I'm still following the case and I stand by my previous remarks. There is no contradiction between saying that the FBI was involved--indirectly, as we now know--in the sequence of events that led to Anna Mae's murder, and that those who kidnapped, held and killed her were and are responsible for their own actions.

John Graham, a former AIM member who is a Canadian citizen, is indicted for the murder of Anna Mae--for several years now the US has been seeking his extradition from Canada to face the charge that he was the triggerman. He has various supporters within the native and leftist communities who are opposing his extradition. I'm not one of them. Most of the arguments they use are specious, trying to link this extradition case to the Leonard Peltier extradition in 1976, which was clearly based on false evidence. If you look at the information available now (start by following the various links cited above, many of which have become valuable archives which are still updated periodically), there is a strong case to be made against him, and it is based on statements from many Native Americans who were involved in AIM and/or were near Pine Ridge at the time of the murder. They are speaking out now, with great courage, because the truth needs to come out for their communities to move forward.

Graham would not be eligible for the death penalty if he stands trial in South Dakota, due to it not being in force at the time of the murder. Canada would not extradite him if the death penalty was a possibility (although this has happened in the past, the Supreme Court of Canada clearly ruled in 2001 that this would contravene the Charter of Rights and Freedoms).

The status of the case is that Graham's extradition order has been upheld and his appeal is being considered by the BC Court of Appeals, which will rule on it in Sept 2007.

The case against Graham is that he was a young foot-soldier in a particular faction of AIM who was ordered to kill Anna Mae, and did so. The big remaining questions are: "who ordered the killing?" and "will they be charged as well?" Some very well-known AIM leaders are implicated, but since the case was reopened in the 90's (and another low-level AIM member, Arlo Looking Cloud, was convicted in 2004 of participating in the kidnapping and killing), everyone has been waiting for charges to be laid higher up. And waiting. And waiting.   That Dakota wind is still blowing.

W-O