The American Indian Movement as it exists today is but a collection of "splinter groups", each with it's own agenda. Some commendable and some not. These "chapters" do not represent the AIM that existed under the leadership of warriors like Dennis Banks, Russell Means, John Trudell and the early AIM leadership.
There were several factors that contributed to the decline of AIM. Chief among them were the actions of the FBI in an attempt to destroy AIM. Agents were planted within AIM and informers were paid, either with money or with promises of "immunity" for past, present and future criminal acts, many of those acts instigated by agents of the FBI. Rumors were intentionally started that many of the AIM members were "informers", misinformation planted by the FBI. One must remember that in the sixty's and seventies a state of war existed between two factions on the reservations. The "tribal councils" who were supported, armed and aided by the government and which were little more then "puppet dictators. The other side was the Traditionals, those who wanted to be free to live by the traditions passed down to them from their ancestors, who wanted a say in how they were to live and who wanted to be free of government interference. A Reign of Terror existed and government sponsored "tribal councils" routinely beat and killed those who disagreed with them, supported fully by the FBI
A state of paranoia existed among the members of AIM because of the possibility of assassination of themselves or members of their families by the pro government factions. The FBI used this paranoia to fractionalize the members of AIM.
The leadership of AIM were routinely arrested and tried on trumped up charges by the FBI and although in most cases there were no convictions, by holding the leaders in jail, the FBI effectively neutralized the organizational arm of AIM.
The death of the family of John Trudell, the framing of Leonard Peltier, the constant harassment by the government of Means and Banks, The death of Anna Mae Aguish and hundreds of other AIM members and supporters took it's toll.
Much infighting began taking place within AIM. Members pointing fingers at each other and suspecting each other off being informants, or government agents.
So AIM lost the effectiveness that it once had. Most of the Early Leaders were gone, In jail, dead or being harassed by trumped up charges to the extent that they could no longer operate effectively.
What arose from that is what exists today. Many chapters with no central leadership. The "National American Indian Movement is a sham. Groups are so busy fighting and pointing the finger at each other, or letting ego and quest of "fame" to interfere with the common cause of what is best for Indian People.
It's the same old story, the same trap that Indians have always fallen into. Too busy fighting among ourselves over who is Indian, who is more Indian, what Nation is better. In other words, putting bigotry, race and prestige before principles.
Unfortunately AIM has gone down that road and as a result is just a hollow shell of what it used to be.
Today's members are not willing to sacrifice their well being or put their lives on the line, not even for their own causes. The ME has outweighed the WE.
The commentary and opinions expressed here are my own. There are many who feel as I do and many who feel otherwise.
For those that disagree with the commentary on this page, I offer you the opportunity for rebuttal. Email me with your commentary and I will post it on this site with a link to it from this page.
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