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 Park A Warrior born... | Biography of Annie Mae Crossing the Canada-U.S. border with a status card CBP Customer Service 9.16 The 1960s Counterculture – Canadian History: Post-Confederation National Day of Mourning: A 1970 protest changed how Native Americans see Thanksgiving | CBC Radio Wounded Knee Massacre | South Dakota, Occupation, History, & Legacy | Britannica Historical Reading Room — Incident at Wounded Knee | U.S. Marshals Service Native Americans seized Wounded Knee 50 years ago. Here's what 1 reporter remembers MuckRock | Annie Mae Aquash FBI Files Annie Mae Aquash – From the US to Kurdistan: the indigenous struggle for freedom National 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 | Facebook American Indian Movement 2007 BCCA 345 (CanLII) | United States of America v. Graham | CanLII 2022 BCCA 47 (CanLII) | Graham v. Canada (Minister of Justice) | CanLII Justice for Annie Mae Pictou Aquash Woman Warrior