Russell Means activism, Wounded Knee, and the United Nations

Russell Means activism, Wounded Knee, and the United Nations

In memory of Russell Means birthday around a month ago

By Lynda Carson - December 10, 2025

Recently, on November 10, around a month ago it was the birthday anniversary of Russell Means, who was born Nov. 10, 1939, and passed away on Oct. 22, 2012 (aged 72).

Russell Means was the leader of the American Indian Movement (A.I.M.). The more that the convicted felon President Trump wants to bury the past at Wounded Knee, the more that we need to keep reminding the country how much we need to keep the brutal history of this nation in our thoughts.

This is in memory of Russell Means, the anniversary of his birthday, and the struggles he was caught up into to make life better for Native Americans, who are still getting screwed over by the federal, and state governments.

Reportedly, according to Wikipedia about Russell means, in part, it says, “In 1973, Dennis Banks and Carter Camp led AIM's occupation of Wounded Knee, which became the group's best-known action. Means appeared as a spokesman and prominent leader. The armed standoff of more than 300 Lakota and AIM activists with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and state law enforcement lasted for 71 days. Frank Clearwater, a visiting Cherokee activist from North Carolina, and Lawrence "Buddy" Lamont, an Oglala Lakota activist from Pine Ridge Reservation, were killed in April. African-American activist Ray Robinson disappeared and is assumed to be buried in the hills..”

However, in the Wikipedia report, I did not notice any mention at all about Russell Means time that he spent in prison, where he was on a hunger strike that had many people worried about his falling health at the time.

According to a 1978 report below, in part it says, “THE DEPARTMENT WAS RECENTLY ASKED BY THEO VAN BOVEN,
“DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION, TO RESPOND TO
SOME NGO CONCERNS ABOUT THE "CRITICAL HEALTH SITUATION
OF RUSSELL MEANS, A LEADER OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS,
ARRESTED ON JULY 27TH." MEANS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE
STARTED A FAST MORE THAN TWENTY-SEVEN DAYS AGO AND VAN
BOVEN STATED THAT "INDIAN LEADERS ARE SAID TO FEAR A
FATAL OUTCOME AND TO BE EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR RUSSELL
AND ABOUT PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE INDIAN POPULATION."

WE HAVE COLLECTED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ENABLE YOU
TO RESPOND TO THIS INQUIRY.

RUSSELL MEANS HAS BEEN ON A "SPIRITUAL FAST" WHILE
INCARCERATED AT THE SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
PENITENTIARY SINCE JULY 30 AND IS CURRENTLY TAKING ONLY
WATER. HE IS LOSING STRENGTH RAPIDLY, HAS LOST 26 POUNDS,
BUT IS NOT IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THIS TIME. THE
WARDEN OF THE PRISON, HERMAN SOLEM, APPEARS TO BE
GENERALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MEANS' HEALTH. HE HAS ORDERED
THAT MEANS BE GIVEN A WEEKLY PHYSICAL AND IS KEEPING A
CLOSE WATCH ON HIM SO THAT HIS HEALTH DOES NOT REACH A
CRITICAL OR COMATOSE STAGE. PRISON OFFICIALS HAVE
REQUESTED A COURT ORDER WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THAT MEANS BE
FED INTRAVENOUSLY. ALTHOUGH HIS LAWYERS ARE ATTEMPTING
TO BLOCK THIS ORDER, THE JUDGE BELIEVES HE HAS FOUND
A PRECEDENT AND THAT HE MAY SOON GRANT THE ORDER. MEANS
HAS STATED THAT IF THE JUDGE GRANTS THE ORDER, HE WILL
COMPLY WITH IT, AGAINST HIS OWN WISHES.”

Nor did I notice any mention in Wikipedia, that Russell Means and many others were very angry at former President Jimmy Carter for mistreating Native Americans so badly, especially the way he illegally misused, and abused their land, and water rights.

Jimmy Carter had a great PR image going for himself from Habitat for Humanity, but it never was enough to cover up the way he treated mistreated the Native Americans while he was in office.

A few forgotten historical reports below from long ago may help to shed some more light on the activism of Russell Means, what was happening at Wounded Knee, and how former President Jimmy Carter screwed over the Native Americans over and over again, while he was in office.

Lynda Carson may be reached at newzland2 [at] gmail.com

May 4, 1973, report , called WOUNDED KNEE.

From: United Nations (New York)
To: Department of State / Secretary of State

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PETITION BY SIX NATIONS IROQUOIS
CONFEDERATION ON BEHALF OF THE INDIANS OF OGLALA NATION
TO UNSYG AND CHAIRMAN OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORTEDLY
DELIVERED 4 MAY 1973:

Quote.

WE ARE THE CHIEFS WHO ARE APPEARING ON BEHALF OF THE IRAQUOIS
CONFEDERACY RESPECTFULLY PRESENT OUR PETITION TO YOU HOPING
THAT YOU WILL USE YOUR GOOD OFFICES TO ASSIST OUR BESIEGED
PEOPLE IN WOUNDED KNEE AND BRING ABOUT A PEACE.

