Complex Justice: The Tragic Story of Annie Mae Pictou Aquash

Episode 346: In this episode, we look into the life and mysterious murder of Annie Mae Pictou Aquash, a prominent Indigenous activist whose story continues to haunt the corridors of justice and activism alike. During the tumultuous 1970s, her journey took her from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, to the heart of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the United States, where she fought for Indigenous rights.The mystery surrounding Annie Mae's death is as compelling as her life. In December 1975, she disappeared and was later found deceased on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Initial reports misleadingly attributed her death to exposure, but a second autopsy revealed she had been executed with a bullet to the back of her head. This revelation raised questions about who could have orchestrated such a brutal act against someone so profoundly committed to her cause.It took almost 30 years before the shocking truth was uncovered and the people responsible for Annie’s murder were brought to justice.Sources:Annie Mae Aquash (1945 – 1975)Shubenacadie Wildlife ParkA Warrior born... | Biography of Annie MaeCrossing the Canada-U.S. border with a status cardCBP Customer Service9.16 The 1960s Counterculture – Canadian History: Post-ConfederationNational Day of Mourning: A 1970 protest changed how Native Americans see Thanksgiving | CBC RadioWounded Knee Massacre | South Dakota, Occupation, History, & Legacy | BritannicaHistorical Reading Room — Incident at Wounded Knee | U.S. Marshals ServiceNative Americans seized Wounded Knee 50 years ago. Here's what 1 reporter remembersMuckRock | Annie Mae Aquash FBI FilesAnnie Mae Aquash – From the US to Kurdistan: the indigenous struggle for freedomNational Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls - Montreal. Day 2, Community Public Hearing 2, March 13, 2018. Live Feed | By National Inquiry MMIWG / Enquête nationale FFADA | FacebookAmerican Indian Movement2007 BCCA 345 (CanLII) | United States of America v. Graham | CanLII2022 BCCA 47 (CanLII) | Graham v. Canada (Minister of Justice) | CanLIIJustice for Annie Mae Pictou Aquash Woman Warrior Learn more about your a