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Letter to the Editor, Indian Country Today
Re: Trudell interview
Sept. 24, 2006
from antoinette nora claypoole

"Still confronting, Still unconvincing"

John Trudell is talking about who killed Annie Mae. Great. Yet some of us still ask, who could have helped save Annie Mae and did those “boys” really commit the murder? That is, probably the most troubling aspect of Trudell’s comments in “Who Killed Annie Mae" is his premise that John Graham and Arlo Looking Cloud drove her to her death. When, in fact, both have repeatedly denied they had anything to do with killing her (despite Trudell’s claim that Looking Cloud “lives with the guilt”) .

It seems Trudell dismisses the fact that Looking Cloud appealed the whole dog and pony show called a trial in Rapid City, 2004. Based on a statement that he (Looking Cloud) NEVER saw Graham kill Annie Mae, as accused.

Trudell, in his desire. To find the killers. Forgets. That both men claim she was alive that winter when they left Annie Mae at a house out on Pine Ridge. For that reason, the most difficult part of this whole murder seems to be the different stories we hear in Indian Country. About who did what and when. It would have been helpful to hear from Trudell HIS thoughts on the talk/truth of the guilt of Graham/Looking Cloud, rather than having Trudell just "assume" the "boys" killed Annie Mae. The indictments were, after all, handed down by the very people Trudell claims set Annie Mae's murder in motion. The Feds. Will we really trust a gov't wanting to kill Indians to indict the actual killer when it was Cointelpro--as Trudell describes well--who put this brutality into reality?
That is, it would have been helpful to hear John Trudell talk about things which don't fit the Federally designed indictment. For instance, what do we do with Arlo Looking Cloud who, following his sentence, requested an appeal to his conviction in the murder of Annie Mae. He said he never did see Annie Mae shot by John Graham. Apparently Looking Cloud finally felt SAFE enough within the confines of a jail to tell HIS truth. Or not? 

But Trudell just never talks about it. In that way Trudell’s whole theory about Looking Cloud "feeling guilty and confessing" gets blown into the outer limits. Because Looking Cloud, in his appeal, says there never was a shooting on Dec. 12, 1975. Doesn't he? So why say he felt guilty. It doesn't quite fit.

And there is more to the Looking Cloud problem. Some say Looking Cloud was taken to several prisons in the late 80’s and TOLD to talk about his role in killing Annie Mae. By the Feds. Upon his release back into the streets of Denver. That he had never said a word about the murder until he wanted to get out of the grips of Feds who held him captive.

But it gets worse. What about the reality that some people, back in the day, claimed to have seen Annie Mae AFTER Dec. 12, 1975, the alleged day she was murdered. Trudell himself states in a taped interview from 2 years ago: “Annie Mae died in Jan. or Feb. 1976” and then later contradicts himself. Is it even unclear to Trudell when Annie Mae actually was murdered? This confusion does rearrange the ‘fact” that Graham and Looking Cloud were the killers.

And of course we still have John Graham. Denying that he murdered anyone. AND, though it sounds convincing when Trudell says Graham will not be extradited because the “gov’t finds it best to leave him in Canada”, the facts are that the ruling to extradite John Graham happened 18 months ago (not this past spring, as Trudell implies) AND that Graham has attorneys fighting the legality of ALL Canadian extradition laws. Very GOOD attorneys. Which is why, yes, a NEW prosecutor from the U.S. was put on the case. The U.S. didn't expect such a high end defense for Graham, thought it WOULD be an easy extradite, but then realized they were dealing with the "big guys" (ie Terrance LaLiberte, Matis) and had to change their strategy. (I gathered this info while covering the hearings afor KPFK Pacifica Radio, Los Angeles, Feb/March 2004).

So. Where does all this leave Trudell in his claims that the “boys” did it, but that the government is to blame?

Well. Yes. Trudell is brave to say, again and again, the government did send in agents. And Annie Mae did know who they were (see a letter written by her from jail, Fall 1975: www.anniemaeletter.blogspot.com). Trudell’s got that turn in the road happening. But the logical question emerges: could it be THOSE agents themselves who killed Annie Mae, not the “boys” John Graham and Arlo Looking Cloud?

Why is that so hard to for people to discuss?

Maybe because people just need a simple straight answer and don't want to dive into the underbelly of the beast. Maybe not. Though Trudell appears to be “investigating who the operants are” the question remains, why can’t Trudell believe Looking Cloud and Graham??? Is there something else he knows that we don't? THAT is a question it would be great to have Trudell answer (any chance you can do another mini interview---with these facts included?)

Overall, though some of us are glad that Trudell is talking about gov’t operants within AIM, he is still not saying much about anyone other than two guys who both claim they did NOT kill Annie Mae. After reading the interview it is clear. This much of the story is all we really know.

Annie Mae was killed because of gov’t operants. And some of her friends and lovers are haunted by her will to survive. Despite the ravages of time. The mystery , the brutal truth of her murder may never be revealed. Still. In the end. It is good to hear Trudell talking about these things. It means he like many of us, won’t be silenced. And that challenging the Federal Gov’t on Indian policies--the things Annie Mae died for-- continues to be a priority in many people’s lives.

In the end, thank you for printing/doing the interview.
And considering my thoughts on all of this.


antoinette nora claypoole
po box 3026
ashland, oregon 97520

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antoinette nora claypoole
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