1994 Charges against the Bellecourts 1

COAIM BLOG
(latest news,
updates, opinions,
etc.)

CO AIM
principles
councils
history
photos
in the media

LATEST NEWS
community
upcoming events
urgent issues

MEDIA
alternative
indigenous
mainstream

RESOURCES
educational
legal
perspectives
links

STRUGGLES
native struggles

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

This packet of materials was produced in response to the self-serving and unprincipled actions of the corporate clique in Minneapolis, MN that calls itself the National American Indian Movement, Inc. (NAIM). We have never attacked the work or the positions of others who are engaged in the liberation of indigenous peoples, and we created the attached material, not to encourage division or infighting, but to defend ourselves from the malicious and inaccurate attacks by NAIM, Inc. To those in Minneapolis who have proclaimed themselves to be the "Grand Governing Council" or the "Grand Poobahs" or the dictators of AIM, we say that AIM has been, and is today, a confederation of autonomous chapters, dedicated to the freedom of indigenous peoples everywhere. We do not need bosses, we do not need gurus or our own tyrants to remind us of the work that needs to be done, or how to do it. AIM is not an organization or a club. AIM is an idea that is as old as indigenous resistance in this hemisphere. AIM did not begin in1968, it began sometime in 1493, when indigenous peoples first decided to resist the invasion and theft of our homelands. It began when our ancestors resisted invaders who decided to rape and enslave and murder our people. AIM is larger than individuals, it is larger than an organization, and it will continue as long as there are Indian people who love this land, and who love their people more than life itself.

International Confederation of Autonomous Chapters of the American Indian Movement

Plaintiffs

Colorado AIM
Dakota AIM
Florida AIM
Illinois AIM
New Mexico AIM
Northeast Oklahoma AIM
Northern California AIM
Northwest AIM
Ohio American Indian Movement
Southeast AIM
Southern California AIM
Virginia AIM Texas AIM
Wounded Knee AIM
Wraps His Tail AIM IMontana)

Defendants

Vernon Bellecourt
Clyde Bellecourt

Indictment and Statement of Charges

The following charges are brought by the membership of the American Indian Movement (AIM), in confederation with one another, for the purpose of calling to account certain persons [hereinafter defendants) who have. either individually or collectively. misrepresented themselves as being the bona fide, legitimate and exclusive leadership of AIM on both a national basis and internationally. The defendants have, through their actions, brought disrepute and dishonor upon AIM as a national and international movement, and upon those of us who are members of AIM. Their statements. pretensions and other misconduct have, over an extended period, proven extraordinarily divisive and disruptive to the Movement as a whole. For far too long, we have responded to such provocation by taking the 'high road." remaining silent in the name of a unity which the defendants appear neither to believe in nor even understand, seeking to keep internal that which the defendants have insisted upon airing in public, trusting that eventually they themselves would come to see the error of their ways and correct their behavior accordingly. Our reward has been an ever greater escalation in their activities, the sowing of such discord and confusion both within and without our Movement that at this point not only the immediate effectiveness but the very continuing existence of AIM is drawn into question. Under such conditions. It is our obligation to act in a decisive manner to remove the malady which afflicts us.

The Tribunal

The charges that follow are therefore brought by the Movement as a whole, in an effort to deal with the situation summarized above by a means reaffirming the democratic traditions of our indigenous nations. In this way, we intend, among other things, to insure that the American Indian Movement remains true to its ideals of grassroots, autonomous decision-making and accountability. We also intend to provide clarification to all interested parties with regard to the principles which continue to motivate and guide the membership of AIM, and those that do not. For this purpose, a Tribunal composed of fair and impartial individuals will convene to consider these charges in Oakland, California, on March 26 and 27, 1994. The defendants will, of course, be entitled to respond to any and all charges alleged against them, to present testimony, cross-examine and call witnesses, and provide other relevant evidence in their defense. Upon hearing and otherwise reviewing such evidence as is presented, the Tribunal will render appropriate judgments concerning the activities of the defendants. These judgments will be considered binding and final by all parties concerned. The structure and objectives of the Tribunal are consistent with the judicial traditions of our peoples. Its authority emanates from the inherent power of the membership of the American Indian Movement, and from the chapters bringing this indictment (Colorado, Dakota, Florida, Illinois, Mid-Atlantic, Montana, New Mexico, Northern California, Northeast Oklahoma, Northwest, Ohio, Southeast, Southern California, Texas and Virginia) to decide for themselves the nature, direction and leadership of AIM. All allies of indigenous people are expected to abide by its decisions in this matter.

