Clips from Graham Blog

Anna Mae, Letter to Dennis Banks: how things were Dec. 2007

2010-04-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ikons of the Past

by antoinette nora claypoole

Ashland, Or. Dec. 12. According to most sources, 32 years ago tonight--Dec. 12th 1975-- is the date Anna Mae Pictou Aquash was murdered. And now we await a trial date for John Graham. Her accused murderer. Some wonder, some know, how the landscape looks from his cell.

Only a brief public “statement” by Graham supporters. Words of nothing new. Posted on a website. While Indian Country waits for word of when the lost ikons of AIM activism will emerge. To testify against a man they barely knew.

Like deer in headlights of an old Ford it seems tonight has an eerie frozen in time theme. Where are the unsilenced people? How did Annie Mae fight for her life?

There are many who have investigated this brutal piece of Indian history for over a decade. And most put missionary style faith into key investigators, Who claim the Dec. death doctrine. Like papal mandates during the witch hunting Inquisition. There are ‘facts’ which are considered sacred to this case. Information which emerged from the hard conquests of secrecy which Annie Mae’s death eluded for nearly 20 years. A time before anyone took “interest” in the case.

Paul Demain (ed. News from Indian Country) and Robert Branscombe (second cousin to Annie Mae) were the first to emerge. They spent years of their lives trying to follow the trail of corruption which lead to Annie Mae’s murder.

Yet. The ghost of her second husband, Nogeeshik Aquash (1944-1990?) cannot be forgotten. His research notes may have burned down with the house, but the pursuit of a timeline for Annie Mae’s death persisted. Only to continue to defy the sensibilities of the rare few who can’t make two and two be five. For time is still a mystery to those of us certain life is a circle of worlds unnamed but to the best of dreamers.

What do I mean?
What in the world Carmen San Diego am I talking about, you ask?

I mean some people believe Annie Mae did not die in December 1975. Despite the efforts of writers and others.

Nonetheless, John Graham awaits trail based on ....the One timeline which dominates. Like a patriarch in a village resisting the inevitability of electricity. A light in the late 90’s was shined into the corner of Annie Mae’s death. Emerging and prevailing research placed today, Dec. 12th,, as the day 32 years ago that John Graham shot a mother. And activist. The rare kind of woman who believed in what she knew others had forgotten. “Being Indian” was something to claim. Or die trying to defy.

But let’s go back.

Consider Annie Mae’s estranged husband, Nogeeshik. Not the father of her daughters but a man she married at the Siege of Wounded Knee (1973). He spent the rest of his own life—after her murder-- trying to find the killers. Family rumour had it (interview of Mickey Aquash, 1995) that Nogeeshik had discovered who killed his wife the night before HE died in a “mysterious” house fire. In the early 90’s.

Nogeeshik had already been paralyzed in an odd car accident while he searched for clues to Annie Mae’s execution. Silkwood style. The night he died he apparently phoned a family member from his wheelchair and announced the frayed truth of his search. Because Nogeeshik couldn’t walk, he didn’t survive the house fire. And died with this info he had found. He said he knew who killed Annie Mae. And died with that “truth” bleeding inside of him. Most likely died because names and photos were folded too neatly into his vest pocket.

Like family albums there are other stories I found inside the Aquash camp, way back when. Stories which haunt me. Stories that cut and paste me into pages and pages of writing about Annie Mae and her accused murderer John Graham.

Is there a reprieve for any of us?
Perhaps not.

Long before I heard Graham’s name, someone sent me an internet link. It was the mid 90’s and computers were not what they have become. Like naive teens picking berries in Maine for a living---as Annie Mae did when she met the father of her “girls”---those of us looking for information on the “net” were locked into a late autumn’s harvest. After the freeze. That is, there was little if anything online about Annie Mae in those days.

Nonetheless, a guy named Jordan Dill had replied to my call for interviews of people who knew Annie Mae. He sent me a link to pages by/of a woman named Paula Giese. The pages told of Annie Mae and their Christmas visit. Paula Giese was remembering. In 1975. Two weeks after Dec. 12. “Here” I wrote, “ finally someone with a good story to tell about Annie Mae before she died. A great beginning of a timeline to her last days”. It was only later that the Dec 12th death date was named.

3 or 4 years later Paul Demain approached Dill and a new timeline emerged. One which said Annie Mae was killed before Christmas and her body had been in the ravine in Wanblee for over 2 months before being found.

The fact is, Paula Giese died sometime before this new timeline (far as I can tell) and there seems no one around to dispute the Dec. 12th date which places John Graham--and his admitted ride to Pine Ridge with Annie Mae (interview 2004)-- into the context of death.

There is no footnote to offer you here.

