Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Greetings:

If one reviews the FBI's recently released "Accounting for Native American deaths-Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota" one must be struck by the pretty graphics and the lack of any recent accountings.

While the FBI's effort here is interesting and interestingly timed release to coincide with the 32cnd AIM Conference and the LPDC's renewed efforts and Camp Justice... But lets put all that aside and look at the intriguing data that comes from this FBI "accounting". Lets put aside for the moment potentially erroneous information contained within this document and just take it at its word. I found some interesting facts.

Let's look at this one. Here we have 57 deaths-of which all but 9 the FBI admits were homicidal or unnatural in nature. So for 46 homicides we have 12-where the USATT neglected to prosecute 5 which remain unsolved 4 were off the rez and out of the jurisdiction of the FBI, but they took the time to explain why they didn't think these cases should have been prosecuted. Nice of em, enit?

4 were justified cause cops/FBI did the
killing, and that's justification enough.
2 got 20 years
2 got 15 years
3 got 10 years
1 got 8 years
1 got 7 years and six months
1 got six years
1 got 2 years 5 months
2 got 5 years
1 got 3 years
2 got 1 year
1 got 18 months
1 got probation-for a manslaughter
2 got acquitted, prosecution just couldn't get a conviction,
but darn it they tried, or so the pretty booklet says.

But lets see, how long did Leonard get? Hmm. Seems like I recall two life sentences. And how long did Richard Marshall get sentenced to? Hmm. How long were Patrick and Norma Jean Croy sentenced to? Hmm. Seems like a little unequal protection under the law by the admission of the FBI. 8.7% of the homicides the FBI admitted occurred on Pine Ridge during the reign of terror resulted in sentences of more than a decade. Try a stat below 10% in any American city. Anywhere for sentences of less than a decade for manslaughter/homicide related cases see if 30.4% of the CONVICTIONS get a sentencing of less than a decade! I challenge anyone to find a rate that forgiving anywhere.

Of the 9 that were not considered homicides at all two or nearly a quarter were deaths that while the victim had suffered a severe beating the cause of death was ruled accidental or due to intoxication. Like they said on Saturday Night Live-Isn't that convenient.

12 of these 57 cases or 21.1% were cases with the phrases-not to prosecute in them. 21.1% seems like a significant percentage where the government elected not to prosecute.

And of course how come its so limited? I mean no explanation of Wallace Black Elk Jr, John Means, Ronald Heard Heart, Robert Many Horses, Leroy Jackson, Mike Berry, Gabby Daniels, Candace Rogh Surface, Ronald Bear Track.. ad infinitum. What reason was it they limited it to these 57 cases? The FBI in the document asserts it released it due to "These allegations were proffered during the hearings and the Commission was sufficiently impressed by them to incorporate the allegations into their findings" Hmm. Seems to little ol' me that them there hearings were about recent murders. None of them made the neat little pamphlet put together by Douglas J. Domin, Special Agent in Charge Minneapolis Division.

Seems the FBI wants, now don't laugh too hard, the trust of the Native community - says it right in the fancy colors of the document thats got really cool Indian graphics. Well, I dunno seems kinda simple to me. The prosecution of those who kill Indians to the EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, not 21% election not to prosecute and 30.4% under a decade sentencing ratio. I mean thats like more than half the cases right there. Gee I dunno why they have a trust problem. And maybe let out Indians that are only incarcerated 'cause they are Indian; like Leonard Peltier, Scott Seeyle, Chris Bald Eagle, Eddie Hatcher, ad infinitum. Perhaps if the FBI stopped acting like the 7th Cavalry revisited..... I dunno.

And you come to that, just by reading what they say at face value. Mix in some reality and...

Later,

Sheridan