WE PARTICULARLY WISH TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE UN
THE TREATMENT OF INDIANS IN GENERAL AND THOSE IN WOUNDED KNEE
IN PARTICULAR BY THE US GOVT. WE HAVE FOR A LONG TIME BEEN
DEPRIVED OF MANY RIGHTS ENJOYED BY OTHER CITIZENS AND EVEN
ALIENS IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS CONTINENT AND WE DO
NOT ENJOY THE SAME RIGHTS AS OTHER PEOPLE.

WE DEMAND AND ASK YOU ASSISTANCE IN HELPING US ACHIEVE A
BETTER TREATMENT OF INDIANS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE REMOVAL OF THE
US ARMED FORCES FROM WOUNDED KNEE. WE ASK IN PARTICULAR THAT
THIS LOFTY AND AUGUST BODY INTERVENE TO RENDER SOME HUMANITARIAN
MEASURES TO OUR PEOPLE IN WOUNDED KNEE, PARTICULARLY IN ALLOWING
THE PASSAGE OF FOOD AND MEDICAL HELP, WATER AND FUEL. ALSO THE
FREE ACCESS AND MOVEMENT OF SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND
THE FREE ACCESS AND MOVEMENT OF ATTORNEYS WHO REPRESENT
PERSONS UNDER INDICTMENT.

WE HAVE SIGNED WITH THE US GOVT AN AGREEMENT ON APRIL 5 TO
WHICH WE HAVE STRICTLY ADHERED, AND THE US GOVT HAS VIOLATED
SUCH AN AGREEMENT. WE REQUEST AN ADHERENCE BY THE US GOVT TO
THIS AGREEMENT. WE, AS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL
NATIONS AMONG THE INDIANS, ARE THEIR MEDIATOR, THROUGHOUT OUR
HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, AND ARE OFFERING OUR HELP TO BRING
ABOUT PEACE BETWEEN THE US GOVT AND THE INDIANS IN WOUNDED
KNEE, AND WE ASK YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE IN OUR
ENDEAVOR. WE ALSO ASK THAT REPRESSIVE MEASURES AGAINST INDIANS
INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING WOUNDED KNEE BE COMPLETELY STOPPED BY
THE US GOVT.

WE ALSO REQUEST THE REMOVAL OF CENSORSHIP AND FREE INFORMATION
ON THE FACTS IN WOUNDED KNEE AND NOT THE GOVT SIDE OF THE ISSUES
PRESENTED AND THE INDIAN SIDE COMPLETELY SUPPRESSED.

( SIGNED)
CHIEF WILLIAMS LAZORE ONONDAGA
CHIEF LLOYD M. ELM, ONONDAGA
CHIEF LEON SHENANDOAH, ONONDAGA, IRAQUOIS CONFEDERATION
CHIEF MOSES DAVID, MOHAWK NATION
MAD BEAR, PRESIDENT LEAGUE OF NATIONS PAN- AMERICAN
INDIANS OF THE TUSCARORA NATION.

>>>>>>>
September 21, 1977 report, called NGO CONFERENCE ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIGENOUS.

From: Switzerland Geneva (UN)
To: Secretary of State

SEPT. 20

SUBJECT CONFERENCE OPENED SEPT 20 WITH GREETINGS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS
DIRECTOR VAN BOVEN AND OTHER U.N. DIGNITARIES. FOLLOWING A
LAKOTA INDIAN PRAYER, GEORGE ERASMUS (INDIAN BROTHERHOOD OF
NORTHWEST TERRITIRY) SPOKE, FOCUSING ATTENTION ON SELF-
DETERMINATION, AND CITED CONSTRUCTION OF ALASKA PIPELINE
AS A CASE WHERE INDIANS' SELF DETERMINATION WAS IGNORED BY
GOVERNMENTS. HE INJECTED IDEA OF FOURTH WORLD PEOPLE
WHO ARE ABORIGINES BUT IN THEIR COUNTRIES STILL LACK INDE-
PENDENCE, AS CONTRASTED WITH THIRD WORLD PEOPLE WHO HAVE
GAINED INDEPENDENCE AND BECOME MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

SPEAKER NOTED THAT SOME THIRD WORLD PEOPLE ARE ARMED IN THEIR
STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM WHILE FOURTH WORLD PEOPLE ARE NOT
EMPLOYING WEAPONS TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE. NORTHWEST REP WAS
FOLLOWEDBY BOLIVIA AND PANAMA PARTICIPANTS WHO MADE MILD
ATTACKS ON CONQUISTADORS.

RUSSELL MEANS OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT (AIM), WHO
HAS PRESENCE, A SENSE OF THE DRAMATIC AND RATHER EXCESSIVE
RHETORIC, WAS MOST COMPELLING SPEAKER DURING MORNING MEETING.

MEANS PREFACED REMARKS BY SAYING THAT THE INDIAN NATION WAS
QUOTE: LIVING IN THE BELLY OF A MONSTER; THE MONSTER WAS THE
UNITED STATES-UNQUOTE. HE ACCUSED OTHER WESTERN HEMISPHERE
COUNTRIES OF FOLLOWING U.S. TACTICS (WHICH LEAD TO DEPRIVATIONS
OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE). HE CAUTIONED INDIANS NOT TO TURN THE
OTHER CHEEK AS THEY HAD BEEN DOING FOR 500 YEARS.

