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Phil Konstantin's February 2008 Newsletter - Part 2
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Phil Konstantin
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Feb 11, 2008 12:05 PST
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Start of Phil Konstantin's February 2008 Newsletter - Part 2
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Greetings,
Here is the rest of this month's newsletter. I told you
there would be much more!
You will notice several items below which include e-mail
address. One of the quirks of this mass e-mail program is
that it tends to blank out some of the letters in an
e-mail address. So, to counteract this, I have put spaces
on either side of the @ in the e-mail address. So, if you
want to contact one the addresses you see in this
newsletter, just copy the entire address and delete the
spaces before and after the @ sign.
Phil
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Online questions from people who have visited my website:
If you can answer their question, please contact them directly.
Lulu Richards lulunyc @ gmail.com wrote:
Hi
I was looking at your website and found it very interesting.
I wonder if you could point me in the right direction. Im
looking for information on Silver Cloud. All I know he
was from the Navajo tribe.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Lulu :)
############
Officer Phil,
I am of American Heritage of the Apache Nation of the
Cherica tribe. However I do not have a number. My
Grandmother (Father's Mother) is of Creole decent and
I have always been told by my Father of my Indian Heritage
and well as the Black,French,English, & Irish. I am so
lost. Wrote to Indian Affairs in Washington D.C. I
NEVER heard anything back from them. Living here in
National City everyone assumes I'm Mexican and I have
to correct them to which they get angry.
Where else can I search and what do I would like to
prove my Heritage. When you look at my children the
Indian shows through. I was not raised as an Indian. My
mother would NOT allow it. She hated the thought that my
father was also black and Indian something she didn't
know until she met my Grandmother AFTER her and my father
were married. She despised that I came out the color I am
and showed it through abuse. I was born in 1954 so there
were no child protective services around then. My other
siblings came out with white skin but than they my
father's children either as my mother lead my Father to
believe(That's another story that doesn't pertain to me)
Have been searching for so long to find my heritage of
American Indian background. I too a proud of who I am
and proud that I am a TRUE AMERICAN.
Thank You for anything you may be able to help me with
Suzette
Redbonepalmer @ sbcglobal.net
################
can you please tell me what this name or word means and
what language it may of came from. it may be spelled many ways.
Mekompoa, mehompoa, nekompoa, nehompoa.
~~*laura*~~
Lovleyjadedmoon @ sbcglobal.net
#################
hey y'all
my storyteller/historian friend john paeno over here on
"the islands" has put this really cool theatrical piece about
the calusa indians. i've been asked to do the flute music &
dance component (which will be a blast.)
http://www.calusaghosttours.com/
i'm searching for dances particular to tribes here in s.
fl., as my penobscot indian friend in maine suggests looking
for regional rather than just calusa dance since even the
calusa experts aren't able to find strictly calusa dance info.
(the calusa were wiped out so long ago)
so do any of y'all have any info re: s. fl tribal dance?
also- we'll be writing for a grant to get my penobscot
indian friend down here so we can teach a penobscot dance
arama. (their dances are really fun!)
any particular fl grants (or other grants) y'all think may
make sense.
dziekyju!
Annie Wenz
http://www.anniewenz.com
http://www.musicforyoga.org
http://www.musicformassage.org
http://www.myspace.com/anniewenz
Performing Artist/ Songpoet/ RN/ Educator
Player of Indigenous Flutes & Percussion
Guitar, Piano & Harleys
#########
Hello,
I write you because i have a very short poem (4 sentences),
already translated in more of 130 languages... even
hieroglyphs and maya by researchers and in some amerindians
languages, cherokee, sioux, mahican etc... i also have
cheyenne but its perhaps cree
http://pouemes.free.fr/poesie/poem-translations.htm
I should be very happy to get new amerindians translations
i hope my short poem could give you some emotions and that
you would help me to found new amerindian translations
waiting for your news
thanks from france
jean-yves
Pouemes @ free.fr
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Music video:
Redbone - Come & Get You Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej9CxuAWRps&feature=user
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From Josef Graf:
The following article is available for media. Those operating
on a limited budget have full permission to print/post this
and other articles on the Earth Vision site. Also, a link to
the EV site would be very helpful. For all others, a donation
is requested to support the EV project (go to site - click on
"contact" and proceed to donate):
The Earth Vision project has posted the winter environmental
issue, which can be viewed here (also available as an
attachment on this email):
The Return of Bison and Wolf - instigating North America's
eco-renassaince
http://www.evbooks.net/earth_vision_024.htm
The Return of Bison and Wolf is a visionary call for the
re-mapping of Great Plains¢ ecology. In response to
environmental degradation of the region, Earth Vision
promotes a progressive replacement for the debased cattle
industry, in tandem with a seed-point strategy for the
eco-renaissance of North America.
Other environmental issues can be accessed here:
Current Environmental Issues of the Earth Vision project
http://www.evbooks.net/earth_vision_022.htm
Issues include:
The disappearing honeybee situation,
Why the Bees are Dying - and how to bring them back
http://www.evbooks.net/earth_vision_021.htm
wherein, contrary to the numerous reports in print thus
far, which fail to arrive at the cause, Earth Vision manages
to address the root of the issue.
And the End of Real Estate - and what can take its place
http://www.evbooks.net/earth_vision_023.htm
Lastly, a media page leads to several other articles of
merit:
Media Page for Earth Vision
http://www.evbooks.net/earth_vision_016.htm
Best regards to all supporters of nature and the EV project,
Josef Graf
nature in the light of spiritual ecology
EARTH VISION
www.evsite.net
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Notices:
As usual, this is posted FYI only. I do not necessarily
support these events or causes.
Use your own judgment before your do anything.
----------------------
Drum Making Workshop
March 1-2 9:30 am Saturday-11 am Sunday
By Yolanda Martinez, Apache Master Drum Maker
Yolanda is an Apache/Hispanic Indian from southern New
Mexico. She has been making drums since 1987 and is considered
to be a Master Drum Maker. She also leads Drumming Circles,
Women Moon Lodge Circles and Spiritual Gatherings. Yolanda
is a NAMMY Winner, a Singer, Performer, and Recording Artist.
She has seven recordings to date.
www.yolandasdrums.com
DRUM SIZE DRUM PRICE
14” $155.00
16” $175.00
18” $195.00
The price of the drum includes your hide, hoop, sinew,
leather and beater WORKSHOP MINIMUM IS 10 AND MAXIMUM IS 20 PARTICIPANTS
Workshop Participation Cost is $130 Plus the
Price of Your Custom Drum Kit
Contact: Pam Tinker, phone/fax 703-768-0441
Workshop includes dormitory style accommodations or tent
camping, All meals and refreshments, hot tub, and evening
fireside gathering.
----------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: For more information:
January 4, 2008 Paula Arevalo
Parevalo @ kauffmaninc.com
(866) 259-0060
CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2008 NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT ARTIST
COMPETITION
Annual event sponsored by the Office of Indian Education
adds new category for writers Entries for the fourth annual
Native American Student Artist Competition, sponsored by the
Office of Indian Education (OIE) of the U.S. Department of
Education, will be accepted online at
www.indianeducation.org/sac through March 14, 2008.
The competition celebrates the values and documents the
successes of education in Indian communities and is open to
American Indian and Alaska Native students in grades Pre-K
through 12. Through this competition, OIE seeks to inspire
students to explore the connection between education and Native
culture. The 2008 competition for the first time will
include a personal narrative category for writers from
grades six through 12.
Entries for the 2008 Native American Student Artist
Competition should relate to the theme Circle of Empowerment: Education,
Language, Culture, Tradition and reflect the
promise and importance of pursuing an education for Native
youth. Submissions will be judged in six grade levels, and
prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place
winners in each category.
Additional information, rules and entry forms are available
at www.indianeducation.org/sac or by contacting competition coordinator
Paula Arevalo at parevalo @ kauffmaninc.com or
(866) 259-0060.
In the 2007 competition, Education: A Gift Without Boundaries,
a total of 1,379 students from 34 states submitted works in a
variety of media that demonstrated the value of culture, the
arts and academic achievement to Native youth. The winning
works were exhibited in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department
of Education headquarters, the Smithsonian’s National Museum
of the American Indian and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
headquarters. The 2007 exhibit is now traveling to the Chicago
Children's Museum (Dec. 10, 2007 – Jan. 18, 2008); Trickster
Gallery, American Indian Center, Schaumburg, Ill. (Jan. 21,
2008 – Feb. 26, 2008); Ancient Trader's Gallery, Minneapolis,
Minn. (March 3, 2008 – April 4, 2008); Indian Pueblo Cultural
Center, Albuquerque, N.M. (April 14, 2008 – May 14, 2008);
and Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City, Okla. (June 1 –
30, 2008).
