Latest / Murder Files Unsealed / The Assassination of Annie Mae’ On Hulu

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The Assassination of Annie Mae’ On Hulu · Murder Files Unsealed

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Welcome back, everybody to another deep dive. This time we're
• 0:03
  going to be talking about the mysterious death of Anime Aquash.
• 0:07
  Speaker 2: Oh, this is going to be interesting.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah. She was a micmac activist who dedicated her life
• 0:13
  to the fight for indigenous rights. Absolutely, so we're gonna
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  be using a couple of sources to help us unpack this. Okay.
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  One of them is this docu series called Vow of
• 0:21
  Silence the Assassination.
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  Speaker 2: Of Anime Okay, I've heard of that.
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  Speaker 1: And then we'll also be using just her biographical information
• 0:29
  that's available to help us piece together this really complex
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  and tragic story. What makes this case so interesting is
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  that her death was initially ruled as exposure, really but
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  later evidence revealed a much darker truth. H It turned
• 0:45
  out to be an execution style murder.
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  Speaker 2: Oh wow, that's awful.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, so there's a lot to uncover here. What do
• 0:53
  you think why is this case so significant?
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  Speaker 2: Well, I mean, like you said, it was a pivotal
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  moment in history the nineteen seventies, and you know, the
• 1:04
  fight for indigenous rights was gaining so much momentum. Annie
• 1:07
  May was like right at the heart of it. Absolutely, so,
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  she's a really key figure to understand for sure this
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  turbulent era.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, so why don't we start with her life story? Okay,
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  you know, where did she come from? What was her background?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, she grew up really immersed in the traditions of
• 1:27
  the Micmac people right on the land, on the land exactly.
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  But unfortunately, like a lot of Indigenous people during that time,
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  she was forced onto a reservation, a place where like
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  her culture and identity were actively suppressed. You know, you
• 1:44
  can imagine the impact that that had on her whole worldview.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, It's almost like you're being told to like abandon
• 1:52
  who you are and then having to fight to like
• 1:54
  reclaim it.
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  Speaker 2: Later exactly exactly.
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  Speaker 1: So she ended up moving to Austin in the nineteen sixties,
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  and I think this was like a turning point for her.
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  She connected with other Indigenous people there, she really embraced
• 2:08
  her Mickmac heritage and became active in the American Indian
• 2:14
  Movement AM AIM right, very important. So can you tell
• 2:19
  us a little bit about AM Like what were they
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  all about?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it wasn't just about protesting for rights.
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  It was like a cultural resurgence, a reclaiming of identity
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  in the face of this you know, like deliberate erasure,
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  and Annie May's story is very emblematic of that of
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  that larger movement.
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  Speaker 1: So they were known for their actions, oh yeah, like
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  they organized sit ins, protests, you know, really demanding that
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  the government address these systemic injustices that Indigenous people were facing.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely, and one.
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  Speaker 1: Of their most impactful actions I think was the occupation
• 2:58
  of the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters.
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  Speaker 2: Yes, that was huge, a turning point really, So what
• 3:03
  happened there? So during the occupation, AM members they actually
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  uncovered documents revealing that like corporations were mining uranium on
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  land belonging to these sovereign Indian nations and they were
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  doing it with like government approval.
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  Speaker 1: Oh wow.
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  Speaker 2: So this discovery really put AIM on the FBI's radar.
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  Speaker 1: So they were i mean, they were highlighting injustices, yeah,
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  but it also made them a target.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely.
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  Speaker 1: It's almost like classic you know, yeah, you speak truth
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  to power and their unforeseen.
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  Speaker 2: Consequences exactly exactly. The FBI got very concern about you know,
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  AM's growing influence and their exposure of these you know,
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  illicit activities, and they started, you know a campaign of
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  surveillance and intimidation against the movement.
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  Speaker 1: So this is I mean, this is a time of
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  intense social and political upheaval.
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  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, right, absolutely.
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  Speaker 1: So the government kind of saw aim as a threat.
