TEXAS AIM RESPONSE TO VERNON BELLECOURT’S MISINFORMATION AND LIES
There is, needless to say, friction between the two factions of the AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT. When one considers the staggering number of issues Indian people face, disunity is truly a sadness. Therefore, we, at txaim, have always tried to focus on issues, and not allow ourselves be sidetracked, by the factionalism inherent in some activist circles. Sometimes, however, it may be prudent to step back and offer the facts, about the rumors and lies that others seem committed to. While we still do not believe in wasting time, energy, and effort, better spent helping Indian people, we offer the following response to statements made on the National AIM, Inc. website, for TRUTH’S SAKE.
First, some background history is in order. When this chapter was in it’s infancy, I received several phone calls from Vernon Bellecourt. In these and subsequent conversations I have had with him, he has alternately called me an "AGENT", a "PIG", a "PROVOCATEUR", etc.. Curiously, when not spewing this poop, he has managed to slip in several "OFFERS". Vernon has told me on several occasions, if I would "BE A TEAM PLAYER", or "PLAY BALL", I would be his "MAIN GUY IN TEXAS." He made it clear that "being a team player", and "playing ball", meant renouncing the very people I, and this chapter, are associated with. Apparently, if I would CHANGE SIDES, I would be his "executive director", or Grand Poobah, or whatever, in Texas. Funny thing is, I know, and actually like the person that was already filling this "position" for Vernon. At first it was Danny Hair, and later it became, by some process, Juan Mancias. I have talked to Juan at length, and although we disagree on some things, overall, we are very much in agreement on what we should be doing. And it isn’t attacking people within the American Indian community, or engaging in character assassination.
National AIM, Incorporated’s statement (in non-bold type), and our rebuttals (in bold type), follow:
On December 17-18, 1993 a group of suspected government agents, co-conspirators, collaborators, and a few unsuspecting pawns and dupes convened a meeting at Edgewood, New Mexico under the banner of the so-called "confederation of autonomous AIM" chapters and released the Edgewood declaration in which they launched their attack on the legitimate leadership of the American Indian Movement.
This tribunal was called before a panel of NON-AIM, Indigenous people, to present charges that the Bellecourts were acting counter to the movement’s best interests. The many charges included, but were not limited to:
¤ Establishing AIM as 501c3 tax exempt entities, and accepting government and corporate funding, which AIM had declared many times it would not do.
¤ Dealing drugs in the Indian community
The Bellecourts did attend this tribunal, albeit in an intrusive, and intimidating manner. At the conclusion of this tribunal, all parties agreed to reconvene one year later. THE BELLECOURTS SWORE ON THEIR OWN PIPE, TO RETURN FOR THE SECOND TRIBUNAL. THEY DID NOT SHOW, LEAVING ONE TO WONDER WHAT THEY THINK OF THEIR OWN VOWS, AND THEIR OWN PIPE. The non-Aim panel found the Bellecourts guilty of most, but not all, of the charges. As a result, the Bellecourts were banished from the American Indian Movement. They continued, however, to operate their AIM, Inc. chapters from their Minneapolis base of operations.
This declaration was signed by Russell Means, Glen Morris, Bob Robideaux and David Hill. In addition to these individuals we find at the heart of this conspiracy Ward Churchill, Bobby Castille (sic), George Martin, Donald Grinde Jr., Paulette d’ Autueil, M. Annette Jaimes, Nantinki Rose and Robert (Bob) Roche. We believe that Joe D. Locust, Sr., Dianne Million, Sharon Venne and Regina Brave Dixon are unsuspecting dupes who have allowed themselves to be used by these conspirators (see Susan Shown Harjo letter). Faith Townsend Attaglia (of Dark Night Field Notes), Shelly Davis, and Bill Lawrence, owner and publisher of the so-called Native American Press in Minnesota, along with reporters, Gary Blair and Joe G. Geshick are co-conspirators, and are directly connected to this misinformation campaign. (Joe G. Geshick was in attendance at the mock tribunal).
In addition, Bill Lawrence and his newspaper have aligned themselves with the likes of Bud Grant, Howard Hansen and other individuals and organizations like CERA, Citizens Equal Rights Association, PERM, PARR, etc., which by their words and deeds have proven themselves to be anti-Indian, anti-Indian Nation Sovereignty and anti-Treaty Rights, which includes the spiritual, cultural, social, economic, and political rights of our Indian peoples. (See lawsuit, V. Bellecourt v. Lawrence & Geshick)
Can it be that all these people, and all of these organizations, are in league with the gov’t., and the Bellecourts the sole bearer’s of truth? That people Like Russell Means and Bob Robideau, who have spent their entire lives in the struggle for Indian sovereignty, are wrong, and drug dealers like Vernon Bellecourt, are right? Joe Geshick is a FULL BLOOD ANISHINABE, the same Anishinabe people the Bellecourts claim 1/8th lineage to, who has documented the many Bellecourt antics through the years, and we have his many articles about them, available upon request. Joe is an avowed non-AIM person, so his views cannot be called slanted, or biased, by any factionalism.
