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1 November 1986
Dears Mssrs. Means and Wahpepah:
The members of the American Indian Movement of Colorado,
in its monthly New Moon Feast and organizational meeting, has discussed your
letter to Colorado AIM co-directors Ward Churchill and Glenn Morris dated
September 23, 1986. We find the allegations, actual and implied, which are
contained in the letter to be offensive and unsubstantiated.
It is important for you to be apprised that this chapter
has been aware of, and has supported, its co-director's decision to distance
themselves from certain policies and positions of the International Indian
Treaty Council over the past eighteen months. Neither of our co-directors has
been interested in identifying himself with certain offensive positions of IITC,
nor have we desired them to. Therefore, we have no objection to your taking
formal notice of the fact that our co-directors have disaffiliated themselves
from your policies and practices.
As to the specific points and allegations in your
letter, we take note of the following:
- Contrary to your position that the IITC is "an
organization and not a movement," we point out that this is so only in
the narrowest legal sense, and in accordance with its United Nations (i.e.,
non-Indian) consultative status. It is our recollection and understanding
that the IITC was created, and has always been intended to function, as the
international diplomatic arm of the American Indian Movement. In this
very important respect, the IITC is a subordinate unit of AIM, and must be
subject to the will and desires of the entire AIM membership.
- Contrary to your statement that the IITC is
"your" organization (and, by this, we are unsure whether you mean
the personal property of the two signatories to the letter, or of the IITC
Board), we point out that the IITC was founded under the spiritual sanction
of the elders, with entirety of AIM as its constituency. Therefore, it seems
very presumptuous of a small group of individuals to claim the IITC as their
own.
- Contrary to your recognition of a "National
Governing Council" of AIM (last year it was called the "AIM
Central Council"), we point out that even Bill Means acknowledged, in
March of this year at Oglala, that no such entity had been functioning in
several years. We further point out that no such entity could have
legitimately been reconstituted without the active participation of all AIM
chapters, including this one.
- Consequently, it is difficult for us to lend
legitimacy and authority to any self-proclaimed group of individuals
describing themselves as the AIM Governing Council. Any such group should be
reminded that this chapter is staunch in its convictions and unified in its
position, and threats to "discipline or take other action" against
Colorado AIM are taken seriously. Such hostility and threats must, and will
be met with the united determination of the membership of this chapter. Any
attempt to force this chapter to abandon its principles of defending Indian
interests everywhere, respect for the earth, our elders and children,
respect for the Indian family, condemnation of drug and alcohol use, and
organizing our local affairs as we determine, will be met with an
appropriate response.
Insofar as your letter represents an affront to us, both
personally and collectively, and represents a breach of our agreement reached at
the Wounded Knee Memorial this year, we assume that you have some sound basis
for not keeping your word. Since you are in now way specific about the charges
in your letter, and since we are an active AIM chapter and a party to the Oglala
agreement, we request that you provide us with the following information
immediately, and in writing.
- The names and addresses of all the individuals
constituting the present IITC Board of Directors and Board of Trustees,
particularly those who personally participated in the decision to expel
Churchill and Morris.
- The nature of any specific complaints against Morris
and Churchill, and the nature of any substantiation of the validity of such
complaints. If substantiation assumes the form of documents, provide copies.
- Information as to whether the Board meeting in
question was open or closed, whether or not Morris or Churchill had notice
that their specific cases were to be discussed, whether or not Morris or
Churchill had an opportunity to respond to the charges against them, and
whether the decision was actually taken on June 8, since notification was
not sent until September, and Bill Means failed to mention such a decision
on July 1 to Churchill when they participated together in the Yellow Thunder
Camp hearing in Rapid City.
In closing, we would like to state that our desire is
for a cohesive and unified front within AIM and IITC in the defense of Indian
peoples and nations. We do not view our positions as inconsistent with this
desire, but we must say that attacks on our members will not be taken lightly.
Our hope is for the amicable resolution of differences within the movement, but
regardless, we are committed to continuing our work in good conscience. We are
still awaiting confirmation of a joint delegation to Nicaragua which Bill Means
promised to work on with the Sandinistas at the Wounded Knee Memorial, and we
also await the unity activities between us which were agreed to at the same
meeting.
For Colorado AIM
Joe and Vivian Locust, Lena Nelson, Jolynne Locust,
Sandy Janis, Dave Woodcock, Theresa Berg, Iva Roy, Connie Nelson, Tony Belindo,
P Ironshell, Troylynn Yellow Wood, Kathy Lonetree, George Morris, Karen Mighell,
Randy Alcott, Angie Begay, Alvina Dreamer, Gabe Dreamer, Kathy Dreamer
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