Dog Soldiers of the American Indian Movement (AIM)

Vanity | 2-`0-05 | Vanity

[Snapple]

An Indian publication points out that when he speaks Colorado's radical professor Ward Churchill is "shielded apparently by his own American Indian Movement (AIM) security team." http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096410293

[Ladypixel]

Thank you - that's what I've been trying to say. But just because Colorado AIM uses the name doesn't make 'em Dog Soldiers... no more than Churchill saying that everyone should have died in 9/11 is accurate. It's just more smoke and mirrors and crap. :)

But yes, both Churchill and Russell Means are players in Colorado AIM. Dennis Banks (who I think you mixed up with Means) also has been affiliated with them in the past, although he's been backing away slowly for years from Means.

And Peltier's no fool; he's going to talk to anyone who might promote getting him out of prison, regardless of which side they stand on. Then again, being in prison sucks, so I'm not surprised. :)

[Trident/Delta]

Damn, stop stealing my braincell. :)

You can have it back, I haven't used up that much of it.....really....

Semper Giggle

[kingu]

Ok, umm, yes, we all agree that there are thugs around Churchill, they call themselves AIM and Dog Soldiers. What is the point you're so insistent on making? It really seems to escape me. Are you attempting to connect Churchill to Anna Mae's murder?

[Trident/Delta]

But just because Colorado AIM uses the name doesn't make 'em Dog Soldiers... no more than Churchill saying that everyone should have died in 9/11 is accurate. It's just more smoke and mirrors and crap. :)

Yeah, I know, I am working very closely on the reservations in North and South Dakota and in Colorado. The REAL Native Americans are being seriously misrepresented by a group of thugs and wannabes that are co-opting the culture, history and heritage. Todays "Dogmen" are just thugs with guns and dope. It is disgraceful in the worst sense.

Yeah, I got Dennis Banks mixed up with Russell Means, although there IS a Dennis Means who was at Wounded Knee. I don't remember if they are related or not. But, I meant Russell.

If, during your course of work you stumble onto anything about Churchills attorney, W. Lee Hill, gimme a shout. I need to chat with him about something.

Semper Fi

[kingu]

I am working very closely on the reservations in North and South Dakota and in Colorado.

Just out of curiosity, with that combination, are you involved with Walking Shield?

[Snapple]

If you look at this thread, which I started, I began by pointing out that Churchill is surrounded by security/enforcement that I said I think are called Dog Soldiers.

My point is that these Dog Soldiers are scaring people in Boulder and they are also dangerous. I read they also cause trouble on reservations. One Boulder student said of churchill, "Everyone is scared of him."

All the people who claim to know about Indians have not discussed that. Do these AIM security cause trouble on reservations?? In Boulder? Shouldn't we notice if people are being intimidated/terrorized???

Since everyone is claiming expertise based on their Indian background, one of my ancestors was "one of the best known men in the Cherokee Nation." ["History of Northwest Arkansas", the chapter on Madison county, Page 1102.]

I actually don't know if he was Cherokee or not. But he moved from Virginia, to Tennessee and finally to Arkansas.
He was a clergyman.

His grandson/my great grandfather was a doctor to Indians.
He used to ride a horse to his patients, but after he hurt his leg he worked as a doctor in a Christian school for Indians. Many of the teachers/administators were Indians.
It was called Levering or "the L."

[Ladypixel]

Yeah, I know, I am working very closely on the reservations in North and South Dakota and in Colorado. The REAL Native Americans are being seriously misrepresented by a group of thugs and wannabes that are co-opting the culture, history and heritage. Todays "Dogmen" are just thugs with guns and dope. It is disgraceful in the worst sense.

That's always bugged me in a great many ways. I know there are still some who are trying to keep the traditions alive and pure, but the drugs and guns are winning (well, that and the booze... I think Whiteclay's still the city which sells the most beer in the nation, anyhow). It's disgraceful, it's disturbing, and it's maddening. :(

I'm not sure if Dennis Means is related to Russell. He might be, though.

I haven't read much on W. Lee Hill of late; he seems to have blended into the scenery (which is probably a wise move on his part). But I'll keep an ear open, and if I hear anything, I'll let you know.

[Trident/Delta]

Thanx. I will repay the favor when I can

Semper Grateful

[Ladypixel]

All the people who claim to know about Indians have not discussed that. Do these AIM security cause trouble on reservations?? In Boulder? Shouldn't we notice if people are being intimidated/terrorized???

If "AIM security" caused trouble on reservations, chances are that the "security" would suddenly disappear. Most of the folks on the reservations have virtually no interest in AIM, at least not anymore; there's been far too much bad press about the organization.

