STEVE ROBIDEAU-STATEMENT FROM THE LPDC

Subject: STEVE ROBIDEAU-STATEMENT FROM THE LPDC

STEVE ROBIDEAU, ANOTHER NORTHWEST AIM WARRIOR CROSSES OVER TO THE SPIRIT WORLD

On behalf of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee team, Leonard Peltier and Russ Redner offer their condolences to the Robideau family as they themselves grieve for Steve Robideau, their brother and friend. As Leonard stated today, “Steve will be missed…he did a lot for me.”

Leonard received the news yesterday, Saturday, September 3rd, early in the morning before going into the prison sweat. All the brothers in the ceremony at USP Lewisburg prayed for Steve’s spirit. Steve and Leonard grew up together, like brothers. They were both very close to each other’s families and children. Leonard tells us that a few days ago he had a dream in which he and Steve were in a 60’s Cadillac, they were both happy and laughing, and free. Leonard got out and walked in the snow, he felt the peace and happiness of his brother. Perhaps this dream was Steve’s way of saying goodbye, and a good way for Leonard to remember him.

Russ recalls that driving was Steve’s favorite way to think. He would drive for miles thinking of ways to free Leonard. Steve and Tico (his wife then) were the very first ones to go to Canada in 1976, along with Leonard’s mother Alvina, to organize Leonard’s defense. Russ joined them after the first hiatus of his Portland trial, established the LPDC, and left Steve in charge. From that point on Steve became the one brother who gave the most of his time and dedication to freeing Leonard, and as Russ puts it left very high standards to follow. The “In the Spirit of Crazy Horse Newsletter” was Steve’s creation. Even though the newsletter has not been published in a while, the new LPDC will bring it back to life as a tribute to Steve.

The last time Russ saw Steve was during the 25th anniversary of Wounded Knee where he asked Russ to get Leonard’s plight on the agenda. In Northwest AIM style, Steve and Russ briefly took over the program and Ida Stuntz, Joe Stuntz’s sons, and others joined in, bringing attention to our warrior behind bars in an occasion where his cause could not go unnoticed.

Recently, grandma Roselyn Jumping Bull remembered Steve as the only one who would go to Pine Ridge two weeks ahead of the June 26th commemoration and do everything that needed to be done so she and her family would have no burdens associated with the event. Grandma Dorothy Ackerman, of Portland, Oregon, also remembered Steve very fondly and was very saddened to know he had passed on to the Spirit world.

This is how everybody who loved him remembers Steve, as a hard working, committed warrior, someone who will watch over our efforts here on behalf of Leonard and for justice for all Native people, and a tough act to follow. We, at the LPDC, pledge to build on his sacrifice and never forget his legacy.

In the Spirit of all our warriors.

The LPDC Team