The Grand Inquistion

A certain Christian white man came to the Pine Ridge Reservation, taking testimonies of complaints, stating that he was going to do something about it. I introduced him to Cante Oyate. I questioned him, which, I could tell, he really did not like. He said he would create a newspaper for us. When I asked when and how often it would come out, who and how we would submit stories, he told me that all my stories would have to be censored, edited, by himself. Then he wrote the first issue for us to distribute. All his story. This is how the 1st paragraph reads: EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! Hear/Read all about it!! Black Hills Peoples News prints a slight Misprint by alleging Ken Hart as a leader of the unorganized Cante Oyate group, and triggers a Grand Jury investigation, sponsored by no other that the Honorable Judge Charles Yow, Exq., a Newcomer to the Pine Ridge area. OOPS! He’s not a judge yet. Oh well, at least I caught myself Before the news got out. Yes folks, that is exactly what happened, at least in part. Right after he finished talking to me, he called Ken and told him I was a white woman who should step back and let Indians handle their own affairs. He said everyone was tired of hearing about my story and that of Arlo Looking Cloud, that I just wanted to promote myself in my writing. He didn’t think I should be writing stories for the paper. He said that I caused the Grand Jury and could cause Ken a lot of harm. He offered Ken all kinds of legal advice. Said he was going to do all this for Cante Oyate. This morning, Ken told me that I am no longer needed in Cante Oyate, that he wants me to stay away. I am the only one with a subpoena to appear tomorrow morning. And I stand alone, not knowing what is going on, what crime is being investigated, if the calling of the Grand Jury is legal. But the way I see it, feel it, is that this white Christian man is serving me up for some kind of slaughter. There is more that one person here who would love nothing better than to see me destroyed, so that none of their dirty works will come out in an investigation. That’s how Cointelpro works. Get into a group. Make yourself helpful and needed. Then attack, or better yet, drive a wedge between the leader and the voice. That’s a surefire recipe for the destruction of an activist group. It isn’t the first time that these jackles have come in sheep’s clothing, with their deadly intentions cloaked in the name of God. I am frightened again. What treachery lurks for this poor, old frightened artist? Why are some people so afraid of my words that they would want to stop them and destroy me in the process? If you think you can help, contact me at jlschmidt@gwtc.net