MEANS WENT ON TO CALL PRESIDENT CARTER THE GREATEST RACIST
IN THE WORLD. A REASON FOR THIS LABEL STEMS FROM THE U.S.
INDIANS' BELIEF THAT PLANNED GENOCIDE IS CARRIED OUT BY THE
U.S. GOVERNMENT AS A POLICY. MEANS SAID HE HAD PROOF TO
SUBSTANTIATE HIS ALLEGATIONS THAT GENOCIDE IS CONDUCTED IN
INDIAN HOSPITALS. HE CONTINUED, STATING THAT THE U.N.
HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE (SOUTH AFRICA) FOR 25
YEARS AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. ACCORDING TO MEANS IT IS THE
U.S. WHICH MORE AND MORE DICTATES FOREIGN POLICY IN THE WORLD
(NOT THE U.N.) AND WHERE THE U.S. DOES NOT DICTATE POLICY ITS
INFLUENCE IS FELT BY USING THE CIA. HE CITED AS EXAMPLES, BRAZIL,
ECUADOR, PERU AND VENEZUELA. MEANS ENCOURAGED INDIANS
TO TAKE WHITE MAN'S APPROACH AND "PROTECT THEIR CAPITAL."

October 4, 1977 report, called SUBJECT: LETTERS FROM CHIEF OF THE SIX NATIONS.

From: Switzerland Geneva / United Nations
To: Secretary of State / United Nations (New York)

FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A LETTER TO YOU FROM CHIEF OREN
LYONS OF THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY. ALSO INCLUDED IS THE
TEXT OF THE LETTER TO MR. RICHARD MOE, ASSISTANT
TO VICE PRESIDENT MONDALE.

QTE
MR. WILLIAM J. VANDEN HEUVEL
AMBASSADOR

UNITED STATES MISSION
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

BROTHER:

A. THE ONONDAGA NATION, AND THE SIX NATIONS THANKS YOU
FOR YOUR INVITATION TO YOUR RESIDENCE SEPTEMBER 23,
1977, OFFERING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT
WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO BRING BEFORE THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.

B. I CAN ONLY EMPHASIZE THE PATIENCE EXERCISED BY OUR
PEOPLE CONCERNING THE MATTERS DEFINED IN THE ENCLOSED

LETTER TO MR. RICHARD MOE ALONG WITH THE SITUATIONS
WE DISCUSSED WITH YOU. IT IS OUR FEELING THAT MR. CARTER
IS NOT BEING APPRAISED OF THE REAL SITUATIONS AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND THE EXPLOSIVE POTENTIAL THAT EXISTS FOR
VIOLENCE CAUSED PRIMARILY FROM POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT
SOLUTIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF MORAL PRINCIPLES AND LEGAL
OBLIGATIONS.

C. AGAIN OUR HOPES ARE RESTING ON A PROMISE, IN OUR
FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL WE MUST SEEK HELP WHERE WE CAN.
PERHAPS YOUR INTERVENTION WILL SHORTEN OUR LONG TRAIL
OF TRIBULATIONS AND LEAD TO A BETTER FUTURE
FOR ALL OF US. ONEH, ONONDAGA COUNCIL OF CHIEF /S/
CHIEF OREN LYONS, TURTLE CLAN CHIEF - ONONDAGA NATION.

UNQTE

QTE
MR. RICHARD MOE ESQUIRE
ASSISTANT TO THE VICE PRESIDENT
ROOM 270 OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20500

BROTHER:

A. IN THE INTEREST OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP, THE
ONONDAGA COUNCIL OF CHIEFS, ON BEHALF OF TRADITIONAL
NATIVE AMERICANS REQUEST A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CARTER
AND VICE PRESIDENT MONDALE TO PRESENT THE PERSPECTIVES
AND POSITIONS OF TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICANS. WE ARE
PREPARED TO GIVE ASSESSMENTS OF PAST AND PRESENT INDIAN
POLICIES OF THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND OFFER
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INOVATIVE AND REALISTIC
REGARDING FUTURE POLICY AND RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND THE INDIAN NATIONS.

B. WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR TREATIES AND THE
NEGATIVE ATTITUDE EXHIBITED BY THE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS
TOWARD THE RECOGNITION AND IMPLIMENTATION (SIC) OF THESE
TREATIES. THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF THIS CONTINENT REGARD
THE PAST ACTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AS HYPOCRITICAL,
UNETHICAL, ILLEGAL AND MORALLY UNBECOMING TO A NATION
THAT ADVOCATES JUSTICE AND FREEDOM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

C. WE ARE IMPRESSED WITH THE STRONG MORALE TENOR OF PRES-
IDENT CARTER'S SPEECHES. WE HAVE NOTED HIS COMMITTMENT
(SIC) TO THE TREATIES, AND HIS CONCERN FOR THE INTEGRITY OF
THE NATION. WE RESPOND WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE HIS
ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL CORRECT THESE LONGSTANDING
ABUSIVE POLICIES TOWARD OUR PEOPLE.