Only pieces of an inconceivable brutal act of betrayal. By someone. Perhaps John Graham. Perhaps another unnamed clan. Of would be dream lovers of her life.

Anna Mae’s daughter Denise has been a spokesperson for her mother’s legacy since her distant cousin, Bob Branscombe visited Denise and family. Bob’s mother was first cousin to Annie Mae. Had heard stories of the death but it was Bob who set things in motion for the family. In Nova Scotia in the mid 1990’s.

Denise Maloney has been clear on many occasions that she believes Looking Cloud’s confession to murder via Graham’s “gun” --and has many reasons to believe all the stories which have been told her. About her mother’s death.

Today, on the day Annie Mae is said to have died, I tried to honor Denise and asked her for a “statement” about Graham in S. Dakota. But she chose not to reply.

Instead a new piece of info came my way.

According to a source close to this case—a person who asked to remain anonymous--Arlo Looking Cloud HAS been in communication with Denise Maloney. Rumour has it that Looking Cloud may be ready to testify against John Graham. At the upcoming trial. The prosecution obviously could use a "witness" so this idea is nothing new. Is Looking Cloud back to stating that Graham did indeed fire a gun at Annie Mae 32 years ago today? TIme will reveal what humans deny. His story runs both ways.

Looking Cloud would be an obvious witness for the prosecution, but his statements have been corrupted by a video confession during which he told the investigators he was drinking. He never took the stand. At his own trial. One thing we know.

The ups and downs of Looking Cloud are like the badlands weather. Take shelter. More storms ahead.

There is no safety zone. We really have no where left to go.

No Nogeeshik. No Paula Giese. No reliable coroner’s report. We have Looking Cloud, a self-proclaimed “drunken” Indian telling a story. And we have most of old AIM saying nothing. That Looking Cloud hasn’t said already.

Most of old AIM never mentions tribunals against Annie Mae, as she was suspected of being a Federal Agent. Rather. We have old AIM claiming everything from denial that Annie Mae was important in the movement to open air statements that her lawyer used her own cold jail cell letter. Against her. Her jail letter about informants. Was used as proof, some say. Proof that Annie Mae was a Fed. At an AIM tribunal that many people attended.

Indeed. The same people who point fingers at John Graham sat in an old house 32 years ago and listened to Annie Mae sentenced to death by gun and they did nothing. To stop it. It took over 20 years for some people to finally say out loud "she was one of us". She was not an agent. There are still others who remain silent. And the rare few unafraid to speak.

Enter Robert Robideau of NW AIM. Who was at the time of Annie Mae's murder being held for the killing of FBI at Oglala. Robideau's unique place in history makes it crucial that we hear his concerns (click here for details). For he is neither threatened with an indictment by the U.S. nor is he invested in “protecting” anyone. The idea that he lives with a concern that he was too “naive” to know Annie Mae needed protection back then. Is haunting enough for Robideau. But he was in jail. He could do nothing.

An old rumour in Indian Country says that some folks had a sudden pang of guilt and raced out to stop the execution. But they were too late. To save her from the sins of “mob” behaviour.

Are there bystanders, a peanut gallery of activists who are so easily acquitted in all this? Does a search for those who saw Annie Mae at Christmas change any of this? Does John Graham have someone he is protecting?

These are the questions people might want to start asking.

Answers which I can imagine merit a “virtuous” voice. If only for a a new generation who has inherited the “sins of the fathers”.

Whether Annie Mae was killed on Dec. 12, 1975 or Mid February 1976 makes all the difference to John Graham’s daughter, Naneek. Who believes her Dad when he says he did, yes, ride with Annie Mae. And drove her to Pine Ridge. Around Dec. 12th. Naneek believes her dad when he says he dropped Annie Mae off at a safe house. There. And that was the last time he saw her.

Is it so unconceivable that someone else killed Annie Mae
If so, why?

Is it so impossible that the AIM leadership, which is often mentioned by Robert Robideau had plans to kill Annie Mae?

Could those plans—perhaps—have excluded John Graham?

These are the questions some may be asking.
These are the questions that say “tell me answers.”
Before any trial can be deemed fair.
We deserve more.
Before any trial can write the history of the life and death of Indians.
We need a jury of more than one wanabee Indian.
We need a place where racism is not the credo of courtroom drama.

And.
We need to hear from Old AIM.

Thanks to Robert Robideau for taking up one of the tasks.
And to Nogeeshik Aquash for trying.

