AIM West Conference: Attendees Told to Prepare for Future

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

AIM West Conference Monday

SAN FRANCISCO - Attendees of the AIM West Conference which began Monday at the Baha'i Center heard stories about the 1973 siege of Wounded Knee from Clyde Bellecourt, one of co-founders of the American Indian Movement. Bellecourt, along with Dennis Banks and Russell Means, were the leaders of the 71 day siege to fight tribal corruption and federal mistreatment of American Indians on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Clyde Bellecourt, co-founder of the American Indian Movement Co-Founder Clyde Bellecourt

Bellecourt co-founded the American Indian Movement with Dennis Banks and George Mitchell in 1968 to counter police brutality in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Bellecourt discussed how the he and others were brought trial after the siege was over and were acquitted.

While Bellecourt provided an account of the past, attendees of the conference were encouraged to discuss the future.

Chief Terrance Nelson, Roseau Reserve in Manitoba Chief Terrance Nelson
Anishnabe

“Where do we go from here?”

Asked Chief Terrance Nelson, Roseau Reserve in Manitoba, who is also in attendance at the conference. "We, as indigenous people have to move in a clear direction. We have natural resources and we must work with government to make sure indigenous people get their fair share. We sit on some of the best natural resources in our countries (referring to Canada and the United States)."

Chief Nelson discussed the environmental issues with the oil pipelines that threaten Native land. "People don’t realize how oil moves through the Enbridge Pipeline down from Canada every day. Over million barrels move every day. In comparison, Saudi Arabia moves 1.1 million barrels of oil each day."

"But, our issues are not only about the environment. They are also economic," continued Chief Nelson. "AIM cannot simply rely on our bodies to protest. We have to learn how get our fair share sitting down and working with government."

Tuesday's Schedule

10 am - Open (prayer/sage/song);
10:05 to 11:05 pm - Workshop on Protection of Sacred Sites, Freedom of Religion, historic sites, activities
11:10 to 12:10 pm - Youth and Media; what is wrong with media today; write your own story, film or documentary, radio broadcasting & interviews;
12:15 pm to 1:15 pm - Lunch and screening of "A Tattoo on My Heart" about Veterans from Wounded Knee 1973;
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm - Establishing an AIM chapter or affiliate, empower communities, and training how to utilize public institutions, strategic planning, funding sources;
2:40 pm to 3:40 pm - Mining and mineral extraction industries; ie networking with KXL Tar Sands, Big Mountain and Peabody coal, affects of global warming, and update on Climate Change conference in Durban;
4 pm to 4:30 pm - Panel Discussion: International report, importance of maintaining links with liberation and political movements, relationship with UN bodies, Permanent Forum, solidarity organizations and networks. Also delegates to El Salvador in March, the World Conference for Indigenous Peoples in Geneva in 2014, and AIM-WEST association for international internship program development;
4:30 to 5 pm - Panel Discussion: Hands on Training on the status of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, review of principles by categories, and how and when to implement at local and national level.
5:05 - Closing comments and announcements. Prayer

photo credits Christina Akaquiqui/de la luna photography
posted November 22, 2011 10:50 am est

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