D. PRESIDENT CARTER AND VICE PRESIDENT MONDALE MUST BE
INFORMED THAT: THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS DOES NOT
SPEAK FOR NOR REFLECT THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRADITIONAL
NATIVE AMERICANS; THAT THE NATIONAL TRIBAL CHAIRMENS
ASSOCIATION MORE OFTEN REFLECTS BUREAU POLICY, AND THAT
THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICA INDIANS EVEN IN THE
LIGHT OF IT'S CURRENTLY CHANGING ATTITUDE OF BECOMING
MORE SUPPORTIVE OF TRADITIONAL VIEWS AND TREATIES, STILL
CANNOT PRESENT OUR PERSPECTIVES OR REPRESENT US.

E. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED PARTIES
IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT A LARGE AND MOST INFLUENTIAL

SEGMENT OF NATIVE AMERICANS ARE NOT BEING REPRESENTED.
IT IS THIS LACK OF REPRESENTATION AND INABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH PAST ADMINISTRATIONS THAT HAVE MOTIVATED
THE UNREST AND ACTIONS ACROSS THE CONTINENT IN THE PAST
DECADE.

F. WE NOW COME FORWARD AND OFFER OUR BEST MEN OF THE SIX
NATIONS IROQUOIS CONFEDERACH, THE CHIEFS AND HEADMEN
OF THE GREAT LAKOTA NATION, DISTINGUISHED (SIC) AND
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SPOKESMEN OF NATIVE PEOPLE, VINE
DELORIA, JR., HANK ADAMS, DR. ALPHONSE ORTIZ, RUSSELL
MEANS, RAMONA BENNETTE, VERNON BELLCOURT,
WITH ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION FROM THE AMERICAN
ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION TO PRESENT THE BACKGROUND AND ORAL
HISTORY NECESSARY FOR A RATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF PAST
EVENTS, THAT WILL PROVIDE A SOLID FOOTING FOR FUTURE
POLICIES AND LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIPS ACCORDING TO
BOTH OF OUR PEOPLES ORIGINAL COMMITTMENTS (SIC). ONEH,
THE ONONDAGA COUNCIL OF CHIEFS /S/ CHIEF IRVING POWLESS,
JR., SECRETARY ONONDAGA NATION.

CC: CHIEFS OF THE SIX NATIONS, CHIEF FOOLS CROW, MATTHEW KING,
LOUIS BAD WOUND, LARRY RED SHIRT, RUSSELL MEANS,

VINE DELORIA, JR., DR. ALPHONSE ORTIZ, HANK ADAMS, RAMONA BENNETTE,
JIM DURHAM , VERNON BELLCOURT, MR. OGDEN REID, THOMAS COLOSI,
DR. JOSEPH R. STULBERG, HOWARD ROWLEY. SORENSON.”

>>>>>>>
October 14, 1977 report, called RUSSEL MEANS PRESS CONFERENCE IN EAST BERLIN.

“OCTOBER 14 NEUES DEUTSCHLAND REPORTS THE PRESS
CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT REPRESENTATIVE
RUSSEL MEANS ON BEHALF OF "THE INDIANS OF THE WESTERN
HEMISPHERE." IN HIS REMARKS AT THE HOUSE OF THE PEACE
COUNCIL OF THE GDR, MEANS CONDEMNED THE "SLAVERY,
SERVITUDE, EXPULSION FROM THE LAND, DESTRUCTION OF
INDIAN CULTURE, STERILIZATION OF INDIAN WOMEN AND OPEN
MURDER" PRACTICED IN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA.

HE STATED THAT IN THE SPACE OF FOUR YEARS IN THE US
42 PERCENT OF INDIAN WOMEN IN CHILDBEARING AGES WERE
STERILIZED. HE PROCLAIMED THAT "WITHOUT SWIFT AND
EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE THE TOTAL ANNIHILATION
OF THE INDIAN PEOPLE MUST BE RECKONED WITH." HE CLAIMED
THAT OFFICIAL US AND LATIN AMERICAN DOCUMENTS SHOW THE
"EXTERMINATION PLANS OF MULTINATIONAL CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY
IN THE AMAZON BASIN, IN THE USA AND IN CANADA."

ND REPORTS THAT MEANS VISITED BAUTZEN IN THE SOUTH-
EASTERN GDR WHERE HE "BECAME ACQUAINTED" WITH THE TREAT-
MENT OF THE SORB MINORITY IN THE GDR. IT WAS ALSO NOTED
THAT MEANS HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOURTEEN TIMES SINCE
WOUNDED KNEE AND IS AWAITING A FOUR-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE
IN THE US.”

>>>>>>>
August 23, 1978 report, called UN INQUIRY ABOUT RUSSELL MEANS.

