Joining AIM

Joining the American Indian Movement...
And AIM List

From Leo Chavez, Jr
cchavez@Colorado.EDU

Hello!
Several months ago I promised to post list of AIM chapters around the nation given to me by Glenn Morris and Russell Means has referred people to me. When I first joined AIM I soon realize that AIM was fractured into what we know as National AIM and the Confederacy of Free Chapters. For me, I have respect for both organization and for any organization that knows how to shake the hands of those who cook their meal. I decided that I really do not take sides. So I offer you this list. I hope you distributed to as many people as possible. The list follows this letter.
This is where I take a stand. Russ and I tend to see things eye to eye on pretty much everything. Where we part is his Golden Eagle/Bald Eagle Theory. You will know what I mean when you read the book. If there is a stunning female that I think is a great person, I do not give a damn what background she is from. Because at the time, there is something in the air that you try to learn to miss but the road leads onto glory and you may missed your last chance. I have been down that road way too many times. It is a very lonely road.
After being involved with AIM and "white man's" institution, I have come to a conclusion. This is how I came to it: First, I was told that ALL my problems were my fault. So, I blamed myself. Second, I was told that ALL my problems were the white man's fault. So, I blamed the white man. However, that picture is most incomplete. After reading tens of thousands of books, I did see a correlation. That correlation was government institutions and religion (more so Christianity). These two factions go hand and hand. When doing a world wide study, one does not have to be white to control and exploit these institutions. At the micro level and my personal experiences, it was white people that gave me a helping hand when I most needed it.
When I went to Hispanic ORGANIZATIONS, they told me that I did not go through the "barrio" experience, therefor I was unworthy of aid. Even on a few occasions they told me my GPA is too high! When I was with CO AIM I notice a paradox. There were a lot of good people there that meant well but they made a good organization into a pissing circle. Some people in that group had this blood quantum approach to reliability. They would rip on Full-Bloods with Non-Indian wives. They did not want to think in different ways to accomplish a goal. They wanted to jump the gun. Some of these people that Russ holds dear to his heart would rip on him. I started to ask, "Why?" These people who were engaging in the above activities are "trapped" in what I call the silver-spoon activist paradox. The the silver-spoon activist paradox is not so much evil as it is counter-productive.
These people are Mixed or Full-Bloods that busted their tails in America's institution so that they can help their people. They face a double edge sword of discimination. The first edge is the discrimination that is suffered from not being a wealthy, white male. However, the second discrimination they face is from their own people. They are chastised for not growing up on a reservation or not experiencing the ghetto experience and at times for succeeding in American in an unorthodox manner. These people who devoted their academic and working careers to help, find themselves in a "Movement Purgatory." These people take their anger that was placed on them and displace it on people who want to help, which burns bridges and make potential and powerful allies feel like crap. Their anger is compounded by the consequential incident that they were not around or born during big movement uprising to call for justice. Such people like Russ, Noam Chomsky and the unknown activist that were involved in these shift in society, the SP activists look up to them but also despises them for not being there. It is not their fault for not being there. It is a circumstance of chance. With this anger built up, they are close minded to new ideas. They have a set scheme of how thing should be and lose focus of the economic realities they initially were trying to deal with. They thirst for the action of the past and end up not hearing those in need. These people need to be open to new ideas and allies because there needs to be no more turning away. After my experience with these episodes, I decided that I will do things that I feel will benefit a cause in my own way. If people want to join me, great. If people do not want to join me, so be it.
Everyone has a right to question the intentions about a person's motive but no one has the right to think they know it all and they are all knowing. I am glad I do not know it all because if I did, that would be one hell of a responsibility. With this said, I recently discovered what women (of all backgrounds) had to offer to the world. It is wonderful folks. It is something I cannot describe. From their music to their smile, it is wonderful. I am not personally involved with a woman but they have a lot to offer. If there is anything to be learned from what I have said that is choose your own battles and fight it with all your might. Do not go into it with prejudices because (as I have learned) your mistaken enemy maybe your best friend.
When you decided your chosen path, the wind will blow with you, it will blow against you, it will rain and replenish you, it will rain and slow you, the sun will warm you, the sun will drain you, but no matter what way these elements will shape you. If you choose to continue on the road, you will be well shaped and will have no regrets. I have recently chosen this road with it's ups and down's and I may not be the wealthiest person on Earth but life is great! This is coming from a person that had to live on the streets for some days and from a person who had a dad that beat the hell out of him and told him that the only reason he had me was so he could have a tax deduction, if he would have known I was an economic burden, he would force my mom to abort me. Go out there and explore because even though we may "discover" we really do not because someone or something was there before and left something there for us learn.
Remember, people and things are not relative to you, you are relative to them.

Read:
"Where White Men to Fear" by Russell Means ( http://www.russellmeans.com/)
"Manufacturing Consent" by Noam Chomsky
"Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James Loewen
"Suicide Blonde" by Darcey Steinke
books by Patricial Limerick, Djuna Barnes, Georges Bataille, Marguerite Duras, Vine Deloria, Jr., and the countless others that you have heard about but never got to.
Listen to:
Traditional Music from all backgrounds
Pink Floyd
Natalie Merchant
Janis Ian
U2
Maria McKee
All female artist you can.
When faced with a problem, ask:
What is the problem?
What do I know about the problem?
What is the problem asking?
What am I giving?
Remember:
The worst thing a person can tell to you is, "No!" If you can walk away, you have the world by its tail.
In the long run you're dead.
If people engage in socially destructive behavior, stop them and teach them for they are you.
Please include the prior letter with the list when you distribute it.
Thanx...

AIM List:

Northern California:
Bobby Castillo
3145 Geary Blvd.
#517
San Fransico, California 94118
(415) 386-4373
Colorado-Denver:
Glenn Morris
PO BOX 481593
Denver, Colorado 80248
(303) 871-0463
Colorado-Springs From the Earth:
PO BOX 221
Ignacio, Colorado 81137
Dakota-Wounded Knee:
Garry Roland
PO BOX 293
Porcupine, South Dakota 57772
Michele Means
BOX 153
Porcupine, South Dakota 57772
Montana-Wraps His Tail:
Kennard Red Bird
Box 5
Garry Owem, Montana 59031
Ohio:
Robert Roche
2012 W. 25th St
Suite 515
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
(216) 641-8685
(216) 641-8600
Oklahoma:
NE Oklahoma
Jokay Dowell
Rte. 1
Box 17
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464
(918) 458-5804
NW Oklahoma:
David Hill
Rte. 1
Box 375
Sasakwa, Oklahoma 74867
Pennsylvania:
Kenny Kane
3258 Eastmont Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15216
(412) 343-9005
Michigan:
Donna Hernandea
7335 Hayden Rd.
Detroit, Michigan 48228
(313) 441-9585
Cliff Alley-Curry
7063 Brewer NE
Rockford, Michigan 49341
Virginia:
Fred Sigmund
1420 Bartlett Rd.
Richmond, Virginia 23231
(804) 222-8429
New Mexico:
Lessert More-Spiritual Advisor
(505) 343-1041
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Canada:
Treaty Six
Confederation of Treaty Six
Suite 600
10025 106th St.
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
T5J 1G4
Livina White-Elder
PO BOX 353 Masset
Haidagwaii, BC
Canada
VOT 1MO
(604) 626-5136
Sunni Hunt
Apt. 106
1823 Tender St.
Vancouver, BC
Canada
V5l 1W6
(604) 251-3836

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