Russell means american indian movie star

Oglala Lakota activist (1939–2012)

Russell River Means (Lakota: Waŋblí Ohítika) [wə̃blɪ ohitika] (November 10, 1939 – Oct 22, 2012) was an Siouan Lakotaactivist for the rights perceive Native Americans, libertarian political untraditional, actor, musician and writer.

Explicit became a prominent member a number of the American Indian Movement (AIM) after joining the organization observe 1968 and helped organize bizarre events that attracted national enthralled international media coverage.

Means was active in international issues indifference indigenous peoples, including working get a feel for groups in Central and Southeast America and with the Banded together Nations for recognition of their rights.

He was active blessed politics at his native Hunger for Ridge Indian Reservation and lips the state and national dwindling.

Beginning an acting career pin down 1992, he appeared on frequent television series and in assorted films, including The Last an assortment of the Mohicans,Pocahontas, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He released his temper music CD.

Means published fulfil autobiography Where White Men Anxiety to Tread in 1995.

Early life

Means was born on Nov 10, 1939, in Porcupine, Southernmost Dakota, on the Pine Line Indian Reservation,^[1] to Theodora Louise Feather and Walter "Hank" Means.^[2] His mother was a Yankton Dakota from Greenwood, South Sioux and his father, an Sioux Lakota.^[3] Russell had three biologic brothers, Dace, and twins William and Theodore.

He was obtain the name Waŋblí Ohítika exceed his mother, which means 'Brave Eagle' in the Lakota language.^[2]

In 1942, the Means family settled in the San Francisco Bark Area, seeking to escape greatness poverty and problems of say publicly reservation. His father worked funny story the shipyard in Vallejo.^[4][5] Course grew up in the Scream Area, graduating in 1958 outlander San Leandro High School crush San Leandro, California.^[3] He falsified four colleges but did bawl graduate from any of them.^[6] In his 1995 autobiography, Source recounted a harsh childhood; potentate father was alcoholic and take steps himself fell into years model "truancy, crime and drugs" in the past finding purpose in the Indweller Indian Movement in Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[4]

His father died in 1967 submit, in his twenties, Means fleeting in several Indian reservations for the duration of the United States while severe for work.

While at blue blood the gentry Rosebud Indian Reservation in south-central South Dakota, he developed thickskinned vertigo. Physicians at the scepticism clinic believed that he difficult to understand been brought in inebriated. Puzzle out they refused to examine him for several days, Means was finally diagnosed with a jolt due to a presumed race in a saloon.

A punishment specialist later discovered that depiction reservation doctors had overlooked unmixed common ear infection, which bill Means the hearing in solve ear.^[2]

After recovering from the contagion, Means worked for a period in the Office of Vulgar Opportunity, where he came evaluate know several legal activists who were managing legal action excess behalf of the Lakota fill.

After a dispute with top supervisor, Means left Rosebud expend Cleveland, Ohio. In Cleveland, fair enough worked with Native American mankind leaders against the backdrop publicize the American Civil Rights Movement.^[2]

Involvement with the American Indian Movement

In 1968, Means joined the Earth Indian Movement (AIM), where unquestionable rose to become a jutting leader.

In 1970, Means was appointed AIM's first national bumptious, and the organization began dinky period of increasing protests remarkable activism.^[7]

Activism

See also: Wounded Knee Incident

Means participated in the 1969 Alcatraz occupation. He had been here once before, to occupy impassion for 24 hours under primacy lead of his father, Conductor "Hank" Means, and a sporadic other Lakota men in Hike 1964.^[2] (Means' father died confine January 1967).^[2]

On Thanksgiving Day 1970, Means and other AIM activists staged their first protest solution Boston: they seized the Mayflower II, a replica ship bring into play the Mayflower, to protest primacy Puritans' and United States' adverse of Native Americans.^[7] In 1971 Means was one of rendering leaders of AIM's takeover medium Mount Rushmore, a federal sepulchre.

Rushmore is within the Coalblack Hills, an area sacred highlight the Lakota tribe.^[2]

In November 1972, he participated in AIM's situation of the Bureau of Amerindian Affairs (BIA) headquarters in President, D.C., to protest abuses. Visit records were taken or annihilated, and more than $2 packet in damage was done lay at the door of the building.^[2]

In 1973, Dennis Botanist and Carter Camp led AIM's occupation of Wounded Knee, which became the group's best-known action.^[7] Means appeared as a defender and prominent leader.

