Today in Labor History February 27, 1973: 300 Oglala Sioux activists from the American Indian Movement (AIM) liberated and occupied Wounded Knee, South Dakota. This was the site of the infamous Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890). They occupied the site to protest a campaign of terror against them by the FBI, and corrupt tribal officials, and the tribal thugs knowns as GOONs (Guardians of Oglala Nation). The occupation lasted over 2 months, before being quashed by the U.S. government. 3 Native activists were killed. Dennis Banks and Russell Means were indicted for their roll, but charges were later dropped due to prosecutorial misconduct.

#aim #indigenous #WoundedKnee #massacre #genocide #occupation #fbi #oglala #sioux #workingclass #LaborHistory #native #terrorism #AmericanIndianMovement

“My girlfriend Annie Mae talked about uranium
Her head was filled with bullets and her body dumped
The FBI cut off her hands and told us she'd died of Exposure…"
- Buffy Sainte Marie
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Feb. 4, 2025
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2025/02/buffys-censored-words-led-to.html

Life & Death of Anna Mae Aquash
https://mgouldhawke.wordpress.com/2025/02/05/review-of-the-life-and-death-of-anna-mae-aquash-akwesasne-notes-1978/

Leonard Peltier Clemency
https://warriorpublications.wordpress.com/2025/01/23/statement-on-leonard-peltiers-clemency-and-the-case-of-annie-mae-aquash/

#AnnaMaeAquash #AkwesasneNotes #firstNations #AIM #IdleNoMore #landBack #LeonardPeltier
#WoundedKnee #PineRidge #Oglala

#Sundance2025 Lineup Highlights Powerful #Indigenous Stories, Including '#FreeLeonardPeltier’ and ‘#ElNorte'

By Kaili Berg, December 17, 2024

"The Sundance Institute recently unveiled the lineup for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which will showcase 87 feature films and six episodic projects that promise daring storytelling and global perspectives.

"Among the films in this year’s lineup are powerful portrayals of Indigenous experiences, including El Norte and Free Leonard Peltier.

"Sundance Institute Senior Programmer Heidi Zwicker told Native News Online that the selection of films underscores diverse narratives in Native films.

"'The films that we have this year indicate how much you can’t define what an Indigenous film should be like,' Zwicker said. 'There’s such multiplicity in the stories and worlds these filmmakers present, even within a single community.'

"The Festival will take place from January 23 to February 2, 2025, with screenings in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as a curated online program accessible to audiences nationwide from January 30 to February 2.

"Free Leonard Peltier, co-directed by #JesseShortBull (#Oglala #Lakota) and #DavidFrance, is a documentary that dives into the life and legacy of Leonard Peltier, a leader of the #AmericanIndianMovement who has been imprisoned for 50 years following a controversial conviction.

"Zwicker described the film as 'rich, well-researched, and deeply emotional,' emphasizing its timeliness as Peltier’s case gains renewed attention in the fight for clemency.

"#GregoryNava’s El Norte follows Indigneous siblings Rosa and Enrique as they flee #Guatemala after their family is murdered in a government-led massacre during the #GuatemalanCivilWar. Their journey to the U.S. becomes a struggle for survival amid the realities of #immigrant life.

"Profits from ticket sales directly support Sundance Institute’s year-round initiatives, including labs, residencies, fellowships, and educational programs through Sundance Collab. These programs empower thousands of artists annually.

"Sundance’s Indigenous Program, led by #AdamPiron (#Kiowa / #Mohawk), is a vital part of this mission, providing ongoing support to #NativeFilmmakers."

Read more:
https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-entertainment/sundance-2025-lineup-highlights-powerful-indigenous-stories-including-free-leonard-peltier-and-el-norte
#AmnestyForLeonardPeltier #ClemencyForLeonardPeltier #ReaderSupportedNews #IndigenousFilmmakers

Demand freedom for Leonard Peltier

Native activists in the U.S. and Earth Defenders around the world face violence, threats, and criminalization for protecting our planet. In solidarity, we support the call to the release of Native American Earth Defender #LeonardPeltier.

In 1973, Peltier and other activists from the #AmericanIndianMovement (AIM) accompanied hundreds of #Oglala #Lakota people in a historic re-occupation of the town of #WoundedKnee, #SouthDakota,

Buried in Time: #BIA Takeover Documents Included #Sterilizations, #PineRidge #Uranium, and #WaterRights

By #BrendaNorrell, #CensoredNews, Oct. 15, 2024

"Buried in Time: When the #TrailOfBrokenTreaties arrived in Washington and took over the BIA headquarters, the documents discovered in the BIA file cabinets altered the course of history. In the caravans from the west coast and northwest were activists from local #Indigenous frontline struggles, from #PitRiver, #SurvivalAmericanIndian, and #Alcatraz.

"The BIA documents exposed the secret plan of #Oglala Chairman #DickWilson to turn over one-eighth of tribal land over to the federal government for #UraniumMining. In the ton of documents taken away in a U-Haul, the documents showed proof of the sterilization of Native women by Indian Health Service doctors.

"And there was more.

"Hidden in these BIA files were the facts about the #WintersDoctrine, and the fact that #NativeAmerican Tribes are entitled to as much #water as they need. It is a fact that the BIA wanted hidden. Today, the states and federal government are attempting to do away with the water rights guaranteed in the Winters Doctrine with complex schemes and #WaterRights settlements.

"In the BIA files were documents showing #LandTheft and illegal leases of tribal lands across the country. Tribal members in the takeover took these back to their home communities. Those files became the basis of land rights cases in courts in the years that followed, according to Censored News interviews."

Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/10/buried-in-time-bia-takeover-documents_15.html

#ReaderSupportedNews #ForcedSterilizations #LandBack #CorruptTribalGovernments #AIM #FreeLeonardPeltier #RussellMeans #DennisBanks

Es sind ganz andere Töne, die der Verein zur Unterstützung indianischer Jugend-, Kultur- und Menschenrechtsprojekte & LPSG (Tokata-LPSG RheinMain e. V.) dieser Tage zu dem indianischen Aktivisten und Langzeitgefangenen Leonard #Peltier vernimmt. Und das, obwohl das FBI sich weiterhin in einem »emotionsgesteuerten Rachefeldzug« gegen den indigenen früheren Aktivisten befindet, so die ehemalige #FBI-Mitarbeiterin Coleen Rowley. Der amtierende FBI-Direktor Christopher Wray bezeichnet den Langzeitgefangenen nach wie vor als »unbarmherzigen Mörder«, ohne dass es bis heute belastbare Beweise für eine Schuld Peltiers an der Erschießung zweier FBI-Agenten 1975 gibt.

Die Stimmen anlässlich von Peltiers 80. Geburtstag kommen aus »dem anderen Amerika«. Sie zeichnen das Bild jenes Mannes, der für die einen ein brutaler, kaltherziger und reueloser Killer ist und für die anderen ein Nelson #Mandela. Im Folgenden zitieren wir aus Statements, Kommentaren, aber auch Gebeten für den politischen Gefangenen. Sie sind vor allem gekennzeichnet durch Achtung, Respekt, Dankbarkeit und dem Wunsch nach Freiheit.

Mitch Walking Elk, #Cheyenne-#Arapaho, Musiker, Autor und Aktivist des American Indian Movement (AIM): »Leonards fortgesetzte Inhaftierung zeigt wie unter einem Mikroskop die Behandlung der #Ureinwohner dieses Landes durch die US-Regierung … Wir segnen dich für dein Leben und unterstützen dich in deiner Freiheit. Danke, Leonard.«

Wade Fernandez, Menominee, Musiker: »Ich weiß, dass Leonard innerhalb der Gefängnismauern einigen jungen Menschen als Mentor dienen konnte, aber jedes Enkelkind sollte die Freiheit haben, an der Seite seines Großvaters auf diesem Land zu wandeln. Bringt Leonard nach Hause.«

Keith Rabin, Aktivist: »Wir können nie genug für all das tun, was er uns gegeben hat.«

Berta Benally, Musikerin, Aktivistin, Mutter der #Navajo-Musiker von #Blackfire & #Sihasin: »Lieber Leonard, es ist sehr traurig, dass du immer noch im Gefängnis sitzt, aber du bist mit deinen schönen Worten eine Inspiration für uns alle. Ich danke dir.«

Mato is’na’la, #Lakota-Aktivist: »Leonard war sehr bodenständig, optimistisch, positiv, fürsorglich, unterstützend und durchsetzungsfähig. Er ist ein traditioneller Krieger, der das Gewicht der Ungerechtigkeiten, des Chaos, der Opfer unseres Volkes ohne Zögern auf sich nahm, mit dem Wunsch zu helfen.«

Henry Red Cloud, #Oglala-Lakota-Chief, Umweltaktivist: »Leonard ist seit fast fünfzig Jahren unschuldig inhaftiert. Nun wird er 80 und sollte sofort freikommen, damit er seine restliche Lebenszeit noch mit Familie, Freunden und vor allem seinen Enkeln verbringen kann.«

Dawn Lawson, Leonard Peltier Official Ad Hoc Committee: »Hinter Gittern hat er mehr für die indigenen Gemeinschaften getan, als sich die meisten Menschen je hätten träumen lassen. Er ist besorgt über den anhaltenden Völkermord an seinem Volk … Er macht sich Sorgen, dass Mutter Erde zerstört wird und sie den Ureinwohnern mehr Land nehmen, weil sie die Ressourcen nutzen wollen.«

Via: https://mastodon.trueten.de/@jungewelt/113120693751377388 #FreeLeonardPeltier #AIM #AmericanIndianMovement #PoliticalPrisoners #FreeThemAll

I don't blame them!

#KristiNoem banned by two more #NativeAmerican tribes in #SouthDakota

Governor, plagued by dog-killing story, unwelcome in 20% of her state after she accused tribal leaders of benefiting from cartels

Dani Anguiano
Mon 13 May 2024 19.52 EDT

"The move by the #YanktonSioux tribe and the #SissetonWahpetonOyate tribe last week follows criticism from the governor who has – without evidence – accused tribal leaders of 'personally benefiting
from drug cartels. The #Oglala, Rosebud, #CheyenneRiver and #StandingRockSioux tribes banished Noem earlier this year.

"In a statement announcing the ban in April, the #RosebudSioux said the decision was based not only on Noem’s recent comments but an 'ongoing strained relationship' with the governor, who took office in 2019.

"The tribe cited Noem’s support of the #KeystoneXLPipeline, her opposition to #checkpoints on reservation borders established by the #CheyenneRiverSioux and Oglala Sioux during the pandemic, and her support of the removal of 'significant sections' of #NativeAmerican history from state social-studies standards, among other issues.

"'Governor Noem claims she wants to establish meaningful relationships with tribes to provide solutions for systemic problems. However, her actions as governor show blatantly otherwise,' the tribe said in a statement.

"'Her disingenuous nature towards Native Americans to further her federal political ambitions is an attack on tribal sovereignty that the Rosebud Sioux tribe will not tolerate.'"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/13/kristi-noem-banned-tribes-south-dakota

#StandWithStandingRock #NoKXL #CulturalErasure #FirstNations #NativeAmericanNews