The Charges

The plaintiffs assert that AIM is a national liberation movement, comprised of autonomous and independent local chapters, confederated through voluntary association. Each chapter agrees to advance the cause of indigenous liberation and self-determination within its own context and regional conditions. Centralized political control is contrary to indigenous tradition, and we consequently reject it as being a model of organization which is foreign to our heritage. We also find political centralization to be authoritarian, anti-democratic, and intrinsically repressive. Tactically, it renders us unnecessarily vulnerable to penetration, manipulation and neutralization by agents representing our oppressors. In addition, political centralization opens the door to the indulgence of such personal behavior as financial opportunism, careerism, and other forms of profiteering. On this basis, the charges against the defendants include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Subversion of the American Indian Movement, its principles and- activities:

2. Subversion of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), the international diplomatic arm of AIM;

3. Collaboration with the United States government, and with other enemies of American Indian peoples;

4. Espionage against indigenous nations;

5. The Use, Sale and/or Distribution of Drugs and Alcohol to American Indian people;

6. Misappropriation of funds directed for use of AIM, IITC, and the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee (LPDC);

7. Complicity In Genocide, both physical and cultural, of American Indian peoples;

8. High Treason against the membership of the American Indian Movement and American Indian people more generally;

For purposes of the foregoing charges, the following definitions shall apply:

"Subversion" constitutes the deliberate and/or reckless undermining of a legitimate source of authority and decision-making. It includes deliberate and/or reckless efforts to divide and/or discredit those dedicated to the liberation of American Indian peoples.

"Collaboration" constitutes cooperation with and providing willing assistance to an enemy of one's people, especially an occupying or colonizing force.

"Espionage" constitutes the practice of spying the plans and activities of a people, group or nation, with intent to pass along information thus obtained to a hostile power, and presumably to do harm to those spied upon.

"Genocide" constitutes any policy designed to bring about the disappearance, in whole or in part, of an identifiable racial, ethnic, religious or Rational group.

"High Treason" constitutes those acts so outrageous and contemptible as to have warranted banishment in traditional indigenous systems of justice. Such acts include, but are not limited to: betrayal of the people, endangerment of the people, coercion of or abuse of authority over the people, violation of trust for personal gain, cowardice in defense of the people, deliberate abuse of children or elders, and collaboration with the enemy.

Specifically, the charges to be answered by the particular defendants are as follows:

Charges against VERNON BELLECOURT

CHARGE ONE: Subversion of the American Indian Movement (AIM), its principles and activities.

Defendant has attempted seizure and control of AIM through deceptive, authoritarian and dictatorial tactics. He has consistently sought to misrepresent himself, both internally and in the movement's external relations, as a 'national leader" of AIM, without the consent or authorization of the AIM membership. In furtherance of this agenda, he has attempted to override local decision-making processes by claiming authority to formulate policies conforming to his own views and interests and by mandating their adoption by local/regional AIM chapters. His methods have typically included smear campaigns against individuals and entire AIM chapters, appointing "leaders" without regard to local or regional authorization or consent, threats against AIM organizers, and the use of public media to foster division within AIM. Through this charge, we will establish a systematic, destructive pattern by Vernon Bellecourt to impose his will On others, and to fabricate and assume powers that have neither been bestowed on him nor confirmed by the members or chapters of AIM. We will show that in virtually every instance of internal conflict or division within the American Indian Movement nationally, Vernon Bellecourt has been at or near the center. We will further demonstrate that he has never held himself accountable to the membership of AIM, and his actions have threatened and continue to threaten the health, integrity, and future of AIM as a liberation movement.

Specifications

1. At the First National AIM Conference in 1971. Russell Means was selected and ratified by the membership to serve as National Coordinator. Vernon Bellecourt demanded that Means resign on two separate occasions in order that he, Vernon Bellecourt, might be 'appointed" to the National Coordinator role. Means refused, Bellecourt then began lobbying others to put pressure upon Means to step aside; although unsuccessful, the process created considerable divisiveness among AIM members. This was one of the first indications that Vernon Bellecourt placed personal ambition and ego over the needs and express desires of the AIM membership.