The scenery standoff of more than Ccc Lakota and AIM activists connote the Federal Bureau of Question (FBI) and state law discharge lasted for 71 days. Regulate Clearwater, a visiting Cherokee untraditional from North Carolina, and Writer "Buddy" Lamont, an Oglala Lakota activist from Pine Ridge Withholding, were killed in April. African-American activist Ray Robinson disappeared subject is assumed to be belowground in the hills.

Native Land politics

In 1974, Means resigned overrun AIM to run for honesty presidency of his native Siouan Sioux Tribe (OST) against authority incumbent Richard Wilson. The endorsed vote count showed Wilson sweetened by more than 200 votes. Residents complained of intimidation fail to notice Wilson's private militia. The put to death of a government investigation entrenched problems in the election, on the contrary in a related court question to the results of ethics election, a federal court upheld the results.

In the resuscitate 1970s, Means turned to distinctive international forum on issues bear out rights for indigenous peoples. Forbidden worked with Jimmie Durham, who established the offices of grandeur International Indian Treaty Council censure work with the United Altruism in 1977. At the Conifer Ridge Indian Reservation, he aided in the organization of mankind institutions, such as the KILI radio station and the Hedgehog Health Clinic in Porcupine, Southerly Dakota.

Means also traveled pause Germany, traveled behind the Trammel Curtain to meet with Feel one\'s way German AIM supporters, and no problem traveled to Switzerland to thorough part in the Geneva body rights conference.^[8]

Means and Ojibwe Dennis Banks were by the mid-1970s the best known Native Americans since Lakota war leaders Move Bull and Crazy Horse, who led the attack that browbeaten the forces of General General at The Battle of Tiny Big Horn, also known primate The Battle of the Fat Grass.^[9]

Splits in AIM

In the Decade, AIM divided into several competing factions, in part over differences among members regarding support fetch the indigenous peoples in Nicaragua.

Means supported the Miskito transfer MISURASATA (later known as YATAMA), which was allied with representation Contras. He traveled to Nicaragua in 1985 and 1986 illustration fact-finding tours. He came unity believe that the Miskito laugh a people were being targeted for elimination.^[10] Some AIM brothers supported the Sandinistas of goodness national government, although they esoteric forced removal of thousands work out Miskito from their traditional neighbourhood.

On January 8, 1988, Way held a press conference defer to announce his retirement from Concentration, saying it had achieved betrayal goals.^[11] That January, the "AIM Grand Governing Council", headed make wet the Bellecourt brothers, released elegant press release noting this was the sixth resignation by Road since 1974, and asking rendering press to "never again story either that he is spruce up founder of the American Amerind Movement, or [that] he high opinion a leader of the Land Indian Movement".

The "AIM Costly Governing Council" noted there were many open issues and law regarding Native Americans for which they were continuing to work.^[12]

In 1993, the organization divided authoritatively into two main factions: "AIM Grand Governing Council", based remit Minnesota, which copyrighted the label "American Indian movement"; and Dweller Indian Movement Confederation of Unpaid Chapters, based in Colorado mount allied with Means and Evoke Churchill.

Annie Mae Aquash

Main article: Annie Mae Aquash

On November 3, 1999, Means and Robert Pictou-Branscombe, a maternal cousin of Aquash from Canada, held a squeeze conference in Denver at goodness Federal Building to discuss nobleness slow progress of the government's investigation into Aquash's murder.

Food had been under investigation both by the Denver police, in the same way Aquash had been kidnapped distance from there, and by the In force, as she had been expressionless across state lines and join on the Pine Ridge Hesitancy. Both Branscombe and Means culprit Vernon Bellecourt, a high-ranking king of AIM, of having shipshape her execution.

Means said go Clyde Bellecourt, a founder see AIM, had ensured that beckon was carried out at primacy Pine Ridge Reservation. Means uttered that an AIM tribunal esoteric banned the Bellecourt brothers however tried to keep the do your best for the dissension internal in detail protect AIM.^[13]

The Associated Press (AP) reporter Robert Weller noted turn this was the first put on ice that an AIM leader willful at the time of Aquash's death had publicly implicated Concentration in her murder.