----------------------
The class is free through April 30, 2008
“Working Effectively With Tribal Governments” Training
Program Available
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Working Effectively With Tribal Governments,
a new online training course, is now available to provide
federal workers with better understanding and greater knowledge
of the intricacies and issues involved in working effectively
with Indian tribes. In recent years, the federal government
has put a great deal of emphasis on the importance of public
employees understanding the government to government
relationship that exists with Indian tribes. The training
course provides insights into the legal, historic, and cultural factors
that must be understood in order to create successful collaborative
undertakings among tribes and federal agencies.
The training course was created by an interagency group that prominently
included Monique Fordham, program specialist in
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s (ACHP)
Native American Program.
Other agencies principally involved in the Federal Employee/
Workforce Native Education and Training group development
of the training were the Environmental Protection Agency and
the Department of Justice. Other partners in the effort
included the departments of the Interior, Housing and Urban Development,
Health and Human Services, Energy, Agriculture
(Forest Service), Commerce (Small Business Administration),
and the General Services Administration.
“It was great that the ACHP was able to play a primary role
to create this unprecedented training program,” Fordham said.
“There was no single source available to federal employees for
this essential information.
Before this was created the information had to be found and
assembled piecemeal from other sources, and most people don’t
have the background or the time that allowed them to do that completely
and effectively.”
The training course takes about an hour to complete online
and will be offered free to federal employees and the public
through April 30, 2008. After that date, there will be a cost
to take the training. Visit www.GoLearn.gov. GoLearn is a site
administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which provided
technical assistance and program development oversight
for the course.
The training course was unveiled at a January 31, 2008 event
in the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that was opened
by Joe Garcia, president of the National Congress of American
Indians, and Carl Artman, Assistant Secretary of Indian
Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Also participating
in the session were Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne; Deputy
Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental
Affairs Janet Creighton; ACHP Chairman John L. Nau, III;
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Steve Johnson;
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Deputy Administrator
Jovita Carranza; Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffry L.
Sedgwick; and, William Largent of SBA, who is the narrator
of the training module and who demonstrated it at the
National Press Club unveiling.
----------------------
Annual Patty Iron Cloud National Native American Youth
Initiative
KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED - PLEASE PASS ALONG.
The Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) is now
accepting applications for the 11th Annual Patty Iron Cloud
National Native American Youth Initiative which will be held
in Washington D.C. , June 21 - 29, 2008.
American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) high school students,
ages 16- 18, who have an interest in the health careers and/or
biomedical research are encouraged to apply. The NNAYI
scholarship pays for travel, lodging, and most meals during
the program. NNAYI's curriculum is strategically designed to
prepare students for admission to college and professional
schools, as well as for careers in health and biomedical
research.
To accompany the students, AAIP is accepting applications for
counselors, age 21 and older, to serve as role models during
the nine-day program. AI/AN college students and health
professionals are encouraged to apply.
Feel free to share this information with other interested
parties. Deadline for student application is April 18, 2008
and for counselor application is March 21, 2008.
Please visit the NNAYI website:
http://www.aaip.org/programs/nnayi/nnayi.htm
to obtain detail information and to access the on-line application.
Keirsten C. Hale, Outreach Educator, Four Tribes Women's
Wellness Coalition
841 Central Avenue Horton, KS 66439
(785) 486-2996
Carla J. S. Messinger
Director
Native American Heritage Programs
V: 610.434.6819 F: 610.434.7285
E: palenape @ enter.net W: www.lenapeprograms.info
1819 1/2 Linden Street Allentown PA 18103-5635 USA
Native American Heritage Programs is recognized by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Woman/Minority Business
& Certified by the Delaware Office of Minority & Women
Business Enterprise
+++
Fwd: two summer internships open for both grad and undergrad
students; CBO internship for grad students only.
Securities and Exchange Commission summer positions for students
Summer Honors College and Summer Honors Business Program
applications have opened. Below you will find the information
posted on our student
employment web-site at http://www.sec.gov/jobs/jobs_students.shtml.
Please share this with interested students and school contacts.
Summer Honors College Program <http://www.sec.gov/jobs/shcp.pdf>
The Securities and Exchange Commission's Summer Honors College Program
introduces undergraduate students pursuing degrees in such areas as
accounting, economics, finance, human resource management and
information technology/information security, among others, to the
regulation of the securities markets and the work of the Commission.
Students have the opportunity to work for ten weeks during the summer at
the Commission's Washington, DC headquarters or in one of its 11
regional offices nationwide.
The application for the Summer Honors College Program is now open.
Applications will be accepted online via the following link:
http://www.avuedigitalservices.com/sec-sp/applicant.html
<http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/goodbye.cgi?www.avuedigitalservices.com/sec-
sp/applicant.html> . Applications must be submitted via this link by
11:59 pm on March 17, 2008. Please note that applications may not be
sent to the Commission via US Mail, as in previous years, and that
selections are made on a rolling basis. Early submission of materials is
encouraged.
Summer Honors Business Program <http://www.sec.gov/jobs/shbp.pdf>
The Securities and Exchange Commission's Summer Honors Business Program
introduces students pursuing MBAs and other graduate degrees in such
areas as accounting, economics, finance, human resource management and
information technology/information security, among others, to the
regulation of the securities markets and the work of the Commission.
Students have the opportunity to work for ten weeks during the summer at
the Commission's Washington, DC headquarters or in one of its 11
regional offices nationwide.
**********************************************************************
Congressional Budget Office Internships for graduate students CBO
provides the Congress with the objective, timely, and nonpartisan
analyses needed for economic and budgetary decisions. Interns
contribute to CBO s work in program areas such as budget and tax policy,
health care, national defense, the environment, education, retirement
and other income assistance, regulation, and public investment.
Summer internships typically last for 10 weeks and include compensation
based on academic level and work experience.
Ideal candidates are pursuing graduate academic programs in:
Economics
Public policy/Administration
Health policy
Financial management
Mathematics
Statistics
Physics
Engineering
Because the internship are project based, current college junior and
seniors are also eligible to apply in the event that CBO offers projects
based to their skill and experience level.
Information about the internship and the application procedure is
available on CBO's Web site, www.cbo.gov/employment/intern.cfm. The
application period for the 2008 Summer Internship Program is December
17, 2007 through March 3, 2008. Students provide general information
and submit their cover letter, resumes, references, and unofficial
transcripts or course information online. Students who register at
www.cbo.gov/vas_index.cfm will get an e-mail notifying them when CBO
begins accepting applications in future years and when we post new jobs.
Selections will be based on academic achievement, the relevance of
academic work to CBO's responsibilities, and work experience and should
be completed by April 4, 2008.
www.cbo.gov jobs @ cbo.gov
+++
Subject: Free Tuition Program for Low-Income Families at Harvard
University
know who wants to attend HARVARD?
FYI Folks!
Subject: Harvard University
Harvard University announced over the weekend that from now on
undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In
making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said,
'When only 10 percent of the students in Elite higher education come
from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing
enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to
the lower half of the income distribution.'
If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor
student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to
pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from
now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard
for free...no tuition and no student loans!
To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making
less than $60,000 a year visit Harvard's financial aid website at:
http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/
or call the school's financial aid office at
(617) 495-1581 .
---------------------
Call for Submissions
"The Next Seven Generations"
We are seeking submissions for the 2008 Children of Many
Colors Powwow program. The topic is what does the future
hold for our next seven generations?
What do you see for the future of Indian people? What do you
see for the future of our Earth? What are you doing about it?
Last year's powwow program was very well received with the
short stories collectively known as "Why We Sing, Why We Dance".
We would like this year's program to include a broad spectrum of people,
view points, ideas, and inspiration.
Details
Your submission will be considered for inclusion in our
annual powwow program. If there are more submissions than we
can fit in the program, we may publish a book. If your
submission is chosen for the program, you will receive a copy
of the program. If we create a book, it will be available for
purchase online at Lulu.com; as a small non profit group, we regretfully
cannot afford to give free copies of the book to
everyone who participates.
Submissions should be two pages or less. Longer submissions
will be considered, particularly from people involved in the
preservation of indigenous cultures and our planet. Photographs
of the author are welcome. Jpeg images and word documents sent
via email are preferred; we will accept typed and written
submissions as well. We will make every effort to return
photographs or stories that are sent through the mail,
although we cannot guarantee their return.
For the powwow program, we generally alter photographs into
black and white line drawings. If we publish a book, we will
have the option of using color or black and white images.
Sending an image or written submission implies your consent
that Redbird uses the image or written submission.
Submissions may be edited for grammar, spelling and length
only. It is our intention to represent the Native American
community with its own voice and through its own people. Any
editing will be for the purpose of improving the clarity of
the submission, and not to alter its ideas or content.
