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Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae on Hulu is a four-part documentary series that true crime fanatics shouldn't miss. The chilling story of murder involves the killing of Annie Mae Aquash, a Mi'kmaq woman from Nova Scotia, Canada. A mother, teacher, and revolutionary figure, Annie Mae fought passionately for the rights of the Indigenous people in the 1970s.
Nearly 30 years after her tragic death, the case remains an enigmatic mystery and an unpleasant reminder of the many battles that Native and First Nations women continue to face.
In the series, Yvonne Russo, a Sicangu Lakota filmmaker, directs an investigation by Annie Mae's daughter as she wades through the thick swamps of the political waters in the 1970s, searching for the hidden truths about her mother's murder. Vow of Silence: The Murder of Annie Mae will air on Hulu on November 26, 2024.
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The life and activism of Annie Mae Aquash
Anna "Annie" Mae Aquash was born March 27, 1945, in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. She moved to Boston in the 1960s and met other First Nations and Indigenous Americans involved in education and resistance and the brutal treatment by the police against urban Indigenous peoples.
She was an active member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and participated in several occupations, of the most notable is the 1973 Wounded Knee Occupation at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Her assassination turned out to be one of the dark chapters in AIM's history. The docuseries Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae gives insights into her commitment to cause and the personal sacrifices she made in life.
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae explores unsolved murder and decades of silence
In December 1975, Anna Mae disappeared under dubious circumstances. Her body was located on February 24, 1976, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. After the first autopsy, officials said she froze to death as it was winter at the time. But a second autopsy came back with a very different indication: she had been shot in the head, as reported by Britannica.
Her death sparked outrage and a series of investigations marred by charges of cover-ups. The case remained unsolved for many years, with the continuous fuel of suspicion and conspiracy theories. In the early 2000s, there was some headway. Some AIM members were charged with her murder.
These were Arlo Looking Cloud and John Graham. Looking Cloud was convicted in 2004, and Graham in 2010; in both cases, they received life sentences, though Looking Cloud had his sentence later reduced to 20 years after he signed a plea deal. Another member, Thelma Rios, also was convicted on charges of being an accessory to her kidnapping.
However, many, including Anna Mae's daughter still believe that there were others more involved in Anna Mae's murder who were never brought behind bars. This includes Leonard Peltier, who many believe, ordered her murder, mistakenly believing she was an FBI informant. This has ensured the case is not forgotten as debates and demands for a deeper investigation persist.
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae: The impact and legacy of Annie Mae Aquash
The story of Annie Mae illustrates not only the tragic manner in which she died but also serves as a better example of a continued fight for Native rights and justice. Her legacy continues to live on within her daughter and the litany of activists working toward the rights and causes of Native and First Nations women.
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae, therefore, reminds the public decades after the act has been perpetrated that seeking truth and justice is never too late. It also emphasizes the persistent hardships faced by Indigenous communities and their struggles to fight for equality.
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae is a poignant and powerful docuseries about the very painful true story of Annie Mae Aquash, brought to life through the framework of her daughter's investigation into the case, a very effective history, justice, and a long-fought fight for truth.
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae testifies to the strength and will of people who strive for justice and reminds one not to forget the stories told by those who have been silenced.