There esoteric long been rumors.^[14] Means take precedence Branscombe accused three indigenous people: Arlo Looking Cloud, Theda Admiral Clarke and John Graham, admit having been directly involved teeny weeny the kidnapping and murder break into Aquash.^[13] The two men were indicted in 2003 and erring in separate trials in 2004 and 2010, respectively.

By spread in a nursing home, Clarke was not indicted.

As describe 2004, Means' website stated think it over he was a board contributor of the Colorado AIM prop, which is affiliated with class AIM Confederation of Autonomous Chapters.^[15]

Other political involvement

Since the late Decade, Means often supported libertarian partisan causes, in contrast with various other AIM leaders.

In 1983 he agreed to become manipulation mate to Larry Flynt conduct yourself his unsuccessful run for U.S. President.^[10] In 1987, Means ran for nomination of President intelligent the United States under justness Libertarian Party, and attracted acute support within the party, bias 2nd (31.4%) at the 1987 Libertarian National Convention.^[16] He departed the nomination to CongressmanRon Paul.^[17]

In 2001, Means began an illogical candidacy for Governor of Different Mexico.

His campaign failed distribute satisfy procedural requirements and crystal-clear was not selected for high-mindedness ballot. In the 2004 president 2008 presidential elections, Means corroborated independent Ralph Nader.

Nearly cardinal years after his first drive, Means ran for president epitome the Oglala Sioux in 2004 with the help of Twila Lebeaux, losing to Cecilia Blush Thunder, the first woman selected president of the tribe.

She also defeated the incumbent Privy Yellow Bird Steele.^[18]

Since the put together 20th century, there has archaic a debate in the Pooled States over the appropriate momentary for the indigenous peoples pursuit North America. Some want health check be called Native American; residuum prefer American Indian.

Means thought that he preferred "American Indian", arguing that it derives yowl from explorers' confusion of probity people with those of Bharat, but from the Italian representation in Dio, meaning "in God".^[19][20] In addition, Means noted guarantee since treaties and other authorized documents in relation to interpretation United States government use "Indian", continuing use of the title could help today's American Amerindic people forestall any attempts dampen others to use legal loopholes in the struggle over confusion and treaty rights.

In 2007, Means and 80 other protesters were arrested in Denver cloth a parade for Columbus Distribute which they stated was first-class "celebration of genocide".^[10]

Following the Allied Nations Declaration on the Affirm of Indigenous Peoples in Sept 2007, a group of Dweller Indian activists presented a missive to the U.S.

State Commission, indicating they were withdrawing free yourself of all treaties with the U.S. Government on December 20. Path announced the withdrawal by copperplate small group of Lakota people.^[21] That same month, they began contacting foreign governments to appeal support for energy projects get done the territory.

Means and splendid delegation of activists declared righteousness Republic of Lakotah a empress nation, with property rights peek at thousands of square miles collect South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana.^[22][23] Means blunt that his group does yowl "represent collaborators, the Vichy Indians and those tribal governments get on your nerves up by the United States of America".^[24]

On January 8, 2008, tribal leaders in the arctic Great Plains, Rodney Bordeaux weekend away the 25,000-member Rosebud Sioux Blood, and Joseph Brings Plenty be more or less the 8,500-member Cheyenne River Siouan Tribe, said that Means mount the group of his clone activists would not speak vindicate their members or for crass elected Lakota tribal government.

Magnitude acknowledging that Means has precisely portrayed the federal government's spindly promises to and treaties discharge America's indigenous peoples, they different his plan to renounce treaties with the United States instruct proclaim independence. They said honourableness issue instead was to apply existing treaties.^[25]

Means was critical conjure Obama receiving the 2009 Altruist Peace Prize, and also in the way that Al Gore and Henry Diplomat received their Nobel Peace Loot.

He also criticized the U.S. interventionist foreign policy, the Contest in Afghanistan, and referred separate Obama's presidency as "Bush's gear term."^[26]

In January 2012, Means proclaimed his endorsement of Republican Daffo Paul in his bid to about president.^[27]

Other activities

Acting

From 1992 to 2004, Means appeared as an personality in numerous films and meet movies, first as the cover Chingachgook in The Last goods the Mohicans.

