

I fully expect that I will aggravate some people with the words that ensue but the truth is they need to be said and I’m not really concerned about who gets upset.
Any anger should be directed solely towards me as they are singularly my words and thoughts-I’ve neither discussed them with or asked permission from anyone to post them.
I don’t know how the numbers break down, what percentage of FB “likes” translates to supporters in the U.S. and Canada as opposed to those in other countries-but I think it’s a safe bet to say of those who have signed who reside in either the U.S or Canada aren’t representative of the numbers who frequent Annie’s,Ray’s,
and Leonard Peltier Still Guilty sites.
That raises a few questions for me-the first would be what’s the problem? A person who cares enough, has enough of a sense of social justice that neither resides in the aforementioned countries and is not
indigenous is willing to invest of themselves and create a petition that is what? Being glossed over or ignored by a “silent majority”?
Second question would be does anyone think in doing so they are facilitating anything other than a continuation of what has gone on for decades?
This is a no brainer if ever there was one-at post time there are 56 signators -all to be commended for putting their money where their mouth is as the saying goes-the rest of you? You need to step up-and that decision should have nothing to do with rather you’re angered by my words, angry at me, or anything else other than saying it is about justice and that every indigenous person deserves at a minimum more than the bullshit of the last few decades-that Annie deserves more.
Arlo and Graham are down-are those laurels enough to rest on? Is the work done, are you personally satisfied with that as being enough? If you are then you know very little about the nations and what they
have to face.
Annie has become the “poster child” for a multitude of issues-and I use the term poster child with no disrespect but for the common understanding it affords. Annie was anything but a child-she was a woman just as some of the readers are , a mother, daughter,wife, and sister. And I might add a kick ass one who knew what she was about and didn’t opt for silence.
She is a face and a name put to a reality indigenous women endure-a reality of abuse, sexual assault, and even murder. When everything concerning Annie is resolved those problems will continue, but a way will have been made to address them- an awareness, and hopefully a national outcry.
Her spirit speaks? Then use your voice to speak as well.
In the blog “It Is What It Is” you will find a comment, a copy/paste made by Joe Wade-a signator of this petition- a comment made by Kokipa Lee Whitehorse who has been involved in helping Vern Traversie and included below.
AIM wants one thing-the ownership of anything that will draw media attention and money -have you had enough of that-if not now, when? A “peace walk”? More like they want a piece of the pie they think will be forthcoming.
This is the exact kind of BS I’m talking about that silence allows -the vultures and carrion feeders following the scent of money-it isn’t any kind of a stretch to say that a petition can add an incremental step in putting an end to such things as this, much less facilitate the quest for justice.
Demanding payment to advocate for an indigenous person- to grace a cause with their for hire presence, who in the hell do they think they are- and to think anyone would be a fan of these scavengers staggers the imagination.
I have a great sympathy for Vern Traversie and have no doubt he is fine man a devastated by this experience, I want justice for him-but I also believe he needs to rethink his decision and send these clowns packing.
Kokipa Lee WhiteHorse GOOD MORNING EVRYONE, HOPE YOU ALL SLEPT WELL… WELL AS MOST OF YOU KNOW,MYSELF N THE REST OF H.I.T. HAVE BEEN ALL UP IN THE VERN TRAVERSIE SITUATION..WE GOT MEDIA ATTENTION N SEVERAL STATIONS HAVE AGREED TO COVER THIS ISSUE, WE HAVE SENT MR TRAVERSIE SOME BASIC NEEDS MONEY TIL THINGS WORK OUT FOR HIM,WE GOT THE SUPPORT OF SEN JOHN THUNE WHO AGREED TO APPEAR AT A RALLY FOR MR TRAVERSIE, N WE HAV…E A RETAINER FEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,500( WHICH CAME DIRECTLY OUT OF THE POCKETS OF EACH H.I.T. MEMBER N SEVERAL SUPPORTERS) WE WERE THE FIRST NDN ORGANIZATION TO RALLY AT MR TRAVERSIE’S SIDE N WERE APPLAUDED FOR OUR RESPONSE N EFFORTS…WELL, LATE LAST NIGHT I WAS INFORMED BY MR TRVERSIE’S “PEOPLE” THAT THEY HAVE MADE A “DEAL” WITH RUSSELL MEANS N DENIS BANKS AND SEVERAL OTHER FIGURES, N THAT THEY NO LONGER NEEDED OUR SUPPORT?? N I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE MONEY WE SENT TO MR TRAVERSIE WHICH TO HELP HIM WITH BASIC NEEDS( GROCERIES, BILLS, GAS ECT) ACTUALLY WENT TO PAYING RUSSELL MEANS N DENIS BANKS TO MAKE AN APPEARENCE AT THE MARCH WE SCHEDULED…… IM SO CRUSHED I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY…. ME N OTHER H.I.T. MANAGEMENT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH HELL THIS WEEK WITH THIS SITUATION, N NOW WE ARE JUS KICKED TO THE CURB CAUSE RUSSELL MEANS N DENIS BANKS HAVE FINALLY AGREED TO JOIN IN ONLY IF THEY ARE PAID???? THEY”VERNS PEOPLE” HAVE STATED THAT WE ARE TOO AGRRESSIVE N THEY FEEL A MORE PEACEFUL APPROACH IS WHATS NEEDED??? THEY EVEN CHANGED THE NAME OF OUR EVENT FROM “MARCH FOR JUSTICE” TO “PEACE WALK FOR VERN”…. SO, IM OUT.. IM DONE WITH THIS.. THEY CAN TRY THINGS THEIR WAY N WE’LLL SEE WHERE IT GETS THEM.. BUT IN THE END RUSSELL N DENNIS WILL MAYBE GET A NEW SMALL ROLE IN A LOW BUGET MOVIE DUE TO THE NEW MEDIA ATTENTION N THEY WILL GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM N FORGET ALL ABOUT JUSTICE FOR VERN… BUT WHAT CAN I DO? WE TRIED… SO TODAY IM GONNA BE WITH FAMILY N FRIENDS N SPEND SOME TIME IN THE MOUNTAINS.. THEY HAVENT SEEN MUCH OF ME THIS WEEK CAUSE I WAS SO BUSY WITH ALL THIS TRAVERSIE BUSINESS….. HAVE A GOOD DAY EVERYONE.. I GOT TO GET SOME HELP TO MEND THIS BROKEN HEART…. TOK`SA AKE… TASUNKA NAKU KOKIPA MIYELO…. April 29 at 10:48am source: JUSTICE FOR VERN TRAVERSIE (open group) http://www.facebook.com/groups/289748684443277/
Mount up or sit around the fire, put on the paint or hang around the fort-it’s your choice, and you need to think about it.