2. Following the Second National AIM Conference, an AIM caravan traveled to Alliance, Nebraska, to monitor the trial of the Hare brothers for the murder of Raymond Yellow Thunder. While in Alliance in May 1972, Vernon Bellecourt, by attempting to assert his 'authority," precipitated a clash with Oklahoma AIM that resulted in the drawing of weapons on Bellecourt. The incident was defused by Russell Means and Dennis Banks, but it provoked continuing bad feeling that festered and led directly to the shooting of Clyde Bellecourt by Carter Camp in August 1973. The root cause of this animosity and resulting split within AIM was the behavior of Vernon Bellecourt.

3. During the Fourth National AIM Conference in June 1975, Vernon Bellecourt spread rumors that certain AIM members, with whom he was known to have poor personal relations, were 'undercover police agents." Although Bellecourt never produced evidence to support his allegations, and they were ultimately proven unfounded, his behavior generated considerable suspicion and divisiveness within AIM, some of it lasting to the present day.

4. At the time then National AIM Coordinator Dennis Banks was forced into political exile in July 1975, membership authorization for maintenance of a National AIM Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, lapsed. It has never been renewed. Nonetheless, Vernon Bellecourt has persisted in the pretense that such a facility legitimately exists.

5. Although, by consensus, AIM abolished further use of any and all 'national officer" titles in 1979, after the murder of AIM National Chairman John Trudell's family, Vernon Bellecourt began in that year to publicly portray himself as being the 'National Executive Director" of AIM, a position which never existed, and to which, in any event, Bellecourt had never been appointed by the membership (no general membership conference through which such a title might be ratified having been convened since 1974);

6. An "AIM Summit Meeting"--an event distinct from a General Membership Conference--was conducted in San Francisco in September 1982, with Vernon Bellecourt participating. Specific mention was made, and agreed to by all chapter representatives present, that no AIM National Office and/or national leadership existed, or was necessary. A resolution was passed requiring all AIM people across the country to cooperate with one another, and not to criticize or otherwise speak negatively of other AIM people or chapters in public. Vernon Bellecourt has consistently violated these resolutions and decisions during the years since.

7, On April 4, 1985, Vernon Bellecourt, proclaiming himself a representative of the AlM "Central Governing Council," an entity for which no membership authorization existed, signed a press release committing the Movement to support the government of Nicaragua in its conflict with the Miskito, Sumu and Rama Indian nations of Yapti Tasba. Insofar as no general membership discussion of this sensitive issue had been conducted, and given that many members were later shown to be in fundamental disagreement with Bellecourt's position, this unilateral action proved tremendously divisive within AIM and disruptive of AIM's relationships with allied organizations.

8. On November 13, 1985, Vernon Bellecourt, still acting in his self-appointed capacity as a member of the "AIM Central Council," participated in a press conference at which it was proclaimed that Russell Means had been "totally expelled from the American Indian Movement, and from this day forward his name shall not be mentioned in relationship with the American Indian Movement." Means' ostensible "offense" was having extended his support to the Miskito, Sumu and Rama Indian Nations of Yapti Tasba in their struggle for self-determination vis-a-vis the government of Nicaragua. This unauthorized action greatly exacerbated the divisiveness and disruption mentioned in point 7, above.

9. Following the November 13 press conference, Vemon Bellecourt utilized a slide show presentation he had assembled during a trip to Nicaragua as a medium through which to publicly (and profitably) denigrate the representative Indian resistance organization of Yapti Tasba, MISURASATA, as a "Contra unit." At the same time, he consistently denounced Russell Means as a "CIA agent," because of the latter's support for the Indian resistance. Evidence supporting neither charge has ever been produced. This further exacerbated the divisiveness and disruption mentioned in point 7, above.

10. In February 1986, an AIM Summit was called for at Oglala, South Dakota, during the Wounded Knee Anniversary. The summit was hosted by Dennis Banks, and was attended by representatives of Colorado AIM, Russell Means, Bill Means, and Clyde Bellecourt. The meeting was designed to resolve AIM's public dispute over the issue of Nicaragua. It was agreed that, consistent with the above-mentioned 1982 resolution, a truce would be called, and that no further statements to the media condemning other AIM members would be made. Vemon Bellecourt refused to attend the summit and was, instead, in Denver (without the invitation or welcome of Colorado AIM) condemning Russell Means and Colorado AIM. Bellecourt continued his public media smear of Means and Colorado AIM in disregard of the Oglala agreement.