This is an open call for submissions. We are not putting any
restrictions on who may respond. We would like to hear from
members of the Native American community across the western
hemisphere. If you have a tribal affiliation, please state it.
If you are of multi-ethnic heritage, don't be afraid to say so.
If you wish for people to be able to contact you, please
include public contact information.
If you are doing something about the future of the planet
and indigenous people, please, tell us about it. What do you
envision for the generations to come? What struggles and
triumphs do you foresee? How will we keep our cultures alive?
What is your role in doing so?
We would very much like to hear from leaders, decision makers,
and tribal council persons. We would love to hear from children
and elders. We are equally interested in the thoughts and
visions of the rest of the community.
Climate specialists, biologists and others working in the
earth sciences are also welcome to contribute. We would like
to create a work that offers inspiration and encourages
responsible activism to a wide audience. While Redbird is a
Native American and environmental organization, our readership
will be people from all ethnic backgrounds and all walks of life.
Deadline
Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2008. Please consider
responding before the deadline, so we will have time to read
and review all submissions, and design a powwow program that
is both attractive and informative.
(In order to receive a copy of the powwow program, please
include your mailing address with your submission. We will
notify you after June 1 if your submission is used in the
program, or in a book format. Last year we were able to use
all but two submissions on the topic "Why We Sing, Why We
Dance". As long as your submission is relevant to the topic,
and suitable for a general audience, including youth, your
chances of inclusion are good.)
Where to Send Submissions
By Email: redbirds_vision @ hotmail.com (for email
submissions, word
documents and jpeg images)
By Mail: Redbird, P.O. Box 702, Simi Valley, CA 93062
What is Redbird?
Redbird is a 501(c)(3) non profit association based in
southern California. We are focused on Native American cultural
awareness and environmental activism, as well as meeting the
needs of disadvantaged families and individuals. The Children
of Many Colors Powwow is our signature event. We welcome you
to visit our website at www.RedbirdsVision. org to learn more
about our mission, our history, and our vision for the future.
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Online News:
DNA evidence prompts new hypothesis about early migrations
to America.
http://www.las.uiuc.edu/news/2008Spring/08jan_migration.html
Nevada reservations make history
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416541
Canal signage gives passers-by history
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/107748
Rampant weeds ruining the Aztec Ruins
http://www.daily-times.com/ci_8105263
Traveling treasures: American Indian objects embark on
2-year tour
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695247756,00.html
My view: Protect sensitive sites from degradation, pollution
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorthernNM/My_View_Protect_sensitive_sites_from_degradation__pollution
National parks robbed of heritage
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-23-looting_N.htm?csp=34
Following the Trails of our Bylas Apache ancestors
http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2008/01/16/local_news/doc478d49c706187152689555.txt
Civic Center excavations: Board clears way for city to rebury artifacts
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/civic_center_excavations_Board_clears_way_for_city__to_rebury__
Drying of the West
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2008-02/drying-west/kunzig-text.html
UC Berkeley's bones of contention - Native Americans say
Hearst Museum violates a law on returning ancient remains.
Officials say finding rightful recipients isn't easy.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bones13jan13,1,1281929.story
A Native American applauds the tollway decision
http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-parsons9feb09,1,3009189.column
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Humor, and interesting things not related to American Indians
###########
From Ed Clark:
The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher
I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two
kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I
saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.
When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a
few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness
and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet
turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff
like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or
limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and
talk about it, they're welcome.
Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very
outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of
the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.
She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby
brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'
'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and
then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there.
He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'
She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm
trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me.
The kids are watching her in amazement.
'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and
going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back
and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour,
'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk
and groaning.)
'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she
doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They
got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies
down with her back against the wall.)
'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in
there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled
all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs
spread with her little hands miming water flowing away.
It was too much!)
'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe,
breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten.
Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered
in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-
center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there.'
Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned
to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since
then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just
in case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.
Live every day as if it is your LAST chance to make someone happy!
###############
More from Ed:
Here are a few things to think about while you are sitting
there ..if you know the answers to these questions...
pass them to me...
CAN YOU CRY UNDER WATER ?
HOW IMPORTANT DOES A PERSON HAVE TO BE BEFORE THEY ARE
CONSIDERED ASSASSINATED... INSTEAD OF JUST MURDERED ?
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO "PUT YOUR TWO CENTS IN".. BUT IT'S ONLY A
"PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ?" WHERE'S THAT EXTRA PENNY GOING TO ?
ONCE YOU'RE IN HEAVEN, DO YOU GET STUCK WEARING THE CLOTHES
YOU WERE BURIED IN FOR ETERNITY ?
WHY DOES A ROUND PIZZA COME IN A SQUARE BOX?
WHAT SORT OF DISEASE DID THE CURED HAM ACTUALLY HAVE ?
How is it that we put A MAN ON THE MOON BEFORE WE FIGURED
OUT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PUT WHEELS ON LUGGAGE?
WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE SAY THEY "SLEPT LIKE A BABY" WHEN
BABIES WAKE UP LIKE.... EVERY TWO HOURS ?
IF A DEAF PERSON HAS TO GO TO COURT, IS IT STILL CALLED
A HEARING ?
WHY ARE YOU IN A MOVIE, BUT YOU'RE ON TV?
WHY DO PEOPLE PAY TO GO UP TALL BUILDINGS AND THEN PUT MONEY
IN BINOCULARS TO LOOK AT THINGS ON THE GROUND ?
WHY DO DOCTORS LEAVE THE ROOM WHILE YOU CHANGE? THEY'RE
GOING TO SEE YOU NAKED ANYWAY.
WHY IS "BRA" SINGULAR AND "PANTIES" PLURAL ?
IF JIMMY CRACKS CORN AND NO ONE CARES, WHY IS THERE A
STUPID, DIPPY SONG ABOUT HIM ?
CAN a hearse carrying A CORPSE DRIVE IN the carpool lane ?
(from Phil: not in California!)
IF THE PROFESSOR ON GILLIGAN'S ISLAND can make a radio
out of a coconut, why can't he fix a SMALL hole in a boat?
WHY DOES GOOFY STAND ERECT WHILE PLUTO REMAINS ON ALL FOURS?
AREN'T THEY BOTH DOGS ??
IF WILEY E. COYOTE HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY ALL THAT ACME STUFF,
WHY DIDN'T HE JUST BUY DINNER..?
IF CORN OIL IS MADE FROM CORN, AND VEGETABLE OIL IS MADE FROM
VEGETABLES, WHAT IS BABY OIL MADE FROM...?
IF ELECTRICITY COMES FROM ELECTRONS, DOES MORALITY COME
FROM MORONS ?
DOES THE ALPHABET SONG AND TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR HAVE
THE SAME TUNE?
WHY ON EARTH DID YOU JUST TRY SINGING OR HUMMING THE TWO
SONGS ABOVE?
WHY DO THEY CALL IT AN asteroid when it's outside the
hemisphere, but call it a hemorroid when it's in your rear?
DID YOU EVER NOTICE that when you blow in a dog's face, he
gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride he
sticks his head out the window?
###########
Mrs Hughes comedy video clip.
http://www.mrshughes.com/
###########
From my cousin Sally Gill:
CAN BE TOLD IN CHURCH
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered
to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?" "Because
white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day
of her life." The child thought about this for a moment, then
said, "So why is the groom wearing black?"
----------------
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast
as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she
ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear
Lord, please don't let me be late!" While she was running and
praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes
dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off,
and started running again! in. As she ran she once again began
to pray, Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please
don't shove me either!"
----------------
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers.
The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece
of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50."
The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few
words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him
$100."
The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a
few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it
takes eight people to collect all the money!"
----------------
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she
requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions
for her memorial service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me
out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when
I'm dead.
----------------
A police recruit was asked during the exam, "What would you
do if you had to arrest your own mother?" He answered "Call
for backup."
----------------
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary
took Jesus with them to Jerusalem . A small child replied:
"They couldn't get a babysitter."
----------------
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments
with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment
to "honor thy father andthy mother," she asked "Is there a
commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and
sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered,
"Thou shall not kill."
----------------
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything,
including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent
when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's
ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as
though he were ill, and she said, Johnny, what is the matter?"
Little Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm
going to have a wife."
----------------
Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing
a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, "What
do you think about all this Satan stuff?"
The other boy replied, "Well, you know how Santa Claus turned
out.
It's probably just your Dad.
----------------
You don't stop laughing because you grow old,
You grow old because you stop laughing!