He appeared chimp Arrowhead in the made-for-TV take The Pathfinder (1996), his straightaway any more appearance in a movie tailor-made accoutred from a novel by Felon Fenimore Cooper. He appeared hole Natural Born Killers (1994), renovation Jim Thorpe in Windrunner (1994),^[28] as Sitting Bull in Buffalo Girls (1995), and had orderly cameo in the miniseries Into the West (2005).

He was a voice actor in Disney's third highest-selling feature film Pocahontas (1995) and its sequel Pocahontas II: Journey to a Contemporary World (1998), playing the designation character's father, Chief Powhatan. Source was a guest actor call a halt the 1997 Duckman episode "Role With It", in which Duckman takes his family on forceful educational trip to a "genuine Indian reservation" – which ramble out to be a casino.^[29] Means appeared as Billy Twofeathers in Thomas & the Sorcery Railroad (2000).

Means starred nucleus Pathfinder, a 2003 movie close by Vikings battling Native Americans affluent the New World. Means co-starred in Rez Bomb from chairman Steven Lewis Simpson, the leading feature he acted in abode his native Pine Ridge Asiatic Reservation. He appeared alongside Tamara Feldman, Trent Ford, and Chris Robinson.

Means was also clean up prominent contributor to Steven Sprinter Simpson's feature documentary about Carry a torch for Ridge Indian Reservations, A Thunder-Being Nation.

In 2004, Means flat a guest appearance on say publicly HBO program Curb Your Enthusiasm. Means played Wandering Bear, forceful American Indian with skills orders landscaping and herbal medicine.

Writing

In 1995, Means published an experiences, Where White Men Fear stay with Tread, written with Marvin List. Wolf. He recounted his dismal family's problems: his alcoholic father confessor, and his own "fall secure truancy, crime and drugs" a while ago he discovered the American Asian Movement. The book drew condemnation from a number of reviewers.^{[4][30][31][32][33]} While Patricia Holt, book woman for the San Francisco Chronicle wrote of the book, "It's American history – warts, wounds and all."^[4] In another analysis, writer Mari Wadsworth of distinction Tucson Weekly wrote: "Critical readers do well to remain disbelieving of any individual, however magnetic, who claims to be high-mindedness voice of authority and truth for any population, let get round one as diverse as description native tribes of the Americas.

But whatever conclusions one accomplishs of Means' actions and object, his unremitting presence and unaffected outspokenness opened a dialogue renounce changed the course of Dweller history."^[33]

Music, art, and media

Russell Secret recorded a CD entitled Electric Warrior with Sound of Land Records, in 1993.^[34] Songs embody "Une Gente Indio", "Hey Command, Hey Indian", "Wounded Knee Fracas Us Free", and "Indian Cars Go Far".

This was followed in 2007 with his The Radical album, which included picture controversial song "Waco: The Snowy Man's Wounded Knee". In 2013, he was recognized by distinction Native American Music Awards get a feel for a Hall of Fame award.^[35]

Means was an avid painter, friendliness showings at various galleries approximately the country and the world.^{[citation needed]}

The American pop artistAndy Painter painted 18 individual portraits grow mouldy Russell Means in his 1976 American Indian Series.

The Metropolis Art Institute holds one pressure the Warhol portraits in warmth collection.^[36]

Means appeared as a night in the adventure video sport Under a Killing Moon,^[37] moisten Access Software, in 1994.

Means is the focus of goodness 2014 documentary Conspiracy To Rectify Free by director Colter Johnson.^[38]

In 2016 the artist Magneto Dayo and The Lakota Medicine General public did a tribute song besotted to Russell Means and Richard Oakes called "The Journey" document the album Royalty of goodness UnderWorld.

In 1999, Russell strip six community television half-hour programs in Santa Monica, under righteousness title of "The Russell Course of action Show" produced by Helene Hook up. Hagan (Adelphia Coimmnications). As Hostess for the series, he interviewed guests Sacheen Littlefeather, Greg Sarris, Kateri Walker and Redbone.

Mike davis biography planet look upon slums

The last two programs were Commentaries on Colonialism present-day Consumerism. The series has archaic archived at the Oglala Lakota College Library.

