Author: extremelyeloquent

Indian Activist Raps Role of Whites in Rights Denial | October 7, 1975

“I don’t believe in civil rights. It’s human rights I am for.” 

“The solution to our country’s problems isn’t jail, or alcohol, or churches, or higher education, but people.” 

“We, the Indians of the nation are tired of being lied about. We’re tired of being portrayed as seen in the John Wayne westerns.” 

“When the Indians stayed on their reservations and got drunk, and fought and shot and killed between themselves, it was ok. Now that we try to organize and call the political system corrupt, they call us militant, radical, Communists, and subversive.”

Continue reading “Indian Activist Raps Role of Whites in Rights Denial | October 7, 1975”

Before We Were Indians | Early Autumn, 1975

This statement is by John Trudell, national chairman of the American Indian Movement, issued in September, 1975.

We are human beings. Alcohol makes us drunks. Pride and history make us “The People.” I wish everyone would think about this. Before we were “Indians”, we were “The People.” For the Europeans to justify with their humanitarian beliefs the oppression that they have put on our people, they had to create a false label for us. They had to call us something that was not human. Something other than what we actually were. When Columbus came here and thought he was in India, he called us ” Indians” and so we have been “Indians” for only a brief period of time in the history of our people. Our people have been on this land for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. Our people are the product of this land. We can refer to ourselves as the indigenous, the sovereign people, the native people, or native Americans, but we are “The People” as we relate to being “The People”, as long as we act accordingly.

Continue reading “Before We Were Indians | Early Autumn, 1975”

A Statement from John Trudell | Early Autumn, 1975

NOTE: This summer, shortly after the shooting of the FBI agents at Pine Ridge, John Trudell was arrested at his home in Nevada. This is a statement of the legal struggle which he is waging and facing. He requires assistance to cover legal fees.

I’m charged with assault with a deadly weapon and commission of a crime on an Indian reservation because of an incident that happened at a trading post in Owyhee, Nevada. But the real issue comes down to a jurisdictional question, because the way the federal law is set up, if an Indian is accused of committing a crime against a white on a reservation, that Indian is taken into federal custody and tried in federal court on felony charges. If a white commits a crime on a reservation, the white is also taken into federal custody and tried in federal court on felony charges. If an Indian commits a crime against an Indian on the reservation, nine times out of ten it is sent back by federal attorneys to tribal court to be dealt with. So we’re talking about racism being perpetuated by federal law. It’s an automatic crime for an Indian to stand up against a white on a reservation, no matter what that white does to you. The laws are set up so that anyone operating a business on a reservation can violate every law on the books and rob the people, but if the people stand up against the non-Indian for his violations, the people face a special federal law automatically guaranteeing a trip to federal court. Whereas if the Indians are fighting against each other, it is resolved in tribal court.

Continue reading “A Statement from John Trudell | Early Autumn, 1975”

The Shooting Of Russell Means | Late Summer, 1975

“The FBI should explain to us the deaths of people who have been killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation. When we start seeing justice delivered in those terms, then maybe our people will lay down their arms. But all these FBI agents who grew up watching John Wayne like to play cowboys and Indians. This time it backfired. They ran into someone who didn’t want to play. We’re tired of being the only ones killed. You can only push so long and when people have nothing to lose, they fight back.” ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes. Vol. 7, No. 3.

AIM Doesn’t Apologize for Two Dead Agents | June 30, 1975

“The American Indian Movement does not apologize for the two dead Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.” 

“We’re tired of being the only ones killed.” 

“We’ve heard accusations, now let’s see the proof. The press should demand to see the evidence.” – On alleged AIM involvement in shooting of agents on Pine Ridge. 

“A fascist tactic. The state has no jurisdiction on the reservation.” – On Bill Janklow bringing state law officers onto the reservation. ~

SOURCE: Rapid City Journal

Trudell Speaks Out | April 28, 1975

“There is nothing respectful about making people be what they don’t want to be. A white political structure is deciding our way of life. Right now, if we don’t go the white man’s way we become a statistic on alcoholism, suicide, or low level education.”

“I don’t want to talk about violence. Ask the people who make the guns and the bombs about violence. If we defend with violent tactics it’s because we are presented with them.”

