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Thu Aug 28 2008

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Reflections on the passing of our people of AIM
by Ben Carnes
October 15, 2007

Earlier today I spoke with a Chief on the East Coast that he heard through the "Indian Grapevine" that Vernon Bellecourt had passed. I called a friend to see if he had heard and he hadn't. I didn't post anything since it was unconfirmed, and out of respect for the family, they should be the ones who made the announcement.

In that time I reflected on the men and women of the American Indian Movement who in their Youth began the struggle for Native rights in Minneapolis. Then South Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, Oklahoma and so on. It was a prairie fire that frightened the government. It was also the fire that captured the imagination and spirit of young boys such as myself. I was 12 years and just been placed in a children's home and the house parent asked me what I thought about what the Indians were doing on TV. It was the scene of the BIA takeover. I had not a clue as to what it meant. Unfortunately, I hadn't heard the name of Lehman Brightman or the occupation of Alcatraz.

I'm 47 now, I've met many of the people who have been associated with AIM, and count many as my friends and relatives. Those young men and women who are responsible for awakening my consciousness of my Native identity or in their sixties. Many of them will be leaving us soon.

It was right after the Oklahoma City bombing when Hazel Little Hawk passed on. I believe it was the deaths of the children who died that day broke her heart. The Creator called her home to take care of those children. I went to her funeral, and then later went to our Sun Dance at Tayac Territory where she came every year. I missed seeing her there, even with the memorial chair we put out for her.

One day I stood looking around at all the people who were there. I noticed that Chief Tayac was getting older, and it made me think that once our Elders and the people we look up to are gone, then who do we have left? We have no one but ourselves and what are we going to do when the next generation asks us about the things we used to ask those Elders? I thought we are going to be in trouble, and I had better start paying more attention.

When we are young, we seem to think that everyone will be around forever. When the last Wounded Knee II veteran passes, Will we have learned anything to carry on, or do we blend into the melting pot of the american nightmare? Do we fulfill greeds corporate dream of the vanishing Indian, and stand to the side while the exploitation and rape of Mother Earth continues. Do we allow those colonial borders or separate us from our relatives to the North and South?

Last weekend in Denver during the protests of the columbus parade, I saw a group of young warriors who were one of the last to stand in front of the parade. The cops seemed to have such anger towards these people they acted brutally with them. I searched for them and sent them my thanks and gratitude for being who they are. They humbly responded and thanked me for being who I was and allowing them the privilege to take those kind of stands for us.

We have always had another generation following us.. Each generation is the Seventh Generation that our ancestors took such pains to leave something behind for.

I only want to urge everyone to take stock of their lives and see if they are doing anything with their lives to count for something. If not then it is time to do something with your life for the people.

I am sorry that we have had so many divisions within our leadership and so much exploitation of our ceremonies by Native and non-Native people. I have seen so much of it that it is no longer a matter of a persons skin color, but the intent of a persons heart.

I would hate for my children say that damn AIM never did nothing but fight and point fingers at each other. I would rather they took time to honor the memories of Anna Mae, Buddy Lamont, Bobby Garcia, Dallas Thunder Shield, my grandfather, Standing Deer, and that list goes on. All the people who were murdered. Remember why they were murdered. Realize that when you stand in the way of the corporate government, you are a threat.

When you make that stand do it with dignity and fight to the last breath. Standing Deer was stabbed over twenty times, the police said that for a man with health and back problems he had put up one hell of a fight.

If you get to pick the time to fight for your life, make sure it is worth risking your life and what you are doing is well thought out. I say this because we are living in different times now. I also say it because we till have a few people left, regardless of what some people may think of them. Many of them may live in your area, while they are still alive look for them and thank them for the sacrifices they have made, and ask them to share a little bit of history with you. Don't be afraid to ask what were the failings of AIM, and if thy could do it over again, what would they have done. Learn from the mistakes of the past and don't repeat them.

I don't perceive myself as a big leader or hero for the things I have done, I keep my ego in check because Peltier is still in prison, the people at Big Mountain are still under suppression, treaty rights have not been honored, and my relatives in prison are still not allowed to pray freely. No, it isn't time to pat ourselves on the back, but we can feel good if our youth of today can at least free themselves of racism, sexism and other ism's that keep us separated. I can only thank the Creator that he has placed the path before me as I walked it. I can thank all my friends in AIM who trusted me to stand with them when it was needed and to go out and speak for the people when it was needed.

I am thankful because when I was 13 and learned who AIM was, and found what what this government did to us as Native people, I was raged. I disassociated from following the path of conformity that society wanted for me. And it brought me years in reform schools, jails and prisons. When I got out prison the last time and I was asked to facilitate a prisoners rights panel in Flagstaff, it was an honor to speak for my relatives locked away in those cages. As I sat on stage, A Cherokee friend introduced himself and said he comes from NE Oklahoma. He stopped for a second, and then said "You know every time I announce I am Cherokee, it never fails. After I am done speaking, someone always comes up and says I'm Cherokee. I don't know why in the world anyone wants to be Cherokee. Its not easy being Cherokee."

The same goes for being Indian, being a warrior and being a practitioner of Native spirituality. Our way of life is hard, so give thanks to those who are still with us, and let them know their life counted for something.

All my relations,
Ben

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