11. Following the February summit. Vemon Bellecourt began a campaign of placing telephone calls to various college campuses where Russell Means had been contracted to speak. By secretly providing false and defamatory Information about Means to event sponsors, he sought to have Means' contracts canceled. He was successful in this on at least two occasions, at Stanford University and at the University of California at Berkeley.

12. In March l987, a second conciliatory effort was made to resolve the disagreements within AIM. Vernon Bellecourt, and other interested AIM members, were invited to Denver for a summit called by Dennis Banks and Russell Means, and hosted by Colorado AIM. A major intent of the summit was to facilitate a comprehensive reorganization of AIM, and to establish an interim council to coordinate a national membership meeting for the summer of 1987. Bellecourt refused to attend the summit, and provided no indication that he was supportive of efforts either to resolve differences within AIM or to convene a General Membership Conference. He has subsequently been known to refer to such matters as being 'manipulations."

l3. Throughout l988, Vernon Bellecourt, acting in his unauthorized capacity as a "National AIM leader," served as a paid consultant to and public spokesperson for the campaign of "Rainbow Alliance" presidential candidate Lenora Fulani. The Fulani organization had selected its name as a deliberate ploy to cause public confusion between the AlIiance and Jesse Jackson's much more reputable Rainbow Coalition. Jackson's organization was forced on several occasions to distinguish itself from Fulani's, which has documented, historical ties to the neo-fascist demagogue Lyndon LaRouche. Through Bellecourt's unauthorized connection of AIM to the unsavory Fulani campaign, he damaged the reputation of AIM and undermined significant alliances between the Movement and other organizations.

14. In September 1989, during a meeting hosted by Chief Billy Tayac of Mid-Atlantic AIM and the League of Indigenous Sovereign Nations (LISN), at which Vernon Bellecourt was present, all parties agreed to the proposition that AIM was a confederation of autonomous chapters, and that there was "no need for either a national office or national offices. Bellecourt nonetheless continued without interruption to project himself as being a 'National AIM Leader" working out of The National AIM Office" in Minneapolis.

15. Beginning in 1990, Vemon Bellecourt, acting as a "National AIM Leader," threw his support behind the racist and divisive "Act for the Protection of American Indian Arts and Crafts, " federal legislation which, both directly and indirectly, reinforces U.S. control over the identification of American Indian people. In doing so, he has firmly and publicly aligned himself with such reactionary and accommodationist figures as Tim Giago, the virulently anti-AIM publisher of Indian Country Today, professional federal lobbyist Suzan Shown Harjo, and David Bradley, a painter in Santa Fe, New Mexico (whose specialty seems to be trying to revive his career through restraint of trade practices, relying upon federal authority to prevent unenrolled people like Leonard Peltier from displaying or selllng their art work as Indians). For his part, Bellecourt has used the "identity police methods" of this group, usually hinging upon 'Big Lie" techniques, in attempts to discredit key opponents--notably Ward Churchill in Colorado, and Bobby Castillo in San Francisco--to his drive to achieve dictatorial authority over AIM.

16. Still another conciliatory gesture was made by Russell Means on behalf of Colorado AIM during September 1992. At that time, Means traveled to the annual Minneapolis AIM pow-wow and invited both Vernon and Clyde Bellecourt to participate in Colorado AIM's counter-Columbus quincentennal demonstration, scheduled for October 10. Vernon Bellecourt made a rousing speech effectively accepting the invitation. However, at the time of the Denver confrontation, he, Bellecourt, elected instead to participate in a prayer vigil conducted in Columbus, Ohio. Nonetheless, during the subsequent Wounded Knee commemoration, in February 1993, he made a public speech in which he openly attempted to take credit for the success of the Denver action (in much the same manner, he portrays himself as a "Wounded Knee Veteran" without having been there at all). Bellecourt's blatant misrepresentation of his role in crucial events served to deepen resentment of him among Colorado chapter members, and to greatly diminish the possibility of a rapprochement between Colorado AIM and the Minneapolis group.

