The many years of broken treaties, continual racism, lack of judicitical system, corrupt tribal council including agencies,  was just the beginning of what eventually lead up to the "Reign of Terror 1973-1976."  Tribal members were being murdered, investigations lead nowhere and the abuse and injustice continued. In February 1973, the traditional Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, again called upon the warriors of the American Indian Movement for help. The AIM warriors responded to the call and took a stand for the people.  The corruption, mistreatment and abuse from Dick Wilson, tribal president and his “goons”  resulted in  65 American Indian Movement (AIM) members and supporters being killed. These warriors both men and women, gave their lives fighting for the rights of the people of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. On June 26, 1975 a shoot out with two FBI agents, located on the Jumping Bull compound in Oglala South Dakota, resulted in the death of AIM member and warrior Joe Killsright Stuntz.  The two agents were also killed during the shoot-out. One of our warriors Leonard Peltier was falsely convicted for the death of  the two agents and still today, remains a political prisoner. We continue to fight for his freedom every day. Coincidently enough the day of the shoot out, Wilson and his "goons," were nearby and the swat team along with state troopers just happened to be in the area for "routine maneuvers".  Little did the Lakota people or AIM leaders know,  just the day before, Wilson again sold out the people, giving away a large tract of the people's land on Pine Ridge to the U.S. gov't.  All these events and the timing seems a little to "coincidental."  It would appear that the people of Pine Ridge and our AIM warriors  were targets from the beginning, all in the name of greed and corruption. We must never forget all of the warriors that stood besides the people during this time and the 65 people that lost their lives fighting for the people. People gather from all over the country on the 26th to commemorate these lost lives. For those of us that are unable to attend, I would like to ask for everyone to please remember, in a moment of silence and prayer on this day.  Aho........Tamra June 26, 2006

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee: 2006 Oglala Commemoration Statement, from Leonard Peltier