The group gathered to discuss their concerns regarding a defamatory "tribunal" in which distinguished Indian leaders of national and local Indian organizations were "put on trial" and condemned by a radical group of self-styled "Indian activists" falsely claming to be members of the American Indian Movement, and spearheaded by ring leader Ward Churchill.
Radical group? One must wonder what is meant by this, when referring to a National Liberation Organization. Sounds like the FBI talking. But, then again, since the Bellecourts and their minions NEVER confront the us government, as it would affect their multi-million dollar organization, maybe this is not such a mystery. Ward Churchill is a professor of Indian studies at the University of Colorado. He is a published author of several books concerning the various aspects of the Indian struggle. He is a highly sought-after speaker, and many times has obliged requests, with little or no payment, at his own expense. What’s more, he was brought into the AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT, by none other than CLYDE BELLECOURT himself. Years later, when Ward began to speak out against the Bellecourts, they suddenly began labeling him an AGENT, a PROVOCATEUR, a CONSPIRATOR, and a WHITE MAN, OR "WANNABE." This all sounds very familiar. Even the Bellecourts own, Charlotte Black Elk, is quoted as saying" I agree with most of what Ward Churchill says, but he is not Indian enough to say it." Uh….ok.-I think.
The American Indian Movement Grand Governing Council has allowed them to have their say going back to September 23, 1986 when Ward Churchill and Glen Morris were expelled from the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC). After seven (7) more years of investigations by our Council on Security, and attempts to reason with Russell Means, who continues to be aligned with them and is a central figure in this conspiracy, Ward Churchill and Glen Morris were expelled from the American Indian Movement on November 24, 1993. Six years later in 1999 they continue their misinformation campaign and attacks against the leadership of the American Indian Movement on the Internet.
Their deceitful method of operation becomes clear and are listed as follows:
1. Their web site is a perfect example. They list issues as their own that the American Indian Movement, International Indian Treaty Council and other organizations have been developing over a thirty-year period of time.
Russell Means and Ward Churchill were co-founders of the IITC, and later resigned from the organization, when it had clearly strayed from it’s (sic) intended purposes. So, just whom is capitalizing on whose work? Yes, we continue to address the same issues we have addressed since 1968. And when was National AIM, INC., founded? The 80’s? The 90’s? Bound by the laws of Minnesota, and the united states government? Hmmm……..
2. They list as related sites various well known organizations and individuals and projects in order to cloak their misinformation campaigns with legitimacy.
3. Specifically, in regards to the revisionist writings of Ward Churchill, Glen Morris and Russell Means, they often use people such as Vine Deloria, LaDonna Harris, Gerry Spence, Noam Chomsky and many other Indian and non-Indian intellectuals and academics, some who naively play into their game plan.
One would think that if these authors had an issue with being quoted by AIM leadership, they could speak for themselves. In any case, I don’t think they would leave it to the Bellecourts to air their grievances, assuming they had any complaints at all. Indeed, one has to believe their work is meant to be consumed and quoted by true, front-line activists. After reading the highly regarded works of Vine Deloria, LaDonna Harris, Gerry Spence, and Noam Chomsky, I hardly think you can call them "naïve." Even the Bellecourts call them intellectuals, and academics. Again, ALL these people are misinformed? I don’t think so.
4.Working with willing agents like Santos "Hawks Blood" Suarez, and Lawrence Sampson and others, they are attempting to sell for money chapters of so-called confederation of autonomous AIM and AIM club membership cards.
Hey, I made their "A" list! And no one, NO ONE has EVER been sold a chapter, or membership, or membership card, by me. I don’t even possess a membership card. We don’t use them. And although I do not personally know Santos Hawk’s Blood, and cannot speak for him, I know of him, and it’s safe to say, he hasn’t done these things, either. Santos had been active in Texas in years past, and this is clearly an attempt to discredit any Autonomous AIM personnel in Texas. Yes, we equally share the burden of effort, and finances in this chapter. That is to say, we handle our affairs in as traditional a manner as possible. . But probably no one has contributed more than myself, in the area of finances, for this chapter, over the last several years. I guess if I were a 501c3, receiving several million dollars a year in corporate and government funding, then finances wouldn’t be a problem. Then, even though I wouldn’t have a job, I could have a big, nice house, and drive Cadillacs with AIM-1 license plates on them, just like Vernon and Clyde Bellecourt. But then, I would never confront the us government, which would be buttering my proverbial bread. JUST LIKE THE BELLECOURTS.
5. They continue to perpetuate this misinformation campaign in front-operations like Dark Night Field Notes, using well-known persons like Noam Chomsky, Eddie Hatcher, Winona LaDuke, and others on their advisory board. They are now putting out the same misinformation on the Internet (see letterhead and Dark Night Field Notes by Faith Attaglia, and Chomsky, LaDuke letters), also (See Bob Brown, AAPRP letter).
6. They use publications like Houghton-Mifflin, Random House Publishers, South End Press, and Speak Out Speakers Bureau who allow Ward Churchill and others to perpetuate their literary, academic, and Indian fraud on the unknown public.