The verdict is far from being in on how South Dakota plans to break it’s own addiction to lynching Indians.

to be continued......
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a. nora claypoole

Anna Mae's Daughter Speaks about Her Mother

2008-08-19T15:40:00.001-07:00

originally published in COUNTERPUNCH

May 18, 2007

After 31 Years, It is Time for Justice

The Murder of Our Mother, Anna Mae Pictou Aquash

By DENISE MALONEY PICTOU

It has been over 31 years since our mother's body was discovered in the Badlands of South Dakota in the United States. Over the course of 31 years, there seems to have been very few people, other than her family who have considered her constitutional rights, or her right to life as a key issue. Her name has been used by many for their own personal agendas, and to redirect attention away from those responsible for her death.

There have been no offers of assistance by those institutions allegedly designated to protect victims of injustice. Our family has been left in Canada, to our own resources, while we have waited, and continue to wait patiently for this case to work its way through the justice system.

Through 31 years of delays, our family has held fast to the understanding that these delays provide every opportunity for those accused, those indicted and those under investigation to have each and every step of the case handled with the greatest scrutiny, to ensure that "their rights" are considered. Annie Mae did not have that opportunity before she was delivered a death sentence. It is ironic, that those rights that our mother sought to be applied to all citizens whether in the United States or Canada, have been used by those accused of killing our mother to avoid, and delay justice for years.

We have tried not to judge her case based upon the court of public opinion. And, an opinion, in our estimation, that has been formulated, and managed by some, who have sought to point fingers at anybody but those responsible for her murder. We continue to make judgments based on testimony, documents and information we feel has been vetted, from those who have no reason to avoid the truth.

We are still in a time of discovery as those who have been indicted are brought to justice. The facts surrounding her case are becoming clearly evident. Annie Mae Pictou Aquash, a Canadian First Nations women was viciously beaten, raped and murdered with multiple witnessed involved in different parts of her kidnapping, interrogation, and murder. Many of these witnessed did nothing for many years, and her murder sat un-addressed for over 25 years. Mr. Graham has publicly admitted on the record, several times, to several people, that he was with Annie Mae Pictou Aquash during this time period, and even those moments, leading up to our mother's murder.

Arlo Looking Cloud has now been tried and sentenced to life in prison for our mother's murder. Twenty-three sworn witnesses, including former members of the American Indian Movement gave testimony, a video of Looking Cloud's confession was shown naming Mr. John Graham a.k.a. John Boy Patton as the man who shot my mother. This was all reviewed by a jury before they voted to find Mr Looking Cloud guilty. Additional evidence and witnesses will no doubt be presented during a trial for Mr. Graham. We look forward to scrutinizing that evidence as well, in the pursuit of justice.

The federal investigation to discover who else was involved in our mother's murder continues. We look forward to the eventual release of any, and all documents to the public in the future, either through the indictment of others, trial evidence, or a determination that the investigation has been completed.

While we recognize that our mother's case presents an opportunity of solidarity for those who feel they have been unjustly processed in the justice system, have been denied their treaty rights, or oppose uranium mining, there is no correlation to any other trial, cause or issue, past or present. A human being was murdered, there are witnesses, there is evidence, her murderers are known, and some of them are still free to walk around. They need to be held accountable for their actions.

There is no injustice in allowing Mr. Graham every opportunity to exercise his constitutional rights. It has now been almost four years since he was indicted on the charge of 1st Degree Murder. If extradited, Mr Graham has a right to defend himself, he has a right to tell his side of the story, in a court of law, in the United States. Justice can prevail, when evidence is allowed to be publicly vetted. It is time for Mr. Graham to allow the process to go forward.

Annie Mae Pictou Aquash was committed to, and driven by the call for justice for Indigenous people and those who could not help themselves. Our family and friends honor her spirit and name, and her right to obtain justice for those who so unjustly ended her life.

In the Spirit of Our Mother and Sister

Denise Maloney Pictou, for the Maloney Pictou Family. Denise can be reached at: regarding_anna@hotmail.com

2007-07-24T14:28:00.001-07:00

Feb. 5, 2004

Hotel Alex Johnson
Rapid City, S. Dakota

DAY TWO , Looking Cloud Trial
KPFK radio coverage

SIRENS IN THE NIGHT:
THE DEATH OF YET ANOTHER INDIAN WARRIOR

Kamook Banks turns Fed

By antoinette nora claypoole

There is a water shortage in many places on the planet.

Today in the courtroom of Rapid City's Federal building, that reality was a deception. Just like so many things about this complex and brutal murder trial. Tears were running like big rains into the arroyos of Northern New Mexico.

Which is where Darlene Nichols, aka Kamook Banks has lived over the past few years. From where she now flees, taking FBI relocation money with her, $42,000 in the past six months according to her testimony.

Perhaps just like a storm over desert she imagines she was arriving to help. But sometimes lightening kills and sometimes slides bury drive by cars. With drivers inside of them. This is what the courtroom was like today, in Rapid City. My eyes still aching from tears I never expected to shed. For the loss of yet another Indian warrior woman happened right there for Judge and family to see.