From: United Nations (New York)
To: Secretary of State / United Nations (Geneva)

“IN EXERCISE OF ITS "GOOD OFFICES" UN SECRETARIAT
(LONG, BUFFUM'S OFFICE) HAS MADE "OFFICIAL" BUT ORAL
INQUIRY CONCERNING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM VAN BOVEN IN
GENEVA. ACCORDING TO VAN BOVEN, CONCERN HAS BEEN
EXPRESSED IN NGO CIRCLES, NOTABLY WORLD COUNCIL OF
CHURCHES, ABOUT "CRITICAL HEALTH SITUATION OF RUSSELL
MEANS, A LEADER OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS, ARRESTED ON
27 JULY." MEANS IS REPORTED TO HAVE STARTED FAST AND AT
AUGUST 9 COURT HEARING TO HAVE APPEARED PHYSICALLY VERY
WEAK. VAN BOVEN STATES "INDIAN LEADERS ARE SAID TO FEAR
A FATAL OUTCOME AND TO BE EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR
RUSSELL AND ABOUT PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR INDIAN
POPULATION.”

>>>>>>>
August 26, 1978 report, called RESPONSE TO REQUEST FROM HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION FOR INFORMATION ON THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF RUSSELL MEANS.

From: Department of State
To: United Nations (Geneva)

“THE DEPARTMENT WAS RECENTLY ASKED BY THEO VAN BOVEN,
DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION, TO RESPOND TO
SOME NGO CONCERNS ABOUT THE "CRITICAL HEALTH SITUATION
OF RUSSELL MEANS, A LEADER OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS,
ARRESTED ON JULY 27TH." MEANS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE
STARTED A FAST MORE THAN TWENTY-SEVEN DAYS AGO AND VAN
BOVEN STATED THAT "INDIAN LEADERS ARE SAID TO FEAR A
FATAL OUTCOME AND TO BE EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR RUSSELL
AND ABOUT PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE INDIAN POPULATION."
WE HAVE COLLECTED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ENABLE YOU
TO RESPOND TO THIS INQUIRY.

RUSSELL MEANS HAS BEEN ON A "SPIRITUAL FAST" WHILE
INCARCERATED AT THE SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
PENITENTIARY SINCE JULY 30 AND IS CURRENTLY TAKING ONLY
WATER. HE IS LOSING STRENGTH RAPIDLY, HAS LOST 26 POUNDS,
BUT IS NOT IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THIS TIME. THE
WARDEN OF THE PRISON, HERMAN SOLEM, APPEARS TO BE
GENERALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MEANS' HEALTH. HE HAS ORDERED
THAT MEANS BE GIVEN A WEEKLY PHYSICAL AND IS KEEPING A
CLOSE WATCH ON HIM SO THAT HIS HEALTH DOES NOT REACH A
CRITICAL OR COMATOSE STAGE. PRISON OFFICIALS HAVE
REQUESTED A COURT ORDER WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THAT MEANS BE
FED INTRAVENOUSLY. ALTHOUGH HIS LAWYERS ARE ATTEMPTING
TO BLOCK THIS ORDER, THE JUDGE BELIEVES HE HAS FOUND
A PRECEDENT AND THAT HE MAY SOON GRANT THE ORDER. MEANS
HAS STATED THAT IF THE JUDGE GRANTS THE ORDER, HE WILL
COMPLY WITH IT, AGAINST HIS OWN WISHES.

MEANS IS CURRENTLY SERVING A FOUR-YEAR SENTENCE FOR
HIS CONVICTION OF "RIOTING TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE." THE
CHARGE RELATES TO AN INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN 1975 IN
A COURTROOM WHEN INDIANS REFUSED TO STAND WHEN THE JUDGE
WALKED IN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE JUDGE HAD
APPLIED THE LAW EQUITABLY IN ANOTHER CASE. THE RESULTS
OF THIS CASE WAS THAT MEANS WAS CONVICTED OF HITTING A
POLICEMAN. THE LAW UNDER WHICH MEANS WAS ORIGINALLY
CONVICTED (ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO) HAS SINCE BEEN REPEALED
BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

MEANS' CASE HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL TIERS OF THE
JUDICIAL PROCESS AND AN APPEAL WAS RECENTLY TURNED DOWN
BY THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA SUPREME COURT. AS A RESULT
OF A HABEAS CORPUS PLEA, A FEDERAL JUDGE, FRED NICHOL, IS
REVIEWING THE RECORDS FROM THE TRIAL TO DETERMINE IF ANY
FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES WERE VIOLATED DURING THE
PREVIOUS PROCEEDINGS.

MEANS' LAWYERS HAVE REQUESTED THAT HE BE RELEASED ON
BAIL WHILE THE FEDERAL JUDGE IS REVIEWING THE RECORDS.
ALTHOUGH MEANS HAS NEVER HAD TO FORFEIT BAIL IN THE PAST
AND HAS ALWAYS APPEARED FOR HIS COURT CASES, THE FEDERAL
JUDGE REFUSED TO GRANT THE BAIL BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO
INTERFERE WITH WHAT HE CONSIDERS "STATE JURISDICTION."