###########
From my brother Milton:
Baby boomer animation:
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-walt-babyboomers-blurb,0,1036393.blurb
###########
From my daughter Sarah:
Animator vs Animation video:
http://alanbecker.deviantart.com/art/Animator-vs-Animation-34244097
###########
From Joe RedCloud
A very interesting explanation of the male and female mind.
http://marriageresourcecenter.org/videogallery/4/med/VideoWidget8.htm
Interview with a Boss
http://www.hallmark.com/wcsstore/HallmarkStore/images/products/ecards/nfg1969.swf
###########
From Bev Fox:
Another funny animated video:
http://producten.hema.nl/
###########
More from my brother Milton:
George Carlin's Views on Aging
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like
to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years
old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never
thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five!
That's the key
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You
jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be16!" You could be 13, but
hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life..
You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony .
YOU BECOME 21 YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you
sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's
no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's
changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put
on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you
REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that
it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle;
you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it
doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards;
"I Was JUST 92."
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you
become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!" May you
all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1.. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age,
weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is
why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts,
gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind
is the devil's workshop"And the devil's name isAlzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only
person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be
ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's
family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it
is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve,
get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even
to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where
the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every
opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
###########
From Ruth Garby Torres:
This was written by Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer,
Cleveland, Ohio.
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons
life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever
written. My odometer rolls over to 70 in August, so here
goes:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't
worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the
second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't
take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy
lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is
special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In
five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your
friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of
anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone
else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
###########
More from Ed Clark:
This is for all the 50+ people out there
Q: Where can women over the age of 50 find young, sexy men,
who are interested in them?
A: Try a bookstore under fiction
Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause?
A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools, you can finish the
basement. When you are done you will have a place to live.
Q: How can you increase the heart rate of your 50+ year old
husband?
A: Tell him you're pregnant.
Q: How can you avoid spotting a wrinkle every time you walk
by a mirror?
A: The next time you're in front of a mirror, take off your
glasses.
Q: Why should 50+ year old people use valet parking?
A: Valets don't forget where they park your car.
Q: Is it common for 50+ year olds to have problems with
short term memory storage?
A: Storing memory is not a problem, retrieving it is a problem.
Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly?
A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.
Q: Where do 50+ year olds look for fashionable glasses?
A: Their foreheads.
Q: What is the most common remark made by 50+ year olds when
they enter antique stores?
A: "I remember these".
###########
From my niece Marsha:
20 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Level of Insanity
1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on
and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.
2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your
Voice.
3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They
Want Fries with that.
4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."
5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone
has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.
6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Smuggling
Diamonds"
7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The
Prophecy."
8. Don t use any punctuation
9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.
10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat with a
serious face.
11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."
12. Sing Along At The Opera
13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme
14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play
tropical Sounds All Day.
15. Five Days In Advance , Tell Your Friends You Can't
Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.
16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name,
Rock Bottom.
17. When The Money Comes Out Of The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"
18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking
lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"
19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We
Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."
20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......
Send This E-mail To Someone To Make Them Smile.
It's Called Therapy
###################
From Alan Sconzert:
The next time you hear a politician use the\ word 'billion'
in a casual manner, think about whether you want the
'politicians' spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a
difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency
did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective
in one of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the
Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes,
at the rate our government is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a
look at New Orleans It's amazing w hat you can learn with
some simple division . .
Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the
Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuildNew Orleans. Interesting
number, what does it mean?
A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.
B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans,
your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets
$2,066,012.
Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! .. Are all your calculators broken??
Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax h is work,
Tax his dirt
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.
Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me to my doom!'
And when he's gone,
We won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federa l Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State< /st1:PlaceType> and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our
nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had
absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class
in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'
And I still have to 'press 1' for English.
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times
What the heck happened?????
###############
From Aimee Fuller:
Christian One Liners
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.
When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the
middle of the road, and the back of the church.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your
front door forever.
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you
couldn't belong.
If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray
for the one it has.
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead.
So why should you?
Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and
permanently set.
Peace starts with a smile.
I don't know why some people change churches; what difference
does it make which one you stay home from?
A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the
Promises" are just sitting on the premises.
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the
spirit" over "religious nuts!"
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
He who angers you, controls you!
If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!
Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God
will not protect you.
We don't change the message, the message changes us.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to
discourage him.
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
=======================
X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X
=======================
X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X+X
=======================
I do not have a position on the Leonard Peltier case because
I have not taken the time to look into all of the legal
issues and the evidence presented on both sides. I do know
many of you are interested in this matter. So, here is a
recent notice put out by a Free Leonard Peltier group.
FW'd by Harvey Arden
...................................
1/6/2008
Free Peltier! A Position
Statement from Carter Camp
Please feel free to pass this around the planet. CC
--- In ndn--@yahoogroups.com
Carter Camp carte-@yahoo.com
Ah-ho My Relations, I have read my friend Bob Robideau's
statement about Anna Mae and his resignation statement as
Leonard Peltier's international spokesperson. In contrast
I have decided to accept Leonard's invitation to join his
Board of Directors at the LPDC.
In my judgment Leonard needs the help of his old friends now
more than ever. I don't know if I can make a difference but
I intend to try help where ever I can. For twenty eight long
years some very good and hard working men and women have
worked for Leonard's freedom and struggled against the might
of the FBI and a justice system that bows to the wishes of
special law enforcement interests. They have made his name
known to millions of people around the world. My presence
on his board is merely to add on to what they have done.
Leonard Peltier has been lucky to have each and every one
of them in his corner. Leonard and I are old friends and
comrades in the movement.
Oklahoma AIM like most AIM chapters was organized by grass
roots community activists who believed in the tenets of AIM
and were willing to fight for the survival of our people.
In the spring of 1972 we gathered in an encampment on the
Pawnee reservation just outside Pawnee Oklahoma. As a series
of actions took place around the state the police in Pawnee
deputized every store owner in town and vigilantes were
arming themselves and patrolling the roads around the AIM
encampment. The question of sovereignty was new and
threatening to official Oklahoma and they reacted with
threats and violence. We reacted with increased demand for
justice and as our movement grew the government became more
aggressive against us. When we needed help Leonard Peltier
and a group of brothers came to stand beside us. Their
support meant a lot to us and Oklahoma AIM became the largest
AIM chapter.
From then on we developed a trust and worked together until
he was falsely imprisoned. Recently the LPDC has gone through
a lot of changes and things slowed down at the Committee so
Leonard asked three Oklahoma AIM friends to help out with the
committee. Along with me he asked that Francis Wise who is an
Oklahoma AIM leader from the Caddo Tribe to join the Board.
And he asked Dave Hill, a Choctaw from the boonies south of
Seminole to join as the new Director. I know both of them
very well, I know their families and have worked with them
on our peoples issues for decades. As part of the FBI smear
campaign against the LPDC, Dave has lately had a strange
bunch of people calling him names and trying to "jacket"
him like they did Anna Mae. But they are mostly internet
voices with no real tie to the Indian community they claim
to speak for, I term them "netskins" and I know Dave has a
thick enough skin to shed their little barbs and do the
work he has been asked to do. Francis Wise is Stan Holder's
(Chief of Security in Wounded Knee) sister and a founding
member of Oklahoma AIM. They both seemed like great choices
to me so I accepted too. We hope to blend in with the
existing board members and the support groups around the
world to seek justice for Leonard Peltier and to remind
America of the Indian wars longest serving political prisoner.
But I'm not writing this about only Leonard Peltier -- we
all agree that Leonard Peltier had nothing to do with the
death of Anna Mae Aquash. I'm writing about how the FBI is
using the investigation of her death as a way to keep
Leonard Peltier in prison and to attack AIM as retribution
for our struggle for sovereignty. It was an armed struggle
and our enemy used deadly tactics against us routinely;
many of our people were killed and a few of theirs. When
KaMook testified that our brothers had killed those
attackers, the Lakota women in the audience should have
"lulu'd" loudly in court to show their pride for a warrior's
victory coup. As I told Bob when he called me from Europe,
we are proud of the stand the warriors made that day at
Jumping Bull's. Three armed fighters died that day--but the
elders and kids were protected from an enemy that has a
long, long history of killing our helpless ones. The agents
who attacked the peaceful encampment had volunteered to
trespass on Lakota land bearing arms and like Custer they
died fighting. The detailed description of their deaths is
unimportant when looked at in the light of FBI/GOON "Reign
of Terror" the Oglala people were enduring at that time.
The real reason it has been brought up is to give the wasicu
an argument to keep Leonard Peltier in a cage. The way the
agents died certainly had no bearing on the death of Anna
Mae- -it was placed on the record for other purposes.
