Trudell is accused...
Everyone back off...
Tue, 20 Dec 1994 20:14:14 -0800
Subject: john trudell
(Original Sender: aimca@igc.apc.org (American Indian Movement)
Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us)
First of all we would like to say to everyone to back off...
Who ever first placed the information concerning Bob Robideaux and John Trudell is way out of line. She said, that he said! Reminds me of children in a playground spreading gossip.
None of the people who are posting this information are members of the American Indian Movement, so I caution you to check sources first. This kind of information can only hurt people and this shouldn't turn into a soup opera for AIM I have spoken with numerous chapters of the American Indian Movement, International Confederation of Autonomous Chapters and as the International Spokesperson for Leonard Peltier I can say that we do not support the theory that John Trudell is in any way responsible for the death of Anna Mae Aquash. We in fact deplore the idea and support John Trudell who has suffered a great deal since the death of his family. Leonard Peltier and the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee would like to apologize to John Trudell if any representative of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee has made any statements against him.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Bobby Castillo,
International Spokesperson for Leonard Peltier
- since this statement was made Castillo was fired, then rehired, by Leonard.
[ Again, I would remind everyone that the original report of this remark was not an assertion that the claim is true; it was an attempt to get information about that claim, which was apparently made by Bob Robideau, as has been confirmed by an eyewitness. After some soul-searching, the operators of NativeNet have concluded that carrying questions of this sort does not in any way constitute an endorsement of the truth of the statement being investigated, and thus, in the spirit of facilitating open inquiry, we intend to permit such questions to be asked in future. HOWEVER, we also recognize that dangerous and damaging rumors can be spread by means of questions which aren't really questions, so we will evaluate each such posting carefully before approving it in future, and may elect to do some investigation before approval of such an article, or at the very least adding a statement to the article indicating that the matter is not confirmed and should be read with extreme caution. NativeNet cannot expect under present circumstances to hold itself to journalistic standards, confirming information contained in articles prior to passing them on. Rather, we aspire to provide an open forum where (among other things) honest questions can be asked without fear.
Just for the record, I am attaching a copy of the original article below. Anyone who missed this discussion, and wants to read the whole thread can do so by retrieving the articles from the NATIVE-L archives. Send a "get nn-intro archives native-l" article to "listserv@tamvm1 .tamu.edu" for information on using the archives.
--Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ]
Trudell's Response To Accusations
Mon, 12 Dec 1994 14:18:46 -0700
Original Sender: anne jordan dashiell
hello- i understand gary's [Gary Trujillo, Native-L Moderator] not wanting this issue to get out of hand with rumors, but since i WAS at the signing i thought i'd just let you know the facts of what did happen. basically, bob stood up to disagree with john after he said something like "the system is destroying native resistance through carefully planned activities.." bob said something like "its US who are eating our own communities....i have information that implicates you in covering up anna mae's murder" im sorry that i cant remember the exact detail of what he is saying john did, but bob DID say that john was involved in the murder. the crowd was uncomfortable and a few people told bob to leave and shut up etc... john handled it well i think. he was calm, and after bob and two friends stormed out, john said "okay we're going to talk about anna mae." he said how much he loved her and wanted to know who killed her, and that person/persons should be punished for it. then he went on to say that bob's accusations were a perfect example of the system using these methods of neutralization by encouraging division from the inside..that bob was falling for it etc... the crowd was generally receptive and supportive of john. he said a lot of beautiful, articulate things about resistance and control and spirit and freedom and responsibility, and he also said something like "i dont know who is in the room right now, but i am saying right here and now that federal activity was responsible for anna mae's death..and the truth will come out eventually." he didn't seem scared about the accusations, but definitely concerned that the state is behind it.
another thing that happened was a woman stood up whose name i cant remember who was at oglala the day leonard peltier was arrested. she said that there was a witness to the frame up and that the fbi knew about the witness and they looked for her for a year until they found anna mae. she said that 6 or 7 women who looked like anna mae were "lost" before she was murdered, implying that they fbi was looking for anna mae the whole time. i was a bit confused during this part because of what i have already read about oglala, so im not even sure if she was referring to a woman (the witness) who has not come out yet for some reason.
anyway, if anyone has the scoop on whats happening with the anna mae trials right now could you enlighten the list? hope this gives an idea of what happened at the signing. despite the wierd interrupton and change of discussion, john's words were inspiring and strengthening.
[name withheld]
Trudell/Robideau/Aquash
Original Sender: [posters name withheld]
Thu, 8 Dec 1994 13:51:52 -0500
In response to your recent posting:
INSERTED POSTING
Hi.
"A colleague at KUNM sez John Trudel spoke in ABQ at a local bookstore a weekend or so ago, and this development occurred: Bob Robideau (one of the two men acquited in the Pine Ridge "Incident at Oglala") stood up and, according to my informant, said he (Robideau) holds Trudel personally responsible for the death of Annie Mae Aquash. Something to do with Trudel hiring an investigator who allegedly ended up being the hit man.
"But I wasn't there. Is there anyone on this list who was, who can describe what happened and what was said?"
I do get worn out with AIM members' seemingly endless preoccupation with pointing fingers at each other -- much, it seems, to the detriment of Getting On With Business. But this is pretty heady stuff; especially in light of the recent reopening of the Aquash case.
[posters name withheld]
Have you found anyone else to confirm this incident? Did your colleague at KUNM actually see this happen or did he/she hear it from someone else and whom?
In relaying this message/information across the internet regarding an unsubstantiated rumor BEFORE even having it confirmed, is infact exactly what you get 'worn out' with and does interfere with 'Getting on with Business.' Would it not have been better to put out a general inquiry asking if anyone was at the Trudell booksigning in ABQ and what was said? In effect you have perpetuated a rumor which is very, very dangerous for everyone mentioned and also a cause for libel. Until it is confirmed - it is a rumor, and should not be posted as a tid bit of news for enquiring minds.
I will look for other postings regarding yours and the validity of this claim. From my own personal knowledege of whom you refer to (John), there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that John is remotely resposible for the death of one of his dear friends, Anna Mae. Anyone, including Robideau, who would propogate this claim needs their own motives checked.
What bothers me about this is the way in which it was done ... there is no regard for possible future implications and its effect on the people whom are referred to; that it could be dangerous, and libel, and therefore must enact accountability/responsibility from all sources FIRST!
[name withheld]
Trudell/Robideau/Aquash
From: [name withheld]
Subject: Trudel/Robideau/Aquash
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 03:52:32 GMT
Hi.
A colleague at KUNM sez John Trudel spoke in ABQ at a local bookstore a weekend or so ago, and this development occurred: Bob Robideau (one of the two men acquited in the Pine Ridge "Incident at Oglala") stood up and, according to my informant, said he (Robideau) holds Trudel personally responsible for the death of Annie Mae Aquash. Something to do with Trudel hiring an investigator who allegedly ended up being the hit man.
But I wasn't there. Is there anyone on this list who was, who can describe what happened and what was said?
I do get worn out with AIM members' seemingly endless preoccupation with pointing fingers at each other -- much, it seems, to the detriment of Getting On With Business. But this is pretty heady stuff; especially in light of the recent reopening of the Aquash case.
[name withheld]