american indian movement flag mod

Caught a glimpse on TV of the gathering of Native tribes up in North Dakota protesting the oil pipeline (#NoDAPL) while on the run with Nokosee and the New Seminole. They brought out an old American Indian Movement (AIM) flag from the seventies (click image to enlarge). It's cool and reflects the non-violent spirit of those times what with the "peace sign" feathers against the 4 colors of the peoples. It reminded me of the first time I saw the New Seminole flag. I had just been kidnapped-- or so I thought-- by Nokosee Osceola. It was hanging from a chickee hidden in a hammock somewhere deep in the Everglades. The "tribe's" founding father (and later my father-in-law) Busimanolotome Osceola modified the feathers feature to express his vision and spirit re the approach the New Seminole would take in righting wrongs-- and returning SoFla to its rightful owners, the New Seminoles. You can see it in the picture above. The NS always had somebody in charge of taking that flag with us everytime we disbanded a campsite in the Everglades. We lost it when Army Rangers stormed Stars Hammock* in the middle of a moonless night because the only thing we could think of doing was saving our own raggedy asses. And fighting back. That picture is the only thing we have of it, a digital file on the FBI's website.

I hope the praying and chanting and nonviolent way works for the tribes up there in North Dakota. I know our way didn't. Too many people were killed on both sides. Including my Micco. Now Nokosee and I are on the run with a baby in tow. Trust me, it ain't much fun. 

*Our last campsite was a riff on the "Gilmore Girls" hometown (Stars Hollow). it's a long story; just read the book. Please.

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