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Latino-Native American Cultural Center newspaper clippings, 1970-2001

The Daily

Monday
February 18, 1974
Iowa City, Iowa
52240
Vol.106, No. 147

3 Sections
28 Pages
10c

Conference climax

Banks mediates Hearst case
By LINDA YOUNG
Staff Writer
The American Indian Movement (AIM) will serve as one of six groups observing the negotiations for the release of kidnapped newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, the national executive director of AIM told Iowa City audience Saturday.
Dennis Banks, 41, sad he was leaving for San Francisco Saturday [night?] to support the alleged kidnapers, [illegible] Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), in making any plans toward the [release?] of Hearst.
"We will work with representatives of the six organizations to [meet?] any pre-conditions for negotiating the release of Ms. Hearst," Banks said.
The proposals Banks said h would offer before the coalition are:
That one representative fom six organizations meet to form a neutral observer commission between [?] e SLA and the Hearst family.
The commission would ensue that food for the poor is distributed as the SLA has demanded.
The commission be recogned by the United States government.
The commission be recogned by the Hearst family.
The commission be authoried by the Hearst family and the government to begin negotiations to ensure the safe return of Patricia Hearst.
Banks said AIM joins SLA in calling for a massive demonstration of concern for the poor, "but only wishes a kidnaping hadn't occurred to draw attention to that concern."
Banks made the announcement after concluding his scheduled 45-minute address that climaxed the three-day Indian affairs conference at the University of Iowa.
The Indian leader told the crowd of about 400 persons gathered at MacBride Auditorium that "AIM desires to take only those steps necessary to ensure Ms. Hearst's safety. AIM offers assistance to facilitate the negotiations irrespective of personal danger."
Banks is currently standing trial in St. Paul, Minn., on federal charges stemming from the 71-day Indian occupation at Wounded Knee, S.D., last year. Banks and fellow AIM leader Russell Means are charged with burglary, theft, assault, on a federal officer, firearms violations and conspiracy.
The somber-toned Banks' scheduled address dealt with conditions that contributed to Wounded Knee.
"The quickest solution to the abolishment of AIM," Banks said, "would be if three steps AIM is asking all American to take are adopted. "These are:
That Congress establish a treaty commission to re-examine and re-evaluate all tribal-government treaties to "correct grave injustices" by the American government.
Repeal and re-examination of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act that calls for elected representatives from the tribes and undermines the traditional Indian government structure.
That the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) be abolished or at least removed from the Department of the Interior and be replaced by a special legislative wing.
During the address Banks paid high tribute to the Indian woman. "In Indian society the real warrior must truly be the grandmother and the mother," he said.
Banks said it was the Indian woman who suffered when she saw youngsters punished, her husband become an alcoholic, her grandchildren committing suicide and her own children beaten to death.
"but still she holds the family. and prays for all of us," Banks said. 
Banks acknowledged all of the poor who had sent messages of support to Wounded Knee during the 1973 occupation. He said letters of support came across the United States and around the world.
Two young boys from Scotsdale, Ariz., sent the insurgent Indians a letter containing $2."If you can go without meals for entire days," the letter said "surely we can go without lunch money for a week."
Banks, speaking of the importance of Wounded Knee and the resulting court trials, said, "When this mission is all completed, we can better believe there will be some justice on the reservations."
"Perhaps in the distant future someone will turn a page from history and shed a tear for Big Foot, Kent Sate, Attica and Wounded Knee, and recall an era of dark ages.
"we'll go on knowing the unborn will have the opportunity to live the life they want without seeing the injustices seen today," Banks said.
Sponsors of the conference included Chicano-Indian American Cultural Center, the Chicano Association for Legal Education and other UI organizations.

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The Daily Monday February 18, 1974 Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Vol.106, No. 147 3 Sections 28 Pages 10c Conference climax Banks mediates Hearst case By LINDA YOUNG Staff Writer The American Indian Movement (AIM) will serve as one of six groups observing the negotiations for the release of kidnapped newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, the national executive director of AIM told Iowa City audience Saturday. Dennis Banks, 41, sad he was leaving for San Francisco Saturday [night?] to support the alleged kidnapers, [illegible] Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), in making any plans toward the [release?] of Hearst. "We will work with representatives of the six organizations to [meet?] any pre-conditions for negotiating the release of Ms. Hearst," Banks said. The proposals Banks said h would offer before the coalition are: That one representative fom six organizations meet to form a neutral observer commission between [?] e SLA and the Hearst family. The commission would ensue that food for the poor is distributed as the SLA has demanded. The commission be recogned by the United States government. The commission be recogned by the Hearst family. The commission be authoried by the Hearst family and the government to begin negotiations to ensure the safe return of Patricia Hearst. Banks said AIM joins SLA in calling for a massive demonstration of concern for the poor, "but only wishes a kidnaping hadn't occurred to draw attention to that concern." Banks made the announcement after concluding his scheduled 45-minute address that climaxed the three-day Indian affairs conference at the University of Iowa. The Indian leader told the crowd of about 400 persons gathered at MacBride Auditorium that "AIM desires to take only those steps necessary to ensure Ms. Hearst's safety. AIM offers assistance to facilitate the negotiations irrespective of personal danger." Banks is currently standing trial in St. Paul, Minn., on federal charges stemming from the 71-day Indian occupation at Wounded Knee, S.D., last year. Banks and fellow AIM leader Russell Means are charged with burglary, theft, assault, on a federal officer, firearms violations and conspiracy. The somber-toned Banks' scheduled address dealt with conditions that contributed to Wounded Knee. "The quickest solution to the abolishment of AIM," Banks said, "would be if three steps AIM is asking all American to take are adopted. "These are: That Congress establish a treaty commission to re-examine and re-evaluate all tribal-government treaties to "correct grave injustices" by the American government. Repeal and re-examination of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act that calls for elected representatives from the tribes and undermines the traditional Indian government structure. That the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) be abolished or at least removed from the Department of the Interior and be replaced by a special legislative wing. During the address Banks paid high tribute to the Indian woman. "In Indian society the real warrior must truly be the grandmother and the mother," he said. Banks said it was the Indian woman who suffered when she saw youngsters punished, her husband become an alcoholic, her grandchildren committing suicide and her own children beaten to death. "but still she holds the family. and prays for all of us," Banks said. Banks acknowledged all of the poor who had sent messages of support to Wounded Knee during the 1973 occupation. He said letters of support came across the United States and around the world. Two young boys from Scotsdale, Ariz., sent the insurgent Indians a letter containing $2."If you can go without meals for entire days," the letter said "surely we can go without lunch money for a week." Banks, speaking of the importance of Wounded Knee and the resulting court trials, said, "When this mission is all completed, we can better believe there will be some justice on the reservations." "Perhaps in the distant future someone will turn a page from history and shed a tear for Big Foot, Kent Sate, Attica and Wounded Knee, and recall an era of dark ages. "we'll go on knowing the unborn will have the opportunity to live the life they want without seeing the injustices seen today," Banks said. Sponsors of the conference included Chicano-Indian American Cultural Center, the Chicano Association for Legal Education and other UI organizations.