In the Spirit of Crazy Horse: The Story of Leonard Peltier and the FBI's War on the American Indian Movement

This book spoke to me, personally, in a number of ways; as a man seeking to learn more of his ancestors indigenous to this continent and as one who, like the men and women of the American Indian Movement, challenged the US government during the 1970s.Like what happened to the award-winning documentary of Vietnam Veterans Against theWar’s Winter Soldier Investigations in 1971, the FBI and others sought to suppress this book at the time of its initial publication, a few years after the main events of the story. Like the effort against VVAW, the book was successfully suppressed through a series of lawsuits and appeals during the period during which it was most important to be available. Those suits were ultimately all dismissed and in 1992 the book was finally available again.The suppression of that book and the VVAW documentary is but one of the authoritarian actions of many that stem from the FBI-led efforts, using its COINTELPRO capabilities, to discredit, smear and suppress the efforts of both organizations in opposition to repugnant behavior by the US government. The Black Panthers were likewise a target of those same programmatic and largely unconstitutional law enforcement and prosecutorial campaigns.This book is not for everyone. Although very well written (researched and documented, as well) by an author of considerable reputation and experience,, the story is very complex and lengthy. Peter Matthiessen allows the story to unfold with events as they transpired and so the ground shifts frequently through the telling to its final conclusion. It is also potentially unsettling for some. The exposure of the conduct of the government will be hard for some to accept. Having been among the targets of similar activities as a VVAW leader, they were all too familiar to me.The man who brought the book to my attention (I am embarrassed not to have been aware of it long ago) is a friend of 50 years. He is now a practicing attorney. In the summer of 1975 as a law student at the end of his 2nd year he joined the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee that was the organization providing legal services to AIM. That he recommends the book speaks to its authenticity; at least for me.The account is composed of three sections Peter labels “books.” The first provides critical historical and cultural context for the story. It covers the history of the Northern Plains nations from the second half of the 19th century up to 1971 and the emergence of AIM. As one who has sought to learn the ways and culture of my indigenous ancestors, I learned a very great deal about those subjects from what Peter provides in this section, as continued to be the case throughout the other two “books.” I think those who have a desire and openness to learning about those topics will benefit as I did. In order to understand the rise of AIM and related sovereignty and fair treatment movements among Indian nations, that background is critical.The second “book” details the events leading up to, during and subsequent to the deaths on the Pine Ridge Lakota (Sioux, as white society refers to those people) reservation on June 26th, 1975 that resulted from a fierce fire fight between AIM warriors and FBI agents, BIA police, as well as county and state law enforcement. It is during this detailed account that Peter conveys the warrior tradition of integrity and courage in defense of the Lakota people and their way of life many Indians were seeking to reclaim. This is a theme that continues throughout the remainder of the book and is the best exposition of what a true warrior and warrior society is.The third “book” documents the FBI investigations, numerous arrests and charges, the final apprehension of the three AIM leaders pre-selected as the ones who killed the two agents and the series of trials that followed. The outcome of the first trial, the one involving two of the defendants, was positive for the Lakota. The second trial was not and the book follows the incarceration of that defendant.A final caveat. Peter Matthiessen is openly sympathetic to AIM and the peoples it represents. His is not a goo-goo-eyed rendering of modern noble savages. He is very candid about the problems of drug and alcohol abuse and crime that plague the people on reservations and the urban Indians, as well. He is also frank about the failings of AIM and its leaders. The pettiness and infighting so common to “movement" organizations is also discussed bluntly. Since he is sympathetic to the movement he is quite blunt in his criticism of the government agencies and agents, prosecutors and judges. However, those key figures on the government payroll are given opportunity, in fact urged, to let him tell their version of a wide range of events in the story and to convey their points of view. Some take him up and they are, indeed, represented fairly and without editorial denigration.If you think this book would be of interest and that you could learn things from it that you want to know, by all means, please do read it. While it is a historical account, it is may be even more important in light of the events and conditions today.