“We are not troubled with inner tribal differences as other organizations are. We’re just getting by, which is something all Indians are familiar with.” ~

SOURCE: Life (newspaper), University of Utah. Logan. V.72, No.73

AIM Speaker Describes His Struggle | April 28, 1975

“Civil rights are rights men legislate against you after they take away your human rights.” 

“I do not consider AIM to be a militant organization compared to United States arms policy.” 

“They talk about broken laws, we talk abut 389 broken treaties. Either all these laws mean something or all laws must be invalid.” 

“Wars are being fought against a defenseless people every day. White people say these wars ended with their grandfathers.” ~

SOURCE: Student Life (newspaper), University of Utah. Logan. V.72, No. 73

AIM Maturing, Chairman Says, Despite Criticism. | April 21, 1975

John Trudell the 29-year old chairman of the American Indian Movement, describes his organization as “the extension of the old renegade Indian membership.” Trudell, a Sioux living on the Duck Valley Reservation near the Idaho-Nevada border, was interviewed last week by reporter Thomas J. Lewis of The Idaho Statesman.

“AIM is maturing a little bit,” Trundell said. “We’re coming to the point now where we have a fluid membership.”

“The real question and issue is what about the system that uses the illegal tactics when it comes to its not dealing with issues like alcoholism and other problems. Those are the tactics we’re concerned with.”

Continue reading “AIM Maturing, Chairman Says, Despite Criticism. | April 21, 1975”

From AIM Occupation: Audit, Debate Promised | March 5, 1975

“We feel we started with nothing, now we have the tribe willing to negotiate with the company over the dismissal of 140 employees and a federal audit has been promised of on the job training funds paid to the Fairchild Camera and Instruments Co.”

Conference was called to “get the media to get off our case and to start concentrating on Fairchild.”

“I don’t try to see it from the corporate viewpoint. Besides, no job in America is worth costing people their respect.”

“Yes there’ll be some negative reaction on the part of businesses, but it may be good for the reservation in the long run.”

“All the media coverage I see on this thing is that AIM gets amnesty. AIM did not ask for amnesty. That was never one of our issues or demands. The issues are Fairchild and the exploitation of the Navajo Tribe.” ~

SOURCE: Clovis News Journal

We’ve got to have a commitment so strong | Early Summer, (July) 1974

Prior to the International Treaty Conference, the American Indian Movement held a meeting in Cumberland, Wisconsin to work out its directions, internal strengths, and to set priorities. There, John Trudell, national chairman of the American Indian Movement, spoke on changes which must take place within the movement and AIM if change was going to come about in the lives of native peoples. This is an excerpt from his speech.

When we talk about discipline for the American Indian Movement, commitment is just about the number one thing to think about. We’ve got to have commitment so strong that when we get mad at each other, we overlook it. We’ve got to have commitment so strong that we don’t take no for an answer. We’ve got to have commitment so strong that we will not accept their rhetoric and lies for an answer. We’ve got to have commitment so strong we will live and we will die for our people.

Continue reading “We’ve got to have a commitment so strong | Early Summer, (July) 1974”

Akwesasne Notes | Early Spring, 1974

“We have been condemned for being militant and violent, but in the American Indian Movement, we have not killed anyone, yet many of our people have died. We have not taken anyone and locked them up in prisons, but many of our people have been put in jails. We have not sold alcohol to people on reservations. We have not taken the young children away from their parents and put them in mission schools. We have not taken racist education and put it inside of our boarding schools. We have done none of these things, and yet we are the ones condemned for being militant and violent and radical. It was militancy and it was violence, and it was radicalization that forced these things upon us and it did not come from our communities.” ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes Vol. 6 No. 1 p.11

The present state of the American Indian Movement: An interview with John Trudell by Red Sun | September 27, 1973

RED SUN: We’re talking to John Trudell here, co-Chairman of AIM. We’re gonna ask him a few questions about the incident at Rosebud with Carter and Clyde Bellecourt.