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  Speaker 2: A threat to the status quo definitely.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah. Wow, So they were kind of caught between a
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  rock and a hard place. We really were, right, trying
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  to fight for their rights, yeah, while also being monitored
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  and targeted by this really powerful government agency.
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  Speaker 2: Exactly. And sadly, this is where Annie May's story takes
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  a really dark turn.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah.
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  Speaker 2: In December nineteen seventy five, she just vanished, Wow, without
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  a trace, left her loved ones, you know, just desperately
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  searching for answers.
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  Speaker 1: It's just it's a chilling reminder of, yeah, you know,
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  the dangers faced by those who dare to challenge the system.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah.
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  Speaker 2: And months later her body was discovered oh wow, on
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  the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Okay, And initially the cause
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  of death they said it was exposure, but then a
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  second autopsy revealed something very different. What was that a
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  bullet wound at the base of her skull. Whoa execution style?
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  Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. Okay, So this where it gets really interesting, right,
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  because the discovery of that gunshot wound completely changes the
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  narrative completely. It wasn't just a tragic death, No.
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  Speaker 2: It was deliberate, brutal murder. Absolutely, Like what secrets did
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  she hold exactly that would lead to her assassination? You know,
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  that's the question.
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  Speaker 1: That's the question that's haunted you know, investigators in her
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  family for decades.
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  Speaker 2: And you know, adding to the mystery, her hands were
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  cut off, yeah, and sent the FBI for finger printing.
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  I know, it's crazy before she was even officially identified it,
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  So that was that an attempt to conceal her identity.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, or maybe silence her forever? Right, makes you wonder.
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  Speaker 2: It really raises questions about the initial investigation.
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  Speaker 1: For sure, right, definitely, And this is where this vow
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  of silence docuseries really dies deep. Yeah, you know, it
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  not only explores the murder investigation, but also the atmosphere
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  within a OKA existed at the time, all this fear
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  and paranoia.
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  Speaker 2: Right right, because there are rumors, there are all these
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  rumors that she was an FBI and foremant yeah.
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  Speaker 1: Right, and this created like a dangerous climate, very dangerous
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  of mistrust within the movement. Itself.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely. Yeah, it's scary how suspicion and paranoia can just
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  erode trust like that and lead to devastating consequences.
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  Speaker 1: It's tragic. So we've got this murder shrouded in mystery,
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  powerful activist movement facing internal and external pressures, right government
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  agency with a vested interest in silencing dissent.
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  Speaker 2: It's it's a recipe for you know, yeah, a captivating
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  and tragic story.
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  Speaker 1: And what makes it even more compelling is that, you know,
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  it's not just about the past. It has these implications
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  for the present and future absolutely of indigenous rights, which
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  is that's what I think is so fascinating about this
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  deep dive. It's not just some historical hood unit, No
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  it's not. It's a story that really speaks to the
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  ongoing struggle and resilience of indigenous communities totally.
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  Speaker 2: It really is, you know, anime story. It just underscores
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  this difficult balance that activists.
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  Speaker 1: Face between pushing for change and like protecting themselves from
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  these powerful forces. It's a struggle that so many marginalized
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  groups still deal with.
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  Speaker 2: It's like you're walking a tight rope. It is, you know,
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  you're advocating for your rights but constantly looking over your shoulder,
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  wondering who you can trust exactly.
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  Speaker 1: And you know the fact that the FBI was like
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  actively surveilling and infiltrating AIM during this period as another
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  layer of complexity here makes you wonder, right, like, was
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  the government more interested in disrupting the movement than actually
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  seeking justice for anime?
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  Speaker 2: It's a good question. So let's let's talk about that
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  long road to justice in her case. It took decades,
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  it did for anyone be held accountable for her murder. Finally,
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  in the two thousands, ye two AIM members Arlo looking
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  Cloud and John Graham.
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  Speaker 1: Were indicted and convicted.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, those trials were really significant, not just for bringing
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  some closure to Annie May's family, but also for shedding
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  light on like the internal dynamics of AIM during this
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  turbulent time. So looking Cloud he actually confessed he did
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  he did to being present at the murder, wow, but
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  claimed he didn't know Annie May was going to be killed.
