Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash's life was short-lived, yet filled with courageous

      deeds that will live on in the hearts of many who remember her as the

      bravehearted woman. In behalf of her crusade to uphold the spirit of the

      First Nations Peoples, we are dedicated to carry on in her memory.

      Who is Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash?

      She is remembered a young American Indian woman, a hero to many, for the

      selfless sacrifices that she made in behalf of the Native Peoples. In the

      early 1970's, she found her way to the United States from her homeland in

      Nova Scotia, Canada, to set forth her dedication at the cry of the

      struggle in Oglala, South Dakota to protect and fight for the rights of

      those who could not protect themselves. Anna Mae was strong enough to

      challenge some of the most adverse conditions.

      Born and raised in poverty, she worked hard to make a difference for the

      welfare and preservation of the traditional cultures, languages, and

      constitutional rights of the Native Peoples. In doing so, she did not

      settle for anything less than the highest of achievement that would

      represent those she fought and braved for. And then, Anna Mae was killed. 

      Anna Mae will always be remembered a strong, beautiful, native woman who

      did not take to orders that she could not agree. Recognized as one of the

      top six ranking in AIM Leadership during the reign of terror years of

      1973-1976, before she died. She could only hope that her children and

      grandchildren would be proud of her dedication, and that she had helped

      them lead the way.  In memory of Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash, we bring you "

      The A.N.N.A. Foundation ~ Assembly for Northern Native Americans"

      The Founder's of the A.N.N.A. Foundation wish to present to you the

      following contribution from a personal acquaintance of the late Anna Mae

      Pictou-Aquash. We believe it speaks for itself.

      The message reads:

      Anna Mae's incredible work for Indian people in Boston & the area of

      northeast USA/maritime Canada set up models for urban Native community

      services that served to establish hundreds of similar services & programs

      in cities & towns across North America.

      Her contributions to establishing the credentials for Native education

      programs at the famous Little Red Schoolhouse is sorely undervalued &

      unappreciated by many. That program alone has worked as a basic model for

      educational programs that have saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of

      Indian kids.

      And everywhere that she traveled - absolutely everywhere - she took part

      in whatever work was at hand, whether it was joining local "street

      patrols" that saved many Indian runaways, prostitutes, homeless and

      drunks. Anna Mae was much, much more than a member of AIM - she was a true

      warrior of the Miq'Maw Nation.

      And most of all, let's give a real indication of her total altruism, her

      "self"-lessness... In true traditional spirit of the people of all of the

      true-Nations of this hemisphere, AnnaMae would never think of herself as a

      "self". She was one with the people, as a finger is one with the hand, no

      matter which of the true-peoples she happened to be with at any given

      time.

      She believed, as the elders of every Nation of this land have passed on

      through ten-thousand times ten-thousand generations, that each of us is

      here to contribute to the wellbeing of the family, & through the family to

      the family-of-families that constitutes a real nation. She was one of the

      first Indian women in North America to actively rebel & fight, really

      fight against the systemic efforts of the genocidal settler-governments,

      and to encourage the dignity of Indian women & the bonds of family, land &

      language. Anna Mae Pictou was one of the most coherent & incessant champions of

      truth.

      And when you consider that she made these declarations at a time when the

      US government was sending its armed forces into its cities to shoot &

      crush political dissidents with impunity, her actions were incredibly

      courageous. She set an example for all to follow, & she succeeded in

      bringing many to the realization that the only real loyalty belongs to

      family & Nation. For this, her memory is blessed by thousands, & her

      achievements will always be sung with honor by the Nations of this land.