Like Bob, I was in prison when Anna was killed and her body
found. The FBI came to Terre Haute Federal pen,where I was
being held, and asked to speak to me about her. I told them
I would break my long-standing rule of never talking to a
cop and tell them who the killer was if they would go bust
them, as they leaned forward, pencils in hand, I told them
an FBI agent named David Price was responsible for her
death. At that time I knew the name of his partner in crime
and I named him too. I also requested as a citizen that they
go arrest them immediately or that they free me to go make
a citizens arrest. Instead they closed their notebooks and
left, so those particular killers have been loose all this
time. Only an independent U.N. investigation of the "Reign
of Terror" will ever see them indicted and that is exactly
what I think we need. All of us should join to demand a full
investigation of the "Reign of Terror" and the murder of
over sixty Indian people by the FBI and their allies. Anna
Mae's death would play an important part in that investigation
and its findings would be much more credible than what is
going on in ndn country right now. I just witnessed a trial
of an Lakota man accused of killing Anna Mae Aquash in which
the only defense witness called was Anna Mae's nemesis...
FBI Agent David Price himself!
When we had the Peltier month demonstration in Washington
D.C., I had the occasion to meet with Anna Mae's niece who
was very much involved in seeking justice for her relative
Anna Mae Aquash. To me it was the most honorable thing to
do without helping the Americans in their anti-Peltier witch
hunt. Along with me were Edgar Bear Runner and Russell
Loudhawk from Pine Ridge who were key players in the fight
at Jumping Bull's and friends of Anna Mae's. None of us had
any new or pertinent knowledge of what happened to Anna Mae
but all three of us wanted to offer our condolences and tell
the family what we knew. I told her how, in Wounded Knee
Anna's future husband Nogeshick came to me to speak about
a marriage ceremony, we had a nice talk and he took tobacco
to Wallace Black Elk to request him to marry them.
Wallace asked me to assist and he performed a marriage
ceremony for them. It was a very big deal in our small
community for them to get married in a beautiful ceremony
in front of everybody in the Wounded Knee Trading Post. I
was proud when the women of Oklahoma AIM stepped forward
and gave flesh offerings on their behalf and I remember how
good it was to see such a thing at the birth of the Independent
Oglala Nation. I also told her niece that Anna Mae worked
harmoniously with Theda Clark in the encampment kitchen
(and maybe at the office) during our trial at Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, where we heard of the Oglala shoot out. At least to
me things seemed harmonious between them and everyone else
in camp but I was on trial and extremely busy so a dispute
between them could have happened and I didn't hear about it.
At the time I remained the National Chairman of AIM, Stan
Holder was the Security Chief of Wounded Knee and Leonard
Crowdog was the principle Spiritual Leader of Wounded Knee
and AIM, we were being charged for our part at Wounded Knee
as part of the AIM leadership trials.
At the time of the shootout we had already been convicted
but were still in camp pending sentencing and some legal
motions. A large bunch of those from the Lakota Nation were
there supporting Chief Crowdog, and a lot of Oklahoma AIM
people who came for Stan and me made up the encampment. As
long time brothers in the struggle Peltier and I had agreed
to be in daily phone contact with each other mainly because
we recognized what a precarious position they were in out
at Jumping Bull's when a bunch of us were in Iowa. All the
big name AIM leaders had fled the rez and Leonard's encampment
was a sore in the side of the FBI and their GOONs. Upon
hearing the news about the FBI attack everyone broke camp
and headed back to the rez and the rest is history. I have
no remembrance of John Graham but there were a lot of
young men and women in the encampment I don't remember by
name. At the news of the shoot-out we turned our defense office
into a center to call elected officials, lawyers, and to
attempt to have the FBI cordon lifted and to make sure they
knew the world was watching. Some cars and groups left quickly
and by the next day a caravan headed back to Rosebud. I told
her niece that Anna Mae proudly went to South Dakota to stand
with her people, we all did. Edgar Bear Runner and Russell
Loudhawk both knew Anna Mae and explained to her niece what
they could,they also shared fond remembrances they had of
her and said how sorry we all were for her passing. I
acknowledged to her family that the death of Anna Mae is an
ugly blight on the legacy of the American Indian Movement.
The meeting was private and I only bring it up now because
the pig has said we didn't care about her.
As part of that meeting I also told Anna Mae's niece how
Peltier and I, along with many of his supporters think the
death of her Auntie was being used by the FBI and others
against the very people and ideals Anna Mae fought for and
I said I thought the family was being exploited by our
enemies. After seeing the legal lynching of Arlo Looking
Cloud I know damn well the powerful allies of the FBI are
seeing to it that a book is closed in the Anna Mae case and
it is used to its maximum advantage against AIM and Leonard
Peltier.
The two major trials after the incident at Oglala show what
a difference having a strong defense can be. Dino and Bob
were acquitted because they were allowed to present a
vigorous defense that was denied to Leonard Peltier. The
enemy had learned its lesson and fixed the next trial to
make sure Leonard was convicted. What they did to convict
Peltier is an open part of the legal history of the cointelpro
actions the nation's political police, the FBI, took against
all warriors who were subject to their attacks. It was an
act of revenge not justice according to every national and
international investigation that has been made except the
one accepted by the court. The falsified FBI investigation
was given to the jury and they denied Peltier the right to
say he fought in self-defense. But that is the crucial point.
They caused the deaths of over sixty of us Indians but say
the way the two agents were killed is so germane to the case
that rumors and hearsay of it are admitted as evidence? How
about some evidence about who they were killing and who had
been burned out of their homes?
When non-evidence that Kamook had heard a warrior brag he
had shot those agents, was admitted as real evidence, a
hundred Lakota and members of the Independent Oglala Nation
should have been called as rebuttal witnesses to show that
the Nation was reacting in self-defense when those wasicu
soldiers attacked. They were killed in a battle they provoked
and they were fought in self-defense. Leonard Peltier was
denied the right to show self-defense in Montana 28 years
ago and he was denied it again last week in Rapid City,
South Dakota.
During that same month that we met with Anna Mae's niece
Edgar, Russell and I fasted in front of the White House on
Thanksgiving Day. Each of us held a poster of one of the
sixty ndn victims. I held the poster of my brother Buddy
Lamont all that day. He was a vet and an Oglala warrior
who was killed by an FBI sniper in Wounded Knee. He was
also Kamook's beloved Uncle. On the day the FBI sniper
shot him two brothers from the S.L.A. risked their lives
running from their bunker to come inform me he had been
hit. They guided me back to the place and we tried repeatedly
to crawl out to him but the enemy kept up a deadly hail of
bullets and we couldn't get to him. Buddy bled to death
before we finally reached him, it was my worst day in the
Knee and I blame the FBI for deliberately murdering him.
Anna Mae's picture was carried that day too as we mourned
so many victims of the "Reign of Terror". Each and every one
of them deserves a full investigation and the outrage of the
people demanding justice.
Arlo Looking Cloud was lynched in Rapid City last week. His
defense lawyer acted on behalf of the FBI cover-up of Anna
Mae's murder. This convinced me that once again the enemy
is using their old cointelpro tactics against the Movement
and have no intention of seeking justice for any of the
martyred people who died defending the people of Pine Ridge
and the Independent Oglala Nation. But the trial did bring
out the false statements that traitors like Paul Demain and
the cop Robert Ecoffey have been spreading about the death
of Anna Mae. For several years anti-ndn forces have spread
lies on the internet beginning with the lie that Arlo had
immunity and was a snitch. If that were true it would have
been a factor in the trial. They have also spread the lie
that she was raped and that DNA would reveal who her rapist
was,that too turns out to be false. Or else the FBI withheld
information and evidence, it wouldn't be the first time. They
have put out many false stories in their efforts to smear
AIM and keep Peltier in prison, fantastic tales of large
meetings of AIM leaders and lawyers who took part in
condemning Anna Mae, almost everyone associated with AIM
and WKLDOC have been smeared, but according to Arlo's
interrogation tape it's all bullshit and police finger-
pointing. Either Arlo's taped confession was false or
all the people the FBI/Demains have been accusing were
not involved,Arlo said he didn't even know them. According
to the witnesses at Arlo's sham trial the only people
mentioned as participating were the close friends and
relatives of Russ Means, his cousins, brothers,sister-in-
law and close friends were running the office and owned
the house she was alleged to have been taken to, all were
accused of being a part of her tribunal on that fateful
day. But none of them were even called and asked if it was
true! Means is screaming about not being "in the loop"
about her murder and he claims to want justice. He wants
us to believe his closest associates were involved but
kept it all from him for all these years? One has to wonder
if he ever asked them if they ordered her killed at one
of those meetings brought up at Arlo's trial. If he did
ask he should make their answers public, if he did not all
his screaming and finger-pointing sounds false like just
another in a long line of Means' publicity stunts. It makes
it look as if his pardon from the Indian-hating rapist Janklow
was a pay-off for his grand jury testimony. All I'm suggesting
is that Means go ask his folks what happened that day and
respond to what and who Candy Hamilton and the others said
ran the WKLDOC offices and houses where she was supposedly
held captive. Again I'll repeat they are likely innocent.