17. In November 1992, one month after Colorado AIM organized and led the most effective counter-Columbus quincentennial action in the country, Vemon Bellecourt deliberately attempted to divide Colorado AIM. During a demonstration at the Kansas City Chiefs v. Washington Redskins football game in Kansas City, Missouri, Bellecourt tried to "bad jacket" Colorado AIM Co-directors Glenn Morris and Ward Churchill, labeling them "white men" and "police agents." Using an "emergency meeting" convened for this purpose, Bellecourt tried to persuade a portion of the Colorado AIM membership to denounce the duly elected Colorado AIM leadership. His attempts were rebuffed by the Colorado membership who reaffirmed their support for Morris and Churchill. At a subsequent AIM meeting in Denver, Churchill and Morris offered to resign their directorships if anyone felt Bellecourt's accusations were problematic; they were retained in their positions by acclamation.

l8.Throughout 1992-93, Vernon Bellecourt traveled to various AIM chapters expressly condemning other AIM members, especially Russell Means and the leadership of Colorado AIM. Concomitantly, he attempted to dictate appoint leadership for and policy to the various chapters. The chapters involved included, But may not be restricted to, Florida, Northern California, Northeast Oklahoma, Northwest--Ohio, Arizona, Southern California and Southeast. Bellecourt's activities have been not only extremely disruptive, but, in some instances, have tangibly impaired local/regional AIM chapters' abilities to address the critical issues affecting Indian people in their areas.

19. Throughout 1992-93, Vernon Bellecourt, speaking as a "National AIM Official," has conducted a campaign similar to that he had earlier conducted against Russell Means (see Point 11, above) to deny Ward Churchill speaking opportunities. Not only were individual college events offices contacted--in some Instances in a manner including open threats of violent disruption--but both speakers bureaus utilized by Churchill were instructed to drop him from their roster. In one instance (that of Speak Out!, in San Francisco) Bellecourt demanded that he himself be substituted for Churchill. In the other (K&S Speakers, in Boston), a Bellecourt surrogate from Kansas informed the agency that if you don't stop handling Ward Churchill, you'll be put out of business" in that state.

20. Beginning in March 1993, Vernon Bellecourt, again speaking in his "National AIM" capacity, has conducted a campaign to have Ward Churchill fired from his position as Associate Professor and Coordinator of American Indian Studies at the University of Colorado. Bellecourt's method has been to telephone and/or write Churchill's employers--the Director of the center in which he works, Dr. Evelyn Hu-DeHart, as well as his Dean, Chancellor and the President of the University--falsely asserting that Churchill must have gotten his job under "false pretenses" because he is "'actually a white man masquerading as an Indian." Churchill, who has never claimed to be on a tribal roll, whether to obtain employment or for any other reason, can nonetheless trace his ancestry from the 1817 Cherokee Immigrant Roll onward through the 1907 Dawes Roll (a feat Bellecourt himself might be hard-pressed to duplicate).

21. In December l993. Vernon Bellecourt enlisted the recently self-appointed Colorado Springs AIM coordinator to serve as a disruptive element in the Colorado AIM district. Although she evidenced no experience or particular competence in such a role. Bellecourt included the individual in question in a delegation to the United Nations in February l993. Thereafter, he 'appointed" her to the fictitious position of "Director Southern Colorado Western Regional Chapter" of AIM, and as an international Spokesperson for AIM. None of these actions or appointments were authorized or requested by the membership of Colorado AIM. To the contrary, they have been expressly and repeatedly repudiated by the State Executive Director and chapter membership. All of this has been disruptive and divisive to the work of a legitimate, autonomous AIM chapter.

22. On July 9, l993, Vernon Bellecourt registered documents with the Secretary of State for the State of Minnesota creating the "National American Indian Movement, Inc." (N-AIM, or 'Name".) This action was not requested, authorized or ratified by the membership of existing AIM chapters. A review of these documents, especially as regards the conspicuous use of the term 'National" in the corporate title, and provisions falling under Articles IX through XIII of the corporate charter, reveals that Bellecourt meant by this action to invest himself and a select other few--comprising a so-called 'Central Committee"--with the 'authority" to dictate the creation, dissolution, leadership and operation ofAIM chapters throughout the country. These documents constitute clear evidence of intent by Bellecourt to usurp the local authority and autonomy of all AIM chapters, and to impose his will on the Movement as a whole. It is also worth noting that the documents in question also accede to the transformation of AlM from a national liberation movement into a corporate entity, beholden for Its legitimacy not upon the consent and power of American Indian people, but upon the laws of the State of Minnesota and the United States of America. It is doubtful that a greater subversion of the original intents and purposes of AIM can be imagined than that which was attempted here. It should also be noted that the document is misrepresentative insofar as, in order to present a veneer of legitimacy, it lists individuals such as Dennis Banks and John Trudell as board members; in fact, neither individual had agreed to serve in this capacity and, to the contrary, express strong opposition to the existence of N-AIM.

