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Autonomous AIM's
Edgewood Declaration
The Edgewood Declaration of the International Confederation
of Autonomous Chapters of the American Indian Movement adopted by
consensus at Edgewood, New Mexico December 18, 1993
We are the American Indian Movement. AIM. We walk into the future in
the footsteps of our ancestors, following the principles of our
traditional spiritually, sovereignty, self-determination, sobriety, and
mutual respect. Hence, we are firmly committed to the time-honored
indigenous political perspective of the inalienable and inherent right
of the people to decide for themselves, by a grassroots, democratic
process, the nature of their destiny. It follows that we hereby declare
and reaffirm that we are, in the manner of those who have come before
us, an international confederation, an alliance of fully autonomous but
reciprocally supporting chapters. Accordingly, each chapter of AIM
agrees to advance the cause of indigenous sovereignty and
self-determination within its own context and regional conditions.
Decisions of local and state chapters are made independently and, given
a legitimate local base and constituency, such decisions are to be
accorded respect by other chapters.
Our reasons for making this declaration, regarding matters which many
people might consider self-evident, concern certain recent assertions
and resulting public confusion fostered by a small group of individuals
based mainly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, calling itself the National
American Indian Movement (N-AIM, or "name"; founded, by its own account,
in July, 1993). Because of the nature of the false claims lately
advanced by these people, and the publicity they have received on the
basis of such lies, it has become necessary to publicly address and
repudiate them. This is especially true with regard to the notion that
there exists either a legitimate AIM "National Office"
or "National Officers" with authority to appoint or remove local AIM
members from whatever positions they occupy on the basis of chapter
affirmation, or to dictate "policy" to the movement as a whole.
Let us be perfectly clear. There has not been a genuine national
membership meeting of the American Indian Movement since 1974.
Therefore, no membership authorization for a national office or national
officers can possibly be said to have been obtained since that time. To
the contrary, it has been specifically determined on at least two
separate occasions during the intervening two decades that such a
structure and/such titles are contrary to the interests of the movement
and of American Indian people more generally. AIM leadership has always
come from the bottom up - on a chapter by chapter basis - not from the
top down. And the sporadic self-ordained "AIM National Leadership
Meetings" conducted during the 1980s and '90s have done nothing to
change this essential fact. Again we must be
clear. AIM is not - despite statements lately issued by Vernon and Clyde
Bellecourt, Carole Standing Elk, and others - a corporate entity, under
the laws of the United States, the State of Minnesota or any other
foreign government. Nor is it an entertainment enterprise, a personal
fiefdom, a "career option," a medium for private profit, or any of the
other things this fringe element seems to believe. Instead, AIM is a
bona fide national liberation movement - open to the participation of
all indigenous people, regardless of the "status" or "recognition"
bestowed upon them by our oppressors - oriented specifically and
exclusively to reasserting the sovereignty and self-determining dignity
of our nations. Because of all these factors, we state without hesitancy
or equivocation that we collectively reject all pretense to legitimacy
or authority by N-AIM and/or those individuals it has unilaterally
appointed to positions of regional or local "leadership" over the past
several months.
Let it be understood by all those reading this document that we will
no longer tolerate the divisiveness and disruption brought about by
N-AIM or any similar entity. Beginning now, we have commenced the
process of doing what is necessary to maintain the integrity of the
American Indian Movement and the struggle it represents. All those who
consider themselves allies, supporters or advocates of indigenous rights
will respect our position, and respond accordingly.
New Mexico AIM
Colorado AIM
Oklahoma AIM
Florida AIM
Northern California AIM
Southern California AIM
Texas AIM
Southeast AIM
Northwest AIM
Also endorsed by telephone by Chief Billy Tayac, Mid-Atlantic AIM
(Attendence photo taken immediatey after the Declaration signing...
Provided by Bobby Castillo)
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