FYI ONLY. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS CASE WITH THE SENATE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS WHO HAVE CONTACTED THE
WARDEN TO DETERMINE THE STATUS OF MEANS' HEALTH, AND THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION. IT IS THE
PRESENT POSITION OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY
HAVE NO JURISDICTION IN THE MEANS CASE BECAUSE THE
INCARCERATION IS DUE TO A CHARGE BY THE STATE OF SOUTH
DAKOTA, WHERE MEANS HAS BEEN TRIED, CONVICTED, APPEALED
AND IMPRISONED. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS FOLLOWING THE
CASE, BUT WILL NOT INTERVENE UNLESS IT IS FOUND THAT
FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES HAVE BEEN VIOLATED.”

>>>>>>>
August 28, 1978 report, called WORLD CONFERENCE TO COMBAT RACISM AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, GENEVA, AUGUST 14-25, QO S AQWCEVZ NW INDIAN TREATY COUNCIL (AITC) PRESS RELEASE.

From: Switzerland Geneva (UN)
To: Department of State

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF AITC PRESS RELEASE CONDEMNING
U.S. FOR NOT PARTICIPATING IN SUBJECT CONFERENCE.

QUOTE - UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA. THE AMERICAN INDIAN
TREATY COUNCIL CONDEMNED THE UNITED STATES TODAY FOR NOT
ATTENDING THE U.N. WORLD CONFERENCE ON RACISM. AT A
SPECIAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION BRIEFING DURING THE
CONFERENCE, JIMMIE DURHAM, A CHEROKEE INDIAN WHO IS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE TREATY COUNCIL, SAID, "IT IS AN ACT OF
HYPROCRISY (SIC) AND BLATANT DISRESPECT FOR THE PRINCIPLES
OF THE UNITED NATIONS" THAT THE U.S. WAS NOT PRESENT.
MR. DURHAM THEN SAID THAT AMERICAN INDIANS WERE, "TYPICAL
3RD WORLD PEOPLE, BUT LIVING IN THE BELLY OF THE
MONSTER".

HE CALLED ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION OF INDIANS THROUGHOUT
THE AMERICAS AND THEN FOCUSED ON RUSSELL MEANS, INDIAN
LEADER IN THE U.S., WHO IS NOW IN PRISON AND ON A HUNGER
STRIKE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MENTIONED MR.
MEANS'S CASE DURING THE PLENARY SESSIONS OF THIS CONFERENCE,
AND DURHAM SAID THAT THE TREATY COUNCIL WAS CALLING
FOR A LETTER-AND-TELEGRAM CAMPAIGN TO PRESIDENT CARTER FOR
THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF RUSSELL MEANS. END QUOTE.

>>>>>>>
August 28, 1978 report, called RESPONSE TO REQUEST FROM HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION FOR INFORMATION ON HEALTH AND WELFARE OF RUSSELL MEANS.

From: Switzerland Geneva (UN)
To: Secretary of State

“I HAVE READ REFTEL WITH A SENSE OF DEEP UNEASINESS.

THE FOUR YEAR SENTENCE FOR RUSSELL MEANS SEEMS
EXTRAORDINARILY HARSH IF IN FACT IT RELATES TO THE
INDIANS REFUSING TO STAND WHEN THE JUDGE WALKED INTO THE
ROOM AND THAT THE LAW UNDER WHICH HE WAS CONVICTED
HAS SINCE BEEN REPEALED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE. I
RECALL READING RECENTLY THAT THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH
DAKOTA WAS NAMED BY PRESIDENT CARTER AS AN AMBASSADOR
N SOUTHEAST ASIA. IF HE HAS NOT RESIGNED AS YET TO ASSUME
HIS DIPLOMATIC DUTIES IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF
APPEALING FOR A PARDON SO THAT THE OUTSTANDING LEGAL
PROBLEMS BETWEEN OUR GOVERNMENTS ON THE AMERICAN INDIANS
ARE NOT SHADOWED AND DISTORTED BY THE INCARCERATION OF
RUSSELL MEANS. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE POSITION OF THE
DEPT OF JUSTICE IS SOUND BUT IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF
REACHING SENATORS MCGOVERN AND ABOUREZK AS WELL AS THE
GOVERNOR OF SOUTH DAKOTA? I WOULD BE WILLING TO WRITE A
PERSONAL CABLE TO ANY OR ALL OF THEM DETAILING THE
INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS INSOFAR AS THEY ARE FEASIBLE
FROM THE VANTAGE POINT OF GENEVA AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION.”

>>>>>>>
February 15, 1979 report, called HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION--SELF-DETERMINATION: STATEMENT BY AMERICAN INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE.

From: Switzerland Geneva / United Nations (Geneva)
To: Department of State

BEGIN VERBATIM TEXT:

QTE. THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY COUNCIL IS PLEASED
TO AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEND AND ENCOURAGE
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR ITS RESOLUTION TO GIVE
HIGH PRIORITY TO THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION.

IT IS THE ISSUE MOST FUNDAMENTAL TO HUMAN
INDIAN PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAVE THE
RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION. THE U.S. HAS AGREED TO
THIS RIGHT THROUGH SOLEMN TREATIES WHICH IT HAS ENTERED
INTO WITH INDIAN NATIONS. THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS
UPHELD THE VALIDITY OF TREATIES MADE WITH INDIAN
NATIONS. THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID, CONCERNING
AMERICAN INDIAN NATIONS, "WE (THE U.S.) HAVE USED THE
WORDS 'NATION' AND 'TREATY' IN REGARDS TO THEM. THESE
ARE WORDS IN OUR OWN LANGUAGE AND OF OUR OWN CHOOSING.