23o During the first week of August, l993, claiming to be a member of the N-AIM Central Committee. Vernon Bellecourt placed a series of phone calls to Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, an organizer of the International Tribunal on the Rights of the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians). His purpose was to attempt to discredit Colorado AIM Co-directors Ward Churchill and Glenn Morris--who had been asked by the indigenous people of Hawaii to participate as a judge and prosecutor. respectively--in such as way as to bring about their removal from their positions. Blaisdell refused to take any such action, and reported the calls to Churchill and Morris.

24. On October 3, 1993, Vernon Bellecourt traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and, after purporting to represent national AIM" at a local rally, met with a number of non-Indian support groups to condemn Colorado AIM, in an effort to destroy the positive alliances that have developed between Colorado AIM and various non-Indian organizations over the past ten years. In his diatribe, Bellecourt alleged that a written statement by Russell Means in support of Ward Churchill and Glenn Morris had been penned by Churchill or Morris, and that Means' signature had been forged. A few days later, he repeated his performance in Durango, Colorado. This, and other blatant falsehoods utilized by Bellecourt during his Colorado "mini-tour," represented an obvious effort to undermine the considerable accomplishments of Colorado AIM. Whlle Belleourt's gambit ultimately proved unsuccessful, it has required the Colorado chapter to waste considerable time which might have gone to more constructive purposes in clarifying the situation for its allies.

25o In November l993, Vernon Bellecourt, apparently under the auspices of the documents described in Point 22 above, enlisted two individuals in Denver to announce the establishment of a Denver chapter of National AIM, Inc. This was done without the request. Authorization, or consent of the long-standing, autonomous and very active Colorado AIM chapter. The two individuals who sought to advance Bellecourt's plan were confronted by the Denver/Boulder AIM membership, which invited them to join the existing chapter while warning them to abandon their scheme of creating an "alternative" AIM chapter in the Denver area.

26. In November 1993, Vernon Bellecourt interfered in the organization of an event scheduled for January 15, 1994, in Seattle, Washington to kick-off the "Walk For Justice" for Leonard Peltier. Peltier co-defendant Bob Robideau was invited, and had accepted the invitation, to emcee the event. The invitation was arbitrarily withdrawn at the order of Vernon Bellecourt because "Robideau Is associated with Russell Means and Colorado AIM." Such subterfuge obviously divides individuals and chapters within AIM, and undermines the international effort to secure the release of Leonard Peltier.

27. On November 24, 1993, a nationally circulated letter from the "National American Indian Movement, Inc., signed by Vernon Bellecourt and others, purported to expel Ward Churchill and Glenn Morris from AIM. It further ordered that they 'are never to say that you are, or were a leader or a member of the American Indian Movement." This assertion was made despite the fact that Churchill and Morris had been repeatedly ratified by the membership of Colorado AIM over a nine-year period as co-directors of that chapter. The letter insults the integrity and intelligence of the membership of Colorado AIM by referring to them as "naïve," and the arbitrary expulsion is an attempt to subvert and ignore the autonomous authority of each AIM chapter to decide its own leadership. It should be noted, moreover, that the expulsion letter is grossly misrepresentative insofar as it has been mailed in conjunction with documents deliberately linking its sentiments to non-signatories such as Larry Anderson and Bill Means; both individuals were solicited to sign the letter of expulsion itself, but flatly refused.

28. In November 1993, Vernon Bellecourt contacted Northeast Oklahoma AIM organizer JoKay Dowell by telephone and ordered her to comply with his edict that all AIM chapters must be chartered by the 'National Office." He also threatened that if she were associated with "that pig Ward Churchill," Colorado AIM, or Russell Means, neither she nor her chapter would be recognized by "National AIM, Inc."