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  Oh wow, he pointed the finger at John Graham as
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  the gunman.
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  Speaker 1: That's that's chilling. It is to be present at such
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  a horrific event but claim ignorance about the intent to Like,
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  it's hard to fathom.
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  Speaker 2: It's really hard, right, What does that tell.
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  Speaker 1: Us about like the atmosphere, Well, I.
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  Speaker 2: Think it speaks to the the level of fear and
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  paranoia that permeated the movement. People were suspicious of each other,
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  afraid of informants, and you know, maybe willing to take
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  extreme measures to protect the organization and its goals.
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  Speaker 1: It's tragic that this internal mistrust may have contributed to
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  her death, it really is. Right, makes you wonder if
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  in their fight for justice they kind of lost sight
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  of the values that they were fighting for.
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  Speaker 2: That's a profound question. You know, how do you maintain
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  unity and trust while facing these external pressures and internal
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  divisions a.
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  Speaker 1: Big one, and how do you ensure that the pursuit
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  of a greater good doesn't come at the cost of
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  individual lives and principles.
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  Speaker 2: These are tough questions, really complex questions.
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  Speaker 1: Anime story really forces us to confront.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely and the docusaries vow of silence. You know, it
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  doesn't give us easy answers, but it offers these really
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  valuable insights into these dilemmas. Has all these interviews with
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  people who knew her personally, her family, friends, fellow activists. Right,
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  you know, and it really humanizes her story.
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  Speaker 1: Reminds us that she was not just a symbol or
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  a martyr, but a real person with hopes and dreams
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  and loved ones who were just devastated by her loss.
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  Speaker 2: I think that's so important. It is, you know, we
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  often get caught up in like the political aspects these stories,
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  but it's that human cost is that really resonates. Hearing
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  from those who knew her, loved her, really brings her
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  story to.
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  Speaker 1: Life absolutely, and and the docu series goes beyond just
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  the personal narratives. It incorporates archival footage expert analysis to
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  provide a broader historical context for her life and death.
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  It examines, you know, government policies, court indigenous people, the
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  rise of aim, the tactics used by the FBI to
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  suppress the movement.
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  Speaker 2: So they took a comprehensive approach.
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  Speaker 1: They did yeah to this right.
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  Speaker 2: Like weaving together personal stories, historical.
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  Speaker 1: Analysis, investigative journalism to create this really insightful and compelling narrative.
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  Speaker 2: Exactly. They didn't shy away from the complexities of the case.
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  They present multiple perspectives and challenge viewers to draw their
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  own conclusions.
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  Speaker 1: So as listeners, What can we take away from this
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  deep dive? What makes her story relevant?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, on a fundamental level,
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  Anime's story reminds us that the fight for justice is
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  often long, arduous, and fraught with danger. Yea. And it
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  highlights the importance of courage, perseverance, and a willingness to
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  speak truth to power, even when it comes at a
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  personal costs.
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  Speaker 1: Her story also like sheds light it does on the
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  ongoing struggles of indigenous communities around the world. Absolutely, your
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  fight for land rights, self determination, cultural preservation continues to
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  this day.
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  Speaker 2: It really does. And you know, we can't forget the
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  importance of critical thinking and vigilance even within movements that
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  share these common goals. You know, the internal divisions and
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  suspicions that plagued aim offer this like cautionary tale about
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  the dangers of unchecked paranoia and the need to uphold
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  these principles of justice and due process even when you're
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  facing adversity.
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  Speaker 1: It's a reminder that the pursuit of a just cause
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  should never come at the expense of individual rights and
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  human dignity. Absolutely, and what about vow of silence? What
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  can viewers expect that.
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  Speaker 2: Was Silence really offers this powerful and thought provoking look
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  at a complex and tragic chapter in this fight for
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  indigenous rights. It's not just a crime story. It's about resilience, resistance,
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  and this enduring power of the human spirit, Yeah.
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  Speaker 1: In the face of oppression.