I read this book because I asked a friend to read one of my favorites and he asked me to read this. I've evolved way over to the right while he remains true to our mutual hippy roots. He is dedicated to the Free Leonard movement and thinks I should be also. I can't say the book convinced me, but it certainly raised more doubts that I thought I would ever entertain.There is no question that Peltier was there at the shoot out. There's no question that he exchanged fire with the FBI during the shoot out. Those facts alone would warrant a murder verdict. On the other hand, if you take him at his word, he probably should not have gotten life on a first degree conviction.But, my friend and the author would also argue that the FBI started it; they were in the midst of a long campaign of oppression, involving torture and murder. Again, here the author convinced me that there must have been at least two sides to this. It seems that the FBI and other law enforcement, at a minimum, were out of line. Yet, I have a hard time believing the full story of the AIM members whose statements are used to back this up. But, even if the FBI were over the line, no one should argue that a person who engaged in a protracted shoot out with law enforcement deserves to be found innocent, even if was just shooting over their heads to scare them away as Leonard claims.The harder argument is whether the long chain of undeniable horrible treatment of the Sioux should play any part in Peltier's conviction. I don't deny that the USA treated them terribly over the years. But, the fact is that those wars are over; the Indians lost and we're now all citizens of a country that has laws that must be obeyed. Most of the AIM "indians" did not grow up in their Sioux culture, but were instead, disaffected, communist influenced revolutionaries who adopted their Indian culture and used it to argue that they were aggrieved and deserving of taking retribution by force. Many were flat out criminals, losers, alcoholics, dope addicts. I admire the longing for reconciliation with a lost culture and a spiritual past, but it is and was lost and not actually part of them. Anyway, they were living in the USA and they were disobeying, often violently disobeying its laws. They should not be surprised to have law enforcement come down on them, hard.Beyond the moral and legal issues, the book is very hard to read. The author strings together seemingly endless tales, quotes, facts which clearly have some place in the story but he never really helps us put it all together. Plus, it is very one sided and he is clearly bought in to the most extreme and unlikely version of events.I would not have been able to finish this book if it were not for the obligation I felt toward my friend to try and understand his view of this issue. Now I know that he and I can never see it the same way, although I can see some of his point of view and I do think the way we treated the Indians and even the way we treated Leonard was wrong. But, I still think the man belongs in jail.

100% the ENTIRE TRUTH! This True story was BANNED for almost a Decade ( 10 years). How Nixon & FBI created COINTELPRO, to DESTROY AIM, the Native American RIGHTS Group.

If you believe the US is never wrong, and do not have an open mind on the issue, this book will make you angry. If you know that our greatness lies in looking wrongs straight in the eye, you will like it. And it will still make you angry.The book is a detailed and footnoted history of the Leonard Peltier case, admittedly written with a pro-native bias. The author interviewed all sides and verified statements with government documents, some originally kept secret. Leonard Peltier was part of AIM as Native Americans, sick of abuse and continued killing of their own with little promise of justice, chose to stand up for basic rights. Strong evidence is presented for why the US government would have many reasons to want Mr. Peltier and other AIM leaders silenced. It also lays out the almost undeniable evidence that the government was also willing to frame him for murder. He remains in prison today, considered by many to be an American political prisoner. Efforts continue to seek his release.

sleepy book. Factual perhaps, but the writing style is boring. It's taken me a year (roughly) to read 75 pages. i keep putting it down for better reads.

This is a huge book in every sense.A must read for anybody interested in case of Leonard Peltier and his obvious framing for a crime he did not commit...even they said he did not do it!

Ive read numerous books covering the subjects in this book, but this is the best by far. A must read for anyone who wants to be"informed"of what really happened. Excellent!!

wonderful tear-jerking true story

Absolutely brilliant book, very pleased with the delivery.

Great book! Thanks