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COAIM BLOG CO AIM LATEST NEWS MEDIA
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June 1, 1992 Superintendent Barbara Booher Dear Superintendent Booher: It has come to our attention that on the weekend of 4 July 1992 there will be ceremonies to change the name of Custer Battlefield National Monument to Little Bighorn National Monument. As you know, we have had a very long and active role and interest in this change, and it was with considerable dismay that we learned that we were not to be invited to the official ceremonies marking the name change. By way of reminder, it has been the American lndian Movement that has led the call over the past nineteen years to have Custer Battlefield renamed, and to insure adequate respect and recognition for our people who were simply defending their territories from invasion by a foreign power in 1876. It was AIM who brought to international attention the inappropriateness and historical fallacy of honoring the loser of a battle of colonial invasion. Finally, after many years, and after risking great personal harm and even the loss of our liberty, AIM is gratified to see that the National Park Service and the United States Congress realizes the justice in renaming the park. It is very unfortunate, insulting, and unacceptable that the prime movers in this affair have now been excluded from the list of official dignitaries at the renaming ceremonies. This, to us, is not only another example of historical revisionism, but it smacks of an attempt to write out of the story those people without whom the story never would have unfolded. Without the agitation of AIM, and the constant and persistent demands that the name of Custer be removed from the monument, the name change that is about to be celebrated would never have happened. We are certain that you will be interested in rectifying this serious omission to the program, and we would like to assist you in that effort. We are herewith submitting a short list of people who have been instrumental in the ongoing efforts to rename the battlefield, and who we insist, in the name of historical accuracy and respect, be included in the official program and on the dais the day of the event. The names are:
We must insist that the above-named individuals be given equal status to any others who will be recognized at the ceremonies as having influenced the decision. These individuals represent the indigenous nations that were present at the battle, and their representation on the program is very appropriate to the occasion. To us, this means that the above-named individuals should be seated on the dais with other dignitaries of the day, and that there should be program acknowledgement of the role of these individuals and the American Indian Movement in the process of the name change. We will be glad to assume the responsibility of contacting all of these individuals to inform them of the decision to include them in the ceremonies. Various chapters of the American Indian Movement plan to attend and participate in the celebration in July; the nature of that participation will be determined by the level of respect and consideration that is given this correspondence. We believe that we have a rightful place in accurately recounting the events leading up to this momentous event, and we plan to be active in the continuing efforts to insure that the indigenous view of history is honestly portrayed. We look forward to your expeditious reply. For all our relations, |
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Colorado AIM Contact us at
denveraim@coloradoaim.org or
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