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  Speaker 2: So it sounds like it's definitely worth watching. Oh, absolutely
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  right for anyone who wants to learn more about this
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  case and the broader indigenous rights movement.
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  Speaker 1: For sure. And I think it raises some really important
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  questions for all of us. You know, how do we
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  ensure that the pursuit of justice doesn't lead to further injustice.
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  How do we balance the needs of a movement with
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  the rights of individuals? Yeah, and how do we honor
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  the legacy of those who fought for a better world
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  even when their sacrifices went unrecognized.
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  Speaker 2: These are profound questions, They are that really resonate far
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  beyond the specific circumstances of Anime's case.
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  Speaker 1: Right.
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  Speaker 2: They challenge us to think critically about our own roles
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  in social movements, our responsibilities to each other, and the
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  values that guide our actions.
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  Speaker 1: I think that's a great point. You know, Anime's story
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  isn't just about the past.
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  Speaker 2: It's a call to action for the present and the future.
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  It urges us to confront injustice, to amplify these marginalized voices,
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  and work towards a more equitable world for all.
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  Speaker 1: It's a powerful reminder that even in the face of
• 14:33
  great adversity, hope and the fight for justice endures.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely.
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  Speaker 1: Now, you mentioned earlier that Ani May's story Okay, has
• 14:43
  implications for the present and future of Indigenous rights. Can
• 14:47
  you elaborate on that a bit more?
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  Speaker 2: Yes, sure, I mean her story is a stark reminder
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  of the ongoing struggles faced by indigenous communities you know,
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  around the world. Despite decades of activism and legal battles,
• 15:01
  many Indigenous people still face systemic discrimination, poverty, lack of
• 15:07
  access to basic resources, healthcare, education.
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  Speaker 1: It's disheartening to think it is that so much work
• 15:14
  remains to be done, even after all these years.
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  Speaker 2: Right and the fight for land rights YEA Treaty recognitions
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  self determination continues to be a major battleground in many
• 15:27
  parts of the world. Indigenous lands are still being exploited
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  for resource extraction, you know, often with devastating consequences for
• 15:36
  the environment and the communities.
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  Speaker 1: Right who depend on it. So Anime's story isn't just yeah,
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  a historical footnote, No, it's not. It's a reminder that
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  the fight for Indigenous rights is.
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  Speaker 2: Far from over exactly, and it, you know, highlights the
• 15:52
  need for continued activism, solidarity, and a commitment to amplifying
• 15:59
  Indigenous voices and perspectives.
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  Speaker 1: It's a call to action. It is for all of
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  us to stand with Indigenous communities in their pursuit of
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  justice and equality. Absolutely, I think that's a fitting place
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  to end Part two of our deep dive. We've covered
• 16:15
  a lot of ground exploring the complexities of Annie May's case,
• 16:19
  the internal struggles of a and the broader context of
• 16:23
  the indigenous rights movement. But there's still more to unpack.
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  Speaker 2: There is.
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  Speaker 1: So we're back and you know, we've been talking about
• 16:31
  all these twists and turns in Annie May's case, But
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  I want to shift gears a little bit, Okay, Like,
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  what can we learn from her story that we can
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  apply to our own lives, even if we're not activists.
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  Speaker 2: You know, that's a great question. I think one of
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  the most powerful takeaways is the importance of standing up
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  for what you believe in even when it's hard, even
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  when it's dangerous. She faced so much pressure, you know,
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  from the government, within her own movement, but she never
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  wavered in her commitment to fighting for Indigenous rights.
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  Speaker 1: It's easy to admire that kind of courage from a distance,
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  you know, but I wonder, like, how can we cultivate
• 17:13
  that same spirit in our own lives. We may not
• 17:16
  be facing these like life or death situations, but we
• 17:20
  all have these moments we do where we need to
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  speak up against injustice or stand up for what we
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  believe is right.
• 17:27
  Speaker 2: You're absolutely right, And I think it's about recognizing those
• 17:30
  smaller moments of courage in our own lives. You know.