7. In order to carry out this cruel hoax, they are deceitful and treacherous to the point that they will always surround themselves with innocent and naïve individuals out of the Indian and non-Indian communities, some who are well known who actually have endorsed their revisionist, inaccurate, shoddy, and fraudulent writings. The result of this is that without review of the contents of their publications, Indian and non-Indian educators and educational institutions and libraries are using these books in their curriculum. In doing so, they and our students become victims of this fraud.
8. Using the American Indian Movement to give themselves credibility, cover and access, they have been able to infiltrate other organizations and movements nationally and internationally.
I think I see a pattern. Either these guys are full of it, or we have the greatest brain-washers in history. Multi-million dollar industry giants even succumb to our powers. The Bellecourts are afraid of the facts, plain and simple. Everything we say and stand for is well known, and documented by accredited third parties. The Bellecourts are left naked by the truth. The Emperor has no clothes….
What you can do to help:
1. The American Indian Movement Grand Governing Council urges our friends and supporters worldwide to expose and isolate these conspirators expeditiously.
2. We request that educators, Indian and non-Indians alike remove from their curriculums and libraries all of their revisionist, inaccurate and shoddy writings, and send them back to their publishers (a clear example of the problem is the Encyclopedia of the North American Indian by Frederick E. Hoxie, published by Houghton Mifflin, a subsidiary of Random House. Mr. Marc Jaffe of Houghton Mifflin first contacted and met with Tim Giago, Oglala Lakota, and award winning publisher of Indian Country Today, and syndicated columnist to do the book, and without notifying Mr. Giago, Mr. Jaffe selected Mr. Hoxie who allowed Indian literary and academic fraud, Churchill to submit the article, "Radicals and Radicalism, 1990 to the Present." Everyone knows that Mr. William A. Means has provided key leadership in the development of the International Indian Treaty Council from its inception in 1974 to the present. IITC is the international political and diplomatic corp of the American Indian Movement, yet, Churchill gives credit to fellow wannabe Jimmy Durham, and Winona LaDuke. No doubt Churchill's motives in his revisionist writings in omitting William A. Means is because of the 1986 letter in which Mr. Means expelled both Churchill and Glen Morris from further association with IITC.
Tim Giago is an ex-goon. He has always been anti-AIM, and has never supported freedom for Leonard Peltier. Indeed, one of his favorite stunts, is to print articles critical of Leonard, WRITTEN BY THE FBI, whenever Leonard comes up for parole. This is a perfect example of the type of people the Bellecourts associate with, and promote.
3. Discontinue utilizing Speak Out Speakers Bureau and publications from South End Press, Zeta Magazine and Common Courage Press until they agree to stop promoting these frauds. Additionally, do now allow Native American Press to be circulated in your place of business or community
Hopefully in the process, you’ll cause so much trouble and headaches for the few entities assisting Indians in our struggle; we’ll be left with little or no reputable assistance in revealing the breadth of it. Advertise so much divisiveness, no one will take an interest in our plight. Thereby leaving the Bellecourts, and their millions of dollars in funding, best situated to spew their venom at, and about, anyone who opposes them. They will then be the only "truth." Yikes….
4. Join with us in demanding that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold Waco and Ruby Ridge-type hearings on the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota Nation; the site of Wounded Knee 1890-1973, and the botched FBI operation that left FBI agents, Williams and Coler and AIM member, Joe Stuntz dead. An FBI operation that led to the deaths of Anna Mae Aquash, Buddy Lamont, Frank Clearwater, and Pedro Bissonette to name a few of many, and Leonard Peltier remains in prison after twenty-three years.
5. We request that organizations such as the National Indian Education Association and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium create a watchdog-type agency to review what books are being published by these literary, academic, and Indian frauds so that their revisionist writings are not finding their way into our education curriculum. This problem is of epidemic proportions, and must be stopped.
The process of finding who is responsible for Anna Mae’s death is moving forward, albeit slowly. So far, the evidence, and the people apparently involved, all point their collective fingers at Vernon Bellecourt himself, for orchestrating the murder. So, in this case, at least, he is getting what he wants. Indeed, Russell Means has stated publicly, Vernon ordered her murder, as Vernon was an informant of the FBI, while in charge of security for AIM. Of course, everyone who fingers Vernon, is called an agent, a provocateur, a pig….Never the facts, just character assassinations. As for the request for writings to be "reviewed", methinks the only goal here is censorship of anyone critical of the Bellecourts. Anyone for a good, ole-fashioned book burning? They wish to become the NAZI’s of the Indian community. Or have they already?
We have several articles, and other information about the Bellecourts’ history. We encourage everyone who reads this to educate yourself, and make your own conclusions. Read Russell Means’ autobiography WHERE WHITE MEN FEAR TO TREAD, and see what Russell has to say about Vernon and his brother, Clyde. Read Why Do You Think We Call It A Struggle? And feel free to contact us with any questions, about the information mentioned herein.
Lawrence Sampson
TEXAS AIM
Co-Founder
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