Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780979585500 |
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| Publisher: | Outskirts Press, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 12/11/2007 |
| Pages: | 652 |
| Sales rank: | 983,530 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 1.31(d) |
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American Indian Mafia: An FBI Agent's True Story about Wounded Knee, Leonard Peltier, and the American Indian Movement (Aim)
4.2 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
5 reviews.
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I found this book to be a fascinating reexamination of a largely unnoticed chapter in our nation¿s history. American Indian Mafia not only reveals the truth, it exposes the lies that have infected our understanding of what really happened on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the early 1970s. Forget what you were taught about the AIM¿s origins, Wounded Knee ¿73, and the Leonard Peltier case. With thorough documentation, the Trimbachs describe how a series of AIM fables were constructed around each event, by whom, and for what purpose. With indisputable facts and first-hand observations, this book does indeed set the record straight. With integrity and fairness, the Trimbachs also expose those Indians and non-Indians who harmed the true Indian Movement. They are as critical of government officials, politicians, and FBI Headquarters as they are of the ¿merchants of myth.¿ While most of the criticism focuses on the AIM leadership, it is hard to argue otherwise and somehow condone the violence American Indian Mafia strongly condemns. What I found most interesting is the problem the book¿s critics have created for themselves: justifying violence and murder as some sort of Custer-style payback. They are unable to cite even one factual inaccuracy which might be the basis for valid disagreement. So far, I¿ve read nothing but ad hominem attacks, petty disagreements (can¿t get past the title), denials (claiming there¿s no evidence against Peltier), and more lies to counter the book¿s many truths. One reader, for example, claims that Agent David Price ordered the mutilation of murder victim Anna Mae Aquash. If you read the book, you¿ll see that this assertion is both false and malicious. Aquash was executed on orders from the AIM leadership and the FBI identified the body despite AIM¿s best efforts to cover up the crime. I suspect such dishonest efforts to criticize honest research belie a political bias of the type this book exposes in describing the corruption of our history books. In a noteworthy subtext, the Trimbachs pose the question why no one from academia has succeeded in portraying this period in Indian relations evenhandedly, or even factually. In so doing, they further illustrate the need for this book and why it should be read by anyone who cares about Indian Country¿s most pressing issues. The falsification of history is a serious matter, but as the Trimbachs have provided with this insightful must-read, the truth wins out in the fullness of time. Read it and reap!
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American Indian Mafia is the account of the 1973 Wounded Knee tragedy on the Pine Ridge Reservation home of the Lakota Sioux. This book is the only authoritative investigative history written of this bizarre event incomprehensible still to most nonNative Americans, and a mostly unresolved cultural political wound to the national Native American community. Written by the FBI Special Agent in charge of the north Midwestern United States which included the Lakota Pine Ridge reservation, this extensively research and documented account of that almost seditious uprising, tracks the history of the event before and after its occurrence, its tragic effect on the people of the reservation and gives a most detailed revelation of the legal issues, the subsequent investigations and successful prosecutions of a number of the principals involved even over 30 years later, documenting the trials of the last few years. Starting with the 30 year or so long investigation into the tragic murder of Anna Mae Aquash, a young Native American Indian activist, an idal but tragic figure dedicated to the betterment of Native peoples nationwide, this book sets the stage for an upsetting inquiry into the then politically approved American Indian Movement, AIM, and dissects its descent into thuggish barbarism and eventual perversion of its original laudable ideals and betrayal of its own constituents, Native American peoples of the United States. Correcting long held popular views of this organization this investigative documentary in book form takes the reader into the dysfunctional antisocial world of the AIM leaders and reveals their descent into pseudo-revolutionary barbarism typical of so many other fringe 'revolutionary' groups of the various political ideologies typical of the Post Vietnam protest era. This book also sets this entire sociopolitical wave of events enveloping the Native American community in a broad and understandable context that helps the reader comprehend those cataclysmic social forces that younger readers who did not live that tumultuous era, understand anew. The author is clearly an FBI agent and writes from this perspective openly and acknowledges his frames of references and biases openly and keeps axe grinding to an admirable absolute minimum. For any reader interested in political movements, crime investigations, and Native American history and the Post Vietnam era in general, this book is an invaluable resource and it will rivet any reader with its compelling narrative about recent contemporary American events particular to the Native American community.
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1. The title of this book 'American Indian Mafia' misrepresents the 'American Indian Movement'. According to an online dictionary, the word Mafia is defined as: 'a secret criminal organization operating mainly in the United States and Italy and engaged in illegal activities such as gambling, drug-dealing, protection, and prostitution.' The 'American Indian Movement' is neither a 'secret criminal organization' nor are they from 'Italy'. 2. The language throughout the reading has a sour demeanor while imposing negative racial profiles to describe Native American Indians regardless of their affiliations. Under the heading 'A Bum Steer', Myrtle Poor Bear, who was a government FBI witness, is profiled in negative stereotypical terms. 'Pages 441, 442, 599' A tone of racial arrogance and vengeance rings throughout this book. 3. This is a shallow, hollow account that does not prove Leonard Peltier shot or killed the FBI agents. While reading and searching for good solid evidence to support this claim, I did not find foolproof convincing evidence in this writing. There are no eyewitnesses, only hearsay. Researching, I have found accurate, reliable information in the original court trial transcripts: US vs. LEONARD PELTIER, TRIAL TRANSCRIPT EXCERPTS - Case Number CR77-3003. 4. It is a contradiction to say that FBI Agent David Price and Anna Mae Aquash are 'kindred spirits' as described on page 464 because they are opponents in their core beliefs. After all, it was David Price who ordered the mutilation of Anna Mae's body by having her hands cut off. If she had lived to see any kind of body mutilation 'cutting off hands, arms, legs or decapitations' practiced on any person, she would have spoken in opposition to David Price for ordering this heinous act that desecrates the body regardless of his reasoning. 5. Conclusion: This book should be rated zero because it reads like a 'Propaganda 101' novel. It lacks fairness, integrity and removes human dignity from those who suffered the most during this time, namely, the Native American Indian people. This is an example of 500 years of perpetual biased writing, ultimately living in the 'Age Of Propaganda'. 6. Note: It is shameful that there are a few Indian people who cater to the forces that not only murdered their ancestors, but mutilated them as well. Historical examples of murder and mutilations are: '1862' Little Crow and the 39 Dakota hanged at Mankato, Minnesota, '1890' Sitting Bull at Little Eagle, South Dakota. 7. Dokstah! Hokahey! Richard & Gary at Saint Michael's
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Great read! American Indian Mafia exposes, once and for all, the falsehoods of Pine Ridge history while uncovering the ugly wounds of neglect on the reservation. This book moves along with the edgy confidence of someone who has known the truth about the American Indian Movement (AIM) all along. Trimbach has waited some 35 years to tell his story, and it shows. An impressive list of facts, footnotes, and photos support his account of how a small band of criminals stole a legacy from their own people. Thorough documentation lends to credibility Trimbach seemingly owns the facts regarding the destruction of Wounded Knee village, AIM assaults and murders, the false controversy of the Myrtle Poor Bear affidavits, and the real story behind Leonard Peltier¿s guilt. AIM sympathizers and outraged bloggers beware! This book will force you to confront the truth and question the prevailing wisdom of most AIM Indian history curriculums.
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A marvelous example of research. AIM truly exposed for who they were - A small group of individuals involved in criminal activity, and some with a history of criminal activity. Watergate, central at the time, did a large part to set the political tone. Federal officers caught in a no win situation. GREAT READ!!!
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