A Bright, Hot Fire

Russell Means was no sugar-coated symbol.

He was fiery and unapologetic, critical of  American culture for its exploitation of Native lands, peoples, and resources.  He not only denounced crooks, haters, and charlatans, but also the paternalistic do-gooders who didn’t have a clue about what was actually going on in Indian country.

He was a bully, he was manipulative, he was selfish, He was at times hypocritical. He did good, and he did bad.

Most of all, Russell Means was an advocate and spokesman for Indian people struggling to maintain their cultural identity. Some people loved him and some hated him, but no one could ignore him and the essence of his message.

"Don’t be ashamed of your Indianess," he said. "Be proud."
"Indian isn’t backwards," he insisted. "It’s better."

Russell Means Dead at Age Seventy-Two

Russell Charles Means, an Oglala Sioux activist for the rights of Native American people, died today at the age of 72.  He became a prominent member of the American Indian Movement after joining the organization in 1968.

I first heard of Russell Means during the occupation of the BIA building in Washington DC in November of 1972. The newly formed organization, the American Indian Movement, organized a nationwide caravan, which they would refer to as the "Trail of Broken Treaties". intended to bring attention to American Indian issues such as living standards and treaty rights.

His autobiography, Where White Men Fear to Tread, was published in 1996.

Russell Means starred with Daniel Day Lewis in the epic film Last of the Mohicans in 1992.

The invasion of Europeans has resulted in the ruin of this continent, home of the First Nations people. There may be some things that Russell Means and I didn't agree on, but on that point, we agreed.

Over the next few days, I'll be posting more thoughts and information about Russell Means.