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  Maybe it's speaking up against a microaggression you witness, or
• 17:39
  challenging a harmful stereotype, or you know, supporting a cause
• 17:43
  that you care about, even if it's not popular or trendy.
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: Right.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, these like seemingly small acts, they can have this
• 17:51
  ripple effect inspiring others to do the same.
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: And it's not always about these grand gestures, right, right, exactly.
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  Sometimes the most impactful acts are the ones that happen
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  quietly behind the scenes, supporting organizations that are working for
• 18:07
  positive change or educating yourself about issues that affect marginalized
• 18:12
  communities exactly.
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: And it's about listening to and amplifying the voices of
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  those who are so often silenced or ignored. Any May's
• 18:23
  story is this reminder that those in power, they often
• 18:28
  try to control the narrative. It's up to us right
• 18:32
  to seek out those alternative perspectives and challenge that dominant narrative.
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: And that's where critical thinking comes in exact. Ye, right,
• 18:39
  we can't just accept everything we hear it face value.
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  Now we have to question our assumptions, consider different perspectives,
• 18:47
  be willing to change our minds when we're presented with
• 18:51
  new information.
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  Speaker 2: And that's especially important now, you know, in this world
• 18:55
  where we're constantly mombarded with information right from all sides,
• 18:59
  from all sides. Yeah, it's easy to get caught up
• 19:01
  in echo chambers and filter bubbles.
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: Right, only hearing the voices, yeah that confirm our existing
• 19:07
  beliefs exactly. Yeah, So how do we how do we
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  break out of those echo chambers then and engage in
• 19:14
  meaningful dialogue with people right who hold different views. It
• 19:17
  seems like it's getting harder and harder it does to
• 19:20
  have these civil conversations.
• 19:21
  Speaker 2: It really does.
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  Speaker 1: Yah about controversial topics.
• 19:24
  Speaker 2: It's definitely a challenge, but it's not impossible, Okay. It
• 19:27
  starts with, you know, listening with empathy, trying to understand
• 19:31
  where are the other person's coming from, even if you
• 19:34
  don't agree with them, right, and being willing to acknowledge
• 19:36
  our own biases, right and blind.
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: Spots, and maybe being a little more.
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: Humble yes, yes, absolutely.
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: Recognizing that we don't have all the answer right.
• 19:45
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: And it's about focusing on like shared values and common
• 19:49
  goals even when there are disagreements right about the best way.
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: To get there exactly.
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: Yeah. So circling back to Animey, Yeah, would you think
• 20:00
  think she would say to us today if she were
• 20:03
  still alive?
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  Speaker 2: Ooh, that's a thought provoking question. Yeah. I think she
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  would urge us, yeah, to continue the fight for justice
• 20:13
  and equality, not just for Indigenous people, but for all
• 20:18
  marginalized communities. She would remind us that the struggle is
• 20:22
  far from over, and that we need to be vigilant
• 20:25
  in defending our rights, right, and the rights of others.
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: And she would probably challenge us to be more courageous, right, oh, absolutely,
• 20:31
  to speak truth to power and to never give up hope. Yeah,
• 20:36
  for a better world.
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: I believe so Yeah, And her legacy lives on, you know,
• 20:42
  in the countless individuals and organizations that are carrying on
• 20:47
  her work fighting for a more just and equitable world.
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: This deep dive has been a powerful reminder. It has
• 20:56
  that even in the face of tragedy and injustice, human
• 21:00
  spirit can triumph. It can any Mayaquash may be gone,
• 21:04
  but her story continues to inspire us absolutely to stand
• 21:08
  up for what we believe in, to challenge the status quo,
• 21:12
  and to never stop fighting for a better world.
• 21:14
  Speaker 2: Well said, and I encourage all of you listening to
• 21:18
  learn more about her story, about the history and struggles
• 21:21
  of Indigenous people, and to find ways to support their
• 21:24
  fight for justice and self determination.
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us on this deep dive. We'll
• 21:30
  be back soon with another fascinating story, another opportunity to
• 21:34
  learn and grow together. Looking forward to until then, keep exploring,
• 21:38
  keep questioning, and keep diving deep.