Now, I can tell you that in 2000, Russell Means was arrested (briefly) by Navajo reservation police because he abused his then-wife and his father-in-law. He was arrested prior to that for abusing his previous wife. And he apparently divorced and remarried again, and the last I heard, the woman in question was being abused. That may be some trouble that's been caused on reservations, but I personally doubt that it has any relationship to AIM whatsoever. Similarly, most of the other people who claim to be "security" are usually just goons who look mean, but whether they've actually done anything other than get drunk is debatable.

As for Boulder or Denver, CO, yes, there's a handful of Indian activist-types who are led by Means and Churchill. And yes, they "cause trouble", if you think that causing trouble is looking menacing and decrying the government. They "cause trouble" by opening their mouths and inserting their feet. But I doubt seriously that they're all that intimidating to thinking, rational people. The college students may be in awe, though.

And finally, claiming experience on Indian background: I can say that I have no paperwork proof of tribal blood in my veins; I am not registered. I am, however, married to a tribal member, active in the local Native community in my private life, was the assistant editor of a Native American publication for years, have written tribal-oriented articles for major publications across the US, work in the Native community today, and am a double-major in American history and social anthropology with a specialization in Native American studies. Does this mean I'm the ultimate expert? Heck no. But it does mean that I'm pretty durned familiar with current political events in Native America, both on and off the reservation.

I apologize if it sounded as though I was touting my expertise previously, because that was not my intent. But hey, if you're going to tell us your background, I'll share mine. :)

[Snapple]

Do you know this Indian writer named Suzan Shown Harjo?
I enjoy reading her the most.

[kingu]

My point is that these Dog Soldiers are scaring people in Boulder and they are also dangerous. I read they also cause trouble on reservations. One Boulder student said of churchill, "Everyone is scared of him."

Right, and it falls into your tinfoil hat theory that AIM went and killed a kid beauty queen (JonBenet). I'll also bet that those same Boulder students are afraid of biker gangs, but I hope we're not going to try to connect that to the JonBenet case too.

As to trouble on reservations, loads of folks do that. Most especially drunks who beat their families. Domestic abuse is the most common violent crime on reservations, and of course, Russel Means has been charged with that at least a half dozen times.

I will go further and guarantee that more students at Boulder are intimidated by MECHA and the like than they are of the American Indian Studies program.

My point is that you seem to be focusing on a group that is more diverse than American Indians, and that's saying a lot when you consider there are over five hundred federally recognized nations. There are Dog Soldier societies on many reservations, most especially the Crow, Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations. They're some of the most supportive veterans groups that I've ever seen, and many have members that are on active service overseas.

That's where I'm coming from - one group that has nothing to do with the long history and tradition of Dog Soldiers playing thugs for a fake paper Indian.

[Chad Fairbanks]

AIM (Churchill and Lee Hill) are very obsessed with the FBI. They live to discredit the FBI because they are anti-American, not because they are trying to help Indians.

You DO know, don't you, that Lee Hill has ties with the CIA don't you? Churchill may be anti-america, but Lee, for all his faults, is probably more right-wing than you ;0)

[Snapple]

These Dog Soldiers are not called Churchill's fake Dog Soldiers.

Here is a chronology about the murder of an AIM member named Anna Mae Aquash.

The Lakota Dog Soldiers are mentioned and in a way that seems to be authentic. The killer of Anna Mae, Arlo Looking Cloud, may have been a dog soldier:

"Looking Cloud recieving, and having the gun would be consistent with Lakota traditional ethics dealing with Dog Soldier protocal. Graham was not a Lakota, and a woman would not generally have been assigned the responsibility of dealing with Lakota Dog Soldier business on Lakota land, therefore, it is more likely that Looking Cloud originally did have or recieved the gun."
http://www.jfamr.org/trialtime.html

I can't say how accurate this chronology is, but it does mention the Dog Soldiers and post it for that reason.

Here is another referrence to Dog Soldiers:

"DeMain has included more detailed versions of the alleged events, naming three individuals he believes were involved in Aquash's kidnapping. In DeMain's view the kidnappers (one of whom he claims was also the trigger man in the execution) were acting on orders from above. "These boys wanted to be dog soldiers," he says. "They wanted to be in the gang, they wanted to be important people. They were already doing security and toting around guns. So when someone in the movement ordered Anna Mae's pick-up, they went and did it."
http://www.citypages.com/databank/21/1002/article8432.asp?page=3

[Axenolith]

I thought they were supposed to be the elite that fought to the death in rearguard action?

Funny they would dishonor their legacy defending a member of the Wannabe tribe...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Are you attempting to connect Churchill to Anna Mae's murder?

Worse. Jon benet Ramsey's murder. Churchill and AIM did it, according to Snapple.

[Snapple]

Lee Hill does not work for the CIA.

[Snapple]

Lee Hill goes around pretending to be CIA. It is BS.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Funny they would dishonor their legacy defending a member of the Wannabe tribe...

They wouldn't. That's the point I've been trying to make several times over...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Hahahahahahahaha... So naive.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I never said he was CIA. I said he had CIA ties. Big difference.