used supplied the goons with bullets, guns to thwart the enemy. This is why and intelligence on AIM. Indians began so many AIM members have been to arm themselves for protection criminalized, imprisoned, or outright The FBI vendetta against AIM “Iʼm Indian all the way, and always will be. Iʼm not going to stop fighting until I die, and I hope Iʼm a good example of a human being and of my tribe” -Anna Mae Aquash cases there were witnesses. Some Leonard Peltier for the murders of murders even occurred with FBI and the 2 FBI agents. The actions of the police standing nearby watching. US government and the FBI on Pine For the FBI, what started out as job Ridge Reservation between 1973- turned into a hateful vendetta after 1976 became known as the “Reign turned to AIM for protection, and had the FBI botched attempted massacre of Terror”. This deadly chapter in put her fears of the FBI in writing. of an AIM camp. This camp had been our history of indigenous resistance When her body was discovered in recently set up to be supportive of began with the 71-day occupation of February of 1976, law officials and the community members who were Wounded Knee, and intensified with FBI agents including David Price experiencing harassment from goons. the FBI launched attack on an AIM investigated the cause of her death. The FBI had intended to wipe out the camp on June 26, 1975 in Oglala, They cut off her hands for “fingerprint camp on the same day that tribal South Dakota. Ultimately, there is no analysis”, and despite the visible bullet president Dickie Wilson illegally signed proof that Leonard Peltier shot and hole in the back of her head, they away the chunk of the Black Hills that killed the FBI agents, and whoever determined her cause of death to be the US coveted. Despite the immense shot them, did so in an act of self- from frostbite. They quickly arranged show of US mercenary strength, and defense. for her to be buried as a Jane Doe. the vast numbers of various armed A second autopsy was ordered by the government officers at this shoot- Wounded Knee Legal Offense Defense out, 2 FBI agents, and only 1 native Anna Mae Aquash Anna Mae Aquash, a Mi’kmaq from Committee, and Anna Mae's family, (Warrior Joe Stuntz Killsright), lost Shebuncadie NS, and a leader within when her identity was revealed by the their lives. An estimated 40 native AIM, had been out of town when the FBI. Her body was re-dug up, and an men, women, and children escaped. shoot-out occurred. Since the FBI independent pathologist discovered a After the shoot-out, in extreme rage, believed that she’d have access to gaping bullet wound in the back of her the FBI drafted a list of people that inside information in regards to the head. It was easy for him to locate and they suspected were present at the shoot-out, she was snitch-jacketed. remove the .32 calibre bullet lodged shoot-out. Immediately, the blame for Anna Mae, a competent organizer, her head. the death of the 2 agents was pinned leader and fighter was placed in many to Bob Robideau, Dino Butler, Leonard situations that made her vulnerable Peltier and Jimmy Eagle, but they to suspicion of working for the feds. were able to escape. Wherever Anna Mae was, big busts Joe Stuntz was almost forgotten, it followed. People would be arrested FBI agents threatend Myrtle Poorbear. took 3 phone calls inquiring about and held in jail for months, while she They told her theyʼd cut off her hands like the exact cause of Joes’ death, and would be released with little trouble. Anna Maesʼ if she didnʼt sign an affidavit demands for a death certificate before In September 1975, FBI agent David implicating Leonard Peltier for murder of law enforcement took the time to Price attempted to force her to sign 2 FBI agents. record his death. No investigation into an affidavit implicating Leonard Peltier his death has ever been pursued. for the murder of the 2 FBI agents. Dino Butler and Bob Robideau were After she refused to cooperate, Price eventually arrested and taken to court promised her she would not live to and tried by an all-white jury. During see the new year. In order to protect their trial, were able to prove that not herself, Anna Mae went underground, one of the recent murders in Pine Ridge and she told many that the FBI had reservation were ever investigated. offered her money and immunity to They were able to bring to light all turn against Leonard, but that she’d the atrocities and conditions existed rather take her kind of freedom, then on the reservation, and they were whatever they offered her. Up until found not guilty by reason of self- her death, it is a proven fact that she defense. In the end, the FBI targeted FBI History of of Hatred A young Leonard Peltier in Vancouver, Canada, where he was eventually extradited to North Dakota.