Before I was imprisoned I help start WKLDOC and it was a very
busy and open place with law student volunteers and attorneys
galore. People slept on the floor and carried on working most
of the night. The diversity and impermanence of all of them
makes holding a woman there captive seem unlikely, so I'd at
least like to hear from the people in charge and everyone
around at that time. Records were kept and logs to keep track
of the legal deadlines and the comings and goings of personnel.
Any decent defense would have subpoenaed the WKLDOC records
and questioned all concerned. In addition the office was kept
under 24/7 surveillance by several state and local law
enforcement departments. Only the prosecution got to examine
those records.
Another falsehood at Arlo's trial was the claim that John
Trudell was an AIM leader in those days. In activist circles
John was respected for being at the Alcatraz take over,
which was an inspiration to all of us who were growing to
an awareness that Indian people had to take direct action
to preserve our sovereignty and Treaty rights. Over the
years John would not join AIM and told me many times (down
in Oklahoma where we worked together) when I personally
asked him to join us, that he didn't want to be a part of
AIM. I assumed that was why he was another no-show at
Wounded Knee like Vernon Bellecourt. However after the Knee
at the AIM national convention at White Oak, Oklahoma when
I was elected the National Chairman of AIM several of the
west coast AIM chapters said they wouldn't follow the
"chickens of the Knee" as the Bellecourts and Means were
known then. They asked that someone from the west coast
that they trusted could be brought into the leadership as
a vice- chair so they would have someone to communicate
with, since I had worked with John and liked him we agreed
that he would fill that position. The fact that every one
of the old leaders had been rejected by the warriors of AIM
rankled in their hearts and they developed quite a hatred
for all of us who were chosen to be the new leadership of AIM.
When the "incident" happened between Clyde and me some
months later they somehow convinced John that while I was
in jail he should name himself Chairman and immediately
abolish the office. So he publicly said, "I'm the new AIM
hair and I hereby abolish the office of Chairman"! So he
was a "leader" for two minutes? In truth John Trudell never
was an AIM leader and back then he never pretended to be,
John never participated in any of our fights and he just
isn't the type to lead warriors. He's a barefoot poet from
Hollywood who makes music, nothing wrong with that I'm a
fan of his,but to think he was ever a leader is silly to
those who were there. It was sad to see John on the stand
working for the pig and testifying about something he knew
nothing about, except rumors put out by the same people
(the FBI) that John claims burned his wife Tina and their
kids to death. How could a man do that? He and Kamook had
no evidence to present about Arlo and only talked about
rumors they had heard. His assertion, really his speculation,
that the three people who are accused of killing Anna Mae
were following orders and not "decision makers" was allowed
as evidence. How does he know? The FBI used a black bag
full of tactics for getting people to act on false information
as a part of their "bad jacketing" program. They were expert
at it and there is evidence they employed it against Anna Mae
before her death. I believe that may have been what she
feared. At the time of Anna Mae's death AIM was already
fractured and in fragments but the FBI wants us to believe
we were some monolithic hierarchy making collective decisions.
Their scenario puts people conspiring together who didn't
trust each other. But John and Kamook were not there to
convict Arlo, they were there to smear AIM and Leonard
Peltier and the men and women who fought at Jumping Bulls.
His Hollywood story of Anna's ring sounds more like a script
than the truth. Would a person in immediate danger use the
mail? Or was it a signal that what HE had ordered had been
carried out?
Remember he claims to have been an AIM leader at the time.
No, in reality I don't think he ordered her hit but if I
were Arlo's lawyer I would have asked, one Hollywood story
is as good as the other. No way in hell I would have ever
guessed I would see my old friend John, who shared my
Sundance camp a few years ago, up on a witness stand throwing
out some blanket smear of everyone on behalf of the FBI.
Can John Trudell be true to his public persona as an Indian
leader and get on the stand for the FBI and give credence
to their anti-AIM rumors? It was a sickening performance.
Most people who know anything about AIM know I have no
feelings for or connection to the Bellecourt brothers or the
stupidity of their claim to own AIM. When they were
rejected by the vote of the people of AIM for their
continuing cowardice they quickly formed the phony "Grand
Governing Council" and made themselves its leaders. I wrote
an essay last year called "Warrior Stories" (see below)
that explains how they and the other "chickens of the Knee"
have falsely lived on the blood, sweat and tears of real
warriors while they made themselves rich. You tell me if
that's worse than leaving you tribe and going to Hollywood.
In fact most warriors see plenty of circumstantial evidence
that one or both of them worked directly for the police.
Like, why were their Wounded Knee charges dropped and how
the hell did they get out of those dope-selling charges
when they were caught red-handed dealing drugs? All of a
sudden they're treating the leader of the most militant
Indian organization in the nation with leniency? So you
all know I would in no way try to protect them in the
murder of a sister like Anna Mae who worked directly with
warriors I know and trust, like Peltier, Dino and Bob. No
way. At the same time I will never work with or help the
police forces of the invader to convict any Indian, not
even if they killed my own relative. Because I know that
there is no justice for Indian people in America and
Indian people can not receive a fair trial in South Dakota
period. I have watched them send too many innocent Indian
people to prison because they did the crime of being Indian
and if they happened to be proud Indians they were given
longer sentences. In America it's well known you get justice
only if you have money. How much more true is that for an
Indian in South Dakota? And then factor in their painting
him as an AIM militant in Rapid City, South Dakota. The
prosecution was able to draw on 30 years of FBI and others
police actions against AIM and Indians in general. They
brought in old retired Agents who are part of the gang of
Agents who take out full page advertisements in major
newspapers against Leonard Peltier. This is a formal and
organized gang of ex-FBI agents dedicated to keeping
Leonard Peltier in prison.
Wasn't their affiliation and anti-AIM efforts worth some
examination? They even have a website. To the FBI this was
a major chance to attack AIM and get revenge for their
failed attack at Jumping Bulls and their 99% loss rate at
the Wounded Knee trials. They have been probing for a
weakness and found it in our division over Anna Mae so they
have poured resources into it. They paid witnesses, paid
for three Grand Juries and (are still paying) for over 30
years of investigations costing millions of dollars into
their anti-AIM efforts. Because AIM is no longer a factor
nationally in Indian affairs they now concentrate mostly on
keeping Peltier in prison, they made that evident through
Kamooks testimony. I remember in every trial we won we put
the FBI and their tactics on trial too, we proved who the
aggressor was, I guess they learned from us because they
put AIM and the Indian resistance on trial. They used
informants to name AIM and WKLDOC committee members but
those same witnesses were never called. Cleo, Candy, Kamook,
all of them named names. Were the Bellecourts giving orders
to Russ Mean's brothers,friends and cousins who were named
as being there when Anna Mae was taken to South Dakota as
he(Means)accuses? They are likely completely innocent all
I'm saying is that they have been pointed out because they
allegedly ran the office. Are they being smeared in this
FBI net too? Unless there is a real trial we'll never know.
But I know one thing as I watch Vern and Clyde against
Russell Means in their twenty-five year old mudslinging
contest... They were comrades for many years and they
know all about each other so when Vernon squeals on Russ
he is probably telling the truth and when Russ squeals on
Vernon and Clyde, he's telling the truth too. So if you
want to know the truth about Russ Means read what Vernon
says and if you want the truth about the Bellecourts
listen to Russ.
But there is another reason I hated to see the railroad job
they did on Arlo Looking Cloud. By railroading him and not
calling the obvious witnesses the true story of Anna Mae's
killer will be covered up forever. I am absolutely sure the
FBI had a hand in her murder but exactly what they did or
how they did it is unclear and will remain unclear if they
are allowed to bury these two guys and claim they have
done their jobs. If Arlo could have had any kind of real
defense the FBI part of the murder could have been explored
and if any AIM leader is on their payroll that could have
been discovered and who the real killers are would have been
known. By denying Arlo and later John Graham justice the
FBI was able to turn the trial into a complete whitewash of
their role in the many murders of our people. They got to
act as if the FBI/GOON "Reign of Terror" never even happened!
They got to pretend the planned attack on the Jumping Bull
compound never happened and that the two agents were
murdered in cold blood. The whole world knows that's a lie.
It should offend even close friends of Anna Mae's to see such
a kangaroo court being put out to the public as justice! In
all my years as an activist the trial of Arlo Looking Cloud
was the very worst miscarriage of justice I have seen.
Leonard Peltiers trial was bad and even when Stan, Crowdog
and I were convicted the evidence was doctored and I became
the only AIM leader sent to prison for Wounded Knee 1973,
but Arlo was just flat out denied even the appearance of a
trial and now the wasicu judge won't let him be represented
by competent legal help for his appeal! This may be the
only chance anyone has to see justice done for Anna Mae but
the FBI is being allowed to cover it all up. I have no
sympathy for him if he did kill her but there are way too
many questions that need to be answered before some dupe
is sent away for life and the FBI gets off scot free! His
only defense witness was the cop who cut off her hands for
christ's sake! The only evidence was an obviously coerced
tape of a drugged up drunk being led into saying whatever
some long time police acquaintances of his told him to say.