29. On December L9. 1993, Vernon Bellecourt telephoned New Mexico AIM Coordinator Bob Robideau and informed him, among other things, that all AIM chapters must be chartered by the "National Office." When Robideau informed Bellecourt that New Mexico AIM recognized no authority--or even legitimate existence--of any such office, Bellecourt called him a "Ward Churchill clone" and hung up. It has been reported that Bellecourt has subsequently made public statements to the effect that Robideau "is not, and has never really been a member of AIM." Bellecourt "appointees" in Oklahoma have also been overheard informing press personnel and others that long-time AIM member David Hill, presently with the Northwest Oklahoma Chapter, is an "imposter" and a "CIA agent."

30. On March 9, 1994, Vernon Bellecourt, acting in his capacity as a "founder of AIM" and without authorization of, or notification to, Colorado AIM, convened a press conference in Denver at which he designated Margaret Martinez (aka: Cahuilla Red Elk") as 'Executive Director of Colorado AIM."

31. In addition to the specific charges outlined immediately above, Vernon Bellecourt has lent his agreement and support, either active or passive, to the actions and practices of his brother, Clyde, as outlined in the second section of this indictment. For his role in the unauthorized activities carried out in the name of AIM by his brother, he is also charged.

CHARGE: TWO: Subversion of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), the international diplomatic arm of AIM.

Defendant has undermined the effective functioning of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) through deception and duplicity. He has consistently misrepresented himself, both in North America and elsewhere, as an authorized spokesperson for IITC. In furtherance of his personal agenda, he has acted in a manner inconsistent with the goals and objectives of IITC, and in defiance of the wishes of its permanent trustee. Once again, his methods have typically included smear campaigns against individuals and AIM chapters. Through this charge, we will establish a systematic destructive pattern by Vernon Bellecourt to co-opt IITC for purposes of amassing personal wealth and personal prestige. We will show that he is intimately involved in significant aspects of the diminishment of IITC's reputation and credibility over the past eight years. We will further demonstrate that he has not held himself accountable in this regard either to the IITC Board or to the membership of IITC's parent organization, the American Indian Movement.

Specifications

1. Through the IITC, cordial diplomatic relations were developed by 1979 with the Baath Socialist Party of Iraq. Through this relationship, substantial contributions were made to AIM and to the struggle for the return of the Paha Sapa (Black Hills) under the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. In 1982, although he occupied no official position within IITC and had received no other authorization to do so, Vernon Bellecourt made public statements "on behalf of AIM and IITC, extolling the Ayatollah Khomeni of Iran. Insofar as Iraq was, at that time, in a state of war with Iran, Bellecourt's ill-conceived pronouncements resulted in an immediate suspension of Iraqi support to IITC, AIM and the Paha Sapa land struggle. Whatever personal benefits Bellecourt may have gained as a result of this conduct, Iran provided no compensatory support to the Movement. The whole fiasco represented a net loss, both politically and financially, to our liberation struggle.

2. From 1981 to 1991, Vernon Bellecourt openly, actively, and maliciously supported the government of Nicaragua in its attacks on the Creole people and three Indian nations: the Miskito, Sumu and Rama. By his support of a settler state government over the legitimate interests of indigenous nations, and by his active collaboration with the government, Bellecourt caused untold damage and suffering to the Miskito, Sumu, Rama and Creole peoples. In doing so, Bellecourt used the IITC as Iittle more than a propaganda vehicle upon which to excuse Nicaragua's oppression of Indian people, and often to defame the Indians themselves. Through Bellecourt's gross manipulation of the organization, IITC lost enormous credibility in the international arena, both at the United Nations and, especially, among indigenous peoples outside America.

3. Prior to the annual IITC Conference set for June 1986 at Big Mountain, an open letter from the Dineh elders was transmitted to various AIM chapters by Ron and Pita Wood. The letter requested that "conflicts [over Nicaragua: see nos. 8-11. Charge One, above] should be resolved among the AIM leadership before any of you come to the Land of the Dineh." Insofar as these conflicts had not been resolved, Russell Means, Glenn Morris, Ward Churchill and others did not attend. Vernon Bellecourt availed himself of their absence to attempt to convince the IITC Board to expel Means. When it turned out that, as the sole permanent trustee of IITC, Means could not be legitimately removed from his position by anyone other than