"Before They Got Thick and AIM

History tell us, if the history Americans are taught is true. The first settlers, did not fare to well. In fact the reason many White settlers survived. There first years, on the North American continent. Was because the Native Americans, offered them seeds. Such as corn, pumpkin and other, to plants. This was when there only a few White settlers. Little did the Native Americans know. How many more White settlers would be arriving on there shores. Here is a Lipan Apache tale called, 'Before they got thick'. Lipan Apaches lived on the Texas-Louisiana boarder. Official policy in Texas was (1845-1856). Kill all the Native Americans, with in the territory. The Lipan Apache survived, by hiding in Mexico.

The Lipan Apache once lived on the Gulf of Mexico. In what is now called Texas. At a placed called, 'Beside Smooth Water'. There was plenty of food to be gathered. And when big waves would occasionally come in. They would bring with sea shells. Along with other types of Water Turtles and fish for food.

One day a few of the Lipan Apache. Saw a little black dot, in the horizon. Out on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. They went back to camp and told others what they had seen. Soon other tribal went to the spot. To see for them selves. The longer they looked, the larger the object got. They waited and waited, until a small boat arrived. They went back to camp, to summons all the tribal members. As they watched, people started coming out of the small boats. They were different than the Lipan people. They had blue eyes and were pale in complexion. They thought these people, might live on the waters all the "Time".

The Lipan held a council meeting that night. They were undecided what to do. Should they kill them, or let them live.

One leader stood up and said. 'They have a shape just like ours. Only difference is the color of there hair and skin.'

Another said, 'lets not kill them. They may be here, to help us some day. Lets let them go and see what they'll do.'

The next day they watched them. And pondered what they would call them. Still some wanted to kill them. Others said no, so they left them alone.

The Lipan Apaches went away. To return a year later. To see what the new visitors were doing.

There were only a few left. Many had starved to death. Many Lipan said, 'lets kill them now. There are only a few left.' 'No' others would say, 'let us be like brothers to them.'

It was spring. The Lipan gave them some corn and pumpkin seeds. Told them how to plant them. The new visitors took the seeds. After that, they got along all rite. They raised the corn and pumkins and started a new life. Again the Lipan people, left again for a while. When they returned, the Whites. Were getting along very well. The Lipan gave the Whites some venison. They were getting along very well. After that, 'They Became Thick.'

As you can see by this old Lipan Apache story. The life of the White settlers were in the hands of the Lipan Apache. And typical fashion, the Whites would later. Turned on there Red brothers. Later to murder them into almost extinction. As the old line goes, 'they bit the hand that feed them.' Now there Karma stands before them.

AIM or the American Indian Movement. Got it's start in Minnesota, in the sixties. (See that hippie connection, I wrote about yesterday.) The Bellecourt brothers Vernon and Clyde are mainly responsible for the creation. The Bellecourt brothers, were street savvy Minneapolis Indians. Many of the early AIM members were ex-convicts. Who were not behind the idea of. Peaceful protest marches. Very much like the Blacks and Hispanic of that era. Anyone who was alive then. Knows exactly what I'm talking about. Or as I like to say, 'Detroit was burning.'

Many of the early Native American groups around Minneapolis. Where related to church group, or White, 'do gooders'. For the most part, the boards of these groups. Where White dominated, and were used to control there Native Americans protest.

AIM preferred self defence and direct confrontation. They protested police excesses, and other urban Indian problems. They also threw there support behind, reservation Indians problems. AIM's threatening and theatrical style, caused differences. Between them selves and other Indian people organizations.

The first AIM organization, was a non profit corporation. With all the board members, Native Americans. The first group was going to be called, 'Concerned Indian Americans', or CIA. They couldn't use that. So a couple of women elders suggested. AIM, because the members aimed, to help the Native Americans.

AIM also started patrols, to monitor the Minneapolis police. To be there with cameras, during arrest of Native Americans. They hired lawyers to help with those that had been arrested. AIM wanted to stop the miss treatment of Native Americans during arrest. They even got a grant from Urban League of Minneapolis. So they could have two way radios. So when they heard of an arrest in a certain community. They could be there to film it.

The last part of the puzzle was. Finding a spiritual voice. That voice came from a medicine man in South Dakota named, Leonard Crow Dog. Fifty years later AIM is still going strong. Born out of the violent years surround the Vietnam era. With out the hippie movement leading the way. I highly doubt, that AIM would have ever got off the ground. They had the support of the White middle class kids. And that gave them exposure. That would have never been exposed. Here is a link to a Drum Channel. That plays many Native American Drum songs. 'Drum Channel', www.drumchannel.com

Caddo
The Caddo tribe belong to a confederacy of tribes of the Caddoan language. Whose southern members were the Caddo proper, the Wichita and Kichai tribe. It's northern representatives were the Arikara and Pawnees. Mostly sedentary planters, the Caddo, as well as the Wichita. Lived in large domed shaped thatched grass huts. Caddoans were once scattered through out Oklahoma and the Red River area of Arkansas and northern Texas. Approx 500 surviving members settled with the Wichita Indians in Oklahoma.

A little Arizona history now. In 1858 Lt. Joseph Ives explored the Grand Canyon area of Arizona. He proclaimed this area was of no use financially. That area is now called, 'Grand Canyon National Park. "God" bless on this Sunday evening. May you have sweet dreams, with soft landings. bye