It's Football Season!

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Bacone Indian College Football Team

My Daddy, Johnie Walker, attended Bacone from the time he entered school through Junior College. Along with all of his sisters and his one brother, he was packed off to Indian Boading School at a very young age.

Each fall when the football season kicks off, I reminded of how much my Daddy loved that sport! 

This is the Bacone Football Team in or around 1930.  If you look at the photo from left to right, Daddy is the second from the last person on the seated row.  I put an "X" under him. 

Having completed his Junior College years at Bacone, he went on to Texas Tech to finish his college education and to play football.

He was offered a position with the New York Giants after his college career was over.  But at the time, the pay was not so great and he determined he would rather coach high school football.  That was a good  decision for me as he met my Mother during his early coaching career. 

When I was a youngster, pre-television, football games would be on the radio every Saturday afternoon.   Daddy made a game board from a piece of plywood.  He painted the football field, made a score board with movable pieces and even painted people in the stands around the parimeter.   I wish I still had it as it was truly a work of art.

I was allowed to select the team I wanted to be and the coin I wanted to use.  As the game was broadcast, we moved our teams (the coins) up and down the field and put the score pieces on the score board.

When my team won, it was always such a thrill.  I was sure I was a better player than Daddy!  

I learned the game very well (better than most boys) and still enjoy it though I spend less time watching than I used to. 

Daddy left coaching in 1938 and began his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But even still, he continued to referee high school football for many years to come.  

Those Saturday afternoons in the fall of the year were very special to me.  They are wonderful memories that I will always cherish....but I sure do wish I had that wonderful game board!   

Happy Birthday Leonard Peltier!

Leonard Peltier

American Indians share a history rich in diversity, integrity, culture and tradition. It is also rich in tragedy, deceit and genocide. As the world learns of these atrocities and cries out for justice for all people everywhere, no human being should ever have to fear for his or her life because of their political or religious beliefs. We are in this together, my friends, the rich, the poor, the red, white, black, brown and yellow. We share responsibility for Mother Earth and those who live and breathe upon her.

Never forget that.




It is sad but Leonard had to celebrate his 66th birthday today behind bars! 

I just received this e-mail and wanted to share it with you.

Forwarded on behalf of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee



September 6, 2010

Sisters, brothers, friends and supporters,

I wish I could sit across the table from each of you right now. We'd share a meal and reflect on changes in this world over these 35 or so years. Yes, I pay attention to things on the outside (as much as possible). I know the world is in turmoil and I ache for the Native people who languish in utter poverty on reservations and in inner cities across America.

As a young man, all I wanted to do was make a positive differencein the People's lives. I'll turn 66 years old next week and I still want that. It's difficult to have an impact in my currentcircumstances, though. That's a constant source of frustration for me. On the outside, given the chance to roll up my sleeves once again, I suspect I'd still be somewhat frustrated. All that mustbe done is more than any one person can accomplish. I'd still likethe opportunity to do my part.

Thinking back to those days on Pine Ridge, what I remember is thefunerals. There were so many funerals... So many families lost loved ones.

There was a powerful force at work on the reservation back then one with a single purpose-to stamp out the last resistance of the Lakota people

We (the Oglala traditionals and members of the American IndianMovement) stood up because we were trying to defend our People. It was the right thing to do. We had-have-the right to survive

The land was being stolen, too… used for mining mostly. No thought was given to the disposal of toxic waste. The rivers were full of poisons.

Not much has changed, I hear. In those days, though, the reservation was torn apart by a tribal dispute and the federal government armed one group against another. The result was a long line of tragedies for the People of Pine Ridge… and for the People who were there that day in June 1975

I honestly understand the pain and anguish suffered by all concerned and I have been part of that suffering. I have watched people lie on the witness stand countless times and felt the doors closing on me. I have heard judges admonish prosecutors for allowing false evidence in and, in some cases, for participating in the falsification itself. The government hid evidence, too. Or manufactured it. Literally.

The courts say none of this is even in dispute anymore. So I wonder if the American standard of justice is still "beyond a reasonabledoubt," why am I still here

Some people have had their convictions overturned because of one constitutional violation. The number of constitutional violationsin my case is staggering. Yet, I continue to wait here for the same justice to be applied for me.

I hope that someday someone can put it all on the table and show the enormity of the railroading I have been victimized by

Last year, as you know, my parole was denied. That was adisappointment, but I am not defeated. My fight for freedom-for my People and myself-is not over. I am a pipe carrier and a Sundancer. Abandoning The Struggle is not-never will be-aconsideration

I am an Indian man and proud of it. I love my People and culture and spiritual beliefs. My enemies like to suggest otherwise and seek to rob me of all dignity. They won't succeed

When I look back over all the years, I remember all the good people who have stood up for me, for a day or a decade. Of course, many have stayed with me all along the way. I think of the hundreds oft housands of people around the world who have signed petitions for me, too... people on the poorest of reservations to the highest of political offices.

As we have learned over these many years, my freedom won't comequickly or easily. To succeed, the coming battle will have to behard fought. Please continue to help my Committee and legal team as you have always done. Your support is more important now than ever before. When freedom comes, it will be due in no small part to the actions you take on my behalf

Again, thank you for remembering me. You can't know the comfort you bring to an innocent man locked away from the world for so very long
Doksha,

Leonard Peltier
#89637-132
USP-Lewisburg
US Penitentiary
PO Box 1000
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Launched into cyberspace by the Leonard Peltier Defence Offense Committee PO Box 7488, Fargo, ND 58106

Phone: 701/235-2206

Fax: 701/235-5045

E-mail: contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info

Visit www.whoisleonardpeltier.info.

Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.