JOHN TRUDELL: Well, our official stand on the whole incident is, its a governmental conspiracy. And we’re talking about being a conspiracy from looking at past government actions and treatment toward Indian peoples. We’re talking about it being conspiracy in the sense that American Indian Movement has been talking about Indian peoples treaty rights, and more basic than that, we’ve been talking about Indian People’s human rights. Our human right to dignity, self respect, our right to respect from other people. Talking about our rights to raise our children, our own way.

Continue reading “The present state of the American Indian Movement: An interview with John Trudell by Red Sun | September 27, 1973”

Judge Delays Aim Leaders Hearing | September 5, 1973

“This conspiracy to destroy the Indian people is being conducted through the use of alcohol, drugs, the judicial system and federal bureaucracy. This conspiracy is targeted not only at AIM, we have only to look at the oppressive conditions of our Indian peoples throughout America to recognize the realness of this conspiracy.” ~

SOURCE: Idaho State Journal

AIM Leader Clyde Bellecourt Shot and Critically Wounded at Rosebud Res. | Early Autumn, 1973

AIM supporters were thoroughly confused by the shooting, split in loyalties, and unsure what to do next. Statements by AIM leadership reflected the uncertainty and by September 4, a statement by John Trudell, national co-chairman (with Carter Camp) could say only that “the central leadership committee of AIM, having thoroughly evaluated all aspects of the shooting, has determined that the shooting was conspiratorial in nature.” Trudell described the conspiracy as aimed at the destruction of Indian people “through the use of alcohol, drugs, the judicial system, and the federal bureaucracy.” Trudell said that AIM refused to aid this conspiracy, and that it was asking members to return to their home communities to carry on with the business of program development for the liberation of native peoples in their own home communities. ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes. p. 8.

More Problems Plague Chilocco | Late Winter, 1972

“We want to return Indian education to Indian people. We do not want the usual government solutions of threats to close down the school. We want improvement within the school, or the building of Indian-controlled schools in the Indian communities. We will not be stayed by intimidation. We are tired of waiting and we will wait no more.” ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes. p. 16.

B.I.A. Beaten Badly in “Battle of the Braids” | Late Autumn, 1972

“Police, armed with shotguns, guarded the back door of the BIA office, while some men were placed on the roof of the building. Sheriff’s deputies were marshalled at the courthouse. But police withdrew at the request of George Scott, a member of the task force and deputy director of the BIA’s office of  education in Washington. There was no need to call the police. Between our group and George Scott’s group, the situation was completely under control. We were in our building, doing Indian work.” ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes. P.9

Graduation at the Institute of American Indian Arts | June 8, 1972

I want to thank the graduating class for inviting me. Personally, one of my main concerns is education, and to narrow it down further, it’s BIA education. To start this off I’m going to read a statement that was used last December at Chilocco Indian School. This statement was issued by the Native American Rights Movement in Oklahoma.

Continue reading “Graduation at the Institute of American Indian Arts | June 8, 1972”

Alcatraz, Few Have Seen Your Beauty as the Indian Has | July 08, 1971

“When the Europeans came to this country, they claimed it and ripped off the natural resources. Why is it alright when they do it and a crime when we do it?”

 “Take the newsmen to all the poverty pockets throughout the country. Conditions are the same in poor areas and ghettos.”

 “Alcatraz was 19 months of temporariness. Indians are used to temporariness. We are always permanently nowhere and temporarily somewhere.”

 “The Indians do not want money but the right to determine the destiny of their community. It doesn’t matter what the sum of money is because these programs don’t aid the Indians. Half the money gets lost in red tape anyway.”

 “This area suited our purpose. It’s a good land base and it’s been totally abandoned. We don’t want to kick anyone out of their house just like we don’t like to be kicked out of ours. The houses look pretty sound. It’s some of the best housing we have ever had. Also, it’s not any more of a hardship to haul food and water up here than it was on Alcatraz.” ~

SOURCE: The Martlet, vol. 11, no. 01

Alcatraz Indians Vow to Press On | June 20, 1971

“We’re not going to quit. We’ve been moved twice and we’re tired, but we are going to keep on plugging because we want someone to listen to us.”

“We’re talking about our right to live, our right to be people and this is how they respond. It shows that their attitude toward us has not changed.”  

