[News] AIM Women: Infiltration and Stalking by US Agents

[Anti-Imperialist News]

AIM Women: Infiltration and Stalking by US Agents

Posted by 
<http://narcosphere.narconews.com/users/brenda-norrell>Brenda Norrell 
- November 26, 2010 at 4:50 pm
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/brenda-norrell/2010/11/aim-women-infiltration-and-stalking-us-agents 


SAN FRANCISCO -- Women in the American Indian Movement shared stories 
of lives lived with great courage, as federal agents stalked them and 
attempted to intimidate them, during the AIM International Conference 
this week.

The AIM Women's Leadership panel brought together five AIM women to 
share their life stories. Anne Begay, Navajo, was among them. Begay 
is the mother of Kathy Peltier, the daughter of Leonard Peltier.

Begay spoke of her Dine' family, a medicine family of men and women 
medicine people, who provided her with a childhood of structure, rich 
with history and culture.

After returning from the Longest Walk in 1978, Begay took her 
daughter Kathy to the park one day. Her daughter was about two years 
old at the time.

"This gentleman sat down next to me, with shiny shoes."

He began to question her. "Who's her father?"

"None of your business," Begay told him. He persisted with his 
questions and referred to the murder of Anna Mae Aquash.
He said, "Well, we know who you are. And if you're smart, you'll know 
what we did to Anna Mae can happen to your daughter too."

"So, for all those years, it has been terrifying," Begay said, "to 
know that they can do that to my daughter."

Speaking on the panel, Yvonne Swan, Colville from Washington State, 
spoke of being under government surveillance in the 1970s, because 
Leonard Peltier was her friend, and Bill Kunstler was her lawyer. 
Swan spoke of learning to become aware of the men "with shiny shoes," 
and men in suits, parked in unmarked cars. She trained her children 
to watch for these men, and once her son was grabbed by one of them, 
but was able to get away.

During her fight against corporate mining, she also watched for those 
federal agents that stalked members of the American Indian Movement. 
"The government is merely a screen for the rich corporations," Swan 
said. "They have the money to buy people off, they have the money to 
send people in to disrupt. "But don't ever underestimate the power of 
the people."

Opening the panel discussion, Swan said the voices on the panel were 
coming from the hearts and spirits of the women.
"We're survivors of abuse as women, as is Mother Earth, as is 
Grandmother Moon."

Speaking of the importance of the American Indian Movement, Swan said 
she takes her actions seriously and holds herself accountable. "We're 
caretakers, we are up against the destroyers."

"We are told to not take more than we need, because there are future 
generations that are coming that will be hungry."
Swan pointed out that the Six Nations model of governance became the 
model for the US Bill of Rights. However, the US removed the aspects 
of the Six Nations governance that gave US women power and 
leadership. Ultimately, the US tortured and imprisoned women in the 
US as they fought for their right to vote.

Swan also pointed out the role of the Pope that resulted in American 
Indians being called "Savages."

Madonna Thunderhawk, Lakota, said the struggles are 
intergenerational, the struggles for the "land, water, our people, 
the children."

"The work continues, the struggle continues." Thunderhawk said she 
has continued to struggle since the 1960s in South Dakota, because 
this is what the movement taught her. "I learned not to just sit back 
and complain."

Thunderhawk said she appreciated seeing the youths present at the 
conference, and that Clyde Bellecourt's talks always fire her up.

Corine Fairbanks of Santa Barbara, Calif., AIM, spoke of watching out 
for personal egos and those on Facebook who pose as traditional 
Indians, but are actually New Agers. Fairbanks also spoke of 
disruptions, with people carrying out the work of federal agents by 
spreading negative comments. Speaking on infiltration, Fairbanks 
pointed out that even small groups of peace activities are targeted 
for infiltration by US agents.

Morning Star Gali, Pit River, born in the AIM Oakland house, said 
organizing within the movement has been an honor.
"For me, the movement was always grounded in a place of spirituality 
and love, that was the movement I was raised in."
Morning Star spoke of bullying and abuse. She encouraged women to 
support one another. "We're survivors, we're survivors of rape, we're 
survivors of abuse."

Watch this webcast, recorded live by Earthcycles:
<http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/11046674>http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/11046674




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