Did it take Abe Alonzo and Robert Eccoffy thirty years of
abusing him, brainwashing him, or maybe buying him drugs
and booze to get him to say what he said? We all know
addicts will say most anything for another needle of smack
or even for just another bottle of wine. Apparently he
had been talking to them for a long time, at least since
before the first Grand Jury, where were the tapes of all
the other interrogations he endured over the last thirty
years? Did he deny it until they got this one? Compare
the tremendous governmental resources used against Arlo
and what his lawyer did to him. There were no discovery
motions made for him, there were no motions made to keep
out the prejudicial evidence and there damn sure was no
effective cross examination of prosecution witnesses. They
were allowed to put AIM on trial and smear Leonard Peltier
with impunity. No mention was made of the over sixty
traditional Indian people murdered by the FBI/GOONs and
the FBI cointelpro war against Indian people was never even
mentioned. We know the FBI committed many crimes during
their "Reign of Terror" and they are directly responsible
for many Lakota and AIM deaths. They may have infiltrated
AIM at the highest level and caused Anna Mae's murder but
we may never know because we allowed Arlo to be shafted by
the enemy. Shame on all of us. If our Movement was about
anything it was about Justice for our people and AIM from
1968 until 1973 led the way in that fight. But justice for
Indians in America is still a long struggle away and to me
Arlo Looking Clouds case proves it all the more.
If he would have been given an adequate defense I could
perhaps understand how some movement people can support
bringing John Graham, the other man accused,back to the
U.S. But seeing what I saw it doesn't seem right. I thought
maybe Canadian courts might be better but friends say
Indians get shafted there too. The FBI has convinced some
people to regard this as just another murder trial, the
jury, defense lawyer and Judge tried to pretend it was
but that obviously is not the case. How can there be justice
when a Lakota man stands defenseless in front of an all
white South Dakota jury, an AIM member painted with death
of two FBI agents in this age of terrorism? They allowed
Kamook's statement about Peltier go unchallenged. Kamook
is only one woman saying she heard something but several
hundred have heard him deny it and they were not mad at
an ex-husband. Why weren't they, or Leonard himself, given
a chance to rebut her? Why not at least play a tape of
Leonard defending himself in prison interviews? The FBI
version of the fight at Jumping Bulls and its aftermath is
not the only version and sure as hell isn't the true one.
Leonard Peltier first called for Indians to seek their own
justice in the death of Anna Mae and now I see Robert
Robideau also has called for a tribunal of good and true
AIM people to be convened. I join my two brothers in that
call and I will attend and testify to all I know if it is
convened. I admit that Bob, Norman Brown and Dino Butler
know more than me about Anna Mae and they were closer
friends of hers. I don't argue with their conclusions. I
was an Oklahoma leader and we generally kept our distance
from the happenings up north, but like them I and my
Oklahoma AIM friends would like to know the truth about
her death and how the FBI engineered it. The AIM I knew,
served, and loved, did not do things like murder, we fought
back when attacked and we resisted the oppressors of our
people but we did not kill our own. No AIM leader could
tell a warrior to go murder another Indian person even a
snitch. I know if I had told one of my Oklahoma AIM
brothers or sisters to go kill somebody they would have
said, "You got a gun, kill them yourself." Oklahoma AIM
was a circle of concerned tribal people and our leaders
led, not ordered. Always it was the enemy and
particularly the FBI who committed mayhem and murder,
they did drive- by shootings, set up GOON roadblocks to
catch and beat our traditional people and they paid
people to do these things. They subverted justice and
corrupted the system in order to win false convictions
of any Indian who stood against them. Anna Mae stood
against them and spit in their face, for that they hated
her and wanted her dead. She was AIM and very proud of
it. This is why I will have to see real proof before I
point my finger at anyone in AIM for the death of Anna
Mae, not rumors and accusations by running dogs or finger-
pointing by sick little ex-friends of Arlo's trying to
make a name for themselves. Therefore I will join Bob
Robideau, Leonard Peltier and members of the American
Indian Movement whenever a tribunal is convened to seek
justice for Anna Mae. I hope Pine Ridge is chosen as
the site for the tribunal so all the families who
suffered during the FBI "Reign of Terror" can come seek
justice for their loved ones.
In the meantime I will continue to work to right the
wrongs done to Leonard Peltier and to try to win his
freedom. I invite all of you to join us once more and
I urge you not to turn your back on our brother, we can
not leave him sitting unjustly in a cage any longer, it
is time to Free Peltier! Free him NOW!
Carter Camp, Ponca, LPDC
*****************************************************
War Stories and Wounded Knee 1973
Many of our people have forgotten the traditional way
"War Stories" are used and respected in the sacred
ceremonies of the people of the Sundance and Pipe, we
who have always lived in the center of our turtle
island. Long ago our wise ancestors understood that a
powerful moment in time existed when a warrior
performed a great deed and tested himself to the
ultimate. In english we call them war stories but in
our own languages the story and the person chosen to
tell it have names with far more meaning. War stories
are actually "Warrior Stories" because they are told
individually by the warrior who is bringing his
actions into the circle. They are told in front of
witnesses who can attest to their truth because the
story must exemplify the great virtues of a warrior...
honor, truth, courage, fortitude, strength and
selflessness give the 'war story' a power that can
serve the needs of the ceremony. War stories were
always brought out during the special dances and
ceremonies of our Clans, our Societies and our
Sundance where they have a special place and use. The
leaders of the ceremony took particular care in
selecting the warrior chosen to stand up in front of
all the Nation and recite the actions he had taken on
behalf of his people... a song is made, every step,
every gesture, and every word must be given as a
sacrament into the circle of the People. In a time
without lies, a Nations heart could swell with pride
and power as he gifted his words to them and a oneness
could encircle them as he spoke. It could be the
leader of the battle or it could be a first time coup
by a young warrior on his initial experience but each
war story was backed by the presence of his
comrades-in-arms, verified and strengthened by their
assent, their love and their respect. In modern times
where war stories are told they are told by the
veterans of service in Americas wars, where our
warriors were sent to fight on foreign lands. We can
still hear them with pride and in this way the
tradition lives on. It has been this way because it
has been generations since our warriors rose to fight
an enemy while standing on the dust of our ancestors.
That last happened at Wounded Knee, in
1890. We lost that day, our children were exposed to
the ravening dogs, but even then warriors stood up,
men and women became spirits standing back to back in
defense of their generations... courage, fortitude,
strength, honor blessed the lands, given life as the
eternal blood sacrament was given freely to Mother
Earth. And in the days that followed warriors fought
from a Stronghold to avenge their relatives as a mass
grave held the truth. New and glorious war stories
were born among the carnage and strongheart songs
mingled with the wails of the mourning. A Nation lived
on with the virtues given her by a hundred generations
of warriors and their stories, it took immense
fortitude and courage to survive for eighty-three
years until warriors rose again, but the ceremonies
continued and the songs of those days were sung. In
1973 another battle happened on sacred lands along the
Wounded Knee creek. Once again warriors were forced to
rise up in defense of their people and stand on
hollowed ground and fight. Once again warriors blood
was sacrificed and lives were freely given to revive
the heartbeat of a Nation, brave deeds and selfless
actions became the measure of a society called the
"Independent Oglala Nation". To the people there it
was called "the Knee" and two thousand and more, women
and men, stood back to back with honor, with courage
and fortitude once more in red hearts. Eagle feathers
were earned there and an amazing number of worthy
actions were taken daily for seventy- three days in
1973. A community was born to live once more a
traditional way of the circle of our grandfathers.
Powerful medicine men and elders guided our paths as
"Warrior Stories" were once again gifted to the circle
in the old way as honor and truth were revived to
bring power in Inipi, Yuwipi and Ghost Dance. Led by
Viet Nam vets like Stan Holder, Craig Camp, Russ
Redner, Buddy Lamont, Luke Tenfingers... Rich,Tiger,
Lance, Angel and a hundred others, warriors from
sixteen to sixty yrs old formed an encircling wall of
protection around our lands and dared any invader to
enter. Each of the Oyate inside the circle performed
warrior duties too and each faced the danger as one,
cooks were shot by the wasicu as were the veterans in
the bunkers, medics were sniped while bandaging
wounded and even our mailman was attacked while
delivering mail... his war story added to the whole.
