Dr. Tim Gleason, Dean
Univ. of Oregon
School of Journalism and Communication
1275 Univ. of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1275
Ph: 541-346-3738 Fx: 541-346-0628
Re: Leonard Peltier - Petition on Payne Award
Greetings. We are called the Lakota Student Alliance and we are based out of Pine Ridge Reservation. Most of us are familiar with the 1970s Reign of Terror. Many of our Family members fell victim in one way or another to atrocities committed by acts of terrorism. Acts committed by a concerted opposition to the American Indian Movement (AIM).
Many lives were lost, resulting in calls for Senate/Congressional Investigations into Federal (FBI/CIA) and Tribal (Guardian of Oglala Nation-GOON) misconduct. The 1975 Shootout at Jumping Bulls property resulted in deaths of AIM member Joseph Stuntz, FBI agents Coler and Williams, and two life sentence convictions of AIM member Leonard Peltier. Evidence and NOT hearsay reveal the federal misconduct culminating in the Shootout. Evidence and Not Hearsay leads many to call for a new trial for Leoanard Peltier.
As coordinators for the 1998, 25th Anniversary of the 1973 Wounded Knee Liberation, the LSA called for Healing of our Oglala nation. We asked GOON members to come forth, share in a ceremony, and commence with a TRUE healing effort. This did not occur as anticipated. In 2000, the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee asked the LSA to coordinate the 25th commemoration of Events around the Shootout at Oglala. The theme was again, Healing. Still, no GOONs arrived.
Every Year since 2000, the Lakota Student Alliance has offered this event free of charge to the Oglala Lakota people to unite and resolve the deep mistrust and animosity already evident in our society through the advocacy toward Senate/Congressional Hearings into this matter. This past year, we saw adverse reaction to our effort from National Indian News organizations.
To give you an idea of our position, we are attaching a copy of a petition presented at this year’s Oglala Event by other Indian Journalists, describing "conflict of Interest" regarding your Payne Journalism Award. Over 145 members of the Oglala District of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) signed this petition. The OST has 9 districts within its boundaries. We plan on providing more petitions to the other Districts in the near future.
This petition challenges the Payne Awards Committee to justify News From Indian Country Editor Paul Demain's so-called Journalistic works regarding the Leonard Peltier and Anna Mae Aquash cases. Both of which are currently unresolved, as they both contain thousands of pieces of withheld evidence and documentation. This petition also challenges the merits behind Award Recipient Demains' use of slander toward AIM political prisoner Peltier.
We hope you understand our effort at Oglala National healing and will acknowledge this petition by responding to it in accordance with your own ethical protocols. On behalf of the Lakota Student Alliance and Oglala Commemoration Committee, we thank you for your time and cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Members, Lakota Student Alliance
Members, Oglala Commemoration Committee
cc: file, LPDC, AIMGGC, OST, National Indian News Outlets
Attachment: Petition on Payne Award (145 Signatures)
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