EMPRESS INK: "Our Women & What They Think"
Issue #5
March 14th 2003

A Woman's Work
by Nia

"We are the landlords of this country and at Wounded Knee we showed up to collect. If the country is going to live up to its constitution then it must live up to its treaty commitments. We still have to go to the white man to ascertain our rights. Once again we have to wait on the white man and wait for him to give us the rights we already have. If he goes against his constitution and convicts us, we will prove to the world that this is really a police state instead of a free country. The Wounded Knee trails are the most important of the century. They will expose how America practices its funding." - American Indian Movement(AIM), November 1973

Perhaps one of the forgotten displays of genocide and whiteman-ism to date is the genocide of North Americas Native cultures. What this country owes its original people are debts that may be impossible to repay but this country does owe to its indigiounous people the promise of treaties made and broken long ago.

As a young woman on the heals of a revolution with the spirit of Garveyism ringing in my ear I must take an active role in educating myself, learning of those women that have fought before me. A Woman's Work... what is it? On this search of brave women I came across Mary Crow Dog. Her story of determination and survival in the fight for her people gave me some things to consider. Number one, would I be prepared to take siege of a given location and set up shop to battle with the government? Number two, could I stand the thought of 165 Federal Agents invading my home then pointing two M16's at both sides of my head while my children sat by and watched. Number three, could I stand to see my husband unjustly arrested then forced to spend years in jails then released only to be re-arrested again while I continued to fight for his final return home, his freedom, his dignity?

Her story is nothing short of spectacular, inspirational, and truly revolutionary. She grew up on a South Dakota reservation as a member of the Lakota people. As a young girl she witnessed what racism did to her people and she was determined to be rebellious and fight against injustice. Thus her nature would take her to the heels of the Native American rebellion of the 1970's.

Mary grew up in an environment where the white man's way of life was always the standard to achieve. Mary chose to cling to the older, wiser family members that still believed in the old way. At a young age she told her family she was growing up to be Indian. She was still however sent to the same catholic school her mother and grandmother attended. An all girls schools that she would later drop out of when she was 15 years old, unable and unwilling to conform.

"A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground" ... Traditional Cheyenne saying

As a young adolescent Mary left catholic school and joined a band of young natives roaming at first aimlessly then finally with a purpose as they stumbled upon the AIM Movement that began her life as a revolutionary in the new Indian movement. AIM was just what the doctor ordered for a young girl not yielding to the ways of the white man that completely destroyed her people. Mary was ready to lend her hand where she could. Never realizing fully what she was getting herself into, she knew that whatever it was it would be to the benefit of her people and for Mary that was enough.

"When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home." - Chief Aupumut, Mohican.

In 1973 the members of AIM decided that Wounded Knee would be taken back. From February 27th through May 8th the Oglaga Nation established themselves on a tiny piece of land surrounded by US troops, helicopters, and daily gun battles. Life went on for Mary who was then pregnant with her first child. She was determined that her child would be born at Wounded Knee. Even when the daily battles became more deadly than the day before, this didn't deter Mary from taking a stand with her brothers and sisters, even if it meant her life or the life of her unborn child. She has a true warrior spirit. The type of spirit needed for any revolution. When the standoff ended it was followed by more broken promises from a government who didn't deem it necccasary to uphold agreements made over a century ago. The original treaty of 1868 was not redeemed and perhaps it never will be.

The courage Mary showed throughout her life is an inspiration to me because above all else she seemed fearless and unyielding even before death. She realized that in order to see change one must be willing to sacrifice everything and give one's life. Again I don't know how many of us so called revolutionaries are prepared to make these sacrifices so willingly and passionately. Yet we live in a country that was founded on the blood of war, conquest and slavery. This is really what this country takes heed of. This is what western civilization respects and fears and perhaps this shall be what brings about the fall of Babylon and its evil system control.

Then I ask myself again A Woman's Work... what is it? Is it work that begins and end at the same time each day, is it work that involves only some things and then somehow excludes other things. Is a woman's work, predetermined by society's status quo? Is her work found romanticized in ancient tales. Or is her work to uphold the backs of her family, nurture and defend their honor as only a woman could. Her work, may simply be to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of her people. Perhaps her work is all these things and more. So as I search for what this question says to me I hope to fulfill all that my work as woman has in store for me.

"Today is a good day to fight - Today is a good day to die." -Crazy Horse, Oglala Sioux

For more insight into the life of Mary Crow Dog read LAKOTA WOMAN by Mary Crow Dog

EMPRESS INK Vol.1