Wounded Knee was a community of warriors empowered by
stories held in the land since
1890, warriors of many Nations united by the selfless
actions of their comrades-in-arms fighting by their
side. But traditional, true, honorable "War Stories"
are no longer told about the last great battle at
Wounded Knee in 1973. For the first time in the
history of our Societies honorable and truthful
warriors have put away their braveheart stories and
the songs of their deeds are silent. This has happened
because for the first time in the memory of all the
Red generations past, the leaders of the battle ran
away and left their community while under attack.
Because they were self-chosen leaders they had not
been tested. They lacked the virtues of a warrior,
their honor was locked in the wasicu cities and jails
they came from and they could not rise above it. To
the warriors they left inside they were called "the
chickens of the knee" in jest and much worse in
earnest. We listened to stories of Russ Means enjoying
the fruits of his celebrity while drinking and
partying down in Oklahoma where I'm from and ending up
being busted out in California after one of his
notorious mega-sized parties out there. Since 1973 he
has renewed his betrayals of the principles of AIM
each decade without stop. Recently he betrayed every
warrior of AIM when he knelt before the subhuman
Janklow to beg a pardon! Yes, the same Janklow who
brags about personally keeping Leonard Peltier in a
cage, Janklow, the rapist of Jancita Eagledeer and the
thief of Lakota lands in South Dakota. None of the ION
warriors really noticed when Clyde Bellecourt slinked
out of the Knee, he wouldn't carry a gun and we never
saw him outside his warm trailer anyway, but we did
notice when he began frantically fundraising in our
name while we had no ammo to fight with or tobacco to
smoke, or food for the kids. For security purposes
Clyde and his crew had not been told we were
liberating the Knee that first night, so he was very
surprised to end up there in a caravan he thought was
going to a powwow! The warriors had a good laugh when
we noticed he had his own cameraman in tow. Even the
cops knew he was worthless, all his charges were
dropped as real warriors went to prison. Vernon
Bellecourt refused to even consider sacrificing his
luxury and comfort to come fight alongside us, he was
"Mr.Vernon" the hairdresser to AIM warriors, he did
fundraising for Clyde and hung around the leadership
but he was more a joke than a leader. We heard about
it when he went to the French Riviera during a
blizzard in the Knee and we joked about the hash-hish
we knew he was enjoying over there on our money. AIM
died long before he claimed to be a warrior, after the
rest of us were in jail or being chased throughout ndn
country he stepped out of his closet into the
limelight. Vernon never set foot inside Wounded Knee
in 1973 but to his eternal shame in ndn country, he
stands-up when ION veterans are honored as if he were
a veteran of our Nation. How low will a man crawl for
money? The Independent Oglala Nation didn't miss them
when they left, others were already doing the work of
the nation, fighting the battles, supplying the needs
of the people and protecting our elders and children
from the ravening wolves shooting at us from the
hills. Each night pack trains of supplies were carried
in under fire by dedicated warriors, timed to arrive
at daybreak to feed the nation and gift their stories
to us, each day the warriors worked hard to strengthen
their perimeter and fortify their bunkers in
preparation for the coming battles. Each day the
community lived the life of freedom they were fighting
for and each day we grew closer together in our
ceremonies and sharing. Every day was a war story and
every warrior had stories to tell of honor, truth and
generosity, enough perhaps to help our people survive
another eighty-three years in ceremony and song.
Despite those who ran, the nation lived and the
stories continued until peace was made by the Oglala
Council of the ION. AIM as an ndn society may have
died there in those sacred ravines when the leaders
failed in dishonor, but the pride of a Red Nation was
reborn with the "Warrior Stories" we lived there among
the spirits of those murdered in 1890. AIM too became
a spirit, it's blood drained into the earth at Wounded
Knee, but that spirit lives on just as the spirits of
Frank Clearwater and Buddy Lamont dwell today with the
spirits of Yellowbird, Bigfoot and the others who
nourish that sacred ground. Today every aspect of ndn
country has been touched by the proud legacy of the
American Indian Movement and the warriors stand at
Wounded Knee. Sovereignty has a renewed meaning to
friend and foe alike and all Indian people are unified
in its protection. During the brief life of AIM as a
warrior society, we blew on the dying embers of our
traditional fires and helped them flare back to life.
I remember well the final week of Wounded Knee 73
after my brother Buddy Lamont had been killed by a
wasicu sniper. The Oglala Council had decided to
stand-down the armed struggle and to continue the
fight for their treaty rights in the wasicu courts. It
was a hard decision for them and a blow to the
warriors' dreams, but it was their land and their
decision to make, so we prepared to obey. I began to
have meetings with the bunker leaders and squads, to
plan for their evacuation and to send them out with
the best weapons. By the last four days, unknown to
any but the warriors involved, Wounded Knee lay almost
unarmed and unprotected by our veterans. In order to
fool the wasicu gunners around us and the government
negotiators inside we devised a plan to have the dozen
or so warriors (who decided to stay for the funeral)
work in the open around the bunkers during daylight
hours and we had people carrying fake weapons and
supplies from place to place to add to the confusion.
At night we had four lookouts stationed on the
cardinal points and some patrols, but most of the
bunkers were empty and the way was open to the
invaders. Each minute I lived in fear that I had made
a terrible mistake and the ravening dogs would once
more consume my helpless ones. As the night wore on I
would make a patrol across ground I now knew like an
eagle knows his nest, alone I would creep out into the
night and stealthily enter a bunker in secret. Once
inside I would light a cigarette(I don't smoke) build
a fire and turn on an old radio I had stashed. I would
talk and joke inside and walk around the top as if we
were reinforcing or changing the guard, after an half
hour or so I would sneak out into the night to repeat
my performance at another empty bunker on the other
side of the Knee an hour later. In between, I would
walk around the village and visit the kitchens,
laughing with the people in the few places with light,
to be seen before I ducked into another ravine to
begin my crawl once more. In those final dark and
lonely nights I had a lot of time to pray and cry for
the end of our Tribe and the final days of the Knee,
it was hard because each empty bunker and squad room I
visited held reminders of the warrior stories that had
been born there and the brave comrades who fought
there. Sometimes I would stand in a deserted bunker
and loudly sing the AIM song or a Ponca He'thuska
warrior song and I would face the enemy with pride,
anger and defiance, but I knew we had to leave.
Wounded Knee was over and all that we had left was our
"war stories" to tell in the old way and to give away
in the circle of our people. We never imagined that
even our traditional "War Stories" would be stolen and
dishonored by old, greed-driven AIM leaders, we never
thought they would do the unimaginable and claim a
warriors honors when they earned none. In the old way
of the warrior an Akicita would strike them with their
whips and drive them crying from the circle. Now
thirty years later some people are having an
"anniversary" celebration to honor the memory of
Wounded Knee 1973 but it has to be a non-ndn
celebration like a rock concert because in another sad
first for ndn country the "chickens of the knee" are
being "honored"! Honored? Not really, I guess they are
being "publicized" or something but it's not honor in
the way a true "war story" is an honor. Men without
honor will stand up and accept false honors that
belong to others because for thirty years the warriors
of the ION have been silent. No media noticed the
warriors turn their backs on the cowards and leave AIM
after the Knee, but that is the traditional way we
vote for our leaders, no press conferences or
tribunals just a traditional shunning. After the
warriors left AIM(the organization) it became a wasicu
fundraising tool and they used it to become very rich
old men. Now Vernon will waddle out of his mansion,
squeeze into his cadillac with AIM-1 license tags, and
show up burdened by jewlery to look down on all us
raggedy-ass ndn warriors who fought at the Knee. Go
look at him and see the truth of my words, he has
turned white in dishonor. For this reason, to protect
the traditional honor of the the "War Story" of
Wounded Knee 1973 and the ION, I rise to denounce those who
falsely claim the honors of a warrior of Wounded Knee and the
Independant Oglala Nation.
While this charade of fools goes on for them, this
weekend another occasion will happen to mark the
founding of the ION and the liberation of Wounded Knee
in 1973. All around the Nation, a thousand warriors
and more will turn to face "the Knee" with their Pipe
in their hands and their traditional "Warrior Stories"
held in their hearts, ready to gift them to the sacred
circle in the old way when the People call their
names. Me, I will take my Pipe down to Frank
Clearwater's grave, (we have him close to the Sundance
grounds) put out a little tobacco and tell my sons and
nephews to sit down while I tell them a true story...
it happened back in 1973 my boys, and it was a hellofa
fight.... Mitakuye Oyasin, I am Carter Camp, Ponca
Nation, Founder Oklahoma AIM, National Chairman AIM,
Warrior Citizen of the Independent Oglala Nation.
FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!! NOW!!!
Contact Carter at cartercamp @ yahoo.com
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That's it for now.
Have a great month.
Phil Konstantin
http://americanindian.net
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End of Phil Konstantin's February 2008 Newsletter - Part 2
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