WE HAVE APPLIED THEM TO INDIAN NATIONS JUST AS WE
HAVE APPLIED THEM TO THE NATIONS OF EUROPE. THEY ARE
APPLIED TO ALL IN THE SAME SENSE." THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE U.S. DECLARES THAT TREATIES, INCLUDING INDIAN
TREATIES, ARE A PART OF THE "SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND,"
AND AS SUCH MAY NOT BE CHANGED BY LAW OR CONGRESSIONAL
ACTS.

IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THEN, THAT THE U.S. UNDERSTANDS VERY
WELL THAT AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO
SELF-DETERMINATION. ONLY LAST YEAR THE BUREAU OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS PUBLICLY ADMITTED THAT IT HAD NO LEGAL
RIGHT TO EXERCISE TRUSTEESHIP OVER INDIAN LAND OR THE
LIVES OF INDIAN PEOPLE.

YET THE ABJECT POVERTY, CONTINUED LOSS OF LAND,
REPRESSION, AND HUMAN SUFFERING OF INDIAN PEOPLE IN THE
U.S. ARE DIRECT RESULTS OF U.S. AGGRESSION AGAINST
INDIAN PEOPLE. THE U.S. CONTINUES TO DENY THE RIGHT
TO SELF-DETERMINATION TO AMERICAN INDIANS. UNDER THE
CARTER ADMINISTRATION THE SITUATION IS GROWING WORSE
TO THE POINT OF A SEVERE CRISIS.

REPRESSION, INCLUDING SUCH ACTS AS THE ATTEMPTED
ASSASSINATION OF INDIAN LEADER RUSSELL MEANS LAST
YEAR WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON AND HIS CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT,
HAS BECOME A DAILY FACT OF LIFE FOR INDIAN PEOPLE.

MR. CARTER HAS PARDONED PATRICIA HEARST, YET REFUSES
TO ACT ON BEHAF OF INDIAN LEADERS FALSELY IMPRISONED.
FOR EXAMPLE, LEONARD PELTIER IS CURRENTLY SERVING TWO
CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES IN A PRISON WHERE HE IS
BEING TORTURED BY DRUGS AND DANGEROUS CHEMICALS. THE
U.S. HAS ADMITTED THAT ITS EVIDENCE WHICH CONVICTED
PELTIER WAS FALSE AND WAS OBTAINED THROUGH TERRORIST
TACTICS.

AMERICAN INDIAN RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ARE
REPRESSED IN MORE AND MORE WAYS UNDER PRESIDENT
CARTER'S ADMINISTRATION. A CONGRESSIONAL ACT WAS
RECENTLY PASSED GUARANTEEING RESPECT FOR AMERICAN
INDIAN RELIGION, AND ANOTHER ACT WAS PASSED WHICH
SUPPOSEDLY PROTECTS INDIAN FAMILIES FROM THE REMOVAL
OF THEIR CHILDREN. YET PRESIDENT CARTER HAS CHOSEN
TO VIOLATE BOTH OF THESE ACTS BY ESPECIALLY EXEMPTING
THE MORMON CHURCH. THE MORMON CHURCH TAKES AWAY
MORE INDIAN CHILDREN, AND ALIENATES THEM FROM THEIR
PEOPLE AND THEIR OWN RELIGION MORE GROSSLY THAN ANY
OTHER SINGLE AGENCY.

IN MOST CASES INDIAN PRISONERS IN THE U.S. ARE NOT
ALLOWED VISITS BY MINISTERS OF THEIR OWN RELIGION NOR
TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IN PRISON.

AREAS OF LAND THAT INDIAN PEOPLE CONSIDER SACRED ARE
BEING ILLEGALLY VIOLATED AND DESTROYED UNDER PRESIDENT
CARTER'S ADMINISTRATION, MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY THAN UNDER
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.

UNEMPLOYMENT HAS RISEN ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS IN THE PAST
YEAR, YET THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IS DOING NOTHING
TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM AND IS, INSTEAD, LOWERING THE
WELFARE BENEFITS RECEIVED BY INDIAN PEOPLE.
MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS, HOWEVER,
IS THE THEFT OF AMERICAN INDIAN NATURAL RESOURCES
THIS THEFT NOT ONLY CAUSES FURTHER POVERTY AND DESTRUCTION
OF LAND; IT INSURES THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FUTURE
FOR AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE.

PRESIDENT CARTER HAS TAKEN DIRECT CHARGE OF THIS THEFT
OF RESOURCES SUCH AS COAL, PETROLEUM, URANIUM AND WATER
UNDER A PLAN WHICH HE HAS CALLED "THE MORAL EQUIVALENT
OF WAR". BUT THE WAR AGAINST INDIAN PEOPLE IS NEITHER
MORAL NOR LEGAL.