“They’ve responded with shows of force. They’re trying to intimidate us, but we’re not going to be intimidated. They’ve always dealt with us with a show of force. We don’t want to get hurt but we’re not afraid of that. We’ll be back. America hasn’t heard the last of its Indians and that’s definite until some active, positive steps have been taken to relieve the conditions we’re talking about.” 

“We need the copper to support ourselves. We claimed the island as our own, just as they claimed this country and we had a right to the resources.” – On copper being removed from Alcatraz and three individuals being charged with stealing. 

SOURCE: New York Times

Alcatraz Indians: Demonstration for Land | June 17, 1971

JIM RUSSELL: About 100 policemen from the San Francisco suburban town of Richmond stormed an abandoned Nike missile site there this morning. The missile site had been occupied by the Indians who earlier were evicted from Alcatraz. The Indians were unarmed and did not resist the officers. A dozen of them were arrested for trespassing, but they were immediately released. Reporter Jeff Kamen spoke to the Alcatraz Indians and the members of the All Tribes organization who had occupied the missile site at the time of the police storming.

JEFF KAMEN: John Trudell is official spokesman for the Alcatraz Indian movement.

JOHN TRUDELL: Local authorities, they came in this morning,  I guess real early this morning, and everything went pretty well. We cooperated up and to the point of where they read us the statement saying that we were trespassing and that if we didn’t leave, we would be arrested. And at that time there were 15 of us, I believe, that said if they wanted to take us off, they would have to arrest us. And some people just – and so, like, the only way we resisted them was there were people that just went stiff or sat down, you know, or wouldn’t take their arms and put them behind their back – people just hanging on to themselves.

Continue reading “Alcatraz Indians: Demonstration for Land | June 17, 1971”

Indians Charge Double-Talk | Early Summer (June) 1971

“The first guarantee they made when the negotiations started was that nobody on the island would be arrested or taken off the island.”

 “Browning wanted to settle the issue some way. He told us they wanted to give us the island and still look good. But word one was that no one – no one – would be arrested or taken off the island while the negotiations were underway.” ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes, Vol. 3 No. 5. P.4

New ‘home’ for Indians | June 15, 1971

“This is good land. This would be a nice place to put a little cultural center and a free Indian University.” 

“This is totally senseless. They have good housing here, good land. Yet there are Indians in this country who have no place to live.” 

“I don’t see us peacefully walking away from here. We’re not afraid. When you get down to it, what can they do to us that they haven’t already done in the past.” ~

Ranks of Indian Invaders Grow at Old Missile Base | June 15, 1971

“This is good land. This would be a nice place to put a little cultural center and a free Indian university.” – re: East Bay Missile Base occupation

“This is totally senseless. They have good housing here. Good land. Yet there are Indians in this country who have no place to live.” re: East Bay Missile Base occupation

“They broke their agreement with us. We decided that if the government did take back Alcatraz from us we weren’t going to go quietly. We’re not quitters.”

“I don’t see us peacefully walking away from here. We’re not afraid. When you get down to it, what can they do to us that they haven’t already done in the past?” ~

SOURCE: The Press Democrat.

American Indians Occupy Nike Missile Site In San Pablo | June 14, 1971

JOHN TRUDELL: Kinda had to find us a new place to live so we figured this would be as good a spot as any. It’s a military base. Belongs to the Federal Government they say. They’re not using it. We could use it. We need it, so we’re here. To put it mildly, we’re pretty upset about the way the government handled the Alcatraz situation.

Continue reading “American Indians Occupy Nike Missile Site In San Pablo | June 14, 1971”

Ousted from Alcatraz and Nike Site, Indians Vow to Keep Plugging | Early Summer, (June) 1971

“But we’re not going to quit. We’ve been moved twice and we’re tired, but we are going to keep on plugging because we want someone to listen to us.”

 “We’re talking about our right to live, our right to be people and this is how they respond. It shows that their attitude toward us has not changed.”

 “We’re not statistics and not that passive Indian who keeps turning the other cheek. We’re not going to be the forgotten Americans any longer, either. We’re going to be Indian-Americans and we’re going to let the whole world know that we’re going to be people.”