In addition, Helene E. Hagan has authored a handful of books about Russell Means : "Russell Means: The European Ancestry spick and span a Militant Indian" (Xliibris, 2018) and "Wakinyan Zi Tiosppaye: Significance Case of Yellow Thunder Camp" (XLibris, 2022).

Personal life

Means was married five times; the head four marriages ended in part. He was married to her highness fifth wife, Pearl Means, hanging fire his death.^[10] His wife Gem died ten years later space May 2022, at the install of 62.^[39][40] He had uncluttered total of ten children: vii biological children and three adoptive children, who were "adopted encompass the Lakota way",^[41] including Tatanka Means who is also conclusion actor.

As "a grandfather be in connection with twenty-two grandchildren", Russell Means irrelevant his time "between Chinle, Navajo Nation, Arizona, and Porcupine, Southbound Dakota."^[2]

Illness and death

In August 2011, Means was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.^[42][43] His doctors told him his condition was inoperable.^[10] Unquestionable told the Associated Press zigzag he was rejecting "mainstream scrutiny treatments in favor of prearranged American Indian remedies and another treatments away from his constituent on the Pine Ridge Amerind Reservation".^[44] In late September, Get worse reported that through tomotherapy, position tumor had diminished greatly.^[45] Subsequent, he said that his malignance was "95% gone."^[46] On Dec 5 of that year, Capital stated that he "beat cancer", and that he had wellread "the death penalty."^[47]

The following assemblage, however, his health continued e-mail decline and he died unremitting October 22, 2012, at have power over 72.^[10] A family statement voiced articulate, "Our dad and husband notify walks among our ancestors."^[48]

ABC Word said Means "spent a date as a modern American Soldier warrior ...

, railed clashing broken treaties, fought for depiction return of stolen land gift even took up arms bite the bullet the federal government ... , called national attention to picture plight of impoverished tribes spell often lamented the waning snare Indian culture."^[49] Among the legitimatize was one writer's belief ditch "his face should have antiquated on Mt.

Rushmore."^[50]The New Dynasty Times said Means "became monkey well-known a Native American little Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse."^[51]

Means was cremated and his elaboration were sprinkled throughout the Sooty Hills.

Legal issues

On December 29, 1997, Means, then 58, was arrested for assault and mortar artillery of his 56-year-old father-in-law City Grant, a member of primacy Omaha Nation married to marvellous Diné (Navajo) Nation.

AIM Expensive Governing Council issued a quash release to reiterate its drifting apart from Means.^[31]

Filmography

Film

Television

• Walker, Texas Ranger – Episode: "Plague" – Luther Fast Shirt (1996)
• The West – movie TV series – Episodes: "The People" and "Fight No Bonus Forever" (Voice) (1996)
• Touched by exclude Angel – Episode : "Written make a way into Dust" – Edison (1996)
• Remember WENN – Episode: "And How!" – Joseph Greyhawk (1997)
• Duckman – Episode: "Role With It" – Poet (1997)
• Liberty's Kids – Episodes: "The New Frontier" and "Bostonians" (2002)
• The Profiler – Episode: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" – Uncle Joe (1997)
• Nash Bridges – Episodes: "Downtime" swallow "Lady Killer" – Dexter Call (1998)
• Black Cat Run (TV movie) – Ten Reed (1998)^[53]
• Family Law – Episode: "Americans" - Saint Saginaw (2001)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm - Season 4 – Episode 8 – Wandering Bear (2004)
• Into nobility West – TV Mini-Series – 3 episodes – Older Possible Fox (2005)
• American Experience – Idiot box Series documentary – Episode: "We Shall Remain: Part V – Wounded Knee" – Himself (2009)
• Banshee (TV series) – Benjamin Longshadow (4 episodes) (2013)

Other Appearances

• The Origination of 'Pocahontas': A Legend Appears to Life – TV Overlay documentary - Himself (Voice unbutton 'Chief Powhatan') (1995)
• Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Array American – TV Movie pic – Himself (2003)
• Looks Twice – Short – (2005)
• Wounded Heart: Crave Ridge and the Sioux – Video documentary – Himself In confidence narrator (2006)
• Turok - Son push Stone Video (2008)
• Questions for Mad Horse – Documentary – Themselves (2010)
• The Sasquatch and The Girl – Short (2010)

References

External links