IN ONE OF THE MOST FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO
SELF-DETERMINATION, PRESIDENT CARTER HAS SOLD AN ENTIRE
RIVER WHICH BELONGS TO AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE. THE RIVER
IN QUESTION IS THE UPPER MISSOURI. IN A TREATY AGREED
UPON IN 1868 BY THE U.S. AND THE SIOUX NATION OF INDIANS,
THE U.S. LEGALLY RECOGNIZED THE EAST BANK OF THE MISSOURI
RIVER AS THE EASTERN TERRITORIAL BOUNDARY OF THE SIOUX
NATION. THERFORE, THE U.S. IN ITS "SUPREME LAW OF THE
LAND" - A TREATY WITH ANOTHER NATION "JUST LIKE THE
NATIONS OF EUROPE" - HAS RECOGNISED THAT THE MISSOURI
RIVER IN THAT AREA IS INSIDE SIOUX TERRITORY AND DOES
NOT BELONG TO THE U.S.

YET PRESIDENT CARTER IS SELLING THE WATER OF THIS RIVER
AT THE RATE OF A MILLION ACRE FEET PER YEAR, WHICH WILL
SO SERIOUSLY DIMINISH THE RIVER THAT IT WILL EFFECTIVELY
NO LONGER EXIST FOR THE SIOUX NATION OF INDIANS.
ADDING FURTHER INJURY TO INJURY, THE CARTER ADMINISTRA
TION IS SELLING THIS WATER TO THE MULTI-NATIONAL
CORPORATIONS WHICH ARE DESTROYING INDIAN LAND.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CLAIM TO OWN THE RIVER IT IS
SELLING; THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION ONLY CLAIMS THAT THE
U.S. HAS THE RIGHT TO SELL INDIAN PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS
THE "TRUSTEE" OF INDIAN PROPERTY. BUT WE HAVE POINTED
OUT TO THE U.S. THAT ITS TRUSTEESHIP IS NOT LEGAL. IN
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR A DELEGATION OF OFFICIALS OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE SIOUX NATION OF INDIANS MET WITH OFFICIALS
OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PROTEST THIS THEFT AND
AGGRESSION. THEY WERE TOLD BY COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS FOREST GERARD, "WE HAVE OUR ORDERS AND WE ARE
GOING TO MARCH". THE U.S. ARMY IS NOW SUPERVISING THE
SALE OF THE MISSOURI RIVER.

CLEARLY, THE SIOUX INDIANS MUST FIND RELIEF. IT SHOULD
ALSO BE CLEAR THAT THEY CANNOT FIND RELIEF OR JUSTICE
BY APPEALING TO THE U.S. ITSELF.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IS THE MOST
APPROPRIATE BODY TO CONSIDER THE VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN
RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE SIOUX
PEOPLE. WE RESPECTFULLY URGE THAT THE 35TH SESSION OF
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BEGIN SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION
ON THIS URGENT MATTER. THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY
COUNCIL IS READY TO PROVIDE EVERY ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE
AND CERTAINLY THE LEADERS OF THE SIOUX PEOPLE THEMSELVES
ARE READY TO CO-OPERATE IN EVERY WAY.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CANNOT EASILY CONTEND THAT THIS GRAVE
SITUATION IS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR, AS IT CLAIMS TO BE
ONLY THE "TRUSTEE" OF AN INDIAN NATION WITH WHICH IT
HAS A TREATY-RELATIONSHIP. END QTE. VANDEN HEUVEL.”

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March 13, 1979 report, called HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS (ITEM 12)--ANOTHER STATEMENT BY THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

From: Switzerland Geneva (UN)
To: Department of State

DURING DEBATE A.M. MARCH 13 ON SUBJECT AGENDA
ITEM, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN
TREATY COUNCIL, JIMMY DURHAM, DELIVERED A STATEMENT ON
BEHALF OF HIS ABSENT COLLEAGUE MR. TED. MEANS (BROTHER
OF RUSSELL MEANS), WHO HAD BEEN CALLED BACK TO THE
UNITED STATES BECAUSE HIS WHOLE FAMILY HAD BEEN KILLED.

THE STATEMENT DESCRIBED THE STRUGGLE BEING CONDUCTED
BY THE SIOUX INDIANS TO REMAIN AN INDIAN PEOPLE IN
THE FACE OF OPPRESSION AT THE HANDS OF USG OFFICIALS.
THERE THEN ENSUED AN INDICTMENT OF THE PRACTICES
CARRIED OUT BY THE FBI ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS.

AFTER REPEATING PRIOR CHARGES MADE EARLIER DURING
THE SESSION THAT INDIANS IN THE U.S. COULD NOT GET A
FAIR TRIAL BECAUSE OF INGRAINED RACISM, DURHAM
CONCLUDED BY ASSERTING THAT,BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FORUM
IN THE U.S. REALISTICALLY AVAILABLE TO THE INDIAN
PEOPLE, THEY HAD BEEN FORCED TO SEEK HELP THROUGH THE
UNITED NATIONS. HE CALLED AGAIN FOR UN ACTION AND
APPEALED FOR THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE
UNITED STATES.”

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