 “They’ve responded with shows of force. They’re trying to intimidate us, but we’re not going to be intimidated. They’ve always dealt with us with a show of force. We don’t want to get hurt but we’re not afraid of that. We’ll be back. America hasn’t heard the last of its Indians and that’s definite until some active, positive steps have been taken to relieve the conditions we’re talking about.”

 “We claimed the island as our own, just as they claimed this country.” ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes, Vol. 3 No. 5. P.7

Indians’ Bleak Winter | Early Spring, 1971

 “It has become home. We have lived there and survived, nobody can deny that. If they want to give us the deed fine, but now we will take the initiative to perhaps challenge the legal system or the lack of education that faces the American Indian. You can be certain we will not leave Alcatraz. We have come too far and through too much to start giving land back to the white man.”

“Alcatraz, the idea, is deeply set. And I have found that the idea is not here alone, not on the island, but wherever there is any Indian in this country.” 

 “We will not leave.” ~

SOURCE: Akwesasne Notes, p10

Press Conference/Speech with John Trudell And Lanada Means Reflecting on Native American Treatment and Protest | November 20, 1970

JOHN TRUDELL: November 20, 1969 we came with 89 people to Alcatraz for the purpose of taking the island for all Indian people to have a place we could call Indian land. This tiny island represents freedom for all Indian people living in the Americas known as Canada, the United States, Mexico and South America. These are all our great lands of the Indian peoples now held in bondage by alien governments. We have been here one year occupying this island which represents our fight to live as free people in our own country. Our fight for this island representing freedom for all Indian peoples is nonviolent. We came to this island unarmed prepared to give our lives if necessary.

Continue reading “Press Conference/Speech with John Trudell And Lanada Means Reflecting on Native American Treatment and Protest | November 20, 1970”

John Trudell, by Denny Smithson | November 20, 1970

DENNY SMITHSON: I’m with John Trudell. John has been out here most of the year that the people have been on Alcatraz. John, when did you come to the island?

JOHN TRUDELL: I came out here November 29th. The anniversary of the occupation is today. My anniversary being here is still nine days away.

Continue reading “John Trudell, by Denny Smithson | November 20, 1970”

Indians on Alcatraz till U.S. Ousts ’em | November 19, 1970

“A national park is another part of the American fantasy. America doesn’t need another Disneyland. While tourists are looking at Indian statues, our people will still be living on reservations with inadequate food and clothing, poor educations and in poor health.” – The Department of the Interior’s park plan for the island.

“We’re just as determined as we were in the beginning, only we’re wiser now. We’ve got experience.” ~

SOURCE: The Central New Jersey Home News

Racism and Political Power | October 18, 1970

The program is The Associated Students of the University of Oregon Presents Racism. Taped at the University of Oregon by KBO-FM Portland, during the week of October 18th, 1970. This program includes the first part of a panel Wednesday morning during a week long symposium sponsored by the associated students, with the moderator, Art Jenkins, Gloria Gonzalez of the Chicano Student Union, Frank Martinez, of the Valley Migrant League, John Trudell, of Indians of All Tribes at Alcatraz Island, Kent Ford, from the Black Panther Party in Portland, Charles Evers, mayor of Fayette, Mississippi, and David Sanchez, Prime Minister of the Brown Berets from Los Angeles…The next speaker is John Trudell, from Indians of All Tribes on Alcatraz Island… 

Continue reading “Racism and Political Power | October 18, 1970”

Alcatraz Glows Again: Indians Rekindle the Light  | September, 1970

“For us on the island, and for Indians everywhere, it is a symbol of the rekindled hope that some day the just claims and rightful dignity of the American Indians will be recognized by our fellow citizens.”

“It was in peaceful search of this recognition that we came to the island last November. As long as the light glows, the search will go on.” ~

SOURCE: Raudebaugh, Charles. Akwesasne Notes Vol. 2 No. 5., P. 23.

Alcatraz Indians Short of Water | August 16, 1970

“And now we require only the return of our water. We will make do without electricity, but we must have water.” – On the US Government cutting of electricity to the island and removal of water barge for “repairs.” 

“If something happens and we need water, we’re literally dead.” ~

SOURCE: https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/16/archives/alcatraz-indians-short-of-water-declare-the-island-off-limits-to.html