Charles Trimble: Guardian Angels come to Indian Country

Opinion

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

When I read the Indianz.com article that the first Guardian Angels chapter in Indian Country is starting on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana, my reaction was, “How appropriate; a traditional Akicita approach to the problem of policing Indian country.”

In Sioux camps in olden times, the police that kept order were the Akicita (pronounced ah-KEE-chee-tah). These were men who were selected for their generosity, leadership, and most of all, their bravery. These men were of the warrior societies, the elite among the men.

Life in the camps on the Plains required much discipline on the part of individuals and families. There was no place for troublemakers who disturbed the peace by their behavior and by their disrespect for laws and authority. With families that were troublemakers, we are told, akicita warriors might call out the male head of the tiospaye, and humiliate him, sometimes whipping him from their horses with their quirts. A family that persisted making trouble, or trashing the campsite, would be ostracized to live away from the camp, and sometimes even to be expelled from the camp completely. This would doom that family because other camps would know that they were forced to wander because they were troublemakers, and nobody wanted troublemakers.

As with much of our traditional cultures, that discipline has been lost. There is little respect, even for elders. Neighbors’ yards and gardens regularly are trashed. In one village on the Pine Ridge Reservation, gangs are mounted and do their mischief on horseback, causing much damage to property. Gangs and drugs are a growing problem on reservations all across the Northern Plains.

In an article in Indianz.com, Chauncey Whitwright III, the driving force behind the Guardian Angels chapter at Fort Peck, is quoted: "There are all kinds of gangs roaming around up here," he said, "Our kids are in danger, they're being influenced, they're being targeted. It's going on every day of the week ... and they're busy recruiting."

The Guardian Angels movement was started in 1977 by Curtis Sliwa, who still heads up the organization. It started as a group of young men who called themselves the “Magnificent 13,” and dedicated themselves to combating violence, especially in the New York City subways. Their success gained the movement national attention and much praise. But the movement also generated much controversy and criticism, for their apparent vigilante approach.

Today, according to Sliwa, the Guardian Angels operate in nine countries and 82 cities around the world, with approximately 5,000 members. The Fort Peck chapter of Guardian Angels will be the first in Indian Country.

The use of young people in the Guardian Angels could have a beneficial outcome by capturing the imagination of tribal youth, especially if they are identified with a new warrior society. This could dissuade many of them from getting involved with the gangs. Having to deal with peers who are as tough as they are, might also have some effect of taking away the generation gap that alienates gang members and causes them to rebel.

But what about the tribal police? Aren’t they in fact, or shouldn’t they be seen as akicita serving the tribe? And what about the FBI, which has jurisdiction on the reservations in matters of major crimes? How will they perceive the new Lakota Angels chapters?

I do not know how the Guardian Angels operate within the law in the United States or abroad. But apparently they do.

It seems that it would be worth it, given the growing problems with youth gangs and drugs on the reservations in the Northern Plains, for the Oglala Sioux and other tribes to send representatives to Fort Peck to see what the Guardian Angels concept has to offer. Mindful, of course, that beyond its need and purpose any vigilante or other extra-legal concept could grow into a monster. And, most importantly, is the question of what will be their relationship with and accountability to the Tribal government, as well as with the tribal and federal police that are already in place?

Another question is Curtis Sliwa, himself. According to Internet sources, Sliwa is also a populist, conservative radio talk show host. If he is in the category of, let’s say, Rush Limbaugh, does his Angels program bring with it the “Tea Party” militia mentality?

But the larger question remains – the gangs and drugs on our reservations must be stopped, and nothing has come onto the horizon to do it. Perhaps the Guardian Angels – appropriately feathered and framed, can do the job.

Charles “Chuck” Trimble, Oglala Lakota, was principal founder of the American Indian Press Association in 1970, and served as Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians from 1972-78. He may be reached at cchuktrim@aol.com. His website is iktomisweb.com.