Darlene was one of a series of Indian women called to the stand today by the prosecution. She in her cry me a river presence she selected for the jury and observers a psychic connection to what it feels like to watch a warrior die. And that is what happened today. To Kamook Banks. She was no longer the AIM woman who claimed sovereignty for Indian people. She is now Darlene the woman dressed as a man in short hair and polyester blazers who with sullen resolve kisses into the schemes of a government she once knew would as easily murder her as any one of her best friends. Kamook spoke of her current relationship. With the FBI. Talked of how they help her out, spoke with disdain about Leonard Peltier and revealed she cooperated full heartedly with a wiretap of her good friend Troy Lynn.

With something like a mutant monotone voice Darlene said she believed her husband, Dennis Banks 'was involved in the murder of Annie Mae". Ever since he phoned her about it back in Feb. 1976. Finally , she confessed, she "had to do something." So she turned into the very thing that Annie Mae was accused of being. By the man who was lovers to them both. Kamook has bedded down with the FBI that threatened the life of her best friend, her children and lover.

Probably the intensity of this transformation of radical to FBI snitch/collaborator was only softened by the fact that the defense attorney,Timothy Rensch, rose to the status of thunder being as he continually objected to hearsay evidence (mostly to no avail). And then finally challenged Special Agent Wood, FBI agent who was involved in investigating Annie Mae back in the day when she was walking with us here.

What called this storm into the courtroom today?

It was a slow rumble which shook many of us like a 4.5 in northern California. The courtroom silenced, even the laptop keyboards of New York Times reporters quiet as Darlene revealed not a shred of Kamook left inside of her heart. Still. Kamook herself was as rain in a needed dry season when she delivered somberly the truth she believed necessary to speak. That she had turned to the FBI soon after her divorce from Dennis Banks. Dennis Banks was phoned by the New York Times during a court break for comment. He did not come to the phone today. Maybe tomorrow will be a better one for him.

The father of Darlene's four children. Has muted their relationship. She spoke today like a Catholic girl to her confessor, kissing the ring of the bishop prosecutor, telling the sins of silence, selling the sacredness of woman strength to the white men who examined her life. When she spoke about Annie Mae the portrayal was one of a pitiful scared woman who was captured and overpowered by the people around her. Kamook Banks aka Darlene has become the snitch Annie Mae never was. The eerie paradox of this feels like some kind of a legend
written with the wrong ending.

Yet many of us know differently about Annie Mae, and though this trial has little to say of Annie Mae alive and brave, Troy Lynn Yellowood, another witness in the collection of Indian women "presented" today, Troy Lynn did her best to defy the prosecution and talk of Annie Mae as a woman who defied her accusers.

"Either kill me off or defend me" was what Troy Lynn remembers Annie Mae saying to her accusers, while Mathalene White Bear remembered Annie Mae as someone who cared deeply for her daughters, her family. And then relayed to us the story of the silver ring. Which might just top Tolkien's classic for mysticism and symbolic liberation. If it had a different ending. The courtroom and jury heard about how John Trudell came to get a silver ring, in Santa Monica near the sea. A ring Annie Mae had sent as a sign of distress.

But White Bear implied Trudell never bothered to protect Annie Mae from the death threats the ring was meant to signify:

"I hope the next time you see this ring it is on my finger. But if it comes to you any other way, you'll know I'm in trouble. Then you should call this phone number". Annie Mae's words to White Bear sometime in the Fall of 1975. "The phone number was that of John Trudell who was fine brother to us back then. I called him when the ring arrived in a small white box through the mail. No letter or anything. He came and got the ring within a day and I never heard from him again. I spent 28 years of hell waiting to find out what happened" .

Maybe we all feel that way today. But a worse nightmare would be that another quarter century goes by with the wrong person(s) accused.Today, having mentioned COINTELPRO and the 'operatives placed in AIM 'to set up Annie Mae " , the defense offered a sense that not everyone has forgotten the atmosphere of murder which pounded in the veins of agents back when Annie Mae defied them.

As some of those same agents sat in the back row of the courtroom today thinking they had taken yet another line of Indian women down as they testified against the movement they once believed in, I longed for just a glimpse of their souls.

Take a photo of their conscience.
Sell it to the National Inquirer.
Then give them mirrors to places which have windows instead of lying walls.

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2007-07-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

antoinette BLOG
how to find things

1. use SEARCH button at top of page
(look for "search this blog")
2.visit blog INDEX/intro here
3. click here early blog entries
4. see sidebar of any page for RECENT menu

GO to emBerS

back home